Author: NBTC

NBTC

NBTC is the editorial account for NBTC News, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, exchanges, mining, regulation and digital asset markets. The editorial team focuses on clear sourcing, timely updates and practical context for crypto readers.

Cryptocurrency Company Wintermute Makes Pessimistic Statements Regarding the Expected Altcoin Bull Run! Here Are the Details

ExchangesJul 31

It has been suggested that the long-awaited new altcoin season in the cryptocurrency market, unlike past cycles, may only benefit a limited number of projects. Wintermute, one of the world’s leading crypto market makers, stated in its latest assessment that institutional investor behavior is beginning to shift and capital is increasingly concentrated in a smaller number of tokens. Wintermute announced that in the first half of 2026, institutional clients accounted for 72% of the company’s over-the-counter (OTC) spot trading volume. This is the highest level recorded in the company’s history. According to the data, institutional investors’ trading activity decreased significantly…

Why the Bear Market Is Still Very Much Alive

BitcoinJul 31

Bitcoin was rejected from the $67,000 to $77,000 resistance zone this week, and the way that rejection happened is telling analysts something important. The bear market that began earlier this year is might still be in control. After bottoming in early June, Bitcoin rallied higher, but only in what technical analysts call a three-wave move, a weaker corrective pattern rather than a genuine trending rally. That distinction matters. In bull markets, rallies tend to unfold in five clean waves, signalling real buying conviction. In bear markets, bounces typically form in three weaker waves before rolling over again, exactly the pattern…

What It Signals for Adoption

EthereumJul 31

The number of wallets holding Ethereum ($ETH) has surpassed 200 million, according to data reported by Cointelegraph. This milestone reflects a steady increase in user engagement with the Ethereum network, driven by decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and growing institutional interest. Network Growth in Context Ethereum’s wallet count has more than doubled since early 2021, when it first crossed 100 million wallets. The latest figure of 200 million includes both active and dormant addresses that hold a non-zero balance of $ETH. While not every wallet represents a unique individual — some users control multiple addresses — the metric is…

Circle Drops 18% Before OUSD Moves a Dollar

RegulationJul 31

When the Open Standard alliance unveiled its Open USD stablecoin, backed by more than 140 institutions including Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, Coinbase, and BlackRock, the market didn’t celebrate — it went straight for Circle’s jugular. Shares in Circle fell between 15% and 18% at one point following the announcement, a reaction that tells you everything about what investors really fear: not that $USDC will lose users overnight, but that its entire revenue model is about to face structural pressure it wasn’t built to handle. Key takeaways The Open Standard alliance launched the Open USD (OUSD) stablecoin with more than 140 institutional…

A16z-Linked Address Adds $48.1M in HYPE Tokens, Bringing Total Accumulation to $464M

AltcoinsJul 31

A cryptocurrency wallet linked to venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has continued its aggressive accumulation of Hyperliquid’s native token, $HYPE, purchasing an additional 687,000 tokens worth approximately $48.09 million over the past four days, according to on-chain analytics platform HyperInsight. Institutional Accumulation Accelerates The address, which on-chain sleuths have identified as connected to a16z, has now amassed a total of 6,617,000 $HYPE tokens valued at roughly $464 million since late May. The buying activity has been distributed across multiple platforms, including major centralized exchanges, suggesting a deliberate and methodical accumulation strategy. This latest tranche of purchases represents a notable…

Polygon Turns Kansai Electric Loyalty Points Into JPYC Spending

ExchangesJul 31

Users of MOACT, the rewards app run by a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power, can now convert their loyalty points into JPYC, the yen stablecoin, on Polygon, wallet developer HashPort said in a press release published Thursday. The feature, live as of July 30, lets users swap NORM points — earned by completing social-impact "missions" in the app, such as engaging with companies and municipalities working on social causes — into JPYC issued on Polygon. The stablecoin sits in users' own HashPort Wallets and can be connected to DeFi platforms, turning a closed-loop Web2 rewards balance…

Ricardo Salinas Says Fiat Is a Fraud, Explains Why Bitcoin Could Hit $1 Million

BitcoinJul 31

Billionaire investor Ricardo Salinas has shared a bullish outlook on Bitcoin. He argued that the world’s financial system is built on weakening fiat currencies. Additionally, he stated that Bitcoin remains one of the best ways to preserve wealth. During a recent interview, Salinas explained why he avoids the AI investment boom. He also explained why he continuously converts cash into Bitcoin. Furthermore, he described why he said that the cryptocurrency could eventually reach $1 million. “Bitcoin Has More Advantages Compared To Fiat” One of the key moments in the interview came when Salinas revealed how reading The Bitcoin Standard changed…

Spot Ethereum ETFs Extend Inflow Streak to Two Days With $9.4M on July 28

EthereumJul 31

U.S. spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds recorded approximately $9.4 million in net inflows on July 28, marking the second consecutive trading day of positive flows, according to data from Farside Investors. The latest figures suggest a modest but sustained recovery in investor appetite for Ethereum-focused investment products after a period of uneven performance. BlackRock Funds Lead the Inflows BlackRock’s two Ethereum ETF offerings accounted for the bulk of the day’s net inflows. The iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) added $3.5 million, while the iShares Ethereum Trust with staking exposure (ETHB) contributed $5.9 million. Combined, the two funds represented nearly the entire $9.4…

Augustus raises $180 million to build a clearing bank for the AI and stablecoin era

RegulationJul 31

Augustus, a startup building a federally chartered clearing bank for fintechs and financial institutions, said it raised $180 million to expand its dollar payment infrastructure as stablecoins reshape global finance. The fundraising valued the company at $1 billion, with Tiger Global leading the round and investors such as Hummingbird, QED and the founders of Nubank, Ramp, Circle and Deel participating, the company said in a Tuesday press release. The investment comes as banks, fintechs and crypto firms are racing to modernize the infrastructure behind cross-border payments. While much of the attention has centered on stablecoin issuers, Augustus is targeting a…

RLUSD Hits $22 Billion In Quarterly Volume As Institutional XRP Demand Accelerates

AltcoinsJul 31

Institutional interest in $XRP and blockchain technology is accelerating rapidly, according to Evernorth CEO Asheesh Birla, who shared his latest views during the $XRP Las Vegas conference. “Did I think that we would be in the position that we are in in 2026? No. But wow, institutions are adopting the blockchain. Institutions want exposure to $XRP and other digital assets as well,” he said. Stablecoins Are Driving Growth One major factor behind the surge is the rise of stablecoins and tokenized assets. According to Birla, tokenized assets on blockchain networks now total roughly $23 billion and continue to expand each…