Investment Policy

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on July 16 that a ransomware suspect extradited from Ukraine has been charged in the United States after investigators traced over 1,600 BTC to his alleged criminal activity. Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, a 33-year-old Armenian national, was indicted in connection with a widespread cyber extortion campaign involving Ryuk ransomware. The FBI tracked the cryptocurrency as part of an international investigation into the group’s attacks on American companies, including a technology firm in Oregon.

Bitcoin price started a correction from the new high at $123,200. BTC dipped below the $120,000 level and tested the $115,500 zone.

This sudden surge isn’t just a fluke. It’s part of a broader market rally, led by the ever-popular Ethereum and Solana. What’s driving this? Oh, just a little thing called rising institutional interest and the fact that blockchain is finally starting to make sense in the real world. 🤷‍♀️

At Wednesday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, with a smile that could rival the grin of a gambler who’s just won the pot, addressed the administration’s ongoing cryptocurrency agenda. This included President Trump’s stance against a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and his support for crypto-friendly legislation currently advancing through Congress, a move that could either save the nation or lead it into a digital abyss, depending on one’s perspective.

But, alas, dear reader, this surge is not merely a fleeting fancy. Nay, ’tis driven by the mighty forces of strong investor sentiment, regulatory tailwinds, and a sharp increase in trading volumes. The daily trading volume, a staggering $12 to $14.2 billion, doth rival the great fortunes of old! 💸

If the application is approved, the fund would give investors exposure to staking rewards accrued from using the underlying Ether as collateral security for Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus algorithm. Sounds like a mouthful, but trust me, it’s exciting stuff!

Tourists will first engage in the thrilling opportunity to trade their cryptocurrencies with licensed providers. Once they’ve turned their digital doubloons into baht, they can gallivant about using these mystical e-wallets to purchase all manner of delights across the country. This grand idea sprouted into existence like a mushroom after the rain back in January when plans for a crypto sandbox were first whispered on the breezy beaches of Phuket. Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra proclaimed it would change the game — talk about overexcitement!

After a few years of relative stagnation, it seems the venture capital world has once again fallen under the spell of crypto’s siren song 🧙‍♀️. According to CEX.io’s report, published on Thursday, July 17, venture deals in the first half of 2025 reached a staggering $16.5 billion 💸. This, of course, suggests that 2025 could be on track to become the record year in venture deals. Because, as we all know, records are made to be broken 🏆.

Today’s legislative gymnastics aim to transform the United States into the “crypto capital of the world.” Sounds grand, right? The bill obligates stablecoin issuers to keep a solid 1:1 reserve with liquid assets, because nothing says “financial stability” quite like overconfidence in fiat! They’ll be stockpiling U.S. dollars and Treasuries like they’re preparing for an economic zombie apocalypse. 🧟‍♂️

During separate interviews, both commissioners emphasized that the SEC’s handling of XRP ETF applications is part of a structured, rule-bound process designed to ensure full regulatory compliance. Speaking on The David Lin Report, Commissioner Crenshaw acknowledged the “bureaucratic” nature of the SEC’s review process and emphasized that “a pending application should not be interpreted as a rejection.”