The Polygon Heimdall V2 mainnet experienced a significant disruption, remaining offline for approximately one hour. The outage was attributed to a critical consensus bug that triggered a cascade of validator exits, halting network operations. The team has since deployed a fix and is working to restore full functionality.

South Korea is breaking new ground in cryptocurrency adoption as tourists can now withdraw fiat currency using USDT (Tether) at Kaia ATMs. This innovative service, launched by Kaia, a prominent ATM network, aims to simplify cash access for international visitors who utilize stablecoins, marking a significant step towards integrating digital assets into everyday financial transactions for travelers.

Cboe BZX Exchange has submitted a new application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the approval of an Invesco Galaxy Solana Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). This filing marks another significant step in the ongoing efforts by asset managers to introduce crypto-based ETFs to the U.S. market, following the recent approvals of Bitcoin ETFs.

The Ether Machine has significantly expanded its Ethereum holdings, acquiring $56.9 million worth of ETH. This strategic move, timed with Ethereum's 10-year anniversary, positions the company as the third-largest corporate holder of ETH. SharpLink Gaming also made a substantial purchase, adding $43 million in ETH to its reserves, reflecting a broader trend of institutional accumulation of the cryptocurrency.

Bolivia's central bank has announced a strategic partnership with El Salvador, officially recognizing cryptocurrency as a "viable and reliable alternative" to traditional fiat currencies. This collaboration aims to foster crypto adoption and modernize Bolivia's financial infrastructure, drawing lessons from El Salvador's pioneering move to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

Sophisticated cyberattacks have been targeting organizations, particularly within the Russian IT sector, since the latter half of 2024. Attackers are employing advanced evasion techniques, leveraging popular online platforms like GitHub, Quora, and social media to deliver their malicious payload, ultimately deploying the Cobalt Strike Beacon.

Bitcoin's most significant holders, often referred to as " whales," have substantially increased their holdings, now controlling over 68% of the total supply. This accumulation, amounting to 218,570 BTC since late March, signals a potential shift towards a more stable, capital-driven bull market, moving away from retail speculation.

Algeria has enacted a new law that effectively criminalizes all cryptocurrency operations, including trading, holding, and mining. This move signals a significant shift in the country's stance on digital assets, imposing hefty fines and potential jail time for violations.

This past week, node operators for Vaulta, previously known as EOS, gathered to discuss important updates. The meeting covered progress on the Antelope Spring 2.0 software, how the new gossip system for connecting block producers is working out, and ideas for making network connections safer. Node operators shared their experiences with technical problems and how their networks are set up, all while keeping the Vaulta blockchain running smoothly.

Crypto token unlocks are projected to significantly decrease in August, potentially halving to approximately $3 billion from July's $6.3 billion. This reduction, a 52% drop according to vesting data tracker Tokenomist, is expected despite several high-profile projects like Sui, Fasttoken, Aptos, Avalanche, and Arbitrum scheduled for token releases.