Ondo Finance has secured FINRA authorizations covering tokenized NMS stocks, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, index funds and IPO securities for U.S. investors.

Ondo Finance announced on July 23 that its SEC-registered broker-dealer subsidiary, Oasis Pro Markets, had received the permissions needed to launch regulated tokenized securities services under SEC and FINRA oversight.

According to the company, the authorizations cover over-the-counter retail transactions, underwritten primary offerings, private placements and other securities activities. Oasis Pro Markets can also operate a venue where U.S. issuers conduct primary offerings and eligible retail and institutional investors trade the resulting assets in secondary markets.

The approved framework supports settlement in fiat currencies or selected stablecoins, including transfers made directly between blockchain wallets, Ondo said. Supported products include National Market System equities, ETFs, mutual funds, index funds and securities issued through initial public offerings.

Oasis Pro Markets may also use omnibus account structures, allowing broker-dealers and registered investment advisers to connect their existing systems. Ondo said the arrangement could give institutional clients, retail investors and retirement accounts access through their current financial providers, reducing the need to open accounts on a separate platform.

The company cautioned that FINRA membership and SEC registration do not guarantee compliance with every rule. Neither regulator has recommended the products, approved them as investments or verified Ondo’s announcement, according to the disclaimer accompanying the release.

Authorization opens regulated U.S. distribution

Completed in October 2025, Ondo’s acquisition of Oasis Pro brought an SEC-registered broker-dealer, alternative trading system and transfer agent into the group. Oasis Pro Markets has been a FINRA member since 2020 and previously received authorization to settle digital securities using fiat, USDC and DAI, according to Ondo’s acquisition announcement.

Through Oasis Pro TA, the group can manage capitalization tables onchain while administering shareholder rights and transfers. Ondo said the transfer-agent unit also supports movement of collateral across asset types, giving the company regulated infrastructure for both issuing and servicing tokenized securities.

Earlier in July, Ondo introduced tokenized versions of BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Micron shares in partnership with Broadridge. Under the structure described by Ondo, the underlying securities remain within the established U.S. custody system while corresponding tokens are issued on Ethereum and held by regulated custodians.

The model follows a third-party custodial structure discussed by the SEC in January 2026. Ondo said each token is backed one-for-one by the underlying shares and carries the same shareholder rights and protections, including voting rights handled through Broadridge.

Before this U.S. rollout, Ondo Stocks mainly served eligible investors outside the country. The platform’s current terms still state that its existing Ondo Stocks tokens cannot be offered to U.S. persons unless they are registered or qualify for an exemption, meaning the new authorizations provide infrastructure for compliant U.S. services rather than automatically removing every product restriction.

Ondo reported in early 2026 that its tokenized products had exceeded $2.5 billion in total value locked, citing RWA.xyz and DefiLlama. At the time, the company said Ondo Stocks had generated more than $7 billion in cumulative trading volume across over 200 tokenized stocks, while its tokenized Treasury products accounted for about $2 billion in value.

Regulatory uncertainty had previously limited Ondo’s U.S. plans. In December 2025, the company reported that the SEC had closed a confidential, multi-year investigation without filing charges, although the closure did not amount to formal approval of Ondo’s products.

ONDO price faces resistance at $0.42

Ondo (ONDO) price traded near $0.40 at the time of analysis after falling roughly 3% over 24 hours, while its 7-day performance remained positive. Its market cap stood near $1.94 billion, based on a circulating supply of about 4.9 billion tokens, with daily volume above $130 million.

On the supplied Binance daily chart, ONDO rose as high as $0.4162 before retreating to about $0.398. The rejection places initial resistance between $0.416 and $0.42, where sellers interrupted the latest advance.

Despite the pullback, the chart shows ONDO trading above its four displayed moving averages. The 20-day average stands near $0.343, followed by the 50-day at $0.3465, the 100-day at $0.3409 and the 200-day at $0.3156.

Aroon readings also favor the recent advance, with Aroon Up at 92.86% compared with Aroon Down at 35.71%. Based on the chart, a daily close above $0.42 would clear the latest swing high, while failure to hold $0.38 could expose the moving-average cluster between $0.341 and $0.347.

Bitcoin has fallen below $65,000 after the Trump administration announced tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners covering more than 99% of U.S. trade.

CNBC reported that the duties will take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, replacing the temporary 10% global tariff scheduled to expire the same day. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has linked the measures to what it described as inadequate enforcement against goods made with forced labor.

Bitcoin traded as low as $64,985 on Thursday, July 23, before briefly recovering above $65,000. crypto.news data showed the asset down about 1.5% over 24 hours, with its market capitalization standing near $1.3 trillion.

Selling resumed after details of the tariff plan emerged, leaving the rebound above $65,000 short-lived. Short-interval charts showed consecutive bearish candles during the decline, while CoinGlass recorded rising liquidations of leveraged long positions as traders faced another risk-off development.

The tariff announcement arrived during a difficult session for risk assets. The Nasdaq Composite fell about 2.2% to a four-week low, while the S&P 500 lost 1.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped about 507 points.

Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran had already pressured Bitcoin earlier in the day. Al Jazeera reported that President Donald Trump had threatened an unprecedented “massive attack” on Iran as military exchanges continued across the region.

Strong labor data has added pressure on Bitcoin

Fresh U.S. employment data gave traders another reason to reassess interest-rate expectations. The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims fell by 22,000 to 187,000 in the week ending July 18, the lowest total since September 1969.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected claims to rise to 212,000. Continuing claims also fell by 2,000 to 1.796 million, according to the department, showing that layoffs remained limited despite slower hiring and uncertainty surrounding trade policy.

Stronger labor figures can reduce the urgency for the Federal Reserve to ease monetary policy because they suggest that the economy can withstand restrictive borrowing costs. Interest-rate futures indicated that traders were considering the possibility of a Fed rate increase by September, Reuters reported, as higher oil prices added to inflation concerns.

Treasury yields climbed alongside those expectations, with the 10-year yield reaching about 4.70%, according to Investors Business Daily. Higher bond yields can weigh on cryptocurrencies because they raise the return available from traditional assets that carry less risk than Bitcoin.

Leveraged traders took most of the immediate damage from the decline. CoinGlass data showed that 62,869 crypto traders were liquidated over 24 hours, with total liquidations reaching about $162 million. Separate Coinalyze figures placed Bitcoin liquidations near $28.7 million, including roughly $26.2 million in long positions.

Bitcoin’s fall followed a brief advance toward $67,000 earlier in the week. BTC was approaching a seven-week high on July 21 despite the conflict with Iran and the pending tariff decision, but buyers failed to maintain that move as macroeconomic pressure intensified.

New tariffs have rebuilt Trump’s trade barrier

The administration has imposed the tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows Washington to respond to trade practices it considers unfair. The legal route differs from the emergency powers used for an earlier set of tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down in February.

A senior administration official described the measures as the most extensive international labor-rights trade action ever taken by any country. According to the administration, the rates depend on how much progress each trading partner has made in restricting imports produced with forced labor.

Countries and territories that have introduced partial restrictions or made related commitments will face a 10% rate. USTR documents show that the group includes Canada, Mexico, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Argentina and several Southeast Asian and Latin American economies.

A 12.5% tariff will apply to partners that the USTR determined had made less progress, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has argued that weak enforcement abroad forces American workers to compete against goods linked to abusive labor practices.

Several major product groups will remain outside the new duties. Reuters reported that the exemptions include crude oil, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, rare-earth materials, aircraft parts and some foods, while goods already covered by Section 232 tariffs will not face an additional charge.

Canadian and Mexican products that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will also be exempt. Administration officials said the new steel and aluminum duties would not stack on top of existing national-security tariffs.

The USTR has not published an estimate of how much revenue the tariff package will produce, according to CNBC. Trading partners can potentially secure lower rates by strengthening their forced-labor import rules, although officials said no country currently enforces a complete prohibition.

For Bitcoin, the announcement has added trade uncertainty to a session already shaped by geopolitical tension, rising oil prices, stronger labor data and higher Treasury yields. CoinGecko data placed BTC close to $65,000 at the time of reporting, leaving the level as the immediate test for buyers after the latest decline.

Bitcoin slipped below the $65,000 mark on Thursday, touching a three-day low around $64,799 on Bitstamp, as broader risk markets weakened amid renewed US-Iran tensions. The drop came alongside a selloff in US equities, a rally in oil, and rising expectations that US interest rates could stay higher for longer.

With traders split over whether recent relief will extend—or fade—attention has turned to nearby technical levels, including a widely watched moving-average area that could influence the next leg of momentum.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin fell to three-day lows near $64,799 on Bitstamp as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slid on Thursday.
• US-Iran escalation fears fed into risk-off sentiment, lifting oil prices and pushing yields higher.
• Coinciding with the selloff, CME FedWatch odds shifted toward a potential 0.25% hike by the upcoming FOMC, a typical headwind for crypto.
• Traders are watching moving-average support and the $68,000 resistance zone for clues on whether BTC can attempt a bigger breakout.

Geopolitics hits risk assets, and BTC follows

According to TradingView data cited in the report, BTC/USD reached three-day lows of $64,799 on Bitstamp. The move lower was part of a broader pattern: when equities and other high-beta assets struggle, crypto often struggles too.

US market pressure intensified after President Donald Trump warned that he would blame Iran for recent Houthi strikes on Saudi commercial vessels. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in the Houthis and referenced attacks on US ships from 2025.

By the close of New York trading, the S&P 500 had fallen 1.2%, while the Nasdaq dropped 2.2%. Oil strengthened sharply as well, with Brent crude rising to its highest level since early June and topping $100 per barrel.

That mix—weak equities, higher energy prices, and tightening financial conditions—can be hard for speculative assets. One signal highlighted by The Kobeissi Letter on X was that inflation expectations and interest rates were rising again, reinforcing the sense of renewed macro pressure on risk-taking.

Fed expectations shift: a potential 0.25% hike becomes more likely

Crypto traders often treat changes in Federal Reserve expectations as a direct input into near-term risk appetite. In this case, the report pointed to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool showing an increased chance of a 0.25% hike ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next decision.

Odds neared 40% on Thursday, compared with roughly 12% a week earlier. Historically, expectations for additional rate hikes tend to weigh on assets that typically benefit from easier financial conditions.

The Kobeissi Letter also referenced 18-month highs in US 10-year bond yields, framing the move as evidence of fresh economic stress. Higher yields can tighten liquidity and raise discount rates—conditions that often challenge the multiples and leverage embedded in speculative markets.

BTC traders disagree on the path forward

As price weakened, the market message wasn’t consistent. The report described a split among traders about whether BTC’s relief could continue or whether the recent rally was approaching a turning point.

One commentator, Exitpump, argued on X that the “July rally” may end by late July and that traders should be prepared for downside if price breaks below $65,000. Their view—posted late on Wednesday—was effectively a stop-out narrative for longs: close positions near resistance and turn cautious once the $65K area gives way.

Other traders were more constructive. Crypto trader Jelle suggested BTC was “still making progress,” describing a path in which clearing a local area could open a route toward the $70K region and potentially establish a new trading range. The difference in outlook matters because it determines how quickly traders reposition—whether they treat the current decline as a continuation of bearish momentum or as consolidation before the next attempt higher.

Technical focus: moving averages and the $68,000 hurdle

Beyond macro catalysts, technical levels are currently driving day-to-day decision-making. The report highlighted crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe’s view that a 21-week simple moving average (SMA) around $64,073 represents key support.

Van de Poppe said, via an X post dated Thursday, that as long as BTC remains above the 21-Day MA, there should be room for a higher valuation in the near term. In the same post, he pointed to the “final hurdle” for a larger breakout: the $68,000 resistance zone, which he noted had been tested once and would now face a second attempt.

He also outlined a bullish target near $73,000 if BTC can break through that resistance area. For traders, this framing matters because it sets up a clear conditional roadmap: support preservation may keep the higher valuation thesis alive, while a sustained failure below key averages could invalidate the breakout scenario.

Heading into the next sessions, traders will likely keep one eye on macro signals—especially Fed expectations and bond yields—and the other on whether BTC can hold the $64K moving-average area and challenge $68,000 again without another sharp slide. The tension between geopolitics-driven risk aversion and the technical bullish targets is likely to define how quickly conviction returns to either side.

With a court set to consider a reversal of a $5 million settlement from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC’s) case with cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, the company has sent $10 million in Bitcoin (BTC) to a super political action committee (PAC) supporting President Donald Trump.

According to the MAGA Inc. Super PAC’s July report to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filed on Monday, the Gemini Trust Company run by co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss sent two separate contributions of more than $5 million in Bitcoin on June 19. 

The donation, which the PAC may use for independent expenditures to support Trump, was recorded about three weeks after the CFTC filed a joint motion with Gemini in federal court in an attempt to reverse a January 2025 settlement over the company allegedly making false or misleading statements. CFTC Chair Michael Selig claimed at the time that the agency under former US President Joe Biden “politically targeted” the Winklevosses through enforcement actions.

In addition to the recent MAGA Inc. contributions, the Winklevoss brothers each donated $1 million to Trump’s 2024 election campaign and supported the then-candidate through social media posts.  Following Trump taking office in January 2025, the twins attended the signing ceremony for a stablecoin payments bill, the GENIUS Act, backed his sons’ crypto mining venture American Bitcoin and contributed $21 million in Bitcoin to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC in an effort to “support President Trump and his administration’s efforts” related to crypto policy.

Related: Crypto companies have spent $189M so far on 2026 US election cycle: Report

Since attorneys filed the joint CFTC-Gemini motion with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in May, there has been no decision posted to the public docket. Cointelegraph reached out to the CFTC and Gemini’s counsel, Avi Perry, for comment on the $10 million contribution but did not receive an immediate response. A CFTC spokesperson told Cointelegraph in June that both sides “agreed that the $5 million penalty will not be returned to Gemini” if granted by the court.

In a June letter to Selig, Senator Elizabeth Warren called the joint motion for reversal and other factors as “concerning signs of a CFTC beholden to political pressures and interests of the wealthy insiders, unbound by the rule of law and failing to protect investors and market integrity.”

As of June 30, MAGA Inc. reported receiving more than $397 million.

Selig remains sole CFTC commissioner with no nominations announced

The CFTC chair, a Republican who was confirmed by the US Senate in December 2025, remains the only member in what is usually a bipartisan group of five commissioners heading the agency.

Many lawmakers have been pressing Trump to announce additional nominations for the financial regulator as Congress considers comprehensive crypto market structure legislation, the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The bill is expected to give the CFTC significant authority in regulating and overseeing digital assets.

As of Thursday, the White House had not announced any nominations for CFTC commissioners, leaving Selig to largely direct the agency’s agenda.

Magazine: Here’s why the CLARITY Act’s ethics deal may be so hard to reach