Crypto Weekly: Major ETH Purchase, Ripple’s $200M Buy, and Global Regulatory Moves

Every week, StealthEX and CryptoDaily highlight the most impactful developments in the crypto space. Instead of drowning in endless headlines, you’ll get the news that shapes the industry — clearly explained and easy to digest.

SharpLink Expands Ethereum Holdings Toward $2B
SharpLink has added another massive chunk of Ethereum to its reserves — 83,562 ETH between July 28 and August 3, worth roughly $264 million. The acquisition was made at an average of $3,634 per coin.

The Nasdaq-listed gaming and software company started building its ETH position in June 2025, using proceeds from stock sales. With this latest buy, SharpLink’s total holdings now stand at 521,939 ETH, valued at nearly $1.91 billion.

All of the company’s Ethereum is staked, generating passive rewards through Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system. So far, staking returns have reached 929 ETH — about $3.3 million at current prices.

SharpLink tracks its strategy with an “ETH Concentration” metric, showing the amount of ETH backing each share. Since June, that number has risen from 2.00 to 3.66 — an 83% increase. Management says it plans to continue scaling its Ethereum position, potentially raising more capital through debt or equity.

Ripple’s $200M Acquisition of Rail
Ripple has struck a $200 million deal to acquire Rail, a stablecoin-focused payments provider, pending regulatory approval. The closing is expected late 2025.

Rail’s system connects to over a dozen banks and offers APIs for instant, cross-border stablecoin payments. Supported assets will include Ripple’s RLUSD, XRP, and other tokens. Businesses using the platform won’t need to hold crypto directly, eliminating wallet management and on-chain exposure.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says this partnership will establish the company as a leader in global stablecoin infrastructure. Rail’s CEO Bhanu Kohli estimates the platform will process over 10% of this year’s projected $36 billion in B2B stablecoin volume.

CrediX Finance Vanishes After $4.5M Exploit
CrediX Finance has gone silent following a $4.5 million security breach. Attackers reportedly compromised the project’s multisig and bridge wallets, minted assets, used them as collateral, and drained liquidity pools.

While the platform initially claimed it had reached an agreement with the hackers for a partial return of funds, all communication soon stopped. Its website, social accounts, and Telegram group have been offline since August 4.

Affected partners — including Stability DAO, Euler, Sonic Labs, and Trevee — are now working with authorities to trace stolen funds. Trevee reports a $1.6 million indirect loss linked to the incident.

Trump Opens 401(k)s to Crypto and Alternative Assets
President Donald Trump has signed an order allowing retirement plans to invest in cryptocurrencies, real estate, and private equity. The Labor Department and SEC will review rules restricting these investments and outline safeguards for providers.

Supporters see this as a chance to increase portfolio diversification and returns. Critics warn about higher fees, volatility, and illiquidity. The market reacted immediately with a price surge across multiple asset classes.

Dubai Grants First Regulated Crypto Options License
Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority has issued its first crypto options trading license to Laser Digital, the digital asset arm of Nomura Bank. The approval allows Laser Digital to offer OTC derivatives to institutional clients under the ISDA framework.

Initially, the firm will focus on vanilla options before expanding into lending, spot trading, and yield products. Dubai’s mix of regulatory clarity and innovation is attracting top-tier financial institutions.

China Prepares First RMB-Backed Stablecoin in Hong Kong
China is set to greenlight its first renminbi-pegged stablecoin via Hong Kong’s licensing system. Only a few licenses will be issued initially, with a focus on business transactions rather than retail payments.

The plan is seen as part of Beijing’s strategy to expand the RMB’s role in global finance while keeping capital flows under strict control.

SEC Clarifies Rules on Liquid Staking Tokens
The U.S. SEC has stated that certain Staking Receipt Tokens (SRTs) — representing claims on staked assets — may not qualify as securities if issued under strict conditions.

The exemption applies when tokens simply verify deposits without relying on third-party managerial efforts. However, the agency cautions that most staking services will still fall under securities rules.

Trump Targets Politically Motivated Bank Account Closures
A new executive order from Trump will direct regulators to investigate banks accused of closing accounts for political reasons — including crypto-related businesses. The move seeks to end what critics call “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”

Banks could face penalties if found to be discriminating based on ideology. Legal experts expect court challenges to the measure.

CFTC to Permit Spot Crypto Trading on Registered Exchanges
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission plans to allow federally registered futures exchanges to offer spot crypto trading. Acting Chair Caroline Pham says the initiative — part of “Project Crypto” — is aimed at creating a unified oversight framework with the SEC.

If implemented, it could shift a large share of spot trading from unregulated platforms to federally supervised markets, boosting investor confidence.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.