Satoshi-era bar moves, Vitalik gets CZ’s backing

Today’s headlines

• $10M Bitcoin bar cracked open after 13 years
• Robinhood launches tokenized stock trading in Europe
• CZ donates to Vitalik’s pandemic-prep fund
• Mastercard and Bitget unveil zero-fee crypto card
• Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” clears Senate
• FLOKI launches Norse-themed play-to-earn Valhalla
• CEX volume drops as DEX use climbs
• Market pauses as Bitcoin ETFs see outflows
• US Treasury sanctions Russian darknet host
• Belgium’s KBC tests euro token at music festival

 

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Below is a breakdown of everything we covered today – Wednesday July 2, 2025 – from Belgium to U.S. and Viking-themed games to Bitcoin bars. Make sure you tune in again tomorrow on YouTube and X to catch the news as it happens.

 

Satoshi-era Bitcoin bar finally redeemed

A physical Bitcoin bar minted in 2012 has been cashed in for around $10 million, marking one of the most iconic long-term crypto holds to date. The 100 BTC Casascius bar was originally purchased for $500 by Bitcointalk user “JohnGalt.” This week, he removed its tamper-proof hologram and moved the coins on-chain – 13 years later.

But the windfall wasn’t without hiccups. Before redeeming the Bitcoin Cash from the 2017 fork, JohnGalt accidentally exposed the private key, allowing someone to snatch around $40,000 worth of BCH. Even so, his original bar – once a collectible – became a multimillion-dollar payout with a side lesson on physical key security.

Robinhood offers tokenized stocks on Arbitrum

Robinhood has rolled out a commission-free platform for tokenized stock trading across Europe, letting users trade more than 200 assets – including private giants like SpaceX and OpenAI – on a 24/5 basis.

Interestingly, Robinhood didn’t build the service on Solana as some expected, instead opting for Arbitrum, an Ethereum Layer 2, citing greater flexibility and compatibility. The firm is also developing its own Layer 2 using the same tech. Robinhood’s stock rose over 13% on the news, and Arbitrum’s token briefly spiked before dipping again.

This move could mark a turning point where TradFi and DeFi infrastructure begin to merge in earnest.

CZ gives $10M to Vitalik’s biotech initiative

In an unexpected gesture of crypto solidarity, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has donated $10 million in BNB to Vitalik Buterin’s Biosecurity Fund. The fund, operated under Buterin’s Balvi Filantropic Foundation, supports research into pandemic prevention, health tech, and open-source medical solutions.

Despite past tensions between the two figures, Zhao called the donation a contribution “for the greater good of humanity.” The fund takes a crypto-native approach to philanthropy and has already backed pandemic response tools and bio-risk mitigation technologies.

Bitget and Mastercard launch zero-fee crypto card

Bitget Wallet has teamed up with Mastercard to release a zero-fee crypto debit card, now available in the UK and EU. The card auto-converts crypto to fiat at point of sale with no need for top-ups, and integrates with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

On-chain settlements are done in USDC via Base, and the card meets full KYC/AML requirements. With more than 150 million merchants in reach, Bitget is joining Mastercard’s growing push into crypto payments – but its zero-fee model could give it a competitive edge.

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passes Senate

President Donald Trump’s flagship budget package has narrowly passed the U.S. Senate in a 51–50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie. The bill extends tax cuts, slashes welfare spending, raises the defense budget, and lifts the debt ceiling.

Critics warn it will add over $3 trillion to the national deficit in the next decade. Elon Musk has also voiced opposition to the bill’s economic footprint. The package now heads to the House, where further political wrangling is expected before Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline.

MJ's Trend of the Day: FLOKI

Floki Inu has officially entered the GameFi arena with Valhalla, a Viking-themed play-to-earn MMORPG now live on mainnet. Players can earn and trade NFTs tied to in-game battles, with real crypto rewards and plans for future integrations.

Built on Optimism and integrated with Katana Network, Valhalla marks FLOKI’s pivot from memecoin roots toward a more immersive, utility-driven ecosystem.

Centralized exchange volume hits 9-month low

Spot trading volume on centralized exchanges dropped to $515 billion in June, a nine-month low and down sharply from $725 billion in May. Declines in memecoin activity, lower volatility, and a market-wide pause are likely contributors.

Binance remains dominant with a 55% market share, but activity has dipped across the board. Analysts suggest this could be a “calm before the storm” moment as traders await new catalysts like Ethereum ETF launches or major altcoin runs.

Markets stabilize as ETF flows shift

Crypto markets cooled slightly today. Bitcoin is trading just below $107,000 after ETFs recorded a $342 million net outflow – led by Fidelity pulling $130 million. It's the largest exit since April.

Ethereum is down nearly 4% but has now seen seven straight weeks of ETF inflows, hinting that institutions may be rotating their focus. Altcoins like SOL and DOGE dipped and recovered, suggesting a steady market with selective accumulation underway.

US Treasury sanctions Russian hosting firm Aeza

The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned Aeza Group, a Russia-based hosting provider accused of serving ransomware operators and darknet markets. The firm’s admin wallet – holding $350,000 – was frozen on the Tron network.

Authorities say Aeza knowingly supported criminal infrastructure, including groups like Meduza and RedLine, and hosted the now-banned marketplace BlackSprut. Several executives were blacklisted and reportedly detained in Russia, signaling a new tactic: targeting enablers instead of just hackers.

KBC’s euro token gets tested at music festival

Belgium’s KBC Group debuted “Kate Coin,” a loyalty-based digital euro token built on private Hyperledger Fabric tech. The token was used by 8,000 employees to buy goods at a music festival, with more features – like programmable bonuses and expiry conditions – on the way.

Unlike traditional stablecoins, Kate Coin isn’t publicly tradable and is earned through sustainable or loyalty-based actions. KBC says it’s planning wider merchant adoption across its 1.8 million-user network.