OpenAI's launch of GPT-5, a significant upgrade over its predecessor, signals a new era of advanced AI applications. With the ability to write software programs from scratch, GPT-5 is poised to redefine software on demand, potentially transforming corporate workflows and decision-making processes. However, the model's competition in the AI space is fierce, with rivals such as Meta, Anthropic, and Google offering similar capabilities. This competition underscores the importance of strategic positioning and differentiation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
In the realm of cryptocurrencies, Sharplink Gaming's plan to sell approximately $200 million worth of its common stock to buy more Ethereum (ETH) reflects a growing trend among public companies to accumulate large amounts of cryptocurrencies. This strategy, pioneered by Michael Saylor's software firm, Strategy, has led to an increase in Ethereum treasury firms, contributing to Ethereum's highest price in roughly two years. This development suggests a shift in institutional investment strategies towards cryptocurrencies, signaling a potential new norm in corporate finance.
Meanwhile, Ripple's plan to attract more developers with an Ethereum sidechain could foster more innovation within the network's ecosystem. While the XRP Ledger's developer community is smaller than expected, the launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain, which supports smart contracts, could attract new developers and potentially expand the XRP Ledger's ecosystem. This development highlights the importance of fostering a robust developer community in driving innovation and growth in the crypto space.
Finally, the New York Department of Financial Services' (NYDFS) fine on stablecoin issuer Paxos over compliance failures underscores the increasing regulatory scrutiny on crypto firms. The enforcement action, which followed an investigation into Paxos’ anti-money laundering (AML) and customer due diligence procedures, signals a broader trend in New York’s regulatory approach to the crypto industry. This development underscores the importance of robust compliance systems in navigating the complex regulatory landscape of the crypto industry.
The following article summaries have been sourced from Decrypt, CryptoSlate, NewsBTC, and Crypto Briefing. Each summary includes a direct link to the original source.
OpenAI has officially launched its next-generation AI model, GPT-5, after weeks of speculation. The new model, touted as a significant upgrade over GPT-4, is designed to create a simpler interface to the world's most popular AI platform. GPT-5 has been unveiled amid increasing competition from rivals such as Meta, Anthropic, and Google. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, highlighted that GPT-5 can write a software program from scratch, suggesting that software on demand will be a defining characteristic of the GPT-5 era. However, despite the model's impressive 400K token context window, it falls short when compared to Claude or Gemini, which can handle over 1 million tokens of context.
GPT-5 offers several new features, including a video option that allows it to watch users as they chat, and the ability to integrate Gmail and Google Calendars. The model will be available to all GPT users, including those on the free tier, from today. Free users will have usage caps and will be switched to a "mini" model after reaching their limit. Altman described GPT-5 as a qualitative leap in AI capability, comparing the experience of interacting with it to talking to an expert. The company emphasized the model's potential for business applications, highlighting its enhanced reasoning capabilities and potential to transform corporate workflows and decision-making processes. The model also demonstrated significant improvements in truthfulness and accuracy compared to previous models, addressing one of the most persistent challenges in large language model deployment.
OpenAI also revealed a new training approach centered on synthetic data generation, which it claims delivers substantially better results than traditional data collection methods. The new model features enhanced memory capabilities that allow users to customize their chatbot's behavior patterns. GPT-5 also excels in autonomous coding tasks, eliminating the need to switch between specialized coding assistants. The model introduces tool call explanations, making task execution more efficient and transparent for developers. OpenAI has announced a tiered rollout strategy for the new model, with free tier users starting with GPT-5 before transitioning to a lighter "GPT-5 mini" version when they deplete their usage quota, while Pro subscribers receive unlimited access to the full model. Despite its large user base, GPT-5 will be competing with Meta AI, whose own weekly user base stands at 700 million, thanks to its integration with Instagram and WhatsApp.
Sharplink Gaming, a sports gambling firm, is planning to sell approximately $200 million worth of its common stock to buy more Ethereum (ETH), according to a company statement. The shares will be sold to four institutional investors at $19.50 each, with the deal expected to close on August 8, provided all closing conditions are met. This move brings Sharplink closer to its goal of owning 1% of all Ethereum in circulation. As of August 3, Sharplink held 521,939 ETH, valued at $1.9 billion.
This development is part of a growing trend among public companies to accumulate large amounts of cryptocurrencies, a strategy pioneered by Michael Saylor's software firm, Strategy. Several Ethereum treasury firms have emerged over the past year, contributing to Ethereum's highest price in roughly two years. Despite speculation on whether Sharplink will accumulate at least one million ETH before mid-September, it already holds one of the world's largest Ethereum treasuries. The largest ETH treasury firm is BitMine Immersion, backed by Peter Thiel, which holds about $2.9 billion in ETH.
Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has expressed his belief that the XRP Ledger's Ethereum sidechain could foster more innovation within the network's ecosystem and potentially attract new developers. In an interview with Decrypt, Schwartz noted that while many Ethereum-based applications are "just garbage", the overall focus on experimentation could be beneficial for the XRP Ledger. He also acknowledged that the XRP Ledger's developer community is smaller than he believes it should be, partly due to the lack of programmability at layer-1.
In June, Ripple announced that the XRP Ledger was entering a multi-chain era with the launch of the XRPL EVM Sidechain. This network supports smart contracts, allowing people to create applications in the same way they would on Ethereum, but using XRP as its native token. The Ethereum-compatible network opens up new possibilities within the XRP Ledger's ecosystem, including dedicated apps for lending and tokenization. Despite a quiet start, Schwartz said Ripple is trying to stimulate activity by offering grants, community funding, and driving institutional adoption. As of the time of the interview, XRPL’s EVM sidechain had $94,000 worth of assets being used within DeFi applications.
SharpLink Gaming has secured $200 million in a direct stock offering from institutional investors, led by A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, with Societe Generale acting as co-placement agent and Cantor Fitzgerald as financial advisor. The funds will be used exclusively to expand SharpLink's Ethereum (ETH) holdings, which are expected to surpass $2 billion. The funding round, set to close on August 8, was priced at $19.50 per share.
This move comes shortly after SharpLink's disclosure of a $304 million Ethereum acquisition, which added 83,561 ETH to their reserves at an average price of $3,638 per ETH. This acquisition increased the company's total ETH holdings to 521,939 ETH, valued at approximately $1.9 billion. SharpLink, a Minneapolis-based firm, has rapidly scaled its position in just two months through over $540 million in at-the-market equity sales, making it the second-largest corporate ETH holder tracked by SER, a digital asset treasury data service. The company's ETH is currently staked, generating over $3.4 million in rewards since June, which can be reinvested to further grow the treasury as ETH's price and staking yields rise.
The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has fined stablecoin issuer Paxos $48.5 million over compliance failures. The penalty includes a $26.5 million civil monetary fine and an additional $22 million to be spent over three years to bolster its compliance systems. This enforcement action follows an extensive investigation into Paxos’ anti-money laundering (AML) and customer due diligence procedures.
The investigation primarily focused on Paxos’ relationship with Binance, the largest crypto exchange by trading volume. Paxos had been issuing the Binance USD (BUSD) stablecoin in collaboration with the exchange. However, the NYDFS found that Paxos had failed to perform adequate due diligence on the trading platform, violating a 2020 agreement. This lack of oversight was discovered during a review of Binance transactions conducted between 2017 and 2022, which found that $1.6 billion worth of transactions were linked to illicit actors or entities sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Consequently, the NYDFS ordered Paxos to cease the issuance of BUSD in February 2023, effectively ending its partnership with Binance and leading to the gradual phase-out of BUSD from the market.
The NYDFS also identified broader systemic issues within Paxos’s compliance program, including weak Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols, delayed responses to law enforcement inquiries, and outdated transaction monitoring systems that failed to detect suspicious activity and clear money laundering patterns. The investigation also found that Paxos lacked internal policies to determine when to initiate investigations after receiving a law enforcement request, limiting the firm’s ability to identify and respond to high-risk behavior promptly. This enforcement action is part of a broader trend in New York’s regulatory approach to the crypto industry, with the NYDFS having taken actions against firms like Robinhood, Block Inc., and the now-bankrupt Genesis.
Cybersecurity firm SentinelLABS has exposed a complex scam operation that has stolen over $900,000 from unsuspecting cryptocurrency users. The scammers use malicious Ethereum-based smart contracts, masquerading as trading bots, to target individuals who follow what appears to be educational content on YouTube. The report reveals that these scams have been active since early 2024 and continuously evolve through new videos and accounts.
The fraudulent scheme involves YouTube videos that provide tutorials on deploying automated trading bots, specifically Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) bots, through the Remix Solidity Compiler, a popular web-based IDE for smart contract development. These videos guide viewers to download smart contract code from external links. Once deployed, the contracts are designed to drain funds directly from the user’s wallet. The scammers purchase old YouTube accounts to appear credible, filling them with off-topic or seemingly legitimate crypto-related content. This strategy enhances visibility while creating an illusion of trust.
A significant tactic in this campaign is the use of AI-generated videos. Many of the tutorial clips feature synthetic voices and faces with robotic tones, unnatural cadence, and stiff facial movements. This method allows the scammers to quickly generate scam content without the need for real actors, significantly reducing operational costs. However, the most profitable video discovered by SentinelLABS, which drained over $900,000, appears to have been created by a real person, not an AI avatar. This suggests that while automation enhances scalability, human-generated content may still yield higher conversion rates. SentinelLABS also discovered multiple versions of the weaponized contracts, each using different obfuscation techniques to hide attacker-controlled Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs). The firm has warned that the combination of Web3 tools, social engineering, and generative AI presents a growing threat landscape and urged crypto users to verify all external code sources and remain skeptical of too-good-to-be-true trading bots, especially those promoted via unverified YouTube tutorials.
In a recent analysis by EGRAG CRYPTO, a popular crypto chartist, five key technical markets were identified on XRP's path forward. The analysis comes after XRP's price action experienced a slight retracement and consolidation in early August, following a rally in July where XRP broke above $3 and reached new all-time highs. Currently, XRP is trading around the $3.00 psychological level, with volatile candles across shorter timeframes. However, EGRAG CRYPTO's technical outlook suggests that XRP bulls are defending key zones around $2.90, with the broader market sentiment remaining cautiously optimistic.
The first key thing to watch out for is bullish closings above $3. EGRAG's analysis shows that XRP has managed to close multiple candlesticks above the $3.00 threshold, a level that is not only psychological but also a strong confidence booster for traders looking for confirmation of bullish continuation. The second observation is that most of the candle wicks are forming from the upside, indicating that while sellers are active, they have not overwhelmed the buying strength yet. However, a possible correction is the third key thing to watch out for, with EGRAG noting that a retest of the $2.96 to $2.93 price zone is possible in the near term.
The fourth key thing to watch out for is the $2.80 level, which bulls need to protect. According to the analyst, closing below $2.80 again would undermine the bullish structure and could cause downside momentum, making it crucial to hold above this level to maintain bullish momentum. The fifth key thing to watch out for as the bull market unfolds is price targets that can confirm bullish momentum. EGRAG noted specific price levels that would reflect new bullish energy and possibly a breakout to new all-time highs. The first milestone is a close above $3.185, which previously acted as a rejection zone in late July. Breaching $3.185 with conviction would flip sentiment more decisively in favor of the bulls. Above that, the analyst highlighted $3.25 as the next key checkpoint, and surpassing it would put XRP in a strong technical position. The resistance targets beyond that are $3.33 and $3.45, and these are breakout zones that could cause a new all-time high scenario. These targets align with the upper resistance blocks illustrated on EGRAG’s charts, and any solid close above $3.45 can be interpreted as a move to at least $3.65. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $3, up by 2.4% in the past 24 hours.
France is taking a significant step in cryptocurrency adoption as the far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) is preparing a bill to allow the use of surplus nuclear energy for Bitcoin mining. According to French newspaper Le Monde, party leader Marine Le Pen promoted this plan during a visit to the Flamanville nuclear power plant on March 11, stating that it's a sensible way to convert wasted electricity into "reliable and extremely profitable" digital assets.
The RN's proposal has become one of the most discussed crypto initiatives in France. The party argues that since France often produces more electricity than it consumes, the surplus should not be wasted. RN legislator Aurélien Lopez-Liguori prepared a bill to place Bitcoin mining equipment at nuclear facilities of Électricité de France (EDF), the state energy company. The idea is to direct unused nuclear energy (up to one gigawatt of surplus) directly to mining farms. Instead of selling excess energy at a loss, France will use it for a more profitable venture – Bitcoin mining and profit retention. The bill, submitted to the French National Assembly on July 11, 2025, provides for a five-year pilot program that will allow energy companies to create mining enterprises directly at nuclear power plants. Internal estimates suggest this could generate between $100 to $150 million in revenue per year.
Support for Bitcoin mining from the RN marks a sharp turn in the party's attitude towards cryptocurrency. In 2016, Marine Le Pen was categorically against cryptocurrencies, believing they would deprive citizens of control over finances and increase the power of global banks, advocating for their complete ban in France. However, by 2022, Le Pen softened her stance, beginning to support the regulated use of cryptocurrencies in the financial sphere. By 2025, she openly advocates for Bitcoin mining as part of a national strategy, reflecting significant changes both within her party and in the public political discourse on crypto. After a similar proposal failed in June 2025, Deputy Lopez-Liguori revised the bill, focusing on national infrastructure and economic recovery, asserting that the plan will help make France more economically independent and solve the long-standing problem with excess energy. If adopted, France will become the first country in Europe to officially link state-supported Bitcoin mining with nuclear energy, setting an example for other countries looking to profit from excess renewable or nuclear energy.
Omni Network's (OMNI) token has seen a significant surge in value, up by 276% in the past 30 days, following its debut on South Korea's top exchange, Upbit. The listing has acted as a catalyst, attracting global investor attention. Omni Network, which was launched to address fragmentation in Ethereum's rollup ecosystem, has quickly become popular among both retail and institutional investors. The network's promise of seamless interoperability between Ethereum rollups, powered by OMNI as a universal gas token, has contributed to its bullish momentum.
OMNI's impressive rise began with its July 29 listing on Upbit, where it quickly surged from $2.50 to over $7.80 before stabilizing around $5. High trading volumes exceeding $580 million have underscored the strong investor demand. Technical indicators remain bullish, with the MACD line trending above the signal line and RSI levels suggesting sustained momentum, despite being overbought. Analysts have identified $4.36 as a crucial support level, with $5.98 and $6.94 serving as key resistance points. If OMNI breaks out above these, it could potentially reach $10 and beyond in the coming months.
Omni Network's design aligns well with the Ethereum roadmap, and its market performance reflects strong confidence in its value proposition. With just over 10 million OMNI tokens currently in circulation, and most allocations under long-term vesting, supply remains constrained, adding to upward price pressure. If adoption among Ethereum rollups continues and trading volumes hold, the token could hit $10–$30 within the next 12–24 months, according to mid-to-long-term forecasts. The Omni Network story is one of strong fundamentals, positive technicals, and a market narrative centered on blockchain support, positioning OMNI as one of 2025’s most promising Layer 1 tokens.
OpenAI has unveiled its latest AI model, GPT-5, which boasts significant improvements in reasoning, accuracy, safety, and practical applicability across various fields. The model, now the default in ChatGPT, offers Pro subscribers access to GPT-5 Pro. The AI model has been enhanced to perform better in coding, math, writing, health, and visual perception tasks. It is designed to be user-friendly and highly capable, with built-in reasoning that allows it to handle complex tasks and provide expert-level intelligence to all users. A unique feature is its smart router that adjusts in real-time to user behavior, aiming to provide the right level of reasoning without additional latency.
GPT-5 has shown improved performance in several key areas, setting new state-of-the-art results across benchmarks in math, real-world coding, and science. The Pro version offers even longer, more accurate responses through efficient parallel computing. The model also demonstrates a reduced tendency for incorrect information, with responses being significantly less likely to contain factual errors when using web search or thinking mode. OpenAI has made the system available to all users, with tiered access levels. Pro subscribers receive unlimited access and exclusive use of GPT-5 Pro, while Plus users get higher usage limits compared to free users. The model also incorporates new safety measures, including "safe completions" training that aims to provide helpful answers while maintaining security boundaries. OpenAI has conducted 5,000 hours of safety testing with partners including CAISI and UK AISI.
Chainlink has launched an on-chain reserve system, Chainlink Reserve, designed to accumulate LINK tokens from the revenue it generates from both off-chain and on-chain operations. The off-chain revenue primarily originates from large enterprises that pay to access Chainlink’s infrastructure, while on-chain fees are sourced from protocols across DeFi and web3. Chainlink, with over 2,000 price feeds securing more than $80 billion in value, is one of the largest oracle providers, supporting applications across more than 60 blockchains.
The Chainlink Reserve initiative utilizes Chainlink’s Payment Abstraction infrastructure, which enables users to pay for Chainlink services using their preferred payment methods. These payments are then automatically converted to LINK using Chainlink services and decentralized exchanges. Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov stated that the launch of the Chainlink Reserve is a significant evolution for the company, establishing a strategic LINK reserve funded by off-chain revenue and on-chain service usage. The reserve has already accumulated over $1 million worth of LINK tokens during its early launch phase, with no planned withdrawals for multiple years. This strategy allows the reserve to grow as more revenue is converted into LINK tokens.
The establishment of the reserve is part of Chainlink's efforts to make its economic model more sustainable. In addition to growing user fee revenue, the platform has introduced architectural upgrades like the Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE) to lower operational costs. The reserve smart contract also includes a built-in timelock to ensure transparency and security for any withdrawals. Chainlink’s network currently supports various major financial institutions and protocols, including Swift, Euroclear, Mastercard, Fidelity International, UBS, ANZ, Aave, GMX, and Lido, powering transactions across decentralized finance, banking, and tokenized real-world assets.
Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin, has acquired a minority stake in Spanish crypto platform Bit2Me. The investment is part of a €30 million funding round that Tether is leading and is expected to conclude in the coming weeks. Bit2Me, which serves over 1.2 million users and 7,000 companies, has been recognized by Spain's National Securities Market Commission as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. This authorization, a first for a Spanish-speaking exchange, enables Bit2Me to provide services across all 27 EU member states.
The investment will bolster Bit2Me's expansion within the European Union and strengthen its operations in Latin America, particularly in Argentina. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino commended Bit2Me for its commitment to building a compliant, secure, and intuitive digital asset ecosystem. Bit2Me's co-founder and COO, Andrei Manuel, described the investment as a pivotal milestone for the exchange that will accelerate its leadership in Europe and Latin America. Tether's investment portfolio extends beyond the crypto industry, with stakes in Italian football club Juventus, media company Be Water, and South American agricultural and energy firm Adecoagro.
