5 Aug 2025, 08:00

India criticizes U.S., EU-Russia trade while facing Trump’s tariff pressure

India has called out the U.S. and European Union over their trade with Russia after President Trump threatened steeper tariffs on New Delhi. The country believes the Trump administration is targeting it over its imports of Russian oil. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement Monday that the country began importing its energy trade deal with Russia after the start of the war with Ukraine. The MEA also argued that its traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the war began, leading New Delhi to seek other alternatives for energy. India prioritizes economic security According to the ministry, the U.S. previously commended India’s oil trade initiative for strengthening global energy market stability. They also condemned the EU and the U.S. for criticizing New Delhi, yet they indulge in trade with Russia. The EU and Russia traded goods worth 67.5B euros last year, up from 17.2B euros the previous year. Official data also shows India’s trade with Moscow reached a record $68.7 billion for the 12 months to March 2025. The bloc accounted for 38.4% of Russia’s exports in 2024. Its bilateral trade with Russia also saw a 74% drop in 2024 from 275.5B euros in 2021. Moscow continues to export machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, and fertilizers to the EU. India and Russia only traded a mere $10.1 billion during the pre-pandemic trade. The figures indicate that New Delhi’s trade was much lower than the EU’s trade with Russia. The MEA condemned the U.S. for continued import of Russian Uranium, which it had banned in May 2024. The ministry noted that the Western country also imports palladium from Moscow to power its EV industry . The ministry highlighted that the targeting of the country is unjustified and unreasonable. India said it will take all necessary precautions to protect its national interests and economic security. Trump threatens higher tariffs on India Trump had called out India last week for continuing its energy trade with Russia and imposed 25% tariffs on the country, plus additional penalties. The President also threatened to raise levies for New Delhi on Monday, but didn’t specify the level of the higher tariffs. Trump said that India didn’t care about the deaths in Ukraine as they continue to buy massive amounts of Russian oil. His deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, reiterated on Sunday that it was not acceptable for India to continue financing the conflict in Ukraine by purchasing Russian energy. Trump has also accused India of purchasing cheap Russian oil and selling it on the Open Market for big profits. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that India went from importing 100,000 barrels per day before the conflict – 2.5% of its total imports – to more than 1.8 million barrels (39%) per day in 2023. “Our bilateral relationships with various countries stand on their own merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country. India and Russia have a steady and time-tested partnership.” -Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India. Former Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran called for the country to follow the example of China and Brazil to stand up to the Trump administration. He argued that the President’s exaggerated demands had turned political as well as economic, and could undermine India’s national interests. KEY Difference Wire : the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage

5 Aug 2025, 07:58

The 10X Profit Potential: How FUNToken’s Deflationary Model and Community Engagement Are Fueling the Surge to $0.10

While most tokens rely on speculation alone to justify bold price predictions, FUNToken ($FUN) is building a case for its next milestone - $0.10 - on far more solid ground. Trading around $0.0225 at the time of writing, FUN has already delivered consistent growth underpinned by measurable adoption and a disciplined approach to supply reduction. With a target that represents nearly a 5X return from current levels - and a 10X profit for early 2025 accumulators - many traders are asking: Is this momentum sustainable? A closer look at FUNToken’s deflationary mechanics and community incentives suggests the answer may be yes. Deflation by Design: A Model That Shrinks Supply One of the most powerful forces behind FUNToken’s recent surge is its predictable, revenue-backed deflationary model, a system that rewards real usage with measurable scarcity. Unlike projects that announce token burns to generate headlines but never deliver, FUNToken has built a consistent framework that connects every burn directly to platform activity. ● In June 2025, the project permanently removed 25 million tokens from circulation. This burn was not funded by reserves or one-off treasury spending; it was driven by actual transaction revenue collected from gameplay fees, mission completions, and engagement inside the ecosystem. ● The burn itself was fully traceable on-chain, providing the community with transparent proof of execution. This transparency has become a cornerstone of FUNToken’s strategy, reinforcing investor confidence that scarcity here is an operational commitment. ● Quarterly burns are scheduled as part of the long-term roadmap . As the platform expands to 30 live games and rolls out the FUN Wallet mobile app with integrated staking, each burn event is expected to grow in size. More users and higher transaction volumes mean more revenue, and more tokens removed from supply. ● Every time a burn occurs, the remaining tokens become proportionally scarcer, gradually tightening the market and supporting upward price pressure as demand expands. This disciplined approach to supply reduction is what sets FUNToken apart from competitors relying only on speculation. Community Engagement That Drives Daily Demand Supply reduction alone isn’t enough to sustain momentum - especially in crypto. What makes FUNToken’s approach unique is how it pairs deflation with a vibrant, fast-growing community that fuels daily demand. ● The AI-powered Telegram bot has become the daily entry point for over 105,000 players, offering everything from quizzes and missions to hyper-casual games and the Wheel of Fortune. This constant engagement creates a predictable stream of microtransactions, each contributing revenue that funds future burns. ● The $5 million giveaway is one of the largest incentive programs in Web3 gaming. Unlike limited-time promotions, this campaign rewards users for holding FUN tokens, referring friends, and participating consistently. This not only drives organic growth but also encourages players to keep tokens in their wallets instead of trading them away. ● Daily activity means FUN tokens are always in motion, being earned, spent, staked, and re-earned. This dynamic keeps liquidity healthy and helps maintain a steady baseline of demand, even during broader market volatility. ● The project’s roadmap reinforces this engagement cycle. Upcoming milestones like the launch of the FUN Wallet app, the expansion to new gaming experiences, and the integration of staking rewards all deepen the reasons players log in daily. Taken together, these elements form a self-sustaining ecosystem where every mission, spin, and referral supports adoption and reinforces the deflationary model. This is why, even when market sentiment cools, FUNToken’s engaged community acts as an engine that keeps the project moving forward, and why many see the $0.10 target as a realistic step, not a marketing slogan. Why the $0.10 Target Looks Credible Reaching $0.10 is no small feat. But there are clear reasons why this goal is realistic if the roadmap continues to deliver: Ongoing Quarterly BurnsEvery three months, tokens are removed from circulation, tightening supply. As more players participate, each burn grows in scale. Expansion to 30 Live GamesA larger catalog means more microtransactions, which generate additional revenue to fund buybacks and burns. FUN Wallet Mobile AppLaunching in Q3/Q4, the app will integrate staking, making it effortless for users to lock up tokens and reduce circulating supply. Daily Utility and IncentivesThe combination of the Telegram bot, the giveaway, and consistent mission rewards keeps the community active, reducing speculative churn. When adoption and deflation advance together, the price potential becomes much stronger. What to Watch as the Year Progresses If you’re tracking FUNToken’s journey toward $0.10, here are the key milestones to keep in focus: ● Next scheduled burn events and whether their scale increases as forecasted. ● The launch of the FUN Wallet mobile app, which will make staking accessible to casual players. ● Ongoing expansion to 30+ live games, driving higher transaction volumes. ● Growth in Telegram engagement and community size, especially as the $5 million giveaway continues to attract new participants. Together, these developments create the conditions where a 10X profit isn’t just a headline. It becomes a measurable possibility. Final Thoughts FUNToken’s strategy is clear: build daily utility, reduce supply, and reward loyalty. The combination of a disciplined deflationary model and a highly engaged community is what gives this project a credible path to $0.10 by the end of the year. For early participants, this could be the foundation for one of Web3 gaming’s most significant success stories. Note: The price mentioned was accurate at the time of writing (July 15, 2025) and may have changed since Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice

5 Aug 2025, 07:58

Litecoin Surges 10% on ETF Hopes and Merchant Activity Amid Quiet Rotation

Litecoin (LTC) rose by more than 11% in the past 24 hours, edging above $123, marking one of the sharpest large-cap rallies this week as traders rotated into legacy altcoins amid improving sentiment and fresh ETF chatter. The move, which made LTC as the largest weekly gainer among the top hundred tokens, comes as a mix of structural adoption and regulatory tailwinds. In July, litecoin accounted for 14.5% of all crypto payments on CoinGate, the firm said in an X post , leapfrogging stablecoins like USDT and USDC and second only to bitcoin (BTC). As such, speculation over a spot ETF continues to build despite the SEC delaying its decision on Grayscale’s application until October. Bloomberg analysts pegged the odds of eventual approval at 90% in early July, citing LTC’s commodity classification by the CFTC — a distinction that reduces legal risk and places it alongside bitcoin and ether (ETH) in regulatory clarity. Elsewhere, MEI Pharma disclosed a $100 million litecoin allocation last month, echoing early bitcoin treasury moves and giving LTC a new angle as a low-beta treasury asset. While the buy hasn’t moved markets materially, the optics help. Meanwhile, data from CoinDesk Analytics shows LTC broke above its 7-day simple moving average and faces a key pivot level at $117.61. Relative strength index (RSI) sits at 69.5 — elevated, but not yet signaling exhaustion. However, early MACD divergence suggests momentum may be cooling if inflows don’t sustain. Traders are watching $124–$131 as a resistance zone, per analytics, and a close above could signal a structural breakout.

5 Aug 2025, 07:53

Tom Lee’s BitMine Adds Another 208K ETH, Treasury Tops $3B as Ethereum Surges

BitMine Immersion Technologies, chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, has added 208,137 ETH to its growing crypto reserves, boosting its total holdings to 833,137 ETH, now worth over $3 billion. Key Takeaways: BitMine holds 833,137 ETH worth over $3 billion, making it the largest corporate Ethereum holder. The firm’s aggressive strategy puts it far ahead of rivals just one month after announcing its ETH push. BitMine is betting on Ethereum’s upside amid shifting macro conditions. The move cements BitMine’s position as the top Ethereum-holding treasury firm and places it fourth among global crypto treasuries overall, according to a Monday press release . The purchase was disclosed on Monday, coinciding with a sharp Ether price swing that saw the asset climb 5.8% to $3,730 before easing back to $3,654, according to CoinGecko. BitMine Accelerates Ethereum Push Just One Month Into New Strategy BitMine’s latest accumulation highlights its aggressive entry into the Ethereum space just over a month after the firm unveiled its ETH strategy. “We have separated ourselves among crypto treasury peers,” Lee said in a statement, emphasizing the rapid pace at which the firm has raised its crypto net asset value per share. “BitMine moved with lightning speed in its pursuit of the ‘alchemy of 5%’ of ETH.” The firm’s acceleration puts distance between it and rivals like SharpLink Gaming, which holds 438,200 ETH worth $1.61 billion, and The Ether Machine, now at 345,400 ETH after a $40 million buy on the same day. Rounding out the top five are the Ethereum Foundation (232,600 ETH) and PulseChain SAC (166,300 ETH), according to StrategicETHReserve data. BitMine’s rise has been fueled by notable backing. Investors include billionaire Bill Miller III, macro veteran Stanley Druckenmiller, and ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood — all vocal advocates for long-term crypto exposure. The firm’s positioning signals rising institutional conviction in Ethereum, which has outperformed in recent weeks while attempting to close the gap with leaders Bitcoin and Solana. Lee told CNBC he expects further upside in August, citing soft labor data and a possible pivot in U.S. monetary policy. He said signs of an easing Federal Reserve could lift both equities and crypto markets, potentially pushing the S&P 500 to new all-time highs — a move that would likely benefit Ether. “I think we’re going to rally pretty strongly in August,” says Tom Lee of @Fundstrat . “I think we can get to 6500, 6600 [on the S&P 500] and all-time highs in the next couple of weeks.” https://t.co/ZAsld9FqER — Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) August 4, 2025 With its latest buy, BitMine is not just betting on price appreciation but also staking its claim as a dominant force in Ethereum treasury strategy, outpacing peers both in speed and size. BitMine Launches $1B Buyback as ETH Holdings Top $2.3B Last week, BitMine announced a $1 billion stock buyback program as its Ethereum holdings surged past 625,000 ETH, worth $2.3 billion, making it the largest corporate holder of Ethereum to date. The open-ended repurchase plan comes amid BitMine’s larger goal of acquiring 5% of Ethereum’s total supply, a move it sees as part of a long-term capital strategy. Chairman Tom Lee described the buyback as a flexible way to optimize capital allocation on the firm’s path toward what he calls “the alchemy of 5%.” The announcement follows a massive ETH accumulation in July, including a single 16-day purchase of 566,776 ETH worth over $2 billion, vaulting BitMine past competitors like SharpLink and the Ethereum Foundation. BMNR shares have skyrocketed over 3,000% since early July as investors react to the aggressive accumulation strategy. The company’s stock options began trading on the NYSE last month , further boosting market engagement. The post Tom Lee’s BitMine Adds Another 208K ETH, Treasury Tops $3B as Ethereum Surges appeared first on Cryptonews .

5 Aug 2025, 07:29

HTX：Macro Dislocation and Crypto Re-Pricing – How Fed Revaluation and “Project Crypto” Are Resetting the Playing Field

The Federal Reserve’s latest rate decision jolted global markets—but it was the unexpected collapse in U.S. job growth that truly reshaped investor expectations. This week, Chloe (@ ChloeTalk1 ) from HTX Research offers insights into recent macro surprises and the regulatory pivot reshaping crypto’s policy landscape. Soft Jobs Data Resets Market Expectations After the July FOMC meeting, the Fed left the funds rate at 5.25%-5.50% and offered no timeline for rate cuts, stoking fears of a “higher-for-longer” regime. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped to 4.24% , the U.S.-Dollar Index reclaimed the 100 handle, gold slipped below $3,270 , and Bitcoin retreated to the $116,000 area as on-chain activity cooled. Three days later, the macro narrative flipped: July non-farm payrolls “collapsed,” with only 73k jobs versus the 180k consensus, while May–June gains were revised down by roughly 129k (-90 %). The sudden chill forced an aggressive rate reset—CME FedWatch showed the probability of a September cut surging from 38% to 82% , with two cuts by year-end now priced at 64% . The 10-year yield slid below 4.10% , gold bounced $40 to $3,363/oz , and Bitcoin briefly spiked before recession angst pushed it to an intraday low near $112,000 . Yet the broader economy still resembles a growth-slowdown rather than a full-blown recession. By 2025 Q2, household debt stood at 98% of disposable income —well below the 2008 peak of 133%. Credit-card delinquencies eased from 2.7% to 2.5% ; retail sales are holding a 2.8%-3.1% YoY band. America’s richest 10% control 72% of household wealth and finance nearly half of total consumption, providing a sturdy demand floor. On the corporate side, JPMorgan and Bank of America report commercial-loan growth of 5%-7% YoY , with no material uptick in loss reserves. Historically, a mix of softer payrolls and sticky-but-easing inflation marks the Fed’s turn toward accommodation, ushering in a “high-volatility liquidity window” where BTC and gold attract hedging flows while leveraged alt-coins face valuation and deleveraging pressure. Regulatory Shift Opens Up DeFi and RWA Momentum The truly disruptive catalyst comes from regulation. On 31 July , SEC Chair Paul Atkins unveiled “Project Crypto,” pledging to put U.S. finance “fully on-chain” via deregulation, innovation safe-harbors and exemptions. Atkins stated that most crypto assets should not be defaulted into securities status and that AMMs and on-chain lending are “non-intermediated financial activity” deserving legal recognition. The signal unlocks huge upside for DeFi protocols such as Uniswap , Aave and Lido , long suppressed by the “securities overhang.” According to data from HTX, DeFi tokens including UNI and AAVE have recorded notable gains in August. Atkins also floated a “Super-App” license for brokers to aggregate equities, crypto, staking and lending. The draft further names ERC-3643 —with its ONCHAINID permission layer—as the reference standard for tokenized RWA, paving a compliant path for real estate, private equity and other trillion-dollar markets. Crucially, the SEC will revise the decades-old Howey Test , introducing clear disclosure waivers and safe harbors for airdrops, ICOs and staking, ending the era where founders had to “flee to Cayman” or geo-block U.S. users; venture capital could now re-shore, reigniting an on-chain startup cycle in America. Outlook and Structural Signals Bitcoin and Ethereum remain central to market structure, with BTC dominance and stablecoin basis offering key signals for capital rotation. High-beta altcoins and leveraged products may remain under pressure, particularly if the U.S. dollar strengthens or long-term yields rebound above 4.40%. Tokens with clear compliance paths—especially DeFi governance assets and RWA tokens built on ERC-3643—are increasingly positioned to benefit from evolving policy support and real-world adoption narratives. With macro softening, liquidity conditions easing, and regulatory upgrading now converging, Bitcoin’s role as a global inflation hedge and policy-beta asset is hardening, while on-chain finance enjoys its first genuine policy tail-wind—setting the stage for the next structural up-cycle in crypto markets. *The above content is not an investment advice and does not constitute any offer or solicitation to offer or recommendation of any investment product. To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X , Telegram , and Discord . The post HTX：Macro Dislocation and Crypto Re-Pricing – How Fed Revaluation and “Project Crypto” Are Resetting the Playing Field first appeared on HTX Square .

5 Aug 2025, 07:07

Bitcoin's Long-Term Bullishness Evaporates From Options Market as Inflation Concern Rises

The bitcoin (BTC) bull, once confidently gazing into the future, is reconsidering its long-term bullish conviction. That's evident from the 180-day skew, measuring the difference in implied volatility (pricing) between Deribit-listed out-of-the-money call and put options. The metric has recently retreated to zero, according to data source Amberdata, indicating that long-term market sentiment has shifted from bullish to neutral. The shift comes as some analysts warn of a bear market in 2026. A similar reset occurred at the onset of the previous bitcoin bear market, according to Griffin Ardern, head of options trading and research at crypto financial platform BloFin. "I've noticed a rather worrying sign with the recent market pullback. Bitcoin's bullish sentiment for the far-month options has vanished, and it is now firmly neutral," Ardern told CoinDesk. "This means the options market believes it's difficult for BTC to establish a long-term uptrend, and the likelihood of new highs in the coming months is decreasing." "A similar situation last occurred in Jan and Feb 2022," he added. A put option offers insurance against price drops in the underlying asset, while a call provides an asymmetric bullish exposure. A positive skew implies a bias towards calls, indicating bullishness in the market, whereas a negative skew suggests the opposite. The neutral shift in the 180-day skew could be partly driven by structured products selling higher strike call options to generate additional yield on top of the spot market holdings. The popularity of the so-called covered call strategy could be driving the call implied volatility lower relative to puts. Macro jitters BTC fell over 4% last week, nearly testing its former record high of $11,965, as the core PCE, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, rose in June, while nonfarm payrolls disappointed, stoking concerns about the economy. The price drop has pushed short-term skews below zero, a sign of traders seeking downside protection through puts. According to Ardern, the inflationary effects of "supply chain impulses" are already showing up in economic data. "Although falling auto prices in the last CPI report offset rising prices for other goods, one thing is undeniable: the impulse from the West Coast of the Pacific has reached the East Coast, and retailers are already trying to pass on tariffs and a host of associated costs to consumers. While wholesalers and commodity trading firms are working to smooth supply chains, price increases will still occur, albeit more moderately or "delayed by several months," Ardern noted, explaining the renewed neutrality of the long-term BTC options. According to JPMorgan, President Donald Trump's tariffs are likely to elevate inflation in the second half of the year. "Global core inflation is projected to increase to 3.4% (annualized rate) in the second half of 2025, largely due to a tariff-related U.S. spike," analysts at the investment bank noted, adding that cost pressures will likely be concentrated in the U.S. An uptick in inflation could make it harder for the Fed to cut rates. Trump has repeatedly criticized the central bank for keeping rates elevated at 4.25%. Traders will receive the ISM non-manufacturing PMI later Tuesday, providing insights into inflation in the service sector, which accounts for a significant portion of the U.S. economy. It will be followed by July CPI and PPI releases later this week. Read more: Bitcoin Still on Track for $140K This Year, But 2026 Will Be Painful: Elliott Wave Expert