James Wynn trimmed his short position in the S&P 500, netting just $45 in profit, and currently holds a short position worth $857,600.

U.S. President Donald Trump is growing increasingly dissatisfied with the escalating Iran conflict. The conflict, originally expected to end within weeks, has entered its fifth month. Ongoing military operations have driven up energy prices and could impact the Republican Party’s performance in the November midterm elections. Sources say Trump is frustrated with the conflict’s progress and is seeking to exert greater pressure on Iran. Since the collapse of the ceasefire agreement, U.S. forces have carried out continuous strikes against Iran, with operations now in their 13th consecutive day, leaving 18 U.S. service members dead. Trump stated that the U.S. is "fully prepared" but remains in communication with Iran, adding that Iran is becoming "increasingly serious." However, analysts note Trump faces multiple challenges: a troop withdrawal would trigger political pressure, escalating operations could expand risks, and previous negotiations failed to reach a long-term peace agreement. The escalating conflict has roiled global energy markets, with Brent crude oil prices briefly topping $100 per barrel this week, and U.S. gasoline prices rising in tandem. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have further complicated the regional situation. Analysts believe both the U.S. and Iran have the capability to sustain the conflict, which may enter a prolonged phase of attrition. The Trump administration aims to force Iran back to the negotiating table via military pressure, but has not yet found a clear exit strategy.

Nasdaq-listed firm Tron Inc. announced today that it has acquired 150,517 TRON tokens at an average price of $0.3322, further expanding its TRX treasury. Following the purchase, Tron Inc.’s total TRX holdings now exceed 706.7 million tokens. The company stated it will continue to grow its TRX digital asset treasury to enhance long-term shareholder value.

As international oil prices once again approach the key psychological threshold of $100 per barrel, U.S. President Donald Trump’s available policy tools amid escalating tensions with Iran are dwindling, leaving energy markets facing heightened uncertainty. Analysts note that global oil and fuel emergency reserves have dropped significantly, while shipping risks in the Red Sea continue to rise. If the conflict expands further, the U.S. may face two options: scaling up military operations, or accepting Iran’s de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices briefly topped $100 per barrel earlier due to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping in Yemen before pulling back. Energy analysts warn that if both the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, oil prices could rebound to around $124 per barrel in August. Currently, the U.S. has limited policy tools: its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has fallen to roughly 311 million barrels, the lowest level since 1983; U.S. shale oil production and refining capacity are already near peak levels; there is limited room for releasing additional strategic reserves; and measures like suspending fuel taxes require congressional approval. Analysts point out that $100 per barrel is not just a price shift, but also carries major market psychological implications, amplifying investors’ concerns about energy crises and inflation risks. Meanwhile, Iran believes it holds negotiating leverage on the Strait of Hormuz issue, demanding greater control. Some analysts argue that Trump’s core choice now is to either continue escalating military operations or seek a solution through negotiations. Market participants say that with U.S. midterm elections approaching, high oil prices could further increase political pressure on the Trump administration, and any final resolution will depend on whether the U.S. and Iran can reach a new agreement.

DeFi platform Dango has announced it will wind down operations. The team stated that despite making every effort, it cannot identify a viable path to long-term commercial success due to multiple factors. Dango confirmed user funds remain secure, adding that withdrawal restrictions will be lifted shortly, and advised users to close positions and withdraw funds as soon as possible. It also warned users of potential slippage risks, as liquidity is expected to decline. The key shutdown timeline is as follows: - July 29, 12:00 UTC: Platform trading will halt; remaining positions will be settled at oracle prices, DLP Vault deposits will be unlocked, and all funds will be returned to users’ spot accounts in USDC. - August 13, 12:00 UTC: The Dango L1 blockchain will cease operations; unwithdrawn funds will be refunded to users’ Ethereum deposit addresses. The Dango team expressed deep regret over discontinuing the project and thanked the community and users for their long-standing support.

Crypto wallet Phantom announced plans to end support for the Monad network starting August 26. The company said it will notify Monad users via in-app alerts and provide relevant support documentation to help users migrate or convert their Monad native assets. It emphasized that all Monad assets will remain fully accessible. After the transition is complete, users can either import their recovery phrase into a Monad-compatible wallet, or convert their assets to Wrapped MON on Solana within Phantom. Phantom added that user funds will stay secure throughout the entire migration process, with assets always under users’ control. As Phantom operates on a non-custodial model, on-chain assets belong to users, who retain control via their recovery phrase rather than the wallet provider.

According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, Robinhood is in talks with cryptocurrency exchange platform Crypto.com to expand its prediction market business. Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the two parties plan to integrate Crypto.com’s prediction market operations into the Robinhood platform, allowing users to participate in Crypto.com’s "yes/no" prediction contracts directly via Robinhood’s trading interface. Currently, Robinhood primarily relies on partners such as Kalshi to provide prediction market contracts, but as both sides scale their businesses, their partnership is gradually shifting toward competition. Robinhood launched Kalshi event contracts last year, enabling users to trade predictions on outcomes of sports events, Federal Reserve interest rate decisions, and other events. Additionally, Robinhood also collaborates with Interactive Brokers’ ForecastEx and Rothera, a joint venture operated with Susquehanna International Group. Crypto.com launched its standalone prediction market platform OG in February this year, and has offered prediction market contracts through its derivatives business since the end of 2024. At the end of 2025, Crypto.com announced a partnership with Trump Media & Technology Group, planning to launch a prediction market service on the Truth Social platform. As prediction markets continue to gain traction, Kalshi has emerged as one of the leading players in the U.S. market. Reports indicate that Kalshi’s World Cup-related prediction markets hit $27 billion in trading volume, while Super Bowl-linked markets saw roughly $1 billion in volume. Analysts note that the potential partnership between Robinhood and Crypto.com will further intensify competition in the prediction market space, as traditional brokerages, crypto trading platforms, and specialized prediction market platforms compete for this emerging trading segment.