MARA Marathon Digital Holdings Inc

Lido expands connection with BNB Chain

On August 9, Lido DAO (COIN:LDOUSD) approved the integration of Axelar and Wormhole to connect Lido Staked ETH (stETH) to the BNB Chain. This bridge will enable $23 billion in total value locked to interact with the BNB Chain. It marks Lido’s first connection with a layer-1 blockchain outside Ethereum, expanding its impact in liquid staking and DeFi. Lido, with 28.2% of the Ether staking market, has solidified its leadership in DeFi, reaching one million validators and significantly contributing to the sector’s total value locked.

Golem rises 34% in the last 7 days

Golem (COIN:GLMUSD) recently faced volatility, leading to mixed investor sentiment and a decrease in the number of network addresses. However, large investors, known as “whales,” have shown optimism by accumulating nearly 11 million GLM in recent days. The token’s price has risen by 34.16% over the past week, currently priced at $0.315130. If the price surpasses the $0.47 resistance, a significant increase is expected. However, if it fails to break this barrier, GLM may face additional resistance and remain below $0.40 for a longer period.

SUI rises 80% in one week

The cryptocurrency of Sui Network (COIN:SUIUSD) recorded a remarkable 79.68% price increase in the last week and an 18% rise in the last 24 hours, reaching $1.03. The intraday high reached $1.12. Daily trading volume surged, while technical indicators like MACD show strength in the upward trend. Potential profit-taking could lead to a price pullback to $0.46.

Aptos unlocks 11.31 million APT tokens

On August 12, Aptos (COIN:APTUSD) unlocked 11.31 million tokens, increasing the circulating supply to 471.14 million. Aptos, a Layer-1 blockchain focused on security and performance, has faced criticism for its venture capital-influenced tokenomics. The unlock will benefit community members, contributors, and investors. The token reached an intraday high of $6.85, currently priced at $6.40, gaining 11.7% in the last 24 hours. Over the past 7 days, it has risen by 19.96%.

Aleph Zero launches new layer 2 for Ethereum

Aleph Zero (COIN:AZEROUST) launched its Ethereum-compatible layer 2 solution, using its WASM-based layer 1 and zkOS for enhanced privacy and efficiency. The new Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) layer will reduce block times to 250 milliseconds. Developed with Gelato and Arbitrum Orbit, the new network promises fast transactions and support for Ethereum applications, while the AZERO token will continue to power gas transactions.

Marathon Digital seeks to raise $250 million for Bitcoin expansion

Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ:MARA) aims to raise $250 million through a private convertible note offering to expand its Bitcoin reserves. The company, which holds over 20,000 Bitcoins, produced 579 Bitcoins in July and purchased $100 million in Bitcoin earlier this month. This move follows the strategy of companies like MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), which accumulate Bitcoin as corporate assets.

Argo Blockchain repays $35 million loan to Galaxy Digital

Bitcoin miner Argo Blockchain (NASDAQ:ARKB) has completed the repayment of a $35 million loan obtained from Galaxy Digital in 2022. This repayment, considered a “significant milestone,” was made without affecting the company’s hash rate, essential for Bitcoin mining. In December 2022, Argo avoided bankruptcy through this loan and the sale of its Helios facility.

Bitcoin mining revenue hits annual low

On August 11, daily revenue for Bitcoin miners fell to $2.54 million, marking a new annual low. After the April halving, which cut rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC, daily earnings fell below $3 million for the first time in May.

Bitcoin drops after weekend sell-off

On Monday, Bitcoin’s (COIN:BTCUSD) price fell 0.3% to $58,542 after a weekend sell-off. Despite some recovery late last week, market sentiment remains fragile, with investors concerned about upcoming U.S. inflation data due on Wednesday. A holiday in Japan also reduced trading volume, and a strong dollar weighed on risk assets. Analysts suggest a possible correction below $55,000 before any recovery. An important trendline is around $63,000. Recovery above this level could propel Bitcoin to new highs, with a potential six-figure rally. However, a high CPI reading could intensify corrections.

$89 million outflows from U.S. Bitcoin ETFs

On August 9, U.S. Bitcoin ETFs faced net outflows of $89.7 million, according to data from Farside Investors. While BlackRock’s (NASDAQ:IBIT) and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETFs (AMEX:BTC) saw inflows of $9.6 million and $15.6 million, respectively, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (AMEX:GBTC), Fidelity (AMEX:FBTC), and Bitwise (AMEX:BITB) ETFs saw withdrawals of $77 million, $19.8 million, and $18.1 million. By February 15, ETFs accounted for approximately 75% of new Bitcoin investments, contributing to the asset’s appreciation above $50,000.

Tether responds to Celsius litigation with extortion allegations

Tether (COIN:USDTUSD) contested a lawsuit filed by bankrupt Celsius, demanding the return of about $3.3 billion in Bitcoin. Celsius alleges that Tether sold Bitcoin at low prices and committed fraud by preferentially securing payment. Celsius also seeks $100 million in damages for breach of contract. Tether responds that it followed the contract correctly and considers the lawsuit baseless, emphasizing that its funds are secure and that the case will be vigorously defended.

Brazil approves first Solana ETF, but skepticism remains in the U.S.

Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) approved the first Solana spot ETF, to be offered by QR and managed by Vortx. The fund will use the CME CF Solana Dollar Reference Rate to determine Solana’s price in dollars. While the ETF is in the pre-operational stage, its final approval depends on B3. The launch is expected within the next 90 days.

U.S. financial experts are skeptical of a Solana spot ETF due to the high daily issuance of SOL tokens (COIN:SOLUSD), totaling 162,503 SOL per day, valued at around $25 million. Critics fear that this excessive supply could destabilize SOL’s price, and the absence of a similar ETF in the U.S. may limit institutional interest.

KfW and Boerse Stuttgart Digital announce partnership for digital bonds

Germany’s leading development bank, KfW, has partnered with Boerse Stuttgart Digital (BSD) to issue blockchain-based digital bonds. The issuance, scheduled for the coming weeks, will be conducted under Germany’s electronic securities law. BSD will handle the security of cryptocurrency wallets and private keys. The offering is part of the European Central Bank’s tests for blockchain transactions.

El Salvador receives record $1.6 billion investment for port modernization

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced a historic $1.6 billion investment from Yilport Holdings to modernize the Acajutla and La Unión ports. Yilport, in partnership with CEPA, will upgrade the infrastructure and expand the ports’ capacity. The project is part of the government’s third phase of economic development, aimed at boosting trade and creating jobs. The upgrade of La Unión port aligns with plans for the proposed Bitcoin City.

Tornado Cash developer seeks funds for appeal in the Netherlands

Alexey Pertsev, sentenced to five years in prison for his developments in the Tornado Cash protocol (COIN:TORNUSD), is seeking to raise between $750,000 and $1 million for his legal defense. On August 10, he launched a public campaign on Juicebox to raise Ether. The crypto community has already donated 15.35 ETH and over $40,000 for his cause, highlighting support for privacy and open-source code.

Binance challenges: blockages in Venezuela and health crisis of detained executive

Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria, is facing a severe deterioration in his health, requiring urgent surgeries for a herniated disc and tonsils. His wife, Yuki, has appealed to the Nigerian government to release or allow proper treatment, highlighting that his condition could cause permanent damage. Gambaryan, confined to a wheelchair, has also suffered from malaria and severe infections.

In Venezuela, Binance users are facing difficulties accessing the platform due to blockages imposed by the state-owned operator CANTV, which is blocking the Amazon CloudFront service. Binance has reported that it is monitoring the situation and assured the security of users’ funds. The blockage comes after President Nicolás Maduro announced the suspension of access to X for 10 days, citing efforts to combat violence plans.