⚖️ Senators urge SEC to probe TRUMP memecoin after 98% crash
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have formally requested the SEC investigate President Trump's official TRUMP memecoin, calling it an "illegal scam" that may have harmed nearly one million investors.
The token collapsed 98% from its peak, with the senators warning it could be a "rug pull" and raising concerns about insider profits. Their letter cited billions of dollars in losses across affected wallets and called on the SEC to examine whether the token facilitated fraud or improper enrichment.
The request comes as the broader Clarity Act — a crypto market structure bill — remains stalled in Congress, partly due to unresolved ethics questions surrounding Trump's crypto activities.
🔐 Five Convicted Over London Kidnap and Torture of Crypto Holders
A UK court has convicted five people for imprisoning and torturing crypto millionaires in London, in a case centred on forced access to digital assets.
Two of the five were also found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail. Notably, prosecutors secured all convictions without either victim taking the stand.
The case highlights the growing physical security risk faced by high-profile crypto holders, as criminals increasingly target individuals for direct asset extraction rather than technical exploits.
📊 US Google Search Interest in Bitcoin Near 5-Year Low
Google Trends data shows US searches for "bitcoin" have fallen to near-historic lows, even as the crypto industry faces a significant legislative moment.
The drop comes as the Clarity Act — a major crypto regulatory bill — is expected to go to a vote in the US Senate this week. The contrast between declining retail search interest and active regulatory development marks a notable divergence in the current market cycle.
Low search interest has historically coincided with periods of reduced retail participation, making on-chain and institutional data increasingly important signals to watch.
🟠 Bitcoin Rebounds to $63,900 as 32,000 BTC Flows to Exchanges
Bitcoin briefly dipped to $62,300 on Aug. 3 before recovering toward $63,900, though the bounce remains fragile amid weak spot demand and short-term holder losses.
A notable transfer of 32,000 BTC to exchanges was recorded during the period — a move often associated with increased selling pressure. Weak spot buying has so far limited the strength of any recovery.
Short-term holders continuing to sell at a loss signals that market confidence has not fully returned at current price levels.
⚖️ Iran-Linked Dubai Exchange Funneled $676M to Binance
A Reuters investigation has found that an unlicensed Dubai-based exchange with ties to Iran sent at least $676 million to Binance, with blockchain analysts tracing a total of $4 billion flowing through the platform.
The exchange allegedly provided Iran's central bank and a network of roughly 2,000 gambling sites with access to global crypto markets — activity that would circumvent international sanctions and financial restrictions.
The findings add to ongoing regulatory scrutiny of crypto exchanges and their exposure to sanctioned jurisdictions, a topic that has already resulted in major enforcement actions against industry players in recent years.
A BearingPoint study has found that 23% of Swiss adults use cryptocurrency at least occasionally — more than double the 11% rate recorded in Germany.
The gap reflects years of regulatory and financial infrastructure development in Switzerland, where digital assets have gradually moved into mainstream financial life.
The data highlight Switzerland as one of Europe's leading markets for retail crypto adoption, with its policy environment often cited as a key driver of broader public engagement with digital assets.