Michael Saylor’s Strategy missed out on inclusion in the S&P 500 this Friday, sending MSTR tumbling almost 3% despite meeting every published criterion. Unexpectedly, commission-free trading app Robinhood was included, sending its stock soaring by 7%, and exposing how discretionary and secretive the selection process really is.

The SPX is run by a ‘secret committee’

The S&P 500 is often seen as the gold standard of U.S. corporate prestige, a club that companies fight hard to join.

Strategy comfortably checked all the boxes: strong market cap, liquidity, and four consecutive quarters of positive earnings. Many investors expected the company’s Bitcoin-heavy balance sheet (now over 636,000 BTC) would finally land it a coveted spot.

But as Boomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas pointed out on X, meeting the criteria isn’t enough:

“Why wasn’t $MSTR allowed into the S&P 500 Index despite meeting all the criteria? Because the ‘Committee’ said no. You have to realize SPX is essentially an active fund run by a secret committee.”

This “Committee” is not public. Its members are senior analysts from S&P Dow Jones Indices, but their identities are withheld to avoid lobbying and outside influence. The reality is that even after meeting strict metrics, final entry is a matter of human discretion, not a rules-based process. The Bitcoin Therapist said it best:

“Reminder that a company that literally sells a shitcoin called ‘Fartcoin’ with a treasury of 11,776 BTC was included in the S&P 500 but Strategy, a Bitcoin only company with a treasury of 636,505 BTC and the largest fixed income IPOs of the year was not included.”

Strategy is the largest corporate Bitcoin holder and has become a proxy for BTC exposure on U.S. financial markets. Its omission has sparked frustration among crypto advocates and traditional investors alike, who believe old-guard prejudice is still alive and well inside the committee room.

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Why was Strategy blocked?

There is no published reasoning for S&P 500 exclusions, just as Tesla saw unexplained delays years before its own eventual inclusion. As Eric Balchunas posted:

“Would be interesting to see a list of all the stocks that were delayed entrance to SPX by The Committee, I know it would include some real studs, eg Microsoft, Tesla. Would be interesting to see a basket of those stocks vs SPX itself historically.’

Strategy’s unique reliance on Bitcoin for corporate treasury and market value is unprecedented. Traditional committee members may be wary of this new type of public equity.

Moreover, volatility concerns persist. MSTR moves with Bitcoin, which exposes the index to greater swings than most conventional stocks.

Strategy’s exclusion means S&P 500 index funds won’t be forced to buy its shares, limiting automatic passive flows and keeping BTC exposure out of the default retirement portfolios of millions.

The case lifts the veil on the S&P 500’s true nature, which is more actively curated than most investors realize, and far less transparent than its reputation suggests.

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A secretly recorded conversation with a top Department of Justice (DOJ) official accuses Pam Bondi and the DOJ of a massive cover-up in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Joseph Schnitt, the Acting Deputy Chief of the Office of Enforcement Operations, was covertly recorded by Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe during what Schnitt believed was a private date arranged through a dating app. In the hidden camera footage, Schnitt made a series of explosive claims that the DOJ has since denied.

During the recorded meeting, Schnitt alleged that the DOJ was planning to manipulate the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case. He claimed that “thousands and thousands of pages” of files exist and that the department would “redact every Republican or conservative person in those files, leaving all the liberal, Democratic people intact.”

Schnitt’s comments didn’t stop there. He also discussed the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison. “She got transferred to a minimum security prison. It’s against BOP [Bureau of Prisons] policy because she’s a convicted sex offender. And they’re not supposed to get minimum security prisons, which is an interesting detail because she’s getting a benefit, which means they’re offering her something to keep her mouth shut.”

He also told his date that the FBI’s Kash Patel and Dan Bongino are clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the suppression of the files:

“The head of FBI [Kash Patel] really wants to… second-in-command [Dan Bongino] at FBI has been causing problems, because he’s like, ‘No, these [Epstein Files] have to be released.’ The FBI wants them out. The top two guys that will do it. But they work for Bondi, so… Bondi wants whatever Trump wants. Internally there’s a lot of conflict.”

The Department of Justice confirmed the authenticity of the video but stated that Schnitt “had no role in the Department’s internal review of Epstein materials,” and his comments “have absolutely zero bearing with reality and reflect a total lack of knowledge of the DOJ’s review process.” To back up its claims, the DOJ tweeted a screenshot of a note that Shnitt ostensibly sent to his boss at the DOJ, Acting Director Jeffrey Pollak, about his date:

Acting Director Pollak:

I met a woman named Skylar on Hinge, a dating app, in July 2025, her profile is no longer findable. We had two dates (August 4 and August 16). She claimed to be an au pair in Georgetown. She gave no clues that she was a reporter or recording our dates. Had la clue, the first date would have ended immediately and there never would have been a second one. My profile indicated I did “Government” work but did not specify for which agency. I never discussed what I do at DOJ.

The comments I made were my own personal comments on what l’ve learned in the media and not from anything l’ve done at or learned via work. I have no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Maxwell other than what is reported in the news. I also never divulged anything about what I do at work. I recall that she asked if I had any knowledge about Maxwell and I specifically said I only know what’s been reported in the media.

Joseph Schnitt,
A/Deputy Chief Special Operations Unit
Office of Enforcement Operations

It makes one wonder. Schnitt holds a senior position within the DOJ, yet his comments were dismissed as “misunderstanding and lack of factual basis.” What information remains hidden in the Epstein case, and who might be protected by continued secrecy? The DOJ doesn’t want us to find out.

Previously:
• Documents reveal decades-long Trump-Epstein relationship despite denials

Journalist

Sead Fadilpašić

Journalist

Sead Fadilpašić

About Author

Sead specializes in writing factual and informative articles to help the public navigate the ever-changing world of crypto. He has extensive experience in the blockchain industry, where he has served…

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Last updated: 

August 12, 2025

Bitcoin’s recent surge to over $120,000 has nearly doubled from the same period last year, reflecting strong market demand and growing institutional confidence. Against this backdrop, the promise of “no hardware needed, easily earning $10,000 a day” through BTC cloud mining has naturally attracted wide attention.

Some users claim they’ve made $10,000 on the SIX MINING platform, boasting that they could join without any technical skills required. But can this really be a guaranteed win? Is the Bitcoin cloud mining model truly viable? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is SIX MINING Cloud Mining?

Cloud mining is a process that uses rented cloud computing power to mine Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, without the need to install or directly operate hardware and related software.

SIX MINING is a global decentralized smart cloud mining company founded in 2018 in the UK. They claim to use clean energy for mining, significantly reducing operational costs. The company’s mission is to create a sustainable, eco-friendly mining environment, enabling more crypto enthusiasts—whether individuals or teams—to participate without having to buy or maintain equipment or pay for direct energy costs.

How to Join SIX MINING and Earn $10,000 a Day

1. Visit the SIX MINING official website and register as a member.
2. Browse the contract plans and choose one based on your needs from the table below:

For more contract options, you can visit the SIX MINING official website.

3. Pay for your chosen contract plan and start mining.
4. Withdraw your earnings once the contract term ends.

Advantages of SIX MINING

1. Free trial plan – Register to receive a $12 bonus (plus $0.64 daily for check-ins).
2. Low-carbon efficiency – Powered by clean energy to build a low-carbon, high-efficiency mining ecosystem.
3. Free cloud computing power – No need to buy expensive hardware or cover maintenance costs; SIX MINING handles all operational expenses.
4. Clear and transparent earnings data – Use the app to mine anytime and track your income in real-time.
5. Transparent contract options – Various contract amounts and terms available to suit different needs.
6. Encrypted data protection – All user data is SSL-encrypted, and dedicated servers are protected from DDoS attacks.
7. 24/7 customer support – Round-the-clock assistance to address user questions promptly.

Conclusion

With Bitcoin holding steady around $120,000, cloud mining is becoming a low-barrier investment option for global investors. Unlike traditional mining that requires purchasing miners and building mining farms, SIX MINING uses a hosted computing power rental model. This eliminates equipment wear-and-tear, electricity costs, and operational headaches, fundamentally avoiding hardware investment risks.

The platform’s earnings model is open and transparent. Once the contract ends, withdrawals can be made immediately. Both funds and computing power are guaranteed by the platform, making the investment process virtually “risk-free.” Whether you’re a crypto newcomer or an experienced investor seeking stable cash flow, you can enjoy true passive income here.

With Bitcoin ETFs driving market activity, the dual benefits of rising computing power value and cryptocurrency prices are accelerating. By joining SIX MINING now, you can enjoy high and stable returns while seizing the golden opportunity of the 2025 crypto market—potentially turning “earning $10,000 a day” into a reality.

For more information, visit the official website: https://sixmining.com/

Technical indicators of a possible price squeeze are being displayed by XRP as its chart patterns and market dynamics suggest a major move is imminent. The asset is still in a local uptrend, but underlying signals indicate that volatility may soon reappear. The convergence of moving averages is one of the major advancements.

Closer proximity of the 20, 50 and 100-day moving averages produces a compression effect that frequently precedes abrupt breakouts or breakdowns. A time of consolidation, when buyers and sellers are in relative balance, is reflected in this technical squeeze, but this equilibrium rarely endures. Consolidation phases are often characterized by a steady decline in volume. 

Reduced trading activity can be deceptive because it could conceal mounting pressure below the surface. Significant directional moves have frequently followed prolonged periods of low volume in XRP’s price action once volume has returned. A descending trendline formed from recent highs adds to the mix. Upside attempts have been capped thus far by this overhead resistance, drawing a clear line of battle between bulls and bears. 

With strong supporting volume, XRP must decisively break above this descending resistance in order for the uptrend to pick up steam. The local uptrend is unaffected by these technical limitations. It appears that buyers are still defending important support levels and setting up for a possible breakout as higher lows keep forming. 

XRP may swiftly retest the $3.40-$3.50 range if it is able to break through the descending trendline. Failure to break out though could result in a retest of lower supports at $3.06 or even $2.82.  

Dogecoin’s top

Dogecoin’s price movement is forming a possible local double top — one of the least desirable chart patterns for bulls. Following DOGE’s unsuccessful attempt to break through the $0.30 zone in late July and its subsequent attempt in early August, which ended at a lower high close to $0.27-$0.28, the pattern is beginning to take shape. If confirmed by a breakdown below important support, a double top can signal a reversal and frequently signals waning bullish momentum.

Given that several moving averages have converged below the current price, Dogecoin’s support is currently located between $0.21 and $0.22. The 50-day moving average crossing above the 200-day moving average is known as a golden cross, and DOGE is getting close to this bullish event. 

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Nevertheless, a strong follow-through is not supported by the current circumstances. The golden cross may not produce a long-term upward trend because price momentum is slowing, and there has not been a breakout to new highs. Additionally, volume data is not something you would desire right now.  

If selling pressure rises, lower volume might facilitate the traction of downward price movements. There is no strong directional momentum or notable divergence that would suggest an impending breakout, as indicated by the Relative Strength Index (RSI) being flat in the neutral zone around 50-55. The double top pattern is still possible if Dogecoin does not make a strong recovery and move above $0.28. 

Risk factor for Ethereum

After weeks of steady growth, Ethereum recently broke through the $4,400 barrier, continuing its strong bullish run. But even with the price action we are seeing right now, there are warning signals flashing. The Relative Strength Index’s (RSI) bearish divergence is the most notable one.

The RSI has failed to follow the price, forming a lower high in place of the higher high that the price of ETH has printed relative to its previous local peak. Even as the price rises, this divergence frequently indicates that the rally’s momentum is waning. In the past, these trends have come before brief declines or consolidations, particularly following protracted rallies. 

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The recent upward legs of decreasing short-term trading volume adds to the bearish outlook. Even though there are sporadic high volume spikes on the chart, which is a great indication of market activity, the daily volume trend is generally declining. This might suggest that fewer traders are prepared to pursue the rally at the current levels, which would raise the possibility of corrections driven by volatility. 

Regarding volatility, the wide range of ETH’s price fluctuations indicates that the market is still experiencing intense emotional volatility. Risks are increased even though this may present chances for rapid gains, especially if the divergence materializes and leads to a more thorough retracement.

Though traders should stay vigilant, ETH is currently showing strong bullish momentum. The impact of the divergence could be confirmed and a pullback toward the $3,950-$4,000 range could be possible, if there is a break below the short-term supports that are currently in place, especially those in the $4,250-$4,300 range. On the other hand, if bulls are able to maintain volume and disprove the divergence, Ethereum may continue to rise to new heights.

The U.S. Secret Service, better known for protecting American presidents, has emerged as a major force in the fight against cryptocurrency crime, Bloomberg reported on Saturday.

Through its Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC), the agency has seized nearly $400 million in digital assets over the past decade. Much of that sits in a single cold wallet that is now among the most valuable globally.

With digital fraud driving a majority of internet crime in the U.S., losses tied to crypto scams reached $9.3 billion in 2024, FBI data show. Investment frauds, fake platforms and extortion schemes disproportionately affect older victims, who lost nearly $2.8 billion last year. The GIOC uses open-source tools, subpoenas and blockchain analysis to trace stolen funds.

Led by attorney Kali Smith, the unit trains law enforcement globally, targeting jurisdictions vulnerable to lax oversight. A recent workshop in Bermuda underscored the risks facing crypto-friendly regions. Industry partners like Coinbase and Tether have assisted in large-scale recoveries, including $225 million in USDT tied to romance-investment scams.

“This training is part of our mission,” said Patrick Freaney, head of the New York field office. “We’ve been following the money for 160 years.”

CORRECT (July 7, 08:43 UTC): Corrects that the Bloomberg report was published on Saturday, not Monday.

We are proud to work closely with the USSS on our extensive investigation into crypto fraud schemes. Using social engineering techniques, fraudsters have built trust with their victims over time, an approach commonly known as “pig slaughter.” This joint effort has resulted in the largest USSS code attack, bringing it to approximately $225 million in total.

The USSS investigation targeted sophisticated scams that prey on individuals and invited them to fake cryptocurrency investments. Victims of the pig slaughter scheme are encouraged to deposit gradually increasing amounts, but only discover that their funds have been stolen in the end.

The $225 million in question was first frozen by Tether in 2023 after being linked to pig slaughter in a US Department of Justice investigation. The stolen funds were tied to the perpetrator’s accounts in a non-craked central exchange. Identifying victims and returning funds presented challenges and required considerable knowledge of blockchain analysis.

In March 2024, we joined several cryptocurrency exchanges in an intensive week of law enforcement sprint. Compliance and research teams provided rapid, real-time response to critical information requests, and timely provision of transaction and account information helped identify nearly 500 victims. This directly assisted the USSS in obtaining an unprecedented $225 million forfeiture seizure warrant for stolen funds.

We are dedicated to working with law enforcement to protect our cryptocurrency ecosystem. Our fast response approach and meticulous record keeping reflects our continued commitment to security, transparency and protection. They also have strict policies and procedures to protect the privacy of our clients, whilst providing data when there is a legal obligation.

We continue to actively participate in efforts aimed at identifying and suspending fraud, helping victims recover, and maintaining trust within the crypto community.

“Protecting our clients is our number one priority and we are proud to support our efforts to lead to this historic recovery of stolen funds. Our strict compliance practices, cutting-edge security protocols and on-chain research capabilities reflect our deep commitment to protecting our clients’ assets and maintaining confidence in cryptographic areas. Kraken Deputy Chief Compliance Director.

If you believe you are a victim of cryptocurrency fraud, we recommend reporting your case to your local authorities and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov/. Your prompt reporting will help prevent future fraud.