The SEC and FDA signed a three-year cooperation agreement on Aug. 31 that gives the agencies formal channels for exchanging nonpublic information about regulated products, public companies and potential legal violations.

The MOU allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to use information obtained from the Food and Drug Administration during company filing reviews, enforcement investigations, administrative proceedings and civil actions.

The agreement takes effect immediately. It does not announce an investigation, new disclosure rule or enforcement case against any company. It instead creates procedures that could help the agencies compare corporate statements with information held by the FDA.

SEC and FDA cooperation targets conflicting disclosures

Public biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare companies frequently release information about clinical trials, FDA submissions, regulatory reviews and product approvals. Those announcements can move stock prices because they affect a product’s commercial prospects.

The SEC reviews whether public companies provide complete and accurate information to investors. The FDA separately receives regulatory submissions, trial information and safety data that may not yet be public. Better coordination could help the SEC identify inconsistencies between corporate disclosures and regulatory records.

The MOU specifically mentions representations about FDA reviews, product approvals and clinical trial results. The agencies said their cooperation is “expected to bolster informed decision-making” and improve oversight, but the agreement does not guarantee more enforcement cases.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said FDA-related disclosures can materially affect financial markets. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said faster information sharing should improve transparency across the life sciences sector while protecting patients and public trust.

Nonpublic records will receive confidentiality safeguards

Each agency will establish a mechanism for receiving information requests and transferring nonpublic material securely. Requests must describe the information sought, explain its intended use and carry authorization from the requesting office.

The SEC will appoint contacts from its Division of Enforcement and Division of Corporation Finance. The FDA will appoint contacts from its Office of the Chief Counsel and Office of Inspections and Investigations. The FDA chief counsel’s office will also lead referrals involving potential securities violations.

The MOU permits the FDA to share records that may otherwise be exempt from public disclosure, subject to federal restrictions covering trade secrets and confidential commercial information. The SEC cannot provide FDA information to an outside party without written FDA permission.

Likewise, the FDA must give confidentiality assurances before receiving nonpublic SEC records. Shared information does not become public merely because it passes between the agencies, and the exchange does not waive legal privileges.

The agreement does not cover requests for public records, subpoenas or testimony. It only applies to requests submitted after its Aug. 31 effective date.

The agreement strengthens an existing enforcement tool

The MOU does not give either regulator new statutory powers. Instead, it organizes how the agencies use their existing authority and establishes designated contacts to reduce delays when information is needed.

For the SEC, the most direct use may involve checking statements in earnings releases, securities filings or investor presentations against FDA records. If those statements appear materially false or incomplete, the information could support further questions, a filing review or an enforcement investigation.

The same disclosure principle remains relevant across the SEC’s wider jurisdiction. As crypto.news reported, the SEC’s proposed crypto offering exemptions retain antifraud liability when issuers make materially misleading statements, even if an offering does not require full registration.

Interagency information sharing also appears elsewhere in financial oversight. In related coverage, the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission maintain an information-sharing arrangement covering private fund data, reducing the need for duplicate reporting while preserving regulatory access.

Both agencies can modify or end the MOU

The SEC and FDA may extend or modify the agreement through mutual written consent. Either agency may terminate it by providing 30 days’ advance notice.

Implementation remains subject to available staff, funding and other resources. The document states that it represents the agencies’ intentions and does not create legally enforceable obligations against either regulator.

The next step is operational. Both agencies must maintain designated contacts and may develop standard procedures and templates for handling nonpublic information requests. No separate implementation deadline was announced.

The MOU will expire in August 2029 unless the agencies extend it. Until then, its practical reach will depend on how frequently regulators use the new channels during filing reviews and investigations.

US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs rebounded on Monday, shifting back to net inflows after two sessions of withdrawals, with inflows concentrated heavily in BlackRock’s iShares product. At the same time, spot Ether, XRP and Solana ETFs all continued adding new capital, extending their recent run of positive sessions.

SoSoValue data shows US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $216.7 million in net inflows on Monday, reversing $201.8 million in withdrawals logged on Friday. The prior outflow day ended a nine-session streak that brought more than $3 billion into the complex, according to Cointelegraph’s earlier coverage. Bitcoin was trading near $78,700 at the time of writing, up roughly 1.5% over 24 hours, according to CoinGecko.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin ETF inflows returned: US spot Bitcoin ETFs added $216.7 million net on Monday after $201.8 million in Friday outflows.
• BlackRock dominated the rebound: iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) accounted for about 95% of daily inflows, with $205.9 million net.
• Ether ETFs kept streak alive: Spot Ether ETFs posted $87.7 million net inflows, extending to 11 consecutive sessions.
• XRP and Solana stayed positive: XRP ETFs reached 10 consecutive inflow sessions, while Solana ETFs logged their 10th consecutive positive day.

BlackRock leads the Bitcoin ETF rebound

Monday’s reversal was driven almost entirely by BlackRock. Farside Investors data indicates iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) generated $205.9 million in net inflows, representing roughly 95% of the category’s total daily inflows.

Other issuers still contributed, though at a much smaller scale. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) added $6.9 million, Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF (BITB) brought in $4.3 million, and Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin Trust recorded $3.6 million in net inflows. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust attracted $9.4 million.

Despite the broad positive shift, not every product participated in the rebound. VanEck’s Bitcoin ETF (HODL) was the lone fund to report net withdrawals, with $13.4 million outflows on the day. The remaining funds recorded no net flows.

For investors, the concentration of Monday’s inflows matters because it highlights how day-to-day changes in the US spot Bitcoin ETF complex can be heavily influenced by a single issuer’s flows rather than by uniform demand across the market. That dynamic can affect how quickly sentiment translates into measurable net purchases.

Ether ETFs extend an 11-session inflow streak

Spot Ether ETFs continued building on their recent momentum, recording $87.7 million in net inflows on Monday. According to Farside, this marked the 11th consecutive trading session with net inflows.

BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) led with $59.9 million. Grayscale’s Ethereum Mini Trust followed with $13.5 million, while Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund added $9.3 million.

The steady pattern of inflows suggests persistent allocator interest in regulated ether exposure rather than a one-off move tied to a single market catalyst. Traders may still watch for any sudden turn in the flow data, but the multi-week streak indicates demand has been sustained through multiple trading cycles.

XRP ETFs hit 10 straight inflow days

XRP ETFs also extended a streak of positive sessions. SoSoValue data shows the category recorded $5.64 million in net inflows on Monday, keeping the count at 10 consecutive trading sessions.

SoSoValue adds that XRP ETFs have seen capital inflows during every US trading session since Aug. 18. That kind of uninterrupted run is notable because it implies consistent participation across days, rather than intermittent buys followed by pauses.

While daily inflow totals for XRP remain far smaller than for Bitcoin or Ether in absolute terms, the consistency can still be meaningful for market structure—especially for funds that are still establishing longer-term investor habits.

Solana ETFs stay in positive territory, but inflows cooled

Solana ETFs continued their own stretch of gains, posting a 10th consecutive positive session. SoSoValue reports Monday’s inflows totaled $925,010, bringing the category’s weakest daily inflow so far during its current run.

The contrast is stark when compared with Friday’s higher number. The source notes that daily inflows slowed to $925,010 on Monday from $18.1 million on Friday.

That shift raises an important nuance for readers: while the category remains net positive, the pace of buying is not accelerating in tandem. For traders, decelerating inflows during an otherwise positive streak can sometimes be an early signal that momentum is cooling, even if it hasn’t turned into sustained outflows yet.

With Bitcoin ETFs returning to net inflows and Ether, XRP, and Solana all maintaining positive streaks, the next thing to watch is whether Monday’s rebound sustains across subsequent sessions—particularly whether BlackRock continues to account for a similar share of inflows or if demand broadens across other Bitcoin funds.

OpenSea has added Solana NFT trading to its marketplace, allowing users to discover, buy and sell collections from the network alongside assets from more than 25 supported blockchains.

The digital asset marketplace said in an Aug. 31 announcement that the integration covers Solana-based collections including Claynosaurz, Mad Lads, Collector Crypt and Phygitals, extending its existing support for fungible tokens on the network.

OpenSea brings Solana NFTs into its multi-chain marketplace

Collectors can now browse and trade supported Solana NFTs using OpenSea without moving to a separate marketplace or changing their existing setup, according to the company. For creators on Solana, the integration provides another marketplace through which their collections can reach users outside platforms focused primarily on the network.

OpenSea co-founder and CEO Devin Finzer said the company wants its marketplace to serve collectors regardless of which blockchain their assets use.

“OpenSea should be the home for everything you collect, no matter which chain it lives on,” Finzer said. “Solana NFTs are now available right alongside its tokens on OpenSea. No switching wallets, no hunting across marketplaces, the whole ecosystem in one place.”

The rollout brings collections including Claynosaurz and Mad Lads directly into OpenSea. Mad Lads, created by Backpack and launched in April 2023, consists of close to 10,000 NFTs and has developed into one of the more established collections in the Solana ecosystem. Claynosaurz launched in November 2022 around a collection of clay-styled dinosaur characters and has since expanded into animation, gaming, merchandise and other digital collectibles.

Solana joins more than 25 networks supported by OpenSea, which now combines NFT trading, fungible token trading, cross-chain swaps and portfolio management through the same platform. The company said its marketplace has processed billions of dollars in transaction volume since launch.

The latest rollout effectively restores a product OpenSea first experimented with more than four years ago. OpenSea introduced Solana NFT support in beta in April 2022, initially covering a limited number of collections, but the product failed to gain the same traction as Solana-focused competitors.

Crypto.news covered the original Solana integration in 2022, when OpenSea began listing Solana collections and supporting wallets from the network.

Solana support follows OpenSea’s OS2 expansion

The new NFT integration comes after OpenSea rebuilt its marketplace around a multi-chain strategy that extends beyond digital collectibles.

Its OS2 platform, released from beta in May 2025, introduced trading for fungible and non-fungible tokens and removed the need for users to manually bridge or swap assets for some cross-chain transactions. OpenSea recorded 467,322 monthly active addresses in May 2025 following the launch, up 44% from the previous month, although monthly trading volume remained at $81 million.

OpenSea later acquired Rally Wallet in July 2025 as part of its push into mobile and token trading. Rally was designed as a mobile-first wallet for managing NFTs and fungible tokens, with plans to integrate the product into OpenSea’s services.

Solana fungible tokens returned to OpenSea through OS2 before the latest NFT rollout. The Aug. 31 announcement now places the network’s collectibles beside tokens already available through the marketplace.

OpenSea has continued adding products outside its original NFT business. In June, the company signaled plans to offer perpetual futures, with Product Marketing Lead Zack Brenner asking users about early access to the product.

When asked whether the planned contracts would use Hyperliquid infrastructure, Brenner responded “YES,” though OpenSea had not provided a launch date, complete list of assets or user terms at the time. The proposed Hyperliquid-powered perpetuals would expand a platform already combining NFTs, tokens and cross-chain trading.

OpenSea’s SEA token remains delayed

OpenSea’s product expansion has continued while its planned SEA token remains on hold.

The marketplace delayed the SEA token in March 2026, with Finzer citing challenging market conditions and declining to provide another launch date.

SEA was introduced in February 2025 and had been expected to play a role in OpenSea’s plan to build what the company described as a “trade everything” application combining NFT trading with fungible tokens and other crypto products.

Plans previously disclosed for SEA included utility and governance functions, discounted trading fees, staking tied to NFT collections and participation in platform decisions. OpenSea had initially targeted a March 30 rollout before postponing the event.

The delay came during a weak period for NFT trading. OpenSea’s monthly NFT volume had fallen below $500 million by March, compared with levels reached during the 2021 and 2022 NFT cycle, while total NFT market capitalization had dropped by more than half from mid-January levels, according to data cited by crypto.news at the time.

OpenSea continued its Waves rewards program following the postponement, while users who participated in Waves 3 through 6 were given the option to claim refunds on platform fees if they forfeited their Treasure Chest rewards. Finzer said the company planned a separate event focused on product updates in the following months.

Solana remains a key market for NFT platforms

Solana has retained a dedicated NFT marketplace ecosystem while competing platforms have changed their multi-chain strategies.

Magic Eden, which built its early business around Solana NFTs, moved in the opposite direction from OpenSea earlier this year by closing its Bitcoin and Ethereum Virtual Machine-based NFT marketplaces. The company kept support for Solana assets as it concentrated resources on the network where much of its historical trading activity originated.

The Magic Eden restructuring included plans to wind down its Bitcoin and EVM marketplaces in March 2026 and discontinue its multi-chain wallet, while Solana NFT support continued.

OpenSea’s latest integration places the two marketplaces on overlapping ground again. Their competition on Solana dates back to OpenSea’s first attempt to enter the network’s NFT market in 2022, when Magic Eden had already established a strong position among Solana collectors.

For its Aug. 31 rollout, OpenSea said the addition of Solana connects creators and collectors from the network with its existing multi-chain user base. The company identified Claynosaurz, Mad Lads, Collector Crypt and Phygitals among the collections available at launch, with support beginning Aug. 31.

DeFi Development Corp. has priced its Variable Rate Series C Perpetual Preferred Stock offering at $9 per share, according to an updated prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Solana treasury company plans to sell 2.2 million shares of the preferred security, known as CHAD Stock. The offering would produce $19.8 million in gross proceeds before underwriting commissions and other expenses.

That updates the company’s Aug. 31 announcement, which described a proposed offering of up to $20 million without disclosing the final share count or offering price.

R.F. Lafferty & Co. is the sole book-running manager. The underwriter received a 30-day option to acquire another 330,000 shares at the public offering price, minus commissions.

Full exercise of that option would increase the offering to 2.53 million shares and produce up to $22.77 million in gross proceeds.

CHAD Stock offers a 13% initial dividend

Each CHAD share has a $10 stated amount and an initial liquidation preference of $10. However, investors participating in the offering will pay $9 per share.

The initial annual dividend rate is 13%, calculated against the $10 stated amount. That represents $1.30 in annual dividends per share if the initial rate remains unchanged.

At the $9 offering price, the initial rate corresponds to an effective annual yield of approximately 14.44%. That calculation is based on the starting dividend and does not guarantee investors will receive that yield continuously.

The dividend is variable. DeFi Development’s board may review and adjust the rate at least monthly based on interest rates, CHAD’s trading price, comparable yields, liquidity needs and other factors.

The company can reduce the rate, although the prospectus limits a monthly reduction to 50 basis points from the preceding month. The filing warns that management could eventually set a rate below comparable securities.

The first dividend is scheduled for Oct. 1 and will cover the period from issuance through Sept. 30. After that payment, dividends will become payable on each business day, but only “when, as and if declared” by the board and when legally available funds exist.

A dividend reserve covers the first year at 13%

DeFi Development intends to place $1.30 per issued share into a separate dividend account when the offering closes. For 2.2 million shares, that would create an initial reserve of approximately $2.86 million.

The reserve represents 12 months of payments calculated at the initial 13% rate. DeFi Development said it would fund the account using existing cash, financial instruments or digital assets rather than relying solely on offering proceeds.

However, the prospectus says the company is not contractually required to increase the reserve if the dividend rises above 13% or if more CHAD shares are issued later.

Assets in the account could also remain available to creditors during insolvency or bankruptcy. The reserve therefore provides a designated funding source but does not constitute an independent guarantee.

CHAD is perpetual and has no maturity date. Holders generally cannot demand repayment except after certain qualifying corporate events. The shares also carry limited voting rights and rank below the company’s present and future debt.

DeFi Development can redeem CHAD at $11 per share, plus accumulated unpaid dividends, after the security becomes listed on Nasdaq. Separate redemption provisions apply after a tax event or when outstanding shares fall below 25% of all CHAD shares historically issued.

DeFi Development may use proceeds to acquire SOL

The company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes. Potential allocations include working capital, Solana purchases, other digital asset investments, acquisitions and strategic initiatives.

No fixed portion has been assigned to SOL. Investors therefore should not treat the full $19.8 million as a confirmed Solana purchase.

DeFi Development recently acquired approximately 19,000 SOL at an average price of $98.14. As previously reported, the purchase expanded its treasury to roughly 2.33 million SOL and SOL-equivalent assets.

The company has not provided a current breakdown separating native SOL from liquid staking tokens and other SOL-denominated positions. It stakes assets through its own and external validators to earn network rewards and fees.

The SEC filing warns that proceeds invested in SOL would remain exposed to price volatility. It also states that management has broad discretion and may allocate the money differently from its current plans.

CHAD seeks a Nasdaq listing as DFDV gains

DeFi Development has applied to list the preferred stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker CHAD. Trading is expected to begin after initial issuance, although Nasdaq approval remains pending.

The company also intends to establish an at-the-market program for additional CHAD sales following the listing. Terms have not been finalized, and further issuance could dilute existing holders’ rights or weigh on the security’s market price.

DFDV common stock closed Aug. 31 at approximately $5.38, up 7.8% during the session. The CHAD announcement arrived at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time, after regular trading ended, so the daytime increase cannot be attributed to the offering.

The stock opened near $4.90 and traded between approximately $4.84 and $5.52. A verified regular-session reaction to the final CHAD terms will only become available after U.S. markets reopen.

The next confirmed events will be the offering’s closing, Nasdaq’s listing decision and the first dividend payment on Oct. 1. Any subsequent SOL acquisition will require a separate company disclosure before it can be treated as completed.

The U.S. Marshals Service sold Anthropic shares forfeited by former FTX executives Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh during 2025, according to an Aug. 31 Business Insider report citing a person familiar with the transaction.

Ellison and Singh purchased the shares for a combined $50 million during Anthropic’s 2022 Series B financing. Singh invested $40 million, while Ellison invested $10 million.

Federal courts later transferred their ownership interests to the U.S. government through criminal forfeiture proceedings connected to the FTX fraud case. However, the Marshals Service has not publicly confirmed the sale, identified the buyers or disclosed how much the government received.

Federal courts transferred the Anthropic shares in 2025

Ellison and Singh pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising from the collapse of FTX and Alameda Research. Both cooperated with prosecutors and testified against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Bankman-Fried was convicted of fraud and money laundering in November 2023. A federal judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

Ellison served as chief executive of Alameda, while Singh worked as FTX’s engineering director. Their sentencing arrangements required them to forfeit assets, including their personal Anthropic holdings.

A court order finalized Ellison’s forfeiture in February 2025. The order identified Series B preferred shares acquired through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity purchased for $10 million in March 2022.

The government reportedly obtained Singh’s shares through a separate final order in April 2025. His attorney said during sentencing that Singh had purchased the shares before participating in the criminal conspiracy and “may have had a legitimate legal claim” to them.

Singh nevertheless surrendered the shares under his plea arrangement. His attorney told Business Insider that Singh wanted the sale proceeds distributed to FTX victims quickly.

U.S. Marshals reportedly sold to existing investors

Business Insider reported that the Marshals Service sold the combined holdings to existing Anthropic investors sometime during 2025. The publication attributed the information to one person with knowledge of the sale.

That account has not been independently confirmed through a Marshals Service announcement, public auction record or court filing identifying the purchasers.

The precise sale date remains unknown. The buyers, number of shares, transaction structure and price were also not disclosed.

The timing matters because Anthropic completed several funding rounds at rapidly increasing valuations. The company was valued at $61.5 billion in March 2025 before reaching $380 billion during another round in early 2026.

Anthropic announced a $65 billion Series H financing in May 2026 at a $965 billion post-money valuation. The company said its annualized revenue had exceeded $47 billion before the financing.

UCLA professor Olav Sorenson estimated that the shares may have been worth between $300 million and $1.1 billion when the government sold them, depending on the transaction date. PitchBook analyst Harrison Rolfes provided a lower estimated range of $250 million to $630 million.

These figures are outside estimates. Neither the Marshals Service nor Anthropic has confirmed the sale valuation.

Current $5B estimates do not show the sale proceeds

Based on Anthropic’s May valuation, Sorenson estimated that Ellison and Singh’s former holdings could now be worth between $4.17 billion and $5.03 billion. Rolfes estimated a current value of approximately $2.62 billion.

The wide range reflects uncertainty about dilution, security terms and the precise number of shares obtained through the original investments. Private-company shares can also carry transfer restrictions and different rights from shares issued in later rounds.

A reported secondary-market valuation of $1.5 trillion would produce an even higher theoretical value. However, secondary indications involving a limited number of shares do not necessarily represent the price available for the entire company or a large block of restricted stock.

Comparing those estimates with the original $50 million investment does not measure a confirmed government loss. The government acquired the shares through forfeiture without paying their original purchase price.

It is also unknown whether the Marshals Service could legally or practically have held the private shares through later financing rounds. Its complex-assets unit generally seeks to liquidate forfeited property while preserving recoverable value rather than operating as a long-term venture investor.

The sale is separate from the FTX bankruptcy estate’s liquidation of Bankman-Fried’s Anthropic investment. As crypto.news previously reported, the FTX estate sold its remaining Anthropic shares for $452 million in June 2024.

Together with an earlier transaction, the bankruptcy estate received approximately $1.3 billion from Anthropic shares originally purchased for $500 million.

FTX victims have not received identified sale proceeds

Prosecutors said during Ellison’s sentencing that forfeited assets could be returned to victims through remission. Unlike court-ordered restitution, remission is administered by the Justice Department.

The large number of potential FTX victims made an individual restitution process impractical, according to court filings. Prosecutors discussed either creating a separate claims system or coordinating with the FTX bankruptcy estate, where creditors substantially overlap with fraud victims.

Business Insider found no indication that proceeds specifically attributable to Ellison’s and Singh’s Anthropic shares had reached the bankruptcy estate by the end of June 2026.

The estate reported receiving $638 million from Justice Department-controlled assets during 2025. Bankruptcy filings indicate that nearly all of that amount came from Robinhood shares previously linked to Bankman-Fried.

The estate expects approximately $400 million more from the government, including proceeds from cryptocurrencies and other investments. It has not identified the Anthropic sale as part of that expected amount.

The Marshals Service declined to discuss the transaction. A Justice Department representative said asset-sale and victim-compensation information was confidential.

The department said the matter remained ongoing and that it “prioritizes victim compensation from forfeiture.” That statement does not confirm that the Anthropic proceeds will be transferred to the FTX estate or paid through a separate remission process.

Stablecoins account for 94% of Argentina’s peso-denominated cryptocurrency trading volume, according to an a16z Crypto analysis published on Aug. 30 using market data from Artemis.

The share was the highest among the major fiat currencies tracked by Artemis. The finding suggests that many Argentines use cryptocurrency primarily to obtain digital dollars rather than to speculate on volatile tokens.

The analysis estimated that one in five Argentines uses cryptocurrency. It also cited data showing that downloads of the country’s 15 leading crypto applications increased 93% during 2024 from the previous year.

Argentina stablecoins function as digital dollars

Argentina has a long history of households saving in U.S. dollars. Banking restrictions, currency devaluations and persistent inflation have reduced confidence in the peso across several economic cycles.

Stablecoins extended that practice into digital wallets. Dollar-linked tokens such as USDT and USDC allowed users to obtain dollar exposure without holding banknotes or entering the official foreign-exchange market.

Demand accelerated after Argentina reintroduced currency controls in 2019. Individuals were eventually restricted to purchasing $200 through the official market each month, while additional eligibility rules prevented some residents from buying dollars entirely.

Stablecoins remained accessible through cryptocurrency exchanges and peer-to-peer markets. They could be purchased around the clock, transferred between wallets and used for international payments.

The 94% figure refers to trading volume involving the Argentine peso. It does not mean that stablecoins represent 94% of every cryptocurrency held by Argentine users.

Lemon’s customer data show why that distinction matters. The company’s 2024 report said Bitcoin represented more than 36% of Argentine assets held through its platform. Stablecoins accounted for approximately 27%, while pesos represented 18%.

Trading flows therefore show strong demand for dollar conversion, while wallet balances may include more Bitcoin and other assets accumulated over time.

Stablecoin use persists as inflation slows

Argentina’s monthly inflation rate reached 25.5% in December 2023. Annual inflation later climbed to 289% in April 2024, according to figures referenced by a16z.

The inflation shock coincided with greater use of USDC among Argentina-based contractors paid through Deel. The payroll company serves contractors and employers across more than 160 countries.

However, the chart published by a16z does not disclose the raw percentage of Argentine contractors receiving USDC. Both contractor payments and inflation were indexed to their January 2024 levels, showing relative changes rather than absolute adoption.

By July 2026, the indexed share of contractors paid in USDC and year-over-year inflation had each fallen to about one-fifth of their respective peaks. The similar movement suggests a relationship, but it does not prove that inflation alone caused contractors to choose or abandon stablecoins.

Official figures show that monthly inflation stood at 2.1% in July 2026, compared with 1.9% in June. Annual inflation reached 33.8%, according to Argentina’s central bank.

The decline has not eliminated cryptocurrency use. a16z reported that Lemon downloads increased during every quarter covered by its comparison, even as monthly inflation fell sharply.

That behavior supports the possibility that stablecoins are becoming embedded in payments and savings. It does not establish that usage will remain at the same level if inflation, exchange rates or regulations change.

As crypto.news previously reported, inflation above 270% drove increased Argentine interest in cryptocurrency during 2024. The newer data indicate that some activity survived after the most severe inflationary pressure eased.

Currency reforms narrowed the stablecoin premium

Argentina’s central bank removed restrictions on individual foreign-currency purchases on April 11, 2025. Residents could then buy foreign currency through official and securities markets without limits on the amount or intended use.

The policy formed part of a wider shift toward a floating exchange rate within moving bands. According to the BCRA, individuals bought $2.25 billion for foreign-asset formation during April 2025.

Before the changes, the gap between official and parallel exchange rates had exceeded 100% during parts of 2023. Stablecoins frequently traded closer to the parallel-dollar price because many residents could not obtain dollars through official channels.

That gap narrowed after the restrictions eased. a16z estimated that a digital dollar cost approximately 4% more than an official-market dollar on Aug. 28, 2026.

A smaller premium reduces the financial incentive to buy stablecoins solely to bypass currency controls. Continued usage may instead reflect convenience, access to international transfers, contractor payments and the ability to hold dollars in a mobile wallet.

Stablecoins still carry risks that physical dollars and regulated bank deposits address differently. Users depend on the issuer maintaining reserves and honoring redemptions. They may also face exchange, custody, compliance and blockchain risks.

Lemon’s disclosures state that its “digital dollars” are stablecoin virtual assets rather than legal tender or bank deposits. The balances are not protected under Argentina’s bank-deposit guarantee framework.

Different datasets measure separate forms of adoption

The figures cited by a16z come from several sources and should not be treated as one unified market measurement. Artemis tracks trading volume, Deel covers contractor payments and Lemon reports activity involving its applications and customers.

The one-in-five adoption estimate also relies on research cited from Argentina’s blockchain industry. Survey-based ownership estimates can vary according to sample selection, definitions and whether occasional users are included.

App downloads provide another incomplete measure. A download does not confirm that the person completed identity verification, funded an account or continued using the platform.

Even so, the datasets point in the same broad direction. Argentina has developed substantial demand for dollar-linked digital assets, and that demand has not disappeared after inflation declined and official dollar access improved.

The next evidence will come from transaction counts, active-wallet data, stablecoin balances and payroll figures after the exchange-rate changes have operated for a longer period.

Argentina’s regulatory approach will matter as well. Virtual-asset providers must register with the National Securities Commission, while platforms continue adapting their custody, reporting and anti-money-laundering systems.

Polymarket is reportedly raising approximately $1 billion at a $21 billion valuation, with Donald Trump Jr.-linked 1789 Capital planning to contribute about $300 million.

The Wall Street Journal reported the financing plans on Aug. 31, citing people familiar with the round. Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for 1789 Capital, separately confirmed the planned investment and valuation to The Business Times.

The transaction has not been announced as completed. The final amount, participating investors and ownership distribution could change before the round closes.

1789 Capital could invest $500M across two rounds

The planned $300 million contribution would follow approximately $200 million that 1789 Capital previously invested in Polymarket. Combined, the commitments would give the firm about $500 million of exposure based on the reported investment amounts.

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) returned to inflows on Monday, led almost entirely by BlackRock, while Ether, XRP and Solana funds continued attracting capital.

SoSoValue data showed that Bitcoin ETFs recorded $216.7 million in net inflows on Monday, reversing the $201.8 million in withdrawals recorded on Friday. 

The Friday outflows ended a nine-session run that brought more than $3 billion into the funds. Bitcoin (BTC) was trading near $78,700 at the time of writing, up about 1.5% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko. 

Meanwhile, Ether ETFs extended their inflow streak to 11 trading sessions, while XRP and Solana funds each recorded a 10th consecutive positive session.

US spot Bitcoin ETF flows. Source: SoSoValue

BlackRock accounts for 95% of Bitcoin ETF inflows

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) led Monday’s Bitcoin ETF rebound with $205.9 million in net inflows, accounting for about 95% of the category’s daily total, according to Farside Investors. 

Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) added $6.9 million, followed by the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) with $4.3 million. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin Trust added $3.6 million, while Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust attracted $9.4 million.

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VanEck’s Bitcoin ETF (HODL) was the only fund to record withdrawals, posting $13.4 million in net outflows. The remaining funds reported no flows. 

US spot Bitcoin ETF flows per fund. Source: Farside Investors 

Ether, XRP and Solana ETFs extend inflow runs

Spot Ether ETFs attracted $87.7 million on Monday, marking their 11th consecutive trading session of inflows.

BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) led with $59.9 million, followed by Grayscale’s Ethereum Mini Trust with $13.5 million and Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund with $9.3 million, according to Farside.

XRP ETFs extended their positive run to 10 sessions with $5.64 million in net inflows, according to SoSoValue. The funds have attracted capital during every US trading session since Aug. 18. 

Solana ETFs also posted a 10th consecutive positive session, though daily inflows slowed to $925,010 from $18.1 million on Friday. Monday’s figure was the category’s weakest inflow during its current run. 

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