quest

The UK Parliament's Crypto and Digital Assets APPG co-chair Gurinder Singh Josan and Lord Vaizey of Didcot have written to the CEOs of all major UK banks, requesting clarification on how they treat cryptocurrency and digital asset businesses. The letter raises six questions regarding the banks' current policies, whether they provide services to crypto businesses, related transaction restrictions and their determining factors, and whether they have adjusted their practices since the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulatory regime came into effect.The group stated that many crypto businesses find it difficult to open bank accounts in the UK, and some banks restrict related payments. This letter stems from the parliamentary inquiry into access to banking services launched on July 21, with written submissions due by August 31. A January survey by the UK Crypto Asset Business Council indicated that the proportion of transactions blocked or delayed by banks when transferring to crypto exchanges is estimated to be as high as 40%. HSBC, NatWest, Monzo, and Nationwide limit the amount transferred to crypto exchanges each month to between £5,000 and £10,000, while Starling and Chase UK prohibit such transfers altogether. Lucy Rigby, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, stated that the government does not want FCA-licensed businesses to be restricted by banks solely because of their industry; the FCA completed the relevant rules in June, and the regime will be enforced from October 2027.

OpenGradient co-founder Matthew posted that his market maker (MM) team's funds on the BitMart trading platform are currently unable to be withdrawn, with the reason suspected to be related to the platform's insolvency. Matthew stated that BitMart still required token holders to lock their assets on the platform a week before halting related services, an action that he described as "shocking."He believes that BitMart's previous push for users to lock their assets was essentially just to gain liquidity. Currently, BitMart has not responded to these related accusations. This incident has raised community concerns about the security of funds on centralized trading platforms, asset custody, and liquidity management risks.

According to monitoring by Catcher Predict, in the predicted market Polymarket for the event "LoL: FlyQuest vs Team Liquid - LCS Regular Season," the "Yes" option in the sub-market "Both teams kill a dragon" has experienced a dramatic fluctuation in win rate, soaring from 50% an hour ago to the current 90% (a fluctuation of 40%). Please note the impact of related breaking news.

According to Livecoins, Brazil's Superior Court of Justice (STJ) rejected the release request of the suspect Luccas, maintaining his detention in São Paulo state. The case involves a large-scale fraud against the technology company C&M Software, with the suspect accused of illegally accessing the company's clearing system to steal approximately 813 million reais (about 160 million USD).The criminals dispersed the funds into nearly 300 fake bank accounts to increase tracking difficulty, and then exchanged the reais for BTC and USDT through multiple blockchains, attempting to cover up the illegal source of funds, constituting money laundering. The main attack occurred in June 2025, with the criminal organization having clearly defined roles (including transfer operators and cryptocurrency fund managers) and bribing internal company employees to assist in cracking the server passwords. The first-instance judge has ordered the arrest of the suspect and about 20 other individuals involved in the case, with the arrest warrant executed at the end of October.

A federal judge in Michigan rejected Coinbase's request for a preliminary injunction to block state enforcement of sports event contracts. U.S. District Judge Shalina Kumar of the Eastern District of Michigan ruled on Thursday that Coinbase failed to demonstrate that its claims were likely to succeed on the merits of the case, namely that federal law takes precedence over Michigan's jurisdiction.The cryptocurrency exchange sued the state of Michigan in December 2025, claiming that prediction markets fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), rather than state regulatory agencies.Coinbase specifically sought to provide access to event contracts issued by Kalshi for customers on its platform, including those in Michigan. According to the complaint, the exchange claimed that Michigan's laws constitute a "conflict of priority," as these laws undermine Congress's efforts to establish a unified federal regulatory framework.

According to CoinPost, the Financial Services Agency of Japan and the National Police Agency recently jointly sent a letter to the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), requesting exchanges to strengthen anti-fraud measures. This request includes 11 specific requirements, such as the need for withdrawal addresses to be registered in advance, enhanced transaction monitoring, strict verification of identification documents when opening accounts, and setting a withdrawal limit for a certain period after users deposit fiat currency or purchase crypto assets.The background of this action is the increasing prevalence of investment scams and "pig butchering" schemes on social media, where criminals frequently use crypto accounts to transfer illegal funds. The Financial Services Agency also suggested that exchanges flexibly set withdrawal limits based on customers' risk levels and transaction purposes, and that suspicious transactions should immediately result in account restrictions or freezes, while enhancing intelligence cooperation with the police. For system renovations that are difficult to implement in the short term, exchanges are allowed to proceed in phases. In addition, the Financial Services Agency has officially established the "Cryptocurrency and Stablecoin Division," responsible for related regulatory affairs.

According to CoinPost, the Financial Services Agency and the National Police Agency of Japan jointly issued a request to the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), asking all cryptocurrency traders to strengthen withdrawal restrictions to prevent fraud victims, proposing a total of 11 new measures.The main content includes: the introduction of a pre-registration system for withdrawal destinations, setting a certain period of withdrawal restrictions after depositing fiat currency or purchasing cryptocurrency, establishing withdrawal limits based on customer risk assessments, and enhancing transaction monitoring and information-sharing mechanisms with police in each prefecture. The background is that the damage from social media investment inducements and "pig butchering" scams continues to expand, with criminal methods becoming increasingly complex.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has requested the U.S. Department of Commerce to explain its policy towards the UAE, which involves granting the UAE-related entities more access to AI chip exports after the UAE invested in the Trump family-supported cryptocurrency project World Liberty Financial.In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, it was mentioned that an entity in Abu Dhabi invested $500 million in World Liberty Financial in January; another UAE-related company used World Liberty's USD 1 stablecoin to complete a $2 billion investment in the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. The U.S. Department of Commerce previously reclassified the UAE to Country Group A:5, allowing it to receive more license-free exports, including advanced chips. The department also stated that it would "actively review" license applications for exporting chips and servers to the UAE entity MGX involved in the $2 billion investment in Binance.Warren stated that the actions of the Department of Commerce raise significant questions about how the President's cryptocurrency business interests may affect institutional operations and national security. In June, several senators, including Warren, requested a hearing on the $500 million transaction involving World Liberty Financial.

According to South Korea's Digital Daily, Apple has recently negotiated with Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) on the supply prices of mobile DRAM such as LPDDR5X to reduce costs for the next generation of iPhones and smart devices, but was rejected. Changxin Memory insists on maintaining a price level comparable to or even higher than that of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, breaking Apple's usual bargaining advantage as an end manufacturer.The report analyzes that Chinese terminal companies such as Huawei and Xiaomi have locked in a large amount of Changxin Memory's production capacity through long-term high-price contracts, providing a solid price defense line in the domestic market. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are facing reduced supply of general DRAM due to the continuous expansion of HBM capacity, combined with Changxin Memory holding the price floor, significantly alleviating the shipping pressure and price decline risks for Korean manufacturers in the general DRAM sector, allowing them to focus resources on high-value AI storage products such as HBM4, LPCAMM2, and eSSD. Industry insiders expect that in the second half of the year, the operating profit margins of the Korean semiconductor camp and global market pricing power will further strengthen.

Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal sent a joint letter to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins on Monday, requesting an investigation into whether the Trump-related Meme coin violates securities laws. The two senators cited reports indicating that since the launch of the Trump Meme coin in January 2025, nearly 1 million crypto wallets have incurred losses totaling approximately $3.81 billion. They accused Trump of potentially being involved in a "Rug pull" and requested the SEC to determine whether there are fraudulent arrangements or violations of securities laws.Warren and Blumenthal stated that despite the token being promoted by Trump's own public statements, its price has significantly declined, and it is necessary for the SEC to investigate whether there is a fraudulent scheme and to prevent the continued extraction of immense value from hundreds of thousands of investors. At the time of this letter, the White House is evaluating the latest ethical compromise regarding conflicts of interest related to Trump's crypto business. This compromise is seen as key to advancing the "Clarity Act" crypto market structure bill. A previous version of the draft, endorsed by Trump, faced Democratic opposition because it only restricted public officials and their spouses from issuing or sponsoring digital assets, did not cover other family members, and was to be enforced by the Department of Justice.The two senators also stated that Trump has a "keen interest" in encouraging supporters to trade his Meme coin and claimed that Trump has earned $636 million from this Meme coin. As the Senate is set to enter its August recess on Friday, with the focus shifting to the November elections, whether the "Clarity Act" can advance in the short term still depends on whether both parties can reach a consensus on the conflicts of interest related to Trump’s crypto dealings.

According to CNN, U.S. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have requested the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the Meme coin TRUMP issued by Trump, to confirm whether the project involves fraud or improper profit-making. In a letter to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the two stated that the Trump Meme coin project "may constitute an illegal scam" and urged the regulatory agency to investigate whether the token involves "illegal fraudulent activities or facilitates improper profit acquisition."Reports indicate that Trump launched his personal Meme coin TRUMP just days before his inauguration in 2025. After the token went live, its price surged, reaching a market value peak of approximately $9 billion on January 19, 2025, but then plummeted significantly. Currently, the market value of the token has fallen to less than $400 million, a decline of over 95% from its peak. According to data from the cryptocurrency data platform CoinMarketCap, investors who bought at the high are currently facing about a 97% loss. Blockchain analytics firm Nansen previously cited data showing that by the end of June, nearly 1 million investors had incurred losses due to this Meme coin, with total losses amounting to approximately $3.8 billion. About 80% of the supply of the Trump Meme coin is held by entities related to the Trump Organization. Trump has previously stated that he complies with the law and allows his family to manage personal financial matters.Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal emphasized in their letter whether the project is similar to a Rug Pull in the cryptocurrency industry. They believe that even if it is not a traditional sudden withdrawal scam, it may still fall under a "soft pull" that leads to investor losses through a gradual withdrawal of market support. The SEC has not yet commented on this matter.

Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas commented on the Coldcard wallet security incident, saying, "I just learned that the Coldcard team has only 5 employees. For such an important company, this number is really too low. Would you be willing to use a bank with only 5 people working to store your life savings? Maybe this is a feature in the cryptocurrency space, but to me, this is clearly a warning signal."Balchunas further stated that, in contrast, institutions like Coinbase and Ledger, which have larger teams, may have advantages in security investment and operational capabilities, even if users have to bear higher transaction costs. A Bitcoin ETF offers another option: investors can obtain security guarantees provided by large, professional, regulated financial institutions while enjoying lower management fees.

According to Jinshi reports, U.S. President Trump stated, "America is ready to confront Iran; the level of military deterrence, strength, and power has not been seen since World War II.Nevertheless, we have just received requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries asking us to postpone any attacks, as a framework for an agreement has been reached. This will include the immediate, complete, and thorough opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the end of Iran's nuclear threat.Based on this request, I agree to cancel the attack for the future interests of the world and the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, provided that an agreement can be reached quickly. The State of Israel is committed to this with me. Everyone should take action and get this done."

According to Jinshi, the U.S. Department of Defense's emergency funding request of $67 billion for this fiscal year includes more than $10 billion for the purchase of "Patriot" missiles and the "THAAD" missile defense system. Among them, $5.75 billion is allocated for the procurement of "THAAD" missiles, and $5.57 billion for the additional purchase of "Patriot" missiles. In addition, the procurement list also includes $1.9 billion for "Standard-6" missiles and $1.3 billion for "Tomahawk" cruise missiles, as well as $692 million for the procurement of "precision strike missiles." With the U.S. military's operations in the Middle East, concerns have been raised about the status of weapon inventories.

According to Jinshi reports, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian army has taken control of Svitly and Novosych in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky mentioned that there are reports indicating Russia plans to launch a large-scale attack and has requested Trump to provide 300 "Patriot" interceptors before winter.The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that multiple Russian facilities were attacked, including the Ryazan oil refinery and the Black Sea Fleet's ship base. An advisor from the Ministry of Internal Affairs pointed out that Russia is launching a large-scale attack on Ukraine, and cruise missiles are expected to be imminent.

According to Jinshi reports, Ukrainian President Zelensky requested Trump to provide 300 Patriot interceptor systems before winter. Zelensky stated that a U.S. envoy may visit Kyiv within the next two weeks.

Binance UAE has adopted a policy to transfer most requests from foreign law enforcement agencies to the UAE and judicial assistance treaty process, resulting in slower access to user data.European investigators and U.S. prosecutors have stated that the relevant changes make it more difficult to track down fraudsters, combat money laundering, and quickly freeze or seize assets. Binance will still respond directly to cases involving child sexual abuse, terrorism, or imminent threats to life.Binance stated that it has not reduced cooperation with regulatory and law enforcement agencies and defined the new process as a stronger safeguard that meets regulatory standards. The company's compliance operations continue to face ongoing scrutiny.

According to The Block, the National Football League (NFL) sent a letter to CFTC Chairman Michael Selig on July 27, responding to the recent draft regulatory framework for prediction markets released by the CFTC, requesting enhancements in several key areas. The NFL emphasized in the letter that protecting the integrity of the game is its top priority and called on the CFTC to tighten the definition of high-risk contracts that are susceptible to manipulation, rely on referee discretion, or have outcomes that can be known in advance.In addition, the NFL expressed objections to the 10-day pre-approval window being too short, requested clarification on the insider trading ban, established a mandatory "league-exclusive prohibited bettors" list, and reiterated previous consumer protection recommendations such as banning margin trading, limiting advertising, and setting a 21-year age threshold.