Michigan's state pension fund significantly increased its investment in the ARK Bitcoin ETF, tripling its holdings. Despite this, Bitcoin exposure remains minimal, at only 0.03% of the fund's $79 billion assets, reflecting cautious optimism towards crypto's future.

Marex becomes the first clearinghouse to integrate JP Morgan's blockchain-based payment system, Kinexys Digital Payments, enhancing payment infrastructure and reducing risks through a 24/7 digital clearing mechanism.

Bakkt has acquired approximately 30% of the shares of Japan's Hottamarumasa, becoming the largest shareholder and indicating its intention for strategic expansion into the Asian cryptoassets market.
Horita Marumasa has changed its company name to "bitcoin.jp", and Phillip Lord, the President of Backto International, has been appointed as CEO. They plan to hold Bitcoin as a financial asset.
The Bitcoin treasury company BitBridge has announced a Green Mountain Merger

The blockchain game "Brilliantcrypto," which allows players to mine, process, and trade digital gems, celebrated its first anniversary in June. To commemorate the anniversary, a new mining area, Region 2 "Southeastern Tanzania," has also been released in the game.
This game, developed by Brilliantcrypto, a subsidiary of the major gaming company Colopl that advocates for "sustainable Play to Earn," aims to create valuable gems in the digital world and establish a digital jewelry industry in the metaverse.
Currently, Japanese Practical Blockchain games (BCG) are expected to play a leading role in driving Web3 mass adoption.

Standard Chartered's analyst Geoff Kendrick emphasizes that Ethereum treasury firms, like SharpLink, present better investment opportunities than Ethereum ETFs due to their returning NAV multiples and appealing financial structures.

SBI is developing an ETF integrating Bitcoin and XRP, aiming to launch it alongside the RLUSD stablecoin by the end of the year. Their recent earnings report showed significant revenue growth despite declines in the cryptocurrency segment, while user accounts at their exchanges rose markedly.

The essay discusses the rise in Bitcoin's realized prices, highlighting figures for short-term and long-term holders. Despite recent volatility, demand from both new and long-term investors indicates growing confidence in the market.

Convano, which operates the nail salon "FASTNAIL," announced on August 6 that it will start a "green Bitcoin Mining business" utilizing its data center.
This was resolved at the board of directors meeting held on the 5th, and the company intends to position this business as a new growth engine for the entire group.
According to the announcement, the business will be developed in regions of the United States where electricity prices are relatively low. Utilizing long-term purchase agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy and green rate plans, it aims to balance the reduction of environmental impact and operating costs.
Furthermore, during times of power grid strain, a system of "demand response control" will be implemented to halt Mining and contribute to grid stabilization. The company calls these initiatives "in green."

China's Ministry of State Security warns against the misuse of biometric data by foreign companies, particularly highlighting concerns related to iris scanning for cryptocurrency rewards, referencing the Worldcoin project.

Defiance Daily Target 2x Short MSTR ETF (SMST) surged 19% last week, marking its best performance since February.
The long-term bearish trend of this ETF has ended with a double-digit surge. The bullish marubozu candlestick suggests a decisive shift in momentum.

On August 5, Casio Computer announced the launch of multiple NFT collections themed around its shock-resistant watch "G-SHOCK" in the Web3 gaming Metaverse "The Sandbox."
This initiative is part of the "VIRTUAL G-SHOCK" project that started in 2023, utilizing blockchain technology to express the brand's worldview.
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> Related article: Casio Computer has launched the "VIRTUAL G-SHOCK" project, distributing limited NFTs that will serve as membership rights.
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As a specific measure, two types of NFT collections will be released starting from September 3, 2025, at 23:00.

JASRAC has updated its blockchain-based music management system, KENDRIX, adding a feature that allows creators to set royalty distribution rates based on their contribution levels, enhancing transparency and rights protection.

N.Avenue club's roundtable on August 28, 2025, will explore the integration of DeFi and traditional banking, featuring Aave's founder. The event aims to discuss the potential of DeFi to transform financial services and identify new business opportunities.

The ISM non-manufacturing PMI fell below expectations, signaling potential stagflation and a weakening economy. This has sparked debate on how quickly the Federal Reserve might cut interest rates, impacting both traditional and cryptocurrency markets negatively.

Semler Scientific's stock is currently undervalued at $35, reflecting nearly the same value as its Bitcoin holdings. Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer maintains a "buy" rating with a target price of $101, highlighting significant upside potential as Semler leverages its Bitcoin assets.

The CFTC is considering allowing spot trading of crypto assets at registered exchanges, responding to suggestions from a Trump-led digital assets working group. This initiative aims to provide regulatory clarity for stakeholders and establish the US as a global crypto hub.

The article discusses the significant growth in assets under management (AUM) for Bitcoin and gold ETFs, surpassing $500 billion. Bitcoin ETFs experienced a remarkable increase from $20 billion to $162 billion following their approval in the U.S., while gold ETFs also nearly doubled to $325 billion. The price of Bitcoin rose by 175%, outpacing gold's 66% increase, reflecting heightened investor interest and higher volatility in Bitcoin investments.