Happy Thursday!

Bitcoin is close to the $112,000 mark again and yes, “it’s different this time” (experts at least think). But why?

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba and China’s fintech giant Ant Group, is the next to get on the blockchain bandwagon: here’s how his company will integrate USDC.

Plus, join us on Thursday, 7/17, for an insightful webinar with Nishank Modi, Senior Director of Cboe Labs, as we dive into the current state of the cryptocurrency market—exploring key trends, regulatory developments and what’s shaping the digital asset space today.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and explore the future of crypto with Cboe. Register now.

TOP STORY

Bitcoin's Rally To $112,000: Yes, It's Different This Time

Bitcoin briefly surged past $112,000 on Wednesday, marking a fresh all-time high and reigniting debate over whether the crypto market is entering a new bullish cycle or settling into a period of institutional-led maturity.

Unlike past parabolic rises driven by retail speculation, this rally is being described by industry leaders as measured, structurally sound and driven by long-term forces.

Why do experts think it’s different this time?

Read the full scoop here.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Navigating The Evolving Cryptocurrency Landscape & Cboe’s Digital Asset Offerings

Join us on Thursday, 7/17 for an insightful webinar with Nishank Modi, Senior Director of Cboe Labs, as we dive into the current state of the cryptocurrency market—exploring key trends, regulatory developments, and what’s shaping the digital asset space today.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and explore the future of crypto with Cboe. Register now.

This is a paid ad. Please see 17b disclosure here for more information.

QUICK N DIRTY

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Dogecoin are surging and traders are bullish: they expect this to be the start of the ‘final leg higher’.

Ethereum is gunning for $2,800, but not everyone’s happy about that: this whale short trader lost out on $26 million in unrealized profits.

Bitcoin was a way to retire? If you ever wondered how much you need to do that, here’s the answer.

FINTECH FOCUS

Circle Reportedly Integrating USDC With Jack Ma's Ant Group

Ant Group, the Chinese fintech powerhouse backed by Jack Ma, is reportedly planning to integrate Circle’s USDC stablecoin into its global blockchain platform.

Quoting people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the move is contingent on USDC achieving full regulatory compliance in the United States.

The discussions with Circle reflect a broader trend of growing institutional interest in regulated stablecoins following the passage of a U.S. Senate bill in June aimed at establishing a clear legal framework for dollar-backed digital assets.

How will this integration play out in practice?

Read the full scoop here.

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