NY Crypto Exchange Report Bearish for Bitcoin ETF Plans 1821

A new report drafted by the New York attorney general’s office (OAG) alleges that a significant number of cryptocurrency exchanges may be vulnerable to market manipulation, a finding that could prove ominous for hopes among investors that federal regulators will approve a bitcoin ETF or other exchange-traded crypto products in the near-term.

Bitcoin, according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton, is not a security under federal law. However, an exchange-listed fund that provides investors with exposure to bitcoin would be a security, which is why the approval of these products falls under the SEC’s purview.

While several bitcoin ETF applicants have sought to create a fund whose shares would be backed by physical BTC, the sentiment among most analysts is that the first cryptocurrency ETF to receive a green light from the SEC will be one that holds bitcoin futures, which are already regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Currently, bitcoin futures are available on two regulated U.S. stock exchanges — CME and CBOE, both of which are based in Chicago. CBOE was the first to market with its cryptocurrency product, though CME’s sees much more average daily trading volume and bases its pricing data on a wider array of spot trading markets.

This is where the OAG report comes in. The report, published on Monday, is the culmination of a five-month investigation into the operations of 13 cryptocurrency exchanges. Among other things, the OAG examined whether exchanges, in its view, adequately combat market manipulation.

As noted by Bloomberg’s Matt Leising, three of the cryptocurrency exchanges that provide pricing data for CME’s future contracts had policies that the OAG flagged as problematic.

One, Kraken, incurred the OAG’s ire for publicly flouting the state’s inquiry, with CEO Jesse Powell arguing that market manipulation “doesn’t matter to crypto traders.” The report said that two others, Bitstamp and itBit, have no formal policies in place to prevent market manipulation.

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SHIFT Secures SNZ Holdings as Lead Investor in a $2M Seed Round to Launch Tokenized Stocks value on Solana 2631

SHIFT Stocks, pioneering fully-backed, permissionless tokenized stocks and ETFs value on-chain, has announced that SNZ Holdings will lead its $2 million seed round. This milestone follows a $400,000 pre-seed raise and positions SHIFT to accelerate its public launch.

SHIFT Stocks are the next generation of tokenized assets under Europe’s MiCAR framework. Unlike legacy security tokens with restrictive transfer controls, SHIFT’s Asset Referenced Tokens are classified as crypto assets, enabling 24/7 permissionless trading across DEXs, lending protocols, and centralized exchanges without broker-dealer limitations.

Veteran-led team and institutional stack

SHIFT Stocks is led by a team of seasoned operators from Titan, Flow Traders, Zaisan, Securitize, Kraken US, Cookie DAO, Deloitte, and McKinsey & Company. The company has established an institutional-grade compliance and custody framework with DekaBank and EY audits, combined with Chainlink Proof of Reserve for on-chain verification.

Robust roadmap toward launch

SHIFT’s roadmap includes the upcoming mainnet launch of SHIFT Stocks in Q4 2025, alongside farm incentives for LPs, CEX listings, and the introduction of new stock tokens focused on market demand. The team is also preparing a strategic and private round in Q4 2025 to expand liquidity and ecosystem adoption, with further milestones planned for 2026 including DeFi yield vaults and global licensing expansions.

Deep ecosystem integration on Solana

SHIFT has secured top-tier partnerships across the Solana network, including Orca, Kamino, Jupiter, MaxBid, and Chainlink, ensuring deep liquidity and composability within DeFi. The launch will also be supported by a robust liquidity incentive program designed to reward early LPs and market makers. SHIFT is aligning fundraising, LP onboarding, and community growth with major global industry gatherings to maximize reach and adoption.

Backing and strategic support

Alongside SNZ Holdings, SHIFT is supported by a strong network of strategic investors and partners, including Chainlink, Prim3VC, and other leading backers across the Web3 and institutional finance space. This coalition provides SHIFT not only with capital, but also with technical depth, liquidity partnerships, and market reach. By combining investment with deep ecosystem alignment, SHIFT Stocks is positioned to accelerate adoption of tokenized stocks and ETFs value and establish itself as a category leader in on-chain financial assets.

To learn more about SHIFT Stocks and follow the launch, visit shiftrwa.xyz

Tradr Readies Leveraged Single-Stock ETFs on ALAB and DDOG 1698

First-to-market 2X ETFs on Astera Labs and Datadog set to trade on Tuesday

Tradr ETFs, a provider of ETFs designed for sophisticated investors and professional traders, announced today that it expects to launch two first-to-market leveraged single-stock ETFs on Astera Labs Inc. and Datadog Inc. on Tuesday, August 12. This launch will grow Tradr’s leveraged ETF lineup to 21 funds.

The two new funds are:

  • Tradr 2X Long DDOG Daily ETF (Cboe: DOGD)
  • Tradr 2X Long ALAB Daily ETF (Cboe: LABX)

“Both stocks represent very compelling growth narratives within the AI theme, and we are excited to soon make these two ETFs available to the Tradr Tribe”, said Matt Markiewicz, Tradr’s Head of Product and Capital Markets. “Datadog’s recent addition to the S&P 500 Index is a remarkable achievement as it’s only been public for just under six years, while Astera, which IPO’d in March 2024, has seen meteoric revenue growth over the last several years.”

Since late-April, Tradr ETFs has introduced a suite of 2X long leveraged ETFs on 12 captivating stocks, including CoreWeave (CWVX), Tempus AI (TEMT), AppLovin (APPX), D-Wave Quantum (QBTX), and NuScale Power (SMU). As of August 7, 2025, the collective assets under management of the 12 launches stands at approximately $400 million.

For detailed information on Tradr ETFs and the significant risks involved with inverse and leveraged ETFs, please visit www.tradretfs.com.

About Tradr ETFs

Tradr ETFs are designed for sophisticated investors and professional traders who are looking to express high conviction investment views. The strategies include leveraged and inverse ETFs that seek short or long exposure to actively traded stocks and ETFs.

GameSquare Expands Crypto Treasury Program to $250 Million 2303

Increases Ethereum treasury holdings to approximately $38 million, with recent $30 million purchase

Launches NFT yield program creating one of the first treasury management strategies to leverage digital assets within the Ethereum ecosystem targeting an expected annualized return of 6%-10%

GameSquare Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “GameSquare”) a next-generation media, entertainment, and technology company, today announced that its Board of Directors has increased the Company’s digital asset treasury management authorization from $100 million to $250 million.

As part of the expanded program, the Board has approved a new NFT yield strategy, with an initial $10 million allocation. The updated treasury framework enables the Company to actively deploy capital into high-quality Ethereum-based assets and generate sustainable stablecoin yields targeting a 6–10% return.

“We believe this moment marks the future of capital strategy for modern media companies, after months of planning and diligence. We’re not just holding Ethereum, we’re putting it to work in a proprietary way with best-in-class partners. With Dialectic as our partner, we’re building a dynamic treasury engine designed to generate real onchain yield that funds innovation across our exclusive platform. This isn’t a hedge, it’s a multi-year growth strategy focused on creating significant shareholder value,” said Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare.

ETH Holdings Update

GameSquare recently purchased $30 million of ETH, acquiring approximately 8,351.89 ETH at a weighted average price of approximately $3,592 per ETH. To date, GameSquare has purchased $35 million of ETH under its $250 million authorization. The Company currently has approximately 10,170.74 ETH as of July 21, 2025.

NFT Strategy Launch

GameSquare’s NFT strategy will focus on Ethereum-native digital assets that align with its creative DNA, including culturally iconic digital art and collectibles. Rather than passively holding crypto assets, the Company is emphasizing capital efficiency and utilizing DeFi protocols to unlock stablecoin yield while enhancing the long-term value of its ETH holdings.

To ensure strong oversight, GameSquare has implemented a dedicated digital asset investment committee reporting to the Board. All allocations are reviewed for compliance, security, and valuation integrity. The Company does not engage in related-party transactions and has strict internal controls in place for digital asset custody and liquidity management.

“We are excited to be among the first public companies to include NFTs as part of a diversified digital asset strategy. This reflects the innovative approach to our treasury management initiatives. With deep experience building in-game and real-world creative environments, GameSquare is uniquely positioned to understand the cultural and economic value of these digital assets,” Kenna continued.

Increased Authorization

The Company’s Board of Directors has increased its crypto treasury management authorization from $100 million to $250 million, as a result of the program’s mounting success. The Company has formed a strategic partnership with leaders in the crypto space including Ryan Zurrer of Dialectic and Rhydon Lee of Goff Capital to manage and optimize its treasury management program.

“Our crypto strategy complements GameSquare’s broader strategic growth plan and aligns with the growing institutional adoption of Ethereum-based assets. GameSquare isn’t just trying to get involved in an arms race of who can acquire the most ETH for the sake of acquiring ETH. Our growth strategy is focused on innovation and leveraging our established digital, media and creative operations. In addition, our treasury program strengthens our balance sheet while building the potential for recurring cash flow from a rapidly evolving asset class. We are excited to report on our growing success,” Kenna concluded.

GameSquare’s custom ETH-focused yield generation strategy is built on top of Dialectic’s proprietary platform Medici, which applies machine learning models, automated optimization, and multi-layered risk controls to generate best-in-class risk-adjusted returns. Targeted onchain yields of 8-14% significantly exceed the current ETH staking benchmarks of 3-4%. Dialectic’s program includes multi-layered risk management protocols that are widely recognized as the best risk adjusted yields in DeFi.

Once fully implemented, GameSquare expects to allocate capital generated from this strategy to support additional ETH asset purchases or reinvest in the Company’s growth initiatives.

About GameSquare Holdings, Inc.

GameSquare is a cutting-edge media, entertainment, and technology company transforming how brands and publishers connect with Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Millennial audiences. With a platform that spans award-winning creative services, advanced analytics, and FaZe Clan, one of the most iconic gaming organizations, we operate one of the largest gaming media networks in North America. Complementing our operating strategy, GameSquare operates a blockchain-native Ethereum treasury management program designed to generate onchain yield and enhance capital efficiency, reinforcing our commitment to building a dynamic, high-performing media company at the intersection of culture, technology, and next-generation financial innovation.

To learn more, visit www.gamesquare.com.

BTCT Announces Completion of $1 Million Ethereum Strategic Reserve 2570

BTC Digital Ltd. (“BTCT” or the “Company”), a leading blockchain technology company, today announced that it has established a strategic reserve of $1 million in Ethereum (ETH). This milestone marks the first phase of BTCT’s broader initiative to deepen its exposure to Ethereum’s on–chain financial infrastructure and to position the Company for long–term growth in the emerging digital–asset era.

“As the stablecoin market continues its explosive growth, Ethereum has emerged as the foundation of on–chain USD settlement and value transfer,” said Mr. Siguang Peng, CEO of BTCT. “By securing an initial $1 million ETH reserve today—and with plans to scale that position—we are proactively positioning ourselves for decentralized finance, stablecoin issuance, and asset tokenization. This strategic move strengthens our technological edge, enhances market confidence, and optimizes capital deployment.”

Key Drivers of BTCT’s Ethereum Reserve Strategy:

  • Dominant Stablecoin Infrastructure: Over half of all major stablecoins—including USDT and USDC—operate on Ethereum, making it the centerpiece of decentralized USD issuance and settlement.
  • High–Volume On–Chain Transactions: Stablecoin activity has pushed Ethereum’s on–chain transaction volume to levels approaching traditional financial rails, underscoring its growing importance in global payments and liquidity networks.
  • Collateral and Security Dynamics: As decentralized finance and real–world asset tokenization expand, increased ETH staking and collateralization will further reduce circulating supply, reinforcing network security and value.
  • Institutional Adoption: A number of mining and blockchain firms have already begun integrating ETH into their reserve portfolios, leveraging smart contracts for yield–generation, collateral, and cross–chain financial products.
  • Regulatory and Technical Tailwinds: U.S. regulatory clarity, the forthcoming Pectra upgrade, and mature Layer–2 scaling solutions will significantly boost Ethereum’s throughput, cost–efficiency, and compliance readiness.

Looking Ahead

Building on its origins in large–scale crypto mining, BTCT is undergoing a strategic evolution from “hash–rate provider” to “on–chain financial infrastructure participant.” The Company intends to continuously augment its ETH holdings in alignment with market developments and network upgrades. BTCT believes that Ethereum, akin to “digital gold,” will remain indispensable—not only as a stablecoin settlement hub but also as a catalyst for decentralized payments, asset tokenization, and the next wave of global financial interoperability.

About BTC Digital Ltd.

BTC Digital Ltd. is a blockchain technology company, with a long-term strategy to create value across the metaverse, blockchain and cryptocurrency mining industry. The Company is committed to developing blockchain related businesses in North America, including cryptocurrency mining, mining farm construction, mining pool and data center operation, and miner accessories business.

For more information, please visit: https://btct.investorroom.com/

R0AR Announces R0ARchain: A Purpose-Built Layer 2 Accelerating Ethereum 1832

In an ecosystem flooded with performance-optimized chains, R0AR has announced R0ARchain, a custom Layer 2 blockchain designed to serve as the backbone of its unified DeFi, NFT and AI ecosystem. Built on the Optimism OP Stack, R0ARchain extends Ethereum’s security guarantees while eliminating the complexity, fragmentation and inefficiencies that plague most multichain user journeys.

Built for Everyday Crypto

R0ARchain consolidates core web3 functions such as staking, liquidity, NFTs and real-world asset issuance into a single execution environment, while offering lower fees, faster finality and seamless integration with OP-based ecosystems like Base and Zora.

From genesis, R0ARchain supports:

  • Native token staking and time-based APY rewards
  • Built-in AI compatibility for wallet-driven automations
  • NFT functionality tied to access, identity, and on-chain reputation
  • Embedded support for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) using ERC-3463

All features operate within a unified environment with no bridges, no third-party dashboards and no contract hopping required.

«We’re not launching a chain for the sake of it, R0ARchain exists because people are tired of navigating dashboards, jumping bridges, and chasing fragmented narratives just to complete a single transaction. We just built one home for it all where users can move, earn, and build without sacrificing privacy or control». – Dustin Hedrick, Co-Founder & CTO

Designed for Human-Centric Onboarding

While most chains focus on developer performance, R0ARchain prioritizes human usability first. Once a wallet is connected, users can manage assets, interact with modules, and claim rewards through a unified dashboard with no external tools or extra steps required. This streamlined experience reduces errors, enhances safety and simplifies onboarding especially for new users entering Web3.

Developer-Ready from Day One

For developers, R0ARchain offers a familiar EVM-compatible environment with:

  • Support for Hardhat, Remix, and other standard toolkits
  • Pre-integrated modules for staking, NFT logic and AI hooks
  • Gas-efficient contract execution for complex, composable applications

For institutions, it lays the foundation for compliant, auditable deployment of tokenized assets via the upcoming R0AR Portal, which includes integrated scoring, identity layers and asset tracking features.

AI Integration from the Start

Unlike platforms that retro-fit AI integrations, R0ARchain was built from the ground up for on-chain AI agents. These agents can read wallet activity, staking history, and NFT metadata in real time enabling automated actions, dynamic UIs and predictive personalization.

All logic is native, transparent and composable with no external APIs or centralized compute layers required.

Real-World Assets Ready by Design

With rising demand for real-world asset tokenization, R0ARchain integrates native ERC-3463 support, a standard built for representing off-chain value on-chain. This includes scoring, compliance tooling, and real-time tracking. Rather than chasing short-term trends, R0ARchain focuses on durable, regulated ownership without compromising Ethereum compatibility or decentralization.

Extending the Possibilities of Ethereum

Instead of reinventing the wheel, R0ARchain anchors to Ethereum for security and finality, while expanding its day-to-day capabilities. With a focus on staking, NFTs, AI interaction, and RWAs, it delivers real-world utility without fragmenting the user or developer experience.

By building on the OP Stack, R0ARchain inherits Ethereum’s trust while unlocking better uptime, lower risk, and consistent UX across all users.

Explore the ecosystem: www.r0ar.io/r0archain

About R0AR

R0AR is a next-gen DeFi ecosystem built on a custom Layer 2 chain using the Optimism OP stack. It unifies self-custody, AI-powered trading, staking, NFTs and real-world asset support into one seamless platform. Powered by the $1R0AR token and governed by its community, R0AR is engineered to unlock secure, intelligent and sovereign finance for everyone.

Learn more at r0ar.io.

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade triggers MEV surge: ZenMEV maximizes staking rewards 2258

Ethereum’s recent Pectra upgrade, the network’s biggest update since the Merge, is changing the game for crypto stakers. Activated on May 7, 2025, this feature-packed upgrade makes Ethereum staking easier, faster, and more rewarding. It introduced key improvements like EIP-7251, which raised the validator stake limit from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH, letting stakers combine and top up validators for compounded rewards. At the same time, EIP-6110 slashed deposit wait times from ~12 hours down to about 13 minutes by moving staking deposits on-chain. Additionally, EIP-7002 brought unprecedented flexibility by enabling on-chain partial withdrawals and quick validator exits.

These changes have supercharged the staking landscape. Larger validator balances mean fewer nodes can carry more weight, boosting the odds of proposing blocks and capturing more MEV (Maximal Extractable Value). In short, Pectra unlocked a surge in MEV activity and created lucrative new opportunities for anyone staking ETH. Industry observers note that Pectra’s enhancements are “enhancing MEV potential” for validators. Ethereum’s latest upgrade has effectively kicked off a gold rush for savvy stakers eager to maximize their yields.

ZenMEV: Great way to capture post-Pectra MEV

With the Pectra upgrade opening the floodgates of MEV profits, ZenMEV has quickly emerged as the go-to platform for capturing this value. ZenMEV is a fast rising staking platform optimized for capturing MEV, combining advanced technology and smart strategies to help users reap higher rewards. Unlike regular staking services which rely only on block rewards, ZenMEV unlocks extra yield by extracting MEV and returning those structural profits directly to ordinary users.

For capturing the new MEV opportunities, ZenMEV stands out in several key ways:

  • Advanced MEV technology: ZenMEV’s core strength is its Zenbot engine, an AI-driven system that scans blockchain transactions in real time. The platform efficiently processes thousands of transactions per second using deep learning models and mempool scanning techniques to spot profitable opportunities instantly. These sophisticated algorithms enable ZenMEV to accurately detect lucrative arbitrage, swaps, or price discrepancies and execute them within milliseconds for maximum gain.
  • Optimized MEV strategies: ZenMEV employs a suite of strategies to extract value that others miss. Its bots capture DeFi arbitrage, large DEX swap opportunities, and liquidation events across the Ethereum network. The platform also goes beyond Ethereum, seeking MEV on other networks like BNB Chain, Solana, and Cosmos and customizing its tactics for each chain’s unique opportunities. This broad approach means stakers enjoy a diversified stream of MEV profits across multiple ecosystems.
  • Liquidity flexibility: Thanks to Pectra’s upgrades, ZenMEV offers stakers more control over their funds. The platform supports on-chain partial withdrawals and automated exits, meaning users can access their capital or rebalance with minimal delay. ZenMEV can dynamically adjust validator stakes and reallocate funds to higher yield strategies on the fly. You can also claim your accumulated MEV rewards at any time or even compound them by restaking for even greater gains. This flexibility ensures you’re never cut off from your liquidity, even while earning high yields.
  • Ease of use: ZenMEV is built for simplicity. No specialized knowledge is required to benefit from its advanced services. The platform handles all the complex MEV processes automatically. You simply stake your assets through a straightforward web interface, and ZenMEV’s system takes care of identifying and executing profitable transactions behind the scenes. The result is enhanced returns with minimal effort, making sophisticated MEV income accessible to anyone.
  • Ethical profit sharing: ZenMEV is committed to transparency and fair profit sharing. Historically, MEV profits were an “exclusive insider game” limited to miners or bots, but ZenMEV flips that script. All MEV gains are redistributed to ZenMEV stakers transparently via smart contracts. By democratizing access to MEV revenue, ZenMEV ensures that everyday stakers get their fair share of the extra profits that used to be enjoyed only by insiders. This ethical approach builds trust and aligns ZenMEV’s success with the community’s success.

Seize the moment: Start staking with ZenMEV today

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade has ushered in a new era of higher staking rewards, and ZenMEV is uniquely positioned to help you capitalize on it. By merging standard staking yields with bountiful MEV earnings, ZenMEV can boost your returns. Even during market downturns, ZenMEV’s strategies continue to generate income from network activity.

ZenMEV provides an institutional quality platform that is also easy to use, letting anyone tap into advanced MEV profits to amplify their staking yields. If you’re ready to ride the wave of these new opportunities, it’s simple to get started: visit the official ZenMEV website to learn more and begin staking. Join the growing community of stakers who are already enjoying higher rewards with ZenMEV’s MEV powered staking.