Crypto Acquisitions:- The beginning of Q3 2025 has been marked by the notable closing of Acquisition Deals in the Crypto space – beginning with Coinbase’s acquisition of Liquify on July 2. The just ended week from 7 July-12 July itself saw major Crypto brands closing in major acquisition deals, continuing to hype up the M&A
According to Wall Street reports, both Amazon and Walmart are evaluating a move into the stablecoin market.
The reports, citing people familiar with the matter, stated that their effort is part of a broader push to improve payment efficiency and reduce processing fees.
Amazon and Walmart Eye Stablecoin
According to the report, the two retail giants are considering multiple options, including issuing their own digital currencies or collaborating within a stablecoin consortium.
These legacy systems often impose high fees and slow settlement times. In contrast, stablecoins promise near-instant transaction finality and significant cost reductions.
Despite the growing interest in these assets, the success of Amazon and Walmart’s stablecoin ambitions may hinge on the evolving US regulatory environment.
The proposed law aims to bring stability to the $251 billion stablecoin market by setting clear rules for issuance, reserve backing, and consumer protection. Its supporters argue that the regulatory clarity would boost public trust and encourage innovation in the emerging industry.
This limitation could pose a significant hurdle for firms like Amazon and Walmart. They would need to secure regulatory exemptions or operate through licensed banking subsidiaries.
Considering this, Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, noted that the retailers would likely need to establish or acquire a regulated financial entity to participate. He added that the process would involve navigating approvals from the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the Treasury.
Despite this potential convoluted process, Amazon and Walmart’s interest suggests that major retailers are preparing for a future where stablecoin payments become part of everyday commerce.
Bitcoin has been on an upward trajectory this week, with its price pushing toward the crucial $110,000 mark.
However, sustaining this momentum could prove challenging, as it has been for the last two months. Whales appear to be taking profits, which may impact Bitcoin’s ability to maintain these gains.
Bitcoin Whales Sell Heavily
Whale activity has been notable in recent days, with addresses holding between 1,000 BTC and 10,000 BTC, selling off significant portions of their holdings.
In the past week alone, these whales have sold over 40,000 BTC, valued at more than $4.3 billion. This selling pressure is likely a response to Bitcoin’s recent price rise, as these large holders may be uncertain about the sustainability of the rally.
This type of selling by whales can be detrimental to Bitcoin’s price, as it creates bearish pressure when such large volumes are sold at once. The impact of whale selling could prevent Bitcoin from maintaining its upward momentum.
In addition to whale selling, the Liveliness metric, which tracks the frequency of Bitcoin transactions, has seen a sharp uptick this week.
A rising Liveliness typically signals that long-term holders (LTHs) are moving their assets instead of holding them. This shift suggests that LTHs are opting to sell their holdings rather than accumulate, which mirrors the actions of the whales.
LTHs, with their significant influence over Bitcoin’s market, are likely to have a pronounced effect on price movements. If they continue to sell, it could lead to further volatility and potentially limit Bitcoin’s price recovery.
Bitcoin’s price has risen by 7% in the last 24 hours, reaching $108,145 at the time of writing. The cryptocurrency is currently attempting to establish $108,000 as a solid support level.
However, the ongoing selling by whales and the shift in LTH behavior make it susceptible to falling back below this level.
If Bitcoin fails to secure $108,000 as support, the next support level could be around $105,622, with a further decline potentially pushing the price down to $102,734.
The impact of whale selling and LTH behavior may drive this downward movement if the market sentiment turns more bearish.
On the other hand, if institutional demand continues to rise and outpaces the selling pressure from whales and LTHs, Bitcoin could break through the $109,476 resistance.
A strong push past this level would pave the way for Bitcoin to reach $110,000, which would invalidate the current bearish thesis and continue the upward momentum.
Welcome to the Asia Pacific Morning Brief—your essential digest of overnight crypto developments shaping regional markets and global sentiment. Grab a green tea and watch this space.
Chinese mining giant Bitmain expands operations with US manufacturing plans while Vietnam’s government embraces crypto regulation through Dunamu partnerships. Meanwhile, the FBI strikes ransomware criminals and Japan pioneers NFT vending machines, marking significant blockchain adoption milestones as companies expand globally.
Bitmain Expands US Operations with First ASIC Manufacturing Plant
Chinese Bitcoin mining giant Bitmain will establish its first US manufacturing facility by early 2026, Bloomberg reported. The world’s largest ASIC chip producer plans to open its headquarters in Texas or Florida by the third quarter of 2025. Global business chief Irene Gao said Bitmain’s expansion will accelerate delivery and repair times for American customers.
Bitmain controls 82% of global Bitcoin ASIC production alongside competitors MicroBT and Canaan, who hold 15% and 2% respectively. The company will hire 250 local workers initially for manufacturing and facility maintenance roles. This expansion follows favorable crypto policies under the Trump administration and addresses previous regulatory challenges.
The move comes after US authorities seized thousands of Bitmain ASICs in November 2024 over sanctions concerns. Producing domestically offers a solution to ongoing regulatory issues while capitalizing on America’s Bitcoin mining boom. Full-scale manufacturing is anticipated by the end of 2026.
FBI Strikes Chaos Ransomware Group
The FBI seized $2.4 million worth of Bitcoin from cybercriminal “Hors” of the Chaos ransomware group. The Dallas-based FBI operation confiscated 20.28 BTC in a significant victory against international cybercrime. Chaos emerged in February 2025 as a dangerous new threat linked to the BlackSuit gang.
Today, FBI Dallas made public the seizure of over $1.7 million worth of cryptocurrency as part of ongoing efforts to combat ransomware. The seized funds were traced to a cryptocurrency address allegedly associated with a member of the Chaos ransomware group, known as “Hors,” who… pic.twitter.com/uWeIMMGE9J
The group specializes in double extortion attacks across multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Their sophisticated ransomware-as-a-service model targets Windows, Linux, and network storage systems with advanced encryption capabilities. This successful seizure demonstrates law enforcement’s growing ability to track cryptocurrency transactions despite anonymity measures.
Dunamu Meets Vietnam PM Over Crypto Market Expansion
South Korean crypto exchange Upbit’s parent company, Dunamu, met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi. According to Vietnamese state media, Vice Chairman Kim Hyung-nyeon discussed strategic partnerships for Vietnam’s digital asset ecosystem development and regulatory framework establishment. The meeting included Hana Financial Group executives exploring blockchain-based asset management platforms.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Kim Hyung-nyeon, Vice Chairman of Dunamu, the parent company of Upbit. Source: Voice of Vietnam
Dunamu promised comprehensive cooperation, including technology transfer, infrastructure development, and talent cultivation based on global regulatory experience. Prime Minister Chinh instructed the Finance Ministry to lead pilot operation resolutions while directing central bank support. Vietnam plans comprehensive institutionalization, including regulatory sandboxes, tax systems, and investor protection standards for balanced industry growth.
Upbit ranks as the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume according to CoinMarketCap data.
Japan Launches World’s First NFT Vending Machines
Japanese company 24karat partnered with Dapper Labs to sell sports NFTs through nationwide AIICO vending machines. The world-first initiative brings digital collectibles, including NBA Top Shot, to physical retail locations. Customers tap touchscreens and scan QR codes for wallet-free purchases without blockchain knowledge required.
The image shows an actual vending machine deployed at TV Asahi headquarters in Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. Customers tap touchscreens and scan QR codes for wallet-free purchases. Source: 24karat