⚖️ Crypto leads all sectors with $206M in political spending
Crypto companies outspent every other corporate sector in political donations over the 18 months through June, contributing $206 million out of a record $646 million total, according to Public Citizen's analysis of FEC filings.
Combined with AI and online betting, the three sectors accounted for $344 million — more than half of all corporate political spending in the period. The GENIUS Act, a stablecoin regulation bill, has already passed as a result of the industry's lobbying push.
With that legislation secured, the crypto industry's next legislative targets in Congress remain the focus of ongoing advocacy efforts.
🏦 Coinbase Partners with Betrmortgage on Bitcoin-Backed Loans
Coinbase has announced a partnership with Betrmortgage to allow users to secure mortgages using Bitcoin as collateral.
The collaboration marks an early move into crypto-backed real estate financing, though no further details on loan terms, eligibility, or product availability were included in the announcement.
If the model scales, it could represent a new use case for Bitcoin as a financial asset within traditional mortgage markets.
📊 Bitcoin drops to $76,900 as rate-hike fears spark $488M liquidation
Bitcoin fell as low as $76,909 Friday before partially recovering to $77,712, a 4% drop over 24 hours, after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh revived the prospect of higher interest rates at Jackson Hole.
The move triggered a broader crypto liquidation cascade totaling $488 million across the market.
Rate-hike expectations remain a key macro pressure point for risk assets, and the latest remarks from Warsh signal the Fed may not be done tightening — adding uncertainty to near-term crypto market conditions.
🟠 Fed's Jackson Hole Focuses on Payments for First Time in 40 Years
Bitcoin is holding above $80,000 as the Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole symposium opens with an agenda centered on payments and financial infrastructure — a topic directly tied to crypto for the first time in the event's four-decade history.
The shift marks a notable departure from the symposium's traditional macroeconomic focus, placing digital payments and financial rails at the center of central bank discussion.
With Fed policymakers formally addressing the infrastructure that underpins crypto markets, the event is being watched closely for signals on how regulators view the evolving payments landscape.
🪙 Uniswap surges 32% weekly as DeFi tokens lead altcoin recovery
Uniswap's UNI token posted a 32% gain over the past week, standing out as one of the stronger performers among major altcoins. Bitcoin, meanwhile, has stabilized around $78,000.
DeFi-related tokens drove notable daily moves across the market. Arbitrum's ARB gained 24% and Curve's CRV rose 15% in a single day, with both tokens re-entering the top 100 by market capitalization following the moves.
The cluster of gains in DeFi-linked assets suggests renewed short-term interest in the sector, though broader market direction remains tied to Bitcoin's next move from the $78K range.
🌐 London Stock Exchange Partners With Kraken to Tokenize UK Stocks
The London Stock Exchange has partnered with Payward — the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken — to bring shares of the 100 largest London-listed companies onto the blockchain.
The collaboration will use Payward's xStocks tokenized equities framework. The tokenized stocks could eventually trade through the LSE's planned 24-hour trading venue, significantly expanding access and liquidity windows beyond traditional market hours.
The move marks one of the most prominent traditional finance institutions to formally engage with on-chain equity tokenization, signaling growing institutional appetite for bridging public markets and blockchain infrastructure.