SOIL has positioned itself to become the first application to use XRP Ledger’s proposed native lending infrastructure as the network considers activating the XLS-65 and XLS-66 amendments.

According to a recent update shared by SOIL on X, the regulated yield protocol is preparing to operate on the XRP Ledger Lending Protocol and Single Asset Vault framework once the proposed amendments receive approval.

The project stated that XLS-65 and XLS-66 would enable a new class of lending and yield products directly on XRPL and voiced support for activating the changes as soon as possible.

The development comes as XRP Ledger participants review two proposals designed to introduce lending functions at the protocol level. While XLS-66 outlines a structure for fixed-term, uncollateralized loans backed by pooled liquidity, XLS-65 introduces the SingleAssetVault model, which allows multiple users to contribute assets to a shared vault that can supply liquidity to lending markets.

Recent work on the network has also focused on infrastructure improvements. As reported by crypto.news, XRP Ledger released version 3.2.0 on June 22, deploying fixes for several software issues after a security review by blockchain security firm Common Prefix identified numerical and behavioral edge cases in the network’s core implementation. According to the XRP Ledger Foundation, those fixes were included in the latest mainnet upgrade.

Proposed amendments create the foundation for lending markets

A demonstration published by SOIL provided an early look at how the system could function once the amendments move into production. The presentation showed several Single Asset Vaults operating on XRPL’s Lending DevNet environment.

In the demonstration, users deposited funds into separate vaults and received MBT tokens representing their positions. According to the presenter, each vault issues its own MBT token, allowing depositors to maintain an on-chain representation of their ownership share.

Additional deposits into multiple vaults showed how ownership records expand as liquidity increases. Transaction values and sequence data were displayed through an explorer interface, giving participants visibility into fund movements and vault activity.

According to SOIL, one of the intended use cases involves depositing assets into pooled vaults that can support lending activity while preserving transparent records of participation on-chain. Under the proposed framework, liquidity providers would be able to track their positions through the issued vault tokens.

Development remains in testing ahead of approval

Current testing remains limited to development environments. During the demonstration, the presenter stated that no wallet currently supports the Lending DevNet, requiring developers to rely on internal testing tools. The presenter explained that wallet seeds have been hardcoded and transactions are being assigned behind the scenes during testing.

If approved, XLS-65 and XLS-66 would introduce native lending capabilities directly into the XRP Ledger protocol. According to the proposal descriptions, the changes would support lending markets, liquidity pools, yield-generating products, and on-chain credit systems without relying on external infrastructure.

Meanwhile, activity across the XRP ecosystem continues to attract attention from both developers and traders. As reported earlier by crypto.news, XRP recently formed a bearish MACD crossover on the four-hour chart, a signal that pointed to weakening momentum and a potential retest of the $1 support zone.

At press time, XRP (XRP) was down about 2% over the past 24 hours and trading roughly 5% above the bearish target, leaving the token close to the projected support level.

Few names in online betting carry the weight of Bet365 and 888casino. They sit on top of regulated markets across Europe and parts of North America, with millions of players returning to them year after year. But the industry has new entrants worth paying attention to, and a fresh group of crypto-first casinos is starting to grow into real competition for the legacy operators. ZunaBet, which went live in 2026, is one of the platforms making that climb.

This piece looks at how Bet365 and 888casino stand today, and where ZunaBet is positioning itself as something new in the same space.

Decades of Industry Presence

Bet365 traces its roots back to 2000. From a UK base, it grew into a global operation covering sports betting, casino, poker, and bingo from one account. The brand handles deposits through familiar channels — cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets — and holds licenses in nearly every region it serves.

888casino predates Bet365 by three years, going back to 1997. As part of the 888 Holdings group, it stands as one of the original online casino brands. Its catalogue covers slots, table games, and live dealer rooms, and its strongest footprint sits in regulated parts of Europe and North America. Like Bet365, it runs purely on fiat and follows the licensing requirements of each market it enters.

Reliability is the calling card for both. But the trade-off is also obvious. Their payment options are bound to traditional banking, withdrawals can take days depending on the method, and their game catalogues sit well below what crypto-first casinos pull together. Loyalty rewards run on the same point-and-tier model the industry has used since the early 2000s.

ZunaBet Joins the Climb

ZunaBet went live in 2026 and has been gaining ground since. Strathvale Group Ltd owns the brand, which holds an Anjouan gaming license. What sets it apart from older operators starts at the architecture. ZunaBet was designed for crypto from the beginning — no retrofits, no add-ons.

Its game catalogue tops 11,000 titles from more than 60 studios. The list of providers reads like an industry who’s-who: Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Yggdrasil, BGaming, and Evolution all feature. That depth ranks among the largest crypto-focused collections out there and clears what Bet365 and 888casino can field in their licensed regions. Slots, table games, and live dealer streams all run from a single account.

The sportsbook side rounds things out. Football, basketball, tennis, NHL, and the other usual sports sit alongside CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports and combat sports complete the menu. This brings ZunaBet into the same hybrid territory as Bet365 with a broader spread of markets.

How the Payment Models Differ

The split here is sharp. Bet365 and 888casino are fiat operations. Bank rails come with their own pace: processing windows, possible holds, and slower withdrawals depending on what the player chose at deposit.

ZunaBet’s payment stack is entirely crypto. Over 20 currencies are supported, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT across several chains, Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, and XRP. Transactions carry no platform fees, and withdrawals process quickly. For anyone holding crypto or simply tired of waiting on bank transfers, the difference shows up immediately.

There’s also the question of reach. Crypto platforms aren’t pinned to specific licensed jurisdictions in the same way. Players in many regions can use ZunaBet’s full lineup without bumping into the patchwork rules legacy operators contend with. That kind of access matches how a younger demographic already operates online.

Sign-Up Promotions

Bet365 and 888casino offer welcome packages that vary heavily by region. Deposit matches or smaller new-player bonuses are typical, often paired with wagering rules that take some reading to navigate.

ZunaBet’s welcome offer stretches up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins, broken across three deposits. The first deposit pays 100% up to $2,000 plus 25 spins. The second adds 50% up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. The third returns to 100% up to $1,500 plus another 25 spins. Marketed as a 250% three-deposit package, it leaves more room for new players to find their footing than a single-deposit bonus would.

Loyalty Setup Differences

Bet365 keeps its loyalty side low-key, with offers landing in player accounts based on activity. 888casino takes the classic VIP route — point accumulation, free spins, and elevated promos for upper tiers. Both work, but both feel like extensions of a model the industry has been running on for ages.

ZunaBet flips the structure. Its loyalty program runs as a dragon evolution theme, with the mascot Zuno guiding players through six tiers. Squire starts the climb at 1% rakeback, then Warden at 2%, Champion at 4%, Divine at 5%, Knight at 10%, and Ultimate sitting at the top with 20% rakeback.

Climbing the tiers unlocks more than rakeback. Tier-based free spins go up to 1,000 spins, plus VIP club entry and double wheel spins along the way. The progression feels closer to advancing through a game than punching a loyalty card — a structure that connects with players who grew up on that mechanic.

Why ZunaBet Stands Out

Bet365 and 888casino remain solid options for anyone who values longevity and regulation. Neither brand is at risk of losing its position. But the bar for what online betting platforms should deliver keeps moving. Quick withdrawals, vast game libraries, and engaging reward systems are turning into baseline features rather than upgrades.

ZunaBet was built around that new baseline. Crypto-first means fast settlement and minimal fees. The library outsizes most established brands. The sportsbook covers traditional sports and esports without needing a second account. The dragon loyalty program turns regular play into something with shape and direction.

For players chasing speed, variety, and a more current feel, ZunaBet sits among the more interesting options available right now. It’s still building its name, but the trajectory points clearly forward. A new generation of players treats crypto, gamified rewards, and global access as defaults, not perks bolted onto the side.

Bet365 and 888casino built the online betting world that exists today. ZunaBet is one of the platforms working on what comes after it.

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

In the same state, Fairshake backed incumbent Representative April McClain Delaney for $516,000, while also contributing ad spending in other states’ Tuesday primaries to Republican incumbent Representative Blake Moore in Utah and $1.3 million for one of the industry’s most reliable allies in the House, Representative Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat. All of them also won their races or were winning, with McClain Delaney in an early lead with votes still being counted.

The most recent Federal Election Commission filings showed Fairshake with about $126 million still on-hand at the end of last month. But it’s spending heavily on the way to the November general elections in which the two-year destiny of the U.S. Congress will be decided.

If Boafo contributes to the rise of a new Democratic majority in the House, the crypto industry will have a campaign-finance bond with him and other Democrats the PAC has supported. A Democratic majority is set at 79% odds in betting on prediction market platform Kalshi, and if the party earns that status, it’ll have chairmanships of all the committees, complete with control of the chamber’s agenda and subpoena power.

Fairshake’s approach is to flood pro-crypto candidates from both parties with large-scale independent advertising that can’t legally be coordinated with the campaigns. The ads don’t typically mention crypto as a political issues but are instead just calculated to use whatever political message would be most helpful for the candidates.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a lawsuit against Kentucky on Tuesday after the state sued prediction market operators last week, accusing them of operating unlicensed and illegal gambling platforms.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks to block Kentucky’s legal action against five prediction markets filed on Wednesday last week, calling for declaratory and injunctive relief. It names Kentucky Governor Andrew Beshear, Attorney General Russell Coleman and the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation, among others.

“Kentucky is the latest state attempting to shut down federally-regulated event contracts,” CFTC Chair Mike Selig said in a statement. “As I’ve consistently pledged, the CFTC is firmly committed to maintaining its exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets, and today’s lawsuit against Kentucky is yet another example of the Commission protecting its federal interests.”

The CFTC has been ramping up its effort to maintain authority over prediction markets since Selig was appointed as chair in December. Kentucky is now the ninth state that the CFTC has sued over state authorities taking action against prediction markets.

Source: Mike Selig

Kentucky sued Polymarket and Kalshi, along with Kalshi partners Coinbase, Robinhood and Webull, claiming they are “doing business without a Kentucky gaming license or following state regulations” and that their sports event contracts “fall squarely within the definition of ‘sports wagering’ under Kentucky law.”

Sports betting has been under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation since 2023.

Related: Mark Zuckerberg ordered Meta staff to develop moneyless prediction market: NYT

The state also alleged the platforms offer users “few or no resources” to identify or seek help for a gambling problem as required by state law.  

In its lawsuit, the CFTC argued that Kalshi and Polymarket are designated contract markets under its authority, and their event contracts are “swaps” under federal commodities law. 

It argued that Coinbase, Robinhood and Webull are CFTC-registered futures commission merchants that can offer event contracts in partnership with a designated contract market.

The regulator also took aim at Kentucky’s recent law that imposed a 14.25% excise tax on prediction market transaction fees, arguing it was an attempt to make prediction markets economically unviable in the state.

“This tax essentially makes it impossible for prediction markets to operate in Kentucky,” the CFTC argued.

The lawsuit comes just weeks after CFTC similarly sued New Mexico to block the state’s efforts to apply state gaming laws to Kalshi.

In May, US President Donald Trump gave the CFTC moral support, saying it was “critically important” that the regulator was the authority on prediction markets.

Source: Donald Trump

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., has invested in and is on the advisory board for Polymarket and is an adviser to Kalshi.

Magazine: Bitcoin decouples from tech stocks, Ether eyes ‘selling wave’: Market Moves

Bitcoin traded with limited conviction at the start of Tuesday’s Wall Street session as earlier losses in Asia’s technology-heavy markets spilled into global risk sentiment. While BTC held its position near recent ranges, traders increasingly pointed to cross-asset volatility—particularly moves in major US indices and upcoming company-specific headlines—as a driver of short-term price swings.

On the crypto side, liquidation data underscored how thin the margin for error currently looks. CoinGlass reported that rolling 24-hour crypto liquidations were approaching $1 billion on Tuesday, after earlier liquidation totals neared $700 million in the prior day’s window.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin remained range-bound at the Wall Street open, with $62,500 emerging as a key near-term reference point.
• Asia’s tech sell-off contributed to early downside pressure across equities, feeding into heightened market volatility.
• Trader commentary linked BTC’s dips below $62,000 to short-term liquidity grabs and subsequent price resets.
• CoinGlass data showed liquidation activity intensifying, with totals nearing $1 billion over a 24-hour rolling period.
• Attention is focused on US earnings—especially Micron Technologies’ Q3 guidance—expected to influence broader momentum-driven trading.

BTC checks levels as equities wobble

According to TradingView data referenced by Cointelegraph, BTC’s movement on lower time frames looked indecisive, with traders watching $62,500 as a focal level. The day’s volatility had begun in Asia: two intraday dips pushed price action briefly below the $62,000 area as equities posted major declines.

The US open was less severe, but weakness carried over. At the time of writing, the S&P 500 was down about 1% and the Nasdaq Composite about 1.3%, reflecting that investors had started resetting risk positions after the earlier tech-led sell-off.

In commentary that tied the equity and crypto tapes together, The Kobeissi Letter said expectations around Micron Technologies’ upcoming Q3 earnings guidance were a key factor behind the current market turbulence. The firm’s post on X highlighted how sentiment around the stock could drive broader momentum-based moves, particularly given Micron’s large market value.

“Speculation over Micron’s earnings is a key factor driving this volatility,” Kobeissi wrote on X.

Why Micron’s guidance matters to traders right now

Kobeissi also linked the broader market drop in Korea to legal concerns related to unrealized gains and to increased leverage among traders, arguing that these dynamics amplified volatility in both directions. It noted that the S&P 500 had already rebounded meaningfully from its opening low, reflecting a market that is quick to reverse when liquidity shifts.

“The result is amplified volatility in both directions, which also explains why the S&P 500 is already up +60 points from its opening low,” the account added.

The broader point for crypto participants is not the earnings event itself, but how it can influence risk appetite across correlated assets. If tech earnings expectations cause sharp swings in sentiment, BTC often feels the effect through liquidity conditions—especially when leverage is active in both directions.

Even as traders absorb the equity newsflow, the “AI narrative” underpinning parts of the tech complex remains a central theme, according to Kobeissi, which argued that volatility after a strong prior run can be “normal” rather than purely bearish. For BTC investors, the implication is that price may continue to oscillate rather than trend aggressively until the market’s next catalyst becomes clear.

Liquidations spike as BTC searches for liquidity

Despite the day’s broader uncertainty, BTC activity appeared to concentrate around nearby liquidity pockets—an environment where both longs and shorts can be forced out. CoinGlass data placed 24-hour crypto liquidations at nearly $700 million at one point during the session, with the overall rolling figure later described as climbing toward $1 billion over 24 hours.

Trader Daan Crypto Trades commented that the $65K area failed to hold and that price subsequently moved to “grab the liquidity below $62K.” This type of commentary aligns with the observed pattern: dips below round-number support can accelerate liquidation cascades, then produce rebounds once stop orders and leveraged positions are cleared.

CoinGlass’s liquidation snapshots were also accompanied by market analysis from CryptoReviewing, which described the long-short imbalance as “ridiculous” and pointed to the rolling $1 billion figure on Tuesday. CryptoReviewing suggested that what comes next could still offer opportunities for bulls, but the immediate takeaway from the liquidation data is that the market remains highly leveraged and therefore sensitive to short-term shifts.

What to watch next: levels and catalysts

For now, BTC’s near-term direction looks closely tied to both US equity momentum and earnings-driven risk sentiment, with Micron’s guidance emerging as a near-dated catalyst highlighted by traders. As liquidation totals remain elevated, watching whether BTC can reclaim and hold above the $62,500 area—and whether equities stabilize or reintroduce downside pressure—may be the most practical indicators for the next move.

Amid waning poll numbers and pressure from inside the Labour Party, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stepped down. 

During Starmer’s tenure, the government introduced a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations to political campaigns, citing concerns that crypto could become a vector for foreign influence in UK elections. Beyond the ban, the UK has charted a cautious path on crypto regulation under the Labour government. 

Starmer’s departure from Number 10 has started discussions about his successor. A frontrunner has emerged in Andy Burnham, a member of parliament for Makerfield and former Mayor of Greater Manchester. 

Burnham has expressed optimism about the blockchain industry’s ability to support economic development. But it remains to be seen whether that enthusiasm can translate into real policy moves.

Burnham wanted Manchester to be a “Web 3 powerhouse”

A graduate of Cambridge, Burnham served as a Cabinet minister under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, both as Health Secretary and Culture Secretary. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Shadow Education Secretary and Shadow Health Secretary under Ed Miliband before unsuccessfully contesting the Labor leadership bid in 2015.

From 2015-2016, he was Shadow Home Secretary under Jeremy Corbyn before leaving Westminster to become Mayor of Manchester in 2017. 

As mayor, Burnham has consistently framed digital technology as an economic development tool and a way of driving growth and jobs in the city. This framing was evident at a Stand With Crypto and Manchester Blockchain Alliance event, where he said, “I’m bought in.”

He further noted his commitment to “make [Manchester] the Web3 powerhouse that we want it to be.”

Whether this will translate into a coherent national policy is another matter. As mayor, Burnham championed a model dubbed “Manchesterism,” which prioritized devolution, regional economic control and public-private partnerships.

It’s a bottom-up approach that, some observers in the crypto industry say, needs to be amplified if it’s to bring national-level change to the industry.

Nick Jones, founder and CEO of UK digital assets services platform Zumo, told Cointelegraph, “Burnham’s rhetoric on crypto has to date been heavily influenced by his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester. For example, he has previously drawn parallels between digital innovation and historical developments, pointing out that Manchester was the home of the Industrial Revolution and has the potential to become the home of the Web3 revolution.”

“But such soundbites were to be expected in the context of his role. If he becomes Prime Minister, he will be well aware of the need to amplify that ambition and ensure the UK as a whole sits at the heart of the world’s future financial system,” he said.

Related: UK central bank is warming up to stablecoins, but says industry input is lacking

Benoit Marzouk, the CEO of GBP stablecoin tGBP, told Cointelegraph that Burnham’s Manchester experience “is not a handicap.” Rather, his experience outside Westminster, “could help implement and accelerate the right policies for the digital asset industry across the UK.”

Burnham has not yet published a detailed digital assets policy. His public comments about crypto reflect broader enthusiasm rather than specific regulatory commitments. He has not yet addressed the Financial Conduct Authority’s crypto framework, stablecoin law, or the crypto political donation ban on public record. 

The donation ban, politics, and what Burnham could actually do

In March, Stamer’s government banned crypto donations to political campaigns over concerns of foreign influence in British elections. 

The ban followed an independent review by Philip Rycroft, a former civil servant turned consultant, who found that the pseudonymous nature of crypto assets created unacceptable risks to political financing transparency.

Reversing a policy introduced on the recommendation of an independent review carries political risk. Labor’s left could scrutinize any move that appears to open the party to crypto money, which Reform UK has used to fund its leading performance in recent local elections.

According to Reuters, crypto donations from billionaires based overseas put Reform well ahead of Labour in the fundraising race. Reform’s leader Nigel Farage is under investigation for an undisclosed 5 million pound ($6.6 million) gift from British Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne. 

Despite obvious ethics concerns, Farage said he should be able to spend the gift however he wishes, be it for campaigning, or on Ferraris and betting on horses.

Amid political concerns over the temporary moratorium, a 180-degree ban reversal from Burnham seems unlikely. 

Marzouk expects Burnham to exhibit “pragmatism rather than political announcements.” For tGBP, success in the first year of a Burnham premiership would include a finalized stablecoin framework, pilot programs involving government and GBP stablecoins and continuing work on tokenization.

Tom Rhodes, chief legal officer for UK stablecoin issuer Agant, told Cointelegraph, “We don’t expect the next PM to interfere with any specific policies. The regulators remain independent and cryptoasset regulation is nearly settled.”

Jones said that Burnham is “on record strongly backing the underlying economic potential of our nascent sector.”

“If he does become the next Prime Minister, it’s unlikely his position will change. I believe he would continue to pursue the current growth-focused policy approach.”

The transition period could be bumpy, stalling momentum, according to Jones. “Any potential cabinet reshuffle could displace ministers who are familiar with the evolving regulatory regime at the critical inflection point when regulators and industry alike are preparing for authorization, and that would be a problem.”

Labour is yet to announce an official timetable for replacing Starmer, although the former PM has said that he’d like to see nominations open on July 9, after a NATO summit. According to Sky News, it could be a week later, on July 16, when parliament goes on summer recess. 

The winner must receive more than half the votes cast. If no one receives the necessary votes, then ballots are recast based on preference. 

Magazine: Bitcoin decouples from tech stocks, Ether eyes ‘selling wave’: Market Moves