Articles by Khal
Latest from Khal
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CME Group launches Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures with XRP, XLM, LINK
CME Group and Nasdaq have launched futures contracts on a new regulated crypto index that includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Bitcoin Cash, XRP, Stellar, and Chainlink, offering institutional investors diversified exposure without direct token custody.
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Barcelona declines €30M Rashford option; Man United awaits return
Barcelona has decided not to exercise its €30 million purchase option for Marcus Rashford, who will return to Manchester United when his loan expires on June 30, 2026. The Spanish club cited financial constraints; United demands a full permanent deal with no discounts.
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TensorWave raises $100M Series A led by AMD Ventures, targets 1GW AI infrastructure
TensorWave, a Las Vegas-based AI infrastructure startup, closed a $100 million Series A round co-led by Magnetar and AMD Ventures in May 2025, bringing total disclosed capital to roughly $143–$150 million. The company operates the world's largest liquid-cooled AMD GPU training cluster and has signed a multi-phase capacity deal targeting 1 gigawatt of power.
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Japan's Big Three Banks Plan Joint Yen Stablecoin by March
MUFG, SMBC and Mizuho announced plans to jointly issue a yen-backed stablecoin by the end of Japan's financial year in March, with backing from the Financial Services Agency and ruling party.
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US nears long-term nuclear deal with Iran, VP Vance says
Vice President JD Vance told CBS News the US is closing in on a nuclear agreement with Iran that could address Tehran's weapons program for the long term, potentially stabilizing oil markets and reducing illicit crypto flows tied to sanctions evasion.
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Trump pressures Netanyahu to halt Iran strikes, warns of diplomatic isolation
President Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 7, instructing him to suspend planned retaliatory strikes against Iran and warning of diplomatic isolation. Bitcoin swung 5% in response to the geopolitical de-escalation, then fell again as limited Israeli military action continued.
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SpaceX pre-IPO perpetual on Hyperliquid falls 27% in three weeks
The SPCX perpetual on Hyperliquid, a cash-settled derivative tied to SpaceX's IPO, has declined 27% from its mid-May peak of $216 to $157 Wednesday. The contract still trades above SpaceX's $135 offer price, but the implied first-day premium has compressed from 60% to 16%.
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Hyperliquid and Paradigm challenge Treasury's stablecoin AML rules
The Hyperliquid Policy Center and venture capital firm Paradigm urged the US Treasury to revise proposed anti-money laundering rules for stablecoin issuers, warning that secondary market obligations could drive regulated stablecoins out of decentralized finance.
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Qatar's World Cup disaster didn't dent crypto sponsor momentum
Qatar became the first World Cup host to lose all group-stage matches, yet crypto sponsorships showed no signs of weakness. FIFA's partnership with Crypto.com continued unaffected, and Kraken's 2026 deal signals digital assets are now a permanent fixture in global sports.
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XRP Perpetual Contracts Launch on CFTC-Approved Kalshi
XRP perpetual futures are now trading on Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated prediction market approved by the CFTC, marking a major shift in how American traders access crypto derivatives after years of relying on offshore platforms.
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Iran's IRGC strikes US base in Jordan, crypto markets spike amid regulatory fears
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed June 10 strikes on a US airbase in Jordan and 21 Gulf targets, prompting immediate crypto market volatility. Escalating US-Iran tensions historically trigger regulatory crackdowns on Iranian-linked crypto infrastructure.
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Jordan intercepts five Iranian missiles amid Middle East escalation
Jordan's military shot down five Iranian missiles on June 10 targeting a US military base, with no casualties reported. The incident highlights geopolitical risks that historically trigger volatility in crypto and traditional markets.
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Anthropic's Claude Mythos raises crypto exploit risk, VCs warn
Anthropic released its Claude Mythos model (Fable 5) on Tuesday with safeguards rerouting sensitive topics to a separate model, but venture capitalists warn the AI's ability to find exploits has dropped barriers to nearly zero for potential attackers targeting unaudited crypto protocols.
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Bitcoin ETF Assets Fall to November 2024 Levels as Outflows Accelerate
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs' net assets have retreated to $77.58 billion, matching levels from just after Trump's election win. The decline marks a reversal from a record $169.54 billion peak in October 2025, driven by macro headwinds and investor rotation to competing narratives.
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CME launches Nasdaq crypto index futures tracking 7 major tokens
CME Group rolled out Nasdaq CME Crypto Index futures on June 8, offering a single contract tracking Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar with cash settlement and no physical token delivery.
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US releases 172M barrels from Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid Iran conflict
The Trump administration authorized a 172 million barrel drawdown from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve on March 11, 2026, as part of a coordinated 400 million barrel global release organized by the International Energy Agency in response to Iran conflict pressures on the Strait of Hormuz.
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US EIA warns oil inventories at multi-decade lows, pressuring Bitcoin miners
OECD oil inventories are projected to fall below 2.3 billion barrels by December 2026—the lowest level since 2003—driven by production outages and shipping disruptions. Brent crude is expected to average $105 per barrel in summer 2026, potentially compressing margins for Bitcoin miners already squeezed by the April 2024 halving.
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Hong Kong Positions Digital Assets as Hedge Against Beijing Capital Controls
Hong Kong is pivoting toward digital assets and robust IPO performance to restore investor confidence amid Beijing's crackdown on overseas investment and maintain its role as a global financial hub.
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Japan's Corporate Goods Prices Surge 6.3% Amid Iran Conflict
Japan's Corporate Goods Price Index climbed 6.3% year-over-year in May, the fastest pace since March 2023, driven by crude oil and naphtha prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
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US military strikes Iran after Apache helicopter downed near Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military positions on June 9 after a US Army Apache helicopter was downed near the Strait of Hormuz the previous day. The escalation risks disrupting roughly 20% of global oil supply and could roil crypto markets through inflation expectations and dollar strength.
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Thailand accelerates EU trade deal to reduce US tariff reliance
Thailand is accelerating negotiations on a free trade agreement with the European Union to diversify its supply chains and reduce exposure to unpredictable US tariff policy. Officials are targeting a deal by end-2025 or mid-2026.
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Ripple partners with Water.org to deploy RLUSD for safe water access
Ripple has become the exclusive digital asset and payments partner for Water.org's Get Blue campaign, which aims to reach 200 million people with safe water by 2030. Ripple will provide seed funding and deploy RLUSD stablecoin to accelerate microfinance lending in emerging markets.
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Referee Ma Ning becomes China's sole World Cup 2026 official
China's men's football team has been absent from the World Cup for 24 years, but Chinese fans are channeling their support toward referee Ma Ning, the sole Chinese official selected for the 2026 tournament. His selection has sparked a social media surge and endorsement interest.
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USMNT's 2026 World Cup debut marks crypto sponsorship retreat
The US Men's National Team faces Paraguay on June 12 with no fan token or blockchain partnership, marking a stark contrast to the 2022 World Cup's crypto saturation and reflecting the industry's pullback after the 2022-2023 crypto winter.