Daily digests
Crypto News Digest: August 15, 2026
The stories that moved crypto on August 15, 2026.
20 stories
All crypto news
JPMorgan cut Polymarket’s banking ties in October but still wants a role in a potential IPO: FT
JPMorgan has cut banking ties with Polymarket in October, but still seeks a role in the company's potential IPO, according to the Financial Times. Despite the severed relationship, Polymarket maintains a close, active relationship with JPMorgan, having recently moved its accounts to a new lender, whose identity remains undisclosed, for now, impacting Polymarket's funding and growth prospects.
Bybit adds Unitree, Moonshot AI to pre-IPO perpetuals lineup
Bybit is expanding its TradFi perpetuals lineup to over 200 products, adding Unitree and Moonshot AI to its pre-IPO perpetuals offerings. This move brings the total number of products to 200, spanning equities, ETFs, commodities, indices, and private companies. The additions cater to growing demand for pre-IPO perpetuals, boosting Bybit's market presence.
Harvard leaves bitcoin ETF stake untouched in Q2 after cutting it 43% in the prior quarter
Harvard University holds its bitcoin ETF stake unchanged in Q2 after cutting it 43% in the prior quarter, with 22.9 million IBIT shares remaining. UAE-based Mubadala Investment Company and the Abu Dhabi Investment Council also retain their combined stake, indicating a cautious yet stable approach to bitcoin investment among institutional investors, shaping market sentiment.
Tokenized stock holders more than double as monthly volume surges
Tokenized equities have more than doubled their holders to 1.31 million over the past month, with a significant surge in monthly transfer volume, increasing 179% to $23.13 billion. Distributed value has also risen 5.9% to $2.38 billion, indicating growing interest in tokenized stocks. This trend suggests a growing adoption of digital securities in the market.
Swiss mega-bank UBS ramps up its Bitcoin exposure with a massive 24-fold surge in ETF call options
UBS is significantly increasing its Bitcoin exposure, with a 24-fold surge in ETF call options, indicating a strong bullish stance on the cryptocurrency. Direct holdings of IBIT also rose 12% to 407,890 shares, while put option exposure dropped 53% to 143,300 underlying shares. This suggests a substantial shift in UBS's Bitcoin strategy, potentially influencing market sentiment and investor confidence.
Robot maker Unitree is going public. Hyperliquid traders see 4x upside from IPO price
Unitree, a leading robot maker, is going public with its IPO, sparking intense interest among traders. Hyperliquid traders value the company at nearly $38 billion, a staggering 4x its IPO price of $9 billion, leaving leveraged bets vulnerable when trading begins. This disparity indicates a potential 4x upside for investors, making the IPO a highly anticipated event.
Apple Turns to Alibaba to Help Build AI Model for China
Apple is collaborating with Alibaba to develop an AI model for China, combining its in-house model with Alibaba's Qwen, a cutting-edge AI technology. This partnership will enable Apple to bring Apple Intelligence to Chinese iPhones, potentially expanding its market presence in the country. The move is expected to enhance user experience and increase Apple's competitiveness in the Chinese market.
Paul Tudor Jones’ investment firm increases stake in BlackRock's bitcoin ETF after year of selling
Paul Tudor Jones' investment firm is increasing its stake in BlackRock's bitcoin ETF, a surprising turnaround after a year of selling. The firm's calls fell 85.2% to 148,000 underlying shares, while puts dropped 1.4% to 715,000. This shift suggests growing confidence in the cryptocurrency market, potentially boosting investor sentiment and driving further adoption.
Why the world’s second-largest Bitcoin mining power is shutting down rigs in its capital city
The world's second-largest Bitcoin mining power is shutting down rigs in its capital city due to a year-round restriction enacted by the Energy Ministry to mitigate power capacity shortages caused by energy-intensive mining facilities straining regional grids, with approximately 90% of the country's mining capacity affected, leading to a significant decline in the local mining industry.
Trump, CFTC Chair Selig expected at Wednesday White House meeting with crypto and prediction market executives
Trump and CFTC Chair Selig are expected to attend a White House meeting with crypto and prediction market executives on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET, marking a kickoff for the CFTC's first Innovation Advisory Committee meeting the next day. This meeting aims to explore regulatory frameworks for emerging markets, potentially paving the way for increased industry cooperation and oversight.
Meta Patents Cameras That Recognize Faces and Log Your Actions
Meta is filing patents for facial recognition technology that logs users' actions without explicit consent, turning raw footage into labeled clips of who did what. This technology would analyze and categorize user interactions, raising concerns about data privacy and surveillance. The implications are significant, potentially altering the way online interactions are monitored and tracked.
The $11.2 billion in 2026 funding that killed crypto’s permissionless era
Regulated firms are receiving massive funding, with a total of $11.2 billion invested in the first half of 2026, marking a significant shift in the crypto landscape. Key players like BlackRock and Goldman are partnering with Persian Gulf sovereigns to support regulated entities, effectively ending crypto's permissionless era, as traditional finance seeps into the space.
Clarity survives (barely), Strategy sells and the untold story of Mastercard's $1.8 billion deal: Crypto's week in 5 stories
Washington narrowly keeps crypto's biggest legislative hope alive, the Clarity Act, amidst ongoing debates. Meanwhile, Wall Street pushes deeper into digital assets with Mastercard's $1.8 billion deal. A security scare sends billions of dollars of bitcoin moving between wallets, highlighting the industry's vulnerability. Market sentiment remains cautious amidst these developments.
Bitcoin to $1M by 2030 is ‘mathematically impossible’ says Markus Thielen
Markus Thielen claims that achieving a $1 million Bitcoin price by 2030 is mathematically impossible due to the trillions of dollars required to boost its value. He suggests that even with a 10% annual growth rate, it would take over 100 years to reach such a price, making it a highly unlikely scenario.
Bitcoin could bottom in October, altcoins are ‘basically dead,’ Swan CEO says
Klippsten predicts Bitcoin could bottom around October, roughly a year after its previous peak, potentially stabilizing the market. He believes crypto's best outcome is to integrate with traditional finance, a notion that could alleviate investor concerns. This perspective may influence investor strategies, as a potential bottom in Bitcoin could stabilize the broader cryptocurrency market.
Trump-Linked World Liberty Gets Conditional Bank Charter for USD1 Stablecoin
The proposed World Liberty Trust Company, linked to former US President Donald Trump, receives a conditional bank charter for issuing the USD1 stablecoin, a move that could potentially replace BitGo as the issuer. The charter is conditional on meeting regulatory requirements, a process expected to take several months. This development may increase competition in the stablecoin market.
Wall Street's private blockchain obsession is a 'race to the bottom,' Ethereum advocate Raman warns
Ethereum advocate Raman cautions that Wall Street's private blockchain obsession is a 'race to the bottom', warning that centrally controlled, permission-only networks lack transparency and openness, hindering the full potential of blockchain technology. This approach may stifle innovation and limit the benefits of blockchain, a crucial consideration for the industry's future growth and adoption.
Kalshi ordered to stop broad range of prediction markets in Washington
Kalshi is ordered to stop a broad range of prediction markets in Washington, with initial geofencing required by August 19 and a GeoComply multi-source geofencing system by September 2. Kalshi must comply with these regulations to continue operating in the state.
Galaxy lowers CLARITY Act odds to 10%
Galaxy lowers CLARITY Act odds to 10% citing unresolved ethics, stablecoin yield, and developer protection issues, along with a narrow Senate window when lawmakers return in September. This reduced likelihood of passage may impact the broader crypto regulatory landscape, potentially delaying or altering future legislation, and affecting investor sentiment and market stability.
Trump expected to attend White House meeting with crypto CEOs, sources say
President Donald Trump is expected to attend a White House meeting with CEOs from the crypto, prediction markets, and AI industries next week, according to sources. The meeting is anticipated to bring together leaders from various sectors, potentially sparking discussions on regulatory frameworks and future industry collaborations, which could have significant implications for the rapidly evolving crypto market landscape.