XRP Ledger developers and users can now connect to globally distributed public nodes operated by Ankr, expanding network access ahead of the expected xrpld v3.3.0 release.

Ankr brings global public nodes to XRP Ledger

The XRP Ledger Foundation announced the infrastructure partnership with Ankr, saying the rollout would improve public access for developers and users.

“We’re expanding public infrastructure access to the XRP Ledger for developers and users with Ankr. Globally distributed XRPL nodes from New York to Singapore to give you the best connectivity,” the foundation said in an X post.

The new portal provides free JSON-RPC endpoints for the XRP Ledger mainnet and testnet. Developers can use these endpoints to interact with the network without installing, maintaining or monitoring their own xrpld infrastructure.

A Quickstart section also includes ready-to-use cURL and JavaScript examples. The portal displays network health, ledger height, median latency, global coverage, request volume and average requests per second in real time.

Active nodes are currently located in Singapore, New York, Amsterdam and San Francisco. Ankr’s system automatically routes traffic to the most suitable node, which could reduce latency and provide backup connectivity if one location becomes unavailable.

XRPL validator Vet said full-history access would be introduced later. The existing service focuses on current network access rather than offering a complete record of all historical ledger data.

While Brock Pierce has been relatively quiet since Protos and Decrypt reported on his ties to late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire Tether founder did find time the month before to conduct a lengthy interview with an outlet calling itself AllatRa TV.

The interview is wide-ranging, from blockchain to the impact of AI on our future, and while there are no bombshells or sensational moments, there is an important problem with the interview.

Namely that AllatRa is a pro-Putin, anti-Ukraine doomsday cult that pushes mass amounts of generative AI disinformation.

Pierce took part in this interview after it became evident that AllatRa was a serious issue.

AllatRa, a dangerous global cult

AllatRa has existed for years and is largely known in the US and Europe for disseminating disinformation through the use of generative AI.

In 2024, US streamer Destiny discovered a fake YouTuber named “Dr. A. Egon Chalokian,” who people were referring to as an expert.

After watching some of the videos, which often refer to an upcoming apocalyptic climate event, and glorify Russia and Russian leadership, he noticed a number of glaring issues. These include hands that don’t move for hours, books in the background without titles, and pictures without discernible faces.

Chalokian’s LinkedIn states he studied at Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and the Cleveland Clinic — at the same time.

Ukraine’s AllatRa problem

Despite the fact that charges were brought against AllatRa’s founders in 2022, and that, in 2023, Ukrainian officials had already taken to raiding safe houses related to the group — finding weapon caches and false IDs — the Ukrainian government failed to take out the cult in any meaningful manner.

But, in 2025, everything changed.

As detailed by Ukrainian court documents, AllatRa had crypto assets seized in August of 2025.

The documents also detail how the group was actively “financing actions committed with the aim of violently changing or overthrowing the constitutional order, committing high treason… producing and distributing works that promote a cult of violence and cruelty, racial, national or religious intolerance and discrimination, fraud, and the legalization of funds obtained by criminal means.”

According to these documents, the group was utilizing USDT and Justin Sun’s TRX to move funds.

The interview

In a grainy interview that streamed in January of 2026, six months after AllatRa had cryptocurrencies seized and years since the group’s nefarious online activities were well-documented, Pierce went on for over half an hour to chat with Valeria Smian, who is “head of communications and partnerships and events at AllatRa.”

At one point during the interview, Pierce states that he “is not defined by reality as it exists.”

Protos reached out to Smian for comment on the legal issues in Ukraine and generative AI videos produced by AllatRa but received no response.

Brock Pierce, Ukraine, and Russia

This is hardly Pierce’s first foray into the opaque world of Russia, Ukraine, and their respective politics.

Indeed, he’s been shuttling between America, Ukraine, and Russia since at least 2012, for reasons unknown — though the Epstein Files suggest that there could be nefarious purposes behind the visits.

FalconX, the digital asset prime brokerage that acquired crypto ETF issuer 21shares last November, has laid off roughly 10% of its global workforce as it prepares for a prolonged downturn in the cryptocurrency market, Bloomberg reported Monday.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said FalconX is also reshaping its strategy in Singapore by focusing on crypto derivatives trading and plans to withdraw its license application with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The company intends to maintain its presence in Asia while expanding its European business.

FalconX employed about 350 people across the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong before the layoffs.

Cointelegraph contacted a FalconX spokesperson for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

The reported workforce reduction adds FalconX to a growing list of crypto companies scaling back operations during the market downturn, joining exchanges including Coinbase, Crypto.com, Luno and Gemini, and infrastructure provider BitGo.

Related: Ethereum Foundation sacks 20% of workforce amid strategic restructuring

Crypto exchanges pivot beyond spot trading

Crypto exchanges have been under pressure as Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets retreated from last year’s highs, weighing on trading volumes and retail participation. As Cointelegraph reported, some analysts believe Bitcoin has yet to reach a market bottom, suggesting the industry could face continued headwinds.

Bitcoin was last trading below $64,000, roughly 50% below its October peak above $126,000.

In response, many exchanges are expanding beyond spot trading. According to a recent CoinGecko report, the “crypto TradFi” sector,  which includes tokenized assets, derivatives and other traditional financial products, grew fivefold to $6.6 billion between January 2025 and June 2026.

Tokenized stocks and commodities have emerged as leading drivers of crypto TradFi growth. Source: CoinGecko

Coinbase’s latest earnings underscore that shift. Although the company missed earnings expectations, it reported that 88% of second-quarter net revenue came from businesses other than spot Bitcoin trading, with derivatives, prediction markets and tokenized assets playing an increasingly important role.

Magazine: Dubai tops Asian crypto hubs, Taiwan passes crypto laws: Asia Express

SpaceX stock is attempting to stabilize near $110 ahead of its first post-IPO earnings report, but a $100 billion share unlock could limit any recovery.

SpaceX will report its second-quarter results after the US market closes on Aug. 4, giving investors their first detailed look at the company since its June initial public offering.

The report arrives at a difficult point for SPCX stock. Shares recently traded at $110.41, down about 18% from their $135 IPO price and roughly 52% below the June intraday high of $225.64.

That decline has reduced some of the valuation premium created by the IPO’s limited float. However, the company is still valued at roughly 35 to 37 times projected 2026 revenue, leaving little room for weak results or cautious guidance.

SpaceX earnings face unusually high expectations

Wall Street expects SpaceX to report approximately $6.88 billion in second-quarter revenue, according to FactSet data. Analysts forecast a loss of $0.23 per share and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $2.1 billion.

Full-year expectations stand near $39 billion in revenue and $17.3 billion in EBITDA.

These estimates place considerable pressure on SpaceX’s three main businesses: Starlink, rocket launches and artificial intelligence. Investors will assess whether revenue growth from Starlink and launch contracts can support the company’s spending on Starship, satellites and AI infrastructure.

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Colin Canfield has warned that the first report could contain an “extreme expectation bias,” reflecting the potential gap between Wall Street forecasts and SpaceX’s actual performance.

Starlink is likely to receive the most attention because its recurring subscription revenue could help offset the more volatile economics of rocket development. Analysts expect the connectivity segment to remain SpaceX’s largest revenue source, supported by more than 10 million users.

The launch business also enters earnings with a substantial order pipeline. SpaceX recently secured a $1.6 billion US Space Force contract covering 18 Falcon 9 launches through 2027, adding visibility to its government-related revenue.

AI presents a less certain outlook. Investors will want details on spending, revenue and expected returns following SpaceX’s expansion into AI infrastructure. High capital expenditure without a clear path to positive free cash flow could renew concerns about the company’s valuation.

SPCX stock shows early signs of stabilization

The 4-hour chart shows SPCX stock moving out of a descending channel that guided prices lower throughout July. Shares recently rebounded from an intraday low of $104.85 and reached $112.70 before settling near $110.41.

That breakout suggests the decline may be losing momentum. However, it does not yet confirm a wider trend reversal because the stock remains close to its record low and well below several former support levels.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator has produced an early bullish crossover. The MACD line stood at minus 6.99, above its signal line at minus 7.80, while the histogram turned positive at 0.81.

Because both lines remain below zero, the signal points to improving short-term momentum rather than an established bullish trend.

The Average Directional Index stood at 32.82. An ADX reading above 25 normally indicates a relatively strong trend, but the indicator does not determine its direction. In this case, it primarily confirms the strength of the decline that preceded the latest stabilization attempt.

A strong earnings report could provide the catalyst needed to validate the channel breakout. Weak results, however, could turn the move into a temporary pause within the larger downtrend.

SPCX needs to reclaim $120 to extend its recovery

Immediate resistance sits between $112.70 and $115, an area that has repeatedly limited rebounds since late July. A 4-hour close above that zone could allow SPCX to test $120.

The $120 level previously acted as short-term support before the latest breakdown. Reclaiming it would improve the technical structure and could expose the stock to resistance between $127 and $130, near the upper boundary of the former descending channel.

A move above $130 would offer stronger evidence that SPCX has formed a short-term bottom. The next major resistance area would then sit between $140 and $150, where sellers controlled several July rebounds.

On the downside, $104.85 is the first support level. A break below that intraday low would place the psychological $100 mark at risk.

Falling below $100 after earnings would invalidate the latest channel breakout and leave SPCX without a clear historical support level because the stock has traded publicly for less than two months. That lack of price history could increase volatility as investors search for a new valuation floor.

The Aug. 6 unlock could limit an earnings rally

Even an earnings beat may not remove the stock’s most immediate supply risk.

Up to 911.5 million shares held by employees and some early investors become eligible for sale on Aug. 6, the second trading day after the earnings release. At $110.41 per share, the tranche is worth about $100.6 billion.

The release exceeds the approximately 639 million shares initially available for public trading. If every eligible share entered the market, the tradable supply would rise to roughly 1.55 billion shares. Eligibility does not mean holders must sell, but the size of the tranche creates the potential for considerable selling pressure.

A second tranche of 455.8 million shares could have qualified for early release if SPCX closed at or above $175.50 on at least five of the 10 trading days through earnings. The stock’s decline means that condition will not be met.

SpaceX’s staggered lock-up structure will release additional shares over the coming months. By Dec. 8, the number of potentially tradable shares could reach approximately 5.33 billion, compared with fewer than 640 million following the IPO. Elon Musk’s holdings remain subject to a longer restriction extending into mid-2027.

Can SpaceX earnings revive SPCX stock?

The bullish scenario requires SpaceX to beat revenue expectations, demonstrate strong Starlink margins and give investors a credible plan for funding AI and Starship investments. Those results could push SPCX through $115 and toward $120 or $130.

The bearish case centers on continued losses, elevated capital spending and weak guidance. Those concerns would become more damaging when combined with the Aug. 6 unlock, particularly if employees and early investors use the earnings window to sell.

SPCX’s improving MACD and channel breakout provide an early technical basis for a rebound. Still, the stock must reclaim $120 before the move can be treated as more than a relief rally.

Earnings could revive SPCX in the short term, but holding those gains may prove harder. The company must satisfy high operating expectations just two days before its available share supply begins to expand.

The odds of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act’s (CLARITY) passage are dwindling as the US Senate is scheduled to begin summer recess at the end of this week, threatening another leg down for cryptocurrency valuations, according to wealth manager Bernstein.

Bernstein said that the Senate’s failure to pass the legislation could trigger an immediate negative “industry knee-jerk reaction,” which may result in another leg down for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

“From a tactical standpoint, we expect the crypto market to bottom and start showing momentum towards late Q3 and early Q4 prior to the mid-terms,” Bernstein analysts wrote in a Monday report shared with Cointelegraph.

At the same time, however, the analysts said that Senate failure to pass the legislation may bring more proactive policy support from regulators, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which may accelerate rulemaking initiatives under Project Crypto.

Project Crypto is a regulatory initiative first announced by SEC Chairman Paul Atkins in July 2025, which was later expanded into a joint staff initiative between the SEC and CFTC in September 2025. The initiative aims to create a workable regulatory framework for digital assets using existing agency authority while Congress finalizes crypto market legislation under the CLARITY Act.

Bernstein said that the two agencies could provide more interpretive releases tied to the taxonomy of tokens, clear rules around decentralized finance (DeFi) and accelerate the innovation exemption for issuing tokens that would be exempted from securities status during a finite period.

CLARITY Act odds decline to 31%

Bernstein’s skepticism is supported by prediction market traders who are betting against the passage of the CLARITY Act before the end of 2026.

Odds of the legislation’s passage before the end of the year are now at 31%, down 7% in the past week and down 9% in the past month, according to Polymarket, which shows about $3.7 million has been wagered on that prediction.

Prediction market odds of the CLARITY Act being signed into law by the end of 2026. Source: Polymarket

Meanwhile, White House officials are reportedly weighing a bipartisan ethics counterproposal received on Thursday, following weeks of negotiations between Republican Senator Thom Tillis and Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego.

The proposal would enable state attorneys general to sue the Department of Justice if it fails to enforce ethics laws against federal officials, three sources familiar with the matter told crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett.  

Related: ABA, state banking groups push back on CLARITY Act stablecoin yield provisions

The CLARITY Act aims to establish the first regulatory framework for digital assets in the US, but it has been met with pushback from the banking industry, which argued that the current draft would allow crypto firms to offer yields on stablecoins without facing the same requirements as traditional financial institutions. 

On June 26, Galaxy Digital cut its odds of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 to 50%, warning that the US Senate is running out of time to move the crypto market structure bill before its August recess. 

Magazine: How the EU’s crypto tax rules are expected to work for users and platforms

BlackRock has launched two tokenized money market products as the world’s largest asset manager expands its blockchain-based cash management and real-world asset strategy.

BlackRock launches BSTBL shares on Ethereum

The BlackRock Select Treasury Based Liquidity Fund, or BSTBL, will introduce tokenized shares of an existing money market fund on Ethereum.

Institutional investors will be able to move the shares between approved wallets, subject to regulatory and compliance requirements. This structure brings transferability onto a public blockchain while retaining controls commonly applied to regulated financial products.

BNY Mellon will serve as BSTBL’s transfer agent and tokenization service provider. Its role will connect the fund’s shareholder records and transaction processes with the infrastructure used to issue and transfer the on-chain shares.

BSTBL will invest in cash, short-term U.S. Treasury securities, and overnight repurchase agreements backed by Treasuries. The portfolio aims to preserve principal and liquidity while generating returns from short-duration government debt.

The model differs from a stablecoin because investors hold fund shares rather than tokens designed to maintain a fixed redemption value. Returns will depend on the income generated by the underlying portfolio.

BRSRV targets stablecoin reserve management

BlackRock’s second product, the BlackRock Daily Reinvestment Stablecoin Reserve Vehicle, or BRSRV, is designed for digitally native institutional investors.

Unlike BSTBL’s initial Ethereum-based structure, BRSRV will support access across multiple blockchains. The fund will also reinvest dividends daily, allowing income generated by its assets to remain within the product.

BlackRock said BRSRV could be used in several digital-asset settings, including stablecoin reserve management. Stablecoin issuers typically need liquid, low-risk assets to support redemptions, making Treasury bills and Treasury-backed repurchase agreements common reserve instruments.

Securitize will act as the fund’s transfer agent and tokenization service provider. The company already supplies infrastructure for tokenized securities and previously worked with BlackRock on its blockchain-based investment products.

BRSRV will use the same core asset categories as BSTBL: cash, short-term U.S. government debt and overnight repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasuries.

BlackRock expands its role in tokenized U.S. markets

The two launches extend BlackRock’s involvement in real-world asset tokenization beyond individual blockchain products.

crypto.news reported in July that BlackRock joined a Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation pilot testing tokenized stocks and U.S. Treasuries. The initiative involves securities already held within DTCC’s custody framework, which safeguards about $114 trillion in assets.

JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Vanguard, the New York Stock Exchange and nearly 40 other financial firms are also participating. The pilot lets institutions test blockchain-based representations of traditional securities without moving the underlying assets outside established market infrastructure.

For U.S. institutions, that model may reduce the operational gap between conventional securities and on-chain markets. However, wallet transfers, investor eligibility and access will remain subject to regulatory requirements rather than operating as permissionless crypto transactions.

BlackRock’s cash management group now oversees close to $1.1 trillion for corporations, banks, insurers, foundations and public institutions. Its scale could help introduce tokenized fund shares to investors already using its traditional liquidity products.

BlackRock builds across crypto and traditional finance

BlackRock has also expanded its position in regulated cryptocurrency markets through the iShares Bitcoin Trust, its U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund.

As previously reported by crypto.news, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved an increase in the position limit for options tied to the fund. The limit rose fourfold from 250,000 to 1 million contracts, giving eligible traders room to hold larger options positions linked to IBIT.

The tokenized fund launches represent a separate part of BlackRock’s digital-asset strategy. Rather than providing Bitcoin exposure, BSTBL and BRSRV place traditional cash-management assets on blockchain infrastructure.

Their adoption will depend on institutional demand, regulatory access, and whether on-chain transfers provide meaningful operational advantages over existing money market fund systems.

In less than six weeks, Amazon has gained almost as much market capitalization as SpaceX has lost. Since June 26, both companies have swapped precisely $560 billion in market cap.

Believe it or not, as recently as June 16, both companies had the same valuation, each being a $2.65 trillion company.

Since then, however, their valuations have trended in opposite directions.

Shares of Amazon climbed above $284 today, carrying the online retailer’s market value past $3 trillion for the first time. Only four publicly traded companies had ever reached that mark before.

Elon Musk’s rocket, internet, and AI conglomerate SpaceX had a great start after its IPO, running above $2.9 trillion within three days and briefly eclipsing the value of Amazon for one glorious week.

Stock in SpaceX then crashed, crashed, and crashed some more. Over the past month, the stock has lost 32% of its value.

Today, Amazon’s $3.06 trillion market cap is more than twice as valuable as SpaceX’s $1.44 trillion.

A good earnings report from Amazon

Last week, Amazon reported second quarter net sales of $200 billion and operating income up an impressive 43%, largely due to tariff refund checks and an increase in its Anthropic investment.

Its Amazon Web Services division grew at its fastest rate in 18 quarters.

The company posted adjusted earnings of $1.97 per share that beat Wall Street’s $1.82 estimate, on impressive revenue of $200 billion versus an expected $196 billion.

Accelerating cloud-computing growth eased investors’ concerns about Amazon’s heavy AI spending, with analysts framing its AI expenditures as bets that were starting to pay off.

The stock surged 15% the day after the report and was up about 5% again on Monday, marking another record high.

CEO Andy Jassy said, “There’s a lot to be excited about, and we have much more coming for customers in the second half of the year and beyond.”

Some of that excitement came from outside the business. Roughly $53 billion of the quarter’s $62.6 billion net income arrived as non-operating gains, largely on Amazon’s stake in Anthropic. 

Amazon even nudged capital spending guidance toward $220 billion, and investors were happy to oblige — bidding up its stock 22% over the past week despite its plans to spend more cash on AI.

Wall Street raised its Amazon price targets. Analysts at JPMorgan raised their price target to $365 from $330, Wells Fargo reiterated its overweight recommendation and $328 price target, and TD Cowen said buy up to $350.