5 Aug 2025, 17:26

XRP Hype Soars: 86% Bet on ETF Approval as Ripple Goes All-In for U.S. Bank Status

Polymarket Bets 86% on Spot XRP ETF Approval Polymarket, a top crypto prediction platform, now pegs the odds of SEC approval for a spot XRP ETF at 86%. What explains this high confidence level? 1. Legal Clarity Surrounding Ripple In March 2025, the SEC formally dropped its longstanding lawsuit against Ripple, removing a major overhang for ETF issuers. This legal resolution reduced regulatory uncertainty and significantly bolstered confidence in XRP-based investment vehicles. 2. Growing Number of Institutional Filings Leading asset managers, including Bitwise, Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, 21Shares, CoinShares, ProShares, and more, have all submitted spot XRP ETF proposals to the SEC. The sheer volume and caliber of these filings suggest sustained institutional conviction in XRP’s long-term viability. 3. Futures ETFs Demonstrate Market Maturity CME Group launched XRP futures ETFs in mid-May this year, drawing more than $542 million in the first month More recently, ProShares introduced the Ultra XRP ETF (UXRP), a leveraged product on NYSE Arca, which surged on debut and re‑energized the narrative for spot approval. These developments signal demand and infrastructure maturity that regulators often seek. 4. Policy Developments and Framework Shifts Regulatory momentum has also shifted in favor of crypto ETFs. New legislation, such as the GENIUS Act and SEC commentary from commissioners, especially Hester Peirce, suggest an evolving framework that reduces operational complexity for altcoin ETF issuers through in‑kind creation and redemption mechanisms. 5. Market Behavior and Prediction Dynamics Polymarket’s 86% figure is underpinned by real money bets with total wagered volumes recently exceeding $114,000, reflecting serious investor conviction. Historically, Polymarket’s prediction accuracy has exceeded 90% in betting markets shortly before resolution dates. The high odds also reflect growing sentiment that the SEC will complete the approval process before the December 31, 2025 resolution deadline. Market implications An 86% approval probability indicates widespread optimism. If a spot XRP ETF is approved: Institutional capital may flow into XRP as showcased by Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which saw tens of billions in inflows post‑approval. Liquidity and accessibility are set to improve because retail investors will gain regulated exposure to XRP via traditional brokerage accounts, without managing crypto wallets. Price upside could be significant with some analysts anticipating XRP might rise toward the $20–$27 zone, driven by ETF approval momentum, though volatility remains high. Ripple Officially Files Bank Charter Application with OCC Ripple Labs has formally submitted its application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) seeking to establish Ripple National Trust Bank, a limited-purpose national trust bank fully owned by the company. Consequently, Ripple has made Volume 1 of its interagency charter application publicly available, offering stakeholders an initial window into the entity’s proposed structure and intended operations. This first volume outlines foundational details, such as the proposed headquarters in New York City, contact information, and a public notice announcing the filing. Volume 1 makes clear that Ripple is pursuing a national trust bank charter , which would empower the entity to undertake fiduciary duties, stablecoin reserve management, and institutional custody services, rather than traditional deposit-taking or consumer lending activities. Strategic Goals & Broader Context Ripple aims to secure a Federal Reserve Master Account, which would allow it to directly settle payments, hold reserves for its stablecoin RLUSD at the Federal Reserve, and bypass traditional intermediary banks, resulting in faster, more cost-effective settlement systems. Reactions & Implications The American Bankers Association and other banking groups, including the Independent Community Bankers of America, have formally opposed Ripple’s charter bid, citing concerns that a crypto-affiliated trust bank might erode consumer protections and destabilize traditional banking structures. However, industry observers note that under Comptroller Rodney Hood, the OCC has adopted a more crypto-friendly posture, rescinding prior restrictive guidance and historically rarely denying new charter applications. As majors like Circle and BitGo pursue similar charters, Ripple’s bid puts it at the forefront of a broader effort by crypto firms to bridge into regulated finance. Conclusion With Volume 1 public and the charter filing formalized, Ripple is set to redefine how stablecoins operate under U.S. federal oversight, turning ambition into architecture and innovation into institutional integration. Meanwhile, Polymarket’s 86% approval probability for a spot XRP ETF reflects a convergence of legal progress, institutional filings, market infrastructure maturity, and evolving regulatory sentiment. Therefore, this probability underscores a broad expectation that a US-based spot XRP ETF is increasingly viewed not as a question of if, but when.

5 Aug 2025, 16:40

MEI Pharma’s Crypto Treasury Move: 930,000 Litecoin Tokens Acquired

MEI Pharma Inc. has become the first U.S.-listed public company to adopt litecoin ( LTC) as a primary reserve asset, deploying $100 million from a recent stock sale to acquire 929,548 tokens of the cryptocurrency. Litecoin Creator Charlie Lee Joins MEI Pharma’s Board The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company (Nasdaq: MEIP) disclosed the LTC acquisition in an

5 Aug 2025, 16:26

Cango posts ‘massive’ July Bitcoin haul, boosting corporate treasury

Three months into its full Bitcoin mining pivot, Chinese company Cango mined 450 BTC in July.

5 Aug 2025, 16:04

Trump said Russia’s economy “stinks” and warned low oil prices will cripple Putin’s war effort

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Russia’s economy “stinks” and claimed that falling oil prices would crush Vladimir Putin’s war machine. “Putin will stop killing people if you get energy down another $10 a barrel. He’s going to have no choice because his economy stinks,” Trump said during a live interview on Squawk Box . He made it clear that he believes oil revenue is the backbone of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and if it dries up, the war ends. This is part of Trump’s long-running one-man feud with Putin, who has refused to even acknowledge Trump’s existence for over a month. Putin hasn’t responded once, not even with a passing comment. Instead, it’s been Dmitry Medvedev, his closest confidant and former president, doing the talking, on X no less. Medvedev called Trump’s demands dangerous and said they’re pushing the U.S. closer to war with itself. He also reminded the world that Putin doesn’t see Trump as an equal, so he will never take the bait. Trump cuts deadline, threatens tariffs, deploys subs Tensions between Washington and Moscow got worse when Trump shortened the timeline for a Ukraine peace deal. Last Monday, he announced that the original 50-day window was now less than two weeks. If Putin doesn’t agree to stop the war, Trump plans to slap harsh secondary tariffs on countries still trading with Russia. It’s his way of forcing others to choose sides. Medvedev responded quickly. “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,” he wrote on X. “Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.” Trump followed up on Friday by saying he had ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to be moved to “the appropriate regions,” clearly referring to Russian-controlled waters. Trump has also been attacking New Delhi and PM Narendra Modi for buying discounted Russian oil and reselling it for big profits. “India has not been a good trading partner,” he said Tuesday on CNBC. “So we settled on 25%, but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they’re buying Russian oil, they’re fueling the war machine, and if they’re going to do that, I’m not going to be happy.” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Trump’s tariff threats were just “attempts to force countries to stop trade relations with Russia.” He also backed India directly, saying sovereign countries “have the right to choose their own trade partners.” Russian economy under pressure, but not broken Oil prices are falling, though, and that’s a problem for Putin. On Tuesday, Brent crude dropped 83 cents to $67.92 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate went down 87 cents to $65.41. This came after OPEC and its partners announced on Sunday that they would increase output, which made markets worry about weakening demand. Russia’s finance ministry is already bracing for less revenue. It expects oil and gas income this year to be 24% lower than previously estimated. The ministry cut its oil price forecast from $69.70 to $56 per barrel. It also raised next year’s budget deficit target from 0.5% of GDP to 1.7%. Russia’s own Economic Development Ministry sees slower growth ahead. They project the economy will expand by only 2.5% this year, down from 4.3% in 2024. Inflation is officially sitting at around 10%, but independent analysts believe it’s higher—possibly over 15%. Food and production costs have soared. Putin even admitted the situation was “alarming.” The International Monetary Fund added more bad news in July. They revised Russia’s 2025 GDP growth down to 0.9%, from 1.5% in April. That change came after data showed weak retail activity and reduced industrial output. Despite all this, the Russian economy hasn’t been stunted, though sanctions have clearly slowed it down. Domestic pressures have increased. Oil revenue is down. Growth is falling. But the Kremlin hasn’t shown any signs of panic. Trade with countries like India and China continues. Putin hasn’t blinked. And Trump is still waiting for a reaction that hasn’t come, and probably never will. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More

5 Aug 2025, 16:00

Solana Institutional Interest Grows As DeFi Dev Corp Adds 110,466 SOL To Treasury

While Solana’s price has gained upside traction, many treasury companies are beginning to purchase the altcoin at a significant and rapid rate to boost their treasury holdings. One of the treasury companies that has showcased robust confidence in SOL and has gone on a buying spree is Defi Dev Corp. DeFi Dev Corp Doubles Down On Solana Solana treasury reserve is ramping up among big institutional firms alongside other notable cryptocurrency assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. In a daring move that highlights the growing institutional confidence in SOL, Defi Development Corp, a public firm, has acquired a huge chunk of the altcoin for its treasury reserve. Defi Development Corp’s strategic purchase of SOL reflects a deepening institutional interest and commitment to the Solana ecosystem . The strategic purchase by the treasury-focused firm shows that major companies may be getting ready for the next wave of blockchain usage. According to the report from SolanaFloor, Defi Dev Corp recently purchased an additional 110,466 SOL, marking a considerable expansion of its holdings. During the time of purchase, these coins were valued at approximately $18.4 million at an average price of $166. Following the massive acquisition, the company’s treasury reserve has reached a total of 1.29 million SOL, worth about $209 million. The latest acquisition comes just a week after the firm’s last purchase of $20 million worth of SOL. New companies are beginning to show interest in owning a Solana treasury reserve as the network sees notable growth. SolanaFloor reported that Artelo Biosciences Inc., a pharmaceutical company, is on the verge of launching its SOL treasury strategy. The platform noted that the pharmaceutical firm under Nasdaq recently raised $9.47 million through a private placement to launch its SOL treasury strategy. With the purchase, the company is now the first publicly traded pharma firm to adopt Solana as a reserve asset. In the post, SolanaFloor highlighted that Bartosz Lipiński, a lead investor and former Solana Labs employee, will provide guidance through CUBE, a crypto-based platform, which will manage DeFi execution, staking, and storage. “Artelo joins a growing list of publicly traded companies adopting SOL for treasury management,” the platform added. SOL Network Leads In On-Chain Revenue These notable purchases of SOL coincide with a rise in interest in Layer 1 scalability solutions and a revival of developer activity. The network is currently leading in terms of revenue, as users and developers are steadily flocking in. According to SolanaFloor, SOL continues to lead all Layer 1s and Layer 2s in network revenue for 20 consecutive weeks, reflecting its growing dominance in the blockchain sector. SOL’s revenue metrics have surged past its competitors, including Tron, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. Data shows that SOL amassed $16.6 million in revenue in one week, particularly between July 28 and August 3. Tron comes in second place with $14.05 million, and Ethereum in third place with $11.4 million in weekly revenue.

5 Aug 2025, 15:58

SharpLink Boosts Holdings With New $264M ETH Purchase – Institutional Adoption Rising?

SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET), has expanded its Ethereum treasury by purchasing 83,561 ETH between July 28 and August 3, 2025. NEW: SharpLink now holds 521,939 ETH Between July 28 – August 3, SharpLink acquired 83,561 ETH for $264.5M at an average price of $3,634 ETH-per-share (“ETH Concentration”) is now 3.66, up from 3.40 last week, and has increased 83% since we began the strategy on June 2nd 100%… pic.twitter.com/X1MFXFDj37 — SharpLink (SBET) (@SharpLinkGaming) August 5, 2025 The weekly accumulation, valued at $264.5 million, increased the company’s total ETH holdings to 521,939—up 19% from 438,190 ETH the prior week. This marks another major leap in SharpLink’s aggressive treasury strategy , which began on June 2, 2025. Since the start of the program, the company has boosted its ETH holdings by more than 150%. Average Purchase Price Declines For the week ending August 3, the average ETH purchase price stood at $3,634, a modest decrease from the previous week’s $3,756. Despite the minor dip in price, SharpLink has accelerated its buying activity, acquiring more ETH than in any of the three preceding weeks. Since mid-July, the company has maintained a consistent pace of large-scale ETH purchases, starting with 74,700 ETH in the week ending July 13 and growing weekly, reaching 83,600 ETH in the most recent update. ETH Concentration Rises SharpLink’s ETH-per-share concentration—referred to as “ETH Concentration”—rose to 3.66 from 3.40 the previous week. This figure reflects the number of ETH per outstanding share and has increased by 83% since the treasury strategy was launched. The metric is a key indicator of how tightly SharpLink is tying shareholder value to Ethereum’s price performance and adoption. ATM Facility Drives Capital Growth To fund its ETH accumulation, SharpLink said it continues to rely on its At-the-Market (ATM) facility. For the week ending August 3, the company issued 13.6 million shares, generating $264.5 million in net proceeds. This follows the $279.2 million raised the prior week and the $96.6 million the week before. Cumulatively, the company has issued over 52 million shares and raised more than $1 billion since the strategy was launched. Adding momentum to the company’s evolving direction, Joseph Chalom—former digital asset strategist at BlackRock— officially assumed his role as Co-CEO on July 24. Chalom reaffirmed SharpLink’s commitment to expanding its ETH treasury, stating, “SharpLink remains deeply committed to its mission of creating enduring shareholder value by building the largest and most trusted ETH treasury company.” He added that the company is evaluating additional capital formation strategies—including debt and equity-linked instruments—to further scale its ETH holdings and reinforce alignment with Ethereum’s role in decentralized finance. As of August 3, 100% of SharpLink’s ETH is staked, and cumulative staking rewards reached 929 ETH, further strengthening the company’s crypto-native yield generation strategy. The post SharpLink Boosts Holdings With New $264M ETH Purchase – Institutional Adoption Rising? appeared first on Cryptonews .