Ethereum Foundation Spin-Off Targets Banking Sector
Ethereum Foundation’s privacy team has spun off into an independent company called EthSystems. Founded by former Foundation employees, the startup will focus on developing Ethereum-based solutions for banks and institutional investors.
The project is backed by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, as well as BitMine and SharpLink. EthSystems’ core focus is zero-knowledge proof technology, which enables blockchain transactions without revealing client information or trading positions.
The launch is part of Ethereum’s broader ecosystem restructuring and its ongoing push to attract large institutional players.
Top Most Profitable ASIC Miners of 2026
Analysts at Intelion Data Systems have ranked the most efficient Bitcoin mining devices based on performance during the first half of 2026. The clear leader was the Bitmain Antminer S21 XP (270 TH/s), which delivered a 10.01% return over six months while mining 0.0219 BTC.
The top three also included the Bitmain Antminer S21 PRO (234 TH/s MIX) and the MicroBT Whatsminer M70 (222 TH/s). According to Intelion, the key driver behind their profitability was superior energy efficiency, allowing the machines to remain profitable despite market volatility.
Analysts also noted that a decline in network hash rate and the retirement of older hardware significantly strengthened the position of modern ASIC miners. January proved to be the most profitable month for mining in the first half of the year, supported by higher Bitcoin prices and lower network difficulty.
Market Awaits a Catalyst: When Can Bitcoin Resume Its Uptrend?
Bitcoin continues to trade within the $58,000–$66,000 range as the market lacks strong catalysts for a sustained upward move. Analysts point to geopolitical uncertainty and cautious investor sentiment as the main factors limiting momentum.
While the risk of a sharp sell-off remains low, the conditions needed for a new bull cycle have yet to emerge. Experts note that Bitcoin is trading near key support levels, leaving room for short-term rebounds.
In the near term, the leading cryptocurrency is expected to remain range-bound. A renewed uptrend will likely require an improvement in the broader economic environment and a return of investor interest in digital assets.
Luck Favors the Solo Players: Solo Miner Earns a Reward of Over 3 BTC
A rare event has taken place in the cryptocurrency ecosystem: an independent miner successfully mined a Bitcoin block on their own and received a reward of more than 3 BTC (approximately $200,000). What makes the story particularly remarkable is that the miner used a compact device worth around $150. The case highlights that even in an industry dominated by large-scale mining farms, luck still plays a role in the Bitcoin network.
While solo mining remains extremely challenging, recent statistics point to a growing number of successful block discoveries by individual participants. Over the past year, solo miners have collectively mined 24 blocks, earning more than 75 BTC in rewards. Amid declining mining profitability and the growing shift of major corporations toward AI-related initiatives, stories like this serve as a reminder that decentralization remains alive in the Bitcoin ecosystem and that opportunities still exist for small-scale enthusiasts.
Memecoins Boost Robinhood Chain
Memecoins have become a key driver behind Robinhood’s rapid growth in the cryptocurrency market. In less than two weeks, the broker’s proprietary blockchain network emerged as one of the fastest-growing projects in the industry. While the platform was originally positioned as infrastructure for tokenized assets, the bulk of its growth has been fueled by the surge in demand for meme tokens. After Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev stated that the network was well suited for launching such assets, trading volumes, transaction counts, and overall user activity increased sharply.
By mid-July, the market capitalization of memecoins within the Robinhood ecosystem had surpassed $300 million, while weekly trading volume approached $4 billion. As a result, the network rose to the top ranks among EVM-compatible blockchains, outperforming many major competitors across several key metrics. Analysts note that the success of Robinhood Chain could also benefit the Ethereum ecosystem, as the network is built on Ethereum’s technology stack and a portion of its revenue is reinvested into the development of the underlying infrastructure.
Binance Celebrates 9th Anniversary With a $4.5 Million Reward Campaign
Binance is celebrating its ninth anniversary by launching a large-scale campaign with a $4.5 million prize pool. Under the Built by You initiative, users can complete tasks in a virtual city inspired by the platform’s core products and earn rewards for progressing through different stages.
Over the past nine years, Binance has attracted more than 300 million users across over 100 countries and continues to expand its global presence. The company is also strengthening its traditional finance offerings: in June, it opened access to more than 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs, while its tokenized securities platform bStocks attracted $100 million in assets within just two weeks of launch.
According to Binance’s internal reports, fiat payment channels processed $83.3 billion in transaction volume during the first half of 2026, while the exchange’s reward programs distributed billions of dollars to users.
The Built by You campaign will run through the end of July as part of a broader series of events marking the anniversary of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
