Telegram upgrades its gift economy
The in-app collectibles market, once limited to Stars with a 20 percent fee and a 21-day resale lock, now supports direct Toncoin sales. Creators can set prices from 1 TON to 100,000 TON, pay a reduced 10 percent fee and relist items immediately.
A new profile rating system rewards active buyers and sellers while penalising refunds, and a Global Post Search bar lets users search every public channel and group from the main interface.
Ethereum unveils a ten-year Lean Roadmap targeting 10,000 TPS
The Ethereum Foundation’s strategy trims base-layer complexity, shifts heavy features to layer 2, integrates post-quantum cryptography and aims for 10,000 transactions per second. A dedicated Lean testnet is expected by year-end, with major staking pools pledging support.
Strategy converts IPO proceeds into 21,021 BTC
Fresh off a 2.52-billion-dollar Nasdaq listing, Strategy deployed 97 percent of the raise to buy 21,021 BTC at $117,256 each. Its treasury now holds 628,791 BTC—roughly three percent of all coins in circulation—at an average cost of $73,227.
Sam Altman calls for a “digital attorney-client privilege”
OpenAI’s CEO warned that ChatGPT conversations aren’t legally protected like medical or legal consultations and can be subpoenaed. He urged lawmakers to establish a new confidentiality framework before privacy risks escalate.
South Africa cements its status as Africa’s top crypto hub
Industry revenue is estimated at 615 million dollars with about six million users, or ten percent of the population. One-hundred-thirty-eight licensed providers operate under clear VASP rules, while rand-pegged stablecoins ZARP and ZARC are gaining traction for payments and inflation hedging.
Stablecoin interest reaches an all-time Google Trends high
Searches for “stablecoins” hit a record after the United States passed the GENIUS Act, the first comprehensive federal framework for dollar-backed tokens. Sector capitalisation now stands at 272 billion dollars, seven percent of the entire crypto market.
FTX schedules a third 1.9-billion-dollar repayment round
A bankruptcy judge cut the reserve for disputed claims to 4.3 billion dollars, freeing funds for creditors. Claims freeze on 15 August, with payouts beginning 30 September via BitGo, Kraken and Payoneer. Total restitution could reach 16.5 billion dollars.
Venmo and PayPal join the U.S. debt-reduction donation programme
Americans can now send up to 999,999.99 dollars per transaction through Venmo or PayPal to the Treasury’s “Gifts to Reduce the Public Debt” scheme—symbolic, given the 36.7-trillion-dollar national debt, but framed as a financial-literacy initiative.
Musk tops new crypto-influence ranking, edging out Trump
ApeX Protocol’s list of ten most influential figures in crypto places Elon Musk first, ahead of former U.S. President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. The methodology weighed investments, social-media reach and policy impact; only one woman and one non-U.S. figure made the cut.
