Vanguard Group has created a Head of Digital Assets role for the first time.

Prediction market platform Polymarket has announced support for instant, self-custodial deposits via the Bitcoin Lightning Network, with the new feature backed by the Spark Protocol. Compared to prior on-chain deposit methods that required waiting for 3 to 6 block confirmations and took 10 to 60 minutes, the new solution delivers near-instant settlement while lowering deposit barriers and transaction costs. According to details, Spark can conduct checks for double-spend risks, transaction fees, and Replace-by-Fee (RBF) at the time of transaction broadcast, enabling "zero-confirmation" posting. It also supports on-chain, Lightning Network, and stablecoin payment rails, removing the need for the platform to operate its own Lightning Network nodes. Polymarket noted that this step will further boost Bitcoin users' capital efficiency and strengthen its competitiveness against rival Kalshi.

JPMorgan analyst Rajat Gupta stated that while a merger between Tesla and SpaceX "makes sense on paper", current speculation around the deal underestimates the potential hurdles that could derail it. These hurdles include cross-jurisdictional regulatory approvals, governance and voting rights symmetry, and the widespread view that the merger would be seen as an acquisition led by SpaceX rather than a merger of equals. He added: "Overall, we will monitor SpaceX's acquisition currency, the regulatory landscape, and Elon Musk's voting power at Tesla as potential catalysts for a possible merger." JPMorgan noted that if the transaction proceeds, the most likely structure would be an all-stock acquisition of Tesla led by SpaceX.

Strike has launched a new "Volatility-Proof" Bitcoin mortgage product that eliminates margin calls and forced liquidations triggered by Bitcoin price declines. Jack Mallers noted that regardless of how much Bitcoin’s price drops, as long as borrowers make timely repayments, their pledged Bitcoin will not be liquidated due to price fluctuations. The new product features a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 45%, a 6-month term, and an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from roughly 10.7% to 14.2% — higher than Strike’s standard loan offerings. Should a borrower default, they must repay within 10 days or coordinate with the platform; otherwise, Strike retains the right to sell a portion of the Bitcoin collateral to cover the outstanding balance. The company added that the product is now available in most U.S. states, applicable for new loans, refinancing, and debt consolidation.

Data from prediction market platform Kalshi shows traders are growing cautious about the NASDAQ-100 Index’s second-half trajectory. Current market odds put the index at roughly a 50% chance of holding above 30,000 points by year-end, a 40% chance of breaking through 32,000 points, and just a 27% chance of hitting 33,000 points—signaling a cooling of investor expectations for the sustainability of the AI-driven rally. Meanwhile, a UBS report notes that after the semiconductor sector’s strong second-quarter rally, the market is reassessing the next phase of AI-related trading. While AI’s long-term growth logic remains intact, a structural shift in market leadership may occur: capital could flow out of overvalued tech stocks to other sectors, leaving tech equities facing more pronounced valuation corrections and sector rotation pressures in the second half of the year.

According to Bitget’s market data, Hong Kong-listed Zhipu saw its shares rise over 14% intraday, after the firm previously disclosed plans to develop in-house chips. Additionally, nearly 70% of Zhipu’s investors have stated that they will hold their positions for the long term.

According to an official announcement, Binance has announced that its stock trading function will be suspended from 18:50 to 23:30 Beijing Time on July 11, 2026, due to a system upgrade of its partner broker. Users will not be able to place orders during this period. The service will automatically resume after the upgrade is completed, and the actual downtime may be adjusted.