OKX Europe has opened a one-way conversion route across 30 EU and EEA countries, allowing customers to deposit USDT and exchange it for MiCA-compliant USDC.

According to an OKX announcement, eligible customers can send Tether’s USDT to their OKX Europe accounts before converting the tokens into Circle-issued USDC. OKX also promoted an 8% deposit bonus for customers moving funds to the platform.

Unlike automatic conversion programs introduced by some platforms, OKX said its service allows users to decide when to exchange their holdings. The company positioned the feature as an option for customers whose current platforms have stopped accepting USDT or plan to convert remaining balances after a deadline.

Operating under a Markets in Crypto-Assets license, OKX Europe currently serves customers across 30 countries in the European Union and European Economic Area. The authorization allows the exchange to offer regulated crypto services throughout those markets under the EU framework.

MiCA restrictions push USDT holders toward USDC

European platforms have reduced support for USDT because Tether has not secured authorization to issue the stablecoin under MiCA. Since the regulation’s final transition period ended on July 1, exchanges have restricted deposits, removed trading pairs and directed customers toward approved alternatives.

Circle’s USDC has become one of the main options available to those users because it operates under the EU framework. OKX’s new tool supports deposits only in USDT and conversions only into USDC, meaning customers cannot use the feature to exchange USDC back into USDT.

Despite the European restrictions, DefiLlama data shows that USDT remains the world’s largest stablecoin. Tether controls about 59% of the nearly $310 billion stablecoin market, with USDT holding roughly $184 billion in market value, compared with around $73 billion for USDC.

Revolut has also announced plans to stop supporting USDT for customers in the EEA and Switzerland. According to the digital banking platform, users have until Aug. 31 to sell or withdraw their holdings before Revolut converts any remaining tokens into each customer’s base currency.

Tether holds its ground as Binance retreats

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has repeatedly defended the company’s decision not to seek MiCA approval, arguing that the framework’s reserve rules could expose stablecoin issuers to additional risks. MiCA requires issuers to hold part of their reserves with European credit institutions.

During an earlier interview, Ardoino described the rules as “very dangerous when it comes to stablecoins,” while acknowledging that refusing authorization could reduce USDT’s availability on European exchanges.

Tether maintained the same position in July 2025, when Ardoino wrote on X that the company would reconsider an application only “when MiCA becomes safer for consumers and stablecoin issuers.”

Tether was not the only major crypto company affected by the EU framework. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, withdrew its MiCA license application in Greece after failing to secure approval and began suspending services in several EU countries when the 18-month transition period ended.

Binance’s retreat has left Coinbase, OKX and other MiCA-licensed exchanges competing for European customers as regulated platforms take a larger role in the region. For OKX, the USDT-to-USDC route gives affected holders a voluntary conversion option while European support for Tether’s stablecoin continues to decline.

A macOS information-stealing malware can compromise cryptocurrency holdings by hijacking Telegram Desktop sessions and extracting wallet data, according to blockchain security firm SlowMist. The attack is notable because it focuses on taking over already-authenticated local sessions and stealing sensitive credentials, rather than relying solely on intercepting new logins.

SlowMist says the malware harvests data from multiple sources on an affected Mac, including Apple’s Keychain, Safari cookies, Apple Notes, Telegram Desktop and wallet databases tied to more than a dozen crypto wallets. After collecting credentials and authenticated session material, attackers can use the stolen information to access wallets and potentially execute account takeovers.

Key takeaways

• SlowMist reports a macOS malware chain that combines credential theft, browser/session harvesting, and wallet database extraction.
• Telegram two-step verification may not stop the attack because the malware reuses an existing authenticated Telegram Desktop session on the device.
• The malware targets both software wallets (such as Exodus, Atomic, Electrum, Wasabi, and Monero) and hardware wallet companion apps (Ledger Live and Trezor Suite).
• Defenders’ best near-term steps include terminating Telegram sessions, re-authenticating on a trusted device, and rotating wallet recovery phrases and assets to new addresses.

How the Telegram session hijack works

SlowMist’s assessment centers on the malware’s ability to work through already-established authentication. Rather than forcing a new Telegram login flow—which would typically require re-entering a phone number, verification code, and two-step verification password—the malware appears to leverage the authenticated session stored locally by Telegram Desktop.

In its reproduced testing, SlowMist says researchers restored stolen Telegram Desktop session data on another Mac without needing to repeat the normal verification steps, including entering a phone number or two-step verification password. That means even users who believe their Telegram protections are strong may still face risk if their device has already been compromised.

For crypto users who rely on Telegram to manage accounts, coordinate transfers, or receive wallet-related approvals, this matters: a session takeover can enable attackers to impersonate the user, obtain access to conversations and any linked operational details, and facilitate subsequent wallet-focused actions.

What data the malware harvests on macOS

SlowMist reports that the malware gathers a range of sensitive information from the compromised system. The company specifically points to macOS Keychain data, Safari cookies, Apple Notes, and Telegram Desktop. It also looks for cryptocurrency wallet data stored on the device.

Beyond user credentials and browser artifacts, the malware also targets stored wallet databases and related wallet extension data. SlowMist says that after collection, attackers copy authenticated session data, wallet databases, and browser wallet extension information—creating multiple paths for wallet access depending on the wallet type and local storage structure.

The combined approach is important because it increases the odds of success. Instead of betting on a single weakness, the malware can pursue credential-based decryption and offline wallet database recovery, or it can aim at social engineering and application replacement—two methods that can operate even if one fails.

Wallet targets: from desktop software to hardware app companions

According to SlowMist, the malware targets both common software wallets and applications associated with hardware wallets. On the software side, it names Exodus, Atomic, Electrum, Wasabi and Monero. On the hardware side, it includes Ledger Live and Trezor Suite—suggesting the malware aims to compromise not only keys stored by desktop apps, but also the companion software environments used to interact with hardware wallets.

SlowMist also says the malware searches for wallet data stored by full-node clients. It lists Bitcoin Core, Litecoin Core, Dash Core, and Dogecoin Core as examples, implying that systems running these services may contain wallet-related data that the attacker can harvest.

This breadth means affected users may not realize they are at risk simply because they don’t use one of the “headline” wallets. Anyone who stores wallet data locally, uses wallet-related companion apps, or keeps backups and recovery material on the same device could be exposed depending on what the malware detects and copies.

Two ways attackers can turn stolen data into theft

SlowMist describes two primary endgame strategies after the data theft phase.

First, attackers can attempt to decrypt stolen wallet databases offline using passwords taken from the infected device. If the malware successfully extracts the credentials needed to unlock local wallet storage, offline decryption reduces the attacker’s dependence on live access or additional compromise steps.

Second, SlowMist says attackers may replace legitimate Ledger and Trezor applications with fake versions designed to trick users into entering recovery phrases. This shifts the attack from purely technical compromise to user deception, leveraging the fact that many users will naturally follow prompts in trusted-looking wallet software.

SlowMist states that it reproduced the full attack chain in an isolated environment, supporting the firm’s characterization of how the different components can work together—from data collection through to potential wallet manipulation.

What users should do if they suspect compromise

SlowMist urged users who suspect their devices have been compromised to take immediate containment steps. The firm recommends terminating existing Telegram Desktop sessions, establishing a new trusted login, and then changing both the Telegram two-step verification password and the Telegram Desktop Passcode.

For wallet security, SlowMist advises users to generate a new recovery phrase on a clean device and move all assets to new addresses. The underlying logic is straightforward: if a recovery phrase or wallet database may be recoverable by an attacker, treating existing addresses as potentially compromised helps reduce the chance of future unauthorized access.

Given the malware’s emphasis on authenticated sessions and local credential harvesting, the safest remediation tends to focus on “breaking the chain” on the infected device—re-authenticating critical services and rebuilding wallet access from a clean environment rather than attempting to patch individual components.

Going forward, investors and everyday users alike should watch for signs of Telegram session abnormality (unexpected activity, sudden device prompts, or account behavior) and treat any macOS security incident as potentially wallet-relevant. The key uncertainty remains how widely such malware campaigns are deployed in the wild—but SlowMist’s findings offer a clear blueprint for why device compromise, not just exchange security, can determine the outcome of a crypto theft attempt.

European regulators have added 14 more crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework register, according to an ESMA update released on Thursday. The latest expansion lifts the total number of licensed CASPs to 294 and suggests that the post-deadline licensing pace is easing after a sharp early surge.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) updated its interim MiCA register as part of its ongoing rollout of the bloc’s crypto-licensing regime. Earlier, ESMA had made a major jump on July 3, adding 37 CASPs in its first large post-deadline update after the transitional period ended.

Key takeaways

• ESMA’s Thursday update adds 14 CASPs, bringing the total licensed providers in its interim MiCA register to 294.
• Ripple Payments Europe, Bison Bank (Portugal), and Croatia’s state-owned Hrvatska poštanska banka (HPB) are among the new entries.
• Banks and other established financial institutions continue to expand into MiCA-regulated crypto services in Europe.
• ESMA reported no changes to its registers for electronic money tokens (EMTs) and asset-referenced tokens (ARTs) in this round.
• Two additional entities were added to ESMA’s non-compliant list following actions by Italy’s CONSOB.

More traditional finance firms enter the MiCA register

The new CASPs underline how traditional financial institutions are steadily formalizing their crypto exposure under Europe’s MiCA rules. Among the most notable additions is Ripple Payments Europe, the payments unit of blockchain company Ripple, which now appears in ESMA’s register as a MiCA-licensed service provider.

ESMA also listed Bison Bank, based in Portugal, and Hrvatska poštanska banka (HPB), a state-owned bank in Croatia. In addition, the update included two German cooperative banks: Volksbank Schwarzwald-Donau-Neckar and Raiffeisenbank Auerbach-Freihung.

Outside the banking sector, Liechtenstein-based Kaiser Partner Privatbank was also added, expanding the presence of private banking groups offering regulated crypto services under MiCA.

Beyond these new entries, ESMA’s register already includes a range of well-known institutions. The list reportedly features firms such as Spain’s BBVA and CaixaBank, Germany’s Commerzbank, France’s CACEIS Bank, and Standard Chartered Luxembourg—an indication that MiCA licensing is increasingly overlapping with mainstream financial infrastructure in the region.

A visible slowdown after the initial post-deadline jump

Comparing Thursday’s additions with ESMA’s previous large update highlights a shift in momentum. On July 3, ESMA added 37 CASPs in the first major post-deadline register expansion after MiCA’s transitional phase ended. Thursday’s 14-company increase is smaller, implying a slower licensing cadence as the market absorbs regulatory requirements at scale.

For investors and industry participants, the practical takeaway is that the number of MiCA-approved providers is still climbing, but the fastest phase of onboarding may be giving way to a more incremental process. That can matter for counterparties evaluating regulated access across Europe, as well as for projects planning compliance timelines and partnership strategies.

EMT and ART approvals remain stalled

While CASP licensing continues to move forward, ESMA’s registers for EMTs and ARTs showed no changes in this update. ESMA did not report any new entries for electronic money tokens—crypto-assets intended to maintain a stable value against a single official currency—or for asset-referenced tokens, which are designed to reference multiple assets such as currencies or commodities.

In the latest figures, the EMT register continues to count 21 unique issuers. The ART register, by contrast, remained unchanged with no approved issuers listed.

That contrast is significant: MiCA’s structure distinguishes between licensing providers (CASPs) and approvals for token categories (EMTs and ARTs). Even as more firms gain authorization to offer services, the pipeline for token issuance—particularly ARTs—appears to be moving more slowly.

New entities on ESMA’s non-compliant list

ESMA also reported additions to its non-compliant register. Following actions by Italy’s securities regulator, the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB), two entities were added: Reversal Investment Group and Kortex.

With these updates, the non-compliant list now totals 164 entries, including crypto exchange MEXC. For readers tracking MiCA enforcement, this matters because the register is not limited to approvals—it also signals which market participants regulators view as falling short of compliance expectations.

Going forward, the main issue to watch is whether ESMA’s next post-deadline licensing rounds return to higher volumes or continue to taper off, and whether progress for EMTs and especially ARTs accelerates beyond the current static position. Those developments will shape how quickly regulated token products can emerge alongside the growing network of MiCA-authorized service providers.

SBI Holdings has secured regulatory approval from Singapore’s central bank to take control of Holdbuild, the parent company behind crypto exchange Coinhako, completing a deal that strengthens the Japanese financial group’s footprint in Southeast Asia.

In a statement released Thursday, SBI said it received authorization from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), allowing the company to acquire shares from existing shareholders via a capital injection. Following the transaction, Coinhako will become a consolidated subsidiary of SBI.

Key takeaways

• SBI’s majority stake in Coinhako was enabled by MAS regulatory approval, making the acquisition effective through a capital injection.
• Coinhako operates under a Major Payment Institution license in Singapore via its subsidiary, Hako Technology Pte. Ltd.
• SBI plans to combine Coinhako’s customer base and regional network with its own financial services and digital asset initiatives.
• SBI’s strategy in Asia is advancing through a mix of acquisitions and infrastructure-building, including tokenization and stablecoin-related efforts.

Regulatory green light in Singapore

The move hinges on MAS authorization, which SBI said was a prerequisite to completing its majority acquisition of Holdbuild. Once the capital injection was carried out, SBI positioned Coinhako for consolidation within its group structure.

For Coinhako, the Singapore compliance framework matters. The exchange holds a Major Payment Institution license under MAS through Hako Technology Pte. Ltd., the operating subsidiary referenced in coverage of the transaction. That regulated footing is one reason the approval process is closely watched by market participants evaluating how smoothly crypto businesses can scale in highly supervised jurisdictions.

From February intent to majority control

SBI first disclosed its intention to buy a majority stake in Coinhako in February, signaling an expansion beyond Japan into a market it described as strategically important for digital assets. The latest announcement confirms that the deal cleared Singapore’s regulatory gatekeeping, turning a planned move into an operational corporate change.

While SBI did not provide financial details, its structure of acquisition—purchasing shares from existing holders through additional funding—suggests a direct ownership consolidation rather than a partnership model. For investors and industry watchers, that difference typically affects how future growth initiatives can be managed, financed, and integrated across the parent and subsidiary.

How SBI says it will use Coinhako

According to SBI, the acquisition is designed to merge Coinhako’s customer base and regional distribution capabilities with SBI’s broader financial services and digital asset businesses. The company specifically pointed to its JPYSC stablecoin initiative as part of its longer-term integration plans.

Such linkages are meaningful because stablecoin infrastructure and regulated exchange distribution can reinforce each other: exchange users often serve as on-ramps for stablecoin settlement and collateral use cases, while stablecoin rails can improve how value moves across services. SBI’s stated intent indicates it is aiming to align its Singapore presence with its payments and tokenization direction.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and SBI did not immediately respond to a request for additional deal details. That leaves several practical questions open for the market, including the pace of operational integration and whether Coinhako’s product suite will be expanded with SBI-linked services.

SBI’s wider push across digital assets and tokenization

This acquisition fits within a broader pattern of SBI expanding in digital assets through investments, acquisitions, and infrastructure. Earlier this month, SBI led a $76 million Series C funding round for institutional crypto exchange EDX Markets, positioning the group in markets aimed at professional trading. SBI also previously shared plans to acquire Bitbank for $289 million, a move intended to build one of Japan’s largest crypto exchange platforms.

Beyond exchange ownership, SBI has been investing in the infrastructure layer. The company partnered with Ondo Finance to bring tokenized Japanese stocks and to integrate its JPYSC stablecoin for settlement and collateral, according to reporting that circulated this week. Earlier, SBI and Startale Group unveiled Strium, a layer-1 blockchain focused on tokenized securities and real-world assets, with designs intended to support continuous trading and tokenized equity settlement for institutional applications.

Taken together, SBI’s approach appears to be converging three areas: regulated distribution (via exchanges), tokenized asset issuance and settlement (via blockchain and tokenization efforts), and stablecoin utility (via JPYSC). Coinhako’s regulated status in Singapore and its regional network could give SBI a clearer pathway to deploy those capabilities outside Japan.

What to watch next

Readers should watch for how SBI operationally integrates Coinhako—particularly around stablecoin-related settlement and collateral use cases—and whether Coinhako’s product offerings expand in step with SBI’s tokenization and blockchain infrastructure. With MAS approval already in hand, the next milestones are likely to be execution details: integration timelines, governance changes, and any new regional initiatives announced after consolidation.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged President Donald Trump to provide updated information about his cryptocurrency earnings, arguing that the timing matters as the US Senate weighs a major crypto market structure bill.

In a letter sent to the White House, Warren asked Trump to voluntarily release a financial disclosure covering crypto-related income from Jan. 1 through July 15. The request is tied to pending consideration of the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, legislation Warren warns could worsen perceived conflicts of interest if stronger ethics guardrails are not in place.

Key takeaways

• Warren wants Trump to disclose crypto earnings for Jan. 1–July 15 ahead of a Senate vote on the CLARITY Act.
• The senator’s pressure follows disclosures filed in 2025 that showed significant crypto-related earnings.
• Warren argues the bill could “turbocharge” conflicts without adequate ethics protections.
• White House officials have previously said the president’s assets are held in discretionary accounts managed by independent third parties.
• House and Senate activity suggests CLARITY’s path depends not only on market rules but also on ethics provisions.

Warren presses for earlier crypto earnings disclosures

Warren’s Thursday letter requested that Trump provide an updated financial disclosure report covering his cryptocurrency earnings between Jan. 1 and July 15. The senator made the appeal ahead of a mandated reporting timeline: Warren noted Trump is not required to file his 2026 annual report until May 2027, but asked him to release the information voluntarily by July 23.

The deadline aligns with a period when the Senate is considering the CLARITY Act, a bill aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets. Warren’s central claim is that ethics questions surrounding the president’s and his family’s crypto holdings remain unresolved, particularly while lawmakers debate market structure provisions.

“Without adequate guardrails, [CLARITY] would turbocharge the President’s significant conflicts of interest and almost certainly boost the value of his and his family’s crypto holdings.”

Why the request follows the president’s 2025 disclosures

Warren’s call comes after Trump’s 2025 financial disclosures drew attention for large crypto-related earnings. According to reporting on the filings, Trump earned $1.4 billion from crypto-related ventures in 2025, including through his memecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP), and via his family’s company World Liberty Financial. (Those details were highlighted in earlier coverage on Cointelegraph, referencing the disclosures.)

The new request focuses on a shorter, more current window—Jan. 1 to July 15—suggesting Warren wants lawmakers and the public to understand how crypto-related interests may be evolving while Congress evaluates CLARITY.

Warren also questioned the broader appropriateness of senior officials and their families profiting from the crypto industry during active legislative consideration of a bill she says could affect the value of crypto holdings.

White House response and the ethics debate around CLARITY

Cointelegraph reported that Warren’s office was contacted for comment but did not provide an immediate response. The same reporting noted that during a July 2 interview, Trump said there was “nothing illegal” and “nothing wrong” with profiting from his crypto investments as president. Separately, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said that “all of the president’s assets are in held in fully discretionary accounts managed by independent third-party financial institutions” and that “there are no conflicts of interest.”

That exchange highlights a key tension in the current debate: while the White House emphasizes third-party management and the absence of conflicts, Warren argues that the existence of significant holdings—combined with a potentially market-moving legislative package—creates conflicts that require more explicit guardrails.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated the chamber plans to hold a vote on the crypto bill before the Senate breaks for August state work periods. Cointelegraph previously noted that many Democrats have signaled they will not support legislation without clearer ethics provisions, with some pointing specifically to potential conflicts connected to Trump’s holdings.

CLARITY gathers momentum in the House while Senate scrutiny grows

Activity around CLARITY has not been limited to the Senate. On Friday, the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence held a field hearing in New York City focused on the bill.

According to Cointelegraph’s account of the hearing, CLARITY had already passed the House of Representatives in July 2025, but would return to the chamber if approved in the Senate with 60 votes. Representative French Hill—who chairs the full committee and attended the hearing—described CLARITY as a “bipartisan priority.”

Still, the hearing also reflected partisan and procedural friction. Cointelegraph reported that no Democratic representatives appeared to attend the session. The outlet also said it reached out to Democratic lawmakers on the committee for comment but did not receive an immediate response. A related Cointelegraph piece previously framed the CLARITY process as facing a partisan struggle centered on ethics on the Senate floor.

Taken together, the events suggest CLARITY’s prospects depend on more than simply whether the legislation can win enough votes in each chamber. The debate now appears to be increasingly about whether lawmakers believe current disclosures and account structures are sufficient—or whether additional ethics and conflict-of-interest protections must be embedded directly into the bill itself.

As the July 23 disclosure request and the Senate vote timetable approach, investors and builders should watch for any added ethics language that could shift the bill’s support in the upper chamber. The uncertainty remains whether lawmakers will treat third-party managed discretionary accounts as resolving concerns—or whether stronger statutory guardrails will be required before CLARITY can move forward.

Stablecoins are increasingly moving beyond the “faster transfer” narrative and into more basic functions: helping people and businesses access dollars when local currency conditions are unstable. In Bolivia, a new proposal would formally recognize Tether’s USDT for payments—an attempt to widen access to dollar-denominated value as the country grapples with persistent foreign-exchange pressure.

Meanwhile, the market’s attention is also shifting to how crypto-native infrastructure companies translate new strategies into shareholder value. Bitcoin miners pitching AI and high-performance computing plans are drawing renewed scrutiny as investors focus on governance and insider activity, even as selected deals attract major attention.

Key takeaways

• Bolivia is reviewing a framework that would allow USDT to circulate alongside the boliviano and the U.S. dollar for payments and savings, with anti-money laundering controls planned.
• The push is tied to a prolonged shortage of dollars and widening pressure on official versus parallel exchange rates, increasing demand for dollar-denominated alternatives.
• Bitcoin miners’ AI infrastructure pivots are facing closer investor scrutiny, including questions around insider stock sales and whether AI-driven upside reaches public shareholders.
• CleanSpark’s Georgia data center lease highlights the sector’s effort to replace or supplement mining revenue with longer-term infrastructure contracts.
• Bitmine reported $45.7 million in revenue from Ethereum staking and validation last quarter, underscoring that staking businesses can remain cash-generative even when token prices are choppy.

Bolivia moves to recognize USDT as a payment option

Bolivia is considering a regulatory approach that would recognize Tether’s USDT as a payment currency, according to earlier coverage from Cointelegraph (Bolivia weighs USDT payment currency amid dollar shortage). If adopted, the rules would reportedly enable USDT to circulate in parallel with the boliviano and the U.S. dollar for both payments and savings.

Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza said the proposal would also include anti-money laundering safeguards. That matters in Bolivia’s case because the country is still on the Financial Action Task Force’s “gray list,” a status that tends to raise compliance expectations for any financial product that could touch broader cross-border flows.

The initiative follows two related developments. First, Bolivia lifted its crypto ban in 2024. Second, Cointelegraph previously reported that the new administration has pledged to broaden access to digital asset services (Bolivia integrate crypto stablecoins financial system).

While stablecoins have often been marketed as a tool to move value quickly across borders, Bolivia’s case highlights a different driver: domestic dollar scarcity. The proposal comes as Bolivia has faced a prolonged shortage of U.S. dollars after pressures on foreign-exchange reserves forced the government to abandon a long-standing currency peg earlier this year. That shift has increased demand for dollar-denominated alternatives, with USDT becoming a practical payment channel for those seeking steadier value than the boliviano.

For investors and builders, the significance is not only policy-level. It’s a signal that stablecoins are being pulled into mainstream economic coping mechanisms—especially in markets where official access to dollars is constrained and parallel market spreads are widening. What remains uncertain is how quickly the framework could move from proposal to implementation, and how regulators will operationalize AML requirements in practice.

Miners’ AI strategy meets governance and insider-trading questions

In a separate thread of crypto industry news, investor attention is increasingly turning from miners’ AI aspirations to the question of execution and accountability. Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph noted that investors are scrutinizing insider stock sales at Bitcoin miners pursuing AI infrastructure strategies as enthusiasm for the theme cools and governance concerns come into focus (Bitcoin miners’ AI pivot faces investor scrutiny over insider sales).

According to Blocksbridge Consulting, executives at TeraWulf, Cipher Digital, Riot Platforms, and Core Scientific have disclosed stock sales in recent months. Many of these sales were reportedly made under prearranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. In addition, Blocksbridge said that some strategic investors also reduced their holdings, including Tether—reported to have cut its stake in Bitdeer after Bitdeer’s AI-related rally.

The scrutiny is landing at a time when the AI narrative may not be performing as strongly as investors expected. Cointelegraph cited that the TEM AI Infrastructure Growth Index has fallen 16% over the past month, suggesting the “AI tailwind” for infrastructure-adjacent equities has cooled.

Blocksbridge’s framing for why this matters is straightforward: investors are looking beyond the AI growth story to evaluate whether the benefits of miners’ strategic pivots are translating into value for public shareholders. In other words, it’s not enough to adopt AI infrastructure as a theme—markets want clarity on timing, cash flows, and whether management’s incentives align with long-term shareholder outcomes.

CleanSpark’s lease deal signals a shift toward contracted infrastructure revenue

Even with investor scrutiny in the background, not all AI infrastructure developments are treated equally. CleanSpark’s stock surge—reported as up as much as 22%—followed its signing of a 20-year data center lease in Georgia, according to Cointelegraph coverage (CleanSpark shares jump after Georgia data center lease).

The agreement covers a 175-megawatt data center at the company’s Sandersville, Georgia campus. Cointelegraph reported the lease was signed with an undisclosed investment-grade global technology company, with the tenant expected to install computing equipment at the site. Phased deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.

CleanSpark could see substantial contracted revenue: Cointelegraph said the deal could generate up to $6.6 billion in contracted revenue. If the customer exercises two five-year extension options, the total value could reportedly reach $11.6 billion. Deals like this can be especially important for miners because they may provide more predictable income streams beyond operating-margin swings tied to mining economics.

The context also matters. Cointelegraph noted that the agreement reflects a broader trend among publicly traded miners seeking new revenue sources as post-halving mining conditions remain under pressure. While many peers have reduced Bitcoin holdings to bolster liquidity, CleanSpark has largely remained a net accumulator, though it reportedly sold some BTC earlier this year to fund operations. The company’s stance is closely watched because it influences how aggressively it can invest while still maintaining exposure to Bitcoin’s upside.

For readers following the sector, the key is to watch whether more miners can structure similar long-term contracts with clear timeline milestones—and whether these assets produce measurable diversification benefits in financial results, not just in announcements.

Bitmine adds $45.7 million from Ethereum staking and validation

On the business side of crypto infrastructure, Bitmine Immersion Technologies reported financial performance driven heavily by staking. According to Cointelegraph, the company generated $45.7 million in revenue from Ethereum staking and validation last quarter (Bitmine generated $46m from Ethereum staking last quarter).

For the three months ended May 31, Ethereum staking represented 98% of Bitmine’s revenue. By comparison, Cointelegraph reported $624,000 from self-mining Bitcoin and $168,000 from consulting services.

The results build on Bitmine’s staking platform roadmap. Cointelegraph noted that Bitmine launched MAVAN in March, an institutional Ethereum staking platform built on the acquisition of validator operator Pier Two Holdings. The company said it has staked roughly 85% of its Ether holdings—about 4.9 million ETH.

Chairman Tom Lee said Bitmine now stakes more Ether than any other entity and projects annualized staking rewards of $284 million once its holdings are fully staked through MAVAN and its partners. Even without the narrative excitement that often surrounds mining-related headlines, staking operations can offer a different kind of resilience: fees and staking participation can remain a core revenue engine when price volatility affects trading activity.

What to monitor next is how quickly Bitmine can reach full staked exposure through MAVAN and partner channels, and whether the company’s reward outlook holds as network conditions and competitive staking dynamics evolve.

Across these stories, the common thread is how crypto infrastructure is adapting to real constraints—whether that’s dollar shortages driving stablecoin payments, or miners searching for steadier cash flows through contracted computing capacity, or staking providers scaling revenue through platform distribution. The near-term question for market participants is which of these approaches translate into durable compliance, predictable income, and shareholder-aligned governance rather than just short-lived momentum.