Sam Galea

[Dr. Vincent Holloway @DrVincents6]

This is exactly the kind of accountability taxpayers want to see. Stronger fraud detection, better data sharing, and real consequences could make a meaningful difference

[Capital Radar @_LMadeline]

### 🇬🇧 CRYPTO IS ENTERING POLITICS

🚨 **£20 MILLION. That’s the number getting attention in the UK today.**

New analysis of Electoral Commission data shows that **Reform UK has received around £20M from cryptocurrency-linked investors since 2024.**

That represents roughly **60% of the party’s donations** over the period.

And the money is heavily concentrated:

🐋 **Christopher Harborne → £15M**
💰 **Ben Delo → £4M**
💷 **Maria Rost → £1.125M**

But here’s the bigger question:

**Why is crypto money becoming such a major force in political funding?**

This isn’t just a UK political story.

It raises a much bigger issue for the crypto industry:

📌 Will governments become more crypto-friendly?
📌 Will political parties compete for support from crypto investors?
📌 And where does the line between legitimate political funding and crypto influence get drawn?

The UK government has already moved toward tighter rules around crypto political donations, with the Rycroft Review recommending a moratorium on cryptoasset political donations earlier this year.

**Crypto is no longer just a financial story.**

It’s increasingly becoming a **political story, too.** 👀

I’ll keep tracking the intersection of **Crypto × Regulation × Politics × Big Money**.

**Do you think crypto is gaining political influence — or is this simply wealthy investors putting their money where they see opportunity?**

#Crypto #Bitcoin #Ethereum #UKPolitics #CryptoNews #Regulation #Web3 #Blockchain #BitcoinNews

*For informational purposes only. Not financial advice.*

[Dr. Graham Sterling @_LGraham]

ETH WHALES ARE BUYING

🚨 **Tom Lee is buying ETH again — and this time, it’s not a small purchase.**

Bitmine bought **32,447 ETH** last week, worth roughly **$81 million**.

The company now holds approximately **5.85 million ETH**, representing around **4.8% of Ethereum’s total supply**.

And here’s what gets interesting:

🎯 Bitmine’s target: **5% of all ETH supply**
📌 ETH still needed to reach the target: around **187,000 ETH**
🔒 About **87% of its ETH holdings are already staked**
💰 Estimated annual staking income: roughly **$330 million**

At the same time that institutions continue accumulating, **ETH has gained around 30% over the past week.**

Tom Lee is even more bullish, pointing out that previous instances of ETH gaining more than 30% in a single week were followed by much larger moves.

Of course, **history doesn’t guarantee the future, and a 30% rally doesn’t mean ETH has to keep going up.**

But there’s one question every ETH investor should be watching:

**If institutions continue accumulating ETH and Bitmine moves closer to controlling 5% of the total supply, where will the next wave of capital come from?** 👀

I’ll continue tracking **Bitmine’s ETH holdings, institutional flows, ETH ETF activity, and whale movements.**

*For informational purposes only. Not financial advice.*

[Dr. Nathaniel Crawford CFA, CMT @CrawfordM2a]

season will have to wait
ENA is rallying on a $1 billion FalconX deal, while HYPE tests its record, though flat dominance shows this is no broad alt season.

Altcoins are outpacing bitcoin by a widening margin on Friday afternoon as the rally that began with Wednesday's Treasury bond buyback announcement extends into a third day.

Ethena’s ENA is the standout, climbing 26.4% since midnight UTC to $0.1475, taking its 24-hour gain to 48.3% and its weekly move to 77.2%. The trigger is a $1 billion secured warehouse facility with FalconX announced Wednesday, which deploys the assets backing its USDe synthetic dollar into overcollateralized institutional credit rather than the crypto basis trade.

The move comes after ENA had spent months grinding sideways between $0.06 and $0.10 after collapsing from above $0.80, leaving little overhead supply once buyers returned. Volume has reached $1.04 billion, close to three-quarters of the token's market cap and a 319% rise in volume from the previous 24-hour period.
This move is interesting, but I’m not calling a broad alt season yet. I’m watching whether liquidity continues rotating into other altcoins or remains concentrated in a few names.

Alt season or just selective momentum? 👀

[Matthew Spencer CFA, CMT @MatthewCrypto66]

🇬🇧 CRYPTO IS MOVING INTO THE REAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM.

Something important is happening beneath the crypto market.

The UK is building a clearer regulatory framework for stablecoins, custody, disclosures and digital asset services — with the new regime expected to come into force in October 2027.

And this matters far beyond crypto trading.

Think about real estate. 🏠

If someone wants to buy a £5M property using digital assets, sending BTC or stablecoins from one wallet to another isn't enough.

You still need:

🔎 Source-of-funds checks
🧾 Clear documentation
🏦 Secure custody
⚖️ Regulatory compliance
🤝 Protection for both sides

That's where I think the next opportunity lies.

Crypto + Real Estate + Stablecoins + Tokenisation

The technology can make transactions faster and more flexible.

But compliance is what makes institutions comfortable using it.

Innovation creates the opportunity.

Regulation creates the trust.

And if digital assets are going to become part of the mainstream financial system, I believe this is the direction we need to watch.

The next crypto cycle may not just be about Bitcoin going higher.

It could be about digital assets becoming part of how the real world moves money and assets.

That's the bigger story I'm watching. 👀

[Dr. Graham Sterling @_LGraham]

🇬🇧 ALTSEASON? NOT SO FAST. 👀

Altcoins are starting to outperform Bitcoin — but I'm not calling a broad altseason yet.

One name is getting my attention:

🔥 ENA +48% in 24H
📈 +77% over 7 days
💰 $1B+ in trading volume

The catalyst?

Ethena announced a $1 billion secured warehouse facility with FalconX, expanding USDe-backed assets into institutional credit.

But here's what matters to me:

One altcoin rally doesn't equal an altseason.

I'm watching whether liquidity starts rotating into multiple altcoins, or whether the money remains concentrated in a few names.

Because a real altseason should look like:

💰 Liquidity spreads
📈 Altcoin volume expands
₿ BTC dominance weakens
🔥 Multiple sectors start outperforming BTC

Right now?

We're seeing selective momentum — not confirmation of a broad altseason.

And that's exactly why I don't chase the first pump.

I watch the rotation.
I wait for confirmation.
Then I manage the risk.

So the real question isn't:

“Is ENA going up?”

It's:

“Is liquidity finally rotating across the altcoin market?”

👀 Altseason or just selective momentum?

What are you watching?

[US Investment Forum @Harrington6M]

🚨 SOFTWARE STOCKS: TODAY’S PRICE ACTION MATTERS MORE THAN YESTERDAY’S UPGRADES

Yesterday, I focused on Wall Street’s renewed confidence in software stocks.

Today, I’m watching something more important:

Are software stocks actually confirming that bullish view?

With U.S. stocks moving higher today as yields remain relatively contained, the broader market is giving growth stocks some room to breathe.

But for software, the real test is still ahead.

📈 Can the recent momentum continue?

☁️ Is AI monetization strong enough to support higher valuations?

🚀 Can earnings growth justify another expansion in multiples?

If software continues to outperform while Treasury yields stay elevated, that could be a much stronger signal than a simple analyst upgrade.

The question I’m watching now:

Are investors building positions for the next software cycle, or simply chasing recent momentum?

I’m keeping a close eye on NOW, SNOW, FIG and the broader software sector from here.

Which software stock are you watching today? 👀

Follow for more daily software stock and U.S. market analysi

[K-Stock Insight 🇰🇷📈 @DanielBrooos]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that an accelerated buyback of government debt could be higher than the announced $4 billion.

[Tia Finance Daily @_TiaAudreana]

Bitcoin is up nearly 15% this week 📷
Is the bear market finally over? 📷

[Dr. Graham Sterling @_LGraham]

🇬🇧 UK CRYPTO HOLDERS — PAY ATTENTION. 🇬🇧

HMRC is seriously stepping up its crypto tax crackdown.

New figures reported today suggest more than 81,000 warning letters have now been sent to UK crypto holders over potential unpaid tax.

And look at the direction of travel:

2023/24 → ~27,700 letters
2024/25 → 64,982 letters
2025/26 → 81,000+ reported
That's a massive increase in just a few years.
This isn't just about Bitcoin.

HMRC is increasingly using transaction data from crypto platforms to identify people who may have failed to report taxable activity.

And from 2026, international crypto-asset reporting rules are making cross-border activity increasingly visible to tax authorities. The first reporting deadline under the OECD framework is expected in 2027.

Here's the message UK investors need to understand:

🔄 Crypto-to-crypto swaps can matter for tax
💰 Selling crypto can create a taxable disposal
📥 Staking and certain airdrops may create income-tax issues
🧾 Keeping accurate transaction records is becoming more important

Crypto may be decentralised.

Your tax obligations aren't.
And this is where I think the next phase of UK crypto adoption gets interesting.
Regulation isn't necessarily the enemy of crypto.
It could actually be what allows banks, institutions and mainstream investors to participate at a much larger scale.

But investors who ignore the tax side could learn a very expensive lesson.

The question isn't whether HMRC can see your crypto anymore.

The question is:

Are you ready for the system to become fully transparent? 👀

#Bitcoin #BTC #Crypto #UKCrypto

[Crypto investment community @_Matthewte]

Big move by Florida. Voter ID and citizenship verification are now front and center. 🇺🇸

[Crypto investment community @_Matthewte]

Eyes on XRP. The next move could be interesting. 👀

[Dr. Vincent Holloway @DrVincents6]

“Supercycle” is a big claim. The real question is whether adoption can match the vision

[Dr. Nathaniel Crawford CFA, CMT @CrawfordM2a]

Crypto stocks break higher; Trump, Bitcoin emerge as double catalysts

Crypto stocks jumped on Wednesday as investors looked beyond Bitcoin (BTC-USD)'s latest surge and focused on a potentially important step toward clearer U.S. crypto regulation: President Donald Trump’s meeting with crypto executives and top federal regulators at the White House.

Strategy (MSTR) jumped nearly ~12% to ~$103.41, while Coinbase Global (COIN) surged almost 10% to about $160.34. Circle Internet Group (CRCL) rallied nearly 12% to ~$79.92, and Robinhood Markets (HOOD) climbed almost 6% to ~$96.62.

The broader crypto-stock rally was just as strong. Galaxy Digital (GLXY) rose nearly 6% to ~$21.60, while CleanSpark (CLSK) gained about 2% to ~$11.96.

MARA Holdings (MARA) advanced nearly 7% to ~$9.75, while Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) and Bullish (BLSH) each jumped about 13%, to ~$20.61 and ~$27.89, respectively.

At the center of the move was Bitcoin, as it was trading around $68.73K, up 6% over the past 24 hours and 8% over the week

Its weekly chart has turned strongly bullish after breaking above the ~$65K area, with a major increase in trading volume and a sharp acceleration in MACD pointing to stronger buying momentum. Still, an RSI of 92.63 shows extremely overbought conditions, meaning a pause or pullback would not be unusual.

That technical strength comes as Washington puts crypto regulation back in focus. Trump is meeting crypto CEOs, SEC Chair Paul Atkins, and CFTC Chair Mike Selig at the White House, with the discussion centered on clearer rules as the CLARITY Act remains stalled. Trump has said the Senate will vote on the bill on September 15.

The regulatory backdrop also improved this week. On August 18, the SEC proposed “Regulation Crypto Assets,” including exemptions allowing certain crypto-related investment contracts to raise up to $5M over four years or $75M in a 12-month period, along with a conditional safe harbor and other measures aimed at creating a clearer framework.

Together, the regulatory push and Bitcoin’s breakout are giving crypto stocks a strong catalyst. But with BTC already deeply overbought, the next move may depend on whether the breakout holds rather than quickly reversing.

[Apostles of Digital Wealth @WilliamHaryc]

📷 BITCOIN AT A CRUCIAL CROSSROADS: WILL IT HIT $65,500 OR RETEST LOWER? 📷
Bitcoin is bouncing back nicely after dipping into the $62,000–$63,000 demand zone. Now sitting around $64,300, the market dynamics are changing, but there's a significant resistance level right in front of us.
Here’s what the 4-Hour chart is revealing at the moment:
Current Pivot: BTC has reclaimed its structure near $63,400, showing a bullish Change of Character (CHoCH) after sweeping through some low liquidity.
Immediate Resistance: The $64,800 – $65,500 red supply zone is the main obstacle for the bulls to overcome.
Bullish Target: If we see a solid breakout and a hold above $65,500, it could pave the way for a move towards the major liquidity target at $66,800 and beyond.
Bearish Risk: A rejection at the current supply level might lead to a retest down to the $63,000 – $62,200 support zone.
The next move will definitely set the stage for the days ahead!
📷 WHAT’S YOUR GAME PLAN? Are you jumping in for the breakout or holding out for a dip? Share your thoughts in the comments below, pass this update along to your trading buddies, and TAG a friend who needs to check out this chart RIGHT NOW! 📷📷📷

[Sam Galea @SamuelAGalea]

@_LGraham 👍

[Sam Galea @SamuelAGalea]

@Harrington6M I believe that Bitcoin should not be treated the same as gold when facing geopolitical shocks. Their short-term reactions could be vastly different.

[US Investment Forum @Harrington6M]

How Could the Trump–Iran–Oman Crisis Impact the Crypto Market?

According to the latest news today, August 17, 2026, the potential impact on the crypto market is more complicated than simply “war = Bitcoin falls.”

The key transmission mechanism is:

Oil prices → inflation → Federal Reserve policy → Treasury yields / U.S. dollar → risk assets → crypto

Today’s major development is that the 60-day deadline for reaching a broader U.S.–Iran nuclear agreement has expired without a breakthrough. At the same time, President Trump has threatened military action against Oman if Oman obstructs U.S. operations related to the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman, meanwhile, is trying to mediate with Iran and help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

My View on the Crypto Market

Short term: Bearish, with significantly higher volatility.

If tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate further, or negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz fail, markets are likely to react through the following chain:

Middle East tensions ↑ → oil/transportation costs ↑ → inflation expectations ↑ → rate-cut expectations ↓ → Treasury yields/U.S. dollar ↑ → BTC, ETH and high-beta altcoins ↓

This is why Bitcoin should not simply be viewed as a geopolitical safe-haven asset like gold.

Gold tends to benefit directly from geopolitical uncertainty, while Bitcoin can initially behave more like a risk asset when investors move into cash, the U.S. dollar and Treasuries.

But There Is an Important Second Scenario

If Oman successfully helps reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the market reaction could quickly reverse.

If shipping through the Strait resumes and geopolitical tensions begin to ease, markets could start pricing in:

Oil prices ↓ → inflation expectations ↓ → Fed rate-cut expectations ↑ → liquidity expectations improve → BTC/crypto ↑

In that scenario, Bitcoin could become a major beneficiary of the reduction in geopolitical risk.

So the crypto market is currently trading between two completely opposite scenarios:

The biggest risk is not simply that the deadline has expired.

The real question is:

What happens after the deadline?

The U.S. and Iran still have major disagreements over issues including the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. military presence, sanctions, economic restrictions and compensation.

That means the market has probably already priced in some degree of “no deal.”

What has not necessarily been fully priced in is:

No nuclear deal + further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz.

If that happens, Bitcoin could initially behave as a risk-off asset, rather than as “digital gold.”

Three Signals Crypto Traders Should Watch Closely
1. Actual Shipping Through the Strait of Hormuz

This may be more important than Trump's statements themselves.

If commercial vessels and oil tankers begin moving normally again over the next 24–72 hours, while insurance and shipping costs decline, markets may start pricing in the possibility that geopolitical tensions have peaked.

On the other hand, if shipping continues to deteriorate, Bitcoin could face significantly more downside pressure.

2. Oil Prices

This is one of the most important macro variables for Bitcoin right now.

The relationship is:

Oil ↑ → Inflation expectations ↑ → Fed rate cuts become less likely → Liquidity expectations deteriorate → BTC ↓

Therefore, I would watch Bitcoin, crude oil, the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields together, rather than looking at Bitcoin in isolation.

3. Federal Reserve Rate-Cut Expectations

This is ultimately the most important macro factor.

If Middle East tensions push energy prices sharply higher, inflation expectations could rise and make it more difficult for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

In that environment, even if Bitcoin experiences short-term “safe-haven” rallies, those rallies could have difficulty becoming sustainable.

Conversely, if oil prices fall, inflation expectations decline and expectations for Fed rate cuts return, this geopolitical shock could actually become a catalyst for the next crypto rally.

My Base-Case Scenario
Short term: BTC remains volatile with a downside bias.

I would not call this a confirmed crypto bear market yet.

Instead, this is a macro-driven decision point.

Bitcoin is essentially waiting for the next signal from the Strait of Hormuz and U.S.–Iran negotiations.

Bullish scenario

Hormuz reopens + U.S.–Iran negotiations resume + oil prices decline

then Bitcoin could regain momentum and potentially challenge:

$65K and potentially higher levels.

Bearish scenario

Trump's threats escalate into military action against Oman, or Hormuz remains closed / shipping attacks increas

[Dr. Nathaniel Crawford CFA, CMT @CrawfordM2a]

About SPCX Stock #SPCX https://t.co/G25s3W1mFG

[Crypto investment community @_Matthewte]

The odds of a Fed rate hike in September are falling sharply. Goldman Sachs says a September hike is now “very unlikely” as weaker employment, inflation, and consumer spending data reduce the case for further tightening. Still, markets haven’t completely ruled out future rate hikes, with the path ahead depending heavily on incoming economic and inflation data