Major Crypto Cards: Who Pays You Back the Most
Crypto cards are quietly the best cashback game in the market right now. We stacked up the 4 majors.
Kolo pays the most out the gate — and it pays in BTC, not a native token you're forced to hold.
Boosted rate works via link only 👇
https://get.kolo.xyz/p704299
Crypto cards are quietly the best cashback game in the market right now. We stacked up the 4 majors.
Kolo — up to ~5% in BTC for the first 3 months (CryptoDiffer promo)
Plasma One — 2–4% in XPL
ether.fi Cash — 3%
KAST — 1.5–3%
Kolo pays the most out the gate — and it pays in BTC, not a native token you're forced to hold.
Boosted rate works via link only 👇
https://get.kolo.xyz/p704299
BonkDAO Treasury Drained of ~$20M in Governance Attack
BonkDAO was hit by a malicious governance proposal that drained an estimated $20M in BONK from its treasury, with the stolen tokens already moving to exchanges.
👉 x.com/bonk_inu/status/2074191403781906800
BonkDAO was hit by a malicious governance proposal that drained an estimated $20M in BONK from its treasury, with the stolen tokens already moving to exchanges.
The attacker bought BONK ahead of the vote to secure enough voting power to push the proposal through. BonkDAO says it has identified the exchange wallets used and is working with exchanges, bridges and the Solana Foundation to trace and freeze the funds.
👉 x.com/bonk_inu/status/2074191403781906800
Jito Labs Sets July 14 Launch for JTX Trading Platform
Jito Labs will launch JTX on July 14 — a self-custodial trading platform on Solana, pitched as “one surface to trade every market.”
👉 x.com/jtx_trade/status/2074177353828139383
Jito Labs will launch JTX on July 14 — a self-custodial trading platform on Solana, pitched as “one surface to trade every market.”
JTX aims for CEX-level speed with spot trading and RWAs while keeping user funds fully self-custodial. The launch marks Jito's move beyond MEV and staking into consumer-facing trading.
👉 x.com/jtx_trade/status/2074177353828139383
Tether Brings USDT Back to Bitcoin via RGB Protocol
Tether plans to issue USDT natively on Bitcoin through the RGB protocol (v0.11.1), with UTEXO leading the commercial rollout — returning the world's largest stablecoin to the network where it first launched in 2014.
👉 bitcoinmagazine.com/business/usdt-returns-to-bitcoin-rgb-and-utexo-enable-private-lightning-settlements
Tether plans to issue USDT natively on Bitcoin through the RGB protocol (v0.11.1), with UTEXO leading the commercial rollout — returning the world's largest stablecoin to the network where it first launched in 2014.
RGB lets users send and receive USDT between Bitcoin addresses and compatible wallets, with UTEXO saying the feature could go live as early as July. Support from Tether Wallet and multiple exchanges is expected to follow.
👉 bitcoinmagazine.com/business/usdt-returns-to-bitcoin-rgb-and-utexo-enable-private-lightning-settlements
Paradigm Leads $5.5M Seed Round in M1X Global
M1X Global raised $5.5M in an oversubscribed seed round led by Paradigm, with Breed VC the only other backer — lifting total funding to $8.5M. The firm issues USDM1, a tokenized U.S.-dollar sovereign debt instrument.
👉 thecoinomist.com/news/paradigm-5-5m-seed-m1x-global-usdm1-token/
M1X Global raised $5.5M in an oversubscribed seed round led by Paradigm, with Breed VC the only other backer — lifting total funding to $8.5M. The firm issues USDM1, a tokenized U.S.-dollar sovereign debt instrument.
USDM1 is issued by the Republic of the Marshall Islands, backed 1:1 by short-duration U.S. Treasuries and live on Stellar, Canton and Solana.
👉 thecoinomist.com/news/paradigm-5-5m-seed-m1x-global-usdm1-token/
Ethereum Glamsterdam: The Biggest Upgrade Since The Merge
Glamsterdam is Ethereum's first base-layer throughput overhaul since 2022 — it rebuilds how the network assembles blocks.
Timeline: devnet-5/6 running now, internal mainnet target late August, realistic window Q3 2026 (ePBS slipped).
A fundamental H2 catalyst while ETH sits near the lows.
Glamsterdam is Ethereum's first base-layer throughput overhaul since 2022 — it rebuilds how the network assembles blocks.
What changes:
— Gas limit: ~60M → 200M floor (~3x)
— Throughput: ~20 → up to ~10,000 TPS*
— Gas fees: up to −78%*
— Data propagation: 2s → ~9s (~4.5x wider window)
Timeline: devnet-5/6 running now, internal mainnet target late August, realistic window Q3 2026 (ePBS slipped).
A fundamental H2 catalyst while ETH sits near the lows.
Zeus Network Faces Scrutiny Over Communication Issues as ZEUS Drops 99%
Zeus Network is facing increasing concern from the community after its official X account reportedly disabled replies, while the team has also become less responsive on Discord.
Meanwhile, ZEUS is now down more than 99%, adding to fears that the protocol may have effectively stalled.
Zeus Network is facing increasing concern from the community after its official X account reportedly disabled replies, while the team has also become less responsive on Discord.
In April, the project announced that it had been “acquired” by a Cardano-related project and would expand beyond Solana. Since then, users have continued to raise questions about communication and withdrawal-related issues.
Meanwhile, ZEUS is now down more than 99%, adding to fears that the protocol may have effectively stalled.
DeepSeek Is Building Its Own AI Chip, Sources Say
DeepSeek is developing its own AI chip to cut its reliance on Nvidia and Huawei, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The chip targets inference — running trained models — rather than training new ones.
👉 reuters.com/world/china/chinas-deepseek-developing-its-own-ai-chip-sources-say-2026-07-07/
DeepSeek is developing its own AI chip to cut its reliance on Nvidia and Huawei, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The chip targets inference — running trained models — rather than training new ones.
The effort is still early: DeepSeek is in talks with chip-design, foundry and memory firms and has quietly hired chip engineers. Domestic rivals Alibaba and Baidu are already building their own AI chips. Huawei now holds about half of China's $50B domestic AI chip market after U.S. curbs on Nvidia exports.
👉 reuters.com/world/china/chinas-deepseek-developing-its-own-ai-chip-sources-say-2026-07-07/
Coinbase Wins UK License for Stocks and Derivatives
Coinbase has secured U.K. regulatory approval to offer equities and derivatives alongside crypto, adding a MiFID license in one of its largest international markets.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/07/07/coinbase-secures-uk-authorization-to-offer-traditional-investments-alongside-crypto
Coinbase has secured U.K. regulatory approval to offer equities and derivatives alongside crypto, adding a MiFID license in one of its largest international markets.
The license lets institutional traders access crypto, equity and commodity perpetual futures, while U.K. retail users can trade equities on Coinbase for the first time. The move advances Coinbase's “Everything Exchange” strategy — spanning stocks, crypto derivatives, prediction markets and tokenized products.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/07/07/coinbase-secures-uk-authorization-to-offer-traditional-investments-alongside-crypto
Tether’s Former CIO Plans to Sell Part of His Stake
Tether’s former chief investment officer Richard Heathcote is reportedly looking to sell a small portion of his 1.26% stake in the stablecoin giant. According to Bloomberg, he is working with PJT Partners on the secondary sale.
Heathcote stepped down as CIO in March and later moved into a non-executive advisory role. His deputy, Zachary Lyons, took over day-to-day investment management at the company.
The company remains the largest stablecoin issuer in the market, with USDT supply standing at around $184 billion. Tether’s business has stayed highly profitable thanks to its large holdings of U.S. Treasury bills.
👉 bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-06/tether-s-former-cio-plans-sale-of-stake-in-stablecoin-giant
Tether’s former chief investment officer Richard Heathcote is reportedly looking to sell a small portion of his 1.26% stake in the stablecoin giant. According to Bloomberg, he is working with PJT Partners on the secondary sale.
Heathcote stepped down as CIO in March and later moved into a non-executive advisory role. His deputy, Zachary Lyons, took over day-to-day investment management at the company.
The potential deal comes after Tether paused earlier plans to raise funds at a valuation of up to $500 billion, as the firm waits for its first full audit. Tether has also hired a Big Four accounting firm to handle the review.
The company remains the largest stablecoin issuer in the market, with USDT supply standing at around $184 billion. Tether’s business has stayed highly profitable thanks to its large holdings of U.S. Treasury bills.
👉 bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-06/tether-s-former-cio-plans-sale-of-stake-in-stablecoin-giant
Prediction Markets: 6 Months, 5 Venues
H1 in one picture — every major venue, month by month. Where the volume actually went, Jan → Jun:
Bottom line: Kalshi's lead isn't a one-month fluke — it's six months of compounding. The majors pulled away while the challengers churned.
H1 in one picture — every major venue, month by month. Where the volume actually went, Jan → Jun:
The majors
— Kalshi: a relentless climb: $3.7B → $9.4B, peaking in June. Six straight months of growth, no wobble.
— Polymarket: stuck in a $3.2B–$4.8B range, dipped to $3.2B in May, rebounded to $4.3B in June. Flat while Kalshi ran.
The challengers
— Opinion: front-loaded and fading: $3.3B in January → collapsed to ~$380M by June. The entire −80% share drop is right here.
— Predict.fun: volatile: a $647M April spike, back down to $265M in June.
— Limitless: the quiet grinder: $47M → $327M by May, the cleanest growth curve of the small caps.
Bottom line: Kalshi's lead isn't a one-month fluke — it's six months of compounding. The majors pulled away while the challengers churned.
Tether Invests $20M in Mercado Bitcoin to Accelerate Brazil’s On-Chain Infrastructure
Tether has invested $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin's strategic financing round. The Brazilian platform is one of Latin America's largest regulated on-chain financial services providers.
The new funding will support expansion across stablecoin payments, tokenized investments, lending, and on-chain capital markets, while also fueling international growth.
👉 tether.io/news/tether-to-invest-20-million-in-strategic-financing-round-for-mercado-bitcoin
Tether has invested $20 million in Mercado Bitcoin's strategic financing round. The Brazilian platform is one of Latin America's largest regulated on-chain financial services providers.
Mercado Bitcoin serves 4.5 million users, has issued over R$2 billion in tokenized assets, and operates under more than 10 licenses across Brazil and Europe.
The new funding will support expansion across stablecoin payments, tokenized investments, lending, and on-chain capital markets, while also fueling international growth.
👉 tether.io/news/tether-to-invest-20-million-in-strategic-financing-round-for-mercado-bitcoin
TAC Sees Over 90% Price Drop in 15 Minutes Amid Heavy Selling
Binance Alpha token TAC fell more than 90% in just 15 minutes, dropping to around $0.0063. The sharp move triggered attention across the crypto market.
TAC is building an EVM-compatible blockchain for the TON and Telegram ecosystem. The sudden collapse added fresh scrutiny around the token’s short-term volatility.
👉 x.com/WuBlockchain/status/2074524222496629115
Binance Alpha token TAC fell more than 90% in just 15 minutes, dropping to around $0.0063. The sharp move triggered attention across the crypto market.
TAC was first listed on Binance Alpha and Binance Futures in July 2025. The project is backed by TON Ventures and investors including Hack VC, Animoca Ventures, Symbolic Capital, and Spartan Group.
TAC is building an EVM-compatible blockchain for the TON and Telegram ecosystem. The sudden collapse added fresh scrutiny around the token’s short-term volatility.
👉 x.com/WuBlockchain/status/2074524222496629115
Institutional Crypto Exchange EDX Markets Raises $76M to Expand Global Infrastructure
EDX Markets has secured $76 million in a Series C funding round led by SBI Holdings. The capital will support product development, infrastructure upgrades, and global expansion.
Earlier this year, EDX also applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter through the OCC. If approved, EDX Trust would provide regulated crypto custody, clearing, settlement, and risk management services.
Launched in 2023, EDX is backed by major financial firms including Citadel Securities, Fidelity Digital Assets, Charles Schwab, Paradigm, and Sequoia Capital.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/07/07/edx-markets-raises-usd76-million-in-funding-round-led-by-sbi-holdings
EDX Markets has secured $76 million in a Series C funding round led by SBI Holdings. The capital will support product development, infrastructure upgrades, and global expansion.
The company plans to strengthen its trading, clearing, and settlement systems while expanding its institutional digital asset services. EDX recently launched FlowConnect, a crypto-as-a-service platform for financial institutions.
Earlier this year, EDX also applied for a U.S. national trust bank charter through the OCC. If approved, EDX Trust would provide regulated crypto custody, clearing, settlement, and risk management services.
Launched in 2023, EDX is backed by major financial firms including Citadel Securities, Fidelity Digital Assets, Charles Schwab, Paradigm, and Sequoia Capital.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/07/07/edx-markets-raises-usd76-million-in-funding-round-led-by-sbi-holdings
Predict fun Launches Block Trading for Institutional-Size Prediction Market Orders
Predict fun has introduced block trading for large-volume prediction market orders, allowing users to execute trades of 100,000+ shares through a dedicated concierge service. Liquidity for the new feature is provided by Susquehanna Crypto.
The platform enables buyers and sellers to complete large peer-to-peer transactions without the slippage and liquidity issues common on public order books. Predict is also waiving all OTC-related fees for the first two weeks following the launch.
Predict fun says it has processed over $4.6 billion in cumulative trading volume since launch. The protocol is backed by YZi Labs and Susquehanna Crypto, and serves as the official predictions provider for Binance.
👉 news.predict.fun/predict-fun-delivers-streamlined-on-chain-block-trading-platform
Predict fun has introduced block trading for large-volume prediction market orders, allowing users to execute trades of 100,000+ shares through a dedicated concierge service. Liquidity for the new feature is provided by Susquehanna Crypto.
The platform enables buyers and sellers to complete large peer-to-peer transactions without the slippage and liquidity issues common on public order books. Predict is also waiving all OTC-related fees for the first two weeks following the launch.
According to the team, the feature is designed to bring institutional-grade trading infrastructure to on-chain prediction markets as demand from larger participants continues to grow.
Predict fun says it has processed over $4.6 billion in cumulative trading volume since launch. The protocol is backed by YZi Labs and Susquehanna Crypto, and serves as the official predictions provider for Binance.
👉 news.predict.fun/predict-fun-delivers-streamlined-on-chain-block-trading-platform
Tokenized Stocks: Who Runs the Market
The tokenized-stock market just hit $1.95B (+34% in 30 days). Two issuers run most of it — and they play completely different games.
Bottom line: Ondo is deepest, xStocks fastest, Binance the newest threat — but nearly everyone blocks the US. Only Dinari lets Americans in.
The tokenized-stock market just hit $1.95B (+34% in 30 days). Two issuers run most of it — and they play completely different games.
The two giants (≈78% combined):
— Ondo (Global Markets): 43.6% share · $870M onchain · 405 assets. The deepest, but flat (−1.3% MoM). An open network: distributed across Binance, MetaMask, Bitget, Euler.
— xStocks (Backed, Kraken-owned): 34.6% share · $690M · 172 assets, but +58.7% MoM — the fastest riser. A Kraken vertical: Kraken, Bybit, Gate, Bitget Wallet.
The challengers:
— Robinhood (Stock Tokens): ~2,000 tokens, but EU/EEA only + reduced rights
— Coinbase (Tokenize): launching this summer, promising real dividends + voting
— bStocks (by Binance): its own issuer, ~6% share in just 8 days
— Dinari (dShares): SEC transfer agent, the only one US investors can legally use (accredited)
Bottom line: Ondo is deepest, xStocks fastest, Binance the newest threat — but nearly everyone blocks the US. Only Dinari lets Americans in.
OpenAI to Launch GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra & Luna on Thursday
GPT-5.6 is OpenAI's newest model family in three tiers: Sol — the flagship for reasoning, coding and agents — plus a balanced everyday Terra and a fast, low-cost Luna.
👉 x.com/OpenAI/status/2074704958419792299
GPT-5.6 is OpenAI's newest model family in three tiers: Sol — the flagship for reasoning, coding and agents — plus a balanced everyday Terra and a fast, low-cost Luna.
“GPT-5.6 Sol, along with Terra and Luna, will launch publicly this Thursday. We're expanding preview access globally now,” OpenAI said. The models first reached a small group of partners in a late-June preview under U.S. government review — Thursday marks their first public release.
👉 x.com/OpenAI/status/2074704958419792299
Polymarket Enables BTC Lightning Deposits
Prediction-market platform Polymarket has switched on native Bitcoin funding: users can now deposit BTC over the Lightning Network in seconds, powered by Spark and without any stablecoin conversion.
👉 x.com/spark/status/2074539080197775421
Prediction-market platform Polymarket has switched on native Bitcoin funding: users can now deposit BTC over the Lightning Network in seconds, powered by Spark and without any stablecoin conversion.
“Starting today, Polymarket now supports instant Bitcoin deposits over Lightning, powered by Spark. Deposit BTC straight to Polymarket — faster and more privately,” Spark said. Spark is a Bitcoin scaling network that calls itself “the best way to build on Bitcoin,” part of a wider push to make BTC directly spendable across crypto apps.
👉 x.com/spark/status/2074539080197775421
Kraken Pushes to Become a Bank in Europe
Kraken is pursuing a full banking license in Europe, targeting Lithuania — a move that would make it the only crypto exchange with bank status, mirroring the path Revolut took to offer accounts, lending and stock trading across the EEA.
Separately, Kraken won a $22M arbitration against former auditor Mazars, which dropped the exchange in 2023 during the “Operation Choke Point 2.0” crypto crackdown.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/07/07/crypto-exchange-kraken-is-trying-to-become-a-bank-in-europe
Kraken is pursuing a full banking license in Europe, targeting Lithuania — a move that would make it the only crypto exchange with bank status, mirroring the path Revolut took to offer accounts, lending and stock trading across the EEA.
CEO Arjun Sethi says Kraken plans to secure banking licenses region by region over the next decade — via acquisitions or from scratch — as part of parent Payward's global licensing push.
Separately, Kraken won a $22M arbitration against former auditor Mazars, which dropped the exchange in 2023 during the “Operation Choke Point 2.0” crypto crackdown.
👉 coindesk.com/business/2026/07/07/crypto-exchange-kraken-is-trying-to-become-a-bank-in-europe
KOR Protocol Raises $7.5M Series A at $100M Valuation
Backed by 1kx, Blockchain Capital, Animoca, Sfermion and the Solana and Avalanche foundations, KOR Protocol raised $7.5M in a Series A that values the onchain intellectual-property (IP) network at a $100M post-money valuation.
👉 theblock.co/post/407465/1kx-blockchain-capital-7-5-million-kor-protocol-series-a-100-million-valuation
Backed by 1kx, Blockchain Capital, Animoca, Sfermion and the Solana and Avalanche foundations, KOR Protocol raised $7.5M in a Series A that values the onchain intellectual-property (IP) network at a $100M post-money valuation.
The raise funds KOR's work bringing IP rights and licensing onchain, letting creators and brands tokenize and monetize their intellectual property directly.
👉 theblock.co/post/407465/1kx-blockchain-capital-7-5-million-kor-protocol-series-a-100-million-valuation
