Global

Futu Securities International, Hong Kong’s largest online broker, has made a significant leap in the cryptocurrency space by introducing Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to its platform. This move, effective August 1, 2024, represents a pivotal development for Hong Kong as it continues to establish itself as a key player in the global crypto market.

Recent reports have highlighted significant developments regarding international detainees and potential prisoner exchanges. According to Bloomberg, journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine Paul Whelan are being relocated from Russia to undisclosed locations.

Catizen, a leading Web3 social entertainment platform, has made significant strides within the Telegram ecosystem, recently gaining attention for its impressive performance on the TON Blockchain.

Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform, has achieved unprecedented growth in July, setting new records for trading volume, active traders, and new accounts. The platform recorded $387 million in volume for the month, more than tripling its previous all-time high of $111 million set in June.

In a bid to strengthen oversight of the cryptocurrency space, particularly focusing on stablecoins, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the Bank of England have unveiled a new project named Pyxtrial.

Marathon Digital Holdings, now rebranded as MARA, has reported a significant widening of its losses for the second quarter of 2024. The company's net loss reached $199.7 million, a sharp increase from the $9 million loss reported in the same period last year.

Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, has announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. The company reported $1.45 billion in total revenue, surpassing expectations but down from the $1.6 billion achieved in the previous quarter.

In a significant development in the cryptocurrency space, Bybit has announced it will withdraw from the French market effective August 13. The exchange cited “regulatory developments” as the primary reason for its decision, highlighting the impact of Europe's evolving crypto legislation on how companies operate within the region.

As cryptocurrencies gain prominence, countries around the world are enacting diverse regulations to address the risks and opportunities of digital assets.

Hamster Kombat, the rapidly growing Telegram-based tap-to-earn game, has achieved a significant milestone by reaching 300 million users.

Elon Musk's micro-blogging site X has suspended the account "makenowmeme," which allowed users to create memecoins with a single post. The suspension, which occurred on August 2, has disrupted the platform's operations, with the account's owners currently working to restore it.

Jan Van Eck, CEO of VanEck, has made a bold prediction about Bitcoin's future, forecasting that the cryptocurrency could reach up to $2.9 million per coin by 2050.