US Treasury Department's removal of some Iran-related sanctions measures does not represent a policy shift.

Lido Finance has released a governance update, announcing that Lido DAO has officially opened on-chain voting for the NEST automated token buyback mechanism. The main voting window runs from August 5 to August 8 at 14:00 UTC. NEST is an automated, rule-based on-chain mechanism that directly ties the Lido Protocol’s performance to its native LDO token. The mechanism’s design and parameters were approved via Snapshot voting back in May. At its core, NEST uses protocol revenue or protocol-controlled liquidity to systematically repurchase LDO tokens on decentralized markets, enabling continuous capture of protocol value growth at the token level. The mechanism will be rolled out around the LDO/wstETH liquidity pair, with specific implementation details still being updated on community forums. Should the on-chain vote pass, Lido will transition from a periodic, governance-driven buyback model to a continuous, predictable automated value distribution framework.

Payward, parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, has announced a major adjustment to how tokenized equity holders participate in corporate governance. Previously, xStocks holders held no voting rights over the underlying stocks; through a partnership with Broadridge, a leading investor communications services provider, eligible investors can now submit proxy voting preferences. “The ultimate goal of tokenization has never just been to build faster, programmable capital markets—it’s to give people around the world all the rights that come with owning a company’s shares, including a voice in how that company is operated,” said Mark Greenberg, chief commercial officer at Payward. Issued by Backed, xStocks is currently open to eligible investors outside the U.S. Broadridge will provide digital asset infrastructure services including proxy voting, post-trade operations, wallets, and custody. Last month, Payward collaborated with financial technology infrastructure provider GTN to expand the xStocks product to cover Hong Kong-listed stocks, with plans to subsequently roll out to additional international markets including the U.K., Europe, and South Korea. Payward noted that xStocks has exceeded $25 billion in cumulative trading volume since its launch last year.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent noted that a key highlight during Fed Chair Walsh’s tenure is observing stenographers posing as journalists—such as The Wall Street Journal’s Nick Timiraos, dubbed the “Fed’s mouthpiece”—being reduced to reporting on behind-the-scenes Fed gossip, as they cannot produce genuine economic or monetary policy analysis without being provided with information.

Spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the geographic routing of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran-Oman deal alone does not mean safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is guaranteed. A joint statement is in the final drafting phase. No plans have been made for Iran’s foreign minister or speaker to visit Pakistan or Qatar. Per Bitget market data, U.S. and Brent crude oil continue to fall, with latest prices at $73.85 per barrel and $77.98 per barrel respectively. Spot gold has climbed to $4,250 per ounce, marking a 4.24% intraday gain.

Peter Diamandis, an early investor in SpaceX and founder of the XPRIZE Foundation, told CNBC that SpaceX has the potential to become the world’s first company valued at $10 trillion in the future. The market has not yet found the right way to value SpaceX, as its space transportation, satellite internet, and future space economy initiatives could deliver far greater long-term growth potential than traditional enterprises. SpaceX’s core value stems not only from its reusable rocket business, but also from its Starlink satellite internet, upcoming lunar and Mars exploration programs, and the new economic system being built around space infrastructure. SpaceX is already one of the world’s most valuable private tech companies. As the firm expands its business from rocket launches to satellite communications and deep space exploration, investors are seeking to reassess its long-term commercial potential. Diamandis argues that traditional valuation models struggle to measure the worth of a platform company like SpaceX, which operates across aerospace, communications, and future infrastructure, meaning the market may be underestimating its future growth potential.

The U.S. Southern District of New York Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that Taj Tarsha, founder of NFT project Few and Far Limited, has been formally indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges including securities fraud and wire fraud. Tarsha was arrested on June 6. The indictment alleges that since February 2022, he sold 95 million FAR tokens to at least 67 investors via Simple Agreements for Future Tokens (SAFTs), raising over $10 million, with promises that the funds would be used to develop a decentralized NFT marketplace and the FAR token. However, almost from the start of fundraising, Tarsha diverted investor funds to online casino gambling and speculative cryptocurrency purchases, and siphoned nearly $1 million in bonuses and high salaries—he himself admitted the compensation was unreasonable given the company had zero revenue and no product. After a 2023 audit exposed the fund misappropriation, Tarsha lied to investors, claiming the bonuses were tied to preset FAR token presale targets, all transactions served the company’s interests, and all investor funds remained dedicated to fulfilling the company’s mission. In reality, he had fired nearly all employees, only instructing remaining contractors to create an illusion of ongoing development. For at least a year afterward, he continued to use investor funds for personal expenses, including cryptocurrency purchases, a Miami apartment mortgage, interior design, and his DJ hobby. When the FAR token finally launched in May 2024, it was worthless and quickly stopped trading.