🤖 AI agent enhancements, stablecoins, IPOs, & rate cuts

Gm! Welcome to the start of a new week!

Lots of news to cover today. On tap, there’s AI research studies on emotional intelligence enhancements of AI agents overtime, SPAC IPO filings, September U.S. interest rate cut odds hit 100%, Venezualans’ preference for USD stablecoins instead of the bolívar, and more.

Latest News 

SEC Forms Cross‑Border Task Force to Tackle Transnational Fraud

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a new Cross‑Border Task Force designed to bolster enforcement against transnational market manipulation and fraud by coordinating investigative resources internationally. SEC leadership emphasized a commitment to investor protection, welcoming global companies while warning that evasion of U.S. securities laws will face consequences. Read more →

Tether Confirms No Bitcoin Sell‑Off — Adds to BTC, Gold, Land

Tether has refuted claims that it is offloading its Bitcoin reserves to purchase gold, affirming instead that it continues to reinvest profits into Bitcoin while also acquiring gold and land assets. CEO Paolo Ardoino stressed that the firm “didn’t sell any Bitcoin,” signaling confidence in holding digital assets. Read more →

Tom Lee’s SPAC FutureCrest Files for $250 Million IPO

Led by macro strategist Tom Lee, FutureCrest Acquisition Corp. has filed for a $250 million IPO on Nasdaq under the ticker FCRSU. The SPAC will offer 25 million units at $10 each, each composed of one share and a quarter warrant exercisable at $11.50, targeting high‑growth sectors such as AI, fintech, and digital innovation. Read more →

AI Gains Emotional Intelligence Through Archetypes and Negotiation Strategies

Two recent research papers illustrate that AI agents can now be enhanced with fixed psychological archetypes or evolve emotional strategies over time, significantly improving negotiation performance and human-like consistency. While these emotionally intelligent agents offer more natural interactions, experts caution that such capabilities may be misused to manipulate confidences or obscure accountability. Read more →

Bitdeer Adds 100.6 BTC in Weekly Mining, Nears 2,000 BTC in Holdings

During the week ending September 5, 2025, Bitdeer mined 100.6 Bitcoin, pushing its total holdings to over 1,934.9 BTC. The accumulation reflects consistent output and reinforces the firm’s position as a leading institutional miner.

USDT Stablecoin Surpasses Venezuelan Bolívar Amid Hyperinflation

In Venezuela, where inflation has surged to 229%, stablecoins—particularly Tether USDt have overtaken the hyperinflated bolívar in everyday transactions like groceries and salaries. The Binance USDt rate is now widely preferred by consumers due to its liquidity and reliability, eclipsing both the official and parallel bolívar exchange rates. Read more →

2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index

Paxos, Frax, and Agora Compete for Hyperliquid’s USDH Contract

Paxos, Frax, and Agora are vying to secure the contract for issuing Hyperliquid’s new USDH stablecoin, with expectations that additional bids may surface. The competition underscores institutional interest in backing Hyperliquid’s expanding stablecoin infrastructure. Read more →

Ethereum Layer‑2 Platform Kinto Shuts Down After $1.6 Million Exploit

Kinto, a modular exchange and Layer‑2 solution on Ethereum, has ceased operations following a hack in July that led to a loss of 577 ETH (about $1.5 million). The shutdown reflects the growing risks around security and resilience in Layer‑2 ecosystems. Read more →

Why Crypto VCs Are Doubling Down on Prediction Markets

Crypto venture firms are increasingly backing on-chain prediction markets, viewing them as fertile ground for real-world utility, novel trading primitives, and censorship-resistant governance tools. Startups like Hyperliquid, Polymarket, and Zeitgeist are drawing fresh capital as investors bet these platforms can thrive in both speculative and informational roles. Read more →

Ethereum Saw $5B in New Stablecoins Minted Daily Last Week

Ethereum added $5 billion in new stablecoins each day over the past week, totaling over $35 billion in fresh issuance across USDT, USDC, and other tokens. Analysts view the surge as a signal of growing demand for on-chain liquidity and potential fuel for broader DeFi activity. Read more →

Trump Family Gains $1.3B in Crypto Wealth Through Two Fast-Rising Ventures

In just weeks, the Trump family has added $1.3 billion to its net worth through crypto firms World Liberty Financial and American Bitcoin Corp, both launched within the past year. With token deals, stock surges, and early-stage holdings, their crypto portfolio now rivals the value of their legacy real estate empire, signaling a dramatic pivot toward digital assets. Read more →

El Salvador Buys 21 Bitcoin on ‘Bitcoin Day,’ Holdings Surpass $700M

To mark the third anniversary of its Bitcoin Law, El Salvador purchased 21 BTC, pushing its total holdings above $700 million at current market value. The symbolic buy underscores President Bukele’s ongoing commitment to Bitcoin as a national reserve asset. Read more →

Hong Kong to Limit Initial Stablecoin Licenses Amid Surging Interest

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority plans to issue only a small number of stablecoin licenses in its first phase, despite receiving interest from 77 institutions by the end of last month. Major banks including ICBC (Asia), BOC Hong Kong, and HSBC have signaled intent to apply, with Standard Chartered and BOC Hong Kong seen as likely early recipients. Read more →

Dogecoin Sparks Weekend Altcoin Rally as XRP, TRON, Solana Edge Higher

Dogecoin led a weekend upswing in the altcoin market with a 5.1% gain to $0.22, as traders reacted positively to developments around a proposed ETF from REX Shares. Other altcoins followed suit: TRON climbed 2.4%, and XRP rose 2% amid renewed retail activity and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts. Read more →

Solo Bitcoin Miner Scores $347K from Rare Block Win

An independent solo miner struck gold—earning 3.13 BTC (≈ $347,872) by mining block 913,632 using Solo CKPool. This remarkable feat occurred during a time of record-high mining difficulty and marks the second solo mining success within just two weeks, spotlighting the enduring spirit of decentralization within Bitcoin’s ecosystem. Read more →

Hyperliquid Puts USDH Ticker to Validator Vote in First Governance Test

Hyperliquid is turning its first major governance mechanism toward deciding its stablecoin’s ticker. Validators will vote on whether to use "USDH" in a process that doesn't grant special privilege to the token but underscores the platform’s ambition to pivot away from reliance on bridged assets like USDC. The vote is slated for September 14, with technical upgrades soon to make quote assets permissionless. Read more →

Ethereum Spot ETFs Post Record $788M Outflow as Bitcoin Funds See Continued Inflows

From September 2 to 5, Ethereum spot ETFs experienced a record $788 million net outflow, with no individual fund posting a net gain. In contrast, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw a $246 million net inflow, extending a two-week streak of positive capital movement.

 CZ Eyes AI Companions for Crypto Integration

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) floated the idea of integrating AI companions with crypto, calling it a fast-growing space where users are already showing willingness to pay.

Over $513M in Token Unlocks Expected This Week Across Top Projects

Tokenomist reports that upcoming token unlocks over the next 7 days will exceed $513 million, including major one-time unlocks over $5 million from APT, STRK, and CONX, among others. Daily linear unlocks over $1 million are also expected for prominent assets like SOL, DOGE, SUI, and TAO, signaling potential market volatility ahead.

Fidelity’s Tokenized Treasury Fund Listed With $203.6M on Ethereum

A Fidelity-backed token representing shares in its Treasury Digital Fund is now listed on RWA.xyz, with total assets valued at $203.6 million. Built on Ethereum, the token reflects an investment portfolio holding 99.5% in cash and U.S. Treasury securities, highlighting growing institutional momentum in real-world asset tokenization.

September Rate Cut Odds Hit 100%

Investor expectations for a U.S. interest rate cut in September have surged, with odds now at 100%, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool. This reflects growing confidence that the Federal Reserve will begin loosening monetary policy.

Venus Protocol Recovers User’s $11.4M After Phishing Attack

Venus Protocol successfully helped a user recover $11.4 million worth of crypto lost in a phishing incident linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. The platform paused operations during the investigation and has since resumed service, emphasizing the loss resulted from user error—not a smart contract flaw. Read more →

Metaplanet Acquires Another 136 BTC, Accelerating Toward 2026 Goal

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet purchased 136 more BTC for roughly $15.2 million, raising its total holdings to 20,136 BTC. The company is now 67% toward its revised 2025 target of 30,000 BTC and 20% toward its ambitious 2026 goal of 100,000 BTC. Read more →

Nemo Protocol on Sui Exploited for $2.4M, Protocol Paused

Sui-based yield-trading platform Nemo Protocol was hit by an exploit that drained approximately $2.4 million in USDC. In response, the platform suspended all smart contracts to prevent further thefts. Read more →

Top Corporate ETH Treasuries Dominate With Massive Holdings

Corporate treasuries are increasingly turning to Ether, with firms like BitMine holding 1.5 million ETH at the top of the leaderboard. Many are leveraging strategies like staking, restaking, and transparent disclosures to generate yield and maintain institutional-grade exposure to ETH. Read more →

HashKey Launches $500M Digital Asset Treasury Fund in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s HashKey Group is launching a new $500 million Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) fund aimed at bridging traditional finance and crypto markets. Structured as a perpetual vehicle, the fund will channel institutional capital into crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum with continual subscriptions and redemptions. Read more →

Backpack EU Launches Regulated Perpetual Futures Exchange in Europe

Backpack has officially launched Backpack EU, becoming one of the first platforms to offer regulated perpetual futures trading in Europe. The exchange is now in private beta, releasing only 100 access spots per day, with a waitlist open for early participants.

South Africa’s Altvest Plans $210M Raise to Buy Bitcoin

Investment platform Altvest is preparing to raise $210 million to purchase Bitcoin, positioning itself as one of the largest crypto-focused allocations on the African continent. The move reflects growing institutional interest in Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Read more →

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