CoinDesk Indices presents its daily market update, highlighting the performance of leaders and laggards in the CoinDesk 20 Index. The CoinDesk 20 is currently trading at 4044.63, up 2.8% (+111.1) since 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. Nineteen of 20 assets are trading higher. Leaders: XLM (+12.3%) and XRP (+8.0%). Laggards: BTC (-0.3%) and LTC (+0.3%). The CoinDesk 20 is a broad-based index traded on multiple platforms in several regions globally. Powered by WPeMatico

The team behind decentralized lender CrediX has vanished days after a $4.5 million exploit, leaving its X account inactive and website offline since Aug. 4, according to blockchain security firm CertiK. The sudden disappearance has sparked fears of an exit scam, which is when developers abandon a project and investor funds without warning. The $4.5 million loss has been tied to a compromised admin wallet and abuse of bridge roles, which allowed an attacker to mint unbacked tokens and drain liquidity pools. The exploiter moved funds from Sonic to Ethereum, parking them across a handful of addresses. In the hours after the attack, CrediX promised to reimburse users within 24-48 hours and directed withdrawals through contracts, but the front end never returned and no recovery plan has been published. The exploit and perceived exit scam marks another tough day for crypto investors in 2025, with the total amount lost to hacks and scams totaling $2.5 billion in the first half of this year. Powered by WPeMatico

Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) extended its upward trajectory over the last 24 hours, rising 2.29% from $5.25 to $5.37. The token’s price action unfolded within a $0.26 corridor between $5.16 and $5.42, representing a 4.94% trading spread, as traders navigated pronounced intraday volatility, according to CoinDesk’s technical analysis data model. The most notable moves came in the early hours of Aug. 8, when volume surged to 3.13 million units at midnight and then doubled to 6.93 million at 01:00 UTC, both figures well beyond the 24-hour average of 876,000. These inflows consistently met bids in the $5.24-$5.27 zone, reinforcing a support base. On the upside, sellers concentrated around $5.39–$5.42. ICP subsequently advanced from $5.36 to $5.38, notching a 0.37% push. This climb was underpinned by elevated volumes between 09:50 and 09:55 UTC, ranging from 27,887 to 39,904 units, more than triple the hourly baseline. The rally confirmed $5.33-$5.34 as an intraday floor, with a breakout above $5.36 resistance hinting at the potential for further gains. Despite the broader market’s mixed sentiment, ICP’s chart structure has strengthened. The coin’s ability to hold key support levels, combined with increased volume, underscores ongoing institutional participation and growing confidence in the network’s long-term roadmap, which includes recent performance upgrades and integration with Bitcoin functionality. Technical Analysis Highlights 24-hour price range: $5.16-$5.42 (4.94% spread). Support repeatedly confirmed at $5.24–$5.27. Resistance concentrated at $5.39-$5.42. Midnight volume spike: 3.13M units vs 876K average. 1:00 AM volume spike: 6.93M units. Breakout above $5.36 resistance with volumes of 27,887-39,904 units. New intraday support formed at $5.33-$5.34. Strong buying interest during consolidation phases. Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy. Powered by WPeMatico

Filecoin (FIL) demonstrated measured volatility, trading within a 5.4% range in the last 24-hours, according to CoinDesk Research’s technical analysis model. The model showed that despite experiencing a mid-session decline to $2.39 at 16:00, Filecoin staged a textbook recovery, and bounced 5%. Elevated trading volumes exceeding 2.8 million units during the correction phase suggest institutional participation, while sustained volume during the recovery confirms what market strategists characterize as sophisticated buyer interest at strategic price levels, according to the model. The Filecoin Foundation and Ava Labs have launched a native cross-chain data bridge between Avalanche C-Chain and Filecoin, according to a post on X. This new system connects high-speed smart contracts with secure data infrastructure through the Filecoin Virtual Machine. The rally in Filecoin came as the wider crypto market also rose, with the broader market gauge, the Coindesk 20, recently up 3.1%. In recent trading, FIL was 2% higher over 24 hours, trading around $2.50. Technical Analysis: FIL demonstrated controlled volatility within a $0.13 range representing 5.4% spread between session low of $2.39 and high of $2.52 during the 24-hour trading period. Strategic upward momentum emerged from 19:00 onwards, with systematic recovery carrying through the overnight session Elevated volume activity exceeding 2.8 million units during the 14:00-16:00 correction window confirmed institutional participation levels Volume acceleration exceeding 50,000 units during the 10:06-10:07 window confirmed sustained institutional momentum that market strategists interpret as evidence of continued corporate adoption potential. Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy. Powered by WPeMatico

By Francisco Rodrigues (All times ET unless indicated otherwise) Crypto markets rallied in the past 24 hours, with the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index rising 5.3% as fresh U.S. policy signals and regulatory clarity supported risk appetite across the sector. Bitcoin (BTC) gained a relatively muted 1.3% to $116,500. The rally took off after President Donald Trump signed an executive order opening 401(k) retirement plans to a broader range of investments, including cryptocurrencies. The order directs the Department of Labor and Securities and Exchange Commission to publish new guidance for retirement accounts. “This move effectively opens access to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for retirement investors, unlocking a staggering $8.7 trillion in assets under management.,” James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares, said in an emailed statement. Jake Ostrovskis, OTC trader at Wintermute, told CoinDesk that the impact of the move could not be understated. “Just a 2% allocation to Bitcoin and Ethereum would represent 1.5x the total cumulative ETF inflows to date, while a 3% allocation would more than double the entire market,” Ostrovskis said. “Critically, these would be largely price-insensitive buyers focused on meeting allocation benchmarks rather than tactical trading.“ In practice, that means 401(k) funds would create “sustained, predictable demand flows that could provide a structural bid for digital assets regardless of short-term price volatility,” Ostrovskis added. While crypto has never been formally banned from the retirement investments, previous guidance strongly discouraged fiduciaries from offering it. Meanwhile, the Ethereum blockchain hit a new record for average daily transactions this week, according to data from Dune Analytics. The increase was underpinned by the SEC’s clarification earlier this week that certain liquid staking models don’t constitute securities under the 1933 Securities Act, making it safer for institutions to offer staking services. Ether’s (ETH) price surged 4.6% over the past 24 hours to near $3,900. While fireworks were going off in the crypto sector, TradFi was more subdued. The S&P 500 dropped in Thursday’s session, and the Nasdaq closed 0.35% higher, furthering the concentration of megacaps in the indexes. The 10 largest stocks now account for 76% of the entire stock market capitalization, data shared by Barchart shows. Gold rose on tariffs being imposed on some bullion bars. Looking ahead, investors are bracing for July’s inflation report, due next week, which may influence the odds of a dovish Fed interest-rate cut in September. Stay alert! What to Watch Crypto Aug. 15: Record date for the next FTX distribution to holders of allowed Class 5 Customer Entitlement, Class 6 General Unsecured and Convenience Claims who meet pre-distribution requirements. Aug. 18: Coinbase Derivatives will launch nano SOL and nano XRP U.S. perpetual-style futures. Macro Aug. 8: Federal Reserve Governor Adriana D. Kugler’s resignation becomes effective, creating an early vacancy on the Board of Governors that allows President Trump to nominate a successor. Aug 8: President Trump’s deadline for Russia to commit to a ceasefire and peace deal in Ukraine, with intensified U.S. sanctions and secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy if the deadline is not met. Aug. 8: U.S. President Donald Trump hosts Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House to sign a peace agreement. The U.S. will also sign bilateral economic agreements to promote trade and regional stability. Aug. 8, 7 p.m.: Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics releases July consumer price inflation data.. Inflation Rate MoM Est. 0.19% vs. Prev. 0.1% Inflation Rate YoY Est. 4.81% vs. Prev. 4.82% Aug. 12, 8 a.m.: The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) releases July consumer price inflation data. Inflation Rate MoM Prev. 0.24% Inflation Rate YoY Prev. 5.35% Aug. 12, 8:30 a.m.: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases July consumer price inflation data. Core Inflation Rate MoM Est. 0.3% vs. Prev. 0.2% Core Inflation Rate YoY Est. 3% vs. Prev. 2.9% Inflation Rate MoM Est. 0.2% vs. Prev. 0.3% Inflation Rate YoY Est. 2.8% vs. Prev. 2.7% Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data) Aug. 8: TeraWulf (WULF), pre-market, -$0.06 Aug. 11: Exodus Movement (EXOD), post-market, $0.12 Aug. 12: Bitfarms (BITF), pre-market, -$0.02 Aug. 12: Fold Holdings (FLD), post-market, N/A Aug. 15: BitFuFu (FUFU), pre-market, $0.07 Token Events Governance votes & calls BendDAO is voting on a plan to stabilize BEND by burning 50% of treasury tokens, restarting lender rewards, and launching monthly buybacks using 20% of protocol revenue. Voting ends Aug. 10. 1inch DAO is voting on a $1.88 million grant to fund its participation in nine global crypto events through late 2025. The proposal aims to boost developer engagement, grow institutional ties and expand adoption across ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana. Voting ends Aug. 10. Aug. 8, 11:30 a.m.: Axie Infinity to host a town hall on Discord. Unlocks Aug. 9: Immutable (IMX) to unlock 1.3% of its circulating supply worth $12.66 million. Aug. 12: Aptos (APT) to unlock 1.73% of its circulating supply worth $52.59 million. Aug. 15: Avalanche (AVAX) to unlock 0.39% of its circulating supply worth $39.25 million. Aug. 15: Starknet (STRK) to unlock 3.53% of its circulating supply worth $16.19 million. Aug. 15: Sei (SEI) to unlock 0.96% of its circulating supply worth $17.21 million Aug. 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 1.8% of its circulating supply worth $39.21 million. Aug. 18: Fasttoken (FTN) to unlock 4.64% of its circulating supply worth $91.6 million. Token Launches Aug. 8: Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) to be listed on Arkham Exchange. Conferences The CoinDesk Policy & Regulation conference (formerly known as State of Crypto) is a one-day boutique event held in Washington on Sept. 10 that allows general counsels, compliance officers and regulatory executives to meet with public officials responsible for crypto legislation and regulatory oversight. Space is limited. Use code CDB10 for 10% off your registration through Aug. 31. Day 3 of 5: Rare EVO (Las Vegas) Day 2 of 2: bitcoin++ (Riga, Latvia) Aug. 9-10: Baltic Honeybadger 2025 (Riga, Latvia) Aug. 9-10: Conviction 2025 (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) Aug. 11: Paraguay Blockchain Summit 2025 (Asuncion) Aug. 11-13: AIBB 2025 (Istanbul)

Another Hong Kong company is adding crypto to its treasury, but it wants to do more than passively hold it. IVD Medical Holdings has purchased $19 million (HK$149 million) of ether (ETH), positioning the asset at the center of its real-world asset tokenization strategy. The company is building ivd.xyz, a platform for tokenizing pharmaceutical intellectual property and other healthcare assets, which will run entirely on Ethereum smart contracts. In a statement to CoinDesk, Chief Strategy Officer Gary Deng said Ethereum was chosen as the core asset because it is “the world’s most mature smart contract platform” with “extremely high liquidity” and growing institutional recognition, pointing to the U.S. SEC’s approval of a spot ETH ETF. IVD plans to use ETH for on-chain ownership confirmation, automated revenue distribution, and compliance governance of tokenized assets. It will also serve as the settlement layer for the company’s planned IVDD stablecoin, enabling cross-border transactions within Hong Kong and U.S. compliance frameworks. Revenue from RWA transactions will be automatically converted into ETH and deposited into the treasury. IVD also intends to deploy ETH into staking, re-staking, and on-chain derivatives to boost returns and liquidity while adding downside protection. The move puts IVD alongside a small group of HKEX-listed companies with crypto treasuries, most of which favor bitcoin (BTC). Boyaa Interactive (0434.HK) holds more than 3,100 BTC worth over US$300 million after converting nearly all of its ether to bitcoin. Meitu (1357.HK) bought about 31,000 ETH and 940 BTC in 2021 before exiting those positions. Other smaller bitcoin holders include Yuxing InfoTech (8005.HK) with 78 BTC, Moon Inc. (1723.HK) with 18.88 BTC, and Walnut Capital (0905.HK) with 10 BTC from a shareholder donation. IVD’s move was made as part of a broader partnership announcement with HashKey Group, which operates the Hong Kong-licensed HashKey exchange. Read more: SharpLink Raises $200M in Direct Offering to Raise ETH Holdings to $2B Powered by WPeMatico

Humanity Protocol, a privacy-first blockchain identity network and high-profile rival to Sam Altman’s Worldcoin, fired up its mainnet, debuting a system that connects familiar Web2 credentials to decentralized Web3 services using zero-knowledge transport layer security (zkTLS). The introduction comes just months after the Hong Kong-based startup raised $20 million in a funding round co-led by Jump Crypto and Pantera Capital, lifting its valuation to $1.1 billion. Humanity Protocol’s zkTLS technology allows users to prove they have viewed verifiable information, such as job listings or airline loyalty status, without revealing the underlying document or page. Sensitive data never leaves the user’s browser, avoiding the privacy concerns that have riddled biometric approaches, including Worldcoin’s iris-scanning model. Initially, travelers are able link frequent-flyer and loyalty accounts directly to their “Human ID,” creating a portable reputation layer usable across both Web2 and Web3 applications. The network also supports financial, educational and professional credentials. In future, it plans to roll out node infrastructure in new regions as well as venturing into on-chain ticketing and decentralized governance. “Our mainnet release turns decentralized identity into practical infrastructure,” said founder and CEO Terence Kwok. “With zkTLS now live, anyone can confirm who they are and what they have achieved across multiple platforms, yet no central party ever sees their personal information.” By relying on cryptographic proofs rather than physical biometrics, Humanity Protocol positions itself as a more privacy-conscious alternative to Worldcoin and other “proof-of-human” projects. The network’s architecture allows developers to build Sybil-resistant social platforms, reputation-based marketplaces and AI “humanity checks” without collecting or storing sensitive user data. A Sybil attack occurs when a person or entity creates multiple fake identities within a network, often to gain a reward like an airdrop or disproportionate control of a network’s operations. Powered by WPeMatico

Major Web3 investor Animoca Brands has formed a stablecoin joint venture (JV) with the Hong Kong division of multinational bank Standard Chartered (2888). The JV, known as Anchorpoint, also includes Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) and aims to build a business model for the issuance of licensed stablecoins, according to an emailed announcement on Friday. Anchorpoint has expressed its interest in applying for a stablecoin issuer license in Hong Kong coinciding with the special administrative region’s much-anticipated regulatory regime coming into effect at the start of this month. The three entities have been jointly participating in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) stablecoin sandbox for over a year in preparation for the regulation. Around 40 companies are expected to apply for licensing under Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Ordinance, though HKMA CEO Eddie Yue said the regulator was likely to approve fewer than 10. Stablecoins are crypto tokens pegged to the value of a traditional financial asset, such as a fiat currency, usually the U.S. dollar. They have been a central part of developing regulatory oversight of cryptocurrency in 2025, with the U.S. moving to regulate stablecoins under the GENIUS act, as well as the advent of the licensing regime in Hong Kong. Powered by WPeMatico

Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume traded, enlisted Spain’s third-largest bank, BBVA, to provide custody services as it looks to improve protection for customers by isolating their assets from any disruption that might occur to the trading platform, the Financial Times reported. The custody arrangement separates trading activities from the funds backing the transactions by parking client assets in U.S. Treasuries held by BBVA. Binance then accepts the Treasuries as margin for trading, the FT said, citing people familiar with the process. If Binance were to fail, funds would remain secure in the Treasuries under BBVA’s control. The deal distances the exchange from its earlier model of holding user funds in-house. The shift follows mounting pressure on crypto exchanges to isolate custody from trading, especially after FTX’s collapse in 2022, which left users’ funds frozen and shattered confidence across the market. Others measures exchange adopted include proof-of-reserves, a cryptographic method of proving customers’ funds are in their wallets. Binance, which paid a $4.3 billion penalty last year to U.S. regulators for anti-money laundering failures, has since allowed clients to use third-party custodians including Sygnum and FlowBank. BBVA has been moving deeper into crypto. Just this year, it rolled out crypto trading and custody services through its mobile app and advised private clients to allocate up to 7% of portfolios into bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH). Powered by WPeMatico

Solana memecoin launchpad Pump.fun has created the Glass Full Foundation, an initiative aimed at providing liquidity to selected projects in its ecosystem as platform revenues slide from early-year highs. The group said GFF will “inject significant liquidity into ecosystem tokens to support our most diehard cults,” without disclosing the source of funds or the selection criteria for recipients. Initial deployments have already been made, with more planned, according to posts on X. The top Pump ecosystem token is fartcoin (FART), valued at over $1 billion as of Friday. The second-largest token is peanut the squirrel — a reference to a viral Instagram pet that was put down last year to huge social media backlash — which boasts a market cap over $253 million. The Glass Full announcement comes as Pump.fun’s daily revenue has dropped sharply from more than $7 million at the height of January’s memecoin frenzy to around $200,000 earlier this month, based on on-chain data. That slump came as LetsBonk.fun, a rival Solana launchpad tied to the Bonk community, gained market share in recent weeks to become the highest grossing and most-active launchpad by issuances last month. Powered by WPeMatico