Author: John Smith

Base creator Jesse Pollak has acknowledged that the network’s multi-year bet on onchain social products did not deliver the expected growth and has redirected Base toward trading, payments, and AI-powered financial infrastructure. Summary Jesse Pollak admitted Base’s onchain social strategy failed to drive expected crypto adoption. Base will prioritize trading, stablecoin payments, and AI agent infrastructure through 2026. JPMorgan warned growing USDC revenue sharing could pressure Coinbase and Circle profits. Base returns to infrastructure after social experiment falls short According to a post published by Jesse Pollak on Wednesday, the first quarter of 2026 became a turning point after Base…

Senate Democrats have intensified scrutiny of Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche during his confirmation hearing, accusing him of weakening crypto enforcement while President Donald Trump’s digital asset businesses have expanded. Summary Dick Durbin accused Todd Blanche of dismantling DOJ crypto enforcement to benefit Trump’s crypto businesses. Senate Democrats linked Blanche’s nomination to demands for stricter ethics rules in crypto legislation. Blanche defended the DOJ’s new approach while saying he would review the Binance pardon process if confirmed. According to proceedings from the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Senator Dick Durbin used his opening remarks to argue that Blanche…

A new academic study has found that Polymarket’s five-minute Bitcoin prediction contracts have created incentives for sophisticated traders to manipulate spot prices and profit at the expense of ordinary participants. Summary Stanford researchers link Polymarket’s five-minute Bitcoin markets to settlement-price manipulation. The study estimates about $1.28 million shifted from retail traders to sophisticated participants. Researchers say longer settlement windows and improved pricing methods could reduce manipulation risk. According to researchers from Stanford University and Singapore Management University, the structure of Polymarket’s short-duration Bitcoin markets encourages traders to influence the cryptocurrency’s spot price shortly before contracts settle. Their paper concluded that…

Ostium has halted trading after an exploit tied to a compromised oracle signer key drained nearly $18 million USDC from its liquidity vault, according to blockchain security firm Blockaid. Summary Blockaid linked Ostium’s $18 million exploit to a compromised oracle signer key. The attacker drained up to 28% of the protocol’s $63 million liquidity vault. Ostium halted trading as investigators probe the oracle-based attack. Blockaid reported that the attacker gained control of an oracle signer private key, allowing them to bypass the protocol’s verification process and submit future-dated price reports that favored their trades. Using a registered PriceUpKeep forwarder, the…

SpaceX stock has steadied above its IPO price after Needham raised its price target to $250 despite growing warnings that an AI stock bubble could threaten financial markets. Summary Needham raised its SpaceX price target to $250 and maintained a buy rating despite growing AI bubble concerns. Bank of England Governor David Bailey warned an AI stock crash could spill into the economy and affect monetary policy. SpaceX stock is holding above $135 support, with technical indicators showing fading bearish momentum inside a descending channel. According to Needham, the investment bank lifted its target on SpaceX shares from $200 to…

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. Institutional crypto OTC markets are evolving beyond block trades as firms demand liquidity, settlement, and cross-border infrastructure services. Summary Institutional crypto OTC desks are evolving beyond block trades into full-service execution and settlement infrastructure. Growing institutional demand is reshaping crypto OTC desks into providers of execution, settlement, and treasury infrastructure. Crypto OTC markets are expanding beyond large trades as institutions seek integrated execution and liquidity solutions. For most of its early history, the institutional crypto OTC market was defined…

Circle has secured a court-backed arbitration win after records made public in a Boston federal court detailed why the stablecoin issuer suspended Heka Funds’ USDC minting and redemption services over suspected market manipulation involving Tether. Summary Circle has won an arbitration case after an arbitrator ruled it lawfully suspended Heka Funds’ USDC minting and redemption services. Court records said Heka did not disclose Tether’s role as the fund’s main investor and Circle reasonably suspected possible market manipulation. The ruling comes as Circle continues expanding its institutional business with new banking initiatives and partnerships in the United States and South Korea.…

Solana price has climbed to around $78 on July 15 after a 250 million USDC mint on the network, combined with softer U.S. inflation data, injected fresh buying momentum across crypto markets. Summary Solana price jumped toward $78 after a 250 million USDC mint boosted on-chain liquidity and risk appetite improved. Technical charts show a breakout above a descending channel, with $80 emerging as the next key resistance. Rising active addresses, institutional developments, and liquidation clusters support upside, while $70-$75 remains critical support. The move gathered pace after the USDC Treasury minted 250 million USDC on Solana, adding immediate liquidity…

Ethereum price has reclaimed the $1,850 resistance after softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data triggered a sharp short squeeze, putting the $2,000 level back into focus for traders. Summary Ethereum price broke above $1,850 after softer U.S. CPI data sparked a broad crypto rally. Technical charts and liquidation clusters suggest $2,000 is the next major price target. Analysts say holding $1,850 as support is key to sustaining the current bullish trend. The second-largest cryptocurrency climbed nearly 5% on July 15 after June’s Consumer Price Index came in below expectations, easing concerns that Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh would resume aggressive rate hikes.…

Polymarket has been blocked in the Czech Republic after authorities classified the prediction market platform as an unlicensed gambling service, adding another European jurisdiction to the list of countries restricting its operations. Summary Czech authorities have given internet providers 15 days to block access to Polymarket. Regulators said the platform must follow gambling rules regardless of how its contracts are described. India, Argentina and several European countries have also taken action against Polymarket. The Czech Ministry of Finance has ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket within 15 days of placing the platform on the country’s list of…