Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Ethereum (ETH) adoption shows no signs of slowing down, as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap continues to attract firms looking to diversify their corporate treasury strategies.

Yunfeng Financial Buys $44 Million In Ethereum

According to an announcement earlier today, Hong Kong-listed Yunfeng Financial Group is the latest entity to invest in Ethereum. The firm purchased 10,000 ETH worth approximately $44 million.

The announcement states that the ETH purchase was primarily funded through internal cash reserves. Notably, on July 14, the firm disclosed plans to expand into areas such as Web3, Real World Assets (RWA), and artificial intelligence (AI).

For the uninitiated, Yunfeng Financial Group is a Hong Kong-based publicly-listed firm offering investment and financial services. Notably, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma is a key associate of the group.

Regarding the ETH acquisition, the company explained that Ethereum was chosen over other digital assets to support infrastructure for RWA tokenization. The company added:

This measure will also facilitate the Group’s technological innovation in the Web3 field, and realize the comprehensive and organic integration of finance with technology for its clients, which will effectively enhance client’s service experience and financial autonomy. On the other hand, the Company will explore the potential applicable models of ETH in the Group’s insurance business, as well as innovative business scenarios compatible with Web3.

The announcement also noted that Yunfeng Financial Group intends to classify ETH as an investment asset on its balance sheet. Holding ETH will help diversify its asset base and reduce reliance on traditional fiat currencies. 

The Jack Ma-linked firm plans to leverage ETH in insurance operations and decentralized finance-based (DeFi) business scenarios. This could include using ETH as collateral for DeFi loans or using it to provide liquidity.

In similar news, Ethereum-focused firm Ether Machine announced that it had raised $654 million worth of ETH in private financing, ahead of its highly-anticipated Nasdaq listing later this year.

To recall, the Ether Machine was formed via a merger between the Ether Reserve and Dynamix Corporation earlier this year. The firm is expected to go public with almost 500,000 ETH, worth $2.16 billion.

Will ETH Flip Bitcoin?

Although Bitcoin (BTC) remains the largest cryptocurrency with a market cap exceeding $1 trillion, ETH is steadily catching up. Recent data shows that Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are already outshining their BTC counterparts.

One major factor driving ETH adoption is its broad range of use cases. VanEck CEO Jan van Eck recently dubbed ETH the “Wall Street token.” At press time, ETH trades at $4,299, down 1.4% over the past 24 hours.

Featured image from Unsplash.com, chart from TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

In an announcement yesterday, Nasdaq-listed software company GameSquare Holdings revealed that it had purchased $5 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) as part of its $100 million ETH-focused treasury strategy. With this move, GameSquare joins a growing number of companies diversifying their corporate treasuries by investing in digital assets.

GameSquare Embraces Ethereum As Part Of Treasury Strategy

As the cryptocurrency market regains bullish momentum – highlighted by Bitcoin (BTC) reaching successive all-time highs (ATHs) over the past few days – mainstream interest in digital assets is once again surging. In this context, Ethereum continues to see rising adoption.

The Texas-based firm recently completed its initial ETH purchase, acquiring 1,818.84 ETH at a weighted average price of $2,749, totalling $5 million. This marks the first step in GameSquare’s broader plan to deploy $100 million into Ethereum and related digital assets.

The company’s strategy focuses on building a crypto-native treasury framework designed to generate sustainable, risk-adjusted yield through decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Commenting on the development, Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare said:

In partnership with Dialectic and Ryan Zurrer, we are leveraging Medici, Dialectic’s proprietary platform that combines machine learning, automated optimization, and multi-layered risk controls, to target best-in-class risk-adjusted yields of 8-14%, well above current staking benchmarks of 3-4%.

Unlike traditional treasury strategies focused around Bitcoin, GameSquare’s ETH allocation seeks to actively generate yield by engaging with DeFi infrastructure, rather than simply holding the asset. This signals a novel growing trend of companies favoring ETH over BTC for treasury diversification.

While pursuing higher returns typically involves increased risk, Medici’s reputation for advanced risk management and performance tracking offers a layer of confidence. As more companies embrace ETH-based yield strategies, DeFi protocols are likely to attract deeper liquidity over time.

Smart Money Accumulating ETH

Despite currently trading about 40% below its ATH of $4,878  – set back in November 2021 – Ethereum is seeing increased accumulation by large investors, often referred to as “smart money.”

For instance, recent on-chain data shows that ETH whales – wallets holding between 10,000 to 100,000 ETH – added heavily to their holdings earlier this month, scooping as much as 200,000 ETH.

Simultaneously, Ethereum-based spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are gaining traction. Data from SoSoValue indicates nine consecutive weeks of positive inflows as of July 10, reinforcing broader investor interest in ETH.

That said, some caution remains warranted, as not all ETH-focused treasury strategies have yielded favorable results historically. At press time, ETH trades at $2,993, up an impressive 7.4% in the past 24 hours.

Featured image from Unsplash.com, charts from SoSoValue and TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Journalist

Tanzeel Akhtar

Journalist

Tanzeel Akhtar

About Author

Tanzeel Akhtar is a seasoned journalist who has been reporting on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology since 2015. Her work has appeared in leading publications including The Wall Street Journal,…

Share

Last updated: 

July 8, 2025

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has made a new investment in Crystal Intelligence, a blockchain analytics firm.

In a blog post, Tether shares its growing focus on improving transparency and combating illicit use of stablecoins across blockchain networks.

Crystal Intelligence, originally launched by blockchain software firm Bitfury, provides data-driven tools for analyzing blockchain transactions. The firm is used by law enforcement, regulators, and financial institutions to detect and investigate suspicious crypto activity.

With this investment, Tether said it aims to deepen its collaboration with Crystal and further integrate advanced analytics into its compliance and monitoring systems.

Building on Past Collaboration: Scam Alert Platform

Earlier this year, the two firm’s launched Scam Alert, a public platform that flags wallet addresses linked to fraud, hacks, and other malicious activity. The platform is designed to enhance transparency and give the crypto community and regulators more visibility into bad actors.

Through the Scam Alert initiative, Tether and Crystal said they have already provided insights into addresses associated with phishing schemes and other illicit activity.

The continued partnership will likely lead to broader data-sharing efforts and more sophisticated tools aimed at preventing criminal use of stablecoins.

A Proactive Approach to Stablecoin Risk

Tether said it has frequently faced criticism for its role in the broader crypto space, particularly regarding the potential misuse of its USDT token in illicit finance. However, this investment shows a more proactive and cooperative approach to addressing regulatory concerns.

“We believe that combining Tether’s resources with Crystal’s analytics capabilities will significantly enhance our ability to identify and respond to illicit activities,” said Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino.

The company has also emphasized its ongoing commitment to working closely with global regulators and law enforcement agencies to ensure its stablecoin remains a safe and transparent tool for global finance. As the demand for stablecoins continues to grow, so does the need for stronger compliance frameworks.

Tether Unveils Plans for Decentralized AI Platform

Tether is expanding beyond stablecoins and into artificial intelligence with the upcoming launch of Tether AI, a decentralized, open-source AI platform designed to run on peer-to-peer networks.

Unveiled by CEO Paolo Ardoino on May 5, Tether AI will support direct payments in USDT and Bitcoin, and will operate without centralized servers or API keys.

It’s described as a modular AI runtime capable of running on any device, offering developers greater privacy, autonomy, and security.

At its core is a concept called “Personal Infinite Intelligence”, suggesting customizable AI agents tailored to user needs and hardware.

Tether’s in-house AI models are already powering tools like a translation service, voice assistant, and Bitcoin wallet assistant, according to Ardoino.

The issuer of the largest stablecoin by market cap just acquired significant holdings with a gold-focused royalty company listed in Canada.

In a statement, Elemental Altus says that Tether just completed the purchase of 78,421,780 common shares at a price of C$1.55, or around $1.14 per share, for a total of C$125,553,759, or about $89 million.

The acquisition represents approximately 31.9% of the precious metals royalty firm’s issued and outstanding common shares.

Tether already owns 4,360,511 shares in Elemental Altus, which brings the USDT issuer’s aggregate common shares holdings to 82,782,291. This represents approximately 33.7% of the Canadian firm’s issued and outstanding shares.

Elemental Altus CEO and director Frederick Bell says Tether is now one of the company’s leading investors.

“Building on previous discussions with Tether, we are very pleased to officially welcome Tether as the Company’s new major shareholder. Their unmatched ability to support the company in its next phase of growth is exciting for all shareholders and is a positive for the gold royalty sector.”

In a separate statement, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says the investment reflects the company’s confidence in gold and its role in financial markets.

“Elemental’s royalty model provides diversified exposure to gold production around the world, aligning strategically with our vision for Tether Gold and future commodity-backed digital asset infrastructure.”

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Featured Image: Shutterstock/cosmoman

ARK Invest chief executive Cathie Wood believes the electric vehicle giant Tesla (TSLA) can hit an astronomical valuation by 2030.

In an interview on The Diary of a CEO YouTube channel, Wood says she sees TSLA surging 744% in half a decade, spurred by the firm’s robotaxi platform.

According to Wood, Tesla’s fleet of autonomous vehicles will become the centerpiece of the company’s business strategy in the coming years.

“Our prediction in five years is $2,600, and 90% of that valuation comes not from the electric vehicle, but from this robotaxi platform.

Because the electric car, if you think about it, is a one-shot sale. Sell and hope they come when they’re replacing their car.”

During the firm’s Q4 2024 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk explained how Tesla owners can generate income by renting out their full self-driving vehicles instead of just parking them when not in use.

“And I expect us to be operating unsupervised activity with our internal fleet in several cities by the end of the year. Then as probably next year when people are able to add or subtract their car from the fleet. So, kind of like Airbnb, where you can sort of add or subtract your house or your guestroom, add it to the Airbnb or don’t add it to the Airbnb inventory. If you’re traveling for a month, you can or whatever the case may be, you can let other people use your house.”

For now, Wood says that Tesla has two options to generate recurring revenue for both the company and the vehicle owner.

“You could subscribe to the network. It could be either or: subscription or à la carte if you don’t think you’re going to use it that much.”

As of Monday’s close, TSLA is worth $308 per share.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Generated Image: Midjourney

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Cathie Wood, the CEO of asset management firm Ark Invest, has backed Bitcoin (BTC) to achieve a $1.5 million price point by 2030. The American investor and cryptocurrency advocate has based this projection on multiple factors, including rising institutional investment and global recognition of Bitcoin’s ability to serve as a store of value.

The Building Blocks To Bitcoin Glory

In a recent interview with CNBC, Cathie Wood shared Ark Invest’s future projections for BTC as prepared by the company’s market analyst, David Puell. In a base case scenario, Wood explains that Ark Invest predicts Bitcoin to hit a price target of $700,000 – $750,000 by 2030, with the potential to trade as $1.5 million in a bull case.

According to the BTC proponent, these figures are plausible based on certain factors likely to serve as the building blocks to Bitcoin’s dominance. Firstly, Cathie Wood talks about the asset’s potential to seize some portions of the gold market share or attract its market as more investors begin to view the cryptocurrency as a store of value.

Notably, Bitcoin has gained more credibility and recognition in recent years following investments from traditional financial institutions and regulatory policy focus by governments across the world. In the US, this focus has resulted in multiple developments, with the launch of the US BTC Spot ETFs being the most significant.

Despite being in existence for only 17 years, Bitcoin ranks as the sixth most valuable asset, ahead of commodities like silver and companies such as Saudi Aramco, Meta, and Tesla, among others. Furthermore, Cathie Wood emphasizes that institutional investment and adoption of BTC are still in the early stages.

It is expected that the creation of a federal regulatory crypto framework and the continuous removal of operational bottlenecks under the Donald Trump Administration would spur an institutional embrace of Bitcoin due to not only its potential as a haven but also the possibility of significant returns due to the crypto market volatility.

1 Million BTC Remains Untouched

In supporting Ark Invest’s audacious Bitcoin prediction, Cathie Wood also highlights the fact that there are still over 1 million Bitcoin tokens yet to be minted. This indicates that there is still an adequate market supply to match the expected institutional demand.

Finally, the Ark Invest CEO mentions the emerging market use cases of BTC, such as a tool for inflation hedge, cross-border transactions, and activist donations, amongst others as part of the value drivers of this asset. 

At the time of writing, the premier cryptocurrency is trading at $103,312, reflecting a 22.62% gain in the last month.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from Tradingview

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Credit card giant Visa is investing in the stablecoin payments network BVNK as a means of upgrading its business-to-business transactions.

In a new company blog post, BVNK chief executive and co-founder Jesse Hemson-Struthers says that Visa is investing an undisclosed amount into the firm as a means of automating and streamlining global stablecoin payments between businesses.

“At BVNK, we recognized early that stablecoins would emerge as an instant global payment rail and a viable alternative to the traditional correspondent banking system.

That’s why we’ve built our infrastructure from the ground up to automate and orchestrate stablecoin payments at scale, making these new rails accessible to businesses of all sizes.”

According to Hemson-Struthers, collaborating with Visa, which he calls the “original payments innovator,” will change how businesses operate digitally and will help the UK-based firm to expand into the US.

“What makes me proudest is seeing the real-world impact of our technology.

We’re currently processing $12 billion in annualized stablecoin payment volumes, enabling our customers to move money globally with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The momentum continues with our expansion into the US market this year.”

As stated by Rubail Birwadker, head of growth products and partnerships at Visa,

“Stablecoins are fast becoming a part of global payment flows, and Visa invests in new technologies and builders like BVNK, staying at the forefront of what’s next in commerce to better serve our clients and partners.”

In December, BVNK completed a $50 million Series B fundraising round, obtaining funds from prominent venture capitalist firms such as Coinbase Ventures.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Generated Image: Midjourney