Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs attracted $1.1 billion in capital last week, ending a net outflow trend that persisted for most of 2026.

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost wrote that Bitcoin’s apparent demand has improved notably but remains negative at -32,000 BTC. When Bitcoin entered its current consolidation range in early June, demand was estimated at -272,000 BTC. This is a positive development, though not yet robust enough. Similar patterns were observed in February and May 2026, after which demand weakened again. This may also be tied to falling average mining output, as hash rate has declined, leading to lower production. Thus, this is not yet strong positive momentum, but the trend merits close monitoring. Note: Apparent demand is calculated as the number of newly mined BTC minus supply that has not moved for over a year. In other words, this metric assesses whether structural hoarding is sufficient to absorb new supply generated by the network.

According to a market survey by investment bank Lazard, investors in the private equity fund secondary market are changing how they evaluate potential software investment targets. As they wait for the disruptive impact of AI on business models and valuations to become clearer, they are often "shifting capital to other investment opportunities". The investment bank noted that the vast majority of respondents (91%) believe the main moat for software companies to counter AI threats and avoid their products becoming obsolete is "proprietary data advantages and network effects that AI cannot easily replicate". Lazard added that as of June this year, only 4% of respondents said their approach to investing in the software industry has not changed.

Binance founder CZ posted on social media, stating, "As of August 2026, over 20.07 million Bitcoin will have been mined, leaving only roughly 4.4% of its total supply left to mine. I estimate that 10% to 20% of existing Bitcoin has been lost, is inaccessible, or cannot be recovered. It is a deflationary asset."

According to CCTV International News, Iran's Judiciary Chief Ejei stated today that the absurd remarks made by the US President regarding the Strait of Hormuz stem entirely from his personal delusion. In the real world, Iran is the real owner and dominant power of this vital international waterway. Ejei emphasized that Iran has proven militarily that the Strait of Hormuz is an integral part of Iran's territory and sovereignty.

As AI firm Anthropic’s valuation continues to soar, the market is re-evaluating whether the artificial intelligence investment boom is entering "bubble territory." Reports indicate Anthropic is planning an IPO, with market expectations that its listed valuation could exceed $2 trillion, making it one of the largest IPOs in history. Anthropic has attracted significant investor attention with its rapid growth driven by the Claude series of AI models. The company was valued at around $965 billion in its May 2026 funding round, while recent secondary market trading has pushed its valuation even higher. Supporters argue that Anthropic’s high valuation reflects the pace of AI commercialization and its future growth potential. The market expects the company’s annual revenue to reach $10 billion to $12 billion by the end of 2026, as investors bet on the continued penetration of AI models in the enterprise market. However, critics point out that the current AI industry is facing a mismatch between valuation and profitability. Top AI firms including Anthropic and OpenAI still need to invest massive sums in computing power, data centers, and model training, leaving uncertainty over whether future revenue growth can cover infrastructure costs. Some investors warn that the AI investment boom bears similarities to the dot-com bubble, with massive capital betting prematurely on future returns that have not yet materialized. However, others argue that AI is distinct from the dot-com bubble, as leading firms have already demonstrated real business demand and a rapidly growing revenue base. As AI giants like Anthropic and OpenAI prepare for their IPOs, the AI industry’s true value and market valuation will face greater scrutiny in the capital markets.

A new report from Oxford Economics reveals that global trade is heavily reliant on 27 critical maritime "chokepoints" — a severe disruption to any of these nodes could impact energy and goods transport, as well as the global economy. The report notes that nearly six months of U.S.-Iran tensions have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a core global energy transport route that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Rising risks of attacks on commercial vessels have slowed shipping, driving up international oil prices, pushing U.S. gasoline costs above $4 per gallon, and further exacerbating inflationary pressures. Beyond the Strait of Hormuz, global trade is also heavily concentrated at key nodes including the Strait of Malacca, Taiwan Strait, Suez Canal, Strait of Gibraltar, and Panama Canal. Asia hosts the world’s densest network of trade routes: the Strait of Malacca, which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is a key global energy and goods transport corridor, while the Taiwan Strait handles roughly one-quarter of global trade volumes. The report warns that geopolitical conflicts are among the biggest risks to global trade. Some nations may weaponize key shipping lanes for political leverage, while climate change is also raising shipping risks. For instance, drought and El Ni?o-driven water level drops at the Panama Canal have limited vessel cargo capacity and pushed up transport costs. Oxford Economics says the risk level of individual chokepoints depends on the availability of alternative routes. The Strait of Hormuz is particularly high-risk due to the lack of viable alternatives, while some routes can be bypassed, though longer travel distances increase fuel, labor, and operational costs, driving up global freight rates. As geopolitical tensions, extreme weather, and supply chain vulnerabilities rise, the global trade system’s reliance on critical shipping nodes is emerging as a new source of economic risk.