Binance’s futures desk is showing signs of a renewed momentum spike, reaching a 2026 high even while spot trading on centralized exchanges remains subdued. According to CryptoQuant analyst Maartuun, Binance logged $1.6 trillion in futures volume in June—its strongest month of the year—despite Bitcoin trading in the mid-$60,000s and a broadly cautious tone from many market participants.

The contrast between accelerating derivatives activity and weak spot volumes highlights a tension investors are watching closely: whether leverage is re-entering the market ahead of a broader risk rebound, or simply reflecting short-term positioning in an otherwise lethargic trading environment.

Key takeaways

• Binance futures volume hit $1.61 trillion in June, up 80% from May’s $893 billion, marking a 2026 high.
• OKX and Bybit also grew in June, but Binance outpaced them by volume and again led the market.
• Quarterly CEX futures volume continued to decline: Q2 fell to $15.7 trillion, down 11% from Q1, according to CryptoRank.
• Spot volumes on CEXs remain weak, with Q2 spot trading at $3 trillion—the weakest quarter in two years.
• Binance’s uptick arrives near regulatory changes in the EU, including the MiCA transition schedule and related licensing developments.

June’s derivatives rebound at Binance

CryptoQuant’s Maartuun said Binance processed $1.61 trillion in futures trading volume in June, the highest monthly figure recorded so far in 2026. The jump was stark: June volume rose by about 80% versus May’s $893 billion.

The strength wasn’t limited to Binance. OKX reported $609 billion in June futures volume, while Bybit recorded $434 billion. Both exchanges increased versus May—OKX up 9% and Bybit up 18%—suggesting the rise was broad-based across major venues rather than isolated to a single platform.

Even so, Binance’s lead stood out. Maartuun noted that the trio of exchanges has not seen futures activity near these levels since January 2026, when Binance moved roughly $1.5 trillion and OKX and Bybit reached $667 billion and $502 billion respectively.

Broader market still shows hesitation: futures down overall, spot at multi-year lows

While June’s spike looks encouraging for derivatives activity, the bigger picture remains mixed. CryptoRank data cited in the report shows that total CEX futures volume fell to $15.7 trillion in Q2 2026, down 11% from $17.6 trillion in Q1. This represented the third consecutive quarterly decline for centralized exchange futures.

The pace of contraction did ease compared with Q1, when futures volume dropped 31% versus Q4 2025. In Q2, Binance maintained its position as the largest futures venue, holding approximately 28% market share.

Spot markets, however, were more clearly impaired. CEX spot volume reportedly fell to $3 trillion in Q2, the weakest quarter in two years and an 18.9% decline from Q1. Binance remained the largest spot exchange by volume, with $731 billion for the quarter, but its market share slid from 27% to 24%, signaling that the downturn wasn’t just a dip in overall activity—it also came with share erosion.

Taken together, the numbers suggest June’s futures surge may reflect traders seeking exposure through leveraged instruments even when broader spot participation has not recovered. For investors, that distinction matters: derivatives volume can rise during periods when spot demand is still muted, but it can also precede volatility rather than stable trend formation.

EU MiCA transition: Binance futures activity continues after the shift

The timing of June’s futures strength also lands near Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) transition period. Earlier coverage noted that the end of the transition schedule raised questions about how major exchanges would adapt operationally and how quickly trading patterns would normalize under the new compliance framework.

In late June, Binance withdrew its application for a license in Greece just days before the framework moved into its next phase on July 1. Against that regulatory backdrop, early July data from CryptoQuant indicated Binance’s futures market remained active after the transition, recording $418 billion in futures volume in the first 10 days of July.

That continuation doesn’t confirm that regulation improved trading conditions; it does, however, provide at least an early signal that activity did not abruptly stall at the transition boundary. The next key question for traders and exchange operators will be whether this level of derivatives throughput persists over subsequent weeks and whether spot volumes begin to respond as regulatory uncertainty fades.

What to watch next for traders and exchange users

June’s futures surge is a clear data point: Binance’s derivatives volume jumped sharply to a 2026 high while broader quarterly trends show that CEX spot and futures volumes remain under pressure. Investors should watch whether July sustains similar momentum and whether spot trading starts to recover alongside futures—or whether the market continues to concentrate activity in leveraged instruments as traders navigate ongoing regulatory and macro uncertainty.

Bolivia is considering adding Tether’s USDT to its national payments infrastructure, a potential milestone for stablecoin adoption in Latin America amid a long-running shortage of US dollars. The government says it is working on a regulatory approach that would treat USDT as a payment instrument alongside the boliviano and the US dollar—rather than a fringe asset outside the formal economy.

Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said at a press conference on Monday that the state is assessing a framework to allow USDT “to circulate as just another currency.” Any rollout, he added, would need strong oversight and anti-money laundering controls because Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

Key takeaways

• Bolivia is evaluating whether USDT could be recognized for everyday transactions such as payments, savings and trade.
• The proposal would require a regulatory structure that can place USDT inside the country’s formal payments system.
• Bolivia’s FATF grey-list status means anti-money laundering safeguards are expected to be central to any approval process.
• The move comes as the country confronts a widening gap between official and parallel exchange rates that has increased demand for dollar-denominated alternatives.

USDT would be treated as part of everyday payments

According to CriptoNoticias, the regulatory framework being considered is still under review. If adopted, it would aim to formally recognize USDT for retail and commercial activity, including payments, savings and trade, without relying solely on cash or the traditional banking channel.

Espinoza’s framing matters because it suggests Bolivia is not merely allowing crypto trading or occasional transfers, but contemplating a system design where USDT functions as a practical alternative for transactions. For consumers and businesses, that could mean more predictable settlement options when local access to dollars is constrained.

Regulatory hurdles tied to FATF monitoring

Espinoza also emphasized that any implementation would depend on a “robust regulatory framework” and effective anti-money laundering protections. His comments connect directly to Bolivia’s placement on the FATF grey list, which flags jurisdictions with increased monitoring needs due to deficiencies in preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.

That context helps explain why the government is taking a cautious, framework-first approach. Moving stablecoins into a national payments role typically requires clear responsibility lines—who can distribute or process them, how compliance checks are performed, and how suspicious activity reporting would operate. For Bolivia, those requirements could become a gating factor for how quickly a USDT rollout can move from proposal to practice.

Dollar scarcity and exchange-rate strain push demand toward stablecoins

The policy discussion comes against a backdrop of persistent dollar shortages in Bolivia. Reuters previously reported that Bolivia kept an official exchange rate of 6.86 bolivianos per US dollar for purchases and 6.96 for sales for years, before later abandoning the long-standing peg after pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

As Reuters noted, the abandonment of the peg contributed to the expansion of a parallel foreign exchange market where the dollar traded at a steep premium relative to the official rate. When the cost of dollars diverges sharply between official channels and informal markets, demand tends to shift toward instruments that track or approximate dollar value. In this environment, stablecoins such as USDT can become appealing for payments because they offer a dollar-denominated unit of account without requiring direct access to physical dollars.

Industry research also points to growing activity. Chainalysis’ 2025 evaluation of crypto adoption across Latin America reported $14.8 billion in total transaction volume over a 12-month period for Bolivia included within the regional assessment. While this figure does not isolate stablecoins alone, it supports the broader claim that digital assets—often used in response to currency pressures—have become more integrated into real economic behavior across the region.

Bolivia’s return to crypto-friendly policy after the 2024 ban

The USDT payments initiative fits into a broader pivot by Bolivia toward digital assets following the lifting of its longstanding cryptocurrency ban in 2024. Since taking office in late 2025, President Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s administration has pledged to incorporate digital assets into the formal financial system, an approach described by earlier coverage from Cointelegraph as paving the way for banks to introduce crypto-related products and services, potentially including stablecoin-based accounts.

What’s notable now is the specificity: instead of focusing only on banking products or general “blockchain integration,” the government is explicitly weighing how USDT could fit into everyday payments. That difference could determine how quickly stablecoins move from parallel usage toward regulated, widely accepted channels.

Readers should watch how Bolivia’s draft regulatory framework is shaped—particularly around compliance obligations given its FATF grey-list status—and whether authorities set measurable timelines for pilot programs or bank participation. The next question is not only whether USDT will be recognized, but how the state plans to govern distribution, monitoring and settlement in a way that can survive both financial controls and real-world liquidity constraints.

A Bitcoin wallet dormant since the cryptocurrency traded near $6,500 has transferred 2,931 BTC worth about $188 million, reviving onchain activity after seven years.

Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham reported that the long-inactive holder moved the Bitcoin from wallet “356my” to a new address, “bc1qn”, on Sunday. The transfer is the wallet’s first recorded onchain movement since it last became active when Bitcoin was priced at roughly $6,500.

With Bitcoin now changing hands at around $64,000, blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens estimated the holder is sitting on nearly a tenfold gain from the original position.

Whale transfers continue to dominate exchange flows

The latest movement comes as large Bitcoin holders continue to account for most transfers into cryptocurrency exchanges, a trend that onchain data has linked to rising selling pressure.

CryptoQuant’s exchange whale ratio chart showed that about 99% of Bitcoin deposited to exchanges currently comes from the 10 largest individual transfers. The metric stood at 0.99 at the time of publication, indicating that whale-sized transactions continue to dominate exchange inflows.

According to CryptoQuant, elevated whale exchange ratios have historically been associated with bearish market conditions because large deposits are more likely to precede sizeable sell orders than routine transfers from retail investors.

Separately, data from Coinglass classifies transfers worth at least $10 million as whale transactions. Such movements have accounted for most Bitcoin flowing to exchanges in recent months, increasing trader focus on whether large holders are preparing to sell.

Selling pressure has also persisted from another direction. Data from Farside Investors showed that U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $197 million in net inflows during the week leading up to Friday, although the products posted $4.51 billion in net outflows throughout June, their weakest monthly performance on record.

Dormant wallets remain under close watch

Older Bitcoin wallets have continued attracting market attention because many are associated with early miners, long-term holders, or defunct trading platforms.

Earlier this year, crypto.news reported that a dormant whale destroyed 107 BTC worth about $8.3 million by sending the coins to an unrecoverable burn address after nearly 11 years of inactivity. Blockchain security firm AMLBot said the transactions may have been linked to the collapsed Mt. Gox exchange, although no entity behind the transfers was identified.

In a separate case reported by crypto.news, another Satoshi-era holder transferred 2,650 BTC worth more than $200 million to trading firms FalconX and Cumberland while retaining nearly 6,000 BTC. 

Although those transfers did not confirm an immediate sale, market participants closely tracked the movement because large transactions from early Bitcoin holders can introduce additional supply if the coins eventually reach exchanges.

Banking giant Morgan Stanley acquired nearly 1,000 BTC over the past two weeks, taking its total holdings to 5,761 BTC, worth roughly $370 million.

According to data from Arkham, the bank added BTC to its existing stash during the market pullback through its spot Bitcoin investment product.

Morgan Stanley Adds To Bitcoin Stash

Morgan Stanley added to its Bitcoin holdings during the recent market pullback. The banking giant currently holds 5,761 BTC, making it one of the biggest institutional holders of the flagship cryptocurrency.

The acquisition was executed through a series of transfers instead of a single purchase. Arkham data shows large transfers from Coinbase Prime wallets. The transaction history also includes a 1 BTC transfer back to Coinbase Prime along with minor operational transfers.

The inflows originated from Coinbase Prime custody and deposit addresses, indicating the transfers were completed via Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin investment product.

Buying The Dip

Arkham classifies Morgan Stanley as a fund, an exchange-traded product, and a Bitcoin whale. It has also linked the banking giant’s portfolio to 11 wallet addresses. The latest round of purchases is in line with Morgan Stanley’s strategy of accumulating during price dips.

However, Arkham or Morgan Stanley have not disclosed whether the purchases are direct purchases, client subscriptions, or operational inflows into its investment vehicle. Arkham has also not identified the underlying investors or whether the assets are being managed on behalf of clients or are firm-based holdings.

Morgan Stanley Increasing Its Crypto Footprint

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management recently announced a partnership with Galaxy Digital to expand its digital asset footprint. Under the partnership, high-net-worth individuals can lend their digital assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), and Ethereum (ETH), to Galaxy Digital in return for shares in spot crypto investment products, including the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust. The program allows investors to gain crypto exposure in a regulated environment without selling their digital assets.

Morgan Stanley and Galaxy Digital claim the partnership also reduces the in-kind crypto-to-exchange-trading product onboarding times by 75%. The offering is part of a growing trend of on-chain accumulation as institutional interest and participation rise.

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.

The UK is preparing to move tokenized financial markets from experimental pilots to scaled, live trading and settlement, according to a government-backed industry task force report published by Wholesale Digital Markets Champion Chris Woolard. The document estimates that, if the country becomes a leader in tokenized markets, the effort could add as much as £33 billion (about $44 billion) to annual economic output by 2035.

The report outlines a 12-month plan to test blockchain technology in a financial transaction that uses securities to borrow cash, and it calls for the UK to issue its first tokenized government bond—known as a gilt—by the first quarter of 2027. Woolard’s role is tied to HM Treasury’s digital markets strategy, with the task force assembled to connect traditional market infrastructure providers with digital-asset firms.

Key takeaways

• The task force aims to progress from isolated blockchain trials to “scale,” with real-market trading, settlement, and use of tokenized securities as collateral.
• Plans include a 12-month blockchain test focused on repo-like mechanics where securities are used to raise cash.
• The roadmap targets a first tokenized UK government bond issuance by the first quarter of 2027.
• The report urges the Bank of England to accept tokenized gilts as collateral, positioning collateral eligibility as a major adoption gate.
• Task force membership spans leading banks, market infrastructure firms, and crypto companies, underscoring a cross-industry approach.

From pilots to live tokenized securities markets

While tokenization has been discussed for years, the report’s emphasis is on practical market plumbing—moving beyond demonstrations toward arrangements that can support securities issuance, secondary-market activity, and settlement workflows. The task force describes its mission as shifting “from pilots to scale” and “from ambition to action,” reflecting a more implementation-focused posture than many earlier initiatives.

Central to that approach is the report’s view that tokenized assets have limited real-world value unless they can be traded and used to obtain cash. In the document’s framing, the ability to raise funding against tokenized securities—and to have those tokens participate in established collateral frameworks—determines whether tokenization can materially change market behavior.

To that end, the task force’s 12-month plan centers on testing blockchain in a financial transaction where securities are used to borrow cash. Although the report does not present additional implementation details in the provided text, the structure aligns with the market logic of repo transactions, where the speed and settlement efficiency of collateral exchanges can have meaningful operational and cost implications.

Tokenized gilts: a timeline and expanded end goals

Tokenized government bonds are not a brand-new idea in the UK. The government previously announced the Digital Gilt Instrument (digit) pilot in November 2024, using public documentation to describe the initiative.

Later updates pushed the concept further. A July 2025 update laid out intentions covering onchain settlement, over-the-counter trading, and secondary-market development. The government also appointed HSBC’s Orion platform to support the pilot on Feb. 12, signaling that at least part of the effort is geared toward real operational systems rather than purely theoretical trials.

The new task force report builds on that foundation by adding a clearer timetable and broadening how the tokenized gilt would be used. Beyond issuance, the roadmap seeks subsequent digital-gilt offerings, live secondary-market trading, and—importantly—eligibility for use as central bank collateral.

The collateral angle is where the report becomes more than a rollout plan. It explicitly argues that tokenized securities only become economically meaningful when they can be used to raise cash, and it calls on the Bank of England to accept digital gilts as collateral. For market participants, that would be a key step toward turning tokenized assets into a mainstream funding and settlement tool rather than a niche alternative.

Task force composition and industry buy-in

Woolard’s first report was developed with a task force described as bringing together more than 50 companies spanning traditional finance and crypto. The membership list in the text includes BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, UBS, Coinbase, Circle, Ripple, Kraken, DTCC, and Euroclear.

Ripple, which appears among the industry members, publicly supported the initiative in a statement shared on Monday. The company said that onchain funds, bonds, and repo are not experiments, arguing that such instruments are already proving “cheaper, better and faster” than legacy equivalents.

For investors and builders, the breadth of the task force matters. A tokenization roadmap that includes both major securities market infrastructure players and crypto platforms suggests the UK is trying to align interfaces—custody, settlement, and compliance—rather than relying on a single ecosystem.

How UK payment infrastructure could connect the dots

The report’s tokenized-gilt ambition also intersects with existing UK efforts to improve settlement and payments. The text points to a blockchain-based wholesale payment infrastructure that could support tokenized-market settlement.

In December 2023, London-based Fnality launched a sterling-denominated payment system tied to central bank reserves. The network was designed to enable real-time repo, tokenized securities settlement, and cross-currency payments, potentially providing the infrastructure layer needed for tokenized collateral to move quickly and consistently across parties.

By pairing that sort of settlement/payment capability with a phased approach to tokenized gilts and secondary-market trading, the UK’s roadmap is effectively trying to solve two problems at once: how tokenized assets are issued and traded, and how the cash legs and settlement mechanics work end to end.

Still, the biggest practical uncertainty remains whether collateral eligibility—specifically Bank of England acceptance of digital gilts—can be achieved on a timeline that matches the planned issuance and market scaling. The report’s call for central bank collateral suggests that regulators and system operators will play a decisive role in determining how quickly tokenization can move into full-market usage.

Going forward, market participants should watch for updates on the 12-month blockchain test details, the operational requirements for secondary trading, and any announcements that clarify how the Bank of England and other oversight bodies plan to treat tokenized gilts as collateral. If those pieces align, the UK could shift tokenization from a series of pilots into a functioning market segment with real funding utility.

Bolivia has moved closer to recognizing Tether’s USDT as an official payment option alongside the boliviano and the U.S. dollar as the country continues to grapple with a prolonged shortage of foreign currency.

According to reports from Bolivia, government officials are weighing a proposal that would allow USDT to circulate as part of the national payment system, a step that would formalize a practice already taking shape across parts of the country’s financial sector.

If approved, the move would make Bolivia the first Latin American nation to officially recognize USDT as a payment option alongside its domestic currency and the U.S. dollar.

Years of declining natural gas production and exports have steadily reduced Bolivia’s dollar reserves, leaving businesses and importers struggling to secure foreign currency. The shortage has pushed authorities to explore alternative payment methods, with crypto gradually becoming part of that strategy instead of remaining a niche financial product.

Dollar shortages have accelerated USDT adoption

The government’s first major crypto-related measure came in March 2025, when state-owned energy company YPFB received authorization to use cryptocurrency payments for fuel imports during the country’s worsening dollar shortage.

Retail adoption followed soon after. In June 2025, Tether chief executive Paolo Ardoino shared images on social media showing Bolivian stores listing everyday products, including dairy goods and chocolate, with prices displayed in USDT.

The posts suggested stablecoins were already being used for ordinary purchases rather than remaining limited to investment activity.

Crypto analyst CryptoPatel later argued on X that economic conditions, rather than regulation, were encouraging people to move toward stable assets, writing, “When your currency fails, bring in the stable one.”

His comments accompanied growing evidence that many consumers were choosing the dollar-pegged stablecoin as access to physical U.S. dollars became increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile, Bolivia’s banking sector has already begun supporting the ecosystem. Local lenders Banco Unión and Banco FIE currently provide services linked to USDT, indicating that much of the financial infrastructure needed for wider adoption is already in place.

Formal recognition would instead establish a regulatory framework around an existing trend, potentially making remittances faster, lowering transaction costs and offering an alternative to informal dollar markets.

Tether expands institutional use of USDT

Outside Bolivia, Tether has continued promoting USDT for larger financial transactions. As previously reported by crypto.news, Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Mexico completed a pilot cross-border treasury payment using USDT on the Avalanche blockchain.

According to Tether, Hyundai Motor America converted U.S. dollars into USDT before transferring the stablecoin to its Mexican subsidiary, where it was exchanged back into U.S. dollars.

The company said the $20,000 transfer, including verification, was completed in about seven minutes, compared with three to four hours or longer for a conventional bank transfer.

Institutional credibility has also become a focus for the stablecoin issuer. In March 2026, Tether appointed KPMG to conduct a full audit of reserves backing roughly $185 billion worth of USDT. The company said the audit is intended to strengthen confidence in the token’s reserve backing following years of scrutiny over its transparency.

Operationally, Tether has concentrated its stablecoin strategy around USDT after discontinuing its aUSDT product, reinforcing the flagship token’s role in its international business.

Despite growing momentum, Bolivia has not yet finalized the legal framework for integrating USDT into its payment system. Neither the Central Bank of Bolivia nor lawmakers have published formal implementation rules.

Still, reports indicate the proposal has advanced further than previous crypto initiatives in the country, while other emerging economies facing persistent dollar shortages are expected by analysts to watch Bolivia’s experience closely.

Jito has proposed a governance overhaul that would direct 100% of the DAO’s JTX revenue share toward open-market JTO buybacks and permanent token burns through at least Q4 2027.

According to a governance proposal published by Jito on July 13, the protocol has introduced JIP-38, which would formally classify Jito as a token-centric network where nearly all major network revenue flows to the decentralized autonomous organization and remains under the control of JTO token holders.

The proposal triggered an immediate market reaction, with Jito (JTO) climbing as much as 8% shortly after its release, according to data from crypto.news.

Revenue would be redirected to JTO holders

Under JIP-38, Jito proposes using the DAO’s entire share of JTX revenue to buy JTO tokens on the open market before permanently removing those tokens from circulation. According to the proposal, this arrangement would remain in place for at least one year, extending through the fourth quarter of 2027.

One exception remains in the framework. The proposal states that 20% of JTX platform fees would continue to be reinvested into JTX development rather than being allocated to buybacks and burns. Jito said the remaining major revenue streams would continue flowing through the DAO under governance controlled by JTO holders.

To carry out the program, the proposal calls for buybacks to be executed automatically through a Rev Splitter mechanism overseen by the project’s Dev Council. Alongside the automation process, Jito plans to update its governance documentation so the protocol’s operating model formally recognizes the token-centric structure.

According to JIP-38, existing revenue allocation commitments would be completed before a comprehensive review of protocol fee streams takes place in Q4 2027.

During that review, governance participants would evaluate the performance of token buybacks, ecosystem incentives, and other capital allocation methods before JTO holders vote on the network’s next long-term revenue framework.

Governance changes extend beyond token burns

Beyond the buyback program, JIP-38 outlines several operational changes intended to support the new revenue structure. According to the proposal, the Rev Splitter would become progressively more automated while governance records would be updated to match the revised economic model.

Jito also stated in the proposal that the framework is designed so value generated across the network accrues to the JTO token instead of external corporate entities. Any future changes to revenue allocation after Q4 2027 would require approval through governance voting by JTO holders.

The proposal arrives as Jito continues expanding its presence across the Solana ecosystem. Earlier this year, as previously reported by crypto.news, 21Shares launched the 21Shares Jito Staked SOL ETP (JSOL) on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris.

The issuer said the product provides regulated exchange-traded exposure to Solana through JitoSOL while embedding staking rewards, allowing investors to access the asset through traditional brokers and banks without managing wallets or staking infrastructure.

Institutional support for the protocol has also grown over the past year. As previously reported by crypto.news, Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) crypto division invested $50 million in Jito to help expand the Solana staking protocol’s ecosystem.

The investment included an allocation of JTO tokens to the venture firm, adding another high-profile backer as the protocol seeks approval for its latest governance proposal.

Strategy has raised $466.7 million through fresh MSTR stock sales while leaving its Bitcoin holdings unchanged at 843,775 BTC for the week ending July 12.

According to a Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Michael Saylor-led Strategy sold 4,818,781 Class A MSTR shares between July 6 and July 12 through its at-the-market (ATM) program, generating approximately $466.7 million in net proceeds. Despite the capital raise, the company reported that it did not purchase or sell any Bitcoin during the reporting period.