Cryptocurrency 26 July 2025 - 10 February 2026

Bithumb recovered 99.7% of $40 billion in bitcoin mistakenly credited to users during a promotion, after a sharp 17% selloff on its exchange. South Korean regulators signaled increased scrutiny of crypto exchange controls following the incident. Apple is preparing to allow third-party AI voice assistants in CarPlay, moving beyond Siri-only voice control.

Cash App, owned by Block, has launched its largest update, adding Bitcoin Lightning payments from USD balances, an AI financial assistant, and a Bitcoin-accepting business map. Stablecoin transfers using USDC on Solana are planned for 2026. The new features will roll out to Cash App’s 58 million users starting this month. Block calls it the app’s first coordinated multi-product launch.

Square launched Bitcoin Payments at U.S. registers today, offering zero processing fees until 2027, Lightning support, and no chargebacks, except in New York. Paystand acquired Bitwage to add mass stablecoin payouts and FX to its B2B network, targeting faster global payroll. New research projects digital wallet users will surpass 6 billion by 2030.

The Federal Reserve held rates at 4.25% with two officials dissenting for a cut, sending Bitcoin briefly below $116,000 before it rebounded above $118,000. Ethereum marked its 10th anniversary trading above $3,800, up 23% in recent weeks, as spot ETH ETFs saw 18 straight days of net inflows. The Justice Department seized $225 million from crypto scams, its largest haul to date. Solana unveiled an ACE roadmap targeting over 10,000 TPS.