Crypto World

Ripple and Coinbase-Backed PAC Spend $2M in Florida Vote, Mostly Non-Crypto

Published

2 hours ago

19 August 2026

A political action committee tied to crypto industry heavyweight Fairshake has spent more than $2 million on ads targeting an early Democratic primary in Florida’s 24th congressional district, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records.

Coinbase and Ripple Labs have been identified as primary backers of Fairshake, and Protect Progress PAC—an affiliate described as operating in line with the group’s political strategy—has directed the funds against Democratic candidate Oliver Gilbert while the state’s primary field was still taking shape.

Key takeaways

FEC records show Protect Progress PAC spent more than $2 million on ads opposing Democrat Oliver Gilbert in Florida’s 24th district.
The PAC’s timing appears aimed at a Democratic primary where major candidates had not publicly staked out prominent positions on digital assets before the ad push.
Gilbert and his allies have criticized the ads as misleading, while Fairshake-linked messaging argues the underlying claims are accurate.
The spending is part of a broader pattern of crypto-focused political advertising ahead of the next Congress.

Protect Progress PAC targets a Florida Democratic primary

As of Tuesday, FEC filings for Protect Progress PAC indicated it had spent over $2 million on media opposing Oliver Gilbert in Florida’s 24th congressional district. The race pits candidates for a seat currently held by Representative Frederica Wilson.

FEC-linked reporting highlighted a notable aspect of the timing: no candidate in the Democratic primary was described as having taken a clear, prominent public position on digital assets prior to Protect Progress’s involvement.

Wilson has endorsed Gilbert. The incumbent has also been associated with legislation opposed by critics in the crypto policy space, including the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act and the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

Endorsements, questionnaires, and “strongly supports” ratings

Among the Democratic field, Shevrin Jones—a Florida state senator and a Democratic candidate who, according to an early August poll, had been ahead of Gilbert—has completed a questionnaire with Stand With Crypto.

Following the questionnaire, Stand With Crypto assigned Jones a “strongly supports” rating, according to the advocacy organization’s public materials. That rating places him closer to the preferences of crypto-focused political actors than the campaign trail appears to have shown for Gilbert before Protect Progress’s spending entered the race.

Gilbert disputes the ads while Fairshake says claims are accurate

According to reporting, Gilbert said the advertising campaign was driven by “Donald Trump’s tech billionaire buddies,” characterizing the effort as a bid to influence a Democratic primary. He also alleged that “crypto con artists” were behind the ads.

The ad content included fabricated Miami Herald-style headlines that were not tied to reported policy positions on digital assets, a detail that has raised skepticism among opponents of the PAC’s approach.

Fairshake spokesperson statements, provided to Cointelegraph, pushed back on the characterization. The spokesperson said: “The facts are the facts, and, as the Miami Herald stated, the underlying facts in our ad are true.” The spokesperson did not address the specific rationale for the level or timing of the PAC’s expenditures.

Cointelegraph reports it reached out to Gilbert’s campaign for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Spending fits a wider cycle of crypto-linked political advertising

This Protect Progress activity comes as Fairshake and its affiliates continue to deploy large sums across federal primaries and general election races. Cointelegraph previously reported that Fairshake held a reported $193 million war chest as of January, and that the group has used affiliate organizations—such as Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs—to back candidates of different parties for the 2026 midterm elections.

In June, Cointelegraph reported that Protect Progress and related efforts had already “poured more than $82 million” into primaries and special elections using ads to influence voters, reflecting a sustained strategy rather than a one-off ad buy.

Further evidence of the breadth of this approach shows other spending during current federal nomination periods. On Tuesday, voters in Alaska, California, Florida and Wyoming were set to decide congressional candidates who would face off in November’s general election.

Cointelegraph noted additional Protect Progress spending: more than $150,000 on media supporting the re-election of Lois Frankel in Florida’s 23rd district.

For Defend American Jobs, Cointelegraph reported a combined $1.5 million across multiple races, including ads backing Representative Nick Begich in Alaska’s at-large congressional district, Republican candidate Sydney Gruters in Florida’s 16th district, and Representative Harriet Hageman for a Wyoming Senate seat.

What it signals for crypto policy politics ahead of the next Congress

The immediate question for voters in these primaries is less about day-to-day crypto market mechanics and more about which congressional candidates are positioned to advance or block crypto legislation. The Protect Progress ad strategy suggests crypto-aligned political groups are focused on reshaping candidate expectations early—before general-election coalition building locks in nominees.

There’s also a legislative timeline embedded in the broader political context. Cointelegraph reports that Congress is on recess until September, when the Senate is expected to vote on the CLARITY Act. For investors and industry participants watching regulatory direction, the selection of committee-minded candidates during primaries can be as consequential as the final votes themselves.

Readers should watch how subsequent FEC updates evolve—especially whether Protect Progress’s Florida spend expands into other races—and whether the outcome of the 24th district primary changes the balance of candidates most publicly aligned with digital-asset policy priorities.

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Crypto World

FBI may know 1,082 BTC attacker

Published

1 second ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Investigators may have given U.S. authorities information capable of identifying an attacker responsible for the first Coldcard theft wave, Bitcoin Magazine reported on Aug. 18.

Summary

Block traced the first Coldcard sweep to a paid blockchain data account used during theft.
Galaxy said the first wave removed 1,082.65 BTC, with the associated funds remaining unmoved afterward.
No FBI statement confirms an attacker’s identity, arrest, charges, seizure, or recovery of stolen funds.
At least 1,700 BTC was stolen across multiple waves, according to Galaxy’s latest public estimate.
Existing vulnerable seeds remain unsafe after firmware updates and require migration into newly generated wallets.

Galaxy Research’s Alex Thorn said the first wave attacker’s identity “may be known to law enforcement.” His statement was cautious, and the FBI has not publicly confirmed identifying a suspect, opening a case, making an arrest or recovering any stolen Bitcoin.

The first wave removed 1,082.65 BTC from wallets generated using vulnerable Coldcard firmware. At Bitcoin’s recent price near $64,000, those coins would be worth approximately $69 million, not $11.8 million.

Block found an offchain trail from the first sweep

Block engineering lead Clay Garrett said investigators found an unusual pattern in the attacker’s onchain sweeps. The operator allegedly used a paid account at an unnamed blockchain data provider to query source addresses and perform related activity.

Block contacted the provider, whose internal logs reportedly matched the number, timing and sequence of the suspected requests with “extraordinary specificity.” Garrett said Block passed relevant information to the appropriate authorities.

The account could contain payment, access or subscriber records. However, no public evidence establishes which records were retained, who controlled the account or whether the service received accurate identifying information.

Block also said it found no evidence that the provider knowingly assisted the theft. The company appeared to have supplied ordinary services without knowing how the information would be used.

FBI identification remains an unconfirmed possibility

Bitcoin Magazine’s report linked the investigative lead to the FBI, but no FBI statement confirms the claim. No criminal complaint, indictment, seizure filing or forfeiture action was located in the public record.

Thorn’s wording is therefore important. An identity that “may be known” is not the same as a verified suspect or charged defendant. Investigators must still establish who operated the account, who controlled the receiving addresses and whether the evidence supports criminal charges.

The first wave funds remain visible at associated addresses. As crypto.news previously reported, the largest attacker’s unmoved balance had not entered a known exchange or mixer.

Those coins are not frozen. Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed or blocked at the protocol level. Recovery would require control of the private keys, voluntary return, or a later transfer through an intermediary able to comply with a lawful seizure order.

Coldcard losses extend beyond one attacker

Galaxy’s latest public research page lists losses of at least 1,700 BTC across multiple waves. Other totals remain higher because researchers use different address clusters, confirmation standards and victim reports.

Later theft waves displayed different transaction patterns. Researchers have therefore cautioned that more than one actor may have exploited the weak seed space after information about the flaw became public.

This distinction means identifying the first operator would not necessarily resolve every theft. Galaxy has distributed suspected addresses to investigators, exchanges and analytics companies, but no agency has announced a recovery.

In related coverage, crypto.news’ earlier technical review found that the incident involved weak seed generation rather than compromise of the Bitcoin protocol or physical access to devices.

Vulnerable users must still migrate their funds

Coinkite’s advisory says affected Mk2 and Mk3 firmware generated seeds with inadequate entropy beginning with version 4.0.1. Seeds created on certain Mk4, Mk5 and Q releases were also exposed, although their entropy reduction was less severe.

Fixed firmware prevents the same defect when generating new seeds. Installing an update does not repair an existing vulnerable seed. Users must update first, create a completely new seed and move their funds after verifying a test transaction.

Coinkite’s current status says its formal technical postmortem remains in progress. It also says targeted independent checks have occurred but do not establish that every fixed firmware binary received a complete audit.

The incident has prompted calls for independent hardware audits. The immediate questions now concern whether authorities can connect the paid account to a person, whether the first wave funds move, and whether court records eventually confirm an investigation.

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Crypto World

Blockchain Association urges SEC to drop NMS rules for tokenized markets

Published

6 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Blockchain Association urges SEC to drop NMS rules for tokenized markets

The Blockchain Association has backed a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposal to repeal two market rules adopted in 2005, arguing that their removal could make it easier for tokenized securities to trade on public blockchains.

Summary

The Blockchain Association backed the SEC’s proposal to repeal Rules 611 and 610(e) of Regulation NMS.
The group said the two rules impose unnecessary costs and can restrict the development of tokenized securities markets.
The association urged the SEC to recognize onchain execution as a compliant way to achieve fair and efficient securities trading.
The SEC’s public comment period on the proposal ended on Aug. 17.

The Blockchain Association said in an Aug. 17 comment letter that the SEC should move ahead with plans to rescind Rules 611 and 610(e) of Regulation National Market System, or Regulation NMS, as the existing requirements no longer fit the way modern securities markets operate.

The filing arrived on the final day of the SEC’s public comment period for the proposal, which was first issued on June 11. The agency is considering removing the two rules along with related definitions in Rule 600 and making corresponding changes to other provisions of Regulation NMS.

“Rules 611 and 610(e) have failed to achieve their stated purposes and have instead imposed substantial, unnecessary costs on market participants for the past two decades,” the association said.

SEC proposal would remove two Regulation NMS rules

Adopted as part of Regulation NMS in 2005, Rule 611 prevents a trading venue from executing certain stock orders at an inferior price when a protected, better-priced quotation is available on another market.

Rule 610(e), meanwhile, restricts national securities exchanges and other covered markets from displaying quotations that lock or cross protected quotations elsewhere. A locked market occurs when the best bid and offer are equal, while a crossed market occurs when the best bid exceeds the best offer.

When the SEC proposed removing both requirements in June, Chair Paul Atkins said two decades of experience with Rule 611 had given the regulator reason to examine its unintended consequences. The proposal is designed to simplify U.S. equity market structure and lower costs while allowing competition and technology to play a larger role in how orders are executed, according to the agency.

The Blockchain Association made a similar argument in its filing, saying trading technology has changed substantially since the rules were introduced.

Markets have become faster, more automated and more connected, the group said in a series of posts accompanying the filing, while blockchain-based financial infrastructure has introduced another way to issue, transfer and settle securities.

“Today’s markets have evolved dramatically since 2005, and a revolutionary shift is now underway: the representation of traditional assets on public blockchains,” the association said.

Tokenized securities could benefit from the SEC rule changes

Tokenization formed a key part of the group’s case for repealing the two rules, with the association arguing that existing Regulation NMS requirements can interfere with the development of markets that execute and settle securities on public blockchain networks.

According to the filing, the reasoning behind removing the rules also supports giving market participants more flexibility when assessing tokenized securities transactions. The group said execution quality should account for more than the quoted price when blockchain-based markets can provide other features.

“[The] logic underlying the rules’ rescission points to the benefits of enabling tokenized securities markets generally,” the association said. “Specifically, that logic favors weighing multiple factors when evaluating securities transactions, including the benefits of tokenized securities.”

The comments come as the SEC has been considering separate ways to bring blockchain-based versions of conventional securities within U.S. market rules.

In May, an SEC proposal was reported to be under development that could allow blockchain platforms to offer tokenized versions of publicly traded shares through an innovation exemption. The framework was expected to cover tokens representing existing public equities while setting conditions for how the products could be issued and traded.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce later narrowed expectations around the plan, saying any exemption she envisioned would be limited to digital representations of equity securities that investors can already purchase in public secondary markets.

By June, Ondo Finance had also sought SEC clearance for a model that records securities interests as tokens on Ethereum while keeping the underlying assets within existing broker-dealer custody arrangements.

Ondo’s request asked SEC staff to confirm that they would not recommend enforcement action over the structure used by Ondo Global Markets. Under the model, blockchain tokens represent interests connected to securities held through regulated U.S. financial infrastructure instead of replacing the underlying custody arrangement.

Blockchain Association wants onchain execution recognized

Alongside its support for repealing Rules 611 and 610(e), the Blockchain Association asked the SEC to update its approach to best execution, an obligation that requires broker-dealers to seek favorable terms for customer orders.

The group argued that execution standards should account for the features available through blockchain infrastructure and asked the regulator to acknowledge that transactions completed through public networks can comply with securities requirements.

“The SEC should recognize employing an onchain execution mechanism as a compliant means of achieving fair and efficient execution,” the filing said.

The request puts execution rules alongside a separate regulatory question facing tokenized markets: whether blockchain records can operate inside the existing securities system without changing the legal rights attached to the underlying asset.

Several projects have begun testing that model. In July, Ondo put U.S. securities onchain through a structure that kept the underlying assets in regulated custody while issuing blockchain-based representations through a registered transfer agent.

The initial deployment included BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Micron Technology shares on Ethereum. Ondo said the tokens were backed 1:1 while the underlying securities remained within conventional U.S. custody infrastructure.

Around the same time, BlackRock-backed Securitize tokenized its common stock on Solana and Avalanche when the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Securitize said the blockchain-based SECZ tokens represented the same common shares instead of creating a separate class of equity.

SEC comment period has now closed

The SEC’s Regulation NMS proposal was published in the Federal Register on June 17 under file number S7-2026-20, with Aug. 17 set as the deadline for public comments.

Besides repealing Rule 611’s trade-through prohibition and Rule 610(e)’s restrictions on locked and crossed quotations, the proposal would remove definitions in Rule 600 that would no longer be needed and amend provisions that currently refer to the two rules.

SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda said when the proposal was introduced that removing Rule 611 could raise questions involving best execution, transparency, trading mechanics and investor confidence, areas the agency asked market participants to address during the comment process.

Peirce also supported putting the rules under review, arguing in June that changes in trading technology had reduced the market-connectivity concerns that led regulators to adopt Rule 611 more than two decades ago.

The Blockchain Association’s Aug. 17 filing asked the SEC to consider those execution questions alongside the development of blockchain-based markets and to recognize public blockchains as a possible compliant venue for fair and efficient securities execution.

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Crypto World

FASB sets 3 tests for stablecoins to qualify as cash

Published

15 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Delaware pushes new stablecoin rules and banking update

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) proposed new U.S. accounting guidance on Aug. 18 that would clarify when companies may present certain stablecoins as cash equivalents.

Summary

FASB proposes allowing qualifying stablecoins to be presented as cash equivalents without changing GAAP’s definition.
Qualifying tokens require issuer redemption rights and segregated reserves holding highly liquid short term assets.
Secondary market liquidity alone cannot qualify a token when holders lack direct contractual redemption rights.
All entities would disclose major cash equivalent components, whether digital assets are involved or not.
Public comments remain open until November 19, with FASB setting the effective date after review.

The proposed Accounting Standards Update would add examples to Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows. It would not change the existing definition of cash equivalents under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

FASB opened the proposal for public comment through Nov. 19. The board will decide whether to issue a final standard and set its effective date after reviewing responses.

JUST IN: 🏛 U.S. accounting-standards body proposes classifying stablecoins as cash equivalents for financial reporting. If adopted, corporate balance sheets could hold digital dollars with the same accounting treatment as T-bills.
— BTC Live (@btcliveco) August 18, 2026

FASB would apply three stablecoin conditions

A digital asset could qualify only if its holder has an on demand contractual right to redeem it for cash. The right must allow direct redemption with the issuer for a known amount.

The issuer must also hold at least one to one reserves in segregated accounts. Those reserves would need to consist of short term, highly liquid assets that are readily convertible into known cash amounts.

Meeting those conditions would not force a company to classify the token as a cash equivalent. Companies would retain the option to use that presentation and would need to consider applicable laws and regulations.

The proposal is not final guidance. FASB said the examples are intended to “promote more consistent application” after stakeholders reported uncertainty and different accounting treatments during its 2025 agenda consultation.

Secondary trading would not replace redemption rights

One proposed example examines a token that trades actively on secondary markets but does not give the holder a direct right to redeem with its issuer. FASB concluded that market liquidity alone would not satisfy the existing cash equivalent definition.

A liquid exchange market can allow a company to sell a token quickly. However, its market price can move away from the promised value during periods of stress. Direct redemption provides a separate contractual route to receive a known cash amount.

Another example rejects cash equivalent treatment when reserves include crypto assets and gold. FASB said price changes in those assets could prevent the holder from receiving a known amount of cash.

These examples would exclude algorithmic tokens, overcollateralized crypto backed products and other assets without direct issuer redemption, even when they use the stablecoin label.

U.S. companies currently use different treatments

FASB began the project because companies have reached different conclusions under existing GAAP. Some public companies already classify selected payment stablecoins as cash equivalents based on their redemption and reserve arrangements.

Coinbase voluntarily changed its accounting method effective Dec. 31, 2025. Its SEC filing says USDC, EURC and PYUSD are redeemable one to one and backed by cash equivalents in segregated accounts.

The company applied the change retrospectively. Coinbase said it did not alter previously reported assets, liabilities, equity, net income or earnings per share, although it changed portions of its cash flow presentation.

A final FASB standard could make those assessments more comparable across U.S. companies. It would not determine whether an issuer may legally offer a token or whether reserves comply with federal rules.

Proposal arrives before federal rules take effect

The accounting proposal arrives as agencies implement the GENIUS Act, which created the first federal framework for U.S. payment stablecoins. As previously reported, the law established new federal payment rules covering licensing, reserves, redemption and disclosures.

The GENIUS Act generally takes effect in January 2027. Regulators have continued developing its operating requirements after missing the original rulemaking deadline.

The Treasury Department also recently opened consultation on when tokens are issued, offered or sold in the United States. In related coverage, crypto.news examined Treasury’s latest licensing proposal.

FASB’s process remains separate from those regulatory proceedings. A token could satisfy federal issuance rules but still fail the accounting test if a particular holder lacks direct redemption rights or the reserves contain volatile assets.

The proposal would also require every entity reporting cash equivalents to disclose their major components and corresponding amounts. That requirement would apply even when no digital assets are included.

Stakeholders may submit written responses until Nov. 19. FASB will then consider revisions, decide whether to adopt the update and determine when companies must begin applying it.

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Crypto World

Why crypto investors are watching DEOD

Published

21 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Decentrawood is positioning DEOD at the intersection of AI and web3, with a new exchange reveal, Task AI Agent, and DEOD DAO launches planned for August 23–24.

Summary

Decentrawood prepares for new exchange listing, AI Agent launch and DAO governance as DEOD AI expands its Web3 ecosystem.
DEOD AI gains momentum with 6,900+ users as Decentrawood approaches key exchange, AI agent and governance milestones.
Decentrawood targets fresh growth with a new exchange listing and DEOD AI agent and DAO launches scheduled for August 23–24.

Every crypto bull market has its biggest winners. In past cycles, meme coins, DeFi, NFTs, and metaverse tokens delivered 10x, 50x, and even 100x gains as new trends captured investor attention.

Many believe AI could be the next major crypto narrative in 2026. While nothing is guaranteed, projects building real AI infrastructure are attracting growing interest. One of them is Decentrawood.

With the launch of DEOD AI, an expanding ecosystem, multiple exchange listings, and several major catalysts approaching on 23–24 August, Decentrawood is positioning itself at the intersection of AI and Web3.

The upcoming milestones include a new exchange reveal on 23 August, followed by the Task AI Agent launch and DEOD DAO governance launch on 24 August. As these developments approach, crypto investors are watching to see whether DEOD can continue building momentum.

What is Decentrawood?

Launched in October 2022, Decentrawood combines several technologies into one ecosystem, including:

AI-powered applications
Blockchain gaming
Web3 social experiences
Creator tools
Digital ownership
Autonomous AI agents

Rather than focusing on a single product, Decentrawood is building an interconnected ecosystem where the DEOD token supports multiple products and use cases.

DEOD AI: Moving beyond traditional AI tools

The latest addition to the ecosystem is DEOD AI, an Agentic AI platform designed to help users build intelligent AI agents without requiring advanced technical knowledge.

The platform enables users to:

Create AI agents
Verify AI agents through blockchain technology
Deploy autonomous agents
Monetize AI agents
Build multi-agent systems Additional capabilities include:
No-Code AI Agent Builder
Know Your Agent (KYA) Verification
Blockchain Identity Layer
Trust Score System
AI-to-AI Communication
Enterprise Deployment
Agent Marketplace
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Knowledge Systems

The goal is to create trusted AI agents that businesses and individuals can use for automation, customer support, research, content creation, and digital workflows.

Growing adoption across the ecosystem

Since launching DEOD AI, the ecosystem has continued expanding. According to the latest platform statistics:

6,900+ registered users
70+ AI agents created
52+ verified AI agents listed

These early adoption metrics highlight growing participation as developers and users continue exploring the platform.

The upcoming AI Agent launch on 24 August could further expand this ecosystem by introducing additional functionality and use cases for AI-powered agents.

A major 24 August catalyst for DEOD

The next major phase of Decentrawood’s development is approaching, with multiple milestones scheduled around 23–24 August.

23 August — New exchange reveal

Decentrawood is expected to reveal a new exchange listing on 23 August.

DEOD has already expanded its availability across several trading platforms, and another listing could potentially increase accessibility, liquidity, and exposure to new markets.

24 August — AI Agent Launch

The AI Agent launch is scheduled for 24 August.

AI agents are becoming an increasingly important part of the broader artificial intelligence narrative, with autonomous systems capable of performing tasks and interacting with users and other applications.

For Decentrawood, this launch could further strengthen the role of DEOD AI within its broader Web3 ecosystem.

24 August — DEOD DAO Governance Launch

Another major milestone arrives on the same day: the DEOD DAO governance launch.

The DAO is designed to introduce a more community-driven governance structure, giving participants a greater role in decision-making and the future development of the ecosystem.

Together, the AI Agent launch and DAO launch make 24 August an important date for Decentrawood.

Expanding utility for the DEOD token

As the ecosystem grows, the DEOD token continues to gain additional utility. Today, DEOD is used for:

AI ecosystem participation
Staking
Gaming rewards
Marketplace transactions
Governance
Community incentives

The addition of AI Agents and DAO governance could further expand the token’s role across the ecosystem.

As more developers create AI agents and more users interact with the platform, the potential utility surrounding DEOD could continue to develop.

Exchange expansion continues

Exchange accessibility remains another important part of Decentrawood’s growth strategy.

DEOD is currently available on:

MEXC
Toobit
WEEX
CoinDCX Web3
PancakeSwap
BingX

The BingX listing, which was scheduled for 7 August 2026, added another major trading venue for DEOD and expanded its global accessibility.

With the project now moving toward its next milestones on 23–24 August, attention is shifting from exchange expansion toward the continued development of the AI and governance ecosystem.

Why investors are paying attention

Several trends are beginning to converge around Decentrawood:

AI adoption continues accelerating worldwide.
Demand for autonomous AI agents is increasing.
Blockchain-based identity and verification are becoming more important.
Web3 gaming continues to develop.
Exchange accessibility continues expanding.
Decentralized governance is becoming increasingly important for Web3 ecosystems.

Instead of relying on a single narrative, Decentrawood combines multiple sectors into one ecosystem powered by the DEOD token.

This diversified approach could become one of the project’s strengths if Decentrawood successfully converts its growing product ecosystem into sustained user adoption.

What could the 24 August catalyst mean for DEOD?

Major product launches and exchange announcements can attract increased attention to crypto projects, but their long-term impact depends on execution and adoption.

For DEOD, the upcoming sequence is notable because it combines three different catalysts across two days:

23 August: New exchange reveal

24 August: AI Agent launch

24 August: DEOD DAO governance launch

If these developments lead to greater user activity, developer participation, community engagement, and token utility, they could potentially support the next stage of Decentrawood’s growth.

Looking ahead

The crypto market continues rewarding projects that deliver working products rather than concepts alone.

With DEOD AI already live, 6,900+ users, 70+ AI agents, 52+ verified agents, staking, gaming, multiple exchange listings, and major AI and governance

milestones approaching, Decentrawood is entering another important phase of development.

The biggest date on the near-term roadmap could be 24 August.

The combination of the AI Agent launch and DEOD DAO governance launch, following a new exchange reveal on 23 August, gives the Decentrawood ecosystem several potential catalysts to watch.

As artificial intelligence and blockchain continue moving closer together, projects providing infrastructure for autonomous AI agents could become increasingly relevant within the broader Web3 sector.

Whether DEOD ultimately becomes one of the leading AI-powered blockchain ecosystems will depend on continued product development, user adoption, liquidity, and execution.

For now, 23–24 August stands out as a major milestone for Decentrawood — and one that $DEOD investors will be watching closely.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

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Crypto World

Whitechain relaunches as W Group’s distribution-first Ethereum layer 2

Published

28 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Whitechain relaunches as W Group’s distribution-first Ethereum layer 2 - 3

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Whitechain is relaunching as a distribution-first Ethereum Layer 2 focused on helping web3 projects overcome user acquisition and distribution challenges.

Summary

Whitechain is relaunching as a distribution-first Ethereum Layer 2 focused on helping web3 projects reach users, liquidity and activity.
Backed by W Group and WhiteBIT, Whitechain is building an exchange-powered Ethereum L2 designed to connect on-chain infrastructure with broad user distribution.
Whitechain is shifting the Layer 2 conversation beyond scalability and fees, putting user acquisition and ecosystem distribution at the center of its Ethereum-based network.

Whitechain blockchain platform is relaunching as a distribution-first Ethereum Layer 2 designed to address one of the biggest challenges facing Web3 projects: reaching and acquiring users.

Whitechain is part of W Group, a global fintech ecosystem reaching more than 40 million users worldwide, alongside WhiteBIT, a cryptocurrency exchange with more than 10 million users. By bringing these capabilities together, Whitechain is designed to connect on-chain infrastructure with the distribution power of an established financial and crypto ecosystem — giving web3 projects a path to reach users beyond the blockchain itself.

While L2 networks have traditionally competed on technical performance, scalability and transaction costs, Whitechain is putting distribution at the center of its model. Relaunched on the OP Stack as an exchange-powered, distribution-first Ethereum L2, Whitechain is designed to address what often becomes the harder challenge after a product is built: attracting users, liquidity and sustained activity.

“There are many strong ecosystems, but what increasingly sets them apart is their ability to distribute,” said Volodymyr Nosov, Founder and President of W Group and Founder and CEO of WhiteBIT. “The industry has built increasingly sophisticated infrastructure, but great technology does not automatically translate into adoption. We want Whitechain to change that equation. Our ambition is to give builders a strong technical foundation and put the distribution power of our ecosystem behind the products that are ready to grow.”

Three tracks for projects at every stage:

The relaunch is supported by W Group and structured around three tracks for projects at different stages of development, including funding and growth opportunities for teams with high-potential ideas and projects that have already achieved product-market fit and are ready to scale.

Builder Program for early-stage teams, with discretionary funding up to $300,000 per project for eligible applicants, with funding released against agreed milestones. The program is intended to support teams from testnet development through to acquiring their first users.
Strategic Ecosystem Deals will target established protocols with demonstrated TVL and active user bases. Support will be tailored to individual projects and may include contract and liquidity migration support, co-marketing and direct collaboration with the Whitechain team.
Chain Expansion Support is designed for existing multichain protocols seeking access to an additional audience without leaving the networks on which they already operate. Support is intended to be structured around incremental user growth, with no exclusivity requirement, subject to specific deal terms.

On August 18, Whitechain will open the public testnet, funding applications and migration track to Web3 teams, from early-stage builders to established protocols and multichain projects.

As the network progresses toward mainnet, Whitechain plans to introduce Day 1 primitives intended to include a native DEX, oracle and bridge, providing developers with the core infrastructure needed to build applications and move liquidity across the ecosystem.Because Whitechain launches into an established OP Stack tooling and infrastructure ecosystem, teams build on proven wallet, indexing and developer infrastructure from the start rather than waiting for it to arrive.

Projects interested in building, migrating or expanding on Whitechain can apply through the Whitechain ecosystem program.

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Crypto World

Bitcoin falls 50%, but BlackRock keeps long term view

Published

34 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

BlackRock said in an August 2026 research report that Bitcoin’s decline of more than 50% from its October 2025 record did not change the asset manager’s long term investment case.

Summary

Bitcoin fell more than 50% from October 2025’s record before reaching June lows below $60,000.
Futures open interest exceeded $90 billion, with offshore perpetual contracts representing approximately 80% at peak.
Spot Bitcoin ETPs lost roughly $5 billion after attracting $60 billion through October 2025 previously.
Strategy sold 1,690 BTC in August, using $108.6 million to repurchase preferred shares during weakness.
BlackRock’s historical analysis found 1% to 2% allocations improved hypothetical portfolio risk adjusted returns historically.

The firm attributed the correction to excessive leverage, weaker institutional flows and slower purchasing by digital asset treasury companies. Its paper described the decline as a positioning and liquidity event rather than evidence that Bitcoin’s monetary or diversification properties had structurally changed.

BlackRock’s view is an investment assessment, not a prediction that prices will recover. The firm also manages the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF and warned that Bitcoin remains volatile, speculative and capable of causing a total loss.

Bitcoin’s $90 billion leverage buildup amplified losses

Bitcoin climbed from $15,765 in late 2022 to a record $124,606 in October 2025, according to BlackRock’s Bloomberg and Coin Metrics data. Futures open interest exceeded $90 billion near the peak.

Approximately 80% of that exposure came from perpetual futures outside CME. Some platforms offered leverage of between 50 and 125 times, leaving traders vulnerable to automatic liquidation following relatively small adverse price moves.

BlackRock says Bitcoin’s core investment case remains unchanged after a 50%+ drawdown from its October 2025 highs.
The world’s largest asset manager views the sell-off as the result of crypto-native deleveraging and shifting flows, not a change in the long-term thesis.
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At the… pic.twitter.com/z4ratfqFkD
— The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker) August 18, 2026

The first major unwind followed U.S. tariff announcements involving China on Oct. 10, 2025. Bitcoin fell 6%, while open interest declined by $20 billion in one day. BlackRock described this as the largest daily open interest reduction in the data reviewed.

Further liquidation waves followed in February and June 2026, eventually pushing Bitcoin below $60,000. The sequence supported BlackRock’s argument that leverage accelerated the decline, although it does not prove that positioning was the only cause.

The U.S. derivatives market has also changed since the selloff. The CFTC approved KalshiEX’s onshore Bitcoin perpetual contract in May, finding that its structure complied with federal derivatives rules. The order brought a product long associated with offshore exchanges into a regulated U.S. market.

ETP outflows and AI funds competed for capital

Spot Bitcoin ETPs attracted approximately $60 billion between their January 2024 U.S. launch and October 2025, BlackRock found. The products then recorded roughly $5 billion in aggregate outflows through July 2026.

Over the later period, AI themed funds attracted more than $46 billion. BlackRock said the rotation “likely competed for capital” and became a drag on Bitcoin allocations. The wording reflects the firm’s interpretation because fund flow data alone cannot establish why every investor moved money.

The rotation was also visible in retail and institutional attention. As previously reported, both Bitcoin fund withdrawals and declining crypto search interest coincided with stronger interest in AI equities.

Recent U.S. fund data has been more constructive but remains uneven. Farside data showed $297.5 million of net inflows on Aug. 17 and $189.3 million on Aug. 18. The combined $486.8 million followed approximately $385.2 million of withdrawals during the previous week.

Treasury sales added supply during the correction

BlackRock also identified sales by miners, large holders and digital asset treasury companies as sources of pressure. MARA sold 15,133 BTC for approximately $1.1 billion during March, according to its regulatory filing.

Strategy later adopted a Bitcoin monetization program allowing sales to fund reserves, dividends, interest payments and security repurchases. The program does not require the company to sell and has no fixed expiration date.

An Aug. 10 SEC filing confirmed that Strategy sold 1,690 BTC for $108.6 million between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9. It used the proceeds to repurchase STRC preferred shares.

The transaction provided a verified update to BlackRock’s discussion of treasury related selling. In related coverage, crypto.news examined how corporate treasury selling pressure has increasingly interacted with U.S. spot fund demand.

BlackRock retains its small allocation argument

BlackRock’s ten year historical test found that adding a 1% or 2% Bitcoin allocation to a traditional U.S. 60/40 portfolio improved hypothetical risk adjusted returns. A 1% allocation produced a Sharpe ratio of 0.90, compared with 0.81 for the benchmark. A 2% allocation produced a ratio of 0.96.

Maximum drawdowns were similar across the tests. The traditional portfolio recorded a 20.3% decline, compared with 20.6% for the 1% allocation and 20.9% for the 2% allocation.

These results were hypothetical and benefited from hindsight. They did not include an actual BlackRock client portfolio and cannot establish how the allocations will perform in the future. Diversification also cannot prevent market losses.

BlackRock nevertheless said Bitcoin’s investment case “remains unchanged,” citing its capped supply, ten year correlation of 0.18 with the S&P 500 and possible use as a hedge against declining fiat purchasing power.

Bitcoin traded near $64,300 on Aug. 19 after reclaiming $64,000. As crypto.news reported, the latest price recovery coincided with renewed ETP inflows, although increasing leverage left the move exposed to another reversal.

The next evidence will come from ETP flows, futures positioning and corporate disclosures. Sustained inflows and lower speculative leverage would support BlackRock’s cyclical correction argument. Renewed liquidations or continued treasury sales would keep pressure on that assessment.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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Solana leads bitcoin and ether higher while Korean chip stocks slide 7%

Published

41 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

The bitcoin price level where leveraged bulls could get whacked

Bitcoin held near $64,000 and every major except BNB gained, while Korean semiconductor stocks fell more than 7% and Fed minutes are due at 2 p.m. ET.

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Crypto World

Bitcoin may enter accumulation by November, VanEck says

Published

47 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

VanEck said on Aug. 18 that Bitcoin may be approaching an accumulation phase after eight of its 12 capitulation indicators remained active as of Aug. 12.

Summary

Eight of VanEck’s 12 Bitcoin capitulation signals were active on August 12, indicating late cycle stress.
All 12 indicators entered capitulation territory during the three months preceding VanEck’s August research update.
Long term holder supply dropped 356,534 BTC, leaving 11.84 million BTC untouched for over one year.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETPs absorbed $663 million while realized volatility declined to 27.2% over 30 days.
Historical capitulation clusters lagged Bitcoin’s baseline for six months, outperforming only across one year holding periods.

The asset manager’s latest report placed the current correction in its tenth month, measured from Bitcoin’s October 2025 peak. VanEck estimated that the next turning point could arrive between September and November if the current cycle follows earlier patterns.

However, the firm did not present the historical timetable as a reliable price forecast. VanEck disclosed that it has exposure to Bitcoin and warned that its forward return study uses a small number of heavily overlapping observations.

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Crypto World

Cypherpunk Deploys Zcash Mining Fleet, Reaching 18% Hashrate

Published

54 minutes ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

Cypherpunk Technologies has moved to scale its role in Zcash’s proof-of-work ecosystem by acquiring a mining fleet previously associated with Winklevoss Capital. The company says the purchase is now live across multiple locations in the United States and positions Cypherpunk as one of the largest public-sector participants in Zcash mining.

The deal, announced Tuesday, is structured as an equity-based transaction valued at $33.33 million. Cypherpunk reports that the acquired operation is already online and producing about 4.2 GSol/s—roughly 18% of Zcash’s current hashrate, based on the company’s figures.

Key takeaways

Cypherpunk says it acquired a Zcash mining fleet via a $33.33 million equity transaction, with operations already running in the US.
The reported 4.2 GSol/s output would make the company responsible for around 18% of Zcash’s current hashrate, if those numbers hold.
The acquisition expands Cypherpunk’s existing Zcash holdings of 323,394 ZEC, about 1.9% of circulating supply, according to the company.
Cypherpunk’s stated long-term goal is to reach 5% of ZEC supply held by the company.
The move comes after renewed market attention to privacy-focused assets later in 2025, following a sharp ZEC price run.

Scaling a privacy-network mining footprint

Cypherpunk’s announcement frames the fleet acquisition as both an expansion of its mining operations and a way to deepen exposure to Zcash beyond spot holdings. In addition to bringing additional hashpower online, the company says it is adding to an existing inventory of ZEC it already holds—323,394 ZEC, or about 1.9% of circulating supply.

Cypherpunk also reiterated a longer-term accumulation target: eventually holding 5% of the ZEC supply. While the company’s filings or policy around the feasibility of that goal were not detailed in the provided text, the stated target alone is significant because it suggests a strategy that blends mining economics with balance-sheet accumulation.

Critically for investors and market observers, Cypherpunk’s claim that the purchased fleet contributes roughly 18% of the network’s hashrate points to concentration risk considerations that usually matter in proof-of-work systems. If a single publicly traded entity controls a large portion of mining power, the network’s block-production incentives and operational dependencies can become more complex—especially during periods of equipment downtime or changes in profitability.

Why Zcash mining economics may be shifting

Cypherpunk previously pitched Zcash mining as potentially more attractive than competing uses of capital—such as Bitcoin mining under prevailing conditions, or deployments driven by AI data center demand. However, the company’s own framing also acknowledges that mining profitability remains highly sensitive to several variables.

In the provided reporting, Cypherpunk links mining economics to ZEC’s price, network hashrate (and therefore mining difficulty), and operating costs. That matters because even if a mining company believes it has found superior economics compared with other sectors, its realized returns can still vary substantially with network conditions and market volatility.

The timing of the acquisition may be particularly relevant. Cypherpunk’s expansion follows a sharp rise in Zcash’s price during the second half of 2025. Renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies was described as a catalyst, including attention after a hedge fund revealed a significant ZEC position—an event that earlier coverage from Cointelegraph noted helped pull the asset higher.

As privacy-preserving technologies regain mainstream attention after stretches of relative market quiet, mining capacity often follows demand signals—either through new capital entering the ecosystem or through incumbent operators scaling up when profitability improves. Yet the same lesson applies in reverse: if ZEC prices fade or difficulty rises faster than costs can be hedged, hashpower additions can become a headwind rather than a tailwind.

Network security: Ironwood update and the Orchard vulnerability

Cypherpunk’s scaling effort lands amid ongoing technical changes in Zcash’s privacy layer. The network underwent its Ironwood upgrade on July 28, introducing a new shielded transaction protocol designed to replace the Orchard pool and improve security architecture.

The upgrade was prompted by a flaw discovered in Orchard. The concern, as summarized in the provided text, was that under certain conditions an attacker could potentially create counterfeit ZEC inside the shielded pool without immediate detection. Even though there was no evidence the vulnerability had been exploited, the possibility underscored a persistent challenge for privacy networks: maintaining confidentiality while also ensuring robust supply integrity and verification.

From an investor’s perspective, these protocol updates matter even if day-to-day mining operations don’t change overnight. Ironwood’s improvements can affect how shielded transactions are processed and monitored, and they can influence confidence in the long-term soundness of privacy-preserving mechanisms—confidence that, in turn, can influence adoption narratives and liquidity for the underlying asset.

At the same time, the Ironwood upgrade illustrates that privacy-focused systems may carry distinct engineering risk profiles compared with more transparent networks. Zcash’s response—moving to a new protocol and addressing Orchard-related risks—signals ongoing iteration rather than a “set and forget” approach.

What to watch next for Cypherpunk and Zcash

Cypherpunk’s fleet acquisition raises immediate questions around how much hashrate its operation sustains over time and how its ZEC accumulation strategy develops relative to its liquidity and operational costs—especially given the sensitivity of mining economics to ZEC price and network difficulty. For the Zcash network, the key variable remains whether Ironwood’s security goals strengthen confidence in shielded supply integrity as privacy usage evolves.

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US accounting board FASB proposes conditions for stablecoins as cash equivalents

Published

1 hour ago

19 August 2026

NewsAdmin

US accounting board FASB proposes conditions for stablecoins as cash equivalents

The FASB said secondary-market liquidity alone would not be enough, with holders needing direct issuer redemption rights and one-to-one liquid reserves.

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