US startups smuggle Chinese robot parts in luggage to circumvent trade policies.

Prediction market platform Kalshi has announced the launch of an AI tool called Blanket, designed to help small businesses hedge operational risks—including those related to weather, energy prices, tariffs, and elections—using event contracts. Developed by independent fintech entrepreneur Lauris Zminsky, Blanket operates on Kalshi’s CFTC-regulated prediction market but is not an in-house product of Kalshi. The tool does not directly execute trades or process funds; instead, it leverages AI to analyze the risks faced by businesses and recommend Kalshi event contracts suitable for hedging.

Glassnode’s market analysis notes that sentiment in the Bitcoin options market is improving, with short-term downside skew declining sharply. The 1-month 25 Delta Skew has dropped to around 7%, signaling recent panic has eased. However, longer-term skew remains at roughly 10%–12%, pointing to ongoing demand for downside protection. Currently, BTC call options hold an open interest of approximately $15 billion, exceeding put options’ roughly $10 billion. Recent capital inflows are concentrated in the $61,000–$67,000 range, with notable buying activity for $65,000 call options. Glassnode concludes the market is shifting toward more bullish positions but has not abandoned risk hedging.

BlackRock has seen 4 consecutive trading days of $BTC net inflows, totaling 9,269 $BTC ($604M).

Bullish Head of Clearing and Group Risk Randi Abernethy stated that the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) does not mean the digital asset market has stopped developing; instead, it highlights the necessity of establishing a federal regulatory framework. Abernethy pointed out that during the Senate’s deliberation of the CLARITY Act, traditional U.S. financial institutions have continued to accelerate their entry into the on-chain market. JPMorgan Chase has explored tokenized ETF holdings through a production pilot with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), and more than 50 institutions—including BlackRock and Goldman Sachs—have also participated in building infrastructure for tokenized stocks and Treasuries. Current regulatory discussions are no longer just about the “crypto industry issue” but concern the future infrastructure of the entire financial system. Citing the 2008 financial crisis as an example, Abernethy noted that financial risks spread along shared infrastructure, meaning even institutions not directly involved in related assets could be impacted. Today, the stablecoin market has exceeded $100 billion, with a large amount of stablecoin reserves invested in U.S. Treasuries. A crisis involving major stablecoins could affect liquidity in traditional financial markets. She added that supporters of the CLARITY Act argue the bill would establish a unified regulatory framework for the digital asset market, including core investor protection mechanisms such as customer asset segregation, conflict of interest management, capital requirements, and disclosure rules. (CoinDesk)

Wall Street Journal reporter Nick Timiraos noted that the July jobs report will be a difficult-to-interpret data point for the Federal Reserve. New evidence that the labor market has not reaccelerated could reduce the urgency for a rate hike next month, though this will still depend on better inflation data. A drop in the unemployment rate will continue to keep markets focused on inflation figures. Whether price pressures rise or fall will determine if more officials conclude that, with interest rates held steady, they cannot uphold their inflation target projections. A moderate inflation report will strengthen the case for keeping rates unchanged, as two consecutive months of moderate data are starting to show a trend rather than noise. Strong data, meanwhile, will call forecasts into question again and give officials opposed to rate hikes a chance to secure a fourth vote in favor of a hike.

According to market data from BIT (bit.com), SpaceX extended its intraday rally, surging 11.29% to trade at $127.96. Earlier reports noted that Argus Research and Bernstein have recently lifted SpaceX’s price targets, voicing optimistic outlooks for its stock performance.