Ghiles A.

In 2026, more than 100 crypto projects have shut down, filed for bankruptcy, or ceased operations, according to RootData. This wave has affected exchanges, wallets, DeFi, NFTs, and some blockchains. In late July, BitMEX, BitMart, Movement Labs, and Storj Labs announced their closure or bankruptcy filings within a single week. Meanwhile, Moonbeam stopped producing blocks on July 31. The sector is therefore entering a broad and highly visible phase of consolidation.

Spot ETFs linked to XRP have just recorded a fourth positive week. This dynamic contrasts with several more cautious signals that have recently appeared in the market. After a July marked by net inflows, flows slow sharply at the beginning of August. At the same time, the token price has approached an important support at 1 dollar. Investors are now monitoring the strength of this level, as analysts consider several scenarios for the next step.

The demand for cryptocurrency hardware wallets is rising in Russia ahead of new regulations. Russians more than doubled their purchases in the first half of 2026, according to two major retailers. This development comes as Moscow prepares a regulatory framework for digital assets. From September 1st, provisions will regulate exchanges and custodians. In this context, sales of devices designed to store private keys attract attention, despite the lack of precise figures on units sold.

The ETF market is experiencing a mixed quarter, as some products struggle to maintain their growth. ChainLink illustrates this situation with a fund whose value depends directly on a single asset. Launched on NYSE Arca in December 2025, Grayscale's product started with solid inflows. Since then, the drop in LINK has reduced its net asset value and slowed its net assets. The latest quarterly report thus confirms a marked slowdown, without signaling any massive investor withdrawals.

Debates around the regulation of digital assets are experiencing a new slowdown in the United States. While several industry players hoped for rapid progress, the CLARITY Act will ultimately have to wait until the parliamentary return. The postponement of the vote to September results from a persistent disagreement between Republicans and Democrats on several sensitive provisions. This decision extends the uncertainty surrounding this text, regarded as an important step for regulating the cryptocurrency market in the country.

Assaults targeting holders of digital assets continue their rise in 2026. A new report from Chainalysis shows that these violent attacks have already caused more than 30 million dollars in losses in the first half of the year. Home burglaries are gaining ground, while France now accounts for the highest number of recorded incidents. This development also highlights the adaptation of criminal networks, which use increasingly sophisticated methods to divert crypto funds.

The United States now has very little time to advance its cryptocurrency market reform before a long parliamentary work interruption. In this context, the CLARITY Act draws all attention as several obstacles remain in the Senate. Cynthia Lummis, a supporter of the bill, calls on lawmakers to decide quickly. However, the legislative calendar and political divisions still maintain strong uncertainty around the vote.

Russia takes a new step in the regulation of digital assets with the adoption of a highly anticipated law on crypto transactions. After several months of parliamentary debates, President Vladimir Putin signed the text defining the rules applicable to investors, platforms, and financial institutions. This reform establishes an unprecedented regulatory framework in the country and provides for a gradual implementation starting September 1, 2026.

Since the transition to proof of stake in 2022, the reward mechanisms for validators have taken a central role in discussions around the network. A new proposal today rekindles this debate by suggesting a progressive reduction of rewards paid to staking participants. The project aims to modify economic incentives while limiting the creation of new tokens. Ethereum thus finds itself at the heart of a reflection that already divides the actors of its ecosystem.

The cryptocurrency market continues to evolve in a context marked by economic uncertainties and expectations around US monetary policy. In this climate, several indicators support the idea that a reversal could be approaching. According to 10x Research, bitcoin could confirm a bear market bottom as early as this August if certain technical conditions are met. This hypothesis also relies on several signals observed by other industry players.

The yen experienced a strong rebound after a coordinated intervention by the United States and Japan in the foreign exchange market. This development quickly caught investors' attention, as a strengthening of the Japanese currency had already caused strong shocks to bitcoin in 2024. However, the most recent data shows a different situation. The evolution of the correlation between the two assets now suggests that the strength of the US dollar could play a more important role.

The consequences of the flaw that affected some Coldcard hardware wallets continue to spread. After losses estimated at more than 88 million dollars in bitcoin, several victims are now preparing a legal response. Coinkite, the manufacturer of the wallets concerned, is facing increasing pressure as users from several countries gather information to consider a collective action. This new step could mark a turning point in the management of disputes related to hardware wallets.

Security incidents quickly influence investors' decisions in the cryptocurrency market. This time, a vulnerability affecting the Coldcard hardware wallet caused an unusual movement of funds. While self-custody had gained popularity after the FTX bankruptcy, many bitcoin holders adopted the opposite strategy. Onchain data now shows an increase in deposits to exchange platforms, illustrating a temporary behavioral shift in response to risks.