Bitcoin new all-time high, Emirates flies on crypto

Today's headlines:

Bitcoin hits $111K, Ethereum jumps 7%, crypto market at $3.47T

Emirates and Dubai Duty Free prep crypto payments

Vitalik Buterin backs stricter open-source licensing

Trump’s WLFI token nears vote; Truth Social teases perks

Justin Sun buys $100M in TRUMP tokens

Australia expands digital currency trials

El Salvador’s Bitcoin profits spark debate

Greece seizes stolen crypto tied to Bybit hack

US Senate splits over crypto rules

Linda Yaccarino exits X; MrBeast jokes about taking over

Elon Musk demos Grok 4 AI after backlash

 

The Crypto Radio LIVE has just launched across platforms, bringing you the hottest topics of the day wherever you are. Tune in weekdays at 1pm GST – Dubai time – for daily news in a brand new format.

Below is a breakdown of everything we covered today – Thursday July 10, 2025 – from Australia to Greece and all-time highs to Mr Beast. Make sure you tune in again tomorrow on YouTube and X to catch the news as it happens.

Bitcoin at $111K, ETH surges 7%

Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $111,360, with Ethereum jumping 7% to $2,810, pushing total crypto market capitalization to $3.47 trillion.

Trading volume soared 42% to $141.8 billion, with BNB, Solana, and Dogecoin also posting solid gains. Analysts point to bullish technicals, continued institutional inflows – especially through ETFs – and slightly easing global economic concerns.

The Fear & Greed Index sits at 58, signaling rising optimism but with investors still cautious about overextension.

Emirates plans crypto payments with Crypto.com

Travelers passing through Dubai could soon pay for flights and duty-free shopping with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free signed landmark agreements with Crypto.com, aiming to integrate digital asset payments by late 2025.

Dubai Duty Free, which surpassed Dh4.1 billion ($1.1 billion) in sales this year, will conduct feasibility studies for in-store and online use.

Emirates emphasized balancing innovation with customer security, while Crypto.com called the deal a “major step” for global crypto adoption.

The move aligns with Dubai’s broader push into blockchain and digital finance, aiming to attract tech-savvy global travelers.

We’ve signed an MoU with @Cryptocom to explore ways to integrate its Pay platform within our payment systems. The collaboration is part of our broader effort to offer more flexibility and choice to our customers. https://t.co/pIUkilMDN3 pic.twitter.com/r3mnrdjghD

— Emirates (@emirates) July 9, 2025

Buterin calls for copyleft shift

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is calling for crypto developers to adopt copyleft licenses, which require sharing code improvements publicly, rather than permissive licenses that allow unrestricted use.

In a blog post, Buterin warned that the crypto industry has become too competitive to rely on goodwill alone, risking companies locking away tools built by the community. Venture capitalist Adam Cochran supported the shift but acknowledged the implementation will be challenging.

The debate touches on the tension between open-source ideals and commercial pressures in the maturing crypto sector.

Trump crypto platform votes

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the crypto platform backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has opened a community vote on making its governance token tradable for the first time. With more than 99% approval so far, a decision is expected by July 16.

Trump’s personal holdings – nearly 16 billion tokens – would remain locked. Trump reported $57 million in crypto income last month, with an estimated portfolio of $620 million.

 Meanwhile, Truth Social is launching a “Patriot Package” subscription with loyalty “gems” tied to a future utility token. Political scrutiny is intensifying, as lawmakers question the overlap of presidential power and personal crypto gains.

Justin Sun to buy $100M TRUMP tokens

In a surprise move, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun announced he will purchase $100 million worth of TRUMP tokens, the memecoin associated with Donald Trump’s political and crypto ventures. Shared on X, the news sparked a price jump of nearly 2%, according to on-chain data, as traders reacted to Sun’s high-profile bet. 

Some hailed it as a major endorsement from the Tron founder, while others questioned whether it was a speculative publicity play. Known for his attention-grabbing moves in crypto markets, Sun’s involvement has added fresh momentum to the TRUMP token

Bro's tweet moved the coin by 1.73%
Not bad. pic.twitter.com/waLDYLB9dO

— #🆖 (Nitin) (@NG_Exhales) July 9, 2025

Australia ramps up digital currency trials

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has launched phase two of Project Acacia, a six-month pilot exploring how stablecoins, deposit tokens, and a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) could improve financial markets.

Major banks like Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and Westpac will test 24 use cases, including real-money and simulated experiments in carbon credits, private markets, and repo transactions.

 Australia’s securities regulator has granted special exemptions for the trial. Results, expected in early 2026, could inform the country’s evolving crypto regulations, as global competition in digital finance accelerates.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin profits stir global debate

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele posted the country’s Bitcoin portfolio on X, showing that it has reached $691 million, reflecting a 137% unrealized gain.

👀 pic.twitter.com/qcUpvRFc4A

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) July 9, 2025

Though no revoked, El Salvador made headlines as the first nation to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021.

Reactions to Bukele’s announcement ranged from praise for his conviction to warnings about holding without cashing out. While Bukele frames it as a national success, critics caution that tying fiscal health to a volatile asset could endanger the country’s economic stability.

Other governments are watching closely to see if El Salvador’s crypto experiment proves visionary or reckless.

Greece seizes Bybit hack funds

Greece freezes millions in stolen crypto from Bybit hack, marking a national first. Photo: Unsplash / Rafael Hoyos Weht

Greek authorities froze millions of dollars in crypto linked to the $1.5 billion Bybit hack, allegedly carried out by North Korea’s Lazarus Group. This marks Greece’s first-ever crypto seizure. Investigators used blockchain forensics tools like Chainalysis to trace the stolen funds to a local exchange, freezing around $72 million – roughly 5% of the stolen amount.

Greece’s Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis called it a milestone, though more than $870 million remains unaccounted for. The case highlights the global nature of crypto crime and the growing importance of cross-border cooperation.

Yaccarino exits X, MrBeast steps in?

Linda Yaccarino announced her resignation as CEO of X after two years, during which she worked on restoring advertiser confidence, improving user safety, and rolling out features like X Money. In her farewell post, she praised the team’s achievements and said “the best is yet to come” for the platform.

YouTube megastar MrBeast humorously offered on X to “fill the role,” sparking a wave of online reactions. The leadership change comes as X faces mounting challenges balancing free speech, content moderation, and monetization.

I’ll fill the roll

— MrBeast (@MrBeast) July 9, 2025

US Senate divides over crypto rules

A Senate Banking Committee hearing this week revealed deep partisan divisions over crypto policy. Republicans championed “light-touch” regulation to protect innovation, unveiling market principles aligned with the House’s CLARITY Act to clarify token classifications. Senator Tim Scott emphasized the need to safeguard investors without crushing innovation.

Democrats pushed for tighter oversight, citing fraud, political influence, and financial stability concerns, particularly as politicians like Trump deepen their crypto involvement.

The outcome could shape the regulatory environment for crypto investors and companies across the US.