WuBlockchain’s daily crypto roundup said US initial jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 22 came in at 203,000, compared with an expected 208,000. The previous reading was revised to 207,000 from 206,000.
BlackRock says fiscal risk is strengthening the case for Bitcoin as a hedge
Robbie Mitchnick, head of digital assets at BlackRock, said US debt and fiscal deficits are re-emerging as core market risks and are pushing some investors toward alternative stores of value such as Bitcoin and gold. As of Aug. 18, US federal debt had risen to about $40.05 trillion.
Mitchnick said fiscal sustainability matters more to Bitcoin’s long-term pricing than the still-advancing CLARITY Act. He added that clearer regulation has a bigger effect on other parts of crypto, including DeFi. BlackRock had previously said that rising government debt and persistent fiscal deficits could strengthen the long-term allocation case for Bitcoin as a hedge against fiat currency debasement.
ComeCome app in Dubai linked to reported security flaw after users lose crypto assets
ComeCome, a major Chinese-language food delivery app in Dubai, was reported to have a serious security flaw. Independent security analysis said version 2.9.3 of the app on the App Store embedded a malicious analytics component called DKStatistics. The code was said to attempt an iOS sandbox escape when users opened the app and then read directories tied to common crypto wallets, notes, and apps such as WhatsApp in the background.
On-chain data cited in the report said one user lost more than 50,000 USDT on Aug. 22. A hacker collection address received about 1.3 million USDT in stolen funds over four days, then converted all of it into Ether on Aug. 25 before sending the proceeds into Tornado Cash for laundering.
Kaspersky had already named ComeCome in February 2025 when it disclosed a crypto-focused information-stealing campaign known as SparkCat. Although the app was updated to version 2.9.5 on Aug. 27, it remains unclear whether the malicious component has been fully removed.
Shanghai police report cross-border underground banking case involving nearly 20 billion yuan
According to a notice from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, police in Shanghai recently cracked a major underground banking case that used virtual currency for illegal cross-border foreign exchange transfers. Authorities said 19 suspects were arrested and the amount involved was close to 20 billion yuan.
Police said the group had operated since August 2024 through a “renminbi - virtual currency - foreign currency” route. The process involved using domestic funds to buy virtual currency, selling it through overseas channels for foreign currency, and then transferring the money into accounts designated by clients while charging fees.
At present, five key suspects have been approved for arrest on suspicion of illegal business operations and assisting information network criminal activity. The case is still under further investigation.
CFTC warns that crypto ATM transfers are usually immediate and irreversible
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, urged investors to be cautious when using crypto ATMs. The agency said these machines look similar to traditional ATMs, but cash deposited by users is converted into crypto assets such as BTC and USDT and then sent to a designated wallet.
The CFTC said those transfers are usually completed immediately and cannot be reversed. It also warned that crypto ATMs can be used by scammers and money-laundering networks to conceal identities and move funds. The agency advised users to verify the recipient and the purpose of the transaction before sending money and not to transfer funds through a crypto ATM at the request of strangers or supposed investment opportunities.