The US Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to pay $150,000 in legal fees to settle a Coinbase lawsuit seeking internal records from the agency at the height of the Biden-era SEC crackdown on crypto. 

The agreement, filed on Wednesday, ends a two-year lawsuit between the SEC and Coinbase, in which the crypto exchange sought internal documents from the regulator to uncover evidence of “crypto by enforcement.” An internal report in 2025 revealed the SEC had deleted nearly a year of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s texts due to “avoidable” errors. 

“The agency tasked with policing corporate record-keeping somehow lost reams of its own text messages between Mr. Gensler and other officials during the most intense period of the anti-crypto campaign,” said Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal in an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, adding that the SEC will pay a $150,000 “award” and has fixed its record retention policies. 

The settlement marks another legal victory for Coinbase under the Trump administration. The SEC, under the leadership of Paul Atkins, has taken a more crypto-friendly approach and dropped several high-profile enforcement actions against crypto companies, including Coinbase, in 2025.

Related: Coinbase chief legal officer to transition to advisory role on July 31 

In February, Coinbase reached a settlement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, with the FDIC agreeing to pay $188,440 in legal fees and revising aspects of its transparency practices after a federal court found it had violated the Freedom of Information Act. 

“The years of litigation were worth it. We successfully uncovered dozens of crypto ‘pause letters’—indisputable proof of OCP2.0 and the coordinated effort to sideline the industry,” Grewal said in an X post in February. 

Grewal to transition from chief legal officer

Paul Grewal, who has served as Coinbase’s chief legal officer since 2020, is set to transition to an advisory role at the exchange starting on July 31, with Coinbase legal vice presidents Molly Abraham and Ryan VanGrack set to become general counsel and vice chair, respectively.

 Magazine: Will the crypto lobby’s $189M campaign get CLARITY over the line?

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.

A crypto-backed political action committee has spent nearly $1 million in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District Democratic primary as the industry continues directing money toward candidates it views as supportive of digital asset policy.

Protect Progress, an affiliate of the Fairshake network, reported more than $986,000 in spending tied to Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar and his challenger, Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney, according to Federal Election Commission filings published this week. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 4.

The spending includes advertising supporting Thanedar and opposing McKinney. Protect Progress took a similar approach during the 2024 election, when it spent more than $1 million supporting Thanedar before he won the Democratic primary with 54.9% of the vote. He later won the general election with 68.6%.

Thanedar has supported several crypto-related measures in Congress, including the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act. He also backed legislation aimed at promoting blockchain development. His voting record has placed him among lawmakers receiving support from crypto-aligned political groups.

McKinney has responded by making the outside spending part of his campaign message. He has not built a public record centered on digital asset policy, but he criticized the industry’s financial support for his opponent.

The crypto lobby just dumped $1.2 million into our race to try to stop our movement. They’re running attack ads against me to pay Shri back for the votes he took allowing Trump to make over $1b off crypto.

Detroit, we need to show Shri & his crypto cronies we can’t be bought. pic.twitter.com/4POkIXIFya

Advertisement

— Donavan McKinney (@DonavanMI13) July 21, 2026

McKinney also accused Thanedar of supporting legislation backed by President Donald Trump and the crypto industry. The comments came as Fairshake-linked groups continued spending in Democratic and Republican congressional contests across the country.

Crypto PAC spending grows across 2026 elections

The Michigan spending forms part of a wider campaign by crypto-backed PACs during the 2026 election cycle. As crypto.news previously reported, Public Citizen estimated in June that the crypto industry had contributed about $189 million to the election cycle, exceeding its spending during the 2024 campaign.

Fairshake and its affiliated groups, Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs, have targeted candidates from both major parties based largely on their approach to digital asset policy. Recent reports put the network’s available funds at roughly $191 million, giving the groups resources to enter additional races before the November midterms.

Fairshake-linked PACs spent more than $8 million across congressional primary contests in Maryland, New York and Utah in June. Protect Progress directed $5.5 million toward Maryland Democrat Adrian Boafo and more than $1.4 million toward New York Rep. Ritchie Torres.

Boafo later won his Democratic primary. Crypto.news reported that his victory added to a series of wins by candidates supported by crypto-funded political groups during the 2026 primary season.

Michigan race draws wider political attention

The Michigan contest has also attracted attention beyond crypto policy. Thanedar faces one of the toughest primary challenges of his congressional career, while McKinney has received support from progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

Thanedar, meanwhile, recently received endorsements from House Democratic leaders. Axios reported on July 22 that lawmakers in the party were paying close attention to the race, although some did not view a possible Thanedar defeat with the same concern seen in other contests involving progressive challengers.

Crypto-linked spending has added another issue to the campaign. Thanedar’s campaign also reportedly invested about $3.7 million in crypto-related companies and recorded losses exceeding $600,000 during the second quarter of 2026. The reported investments have received more scrutiny as Protect Progress increases its support for his reelection effort.

Fairshake affiliates target more congressional races

Protect Progress has also expanded its activity beyond Michigan. Reports citing FEC filings show the PAC spent more than $100,000 supporting Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton in Arizona’s 4th District. Stanton, who supported the CLARITY and GENIUS bills, won his July 21 Democratic primary against progressive challenger Kai Newkirk.

Meanwhile, Defend American Jobs has spent more than $65,000 supporting Republican Amanda McKinney in Washington’s 4th Congressional District, where voters will also hold their primary on Aug. 4. The seat is open after Rep. Dan Newhouse announced he would not seek reelection.

With my background in banking, I understand the importance of financial freedom and innovation. I support crypto because an America First economy must keep innovation, investment, and opportunity right here in the U.S. approx. 1 in 5 Americans own cryptocurrency. Digital assets…

— Amanda McKinney for Washington (@_AmandaMcKinney) May 14, 2026

Advertisement

The latest spending comes as opposition to crypto-funded political activity also grows. Sanders recently pledged to challenge the political influence of the crypto industry while campaigning in Minnesota. His comments focused on campaign spending rather than digital assets themselves.

AFX suffered a $24.15 million USDC loss after an attacker targeted a cross-chain bridge linked to the trading protocol on July 22.

The incident triggered an investigation by Blockaid and the Arbitrum team, while on-chain trackers followed the stolen funds to Ethereum.

The attack did not affect Arbitrum’s native bridge. AFX operates its own sovereign Layer 1 for perpetual trading but accepts USDC deposits through Arbitrum. The affected infrastructure was a third-party bridge operated by AFX rather than Arbitrum’s core bridge.

AFX bridge loses $24.15 million USDC

Blockaid said it detected the exploit at 9:30 p.m. UTC on July 22. The firm said the attack targeted a bridge operated by AFX and drained about 24.15 million USDC. An Arbiscan record shows a successful transfer of 24,150,000 USDC from the bridge contract to the recipient address at 9:30:25 p.m. UTC.

Blockaid detected an exploit at 2026-07-22 21:30 UTC targeting @AFX_XYZ, a protocol on @arbitrum. The exploit was specific to a bridge that AFX operates. Approximately 24.15M USDC has been drained thus far from the protocol.

Our team has been working with the incredible folks on… https://t.co/0Qd9ve5gPB

— Blockaid (@blockaid_) July 22, 2026

Advertisement

The security firm said it was working with the Arbitrum team to respond, contact the affected protocol and help contain the stolen funds. Based on the public updates reviewed at publication time, no recovery had been confirmed. 

AFX had also not published a verified technical postmortem explaining how the attacker gained authorization to withdraw the funds. The protocol had not announced a recovery plan.

Offchain Labs co-founder Steven Goldfeder confirmed that the suspicious transaction came from a third-party protocol. He also separated the AFX incident from Arbitrum’s own bridge infrastructure.

“We’re aware of a report of a bridge hack on Arbitrum and are investigating. We can confirm that the transaction in question originated from a third-party protocol, and the Arbitrum native bridge has not been hacked or exploited in any way,” Goldfeder said. 

He added that the team would coordinate with the third-party protocol and share more details when available.

AFX uses Arbitrum as a route for USDC deposits while running its trading system on a dedicated Layer 1. AFX describes itself as a decentralized derivatives platform built around a sovereign execution environment. A recent protocol post also said users could deposit USDC from Arbitrum before accessing its perpetual markets.

Exploiter converts stolen USDC into ETH

PeckShield said the attacker moved the stolen USDC from Arbitrum to Ethereum and converted the proceeds into 12,467.5 ETH. Lookonchain separately reported that the exploiter bought about 12,467 ETH at an average price near $1,937 per ETH after moving the funds.

The conversion moved the stolen value from a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin into Ether, exposing the holdings to ETH price movements. Security teams continued tracing the funds after the swap. At publication time, the reviewed sources did not confirm that Circle had frozen the USDC before conversion or that any of the ETH had been recovered.

The attack adds to several bridge-related security incidents this year. As crypto.news previously reported, Stake DAO closed its vsdCRV bridge after an unauthorized mint on Arbitrum in May. The project said it secured the token’s mainnet backing and contained the incident to the affected bridge.

Advertisement

Earlier in April, a larger exploit hit Kelp DAO’s LayerZero-powered bridge. Attackers drained roughly 116,500 rsETH worth about $292 million. Arbitrum later froze more than 30,000 ETH linked to that attacker after the funds moved onto Arbitrum One.

Investigation focuses on AFX-operated infrastructure

The investigation now centers on the AFX-operated bridge and the authorization process behind the 24.15 million USDC withdrawal. The confirmed transaction shows that the bridge contract finalized the transfer, but public statements do not yet establish the verified root cause. A full postmortem may determine whether the incident involved compromised validator credentials, faulty access controls or another weakness.

The main confirmed point is that the exploit affected infrastructure operated by AFX rather than Arbitrum’s native bridge. Blockaid and Offchain Labs both made that separation clear in their initial responses. The Arbitrum network continued operating, and reviewed reports showed no loss from its native bridge.

The incident also places attention on AFX’s deposit infrastructure. The protocol has promoted USDC deposits from Arbitrum as an entry route into its trading platform. Any changes to deposits, withdrawals or bridge operations will depend on the protocol’s response and the ongoing investigation.

Advertisement

The case remains developing. The confirmed loss stands at about $24.15 million in USDC, while on-chain trackers have traced the stolen value into roughly 12,467 ETH on Ethereum. Further updates are expected from AFX, Blockaid and the Arbitrum team as they review the breach and track the attacker’s funds.

BitGo and OTC Markets Group have announced a proposed partnership aimed at bringing digital asset trading and custody capabilities into the broker-dealer workflow used in US over-the-counter markets. The plan is designed to let broker-dealers leverage the same electronic infrastructure for quoting, trading, and settling “digital asset securities” that they already use for conventional OTC and US equity activity.

According to the companies, the alliance would initially serve more than 150 broker-dealers connected to OTC Link ATS, an SEC-regulated alternative trading system. If the framework is implemented, participating firms would be able to route tokenized securities through familiar market channels—while BitGo would handle custody and settlement functions within the proposed operating model.

Key takeaways

• BitGo and OTC Markets Group plan to integrate digital asset securities into OTC Link ATS, allowing broker-dealers to use established trading and settlement infrastructure.
• BitGo Bank & Trust is intended to act as the qualified custodian, with settlement facilitated through BitGo’s Go Network.
• The initial scope is digital asset securities, with room for expansion toward tokenized assets and commodities as relevant regulatory guidance evolves.
• The announcement arrives amid accelerating industry focus on tokenized real-world assets and growing regulatory efforts to clarify rules for digital assets in the US.
• OTC Markets Group shares rose about 2.7% to roughly $53.50 by midday Wednesday, reflecting market attention on the proposal.

A bridge between crypto infrastructure and broker-dealer rails

The core idea behind the BitGo–OTC Markets Group proposal is operational fit. Broker-dealers already operate under mature securities market rules and processes; according to the companies, the partnership would connect digital asset securities to the electronic trading ecosystem broker-dealers use today.

OTC Markets Group operates OTC Link ATS, an alternative trading system regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Under the plan, broker-dealers using that venue would be able to quote and execute trades in digital asset securities using the same general infrastructure environment already in place for OTC and US equity trading and settlement.

For investors and market participants, that approach matters because it targets one of the most common friction points in institutional crypto adoption: integration complexity. Instead of requiring broker-dealers to move entirely to “crypto-native” systems, the framework aims to plug tokenized securities functionality into established brokerage workflows—potentially lowering onboarding costs and reducing the scope of operational change.

How the custody and settlement model would work

The companies outlined a two-part operational structure. Under the proposal, BitGo Bank & Trust would serve as the qualified custodian. Settlement, meanwhile, would be handled through BitGo’s Go Network.

The partnership’s initial intent is focused on digital asset securities, but the companies also indicated the framework could be expanded to support tokenized assets and commodities as regulatory frameworks develop. That conditional language is important: while tokenization is a rapidly progressing theme, the specific asset classes and the precise regulatory pathway can vary materially depending on how regulators treat different instruments.

BitGo’s role as a qualified custodian is reinforced by its recent US banking milestone. In December, BitGo received final approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to operate as a federally chartered national trust bank. That approval positions the firm to provide qualified custody services under federal banking oversight—an element that may be attractive to broker-dealers and other institutional participants seeking clearer custody governance.

Why broker-dealers are central to tokenization’s next phase

Broker-dealers could become a major conduit for tokenized securities because they sit at the intersection of regulation, market access, and capital formation. The BitGo–OTC Markets Group plan effectively tries to transform tokenization from a largely experimental pipeline into something more compatible with existing market plumbing.

The rationale aligns with broader market forecasts. Bernstein analysts have projected that the value of tokenized real-world assets could reach up to $4 trillion by 2030, citing expansion across equities, commodities, and other financial assets. Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph also highlighted how tokenization efforts are increasingly tied to exchange and broker distribution networks.

That context matters because tokenization is not just about issuing tokens—it’s also about where they can be traded and settled. The BitGo–OTC Markets Group proposal suggests a pathway to move tokenized instruments into venues where broker-dealers already operate, rather than relying solely on separate systems.

It also follows similar initiatives aimed at bringing tokenization closer to mainstream capital markets. Cointelegraph previously reported on efforts by companies such as Securitize and Cantor Fitzgerald to pursue tokenized IPOs and follow-on equity offerings, pointing to an industry push to adapt tokenization to established issuance and trading channels.

What to watch: implementation details and regulatory compatibility

While the announcement outlines an operating framework, the most significant uncertainties for market participants are whether and how quickly the partnership can move from proposal to execution, and what the operational scope will be at each stage. The companies’ statement that the approach is “initially intended” to support digital asset securities implies a phased rollout tied to asset-class readiness and regulatory clarity.

Investors and broker-dealers watching this story should focus on three practical questions: how OTC Link ATS would be configured for tokenized securities, what operational requirements are placed on participating broker-dealers, and how BitGo’s custody and settlement services are integrated for actual trade flows. The answers will determine whether tokenized securities become meaningfully accessible through existing institutional pathways—or remain a limited pilot concept.

For now, the proposal reinforces a broader shift in the industry: tokenization is moving from isolated experimentation toward integration with regulated market infrastructure, where broker-dealer connectivity could be a decisive factor in scaling adoption.

Bitcoin stayed bid on Wednesday as both crypto markets and broader risk assets appeared to brush off renewed US-Iran tensions. BTC/USD held close to recent five-week highs, even as fresh threats from the US raised the stakes for Middle East escalation.

TradingView data showed BTC/USD down about 1% on the day, after earlier testing the $67,000 area. At the time of publication, it was around $65,975, while 24-hour volume topped $30.3 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

Key takeaways

• BTC’s pullback remained limited despite renewed Middle East risk, suggesting markets are not yet pricing the conflict aggressively.
• US equity momentum appeared to absorb geopolitical headlines, with commentary warning crowded short positioning could amplify moves if conditions shift.
• Traders are watching $67,000 as a technical inflection point; a break could signal a bullish continuation pattern on daily timeframes.
• Some market participants frame Bitcoin as outperforming US stocks, using relative-strength divergence arguments.

Geopolitical headlines fail to move the broader tape

Crypto and US stocks followed Tuesday’s direction, when both asset classes largely ignored escalation in the Middle East—including direct strikes involving both Iran and the United States. On Wednesday, the latest flare-up similarly did not derail risk sentiment.

US president Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the US would target Iranian bridges and energy infrastructure if Iran fired on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The post stated that the US would “bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” including those near or in Tehran.

While equity and crypto price action stayed comparatively steady, oil reacted more directly. WTI and Brent crude reached roughly $88.60 and $95.50, respectively—levels described as the highest since June 11.

Equities’ strength raises a “short squeeze” question

Beyond geopolitics, a separate dynamic in US markets drew attention: the level of short interest. Trading resource The Kobeissi Letter pointed to data indicating shorts are positioned near elevated levels, increasing the potential for sharper moves if sentiment turns.

According to The Kobeissi Letter, which cited Bloomberg data, short interest in the S&P 500 rose to about 3.7% of free float—near the top of the range in data going back to 2010. Short interest in the Russell 3000 was said to be around 6.1%, also near an all-time high. The account added that both measures have been steadily rising since the start of 2025.

“Both metrics have steadily increased since the start of 2025.”

Kobeissi’s broader message was that a “short squeeze” could punish late short positions if bullish momentum persists or accelerates.

Bitcoin’s $67,000 line in the sand

For Bitcoin, attention has centered on the $67,000 region after the asset pushed to five-week highs earlier in the session. As of publication, BTC was trading near $65,975, meaning the market was still deciding whether it could reclaim and hold above that psychological and technical level.

Trader Daan Crypto Trades said that breaking above $67,000 would create a daily bullish market structure break and establish a higher high. In his assessment, it would mark the first daily higher high since the move up in May.

“This is the first daily higher high since the push up in May.”

That framing matters for how traders interpret momentum: when resistance is treated as a structural level rather than a one-off spike, a decisive close above it can change the odds of continuation—and influence risk management around tight ranges.

Relative strength claims: BTC vs the S&P 500

Not all commentary focused on BTC’s absolute price action. Some market participants were comparing Bitcoin’s behavior against US stocks for signs of relative mispricing.

On X, an account using the name Osemka wrote that the weekly BTC-vs-S&P 500 relationship shows “strong weekly bullish divergence,” with Bitcoin “at the brink” of an RSI trend breakout. The post referenced the relative strength index (RSI) and claimed that the divergence lows are about five months apart, similar to patterns seen in 2022.

“Divergent lows are 5 months apart, similar to literal 2022 lows. $BTC should outperform the US stock market nicely for the foreseeable future from the most mis-priced territory in history, as the lows should already be in.”

The argument here is comparative rather than directional: it suggests Bitcoin may benefit even if US equities remain strong, based on how the two charts have been behaving relative to each other.

Meanwhile, Cointelegraph previously reported that the broader consensus among many observers still points to Bitcoin’s next bear-market low arriving later this year or in early 2027—an outlook that would make this phase more about positioning and risk management than chasing an immediate reversal.

What to watch next

Going forward, traders are likely to keep $67,000 in focus for confirmation on higher timeframes. At the same time, investors should watch whether geopolitical headlines continue to lift oil volatility while crypto and equities remain insulated—or whether markets eventually reprice risk if the conflict escalates further.

South Korea’s largest, won-based crypto exchanges have seen a steep drop in trading activity over the past year, coinciding with a sharp rebound in the country’s stock market, according to an analysis cited by Cointelegraph. The shift suggests some retail speculative attention may be moving toward equities instead of crypto.

Cointelegraph reviewed CoinGecko historical 24-hour volume data for Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax, comparing seven-day periods in July 2025 and July 2026. Using the average daily volume for each exchange and then taking a simple unweighted average of the five year-over-year declines, it arrived at an estimated average drop of about 77% across platforms. On a combined basis, average daily volume fell by roughly 89%, from $2.82 billion to $305 million over the comparable July windows.

Key takeaways

• Across five major won-based exchanges, Cointelegraph’s analysis using CoinGecko data shows an average year-over-year daily volume decline of about 77% in July 2026 versus July 2025.
• On a combined basis, average daily volume dropped about 89%, falling from $2.82 billion to $305 million.
• KOSPI reportedly rose more than 114% over the 12 months to July 22, pointing to a stronger alternative investment environment for domestic retail.
• Separate Korean reporting from ZDNet Korea cited an 88% year-on-year fall in combined daily volume and noted that weaker fee income has led some exchanges to sell crypto holdings.
• A Tiger Research report highlighted investor fatigue from failed narratives and projects, while arguing that institutions may be taking up some of the slack.

Crypto volumes fall as equities surge

The timing matters: South Korea’s benchmark stock index, the KOSPI, rose 114.44% over the 12 months to July 22, according to Yahoo Finance data, even after easing back from a June peak. Cointelegraph frames the contrast—shrinking trading activity on won-based crypto platforms alongside a rising equity market—as evidence that retail investors may be reallocating attention toward stocks.

ZDNet Korea reported separately that daily volume across the five exchanges was down 88% year-on-year on Monday. It also connected the volume contraction to weaker fee income, saying some platforms have responded by selling portions of their crypto holdings. ZDNet Korea specifically mentioned Korbit, which reportedly raised about 1.6 billion won (around $1 million) by selling 15 Bitcoin (BTC) and 60 Ether (ETH).

For market participants, this matters less as a short-term trading story and more as a liquidity and business-model question. In retail-heavy markets like South Korea, exchanges often depend heavily on trading fees; sustained volume declines can tighten revenue for platforms across the board, making it more difficult for smaller operators to compete or invest through quieter periods.

How the numbers were calculated

Cointelegraph’s approach was intentionally straightforward. After collecting CoinGecko’s historical 24-hour volume readings for each exchange, it compared seven-day periods in July 2025 and July 2026. It then calculated average daily volume and the year-over-year percentage change for each platform. Finally, it used a simple unweighted average of the five declines—meaning each exchange contributed equally to the “average drop” figure, regardless of its baseline trading volume.

That distinction helps readers interpret the results. The “about 77%” figure represents the arithmetic average of declines across exchanges, while the “about 89%” combined figure reflects the total contraction when aggregating average daily volume across platforms. Both point in the same direction—less activity—but they do so through different weighting methods.

Retail fatigue and competition for capital

A separate report from Tiger Research, published on CoinGecko and updated April 17, argued that the decline in South Korea’s crypto activity likely reflects more than just market price movements. The report pointed to “recycled narratives” and projects that failed to deliver as contributors to investor fatigue, which can reduce willingness to engage even when opportunities exist.

At the same time, Tiger Research said the KOSPI rally expanded the set of return options available to retail traders. While the widening gap between equity turnover and crypto volume does not necessarily mean Koreans have lost interest in crypto entirely, the report suggests the opportunity cost of staying in crypto has risen—investors have more alternatives competing for their attention and capital.

In practical terms, that can shift behavior across cycles. When stocks perform strongly, retail participation may become more selective in crypto—favoring only particular themes or entry points—rather than sustaining broad, continuous trading volume. That kind of selectivity can reduce average liquidity on exchanges, even if overall crypto sentiment remains intact.

Institutions step in, but the transition is uneven

Beyond retail, Tiger Research characterized the market as being in a “structural transition,” with retail activity stepping back while institutions move in. The report said banks and financial groups have been positioning around won-denominated stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), and exchange investments even before final legislation was finalized.

Still, Tiger Research cautioned that institutional participation is not a clean replacement. The report described institutions as “finding their footing,” implying a gradual and uneven shift rather than an immediate volume equalization. For exchanges and investors, the key uncertainty is whether institutional flows can scale fast enough to offset the liquidity gap created by reduced retail trading.

Watch how volume evolves beyond headline percentages and whether fee-dependent business models stabilize. If the equity/crypto attention gap persists, South Korea’s exchange landscape could see further consolidation pressure, while tokenized asset rails and stablecoin-linked products may gain relative importance as builders and financial players look for activity beyond spot retail trading.