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Michael Saylor Says ‘We're Back': 3 Reasons MicroStrategy May Resume Buying Bitcoin

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MicroStrategy USD Reserve. Source: Strategy

Michael Saylor says MicroStrategy is back. The two-word post landed after 10 weeks in which the company, now named Strategy, bought no Bitcoin (BTC) at all.

Three things in its finances have quietly shifted. Together they explain why traders read the post as a signal, not a slogan.

Strategy’s Debt No Longer Blocks Bitcoin Buys

Strategy holds roughly $6.69 billion in dollars. It owes about $6.71 billion on convertible notes. The company says that leaves net leverage at 0.1%.

The gap ran the other way all summer, making traders price it in forced selling. It vanished last week, and MSTR stock rallied 12% as the two numbers met.

The freeze was real, considering MicroStrategy last bought BTC on June 22, adding 520 BTC at $67,068. It has sold four times since. August brought $3.28 billion in fresh capital, and all of it went into dollars, not Bitcoin.

The build was deliberate as most of the cash sits in a reserve for dividend payments. That reserve held $3.75 billion in July. It holds $5.10 billion now.

MicroStrategy USD Reserve. Source: Strategy
MicroStrategy USD Reserve. Source: Strategy

STRC Is Almost Back at Par

STRC is a preferred share that MicroStrategy sells to raise cash. It pays a 12% dividend and is built to trade at $100.

It closed at $97.33 on August 28, up from a 12-month low of $71.25. Below $100, it costs the company money.

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STRC Stock Performance. Source: TradingView
STRC Stock Performance. Source: TradingView

“Our objective is for STRC to trade over time at $99 to $100. If STRC trades below $100, we intend to repurchase STRC shares in a regular and disciplined manner,” CEO Phong Le said so in the second-quarter results.

Every dollar spent buying STRC back is a dollar not spent on Bitcoin. Strategy sold coins in August to fund that defense. Near $97, the drain almost stops.

The stakes have grown. STRC raised $2.47 billion in July 2025 at $90 a share, paying 9%. Today roughly $10 billion of it trades, at 12%.

Those dividends are not small. Strategy paid $400.7 million on its preferred shares in the second quarter alone.

Saylor Is Signaling, Not Filing

Saylor paired his post with a chart of 840,447 coins worth $65.72 billion. Hours earlier he wrote “Business as usual.”

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Michael Saylor Hints at More Bitcoin Buys. Source: Saylor on X
Michael Saylor Hints at More Bitcoin Buys. Source: Saylor on X

Neither post is a filing, but purchases show up in weekly reports and the next one is expected on Monday, August 31.

MicroStrategy may have bought Bitcoin last week, but it is also possible that they did not. After all, he also declared Bitcoin had won in July, and the buying stayed frozen for another five weeks.

With Bitcoin traded near $79,183 as of this writing, up 1.3% in a day, MicroStrategy’s treasury is barely above water, given they paid an average of $75,388 a coin.

The post Michael Saylor Says ‘We're Back': 3 Reasons MicroStrategy May Resume Buying Bitcoin appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Saylor Says Treasury Strategy Is “Back” to Bitcoin Buying

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Crypto Breaking News

Strategy’s co-founder Michael Saylor has signaled—via a fresh post on X—that the firm may be preparing to resume buying Bitcoin. In his latest message, Saylor wrote “We’re Back,” prompting speculation that the company could return to its prior pattern of corporate accumulation announcements on Mondays.

For long-time watchers of Strategy’s moves, the timing matters. Earlier weekend-style signals from Saylor have often been followed by official updates tied to treasury activity at the start of the week, turning small social posts into something of a market barometer for what investors should expect next.

Key takeaways

  • Michael Saylor’s “We’re Back” post on X has reignited expectations that Strategy will restart Bitcoin buying.
  • Strategy paused its regular weekly Bitcoin purchases over the summer, shifting attention toward balance-sheet and capital-market actions.
  • Recent strength in Bitcoin has reportedly moved Strategy’s BTC treasury back into positive territory on paper after months of losses.
  • Investors will likely watch for whether Monday announcements confirm that the signal translates into renewed accumulation.

A weekend signal with a track record

In the post, Saylor described a return rather than a new thesis, reinforcing the idea that Strategy may be moving back toward Bitcoin accumulation after a period of restraint. The community interpretation is grounded in how Strategy has historically communicated: cryptic weekend hints have frequently preceded official Monday morning treasury purchase announcements.

The practical relevance for market participants is straightforward. Strategy’s Bitcoin buying has been closely watched because its scale and regularity can influence sentiment around corporate participation. Even when the underlying purchase mechanics are formalized only later, the lead time created by Saylor’s messaging can shift expectations well before any transaction details are released.

What Strategy changed during its summer pause

Over the past two months, Strategy reportedly stopped its routine weekly Bitcoin purchases, replacing the accumulation cadence with a broader focus on strengthening its financial foundation. Instead of expanding crypto holdings, management emphasized balance-sheet stability and funding structure adjustments.

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According to the article, Strategy’s priorities during this period included stabilizing preferred stock offerings, building a US dollar reserve of $5.1 billion, and setting up a dedicated cash pool of $1.59 billion generated through large common stock offerings. Together, these steps suggest the firm treated the pause not as an abandonment of its approach, but as a financing reset—keeping liquidity available so that future buying could proceed on its preferred schedule.

That shift also aligned with a difficult stretch for Strategy’s on-paper position. With Bitcoin under pressure during parts of the summer, the firm’s large BTC treasury was said to be “deep in the red,” at least on mark-to-market measures.

Bitcoin’s move back above $80,000 and Strategy’s position

The renewed “We’re Back” narrative is now landing against a different backdrop for Bitcoin’s price. The article notes that recent macro momentum has pushed Bitcoin above the $80,000 threshold, a move that changes the immediate math for holders.

Strategy holds more than 840,447 Bitcoin, with an average cost basis hovering around $75,385, as described in the source text. With Bitcoin recovering, that reported cost-versus-market relationship has pushed the company’s overall BTC position back into positive territory for the first time in months.

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This matters for two reasons. First, it removes some of the accounting pressure that tends to weigh on corporate crypto holders during drawdowns. Second, it can make a return to accumulation more strategically attractive: when the treasury is back above average cost, renewed buying can be framed less defensively and more as an offensive strategy—something investors typically prefer to see when evaluating risk-adjusted prospects.

Why “We’re Back” could mean more than a headline

While Saylor’s post is not a formal announcement of a specific purchase amount or exact timing, the statement carries multiple layers for Strategy stakeholders. Operationally, it can be read as a readiness check—suggesting the company is prepared to deploy its “dry powder” back into Bitcoin. Psychologically, it signals a re-energized approach after a period when market conditions and Strategy’s reported balance-sheet focus may have temporarily shifted attention away from routine accumulation.

Still, there’s an important distinction investors should keep in mind: a social media signal is an expectation, not execution. The real confirmation will come from official treasury disclosures that specify whether and when Strategy restarts buying activity, and how the company positions its financing tools alongside any resumed purchases.

That uncertainty is precisely why the post is notable. Strategy’s previous pattern—weekend teasers followed by Monday morning corporate actions—has created a framework in which traders and long-term observers can interpret early hints. If the pattern holds again, Saylor’s message may function as an early warning that accumulation could return as a central pillar of Strategy’s next phase.

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For now, market participants are likely to watch Bitcoin closely as well as Strategy’s upcoming filings and announcements for confirmation. If the firm does resume its cadence, the move could reinforce the narrative that corporate treasury buying remains a key driver of crypto sentiment even after pauses designed to manage liquidity and capital-market conditions.

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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Helium Price Soars 170% in One Weekend: Is It Too Late to Buy HNT Now?

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Helium (HNT) Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Helium (HNT) jumped as much as 167% over the weekend, establishing an intra-day high of $0.989 as of this writing. Traders who arrived late are asking whether it is too late to buy HNT.

The rally was not built on buyers, but on sellers being forced out.

Helium (HNT) Price Performance. Source: TradingView
Helium (HNT) Price Performance. Source: TradingView

Why a Forgotten Token Moved So Fast

Helium runs a wireless network. Ordinary people host the hardware in their homes and shops. The industry calls this decentralized physical infrastructure, or DePIN.

The trigger was a Texas Wi-Fi deployment BeInCrypto reported on Saturday. The reaction dwarfed the news itself. HNT price, which had traded under $0.30 for most of the summer, surged by almost 170% in one weekend. Helium’s pitch has always been real customers.

In April 2025, developer Nova Labs paid $200,000 to settle SEC charges. Regulators said it wrongly claimed Lime, Nestle and Salesforce used the network. The case covered statements to stock investors, not the token.

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What the Charts Actually Show

The HNT price did not climb in a straight line. It moved in two bursts, grounding from $0.33 up to $0.45 overnight. It then jumped to $0.70 by 09:00 and stalled for four hours. A second push from 15:00 carried it to $0.9782.

  • HNT Volume Outlook

During the pauses, forced buying ran out. Now volume. The daily bar is the tallest on Helium’s two-year chart. Earlier spikes topped out near $45 million. This one cleared $110 million, thresholds last tested in 2023.

HNT Volume. Source: Coinglass
HNT Volume. Source: Coinglass

In total, $248.26 million changed hands, while the whole token is worth only $154.8 million. So the token changed hands more than once in a single day. Most people holding HNT now bought it this weekend, near the top.

  • HNT Liquidations

Some traders had bet against HNT, borrow the token, sell it, and plan to buy it back cheaper. The price rose instead, and their losses grew with every tick. Exchanges liquidated them, closing those bets for them and bought the token back at market price.

HNT Liquidations. Source: Coinglass
HNT Liquidations. Source: Coinglass

Coinglass shows nearly $1.5 million worth of short positions were liquidated on Sunday alone and over $1.6 million across the weekend. There is almost nothing before it. Traders betting on a rise lost just $196,650.

Every forced closure is a purchase. That is how the price climbed without new buyers arriving. Traders call this a short squeeze.

  • HNT Funding Rates

Next comes the funding rate, the clearest chart of the five. On these markets, one side pays the other a small fee every few hours.

For eight months that fee sat flat at zero. This weekend it fell past minus 1.2% on a single payment. Traders betting against HNT now pay the ones betting on it.

HNT Funding Rate. Source: Coinglass
HNT Funding Rate. Source: Coinglass

“The funding rate on Bybit HNT-PERP was close to -1000% this last print. A $60m market cap token with real users, with a chart that has no resistance for another 150%, down 99% from ATH. Shorts are trapped paying crazy funding with no spot supply,” one trader observed.

Finally, open interest. This is the total money riding on these bets. It shows the number of all open long and short positions for HNT price.

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It jumped 197.6% to $13.64 million, the highest in about a year. When those bets get closed out, this number falls. Here it nearly tripled instead.

They are not surrendering, with new money and fresh capital entering the futures market as new contracts are created for HNT.  They are being replaced faster than they are cleared out.

As HNT price rises alongside rising open interest, it signals strong bullish momentum. It shows high-conviction, aggressive bullish breakout driven by explosive leveraged demand.


Is It Too Late to Buy HNT?

That squeeze is already cooling, as HNT peaked at $0.989 and now trades near $0.88. Forced buying has nearly stopped. Only $22,920 of bearish bets closed in the most recent hour (as of this writing), against $1.61 million across the day.

Traders watching this setup tend to treat a vertical spike in open interest as a warning rather than an entry. Positioning is stretched, and a sharp drop can trigger a chain of forced closures in the other direction.

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The signal they wait for is open interest flattening, or easing slightly, while the price holds. That combination suggests the market has accepted the higher level rather than simply leveraged into it.

Funding is the second gauge, and HNT reads in reverse of the usual case. A crowded long market shows sharply positive funding. Here it is deeply negative, so the crowd is still short and paying to stay there.

A move back toward zero would mean those bets have been closed or abandoned. The buying that came from forced closures stops at that point, and the price has to hold on ordinary demand.

One supply point favors holders, but with a caveat. Every HNT minted so far is already trading, so no locked block is waiting to vest. Issuance continues toward a 223 million cap though, with about 37 million still to come.

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Once funding returns to zero, ordinary demand must hold Helium price data alone. Anyone buying now is betting on a second squeeze, not the first.

The post Helium Price Soars 170% in One Weekend: Is It Too Late to Buy HNT Now? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Russia’s Largest Bank Wants Bitcoin and Ethereum as Collateral

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Russia’s Largest Bank Wants Bitcoin and Ethereum as Collateral

Sberbank plans to accept Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Tether (USDT) as loan collateral, deputy chairman Anatoly Popov told TASS on Friday.

Russia’s largest lender wants the coins as security, not as money. Paying with crypto in Russia remains banned when the country’s digital currency law takes effect on September 1.

A Russian company can pledge Bitcoin to a bank, but it still cannot buy a coffee with it. Popov said Sberbank prepared for the rule change early and already handles digital assets. However, he made the expansion conditional.

“We plan to accept not only Bitcoin but also Ethereum and the stablecoin Tether as collateral… after the Central Bank, of course, allows them for public circulation,” local media reported.

President Vladimir Putin signed the law on August 4. The Bank of Russia published its first approved list a week later. Only three coins cleared the screen.

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Regulators wanted size, high daily turnover, and at least 5 years of price history on foreign exchanges. Bitcoin, ether and USDT passed. Nothing else did, and the regulator is clear about the rest.

Crypto cannot be used in payments within Russia. Only exporters and importers get a carve-out for crypto payments in foreign trade.

No Rate, No Date, No Term Sheet

With the key rate standing at 14% as of August 28, money is expensive in Russia, and that number explains the demand. A miner can sell coins and lose the upside, or pledge them and pay interest.

Meanwhile, ordinary Russians will not get the option. Russia’s new crypto law caps non-qualified investors at 300,000 rubles (roughly $3,632) of crypto per year per intermediary. Corporate borrowers face no such ceiling.

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Popov disclosed no loan-to-value ratio, interest rate, or launch date. He tied everything to permissions the central bank has not yet issued.

What exists today is smaller. Sber closed a crypto-backed lending pilot in December 2025 and targets a digital depository by December 1.

Notably, however, USDT is the quiet outlier, sitting at $0.9999, while Bitcoin moves every day. One coin needs a thin haircut, the other a deep one.

If a borrower defaults, Sberbank must sell those coins inside a country where spending them is illegal.

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Real Trump Coins Refutes GOLD Token Launch, Cites ‘Bad Actors’

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Crypto Breaking News

Real Trump Coins has denied involvement in the launch of a token called “Trump Digital GOLD,” after the project briefly promoted the Solana-based asset across its online channels before the promotion disappeared.

The company said the activity was carried out by “third-party bad actors” and stated it is working with authorities to investigate. The episode comes amid scrutiny of how crypto promotions can move fast—and sometimes leave little trace—before platforms delete posts.

Key takeaways

  • Real Trump Coins says it did not authorize or promote any digital token, following short-lived advertising for “Trump Digital GOLD.”
  • Promotion originated from the Real Trump Coins X account and RealTrumpCoins.com, though the posts were deleted after going live.
  • Blockchain data cited by Lookonchain indicates extreme concentration of supply among a small number of newly created wallets.
  • Real Trump Coins’ denial has prompted confusion among observers about how both the account and its website appeared to be advertising the token.

Token promotion appears, then vanishes

According to Cointelegraph, the Real Trump Coins X account promoted “Trump Digital GOLD” on Saturday and directed users to RealTrumpCoins.com, where the token was also advertised. The promotional posts were subsequently deleted.

As the incident unfolded, the X account began linking to a different domain, TrumpCoins.com, while RealTrumpCoins.com had still displayed the GOLD promotion for at least a period afterward. Cointelegraph also reported that at the time of publication, RealTrumpCoins.com continued to show the token advertisement.

In the meantime, Real Trump Coins’ X account bio had been updated to point to TrumpCoins.com, even as some audience members saw earlier posts—including at least one referenced by the reporting—that still pushed users toward RealTrumpCoins.com as late as Aug. 25.

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Project denies authorization and cites “bad actors”

In an X post on Saturday, Real Trump Coins said it had not authorized any token launch or promotion, adding that it would not do so. The project’s statement also said it is working with authorities to investigate the matter.

That denial raises the central question for observers: whether the token promotion was the result of compromise on the project’s side, or whether there was another mechanism used to make the promotion appear affiliated with Real Trump Coins.

Concentration concerns highlighted by Lookonchain

Separate reporting and on-chain analysis framed the token as potentially suspicious based on distribution and sell activity. Lookonchain reported that the developer and newly created wallets controlled 82.45% of the token supply.

Lookonchain also said that 15 wallets tied to the team sold holdings worth about $330,000, resulting in an estimated $312,000 profit. Such concentration—paired with rapid selling by wallets linked to the launch—can be a red flag for traders because it often suggests the possibility of coordinated exits rather than broad, organic distribution.

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While tokenomics alone do not prove wrongdoing, the combination of tight control by a small set of wallets and swift monetization typically heightens investor risk, especially when promotions appear to be connected to recognizable brand accounts.

Why the account-and-domain confusion matters

The incident has drawn attention not just for the token itself, but for how branding and audience access were leveraged. Cointelegraph noted that observers were confused by the relationship between the X account and the two different domains—RealTrumpCoins.com and TrumpCoins.com—particularly after posts were deleted.

Crypto users questioned how both the social account and the website appeared to be participating in the promotion, especially given that the X account reportedly linked to TrumpCoins.com while, in later checks, RealTrumpCoins.com still displayed the GOLD advertising.

This kind of mismatch can be a warning sign for anyone dealing with brand-adjacent token launches. If a reputable or officially connected account appears compromised—or if a token promotion is run through lookalike infrastructure—the practical effect is similar: consumers may assume endorsement where none exists.

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Real Trump Coins’ continued activity and following behavior also drew notice from observers in the Cointelegraph report, including that Trump followed the Real Trump Coins X account and that the account was among a set of accounts the person followed. The significance of that detail is limited to what it implies socially, but in incidents like this it can still affect how quickly users decide whether to trust promotional content.

What to watch next

For investors and builders, the key unanswered items are whether Real Trump Coins will provide additional technical details on how the promotion occurred and what changes it will make to prevent repeat misuse. Until then, the episode underscores how quickly a token can surface alongside brand signals—and how crucial it is to verify authenticity through more than just a token’s earliest promotional footprints.

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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Strategy Bitcoin Buying May Resume After Saylor ‘We’re Back’ Signal

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Strategy Bitcoin Buying May Resume After Saylor ‘We’re Back’ Signal

Strategy’s Michael Saylor said “We’re Back” in his latest signal on X (formerly Twitter) of the company’s likely return to Bitcoin buying.

For market watchers, the post could be a strong psychological signal as Saylor has a track record of dropping cryptic weekend teasers that precede official Monday morning treasury purchase announcements.

Should that record, and community interpretation, hold true, his post points to the resumption of corporate Bitcoin accumulation following a notable summer hiatus.

To put the message in context, over the past two months, Strategy paused its regular weekly Bitcoin buying spree. Instead of expanding its crypto holdings, management pivoted toward bolstering its balance sheet. The firm focused on stabilizing its preferred stock offerings, building a $5.1 billion US dollar reserve, and introducing a dedicated $1.59 billion cash pool generated through massive common stock offerings.

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Related: Strategy’s $66B Bitcoin machine hinges on capital markets, not BTC price: Report

This strategic breather coincided with a challenging market stretch that left Strategy’s industry-biggest BTC treasury sitting deep in the red on paper. However, recent macro momentum has propelled Bitcoin past the $80,000 threshold.

Because Strategy holds more than 840,447 Bitcoin at an average cost basis hovering around $75,385, the recent price recovery has pushed the firm’s overall position back into positive territory for the first time in months.

Saylor’s “We’re Back” declaration functions on multiple levels. Operationally, it likely signals that the company is ready to deploy its considerable dry powder back into the asset class it champions. Psychologically, it marks a triumphant return to profitability and a renewed offensive for the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin treasury.

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Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

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Elon Musk Backs the Physics Behind a Claim Quantum Computers Can't Break Bitcoin

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Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

Elon Musk has backed a fringe physics theory that says quantum computers can only grow so big. Crypto traders turned his five word reply into proof that Bitcoin (BTC) is already safe from them.

But it is not proof. The theory comes from Oxford physicist Tim Palmer, predicting that quantum machines stall somewhere between 200 and 400 qubits.

What Musk Actually Said

Musk was not talking about Bitcoin. On August 29, he replied to an Institute of Art and Ideas post about Palmer’s work.

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He agreed the universe comes in fixed chunks. He said nothing about private keys or Bitcoin’s quantum problem. Investor Fred Krueger cited him a day later anyway, under the headline that Bitcoin is already quantum-safe.

“Bitcoin may already be quantum-safe…The latest estimates require at least 835 logical qubits to break Bitcoin’s signatures with Shor’s algorithm…Elon Musk and Steve Jurvetson have commented positively on this research,” he said.

The Physicist Behind the Theory

Palmer’s credentials are real, though they sit outside this field. He is a Royal Society fellow, elected in 2003, and spent his career building weather forecasting models at Oxford.

His paper ran in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in March. It argues nature contains no smooth continuum, so entanglement eventually hits a wall.

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Palmer puts that wall at 200 to 400 qubits on current hardware, and says it will never pass 1,000. Ordinary quantum theory sets no such limit, which leaves him in a minority until a machine proves him right.

The Gap Nobody Can Close Yet

Cracking Bitcoin’s signatures takes an estimated 835 logical qubits. A July study by Han Luo and colleagues cut that from earlier figures of 1,098 and 1,175. Those shrinking qubit estimates are the part worth watching.

The hardware is nowhere near either number. IBM plans a machine with 200 logical qubits by 2029. That would test Palmer’s floor. It would not touch Bitcoin.

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Bitcoin’s price action has ignored the argument, with BTC near $78,449 after a 1.17% daily gain.

Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto
Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

Developers are not waiting for physics either, and a post-quantum migration proposal is already circulating. The real test arrives around 2029.

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Crypto Lost $3.63B to Exploits Since 2025: 60% of Hit Platforms Had Been Audited (CoinGecko)

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Crypto platforms have lost more than $3.63 billion to security incidents between January 2025 and July 2026. CoinGecko documented 245 attacks during the period.

The 10 largest incidents accounted for more than 72.5% of the total amount stolen, demonstrating that a relatively small number of major breaches drove most of the losses. Infrastructure and supply-chain vulnerabilities were the biggest sources of damage across both centralized exchanges and decentralized exchanges. Combined losses exceeded $1.8 billion.

Most Attacked Platforms Had Been Audited

Security failures involving Bybit and KelpDAO were notable examples. CoinGecko also found that the main weaknesses differ depending on how platforms are built.

For centralized exchanges, compromised private keys remained the most common point of failure, while decentralized applications lost $546 million through sophisticated smart contract exploits. Both centralized and decentralized platforms, however, remain exposed to oracle and market manipulation, with errors in internal mechanisms causing major losses for platforms including Bitget, Binance and Hyperliquid.

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Upon examining the role of security checks, the report found that having an independent audit did not prevent many of the incidents. Of the 245 attacks recorded since early 2025, 147 involved protocols that had undergone audits before they were compromised. In fact, these audited platforms accounted for over 88% of the total capital drained during the 19-month period.

Conventional audits often do not cover the areas exploited in major attacks. Many incidents involved external infrastructure, unaudited code changes, or systemic features that were manipulated through governance attacks. Only about 11% of the incidents involving audited platforms were linked to smart contract vulnerabilities that fell within the audit scope, although those flaws still caused $396 million in losses.

CEXes generally do not use the same audit model as decentralized protocols and instead rely on compliance measures and financial attestations such as Proof-of-Reserve. However, CoinGecko said that such safeguards provide limited protection against social engineering and severe private-key security failures.

Crypto Insurance Is Shrinking

Even as exploits increased, active coverage across leading crypto insurance protocols has declined 20.2%, falling from $163.2 million to $130.2 million. Cumulative payouts have remained largely unchanged at $33 million. The report said high risks in the sector may have discouraged users from supplying capital or buying coverage at higher premium prices.

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Crypto insurance can also have a narrow scope, as claims are often limited to verified smart contract exploits or infrastructure failures. Losses linked to human error, compromised private keys, or market volatility may not qualify.

As of August 2026, five of nine on-chain insurance protocols had become inactive or moved to other segments.

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Sber Considers USDT Lending as Digital Ruble Demand Comes Under Scrutiny

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Crypto Breaking News

Russia’s largest bank, Sber, is preparing to widen its crypto-backed lending by allowing additional collateral types, including Tether’s USDt stablecoin and Ether, alongside Bitcoin. The expansion is expected to roll out as Russia’s new regulated crypto market framework takes effect and the central bank authorizes which assets may be traded on regulated venues.

In a report carried by TASS, Sber deputy chairman Anatoly Popov said the bank will adjust its existing lending products and expand them gradually once the regulatory conditions are met. Specifically, Sber plans to add USDt and Ether as collateral after the Bank of Russia permits these assets for public exchange trading.

Key takeaways

  • Sber plans to accept Tether’s USDt and Ether as collateral for crypto-backed lending, in addition to Bitcoin.
  • The timing depends on Bank of Russia authorization for USDt and Ether to trade on regulated exchanges.
  • Russia’s regulated crypto framework is tied to provisions taking effect Sept. 1, following a law signed by Vladimir Putin on Aug. 4.
  • The move signals increased institutional use of major crypto assets in Russia’s banking sector under regulation.
  • Sber leadership has been more cautious about demand for the digital ruble than for broader crypto-linked services.

How Sber’s collateral plan fits Russia’s regulated crypto rollout

Russia’s approach to digital assets is moving toward a more structured market, with the Bank of Russia playing a central role in determining which cryptocurrencies can be traded on regulated exchanges. The law signed by President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 4 establishes the framework for regulated crypto activity, with core provisions scheduled to begin on Sept. 1.

According to TASS, Popov said Sber will “adapt its existing products” and extend their scope over time as the new rules come into force. The practical hinge is the Bank of Russia’s permission for specific assets to be listed for public trading on regulated platforms—once those approvals are granted, Sber intends to allow those same assets to be used as lending collateral.

This matters for borrowers and lenders because collateral eligibility can directly affect borrowing availability, loan terms, and the range of customers a bank can serve. If USDt and Ether are treated as eligible assets, Sber would be able to support a broader set of market participants than a Bitcoin-only model.

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Bank of Russia’s exchange-eligibility criteria and the proposed asset list

The Bank of Russia’s regulatory work is focused on which crypto assets qualify for trading on regulated exchanges. Cointelegraph previously reported that the central bank proposed Bitcoin, Ether, and USDT (Tether’s token) for regulated exchange trading on Aug. 11. That proposal was said to include requirements such as market capitalization, trading volume, and a minimum of five years of price history on overseas markets.

While Sber’s lending plan is framed conditionally—collateral will be added after the Bank of Russia permits these assets—Sber’s readiness to expand suggests the bank is tracking the central bank’s evaluation closely. For market participants, the key question is not whether these assets are being discussed, but whether they ultimately receive authorization for regulated exchange trading under the final rubric.

If the approvals proceed as outlined in earlier proposals, it would create a clearer pipeline from regulated trading eligibility to mainstream institutional credit use, potentially reducing friction for clients who want to borrow against widely used crypto assets.

Bitcoin-first, then stablecoins and Ether: what changes for borrowers

Sber’s stated direction is incremental rather than abrupt: the bank will “gradually” expand its offerings as the legal framework takes effect. The inclusion of both a major stablecoin and Ether is notable because it would diversify collateral beyond a single volatile asset and—at least in principle—offer alternative risk profiles to borrowers.

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Stablecoins like USDt are often treated by institutions as a more operationally convenient collateral type than assets that swing sharply with market conditions, though the exact risk treatment depends on the lender’s internal models and haircuts. Ether as collateral can similarly broaden access for users who hold or transact in DeFi- and smart-contract ecosystems.

In practical terms, adding USDt and Ether could also improve Sber’s ability to match lending demand with collateral supply among different customer groups—especially as Russia’s regulated crypto environment develops and more participants look to use compliant on-ramps and trading channels.

Sber’s separate stance on the digital ruble

Beyond crypto-backed lending, Sber’s leadership has also spoken about Russia’s central bank digital currency, the digital ruble. TASS reported that Sber’s chief financial officer Taras Skvortsov expressed skepticism about broad demand ahead of a wider rollout on Sept. 1.

Skvortsov reportedly said there was “little evidence of broad demand” for the digital ruble, arguing that there was no clear push from retail, corporate clients, or financial institutions. TASS further attributes the view to a lack of active interest beyond the central bank’s own role.

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That contrast—cautious posture toward the CBDC while planning expansion of crypto-collateral lending—highlights the different adoption dynamics each instrument may face. While the digital ruble is designed as a regulated form of central bank money, Sber appears to be focusing on expanding services around crypto assets that already have established market behavior and (potentially, once authorized) clearer exchange rules.

For observers, the tension is worth watching: Russia’s financial system may see more immediate institutional utility from crypto assets (under regulation) than from CBDC adoption, depending on user demand, product usefulness, and how operational workflows fit into banks’ offerings.

What to watch next

Investors and market participants should closely monitor whether the Bank of Russia’s authorization process leads to USDt and Ether being approved for regulated exchange trading—because Sber’s ability to accept those assets as collateral depends directly on that decision. With core provisions of the crypto law set to begin on Sept. 1, the next key developments are the central bank’s final determinations and how quickly major banks translate regulatory eligibility into new lending terms.

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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Cronos Blockchain Stops After Reported $75 Million Hack Attempt

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Cronos (CRO) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

Cronos stopped its entire blockchain on Sunday after an attacker drained Tectonic, the biggest lending protocol on the network. Crypto.com said its own app and exchange were never touched.

Most of the money never left the chain before validators pulled the plug, likely explaining why the CRO token price remained unaffected, surging nearly 5%.

Cronos (CRO) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto
Cronos (CRO) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto

How Cronos, Tectonic, and Crypto.com Fit Together

These are names, representing three different things. Crypto.com built Cronos, an Ethereum-style chain, and issues the CRO token securing it.

Tectonic is not Crypto.com’s code. It launched in December 2021 out of the Cronos Labs incubator and runs independently.

That makes the Crypto.com reassurance true but narrow. The exchange was never exposed. Tectonic depositors are another matter.

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Tectonic was still almost the whole lending market on Cronos. It held about $121.6 million, or 46% of all DeFi value on the chain, DefiLlama data shows. The next biggest lender holds about $30,000.

What the Companies Confirmed

Cronos Network said it found the exploit and halted block production. Tectonic warned depositors to stay away.

Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek said the app and exchange ran normally, with a postmortem to follow.

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Nobody has said whether Tectonic depositors will be repaid.

Why This Tectonic Exploit Could End Differently

Researcher Weilin Li put the drain at roughly $75 million. Only about $6 million reached Ethereum before the freeze, Li said. Some $60 million sits stranded on Cronos. That is about 91% of the haul, going nowhere.

Treat those numbers as provisional, as nothing is confirmed until the postmortem lands.

Compare the $8.7 million Moonwell exploit three days earlier. Base kept producing blocks. The money walked.

Cronos could stop because of how it is built. It runs on Tendermint with a cap of 100 validators, making a coordinated pause realistic.

There is also precedent. A bridge exploit minted $570 million on BNB Chain in October 2022. Within five hours, 26 validators paused the network and recovered close to $470 million.

The trade-off is the one raised by the Linea chain halt debate. A chain somebody can switch off is also a chain that can claw money back. Same property, judged twice.

Validators now pick. Roll back, blacklist the attacker, or restart untouched. That decides whether the tentative $60 million comes home.

The post Cronos Blockchain Stops After Reported $75 Million Hack Attempt appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is BTC Entering a Consolidation Phase After Its Explosive Rally?

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Bitcoin’s powerful breakout has lost some of its initial momentum after reaching the $80K region. With both spot price action and futures activity showing reduced conviction, BTC appears increasingly likely to enter a choppy consolidation phase before establishing its next major directional move.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart

Bitcoin’s daily structure remains substantially stronger following the impulsive breakout from the $64K-$65K region. The rally pushed the price above both major moving averages shown on the chart and decisively cleared the $65.9K-$67.1K and $72K-$74.4K resistance zones.

However, bullish momentum has faded after BTC reached the major $80.5K-$82.5K supply zone. Several recent candles show hesitation beneath this area, with Bitcoin currently hovering above $78K. This suggests that buyers have not yet generated enough follow-through to force another decisive expansion.

The broader structure remains bullish while BTC stays above the reclaimed $72K-$74.4K zone, but the immediate outlook appears more neutral. Continued weakness in momentum could result in sideways and volatile price action between this support area and the $80.5K-$82.5K resistance zone.

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A decisive break above $82.5K would favor bullish continuation. Conversely, losing the $72K-$74.4K region would represent a more meaningful deterioration in the post-breakout structure.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart

The 4-hour timeframe provides a clearer indication that short-term momentum is weakening. Following the initial surge, Bitcoin formed a rising channel beneath the $80K-$82K resistance area. The asset has now broken below the channel’s lower boundary, interrupting the sequence of higher lows.

Despite this breakdown, BTC has not accelerated significantly lower and is instead stabilizing around $77K-$78K. This lack of bearish follow-through reinforces the possibility of choppy consolidation rather than an immediate large correction.

For buyers to regain short-term control, Bitcoin would need to reclaim the broken channel and push back through the $80K region. Until that occurs, the recent highs around $80K-$82K remain the primary resistance zone.

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On the downside, the $72K-$74.4K area represents the most important nearby support. With momentum fading on both sides, BTC could continue fluctuating between these broader boundaries while the market searches for sufficient liquidity to establish its next trend.

Sentiment Analysis

The Bitcoin Futures Average Order Size chart supports the lack-of-momentum scenario. The metric categorizes futures activity according to the relative size of orders, providing insight into whether whales, smaller participants, or more ordinary flows are dominating trading.

The latest readings are predominantly classified as normal orders, with no sustained cluster of large whale activity visible at the end of the chart. This indicates that major futures participants are not showing particularly strong directional conviction despite Bitcoin trading near $78K.

Combined with the hesitation visible in spot price action, the absence of notable large futures orders suggests participation is currently insufficient to support another highly impulsive move. Neither aggressive demand nor overwhelming supply appears dominant.

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As a result, Bitcoin may remain vulnerable to low-momentum, volatile consolidation in the short term. A renewed concentration of large whale orders alongside a breakout from the current spot range would provide a stronger indication that directional momentum is returning.

The post Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is BTC Entering a Consolidation Phase After Its Explosive Rally? appeared first on CryptoPotato.

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