🏛 Fed minutes may reveal wider hawkish divide than expected
The Federal Reserve releases its latest meeting minutes at 2 PM today, with crypto markets watching closely for signs of a broader internal split on monetary policy.
The key threshold: the minutes would signal a hawkish surprise only if support for tightening extended beyond the three officials who formally dissented at the meeting. If additional Fed members leaned hawkish without registering an official dissent, the release could shift rate-cut expectations and weigh on risk assets including Bitcoin.
Fed minutes are a standard macro trigger for crypto volatility, as rate policy directly influences institutional appetite for digital assets.
🔐 Bybit Reports $700M in Blocked Losses Since $1.5B Hack
Bybit says its post-breach security overhaul has prevented an estimated $700 million in potential losses following the $1.46 billion theft it suffered in 2025 — the largest exchange hack on record.
The exchange has implemented real-time monitoring and AI-assisted threat detection as part of its security rebuild. Bybit has not disclosed further technical details on the specific attack vectors blocked or the timeframe over which the $700M figure was calculated.
The February 2025 hack, attributed to North Korea's Lazarus Group, prompted a broad industry conversation around cold wallet security and third-party infrastructure risk.
🏦 Citi to Launch Bitcoin Custody for Institutions This Year
Citigroup is set to offer Bitcoin custody services through its new Custody+ platform, targeting institutional clients with a launch expected later this year.
The platform will provide 24/7 access, secure key management, and faster settlement, while integrating crypto custody with existing reporting, tax, and safekeeping workflows. Features also include real-time asset servicing, instant settlements, liquidity tools, and AI-powered market intelligence. Bitcoin will be the first supported asset, with additional digital assets planned for future inclusion.
The move marks a significant step by one of Wall Street's largest banks into regulated crypto infrastructure for institutional clients.
⚖️ EU sanctions package enables country-wide crypto transaction bans
The EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia, passed on July 23, introduces a mechanism allowing regulators to ban crypto transactions with entire jurisdictions accused of repeatedly enabling sanctions evasion.
The package expands Russia crypto sanctions to 14 additional foreign service platforms and tightens restrictions on the Russian ruble stablecoin network and institutions supporting it. The new country-level ban would allow EU authorities to cut off EU-based crypto operators from providers in non-compliant jurisdictions.
This marks a significant escalation in the EU's crypto enforcement toolkit, moving beyond entity-level designations toward potential blanket restrictions on cross-border crypto activity tied to sanctions circumvention.
🪙 Six US Banks Build Tokenized Deposit Model via Fireblocks
Six chartered US banks are developing a tokenized deposit model in partnership with Fireblocks, signaling growing institutional interest in blockchain-based banking infrastructure.
Tokenized deposits represent bank liabilities recorded on a blockchain, allowing for programmable, near-instant settlement between financial institutions. The involvement of six chartered US banks marks a notable step toward mainstream adoption of tokenization within regulated banking.
Fireblocks, a digital asset infrastructure provider, is facilitating the initiative, which reflects a broader industry trend of traditional banks exploring on-chain settlement rails as an alternative to legacy payment systems.
⚖️ SEC Cancels Regulation Crypto Vote, Safe Harbor on Hold
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has canceled a scheduled vote on Regulation Crypto, leaving token issuers and holders subject to existing securities rules.
No safe harbor framework has been established, meaning projects operating in the U.S. continue to face legal uncertainty over whether their tokens qualify as securities. No new vote date has been announced.