Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin argues the next major wave of crypto adoption has yet to begin. He says traditional finance is shifting from blockchain pilots to real-world use, rather than merely testing the technology.

Bitcoin is testing its 200-week moving average near $62,358. Kraken Chief Economist Thomas Perfumo says the level has historically acted as a rare long-term value zone. He cautioned that past performance does not guarantee future results.

On 18 June 2026, the US and Iran signed an initial agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil lower while crypto also declined. WTI fell 2.49% to $74.83 and Brent slid 2.24% to $77.7, as total crypto market cap dropped about 2.4% to roughly $2.18 trillion. Bitcoin fell to $63,677 and Ethereum to $1,722 as the deal left the nuclear dispute for a 60-day negotiating window.

A proposal posted to Bittensor’s GitHub would reshape the network’s root layer by turning validators from passive reward routers into active capital allocators. Under the plan, validators would decide which AI subnets receive funding rather than simply distributing rewards.

Ether is trading near $1,790 after rebounding from its early-June low. Despite the recovery, the token remains capped below every major moving average, leaving the market in a holding pattern.

Coinbase unveiled 1:1 backed tokenized U.S. stocks designed to provide on-chain ownership and automatic dividend payouts. Each token is backed by a real share held in custody rather than a synthetic product that only tracks price. The company said the tokenized stocks will launch outside the U.S. first, with access for U.S. residents pending regulatory clarity. Coinbase also introduced a USDC-secured Coinbase One Card aimed at extending Bitcoin rewards to users who can’t qualify for traditional credit.

CFTC Chair Michael Selig defended the approval of BTCPERP, described as the first US-regulated perpetual futures contract. He said U.S. law defines “contracts for future delivery” rather than “futures,” and that such contracts do not require a fixed expiry. Selig argued the decision brings a market that has largely traded offshore onto a regulated U.S. exchange.

The total crypto market capitalization rose about 8.15% over the past week to roughly $2.25 trillion. The move marked a broad rebound across major tokens.

Bitcoin’s rally has picked up speed. Derivatives data suggests the move is being fueled more by shorts getting trapped than by fresh, conviction-driven buying. The latest leg higher appears to be driven by forced covering rather than new demand.