This week’s crypto highlights (1 July – 7 July 2025)
Solana ETF approval becomes a reality (first in the US)
The first Solana ETF listed in the US has been approved and is now trading. The REX-Osprey Solana + Staking ETF (SSK) combines Solana exposure with a substantial staking yield of 7.3%, building an important bridge between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem.
This approval is seen as a major catalyst for wider adoption of altcoin ETFs, with analysts seeing strong opportunities for XRP, Litecoin and Cardano ETFs by the end of 2025.
“Crypto Week” ahead
The US House of Representatives has officially declared 14-18 July 2025 as “Crypto Week” During this period, lawmakers will debate and vote on three important bills: the CLARITY Act (market structure, classification of securities and commodities), the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (prohibition of a central bank digital currency) and the Senate-passed GENIUS Act (regulation of stablecoins). This unprecedented effort aims to solidify the U.S. as a leader in digital asset innovation and provide much-needed regulatory clarity.
The stablecoin ecosystem is maturing under heightened scrutiny
Stablecoins are rapidly integrating into the mainstream financial world. Circle, the issuer of USDC, completed a successful IPO and announced Circle Gateway, a new development service designed to help businesses transition to on-chain finance. The company also confirmed that it has been compliant with the EU’s MiCA regulation for a year. New York’s Attorney General called on Congress to strengthen the GENIUS Act and argued in favour of bank-like regulation and FDIC insurance for stablecoins, citing concerns about national security and investor protection.
Cybersecurity incidents highlight ongoing risks
Although last week’s hack of the Iranian exchange was not as large, the US Department of Justice is investigating a former DigitalMint employee for allegedly profiting from secret dealings with hackers and ransom payments.Â
Separately, a report revealed that investors have lost nearly $2.5 billion to crypto scams and hacks in the first half of 2025, with wallet compromises and phishing being the most common methods. This underscores the persistent need for robust security measures in the crypto space.
Ethereum underperforms but shows signs of accumulation
While Bitcoin and Solana have grabbed headlines, Ethereum (ETH) has lagged behind in recent years.
However, despite trading around $2,500, as reported by Coinidol.com this week, analysts are noting signs of accumulation and whale activity, suggesting a potential bullish breakout. The recent $219.1 million net inflow into U.S. Ethereum spot ETFs this week also points to renewed institutional interest, with hopes that staking integration in future ETFs could further boost adoption.
Moreover, despite global geopolitical events, Bitcoin has shown resilience, consistently trading above $100,000, largely between $103,000 and $108,000, driven by continued institutional ETF inflows.
