Articles by Khal
Latest from Khal
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PBOC's $44B reverse repo signals easing, but Bitcoin stays weak near $60K
China's central bank launched an overnight reverse repo operation worth $44.1 billion on June 29, giving traders a new liquidity signal. Bitcoin, down 18.25% over 30 days, sits near $60,000 as ETF demand stays weak and sentiment remains defensive despite the injection.
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CryptoBandits malware hijacks wallet addresses, crypto fraud hits $17B in 2025
Microsoft's threat intelligence team published analysis of CryptoBandits, a Windows malware that hijacks copied wallet addresses and steals seed phrases. Crypto fraud losses hit record highs in 2025, with individual holders increasingly targeted by scams that don't break cryptography but manipulate what your machine shows.
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Samsung, SK Hynix plan major chip fab expansion in South Korea
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are negotiating with the South Korean government to build two new semiconductor fabrication sites, targeting the Honam region as a second chip cluster to meet surging AI-driven demand for advanced chips and reduce capacity constraints.
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Bank of England: Brexit complicates UK inflation control
The Bank of England's Chief Economist identified Brexit as a lasting structural challenge to the central bank's ability to achieve its 2% inflation target, citing damage to labor markets, supply chains, and competitive pressures.
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Pendle reaches fifth-largest protocol on Monad with $51M TVL
Pendle's yield tokenization protocol accumulated $51 million in total value locked on Monad within its first ten days of launch, becoming the fifth-largest protocol on the chain and generating $22 million in trading volume.
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BitMEX removes CEO, CFO, head of growth amid buyer search
BitMEX has removed chief executive Stephan Lutz, CFO Ina Steiner, and chief growth officer Raphael Polansky from their roles. Peter Wilkinson, the firm's former general counsel and COO, takes over as CEO as the exchange seeks to streamline costs and attract buyers.
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South Korea's $518B AI chip push widens crypto's capital deficit
Samsung and SK Hynix are accelerating a $518 billion chip-plant buildout by a decade to meet AI memory demand, signaling that the AI capital cycle continues to draw investment away from crypto.
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Chinese investors flood domestic comms ETF as semiconductor stocks plunge
Chinese investors shifted capital into a domestic communications equipment ETF that returned roughly 298% over the past year, rotating away from battered global semiconductor stocks during an early June selloff.
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South Korea targets $380B AI infrastructure push led by Samsung, SK Group
South Korea's government expects roughly 550 trillion won ($380 billion) in private investment across AI data centers, chips, and batteries, with Samsung and SK Group driving a massive buildout. Power constraints and cyclical risk pose challenges.
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OpenAI restricts new model access after Trump administration security review request
The Trump administration asked OpenAI and Anthropic to limit rollouts of advanced AI models pending security reviews. OpenAI announced three new models—GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna—but restricted early access to government-approved partners, signaling a shift toward federal oversight of AI releases.
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Momenta launches Hong Kong IPO targeting $751M for autonomous driving
Chinese autonomous driving firm Momenta raised HK$5.89 billion ($751M) via IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with 60% allocated to R&D and 20% to Robotaxi services. Cornerstone backers include Mercedes-Benz, BlackRock, and GIC.
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BIS warns AI spending surge poses systemic financial risk
The Bank for International Settlements flagged artificial intelligence investment exuberance as a potential financial stability threat, citing heavy debt reliance and elevated valuations that could trigger disruptive market corrections if central banks tighten policy to combat inflation.
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SharpLink Buys $62M Ethereum After Eight-Month Pause
SharpLink purchased approximately $62.4 million in Ethereum, breaking an eight-month silence and reinforcing its position as the second-largest public corporate ETH holder with a total treasury valued near $1.3 billion.
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TSMC and Winbond build localized 3D DRAM stacking to cut supply-chain risk
TSMC and Winbond are building a localized DRAM supply chain in Taiwan using 3D wafer-on-wafer stacking technology, reducing reliance on foreign memory suppliers and strengthening the island's semiconductor autonomy.
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Oil prices fall to pre-Iran war levels as Strait of Hormuz reopens
Brent crude dropped below $72.48 per barrel in late June, erasing a 20% spike driven by the Iran conflict. US-brokered deals reopened the Strait of Hormuz, removing supply-shock fears and allowing prices to stabilize as analysts project a $60–$80 range ahead.
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Spot Bitcoin ETFs Post Record $4 Billion Outflow in June
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $4.06 billion in net outflows during June 2026, marking the largest monthly redemption on record and signaling weak institutional demand amid bitcoin's 30% price decline.
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China expands export controls against 40 Japanese entities
China's Ministry of Commerce announced export restrictions on 40 Japanese entities on February 24, placing 20 on a formal ban list and 20 on a watch list, escalating tensions over Taiwan and semiconductor controls.
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Copper slumps as Federal Reserve signals 2026 rate hikes
Copper fell over 1% on June 19 as the Federal Reserve's hawkish pivot and a strengthening dollar pressured industrial metals. The shift from zero expected rate hikes to at least one in 2026 represents rapid repricing that threatens portfolios.
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Sharplink resumes $62.4M Ether purchases after eight-month pause
Sharplink resumed Ether purchases last week after eight months of inactivity, acquiring nearly 40,000 ETH across three days starting Thursday. The move came as Ethereum faces market headwinds and institutional adoption pressures.
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Japan's prediction markets use loyalty points to sidestep gambling laws
Japanese startups are building prediction markets using redeemable points instead of cryptocurrency to comply with local gambling laws, positioning themselves as alternatives to Polymarket while Polymarket itself targets government authorization by 2030.
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American Express hires VP for stablecoin and blockchain partnerships
American Express posted a job listing for a Vice President of Stablecoin and Blockchain Partnerships within its Digital Labs division, signaling the credit card giant's formal push into blockchain payments and stablecoin infrastructure alongside Visa and Mastercard.
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Tech stocks hit 39.4% of S&P 500, surpassing dot-com bubble peak
The Information Technology sector has reached 39.4% of the S&P 500's total market capitalization as of June 2026, surpassing the previous record of 35% set during the dot-com bubble in March 2000. The Magnificent Seven companies now account for roughly a third of the index, creating concentration risk.
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US and Iran sign Strait of Hormuz ceasefire deal amid continued military strikes
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to halt hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, brokered by Pakistan and Qatar with a 60-day negotiation window. Yet military strikes continued after the agreement, raising doubts about implementation and its impact on oil markets and crypto assets.
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HIP-4 hits $24.77M open interest record on World Cup prediction surge
HIP-4, Hyperliquid's binary prediction market, reached an all-time high of $24.77M in open interest as World Cup wagering dominated trading activity. Sports markets now account for 99% of all live open interest on the platform, with the World Cup champion market alone driving $9.63M in weekly volume.