Regulatory Developments - Thailand's SEC (证监会) and Bank of Thailand (泰国银行) are planning to launch a national crypto sandbox [1] - The crypto sandbox will allow foreign tourists to use digital assets in Thailand [1] - The program is expanding beyond the previous Phuket-only pilot program [1]

⚠️ Investors may overlook potential risks due to the ‘halo effect’ when #CryptoAsset providers offer both #MiCA-regulated and unregulated services.🔒 #ESMA also reminds CASPs to act fairly, professionally and in the best interests of their clients.https://t.co/fWmKINr9hR https://t.co/rCoCIuLxFX ...

🇦🇺 LATEST: Australia's Westpac Institutional Bank and Imperium Markets implement Chainlink in Project Acacia, a joint initiative with Reserve Bank of Australia and DFCRC for secure tokenized asset settlement across blockchain and PayTo systems. https://t.co/dVpoQUamzX ...

🔥 BULLISH: Fox Business guest predicts Bitcoin will hit $150,000 in the next 6 months.“This is the golden age of digital assets.” https://t.co/LNHajcz2Qd ...

Core Insights - DeFi Technologies has successfully launched two digital asset exchange traded products (ETPs) on the SIX Swiss Exchange, marking its entry into the Swiss market [1][6] - The newly listed ETPs, 1Valour Hedera (HBAR) and 1Valour Internet Computer (ICP), provide regulated access to digital assets while integrating staking rewards [2][6] Product Details - 1Valour Hedera (HBAR) Physical Staking offers exposure to the Hedera network's native token, HBAR, while capturing staking rewards without requiring users to manage wallets [3] - 1Valour Internet Computer (ICP) Physical Staking provides passive exposure to ICP, enabling investors to participate in the network's native economics through a traditional financial instrument [4] Executive Commentary - Johanna Belitz, Head of Nordics and DACH at Valour, emphasized the significance of the launch on SIX as a milestone in democratizing access to digital assets in Switzerland [5] - Elaine Buehler, Head of Products at Valour, noted the growing institutional and retail appetite for yield-generating digital asset products [5] Market Expansion - With the addition of these products, Valour now offers over 75 ETPs across various European exchanges and aims to reach 100 ETPs by the end of 2025 [5][6]

Group 1 - Gold prices experienced dramatic volatility on July 17, with a drop to $3319.58 per ounce followed by a surge to $3377.17 due to market reactions to news about President Trump's potential dismissal of Fed Chair Powell [1][3] - Trump's denial of the dismissal plan led to a narrowing of gold's gains, closing at $3347.38, reflecting a 0.68% increase [1][3] - The market's concern over the independence of the Federal Reserve has become a significant driver for gold prices, as Trump's ongoing pressure on the Fed raises uncertainties [3] Group 2 - Geopolitical risks, particularly the recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, have heightened demand for gold as a safe-haven asset, reflecting historical trends where Middle Eastern conflicts boost gold prices [4] - Trump's trade policies, including threats of tariffs on EU imports and a unified tax rate for over 150 countries, have added to market uncertainty, impacting inflation and economic growth outlooks [4]

According to the Bangkok Post, Thailand's SEC and central bank are jointly launching a national crypto sandbox to allow foreign tourists to convert digital assets into Thai baht for spending. Tourists can exchange crypto via licensed providers and use the converted baht through regulated e-wallets across the country.https://t.co/zM7PUtMzvr ...

🇺🇸 BREAKING: The House has voted 217-212 to advance the rule setting up floor votes on crypto legislation after nearly 10 hours of delay, paving the way for final passage votes on major digital asset bills. https://t.co/xukLTbhEdr ...

We are excited to announce that Westpac Institutional Bank (@Westpac) and Imperium Markets are implementing Chainlink in Project Acacia, a new joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia and Digital Finance CRC (DFCRC).https://t.co/T1ivwmxFFNThe Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE) is orchestrating secure, seamless, and compliant Delivery vs. Payment (DvP) settlement of tokenized assets across blockchain markets and the existing PayTo Australia domestic payments system. This capability is key to a ...

Core Viewpoint - State Street and BlackRock, two of the largest global financial institutions, reported strong Q2 earnings, raising questions about which asset manager presents a better investment opportunity at the moment [1][2][3]. Group 1: State Street's Q2 Performance - State Street reported Q2 earnings of $2.53 per share, exceeding the Zacks EPS Consensus of $2.36 by 7% and marking a 17% increase from $2.15 in the same quarter last year [4]. - The company achieved record Q2 sales of $3.44 billion, an 8% increase from $3.19 billion a year ago, surpassing estimates of $3.37 billion [4]. - Fee revenue for State Street spiked 12%, driven by servicing, management, and software fees, alongside a 27% surge in FX trading volumes [5]. Group 2: BlackRock's Q2 Performance - BlackRock's Q2 EPS was $12.05, beating expectations of $10.71 by 12% and increasing 16% from $10.36 in the same quarter last year [6]. - The company's sales reached $5.42 billion, which, while a 13% increase from $4.8 billion in Q2 2024, fell short of estimates of $5.44 billion [6]. - BlackRock generated 7% organic base fee growth and over $650 billion in net inflows, attributed to record inflows for its iShares ETFs and expansions in private markets [7]. Group 3: Assets Under Management (AUM) - Both State Street and BlackRock achieved record AUM, with State Street's AUM increasing 17% year over year to $5.1 trillion, while BlackRock's AUM rose 18% to $12.53 trillion, making it the first asset manager to surpass $12 trillion [10]. Group 4: Dividend and Valuation Comparison - State Street announced an 11% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.84 per share, resulting in a current dividend yield of 2.98%, which is higher than BlackRock's 1.99% [11]. - State Street trades at a forward earnings multiple of 10.5X, significantly lower than BlackRock's 22.5X and the S&P 500's 24.1X [13]. Group 5: Investment Outlook - Both State Street and BlackRock stocks have seen gains of over 4% year to date and more than 20% over the last year, indicating their viability as investments [14]. - State Street holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), making it an appealing option due to its dividend and P/E valuation, while BlackRock has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and excels in technology and data-driven strategies [15].