Data: Tether has issued over $600 million in gold-backed tokens, XAUT, since May

- James Wynn, a high-risk crypto trader, injected $4.8M into Hyperliquid, taking 40x leveraged BTC and 10x memecoin positions despite a $2,162 wallet balance. - His return triggered debates over market volatility and the "Wynn effect," as his trades coincided with Hyperliquid's $4.93B TVL and $80B weekly transaction spikes. - Critics argue his "gambling" approach normalizes reckless leverage use, contrasting his past warnings while repeating patterns of extreme risk-taking after prior nine-figure losses. -

- Ripple partners with Absa Bank to launch institutional-grade crypto custody in South Africa, marking its first African custody collaboration under a 2025 expansion strategy. - The agreement leverages Ripple's secure custody tech to store tokenized assets, aligning with Africa's growing regulatory clarity and rising institutional demand for digital infrastructure. - This builds on Ripple's existing Africa initiatives, including cross-border payments via Chipper Cash and RLUSD stablecoin deployment, positi