Latest Crypto News & Market Updates

Binance Review 2026: Fees, Regulation and Key Risks

Binance remains the largest name in centralized crypto trading by many market-activity measures, and it occupied the number-one position in the CoinMarketCap spot exchange snapshot used for this series on August 14, 2026. Its advantages are deep markets, a broad asset list, low standard spot fees and an unusually wide product range. Its main complication is legal structure: Binance.com, Binance.US, Binance Japan and Binance TH are not one interchangeable regulated account.　　This Binance review finds a capable exchange for experienced users who can legally access the correct regional entity and understand custodial risk. It is less suitable for anyone who assumes the global brand gives identical protection everywhere or who plans to leave a life-changing balance on one platform.Company and regional structure　　Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao. Richard Teng became chief executive in November 2023 after Zhao resigned as part of the U.S. resolution discussed below. Binance.com serves many international markets, but access and contracting entities depend on residence.　　The United States has Binance.US, operated separately from Binance.com. Japan uses Binance Japan Inc., a locally registered crypto-asset exchange service provider. Thailands binance.th is operated by Gulf Binance Company Limited under Thai licences. European and Middle Eastern users can encounter other

08-18Industry Research

BitMart Shutdown 2026: Withdrawals, Solvency Questions & Timeline

BitMarts decision to shut down its cryptocurrency exchange has developed into something more serious than a routine market exit.　　On July 26, 2026, BitMart announced what it described as an “orderly cessation” of operations. New registrations and deposits began shutting down immediately, new trading activity was restricted, all trading services were scheduled to end on August 26, and the platform said it planned to cease operations entirely on January 31, 2027.　　But the shutdown announcement was only the beginning.　　Users, crypto projects and market participants subsequently reported delayed or frozen withdrawals. Questions emerged over BitMarts reserves and solvency. Its former global CEO said he had been terminated two days before the announcement and had not participated in the shutdown decision. BitMart founder Sheldon Xia later denied that the exchange had disappeared or misappropriated user funds. Most recently, a BitMart-branded Chinese-language X account publicly demanded disclosure of the exchanges assets, liabilities and available reserves, while Xia called the claims fabricated.　　As of August 18, 2026, there is no confirmed evidence that BitMart has formally entered bankruptcy or that its management has absconded with customer funds.　　There is, however, enough verified evidence to describe the situation as a serious exchange shutdown and withdrawal crisis involving unresolved questions

08-18Industry Research

Stop Dreaming About Bottom Fishing — The “Altcoin Season” Is Over, 99% of Altcoins Will Go to Zero!

Against the backdrop of the S before the withered tree, countless new trees bloom.”　　99% of altcoins will die.　　But the surviving 1% may change the world.　　And they may also create life-changing returns for those who find them.　　

08-18Deep Dive

Bitcoin Self-Custody Reaches 45.6% of Supply as Exchange Holdings Decline

Recent on-chain data reveals a significant shift in how Bitcoin is held, with self-custody now accounting for 45.6% of the cryptocurrencys maximum supply of 21 million coins. According to the latest figures, approximately 9.57 million $BTC is held directly by individuals and entities, marking a notable preference for personal control over third-party custody.　　Breakdown of Bitcoin Holdings　　Of the total self-custodied amount, 7.95 million $BTC (37.9%) is considered actively held by owners, while 1.62 million $BTC (7.7%) is estimated to be permanently lost due to forgotten keys, misplaced wallets, or other reasons. In contrast, exchanges and custodians collectively hold 7.57 million $BTC (36.1%), with exchanges accounting for 2.91 million $BTC (13.9%) and custodians holding 4.66 million $BTC (22.2%).　　Additionally, indirect holdings through financial products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, and Bitcoin treasury companies represent 2.93 million $BTC (13.9%). The remaining 932,000 $BTC (4.4%) has yet to be mined, reflecting the gradual issuance schedule of new coins.　　Implications for Market Dynamics　　This distribution highlights a growing trend toward self-custody, a movement often driven by concerns over exchange solvency and regulatory uncertainty. The collapse of several major crypto platforms in recent years has reinforced the importance of holding assets directly, as users seek to mitigate counterparty

08-18Exchange

Bitcoin could bottom in October, altcoins are ‘basically dead,’ Swan CEO says

Bitcoin could bottom in October before recovering to around $130,000 ahead of the 2028 halving, according to Swan Bitcoin CEO Cory Klippsten.　　Bitcoins (BTC) price peaked above $126,000 in early October 2025, meaning that the “market should bottom in October,” Klippsten told Cointelegraph.　　He argued that Bitcoin has so far bottomed about 12 months after each previous bull market peak, while cautioning against extrapolating from only a few previous cycles.　　Klippstens prediction for an October bottom builds on a June interview with Cointelegraph, when he said Bitcoin may bottom earlier than in previous cycles as long-term holders accumulated a record share of supply, or 14.7 million BTC.　　In the latest interview, Klippsten said Bitcoin could fall to $57,000, or even $53,000, before a quick recovery, and could reach around $130,000 ahead of the 2028 halving.　　Other analytics providers are eyeing an earlier bottom. Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, said that Bitcoin could confirm a bear-market bottom in August with a monthly close above $63,000, which would turn several of the analytics firms cycle indicators bullish.　　Related: H100 becomes Europes No. 2 Bitcoin treasury after 2,455 BTC deal　　Altcoins are dead as money, crypto will become TradFi　　Klippsten said altcoins are “basically dead” as competitors to Bitcoin as

08-18Industry

Bitcoin hits $64K as gold gains while oil shakes off Trump Oman threat

Bitcoin (BTC) returned to $64,000 after Mondays Wall Street open as US stocks gave way to gold.　　Key points:Bitcoin continues a rebound from Sundays weekly close, gaining 2% on Monday.Oil stays steady after US president Donald Trump threatens to bomb Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.Bitcoin funding rates hit 20-month highs of 0.022 last week, data reveals.　　Bitcoin inches up as US-Iran rhetoric spreads to Oman　　Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD up by more than 2% on the day, rebounding from Sundays weekly close.BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView　　US equities turned lower as an agreed 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran was set to expire, with the S&P 500 index down 0.5% from Thursdays all-time highs.S&P 500 one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView　　Speaking to Fox News, Trump threatened Oman with military action amid an ongoing dispute over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz oil route.　　“If Oman gets in the way, well bomb the s*** out of them,” he told the network.　　Oil markets appeared unfazed by the tensions, with WTI crude flat at $82.35 per barrel at the time of writing.　　Safe haven gold was more volatile, gaining just over 1% to start the week to reach a daily high of $4,427 per ounce. Earlier, Cointelegraph

08-18Industry

CFTC seeks public input on AI compute futures contracts as CME eyes October launch

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is preparing to solicit public comment on futures contracts tied to computing capacity, a critical resource for artificial intelligence development, as major exchanges move to launch products tied to the emerging asset class.　　Bloomberg reported Monday that the regulator sent a request for comment to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review. The move could complicate the timeline for planned compute futures from CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange, whose products remain subject to regulatory approval.　　Once the White House review is complete, the CFTC is expected to open a public comment period, typically lasting 30 or 60 days, according to Bloomberg. The review signals that regulators are still weighing questions around a market that would allow participants to trade and hedge the cost of computing power.　　CME announced last week that it plans to launch two compute futures contracts on Oct. 5, pending regulatory approval, effectively turning AI computing capacity into a tradable commodity alongside oil and electricity. Market intelligence firm Silicon Data will provide the benchmarks used to price the contracts.　　The products are being launched as artificial intelligence reshapes the economy and investment landscape, driving a historic buildout of data centers and

08-18Industry

Ethereum Developers Target Privacy Changes in Next Major Upgrade

In briefEthereum Foundation researchers want Frame Transactions and FOCIL prioritized for the Hegotá upgrade.Frame Transactions and related proposals could let privacy pools pay their own fees without relying on third parties.Developers are considering 66 proposals for the 2027 upgrade, with FOCIL currently the only confirmed addition.　　Ethereum developers are considering changes that could let privacy pools pay their own transaction fees, reducing their reliance on third-party services that can expose wallet activity.　　In a post on X on Monday, Ethereum Foundation researcher Toni Wahrstätter said the Protocol Architecture team wants to prioritize two proposals for Hegotá, the major Ethereum upgrade scheduled for 2027: Frame Transactions (EIP-8141), which would give wallets more control over how transactions are executed, and Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists, or FOCIL (EIP-7805), which would make it harder to censor eligible transactions.　　Myriad: Ethereum next price move？ Click to make your prediction.　　“Together with Frames, these enable privacy pools where the pool itself can pay fees, removing the need for intermediaries,” Wahrstätter wrote. “Add FOCIL support and privacy transactions also gain protocol-level inclusion guarantees.”　　Frame Transactions would work with Keyed Nonces and Recent Roots (EIP-8272) to let privacy pools pay their own fees without an intermediary. Wahrstätter described frames as a “much more

08-18Industry

Bitcoin Holds Range as QCP Capital Points to Jackson Hole and Fed Signals

Bitcoin continues to trade within a well-defined range, holding near $63,000 despite a week of mixed macroeconomic signals, according to a note from QCP Capital. The crypto trading firm highlighted that softer U.S. consumer and labor data have eased fears of further Federal Reserve tightening, but the path forward remains clouded by rising global oil prices and their potential impact on inflation.　　Market Context and Macro Pressures　　Over the past week, Bitcoin has slipped about 3%, yet it has managed to stay above the lower boundary of its recent trading range. QCP Capital noted that this resilience comes amid a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and persistent inflationary concerns, with no clear signs of an imminent breakdown. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has also been moving sideways near $1,900, reflecting low volatility and a lack of directional conviction across the broader digital asset market.　　The firm pointed to a series of upcoming U.S. economic events that could influence market direction. These include the release of the Federal Reserve‘s July FOMC minutes, July PCE inflation data, revised second-quarter GDP figures, and the Jackson Hole symposium scheduled for August 27-29. Investors are currently pricing in approximately a 30% chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike

08-18Exchange

ZEC Breaks $500 as 4.3% Daily Gain Puts XMR Further Behind

Zcash rallied over 4.3% to cross $518, bringing its market cap to $8.65 billion and widening its lead over monero (XMR).　　Key TakeawaysZEC jumped over 4.3% to $518 after ZODL founder Josh Swihart announced key protocol upgrades.Zcash pushed its market capitalization to $8.65B, broadening its gap over Monero by nearly $1B.Compliance experts warn ZEC faces potential government bans as shielding violates BSA rules.　　Ecosystem Progress　　Zcash (ZEC) surged past the $500 mark on Monday, rebounding from an Aug. 11 slump that saw it dip below $470. Market data shows the privacy coin fell from under $495 on Sunday afternoon to a 24-hour low of $484. However, just before midnight, ZEC recovered to $490 and held above that level until 2 a.m. EST, when a sharp rally propelled it to $518.　　Despite slightly retreating below $515, ZEC maintained a 4.3% 24-hour gain, making it the top-performing high-cap altcoin of the day. The rally lifted its market capitalization to $8.65 billion, widening its gap over Monero (XMR) to nearly $1 billion.　　The sudden surge occurred shortly after Josh Swihart, founder of ZODL, shared a reflective message alongside the latest protocol updates.　　Swihart opened with a personal reflection on leadership, drawing on historical and mythical figures to argue that

08-18Industry

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