Meta Platforms is targeting a release for its consumer-oriented OpenClaw AI assistant, which is internally coded Hatch, in the coming weeks.
The company also aims to unveil its latest AI model, named Watermelon, in October, according to Jiemian News.
UKMTO, via Sina Finance, said a tanker's captain reported the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile about 9 nautical miles northeast of Ash Shihr, Oman.
The ship has lost power and the crew are reported to be safe.
Mariners have been advised to navigate with caution.
Sammons Financial Group informed its creditors that it maintains some separation from Guggenheim Partners, the firm led by Mark Walter.
The update comes after a Bloomberg report last week described the firms’ long-standing ties and suggested they had affected the value of Sammons’ bonds.
Ed Al-Hussainy, portfolio manager at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, said the U.S. dollar has been mostly stable against developed-market currencies but has underperformed against emerging-market currencies, according to Bloomberg.
He cited carry-trade activity supported by higher real yields in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and South Africa as a key driver. He also noted that the dollar's weakness persists despite low unemployment and steady U.S. growth, partly because the Federal Reserve has adjusted rates more slowly than many other central banks.
Japan is considering a roughly $630 million allocation to back the acquisition of subsea cable-laying vessels, aiming to address rising risks in the sector, according to Wallstreetcn.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to include the spending in its fiscal 2027 budget request, with the submission anticipated by the end of August.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a $144 million funding package aimed at strengthening mental health and substance-use services, improving emergency care and maternal care, and expanding Alabama’s healthcare workforce, according to Wallstreetcn.
Nvidia shares declined more than 3% in late U.S. trading, according to Jin10.
Jin10 reports that Iran's economy minister attributes the depreciation of the country's currency to tensions in the media environment.
The minister says authorities are working to restore normal conditions in the foreign exchange market.
Bitcoin's 25% weekly surge lifted Zcash, Aave and XRP, with each clearing notable resistance on higher volume.
Prices showed ZEC up 75.5% to $846.51, AAVE up 64.5% to $136.08, and XRP up 53% to $1.50, while Bitcoin traded near $78,702 after hitting its highest level since May.
ZEC now eyes a test of $903, AAVE faces resistance at $150, and XRP could target around $1.70, though all three moves depend on Bitcoin sustaining its gains.
Polymarket's submarket tracking the event "Elon Musk tweet count from August 18, 2026 to August 25, 2026" showed a sharp reversal in the Yes side for the 300-319 range. The odds fell to 25.95% from 46.1% just an hour earlier, according to Catcher Predict's monitoring.
ChainCatcher recorded a 20.15 percentage-point swing in the market, with reports of related breaking news noted as a possible influence on trading behavior.
Siemens Energy AG has enlisted Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to help solicit offers for a majority stake in its steam turbine business, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she remains hopeful about securing a trade agreement with the United States as her lead negotiator holds discussions in Washington, Bloomberg reported.
The remarks come after negotiations between the United States and Canada collapsed.
Wallstreetcn reported that Pakistan's army chief met Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf this afternoon for discussions. The talks reflect Islamabad's effort to strengthen regional peace and security.
The win probability for the Natus Vincere option in Polymarket's submarket tied to the LoL: Natus Vincere vs. Fnatic LEC regular-season game jumped from 19% to 34% within an hour, a 15-percentage-point gain.
ChainCatcher reported the shift occurred in the Navi -1.5 / Fnatic +1.5 game handicap market, with observers cautioned to monitor for the impact of any breaking news on odds.
Allianz Group Chief Economic Adviser Mohamed A. El-Erian warned that U.S. Treasury intervention in the bond market, including using funds from the Treasury General Account to purchase securities, is a fragile strategy that is unlikely to succeed and could erode investor confidence.
He argued the move fails to address the core issue: heavy government debt issuance driven by financing needs, especially from the technology sector, while traditional buyers such as China, Japan, and Gulf producers have become less stable sources of demand.
According to El-Erian, such intervention would only be warranted if there were market failure or an institutional breakdown, conditions he does not see as present.
He also pointed out a troubling dynamic: market pricing is increasingly forcing the Treasury to react, rather than allowing the Treasury to guide the market.
In a statement relayed by CNBC, President Donald Trump said the United States plans to increase tariffs on imports of cars, trucks, and auto parts from Canada to 50% beginning January 1, 2027.
R&F Properties (2777) has issued a profit warning, projecting a net loss for the first half of 2026 in the range of RMB 5.0 billion to RMB 5.5 billion.
That guidance compares with a RMB 4.082 billion net loss recorded for the same period in 2025, according to Ming Pao.
The company cited the ongoing weakness of the Chinese property market, noting that the downturn has reduced gross profit from its property development activity, contributing to the larger anticipated loss.
Sunac China Holdings Ltd. (SEHK: 1918) said it will acquire 100% of Ejin Management for RMB 123 million, with payment to be made through the issue of about 260 million new shares.
The deal comes as Sunac resumes acquisitions after years focused on completing home delivery obligations and debt restructuring.
The transaction is part of a strategic shift toward asset management and asset operation, aimed at aligning with industry changes and policy direction.
According to Ming Pao, Ejin Management would be owned 65% by Wang Peng, 25% indirectly held by major shareholder Sun Hongbin, and 10% by other independent individuals.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's advantage over conservative challenger Flávio Bolsonaro has narrowed as the official campaigning for Brazil's October election gets underway, according to Bloomberg.
A new poll indicates the gap between the two candidates is tightening as the race opens.
Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain robust as the conflict persists.
Bloomberg reports continued flows from the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with barrels moving toward global markets despite the extended war.
Bitcoin is ending August with notable momentum, having risen roughly 23% for the month and on pace for what would be its best August since 2017. August has historically been a weaker period for BTC, making this rally a meaningful deviation from the norm as traders prepare for a busy week ahead.
The defining event for the week is the Jackson Hole symposium, where Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is slated to deliver the keynote. Historically, such speeches can indicate shifts in policy stance, and the message this year could influence traders’ expectations for the dollar and yields. A dovish tone would tend to keep the dollar soft and yields lower, supporting the rally, while a hawkish surprise could prompt profit-taking and a reassessment of risk assets.
Market observers describe the week as a convergence of central-bank messaging and geopolitical risk, with ongoing US-Iran tensions and the broader Ukraine conflict serving as backdrop to the macro narrative.
On the data side, July core PCE is due on Wednesday. The consensus is for a +0.2% change month-over-month and a steady +3.3% year-over-year, unchanged from the prior reading. Core PCE remains the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, and its reading ahead of Warsh’s remarks will help shape the framing of any policy signal rather than acting as a standalone trigger. A 3.3% year-over-year rate that does not ease could give Warsh room to emphasize policy optionality rather than moving toward a more hawkish stance.
An upside print above +0.3% MoM would be more disruptive, potentially reviving concerns about persistent inflation at a moment when Bitcoin is extended and position sizing is more vulnerable to profit-taking.
The rest of the macro calendar is crowded. Tuesday brings the ADP employment change, the CB Consumer Confidence index for August, and money-supply data. Australia releases July inflation and the RBA's trimmed-mean CPI later on Tuesday. Wednesday pairs core PCE with the second estimate of Q2 GDP, which is expected to show a downward revision, while South Korea’s rate decision follows in the evening. Thursday features initial jobless claims, and Friday brings the final Michigan sentiment reading for August and a fresh read on inflation expectations, with a notable payrolls revision due in the annual non-farm payrolls data release.
Crypto-focused developments include two joint SEC-CFTC requests touching derivatives product definitions and alternative compliance, along with swap data reporting. The coordination signals regulatory groundwork for future digital-asset derivatives rules and will influence how traders and exchanges classify products going forward. Separately, BNB Smart Chain will activate its Pasteur hard fork on Monday evening.
Earnings season highlights include IREN, which is expected to post a per-share loss on Thursday after hours. IREN has positioned itself at the intersection of crypto mining and AI infrastructure, with large-scale contracts spanning major tech players. Hyperliquid Strategies is also due on Thursday before the market opens. The stock has shown momentum lately, driven by sentiment around regulatory oversight and growth in the sector.
From a seasonal perspective, Bitcoin’s 23% rise this month stands out against a median August decline of about 7%. September has historically been weaker on average, complicating the outlook as the market enters a potential re-pricing phase. Some analysts note that the rally’s resilience appears to be driven more by spot activity than by leveraged futures, which reduces unwind risk as the calendar turns toward a traditionally soft period. The coming week’s events will test whether this dynamic can hold through Warsh’s speech, the core PCE print, and the broader geopolitical backdrop.
World Liberty Financial, described as a crypto project backed by the Trump family, has received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to pursue a national trust bank charter. The proposed entity would operate as World Liberty Trust Company, per ChainCatcher.
If the OCC grants final approval, the company would be able to issue and redeem the USD1 stablecoin, oversee its reserve assets, and offer digital asset custody services.
The move comes as U.S. bank charter approvals have accelerated, with OCC data showing 22 bank charter applications approved in the first 19 months of President Trump’s second term, more than in the prior five years combined, a period that included fintech and digital asset-related filings.
World Liberty Trust Company would not function as a traditional commercial bank and would not be permitted to accept FDIC-insured deposits or issue conventional loans.
Robinhood chief executive Vlad Tenev spoke in a video interview on The Iced Coffee Hour, reiterating that he still uses Robinhood for trading and has previously engaged in cryptocurrency trading.
He expressed a positive view of cryptocurrencies and noted that he no longer participates on Reddit, a platform he used in the early days of using Robinhood.
Odaily reports that Tenev described his investment portfolio as diversified and said he is bullish on Bitcoin over the long term, while stopping short of predicting that Bitcoin will reach $1 million.
Alibaba Group announced a new HK$80 billion share placement plan.
Chairman Tsai Chongxin and CEO Wu Yongming acquired a total of around HK$120 million in Alibaba shares, per the latest filings with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Analysts and market observers framed the trades as a signal of confidence in Alibaba's artificial intelligence strategy.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran will determine the fate of the detained Iranian pilot in Qatar. He also said Iran is pressing for the immediate release of four Kuwaiti citizens detained in connection with the case.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao joined the Bali Clubhouse AMA remotely during Coinfest Asia 2026 on Aug. 20–21, with Kite AI sponsoring the event and its team taking part in ground-level sessions alongside CZ's appearance.
On market cycles, Zhao aligned with traditionalists, saying the four-year pattern remains strong. He acknowledged uncertainty about the next catalyst, noting he could not have predicted DeFi even in 2020, and he pointed to his past misses on NFTs, memecoins, and tokenized real-world assets as a reason not to declare RWAs as the next cycle engine. Tokenized RWAs have grown to roughly $29–33 billion, with tokenized Treasuries exceeding $13 billion, yet large assets show minimal weekly activity and only about a tenth of RWA value is used in DeFi.
On AI and payments, he argued that AI will eventually handle payments as traditional rails impose human checks that software can bypass. He noted that machine-native payment protocols have already processed tens of millions of transactions in 2026. Regarding AI trading bots, he rejected the idea of additional platform safeguards, saying the tools will be used by everyone. He also observed that post-regulatory-freeze innovation is accelerating, but current price signals do not yet reflect that momentum.
In discussing Indonesia, CZ highlighted a demand-supply imbalance: strong local demand but limited off-chain tokenization of assets such as gold, oil, rare minerals, and even government bonds. He cited Indonesia's roughly 15 million users and seventh-place ranking in global adoption. He also framed Tether's Treasury backing as an indirect form of tokenized government bonds and suggested broad international access to sovereign debt would be attractive to countries seeking a large investor base.
On retail strategy, Zhao offered no price targets or token picks. He recommended not liquidating major assets to chase timing, advising 1–10% of monthly income be allocated to top assets, accepting cycle volatility. His closing practice emphasized daily learning: 30–60 minutes of focused study with questions developed three to five levels deep.
Metaplanet chief executive Simon Gerovich argues that advances in artificial intelligence are cutting the expenses involved in software development, content production, and analytics, resulting in cheaper and more abundant outputs.
According to Foresight News, he highlighted Bitcoin's fixed supply cap of 21 million, a feature enforced by the network's rules that cannot be copied or diluted and that enables global settlement around the clock.
U.S. government bonds edged lower in Asian trading as yields remained elevated amid a drop in oil prices.
Danske Bank senior analyst Jesper Fjarstedt noted that last week's focus centered on U.S. Treasuries and on Bessent's plan for a larger long-dated bond buyback, which briefly lent support before gains faded as traders concluded the underlying factors had not shifted.
Tradeweb data showed the 10-year yield retreating 2.2 basis points to 4.714% and the 30-year yield slipping 2.7 basis points to 5.248%; the 30-year had touched a 19-year high of 5.337% last week.
According to Jiemian News, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated late on August 23 local time that the confrontation with Iran has entered its endgame and pledged to cut off every economic lifeline to the Iranian government until Tehran is isolated.
He asserted that Washington has reduced Iran’s military capacity, destroyed most of its military-industrial facilities, and undermined its nuclear program.
In a prior Financial Times article, Bessent described the United States as pursuing the largest financial offensive against Iran to date and warned that any country providing financial support to Tehran would face the same isolation.
Bessent was scheduled to hold a news conference on August 24 local time, where he may reveal specific measures intended to pressure Iran back to the negotiating table.
Jin10 reported that the South Korean won was firming ahead of the Bank of Korea's rate decision.
Markets warned that the central bank could raise rates again on Thursday.
Creator Capital, a token linked to the Solana ecosystem, briefly advanced past a $9.4 million market cap and traded around $9 million, lifting more than 200% in a single session.
Odaily explains that the protocol aims to host trading markets for creator accounts on X, TikTok, and Instagram, with revenue used to buy back and burn CC tokens on-chain.
The Solana ecosystem token Creator Capital briefly surpassed a market capitalization of about $9.4 million and traded near $9 million, up more than 200% on the day.
ChainCatcher describes Creator Capital as a protocol that builds a trading market around creator accounts on X, TikTok, and Instagram, with protocol revenue used to buy back and burn CC tokens on-chain.
Chainlink announced the completion of 12 integrations across five services and ten blockchains, as reported by Foresight News.
The integration lineup includes Crypto Finance Group, Flock, LlamaRisk, Nethermind, Nillion, nxtAssets, Obligate, Radiant Prime, Re, U. K. Financial, the Wyoming Stable Token Commission and xStocks.
On Aug 24, 2026, at 01:57 AM UTC, Binance Market Data shows Bitcoin slipping below 77,000 USDT and trading at 76,996.84375 USDT.
The asset has fallen 0.23% over the past 24 hours, according to the same data feed.
According to Jin10, Hong Kong-listed nonferrous metal shares rose, led by Ganfeng Lithium (01772.HK), which climbed more than 7%. Zhaojin Mining (01818.HK) gained over 5%, while China Nonferrous Mining (01258.HK) and Tianqi Lithium (09696.HK) advanced by more than 3%.
Hedge funds have been expanding their short positions on the U.S. dollar as investors await more details on a new fiscal plan from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Bloomberg reports.
The proposal is designed to address borrowing costs that have risen to their highest levels in years.