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Crypto World

CFTC sues crypto pool operator over alleged $14M fraud

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CFTC scraps no deny rule as crypto enforcement shift deepens

The CFTC has sued a North Carolina man and his company over an alleged commodity pool fraud tied to crypto and futures trading.

Summary

  • CFTC says Argent Capital solicited $14.8 million while hiding losses from at least 60 investors.
  • The complaint links Bitcoin, Ether, futures, options, false statements, registration failures, and alleged misused funds.
  • The case lands as CFTC faces wider questions over crypto oversight, resources, and derivatives rules.

In a July 7 press release, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it filed a civil enforcement action against Trevor Vernon and Argent Capital Management LLC. The agency said the pool traded equity index futures, options on equity index futures, Bitcoin, Ether, and other crypto assets.

The complaint says Vernon and Argent Capital solicited more than $14 million from at least 60 participants from March 2022 to February 2026. The CFTC said Vernon told investors he was a successful trader and claimed the pool had strong gains.

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Agency says losses were hidden

The agency said those claims did not match the trading record. In its complaint, the agency said Vernon’s trading produced “consistent and catastrophic losses” for pool participants.

The regulator said Vernon and Argent Capital sent monthly emails and quarterly updates that showed rising account balances from gains that did not exist. The agency said the pool lost more than $8.6 million through trading, while investors received false reports about performance.

The agency also alleged that Vernon misused pool money. It said about $3 million went to payments to existing participants in a way “akin to a Ponzi scheme.” The complaint also says Vernon used about $136,000 for private air travel.

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CFTC seeks bans and penalties

The lawsuit includes seven counts tied to fraud, registration failures, and false statements to the regulator. The agency said Argent Capital Management failed to register as required under federal commodities law.

The agency also said Vernon made false statements during sworn testimony in January while the agency investigated the matter. The regulator asked the court for restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties, and permanent trading and registration bans.

The CFTC’s complaint treats Bitcoin and Ether as commodities. That position fits the agency’s long-running effort to assert authority over parts of the crypto market, especially where crypto appears in derivatives, pooled trading, or fraud cases.

The court has not ruled on the claims. The CFTC’s filing starts a civil case, and Vernon and Argent Capital will have a chance to answer the complaint in federal court.

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Case lands during wider CFTC debate

The action comes as the agency faces broader attention over crypto oversight. CME Group moved to sue the CFTC over the agency’s approval of U.S. crypto perpetual futures, arguing the products should be treated as swaps.

The agency is also under pressure from lawmakers over prediction markets. As crypto.news reported, Senators Adam Schiff and John Curtis asked the CFTC to review Polymarket advertising claims and questioned whether the regulator has enough authority and resources for consumer protection.

The Argent Capital case is different from those market-structure disputes. It centers on alleged investor fraud, false reporting, registration failures, and misuse of money. Still, it adds another crypto-linked matter to the CFTC’s docket at a time when the agency may receive broader power over digital commodities under proposed U.S. market rules.

As previously reported, crypto.news also covered the CFTC’s decision to scrap its no-deny settlement rule. That change gave defendants more room to dispute agency claims after settling enforcement cases.

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HYPE faces selling pressure as institutional demand keeps the $100 target alive

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HYPE faces selling pressure as institutional demand keeps the $100 target alive

Key takeaways

  • Hyperliquid (HYPE) has fallen for four straight days as retail demand weakens amid broader crypto market uncertainty.
  • Futures open interest and trading volume have declined, signaling lower speculative activity.
  • Institutional interest remains strong, with HYPE ETFs attracting $16.08 million in weekly inflows.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) remains under pressure for the fourth consecutive trading session as retail traders reduce exposure amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and a broader risk-off mood across the cryptocurrency market.

While short-term sentiment has cooled, institutional investors continue to accumulate exposure, and activity within Hyperliquid’s Real World Asset (RWA) ecosystem remains robust. These factors continue to support the token’s longer-term bullish outlook.

Technical indicators also suggest that a decisive breakout above the $75-$77 resistance area could reignite buying momentum and potentially push HYPE toward the psychological $100 level.

Retail traders step back as market sentiment weakens

Retail participation in Hyperliquid has softened as investors become increasingly cautious amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, which have dampened appetite for risk assets.

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According to CoinGlass data, HYPE futures open interest declined to $2.68 billion, indicating a modest reduction in leveraged positions. 

Meanwhile, derivatives trading volume dropped 29% over the past 24 hours to $1.99 billion, highlighting weaker short-term market participation.

Despite the slowdown, bullish positioning has not disappeared entirely. The funding rate eased slightly to 0.0065% from 0.0078% a day earlier, remaining in positive territory. 

Positive funding rates generally indicate that long-position holders are still willing to pay a premium, suggesting optimism persists despite the recent pullback.

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Overall, derivatives data points to a cautious market where traders are waiting for greater clarity before making aggressive directional bets.

While retail demand has cooled, institutional investors continue to show confidence in Hyperliquid.

HYPE-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) attracted $3.33 million in fresh inflows on Wednesday, bringing total weekly inflows to $16.08 million. 

The steady capital inflows suggest larger investors remain optimistic about the project’s long-term growth prospects.

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At the same time, Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 ecosystem—which supports perpetual contracts tied to tokenized Real World Assets (RWAs)—continues to gain momentum.

Open interest across HIP-3 products climbed to $3.10 billion, while trading volume increased 40% over the past 24 hours and 28% over the past month. 

Revenue has also remained stable at roughly $10 million over the past four weeks, reflecting sustained user activity and growing demand for RWA-based trading products.

These metrics reinforce the view that institutional adoption and expanding utility remain key drivers behind Hyperliquid’s long-term bullish narrative.

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Technical analysis: $75-$77 remains the key breakout zone

From a technical standpoint, Hyperliquid is undergoing a healthy correction while preserving its broader uptrend.

The token is approaching a rising support trendline near $66.54, an area that continues to underpin the current market structure. 

More importantly, HYPE remains comfortably above both its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $62.53 and the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $48.33.

Holding above these major moving averages indicates that buyers still maintain control of the longer-term trend.

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The primary resistance lies between $75.76—the June 1 swing high—and the R1 Pivot level at $77.09. Together, these levels form the upper boundary of an ascending triangle, a chart pattern that often precedes bullish breakouts.

A successful move above this resistance zone could open the door to the next upside targets: R2 Pivot at $89.14, and the R3 Pivot: $101.35

If bullish momentum accelerates, the psychological $100 level could become a realistic near-term objective.

Technical momentum indicators continue to favor the bulls despite the recent correction. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains above its signal line, indicating that bullish momentum has not been fully lost.

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Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits around 42, just below the neutral zone. This suggests there is still room for additional upside if buying pressure returns.

Together, these indicators reflect neutral-to-positive momentum rather than a shift toward a bearish trend.

Although the broader outlook remains constructive, traders should monitor downside support levels closely.

If HYPE loses the 50-day EMA at $62.53, sellers could push prices toward the S1 Pivot level at $52.83.

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HYPE/USD 4H chart

A deeper correction could eventually test the 200-day EMA at $48.33, which continues to represent the foundation of Hyperliquid’s longer-term bullish market structure.

As long as HYPE remains above these critical support levels, the broader uptrend remains intact despite ongoing short-term volatility.

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Crude Oil Jumped to $74, and a Tiny Crypto Token Saw It Coming

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WTI Coin Details

Crude oil price has jumped back to $74 a barrel after a fragile Iran ceasefire collapsed this week. Fresh tanker attacks near the Strait of Hormuz revived fears over the world’s most important oil chokepoint, and crude oil prices spiked in response.

But the bounce did not catch everyone off guard. The last trading data before the truce broke shows big players were already betting on higher prices. A tiny corner of the crypto market, courtesy of the WTI Coin flashed the same signal.

WTI Coin Details
WTI Coin Details: RWA.xyz

Big Traders Were Buying the Oil Price Dip

The futures market may have called the move first. Each week, a US regulator publishes the Commitments of Traders (COT) report, which shows who holds oil futures and on which side.

Want more insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Newsletter here.

As of June 30, oil was still sliding toward $68 on fears of a supply glut. Yet large speculators added 1,722 long contracts and cut 1,020 shorts that week, lifting their net long above 23,700.

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WTI Crude Futures Positioning
WTI Crude Futures Positioning: Tradingster

Meanwhile, total open interest rose by 3,568 contracts to 222,308. Rising bets into a falling price mean fresh money was moving in, not rushing out.

Small traders (the non-reportable lot) did the opposite. They added 5,490 short contracts against just 1,053 longs, a one-sided bet the rebound days later punished.

A Tokenized Barrel Sent the Same Message

The same conviction showed up on-chain, in a corner almost nobody watches. On-chain oil now trades in two very different ways, one huge and one tiny.

The huge one is a Hyperliquid perpetual contract, a pure price bet settled in stablecoins with no oil behind it, not actually backed. It clears more than $1 billion on busy days, at times trading second only to Bitcoin.

The tiny one is WTIC, a token backed by a real, redeemable barrel of oil. It holds just $79,000 in value, yet it is the only backed oil token tracked by data site rwa.xyz.

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Two Oil Markets
Two Oil Markets: RWA.xyz

That gap is its own story. But the backed token matters here for one reason, because it is public and trades 24/7, so anyone can watch its buyers move.

Small Buyers Bought the Same Dip

In June, those buyers moved just like the futures giants. As crude slid, WTIC’s holder count jumped from 27 to 267 in five days.

In other words, the small on-chain buyers and the large speculators in the COT report leaned long into the very same sell-off. Both were buying while prices fell.

The tape then flashed one last clue. A single $367,000 transfer hit on July 3, the largest in months, before flows went quiet over the July 4 holiday.

WTIC Flow vs WTI Crude
WTIC Flow vs WTI Crude: RWA.xyz

Both signals had turned bullish. Days later, the trigger arrived, the US-Iran escalation.

What Happens Next for WTI Crude Oil Prices

That trigger was the ceasefire falling apart. On July 7 and 8, tanker attacks and US strikes hit near the Strait of Hormuz, and Washington reimposed sanctions it had eased under a 60-day oil license.

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WTI crude oil ripped from about $68 to $74, and on-chain flows woke up alongside it. Both the futures longs and the tokenized-oil buyers had guessed right.

WTI Crude Oil Price
WTI Crude Oil Price: Investing.com

Still, the on-chain signal comes with warnings. WTIC is tiny, one wallet holds most of the supply, and it is not regulated, so treat it as an early clue, not proof.

WTIC Explainer
WTI Coin Explainer: RWA.xyz

For now, the Strait of Hormuz is the switch for oil prices. More attacks could push crude toward its war-premium highs near $100, while a lasting ceasefire would drag it lower.

The post Crude Oil Jumped to $74, and a Tiny Crypto Token Saw It Coming appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Singapore investment giant Temasek to shun crypto in pivot to AI

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Singapore investment giant Temasek to shun crypto in pivot to AI

Singapore’s state-owned investment firm, Temasek Holdings, said it will prioritize AI investments over crypto due to regulatory uncertainty and the lingering impact of a $275 million write-off from the collapse of crypto exchange FTX in 2022.

The firm, with an investment portfolio valued around 518 billion Singapore dollars ($400 billion), plans to increase its AI exposure from 6% of its portfolio in the first quarter of 2026 to 15% by 2031, Nagi Hamiyeh, president of Temasek Global Investments, told CNBC on Wednesday The AI investment cycle has just begun and will continue for decades, he said, while cautioning that valuations in some parts of the industry have run ahead of fundamentals.

Temasek, the state’s largest investment vehicle after GIC Private Ltd., is still dealing with the hit it took following the collapse of FTX. That implosion and other failures exposed weak consumer protections in Singapore, prompting the central bank, the Monetary Authority (MAS), to swing toward stricter supervision, a move that resulted in higher compliance costs and slower licensing, among other challenges.

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Brazil’s B3 exchange introduces options on BTC, ETH, SOL futures

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Brazil's B3 exchange introduces options on BTC, ETH, SOL futures

Brazil’s B3 stock exchange has unveiled options on bitcoin , ether (ETH) and solana (SOL) futures, expanding its regulated crypto derivatives offerings.

The contracts bec+ame available for trading on July 6, according to a B3 circular. They include call and put options on bitcoin futures denominated in Brazilian reais, while ether and solana futures are denominated in U.S. dollars.

The options settle into the underlying futures contracts, not the tokens themselves. B3 said the products do not involve custody, transfer or administration of spot cryptoassets.

The contracts trade independently from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. local time, according to B3’s derivatives trading schedule. Exercise is automatic at expiration when the option finishes in the money, unless the holder blocks exercise.

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The offering gives traders and asset managers a local venue to hedge crypto exposure, trade volatility and build structured positions without using offshore crypto options markets.

It adds another instrument to B3’s push into regulated crypto products, after the exchange moved to list bitcoin options and ether and solana futures and later prepared bitcoin-linked event contracts.

B3’s bitcoin futures contract is denominated in reais. Its ether and solana futures are denominated in U.S. dollars. All three reference Nasdaq crypto indexes, according to the announcement.

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Pricing houses in bitcoin (BTC) exposes dollar’s debasement: Crypto Daily

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Pricing houses in bitcoin (BTC) exposes dollar's debasement: Crypto Daily

The price of a family home in the U.S. tells two very different stories depending on how it’s measured. Comparing the stories underscores bitcoin’s appeal as a long-term hedge against dollar debasement, the erosion of value in the fiat currency.

According to Fidelity Digital Assets, a typical U.S. house has gained more than $100,000 since 2020. That house-price appreciation is said to generate a positive wealth effect, an economic phenomenon where rising home values make homeowners feel wealthier. Feeling wealthier, they spend more, borrow more and boost the economy even if their actual income remains unchanged.

But what if the gain is just a mirage?

Price the same house in bitcoin and the narrative shifts sharply. What required more than 50 BTC in 2020 now costs just 5 BTC, a 90% decline.

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“What appears to be appreciation in housing is more accurately a reflection of an erosion of fiat currency. The issue lies with the unit of account—not the asset itself,” Zack Wainwright, a digital asset research analyst at Fidelity, said.

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Swift rolls out new blockchain ledger to bring 24/7 banking to 17 global giants

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Swift rolls out new blockchain ledger to bring 24/7 banking to 17 global giants

A roster of 17 banks are preparing to begin testing live transactions on Swift’s blockchain-based ledger, a step toward round-the-clock cross-border payments using tokenized deposits.

Swift said the ledger is ready for initial use by banks across six continents in an announcement on Thursday. Its aim is to allow banks to move funds for customers overnight and on weekends, before final settlement through existing payment systems.

The banks taking part include UBS, BNP Paribas, BNY, Citi, HSBC, and Wells Fargo.

Swift, the bank-owned messaging network used by more than 11,500 financial institutions, announced the development of this shared ledger platform in October. It then said it would allow banks to settle transactions involving stablecoins and tokenized assets across multiple blockchains, working alongside current payment rails, not replacing them.

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Swift, said the system gives banks a shared layer for tokenized deposits issued on their own ledgers. Tokenized deposits are digital versions of commercial bank money.

“With our new ledger capability, we’re extending the trust and stability of established finance into the frontiers of digital money,” said Thierry Chilosi, Swift’s chief business officer.

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Temasek Keeps Crypto “Off the Table” Four Years After $275M FTX Writedown

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • Temasek holds zero direct crypto investments, citing unresolved regulatory uncertainty worldwide today.
  • The fund absorbed a $275 million FTX writedown in 2022, damaging Singapore’s financial reputation.
  • Temasek plans to raise AI exposure from six percent to fifteen percent of assets by 2031.
  • Europe drew 12 billion euros in Temasek capital over two years, trailing only the United States.

Temasek crypto investments remain absent from the Singapore sovereign wealth fund’s portfolio, four years after a costly FTX exposure.

Chief Investment Officer Nagi Hamiyeh confirmed the firm holds no direct digital asset positions, citing ongoing regulatory uncertainty across global markets.

The statement follows a $275 million writedown Temasek recorded in 2022 after the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

Despite avoiding direct crypto exposure, Temasek continues tracking blockchain infrastructure applications that could serve the broader real economy.

Temasek Crypto Stance Remains Unchanged

Hamiyeh told CNBC’s Sri Jegarajah on Wednesday that Temasek carries no direct crypto holdings in its current portfolio. “We don’t have directly any, any investment in crypto,” he said, pointing to regulatory uncertainty.

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The executive said he could not predict what role crypto might eventually play within mainstream finance. Future decisions will depend heavily on how different jurisdictions choose to regulate the sector over time.

The FTX collapse still shapes Temasek’s cautious approach toward direct digital asset exposure today. Singapore’s fund absorbed a $275 million impairment after FTX filed for bankruptcy in 2022.

Lawrence Wong, then serving as deputy prime minister and finance minister, called the loss disappointing. He also noted the writedown affected Singapore’s broader reputation within global financial circles.

Rather than holding crypto directly, Temasek focuses on blockchain technology and its practical infrastructure uses. The fund evaluates how blockchain applications might benefit established sectors within the traditional real economy.

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This approach allows Temasek to track innovation without taking on direct cryptocurrency price exposure. Officials continue monitoring the space closely as regulatory clarity slowly develops across major markets.

Hamiyeh’s comments reinforce a consistent position Temasek has maintained since the FTX writedown occurred. The fund has avoided re-entering direct crypto markets even as digital asset adoption expanded elsewhere.

Regulatory ambiguity remains the central obstacle preventing Temasek from reconsidering its current stance. Analysts following sovereign wealth fund behavior see this caution as a deliberate long-term choice.

AI, Europe, and Defense Investment Priorities

Temasek is prioritizing artificial intelligence adoption over building frontier models, according to Hamiyeh’s interview. “It’s all about the applications” and companies that build a competitive moat, he said.

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Temasek aims to raise AI exposure from six percent of its portfolio toward fifteen percent by 2031. The fund is betting heavily on physical AI applications including automation and industrial robotics.

Europe has attracted roughly 12 billion euros in Temasek capital across the past two years. This places Europe second only to the United States among Temasek’s regional investment destinations.

Hamiyeh cited European strengths in luxury goods, consumer brands, and family-owned industrial businesses. He described Temasek’s approach to the region as patient, long-term capital deployment.

On the Middle East, Hamiyeh said the region’s transformation story is intact but conflict outcomes remain unclear. “We have to wait and see what are the ramifications of this conflict,” he said. Temasek continues watching how geopolitical developments might reshape the Middle East’s economic role globally.

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Regarding defense, Hamiyeh said Temasek evaluates opportunities on a case-by-case basis rather than blanket exclusion. The fund focuses on dual-use technologies applicable to both civilian and military settings.

Biological and chemical weapons remain categorically excluded from any Temasek investment consideration. ST Engineering currently represents Temasek’s only direct exposure within the defense sector.

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Netflix: Attempting to Break the Short-Term Downtrend

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Netflix: Attempting to Break the Short-Term Downtrend

Netflix is preparing to release its financial results for the second quarter of 2026. According to the company’s official press release published on 15 June, the earnings report will be released on 16 July, followed by a video interview with management for investors. Back in April, when reporting its first-quarter results, the company warned that content spending would likely peak during the second quarter before moderating in the second half of the year. Investors are now looking to the July earnings release as the first opportunity to assess that forecast, as well as the pace of subscriber and advertising revenue growth.

Technical Analysis

On the four-hour chart, Netflix (NFLX on FXOpen) has been trading within a short-term downtrend since April. The decline accelerated in June, reaching a volume climax on 22 June before the price rebounded from the $71.00 area a few days later. The recovery established a local low, marked on the chart by the green support line.

At the beginning of July, the price attempted to break above the descending trendline, but the bullish breakout candle was completely engulfed by the following bearish candles. As a result of the failed breakout, a local swing high was formed, defining the red resistance level at $78.50, before the price retreated to the upper boundary of the current market profile at $76.10.

The Point of Control (POC) near $72.70 is the nearest significant support level should the pullback continue. Just below it lie the lower boundary of the market profile at $71.65 and the green support zone, which could once again attract buying interest if tested.

The RSI + MAs indicator is currently reading 48, 47 and 40. All three lines remain without a clear directional bias, highlighting the current market indecision.

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Key Takeaways

The rebound from the $71.00 area has encountered resistance around $78.50, and without support from fundamental catalysts, it is still too early to conclude that the short-term downtrend has ended. Netflix’s second-quarter earnings release on 16 July could become the key catalyst for the stock’s next significant move.

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This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

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Bank of Korea backs bank-led stablecoins as deposit token pilots progress

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Crypto Breaking News

The Bank of Korea (BOK) has reaffirmed that won-denominated stablecoins should be issued through bank-led consortiums, with the central bank urging additional safeguards as lawmakers continue to debate South Korea’s digital asset framework. In materials submitted to the National Assembly’s finance committee on Thursday, the BOK pushed for a structure that keeps issuance centered on banks rather than broader non-bank participation.

Local reporting from Digital Asset and EDaily said the BOK emphasized measures such as priority issuance via bank-led consortiums and the creation of a statutory policy body involving relevant government agencies.

Key takeaways

  • The BOK repeated its preference for won stablecoin issuance to be bank-led, using consortium structures as a core safeguard.
  • The stance is expected to keep pressure on the Digital Asset Basic Act, where disagreements about who can issue stablecoins have already caused delays.
  • BOK also signaled continued work on deposit-token use cases in the second half of the year, including government and everyday payment scenarios.
  • South Korea’s stablecoin policy debate remains unsettled, with the bill’s timeline having slipped amid broader political and regional disruption.

Why the bank-led push matters for South Korea’s stablecoin rules

The BOK’s latest comments build on a months-long effort to keep won stablecoin issuance within bank-centered mechanisms. Earlier coverage noted that the central bank has been pressing for a framework in which banks retain dominant ownership or control over stablecoin issuers. That position has already split policymakers and industry groups, and it has contributed to stalling progress on South Korea’s Digital Asset Basic Act.

At the heart of the dispute is a question investors and market participants are watching closely: whether stablecoins will be treated as extensions of regulated banking activity—or as a more open category of financial infrastructure that could involve a wider set of firms. A bank-led consortium approach can tighten oversight, but it may also limit participation and slow down the pace at which new issuers and business models enter the market.

Deposit tokens return to the spotlight

Beyond stablecoins, the BOK also said it plans to keep developing deposit-token use cases in the second half of the year. According to local reporting, those efforts include support for government subsidy payments, vouchers, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and further real-world transactions aimed at the general public.

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Deposit tokens are digital tokens that represent commercial bank deposits. The BOK’s focus on them aligns with a broader direction seen in recent months: using tokenized deposits as a controlled pathway for tokenized payments, while maintaining that core infrastructure rests with regulated banks.

In April, BOK Governor Hyun-Song Shin publicly backed deposit tokens and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in his first address, and South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance announced a pilot related to the use of tokenized deposits for government operational spending. By tying next-step development to concrete payment and voucher scenarios, the BOK is effectively linking its stablecoin governance position with a practical, near-term tokenization roadmap that can be tested in the real economy.

The Digital Asset Basic Act: unresolved issuance questions keep delaying progress

The BOK’s reaffirmation comes as lawmakers continue wrestling with how stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), and other digital assets should fit into South Korea’s financial rulebook. Earlier disagreements over stablecoin issuance—especially the question of who should be allowed to issue them—have kept the bill debate active rather than moving toward consolidation.

Cointelegraph has previously reported that the bill has repeatedly stalled over questions about whether stablecoins should be bank-led and, relatedly, about the ownership structure of stablecoin issuers. Local reporting indicates the central bank continues to argue for an approach where banks keep the majority position in stablecoin issuance structures.

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Meanwhile, lawmakers have continued considering how to place these assets into existing legal categories. In April, South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party proposed bringing stablecoins and RWAs under existing financial laws, but the central issue of bank-led issuance remained unresolved—suggesting that classification alone may not settle the governance model.

One reason the process has been particularly difficult is that policy decisions on stablecoins now intersect with broader digital asset priorities: tokenized RWAs, deposit-token pilots, and the overall question of how far tokenization should extend across regulated financial services.

Timeline pressure and political headwinds

In January, the government told President Lee Jae-myung it aimed to meet a legislative target by the first quarter of 2026. That timeline has since slipped, and the reasons cited in local reporting include the US-Israeli war with Iran beginning in late February, domestic election cycles, and delays linked to reorganization of the Assembly’s committee structure.

These disruptions matter because they affect how quickly competing approaches—bank-led models favored by the BOK versus broader industry participation—can be reconciled into a single bill text. The longer the stalemate persists, the more uncertainty market participants face regarding licensing, issuer ownership rules, and compliance expectations for any future won stablecoin issuance.

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For readers tracking South Korea’s digital asset transition, the BOK’s behavior provides a clear signal: even as negotiations continue, the central bank appears unwilling to move away from bank-led safeguards. At the same time, its continued emphasis on deposit-token pilots suggests the BOK sees tokenized banking deposits as a more immediately actionable and controllable stepping stone.

Going forward, investors and builders should watch whether the National Assembly’s committee deliberations converge on the BOK’s bank-led issuance model—or whether lawmakers carve out room for alternative issuer structures. Equally important will be how the promised second-half work on deposit-token use cases progresses, since real-world pilots can shape what regulators ultimately tolerate in the stablecoin ecosystem.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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AFX Enters the Perp DEX Race Hyperliquid Already Leads, How is It Different?

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AFX Enters the Perp DEX Race Hyperliquid Already Leads, How is It Different?

Perpetual futures are right now crypto’s most active trading category. DefiLlama data showed $21.9 billion in perp DEX volume over 24 hours on July 3, 2026, with open interest across derivatives protocols at about $15.5 billion.

But the market is dominated and defined by Hyperliquid. The exchange led the sector with about $250.5 billion in 30-day perp volume, leaving little serious competition at the top.

That gap explains why new trading chains are still entering the market. The demand is clear, but the winner is not yet protected by regulation, brand loyalty, or deep institutional lock-in.

AFX is one of the newer challengers. It is a sovereign Layer 1 built around perpetual futures, with a fully on-chain order book, on-chain matching and settlement, zero-gas execution, 100ms median latency, fair ordering, and MEV-resistant protection. 

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On paper, the pitch is long. But the actual goal is simple: give traders Hyperliquid-style speed and liquidity, but with more of the trading stack moved fully on-chain.

AFX Daily Perp Volume and TVL. Source: DeFiLlama
Platform Core model What it has proved Where AFX differs
Hyperliquid Custom trading L1 Deep perp liquidity and strong trader adoption AFX follows a similar trading-chain thesis, but from a much earlier base
dYdX Chain Cosmos-based appchain Perp DEXs can leave shared execution environments AFX pushes more of the order flow and matching process on-chain
GMX Pooled liquidity and oracle pricing Traders will use pool-backed leverage without a central order book AFX is built around exchange-style order book trading
Drift Solana-native hybrid model Fast execution can support active perp trading AFX uses a sovereign L1 rather than Solana infrastructure
Lighter ZK-verified derivatives Verification can become part of exchange design All fees are redistributed to users
Aevo Rollup-based derivatives Derivatives can run through a dedicated rollup AFX takes the more vertically controlled L1 route

The comparison is not whether AFX has more features than these platforms. The real question is whether its design solves the problems that matter during live trading: fast order placement, reliable cancels, deep maker liquidity, stable liquidations, and predictable execution when markets move sharply.

AFX Vs. Hyperliquid and dYdX

AFX sits closest to Hyperliquid and dYdX, but the comparison is practical rather than one-to-one. 

Hyperliquid is the liquidity benchmark. It has already proved that a custom trading L1 can attract serious perp volume, open interest, and trader mindshare. 

AFX follows a similar high-performance trading-chain thesis, with 100ms median latency, zero-gas execution, on-chain orderbook trading, and deterministic ordering. Its challenge is proof: deeper liquidity, more market makers, and a longer record during volatile markets.

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dYdX is the architecture benchmark. Its Cosmos-based chain uses in-memory orderbooks to keep trading fast while blocks sync the final state. 

AFX pushes more of the trading process on-chain, including order placement, matching, and settlement. That gives traders more visible execution data, but it also raises the performance test. 

Perp traders punish slow cancels, delayed matching, and weak liquidation systems quickly.

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AFX Versus Lighter, Drift, and Aevo

Lighter, Drift, and Aevo really show how varied the perp DEX field has become:

  • Lighter emphasizes ZK verification for matching and liquidations;
  • Drift uses Solana-native execution with a hybrid system combining an AMM and a central limit orderbook;
  • Aevo uses an EVM-based optimistic rollup for derivatives trading.

AFX differs through vertical control. It uses a trading-specific L1 and aims to coordinate consensus, orderbook execution, settlement, margin, liquidation, APIs, and trader UX inside one dedicated system. 

This is also where the AI-agent angle becomes important. AFX offers agent wallets that can place, cancel, and modify orders, update leverage and margin mode, and receive private WebSocket data. 

Moreover, users can limit agent permissions for withdrawals, transfers, agent authorization, revocation, and vault operations.

Risk Design During Market Stress

Perp DEX quality becomes visible during volatile markets. Mark-price design, liquidation mechanics, and backstop liquidity determine whether traders face orderly execution or unstable loss socialization. A strong venue needs risk controls able to hold up when price moves become fast, liquidity thins, and leverage unwinds at once.

AFX highlights several risk controls: manipulation-resistant mark pricing based on native orderbook data and external exchange feeds, staged liquidations, backstop liquidity through its vault, and capped open interest per market. 

Security also deserves a word. Zellic’s public audit repository lists an AFX Bridge audit from May 2026 on EVM, which supports mention of a third-party audit for the bridge scope.

A Note on Incentives and Trader Alignment

Perp DEXs often compete through points, rebates, fee tiers, maker rewards, vault yield, and revenue sharing. These tools can seed order flow, attract market makers, and reward active traders, although long-term value depends on sticky liquidity after rewards cool.

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AFX’s VIP Program is a great example, where high-volume traders can receive lower fees and a share of platform fee revenue, with 30% to 50% of protocol revenue allocated across eligible tiers. 

Importantly, AFX’s revenue sharing may help attract professional traders, but its durability will depend on execution quality, spreads, open interest, trader retention and more. 

AFX Tokenomics and Community Distribution

AFX’s tokenomics also support its active-trader positioning. The model is built around community distribution first, with 73% of the 1 billion token supply allocated across genesis distribution, protocol incentives, core community, and ecosystem development.

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The largest single bucket is protocol incentives at 30%, which means the token model is designed to reward ongoing trading activity, liquidity participation, and node staking rather than only early access.

Genesis distribution accounts for 27% of supply and is fully unlocked at TGE, creating meaningful early float from day one instead of concentrating liquidity around delayed unlocks.

How AFX Promises to Distribute Its Revenue. Source: Medium

AFX also has no VC allocation and no private rounds, which gives the token model a user-participation angle rather than a private-investor allocation structure. Core contributors receive 19% of supply, but this allocation has no TGE unlock, a one-year cliff, and 36-month linear vesting. This ties contributor incentives to longer-term protocol development rather than immediate liquidity.

The treasury allocation is set at 8% and is intended for compliance, infrastructure, and risk reserve needs under governance and foundation discretion. Points also connect current user activity with future token distribution, with a fixed 10 million-point pool across three seasons and conversion expected at TGE.

Who AFX Is Really Built For

AFX makes the most sense for traders who care about execution control rather than simple leveraged exposure.

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  • Active perp traders who want order book trading, fast order placement, and more control over entries, exits, and cancellations.
  • Market makers and high-volume traders who need low fees, API access, predictable sequencing, and enough technical transparency to monitor execution quality.
  • On-chain-native traders who prefer public settlement, visible order flow, and a trading stack that keeps more of the exchange process on-chain.
  • Automated strategy builders who want agent wallets, private WebSocket data, and permission controls for bots or AI-assisted trading systems.
  • Traders looking beyond crypto pairs who want perpetual exposure to stocks, indices, metals, and commodities inside a crypto-native venue.

AFX is less suitable for casual users, passive DeFi investors, or traders who only want a simple leverage product with minimal setup. It is also not the obvious first choice for users who prioritise the deepest existing liquidity, the longest operating history, or the broadest stress-tested track record. 

For those traders, Hyperliquid, dYdX, or GMX may still feel safer until AFX proves its liquidity, uptime, and liquidation design across more volatile market cycles.

The open issue is proof. AFX has early volume, a defined technical thesis, and a set of features aimed at active traders, but the strongest perp venues are judged over time. Liquidity depth, uptime during volatility, liquidation behavior, independent audits, and trader retention will matter more than launch metrics. 

The post AFX Enters the Perp DEX Race Hyperliquid Already Leads, How is It Different? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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