Kalshi taps influencer to head crypto arm

Cointelegraph

Prediction market platform Kalshi has hired digital assets influencer John Wang as its head of crypto in a move the CEO called “betting on slope.”

In a Monday notice, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour said the company had hired the 23-year-old New York-based influencer, who dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania “to pursue crypto” in 2024. According to his LinkedIn, Wang worked as a fellow at Paradigm and an intern at Immutable before co-founding blockchain security company Armor Labs in 2022.

“Slope is about high quality thinking, dreaming big, and working mercilessly hard,” said Mansour. “The more time I spent with John, the deeper my conviction grew. I can’t wait for us to tackle the roadmap we are putting together.”

Wang’s position comes while Kalshi is under scrutiny as US lawmakers consider Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an agency with regulatory authority over the company.

The CFTC filed an enforcement action against Kalshi in September 2024 while under the Biden administration, but filed a motion in May to drop the case while under President Donald Trump.

Political motivation for platform offering election betting?

Wang, as the new head of crypto, suggested that prediction markets could make people more engaged “politically, financially, culturally,” citing his experience monitoring bets over the 2024 US presidential election:

“As an Australian, I can’t vote in the US elections. But prediction markets changed the way I experienced them. In that moment it clicked: this is how society will process truth. Not through punditry or biased takes, but through markets that transform belief into something tangible.”

Though launched in 2021, activity on Kalshi surged ahead of the 2024 US elections, for which the platform offered many options for users to bet. Though the CFTC filed for a temporary injunction to block Kalshi from listing political event contracts, a court ruled in October — one month before the federal elections — that the platform could offer such bets.

Kalshi closed a $185 million funding round in June, making the company’s valuation about $2 billion. The funding round and Wang’s hiring followed the platform announcing it would accept Bitcoin (BTC) deposits in April as part of efforts to onboard more crypto-native users.

Magazine: Can privacy survive in US crypto policy after Roman Storm’s conviction?

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

You understand and acknowledge that there is a high degree of risk involved in trading. Following any strategies or investment methods may lead to potential losses. The content on the site is provided by our contributors and analysts for information purposes only. You are solely responsible for determining whether any trading assets, securities, strategy, or any other product is suitable for investing based on your own investment objectives and financial situation.

Add to Favorites

LIBRA token ‘facilitator’ earns $12 million sniping Kanye West memecoin: Bubblemaps

The Block

Blockchain analysis firm Bubblemaps alleged on Monday that the self-proclaimed LIBRA token "facilitator" Hayden Davis earned $12 million sniping Kanye West’s recently-launched YZY memecoin.

Davis was at the center of the LIBRA token controversy that involved Argentine President Javier Milei. He is also believed to have played a role in creating the the Melania Trump memecoin that crashed in value.

"We noticed several addresses were funded from CEXs the day before launch [of YZY]," Bubblemaps posted to X. "Following the trail, we found a cluster prepared to snipe YZY. These addresses linked back to Hayden Davis (Kelsier) through funding transactions, [Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol] CCTP transfers, and shared deposits."

Sniping is a term in crypto that typically refers to an automated bot or smart contract executing programmed transactions to buy a large portion of a newly launched token’s supply — typically to be sold later for a significant profit.

Bubblemaps continued explaining how it pinpointed Davis' alleged involvement in sniping the West memecoin: "We can’t confirm if Hayden (Kelsier) had insider info or a direct link to the YZY team, but these 14 snipers, made $12 million in profits, bought as early as 1:54 AM UTC, one minute after the announcement [of the new token]."

It appears there could be a lot of questions surrounding who was involved with the launch of the West memecoin and who might have been privy to insider information. Last week, Bubblemaps said it had identified the first buyer of the YZY memecoin as a being both a trader and "expert sniper," who turned $1 million into $100 million trading President Donald Trump’s memecoin.

Davis is CEO of Kelsier Ventures. In February, Davis admitted he sniped LIBRA tokens at launch. The Solana-based memecoin LIBRA gained widespread attention for its association with Argentina's president — a connection that fueled its meteoric rise which was eventually followed by a collapse in value.

The Block was unable to immediately reach Davis for comment.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

Bitcoin Eyes Rebound Above $110K: Are BTC Buyers Making a Comeback?

Coinpedia

After weeks of price swings, Bitcoin buyers are showing fresh strength. In the past few hours, key on-chain signals have turned positive as Bitcoin found support around $110K. This has pushed buying activity higher, increasing the chance of new weekly highs. On top of that, rising interest from institutional investors is adding even more stability to Bitcoin’s support levels.

Bitcoin’s Open Interest Turns Positive

Bitcoin’s buying demand is rising as recent dip-buying has built strong support levels. This has turned several on-chain indicators positive. Data from Coinglass shows that in the past 24 hours, Bitcoin saw over $280 million in liquidations, with buyers accounting for around $264 million of those positions being closed.

According to on-chain data from CryptoQuant, there are still signs that Bitcoin bulls can stay hopeful about a rebound. The platform noted that large-scale selling, or distribution, hasn’t fully taken over the market yet.

After hitting an all-time high of $124K, Bitcoin is now in a pullback phase that could last a bit longer. Interestingly, while big whales are holding back, smaller holders with up to 10 BTC are still steadily accumulating.

Some traders see little reason to expect Bitcoin’s bull market to fully return. Those with a cautious outlook on future price movements have only grown more certain after BTC/USD dropped to its lowest level since early July.

Also read: Why Bitcoin, ETH, and XRP Price Are Down Today

Bitcoin’s open interest has climbed in recent days. According to Coinglass, it rose by 0.97% to $85.5 billion. This increase signals higher trading activity and growing volatility, which could open the door for Bitcoin to break above nearby resistance levels.

Last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell unexpectedly shifted from his earlier hawkish tone, boosting hopes for a potential rate cut. Risk assets like Bitcoin jumped right away, but since then, the excitement has faded as investors wait for more inflation data ahead of the mid-September rate decision.

What’s Next for Bitcoin Price?

Bitcoin dropped below the EMA trend lines recently as buyers failed to meet demand around resistance channels. However, Bitcoin has built a strong support around the $110K level. As of writing, BTC price trades at $112,434, declining over 1.65% in the last 24 hours.

Buyers are expected to defend the zone between $110,000 and $112,000. If the price bounces from this support, BTC/USDT could easily rise toward the 20-day EMA ($113,500) on the 4-hour chart. A daily close above this level would suggest Bitcoin might trade sideways between $110,000 and $118,000 for a while.

On the other hand, if Bitcoin fails to break above the 20-day EMA and instead falls below $110K, it would show sellers are in control. In that case, the price could drop quickly to $105,000 and possibly even to the key psychological level of $100,000.

Currently, the RSI is trying to recover above the midline as it trades at level 42. If buyers face any further resistance, we might see a steep decline on the chart.

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

3 Altcoins That Could Hit All-Time Highs in The Final Week Of August

Beincrypto

While the crypto market was shaky this past week, the coming week could improve, provided the macro financial market conditions shift to bullish. This could push some crucial altcoins on the path to a new ATH.

BeInCrypto has analysed three altcoins that could potentially reach a new all-time high in the coming days.

BNB

BNB is currently trading at $854, just below the $855 support level. The altcoin has declined from its all-time high (ATH) of $900, currently standing 5.4% below that peak. Despite the pullback, there is potential for a recovery if certain support levels hold firm.

For BNB to regain its momentum and possibly reach its ATH, the key support level at $855 must hold. If BNB holders choose not to sell, the price could secure this floor and start pushing higher. This would provide a solid base for the altcoin to target the $900 range once again.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

However, if investors decide to sell and take profits, BNB risks slipping through its current support at $823. A drop below this level would likely invalidate the bullish thesis, leading to further downside potential and a shift toward more bearish market sentiment for BNB.

XRP

XRP is currently priced at $2.94, just below the critical support of $2.95. The past week has been volatile, with XRP failing to breach the $3.07 resistance, leading to a price decline. This setback has left the altcoin struggling to gain upward momentum amidst broader market turbulence.

The recent drop has pushed XRP below the 50-day EMA, indicating potential short-term weakness. This bearish trend suggests that XRP could face further declines, possibly falling to the $2.74 support level. Traders are cautious, watching for signs of stabilization before considering potential recovery opportunities for the token.

However, if XRP can successfully secure the $2.95 support level, a bullish reversal could be in play. A sustained hold above this zone may enable XRP to break through $3.07, aiming for a rise above $3.12. This is necessary for XRP to eventually post a 24.49% rise towards the ATH of $3.66.

BUILDon (B)

BUILDON is currently trading at $0.560, approximately 20.4% below its all-time high (ATH) of $0.675. The altcoin is facing resistance at $0.574, but it has managed to stay afloat despite recent declines. Investors are closely watching for signs of a potential breakout or further consolidation.

Despite the recent drop, BUILDON has managed to hold above the $0.514 support and the 50-day EMA, indicating that the short-term outlook isn’t overly negative. With favorable market conditions, if BUILDON flips the $0.574 resistance into support, it could surge towards $0.646, potentially reaching the $0.675 ATH again.

However, if selling pressure increases, BUILDON could struggle to maintain suApport at $0.514. A failure to hold this level may lead to further declines, possibly reaching $0.478. Such a move would invalidate the current bullish outlook, signaling a bearish shift in market sentiment.

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

US SEC opens comment period on proposed staked Injective ETF from Canary

The Block

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking public input on whether to approve a staked Injective (INJ) exchange-traded fund, setting the stage for its next steps on the proposal.

The securities watchdog asked for comments on the proposed Canary Staked INJ ETF to be filed within the next 21 days, according to a filing on Monday. The agency has up to 90 days to decide on the next steps.

Canary filed its proposal for the staked INJ fund last month, which if approved by the SEC, would track the native asset of the Injective blockchain. If it's allowed to list and trade, the ETF would trade on the Cboe BZX Exchange.

In an Aug. 11 filing, the exchange said that INJ's growth to a market cap of more than $1.4 billion reduces the "susceptibility to manipulation."

"The geographically diverse and continuous nature of INJ trading makes it difficult and prohibitively costly to manipulate the price of INJ and, in many instances, the INJ market can be less susceptible to manipulation than the equity, fixed income, and commodity futures markets," the exchange said.

Amid a friendlier regulatory environment during President Donald Trump's second administration, several firms have proposed a slew of crypto ETFs tracking assets from Dogecoin to Solana. More recently firms have been vying for crypto ETFs that involve staking.

Last week, VanEck filed a registration statement proposing a JitoSOL ETF aimed at tracking the price of the liquid staking token. The Jito Foundation said the fund would be "the first spot Solana ETF 100% backed by a liquid staking token (LST): the Jito Network’s JitoSOL," in an earlier statement.

REX-Osprey's Solana staking ETF has also integrated staking rewards through a partnership with JitoSOL, according to an announcement made in July.

In recent months, the SEC has set out to clarify its stance on staking. In May, the agency said that most proof-of-stake features do not fall under its remit, and later clarified that certain liquid staking activities do not involve securities.

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

DDC Enterprise Shares Rise on Latest Bitcoin Buy

Dow Jones Newswires

By Dean Seal

Shares of DDC Enterprise jumped after the company said it just made its fourth bitcoin purchase of August, picking up 200 more coins.

The stock was up 8.9% at $13.88 in midday trading. Shares have more than tripled since the start of the year.

The bitcoin-treasury company said the latest acquisition brings its total holdings up to 888 bitcoin, which is more than double the 368 it had at the beginning of the month.

"Doubling our BTC holdings in a matter of weeks despite Bitcoin market volatility demonstrates our commitment to being a leading Bitcoin treasury company," Chief Executive Norma Chu said.

Write to Dean Seal at dean.seal@wsj.com

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites

After $400M splurge, ETH treasurer eyes stock buyback amid leverage concerns

Cointelegraph

Ether treasury company ETHZilla, which recently pivoted from its biotechnology roots to cryptocurrency, has approved a $250 million share repurchase program — signaling that some firms may increasingly tap digital-asset gains as a source of liquidity.

ETHZilla’s board of directors authorized the buyback of up to $250 million worth of its outstanding common shares, the company disclosed Monday. The company currently has 165.4 million shares outstanding.

The move comes less than a month after the firm rebranded from 180 Life Sciences and made Ether its core strategy — a pivot that helped revive its beaten-down stock.

ETHZilla has since acquired 102,237 ETH at an average price of $3,948.72, spending just over $403 million. At current market levels, those holdings are worth about $489 million. The company said its most recent ETH purchases will be staked with Electric Capital.

Management’s language around the repurchase echoed classic triggers, citing “market conditions,” “management discretion,” and “alternative uses of capital.”

ETHZilla’s new strategy comes against a backdrop of weak fundamentals. As a public company, it has struggled with limited revenues, persistent losses and shareholder dilution. Last year alone, it reported an accumulated deficit of over $141.5 million.

ETHZilla is not alone in embracing crypto as a balance-sheet asset. Companies both inside and outside the digital-asset sector — including BitMine Immersion Technologies, The Ether Machine, SharpLink Gaming, Bit Digital and Ether Capital Corp. — have all made strategic Ether acquisitions.

Leverage and concentration risks

Analysts see parallels between today’s “crypto treasury” plays and earlier waves of corporate gold adoption, but warn that leverage-fueled balance sheet builds remain a major risk. Companies that borrow heavily to accumulate crypto could face worsening financials if — or when — another bear market hits.

Mike Foy, chief financial officer at Amina Bank, told Cointelegraph that it’s still too early to tell whether crypto-treasury strategies are sustainable in the long run. In the meantime, he said it’s important to determine whether companies are pursuing the approach for speculative gains, signaling purposes or as part of a broader strategic plan.

“If any of these [purchases] seem strange or out of the ordinary, then this is possibly a sign that this isn’t a long-term plan but rather a short-term share price play,” Foy said.

Kadan Stadelmann, chief technology officer at Komodo Platform, drew parallels between ETH-treasury firms and spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), noting that the former can offer benefits that ETFs cannot. “Spot ETFs cannot legally offer staking and DeFi,” he said. “Ethereum treasury firms offer higher yields.”

Still, Stadelmann cautioned that the model carries significant risks. “ETH treasury firms have risks, such as overleveraging,” he said. In a bear market, this could trigger forced liquidations, potentially creating cascading effects on Ether’s price.

Falling ETH prices could undermine debt-financed strategies at companies that acquired their holdings through loans, convertible notes or equity dilution.

Of the current digital asset treasury strategies, Ether is the most exposed, with roughly 3.4% of its total supply held by such entities, according to Anthony DeMartino, founder and CEO of Sentora Research.

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

Add to Favorites