Key PointsExecutives from Shinhan, Hana, KB Financial, and Woori Bank to meet with Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC).Discussions cover distribution of dollar-pegged stablecoins and potential launch of a won-based stablecoin.Aligns with President Lee Jae Myung’s pro-crypto agenda and shift away from a central bank digital currency (CBDC).Meetings scheduled with Circle President Heath Tarbert and Tether officials this week.South Korea Banks Eye Stablecoin PartnershipsSouth Korea’s top financial groups are preparing direct talks with Tether and Circle, issuers of the world’s two largest stablecoins, to explore partnerships, according to Yonhap News.Executives from Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, KB Financial Group, and Woori Bank are expected to hold separate meetings to discuss distributing dollar-pegged stablecoins (USDT, USDC) in South Korea and potentially issuing a won-pegged stablecoin.The move reflects South Korea’s broader push to position itself as a stablecoin hub in Asia, following the government’s decision to shelve central bank digital currency (CBDC) plans earlier this year.Political and Regulatory ContextPresident Lee Jae Myung, elected in June, has prioritized developing a stablecoin market as part of his crypto-friendly campaign promises. His administration views stablecoins as a practical alternative to a state-issued CBDC, aiming to foster private-sector innovation while maintaining oversight.The Bank of Korea suspended its CBDC project shortly after Lee’s victory. Meanwhile, Upbit, one of South Korea’s largest exchanges, has already announced a stablecoin project with Naver Pay, signaling growing domestic momentum.Who’s Meeting WhomShinhan CEO Jin Ok-dong and Hana CEO Ham Young-joo will meet Circle President Heath Tarbert on Friday.Ham is also expected to meet with a Tether representative later the same day.KB Financial’s Chief Digital & IT Officer Lee Chang-kwon and Woori Bank President Jeong Jin-wan are arranging similar talks with Circle.Circle’s USDC is currently the second-largest stablecoin after Tether’s USDT, both of which dominate global markets, according to CoinDesk.

Key TakeawaysSpot Bitcoin ETFs logged $1.17 billion in outflows across five trading days — their longest losing streak since April.Bitcoin price slipped below $113,000, down nearly 5% in the past month.Anthony Pompliano says BTC looks “oversold” and expects a rebound heading into September and October.Historical trends show Q3 is Bitcoin’s weakest quarter but Q4 is typically the strongest, averaging +85%.Pomp doubts BTC hits $1 million this cycle, but remains long-term bullish.Bitcoin ETFs Extend Five-Day Outflow StreakSpot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. recorded $1.17 billion in cumulative outflows over the past five trading sessions, according to Farside and CoinMarketCap data. This marks their longest losing streak since April, when BTC was trading around $79,600.The pullback comes just over a week after Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of $124,128 on Aug. 14, highlighting renewed volatility. At press time, BTC was trading near $112,870, down 4.98% over the last 30 days.Pompliano: Bitcoin Looks “Oversold” at $112K–113KCrypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano said on CNBC that Bitcoin’s current levels represent a potential buying opportunity.“Right now at 112, 113,000, it is pretty oversold,” Pompliano said.He pointed to seasonality: traders typically return in September and October, which historically coincides with higher volumes and stronger price action.Historical Trends: Weak Q3, Strong Q4Since 2013, data from CoinGlass shows:Q3 average return: +6.02% (Bitcoin’s weakest quarter)Q4 average return: +85.42% (its strongest quarter)Pompliano noted that traders often act on these expectations, helping to reinforce the Q4 rally narrative.Long-Term Bullish, But No $1M YetWhile optimistic about Bitcoin’s rebound later this year, Pompliano cast doubt on the idea of BTC hitting $1 million in the current cycle.He argued that speculation around the Sept. 17 Federal Reserve rate cut and corporate treasury purchases of Bitcoin could add upward pressure. Still, he sees the million-dollar milestone as a future event, not an imminent one.“Bitcoin will definitely go to one million at some point in the future, but I just think this cycle it is very unlikely,” he said.His comments came one day after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said BTC could reach $1 million by 2030.Bitcoin is facing its sharpest ETF outflow streak in months, but analysts like Pompliano argue the market is oversold and due for a recovery. With historical seasonality and potential macro catalysts like a Fed rate cut ahead, the spotlight is now on whether Bitcoin can reclaim momentum as Q4 approaches, according to Cointelegraph.

Key TakeawaysThe European Union is reportedly exploring Ethereum and Solana as potential platforms for the digital euro.A move toward public blockchains would mark a shift away from private models, such as China’s CBDC.EU officials see a public framework as more aligned with U.S. stablecoin models (e.g., Circle’s USDC).The ECB has not finalized the digital euro’s technical design.EU Eyes Public Blockchains for CBDCThe European Central Bank (ECB) is weighing whether to run the upcoming digital euro on a public blockchain such as Ethereum or Solana, according to a Friday report from the Financial Times.This would represent a sharp departure from private blockchain frameworks, where transaction data is restricted to authorized institutions. By contrast, Ethereum and Solana operate as open, transparent networks accessible to anyone.Public vs. Private ModelsOne person close to the discussions told the FT that a public model is “definitely something officials are taking more seriously now.”A private version of the digital euro would resemble China’s digital yuan (e-CNY), which is centrally controlled.A public version would mirror the U.S. approach, where private firms like Circle run stablecoins on open networks.This distinction highlights the philosophical divide: whether central banks should lean toward control and surveillance or openness and interoperability.Europe’s Stablecoin ConcernsThe EU’s interest in public blockchains comes amid growing anxiety over U.S. stablecoins.In April, ECB executive Piero Cipollone argued that stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar — which currently make up 98% of the global market — pose adoption and sovereignty risks.A digital euro could act as a counterbalance, giving European citizens and businesses an alternative to U.S.-backed assets.Unconfirmed but SignificantThe ECB has not officially confirmed whether Ethereum or Solana are being considered. A request for comment from Cointelegraph went unanswered.Still, if adopted, the decision would mark the first major central bank to launch a CBDC on a public blockchain, setting a precedent for future digital currency rollouts.The digital euro project remains in the design stage, with the final framework yet to be determined. Market watchers will be closely following whether the EU opts for:Ethereum → The largest smart contract network with broad institutional adoption.Solana → Known for faster throughput and lower costs, but with past network stability concerns.A decision in favor of public blockchains could reshape how central banks approach CBDCs, making the digital euro a potential global benchmark.

Key TakeawaysSpot Ether ETFs snapped a 4-day outflow streak with $287.6M in inflows.BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) led with $233.5M, followed by Fidelity’s FETH with $28.5M.Spot ETFs now hold 6.42M ETH ($27.66B), equal to 5.31% of supply.Institutions like SharpLink Gaming continue to add to treasury reserves.ETF Flows: BlackRock Takes the LeadAfter four straight days of outflows totaling $924M, spot Ether ETFs reversed course on Thursday with $287.6M in net inflows, per SoSoValue.BlackRock’s ETHA dominated with $233.5M inflows.Fidelity’s FETH added $28.5M.Smaller ETFs collectively saw around $6M in inflows.This rebound signals renewed institutional demand after earlier selling pressure that saw $429M exit in a single day on Tuesday, one of the largest daily outflows this month.Ethereum ETF Holdings Hit $27.66BSpot Ether ETFs now collectively hold 6.42 million ETH, worth $27.66B, representing 5.31% of ETH’s circulating supply.Thursday’s net inflow added 66,350 ETH.Total cumulative inflows across spot ETFs have surpassed $12B since launch, according to Cointelegraph.Corporate Treasuries Accumulate ETHBeyond ETFs, institutions are growing direct ETH holdings.Corporate treasuries + long-term reserves now total 4.1M ETH ($17.66B), or 3.39% of supply.SharpLink Gaming purchased $667M in ETH on Tuesday, raising its holdings above 740,000 ETH ($3.2B).Bitmine Immersion Tech remains the largest corporate holder with 1.5M ETH.Community Debate: Centralization vs. ValueOn Reddit, ETH holders debated whether growing ETF and treasury ownership benefits the ecosystem.Pro side: Reduces circulating supply, supports staking, boosts price and DeFi utility.Con side: Concentrates ETH in centralized entities, reducing decentralization — a core Ethereum value.The rebound in ETH ETF inflows highlights renewed confidence in Ethereum’s institutional adoption. Key factors to watch:Whether inflows sustain into September.Staking participation from ETFs and treasuries.Ethereum price action around $4,279 amid macro risk sentiment.

Peter Navarro stood outside the White House and made it clear that the Trump administration is moving forward with 50% tariffs on Indian imports. The trade adviser said he fully expects those tariffs to be implemented at 12:01 a. m. Washington time on August 27. He directly blamed India for its continued oil trade with Russia, […] source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/navarro-slams-india-again-over-russian-ties/

Acting Chairman Caroline Pham confirmed the update this week, noting the project builds directly on the White House’s policy roadmap […] The post U. S. source: https://coindoo.com/u-s-regulators-move-closer-to-taking-control-of-crypto-markets/

In Brief 🎧 Listen to This Article Prefer to listen? Hit play below to hear the narrated version. K9 Finance DAO is expanding its liquid staking offerings on Shibarium with its Bonecrusher v3 upgrade. The major update, which went live on August 21, brings new yield farming pools to the network’s largest protocol by total value locked (TVL) and overhauls its reward structure for participants. The update introduces an entirely new KNINE/knBONE farming pool and replaces the original BONE/knBONE pool with an upgraded version source: https://news.shib.io/2025/08/22/k9-finance-daos-bonecrusher-v3-now-brings-new-pools-to-shibarium/

Bitcoin is treading water at around $113,000, drifting in tight ranges as traders sit on their hands ahead of Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole later today. source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/crypto-pauses-as-markets-brace-for-powell/

According to Binance Market Data, Ethereum (ETH) dropped below 4,300 USDT and is now trading at 4,299.299805 USDT, with a 0.04% increase in 24 hours.

SBI partners with Circle, Ripple and Startale to launch stablecoin ventures and a tokenized asset trading platform in Japan. source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/sbi-japan-blockchain-partnership-circle-ripple-startale?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

AUSTRAC has ordered Binance Australia to hire an external auditor after finding serious gaps in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism controls. The move is part of a wider crackdown on crypto platforms in Australia, with regulators warning of local risks despite global systems.

South Korean prosecutors are pushing for a three-year jail term for actress and former singer Hwang Jung-eum, accusing her of embezzling billions of won from her own entertainment agency to fund crypto purchases.

After several unsuccessful attempts to hit the all-time high of $4870, Ethereum turned downward on August 14, starting its first round of adjustments after breaking through $4,000.

In November 2022, the release of ChatGPT 3.5 marked the official beginning of the modern AI era.

Asia’s wealthiest families are piling into crypto like never before, signaling that digital assets have officially moved from the sidelines into the heart of sophisticated wealth management.

OpenAI is opening its first office in New Delhi to better serve India’s growing AI market and support local developers, businesses, and students. The company is also expanding services, launching an affordable ChatGPT subscription, and hiring locally to strengthen its team.

The Yield Basis of traditional finance is the U.S. Treasury yield. Will the Yield Basis on the chain be BTC/crvUSD?

Arthur Hayes, the BitMEX co-founder pardoned by Donald Trump, has invested in a stem cell firm with clinics in Mexico and Bangkok. He is also backing crypto treasury firms while warning that the market may already be overheating.

Historically, the fourth quarter often brings very substantial returns in the final stage of every bull market.

UK police are investigating a sophisticated phishing scam where the criminal posed as a senior UK Law enforcement officer stole £2.1 million worth of bitcoin, according to the North Wales Police Cyber crime team.