21Shares exec talks US crypto ETF adoption, where we go from here

As 21Shares continues its crypto product push in the US, a new executive at the firm said the shifting attitudes in Washington could quicken approval of solana ETFs.

Federico Brokate, head of the crypto ETP issuer’s US business, joined the company in June. Formerly the Americas business strategy director for BlackRock’s iShares, Brokate helped the asset management giant launch the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) in January.

21Shares debuted its own spot bitcoin ETF with Ark Invest at that time. It was then one of eight issuers to bring a spot ETH fund to the US market last month. 

Brokate told Blockworks in an interview that a spot solana ETF would “sit really nicely” in a…

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Trump and the Future of Bitcoin

If you weren’t there in person, it would be hard to accurately describe how long and winding the line was to see Donald Trump speak at the Bitcoin conference. The wait to even pass through security and find a seat in the auditorium was hours long and thousands of folks were scrambling to find seats at the Nakamoto Stage early in the day. As the line snaked through the expo hall, it was easy to find an even distribution of Bitcoiners and Trump supporters (some were both) all eager to hear Trump speak. There was an excitement in the atmosphere, and while I didn’t share in the excitement, it did permeate the air in Nashville. Uber drivers were quick to point out that Trump was speaking…

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Bitcoin Dips Below $50K as Global Market Crashes

The price of Bitcoin plunged below $50,000 on Monday, reaching lows not seen in over six months amid a widespread global market sell-off.

BREAKING: #Bitcoin falls below $50,000 pic.twitter.com/11og9GoSyi

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) August 5, 2024

Bitcoin dropped as much as 20% to around $49,000 before rebounding slightly to trade above $50,000 again. The steep decline coincided with crashing stock markets worldwide, fueled by recession fears.

Japan’s Nikkei index plunged over 8%, posting its worst two-day rout since 1987. Asian and European markets are experiencing some of the worst losses ever. In the U.S., the tech-heavy Nasdaq entered correction territory after sliding over…

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LATEST: Robert Kiyosaki Sees Downturn as Chance to Invest in Bitcoin

As global financial markets experience a sharp downturn, prominent financial educator and investor Robert Kiyosaki has expressed enthusiasm for investing in commodities like gold, silver, and notably, Bitcoin. In a recent tweet, Kiyosaki heralded the current market conditions as an opportune moment for those who are bold, suggesting that investing during these times could be a wise decision for the courageous.

Kiyosaki emphasized the potential for wealth accumulation when markets are volatile, urging his followers to remain composed and strategic. According to him, while some may view the market crashes as a setback, they present a unique chance for savvy investors to grow their portfolios by acquiring assets like Bitcoin. His stance underscores a bullish outlook on digital currencies, particularly during periods of economic instability.

Weekly U.S. Bitcoin ETFs Net Flow Analysis

From July 29 to August 2, 2024, the weekly net flow of Bitcoin in U.S. ETFs reveals diverse investor activity across different funds. BlackRock’s IBIT ETF led with a significant net inflow of 5,259 BTC, indicating strong investor confidence and increasing holdings to 343,387 BTC. In contrast, Grayscale’s GBTC saw a major outflow, losing 29,937 BTC, reflecting a possible shift in investor sentiment or profit-taking. Fidelity’s FBTC also experienced a net outflow of 1,311 BTC, decreasing its total to 179,749 BTC.

Other ETFs showed varied movements: ARK Invest’s ARKB had a net outflow of 544 BTC, while Bitwise’s BITB lost 273 BTC. However, Grayscale’s other fund, BTC, reported a substantial net inflow of 27,212 BTC, showing strong investor interest. VanEck’s HODL ETF gained 198 BTC, while Valkyrie’s BRRR and Franklin Templeton’s EZBC reported no net change in their holdings. Invesco Galaxy’s BTCO saw a minor outflow of 70 BTC.

Overall, the total Bitcoin holdings across these ETFs amounted to 913,516 BTC, with a net positive flow of 534 BTC for the week, equating to an increase in value of approximately $32.39 million. This data underscores the mixed yet active engagement of investors in the Bitcoin ETF market during this period.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations and data can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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The SEC continues to engage in ‘strategic ambiguity,’ lawyer says

Earlier this week, two NFT artists decided to take the lack of regulatory clarity over their medium to court. 

Jonathan Mann and Brian Frye sued the Securities and Exchange Commission. In a Louisiana court filing, they argue that artists like Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe never had to worry about regulators claiming their art constituted investment contracts.

“It would be crazy to think that Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna or Louisiana’s own Louis Armstrong should have retained attorneys to examine the SEC’s Form S-1 to see how to register their music for sale to the general public,” the complaint said.

Mann told…

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Funding Wrap: Morpho announces $50M raise

One big raise led the pack of this week’s funding announcements: Morpho. The crypto lending firm said it raised $50 million in a round led by Ribbit Capital. 

A16z Crypto, Coinbase Ventures, Brevan Howard, Kraken Ventures and Pantera were among a long list of participants in the raise. 

“The potential impact of Morpho extends far beyond current DeFi markets, as the protocol is capable of becoming decentralized infrastructure to underpin a truly global, internet-native financial system,” the firm wrote.

Read more: Gauntlet will become a Morpho Labs Risk Curator days after its fallout with Aave

Morpho Blue, the lender said, has surpassed $1.7 billion in total deposits in the six…

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LATEST: Bitcoin’s Mining Difficulty Reaches Record 90.67 Trillion Hashes

Bitcoin mining has scaled new heights of complexity as the difficulty of mining has surged to a record, despite a recent dip in Bitcoin’s price. According to data from BTC.com, the difficulty now stands at an unprecedented 90.67 trillion hashes, highlighting the robust confidence among miners in the enduring value of Bitcoin. This significant increase is fueled by the introduction of more advanced mining hardware and the expansion of large-scale operations, which enhance the network’s hash rate and, consequently, its security and operational demands.

This trend signals a maturation phase within the cryptocurrency sector, increasing competition and possibly leading to technological innovations in energy-efficient mining practices. While the rising mining difficulty suggests a promising outlook for Bitcoin’s stability and long-term value, it also raises concerns about potential centralization, as smaller miners might struggle to compete. This evolving landscape could reshape the decentralization that is central to the cryptocurrency ethos, prompting stakeholders to reassess strategies and potentially attract regulatory attention.

Weekly U.S. Ethereum ETFs Net Flow Analysis

From July 29 to August 2, 2024, the weekly net flow of Ethereum across various U.S. ETFs reflects a mixed sentiment in the market. Grayscale’s ETHE saw a significant net outflow of -361,812 ETH, which substantially impacted the overall net flow. However, Grayscale’s other fund, ETH, experienced a positive inflow of +43,572 ETH, balancing some of the outflows.

BlackRock’s ETHA ETF had a strong positive net inflow of +110,607 ETH, indicating solid investor interest. Similarly, Fidelity’s FETH ETF saw an inflow of +34,000 ETH, and Bitwise’s ETHW gained +11,622 ETH.

Franklin Templeton’s EZET and VanEck’s ETHV also reported positive inflows of +3,800 ETH and +7,323 ETH, respectively, with smaller gains seen in 21Shares’ CETH at +1,000 ETH. Invesco Galaxy’s QETH, however, reported a slight outflow of -14 ETH.

Overall, the total Ethereum holdings across these ETFs amounted to 2,811,829 ETH, with a net weekly outflow of -149,902 ETH, equivalent to a value decrease of approximately -$434.1 million. This week’s data highlights significant movements and investor activity within the Ethereum ETF market.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations and data can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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