Author: NBTC

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has signaled strong conviction in the future of x402, an open payment protocol designed to let artificial intelligence agents autonomously pay for digital services. In a social media post, Armstrong wrote that “x402 is going to be huge eventually,” adding that AI agents will need to make payments for goods and services, and that their numbers will eventually “far outnumber humans.” What is x402? x402 is an open protocol built around HTTP 402, the “Payment Required” status code that has existed in the HTTP specification for decades but was never widely adopted. The protocol aims to…

Crypto analyst Ali Martinez stated that a macro-level bottom may have formed in the Bitcoin price, noting that three long-term technical indicators are signaling in the same direction. Martinez stated that a TD Sequential buy signal has formed on Bitcoin’s monthly chart. According to the analyst, this rare signal successfully indicated the market bottom in 2022. Martinez suggested that the current signal could similarly point to a new cyclical bottom zone. The second factor highlighted by the analyst was Bitcoin’s proximity to its 50-month simple moving average (SMA). Martinez noted that this long-term support level has intersected with Bitcoin’s price…

Spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) traded in the US showed a different picture in terms of investor activity. According to SoSoValue data, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a total net inflow of $32.11 million, while spot Ethereum ETFs experienced a net outflow of $18.65 million. The data revealed that institutional investor interest continued in Bitcoin, while short-term profit-taking continued in Ethereum funds. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) fund recorded the highest net inflow of the day. IBIT saw a net capital inflow of $89.83 million in a single day, bringing its cumulative net inflow to date to $60.42 billion. Conversely, the…

Paxos Labs, a company developing infrastructure for stablecoins, has introduced Amplify Transit, a new service for converting and transferring stablecoins between different blockchains. The platform is already live on Robinhood Chain, where it processed nearly $30 million in transactions during its first two weeks after launching on July 1. Transit allows companies to exchange USDC, USDG, and PYUSD through a single API while receiving a fixed conversion rate and predictable fees before each transaction is completed. The service currently supports Ethereum and Robinhood Chain, but its architecture is designed to work with additional networks in the future. The company also…

South Korean authorities have ordered access to Polymarket to be blocked after determining that the crypto prediction market provides an illegal gambling environment to users in the country. The country’s media and communications review commission said Tuesday that Polymarket falls under information that facilitates gambling or the opening of a gambling venue under the Criminal Act, as well as prohibited analogous betting activity under the National Sports Promotion Act. The regulator said Polymarket’s winner-takes-all structure, where users can gain or lose money based on outcomes including politics, sports and weather, encourages speculative gambling behavior. It also cited Polymarket’s role in…

Justin Sun, the founder of TRON and owner of the $HTX exchange, has dismissed a wave of reports that exchange wallets had been spraying small crypto transfers at unrelated addresses. Sun said that the claims were fabricated, writing in Chinese on X on August 18, which, when translated to English, reads, “The investigation is clear: it’s all made up.” However, he did not provide supporting details to the post. Sun linked to an unspecified follow-up but did not name the accusers, describe the transfers, or explain what his team had investigated. Sun’s post comes after what is being seen as…

Despite the US Federal Reserve keeping interest rates unchanged, its continued “hawkish” stance on monetary policy could continue to put pressure on cryptocurrency markets. Expert analyses suggest that the messages conveyed by the Fed after its July 29th interest rate decision could limit the short-term performance of risky assets, particularly Bitcoin. At its latest meeting, the Fed kept its policy interest rate unchanged, maintaining its firm stance on combating inflation. This approach indicates that the central bank is unwilling to allow inflation to rise above its target level, even at the cost of slowing economic growth. The analysis states that…

Cashcat, a memecoin that has been one of the most talked-about altcoins in recent days and has seen a sharp rise since the launch of Robinhood Chain, is now facing allegations of “insider trading.” The allegations center around an anonymous address that purchased 16.3 million $CASHCAT for 1.6 $ETH shortly after the token’s launch. According to Lookonchain, a cryptocurrency analysis platform, an address starting with “0xae0F” initially acquired 16.3 million $CASHCAT by spending 1.6 Ethereum (worth $3,000) when it was first launched. Following the massive price surge, it sold all 16.3 million $CASHCAT for 1.527 $ETH ($2.855 million), making a…

The White House crypto summit tomorrow comes with two possible paths for U.S. crypto regulation. President Donald Trump could use the meeting to give the CLARITY Act a push, or ask the SEC and CFTC to move ahead with their own rules. With both agency chiefs attending, tomorrow’s summit could decide the fate of the CLARITY Act. Trump To Meet Crypto and Wall Street Leaders On August 19, President Donald Trump will meet crypto and Wall Street leaders at the White House as the CLARITY Act remains stuck in the Senate. The main goal of the meeting is to find…

Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi is exploring an expansion of the exchange’s banking operations in Europe and is considering partnerships in asset management, according to a report by The Block. The move signals a strategic push by one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges to diversify beyond its core trading business and deepen its foothold in traditional finance. Strategic rationale behind the move The reported exploration comes as crypto exchanges worldwide face increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny. By expanding into banking services, Kraken aims to offer a more integrated financial experience for its users, potentially including fiat on-ramps, custodial services, and payment…