August 18, 2026
The crypto exchange now lets EEA-based users trade US-listed equities alongside digital assets. Kraken announced on August 18 that customers in the European Economic Area can now trade US-listed stocks through its platform. The exchange confirmed the rollout in its own blog post, and The Block reported the same development.
Total value locked on Robinhood's blockchain network climbed sharply even as the broader tokenized real-world asset sector cooled Robinhood Chain's total value locked climbed 45% in August, according to reporting from The Block and Coincu. The increase stands out against a broader slowdown in tokenized real-world asset activity during the same period.
The Ethereum-rival blockchain's liquidity program tested investor conviction in its native token, MON Monad, a blockchain positioned as a competitor to Ethereum, recently closed a liquidity program that offered early investors up to $60 million to sell their holdings early.
Tokenized treasuries, credit, and other real-world assets are drawing rising deposits into decentralized finance protocols. Deposits linked to real-world assets held within decentralized finance protocols have reached nearly $4 billion. That total represents roughly a sixfold jump compared to the same period last year.
August 18, 2026
CoinDesk reports Bitcoin pushed past the $64,000 mark even as other large-cap tokens moved lower. Bitcoin rose above the $64,000 level, CoinDesk reported, marking a notable move for the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. The gain came even as most other major digital assets slipped lower during the same window.
The move is tied to concerns over crypto's use in evading Russia sanctions European Union regulators now have authority to block crypto platforms operating from outside the bloc, according to reports from Bitcoin.com News and crypto.news. The change gives national and EU-level authorities new tools to restrict access to non-EU trading venues.
Analysts warn the breakdown may deepen before XRP finds stable footing again XRP has broken below the $1 level, a threshold traders and analysts often treat as a psychological floor for the token. The move comes despite Ripple's continued effort to broaden its presence in traditional banking, a disconnect that has drawn attention from market…
August 18, 2026
Three outlets agree EURC passed €400M in circulation around August 2026, but they give sharply different figures for how fast that supply grew over the past year. Three outlets agree EURC passed €400M in circulation around August 2026, but they give sharply different figures for how fast that supply grew over the past year.
A new cross-border remittance partnership failed to lift XRP's price as broader market pressure took hold. XRP traded below $1 this week, even as a South Korean regional bank confirmed it would use Ripple Payments for cross-border transfers.
August 18, 2026
CoinTurk News EN and Coinfomania both report a Jeonbuk Bank–Ripple partnership but disagree on whether the cross-border payments service has actually been deployed. CoinTurk News EN and Coinfomania both report a Jeonbuk Bank–Ripple partnership but disagree on whether the cross-border payments service has actually been deployed.
Russia's largest stock exchange plans to introduce crypto-linked perpetual futures contracts next month. Moscow Exchange is preparing to launch perpetual futures contracts tied to Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to reports from Cryptopolitan and CryptoBriefing. The exchange is Russia's largest and most influential stock market operator.
Analysts describe a years-long campaign targeting users of the hardware wallet, according to a new Galaxy Research report. Galaxy Research has published an estimate placing losses from a Coldcard wallet hack above $115 million. The figure was reported by Bitcoin Magazine and CoinTurk News, both citing the research firm's findings.
The research firm points to $83,200 and $44,800 as possible outcomes of a long-awaited volatility shift. Fundstrat has flagged Bitcoin as overdue for a significant price swing, according to reports from CryptoBriefing and BeInCrypto. The research firm's analysis suggests a move of roughly 30% could be approaching, though it did not specify a timeline.
Reports diverge on timing, with one account describing a fresh acquisition and another pointing to a search for a new operator months after an earlier sale. Neynar has assumed control of Farcaster, according to a report from CryptoBriefing, with the protocol's founding team stepping back from operational duties.
August 18, 2026
The suspect appeared in court after being deported from Fiji to face 25 charges tied to the alleged fraud. Edward Zimbardi is scheduled to face a US court today over an alleged $165 million crypto Ponzi scheme, according to reporting from CryptoBriefing.
Reports diverge on whether Kbank or Jeonbuk Bank is driving Ripple's latest push into South Korea's banking sector Ripple has struck a new payments deal with a South Korean bank, according to reports published this week. The agreement marks one of Ripple’s first confirmed partnerships with a regional Korean lender for cross-border transfers.
Axios reporting, cited by CryptoBriefing and Cryptopolitan, points to a valuation debate across the AI sector. Anthropic's revenue run rate has reportedly hit $65 billion, according to reporting from Axios. The figure comes as the AI company moves toward a public listing.
August 18, 2026
Crypto Economy and BlockchainReporter both cover BitMart's unpaid-salary and withdrawal dispute but disagree on the founder's name and on whether he called the claims fabricated rumors or blamed a hacked account. Crypto Economy and BlockchainReporter both cover BitMart's unpaid-salary and withdrawal dispute but disagree on the founder's name and on whether he called the claims…