Bitmine chairman Tom Lee said in a post on X that he will deliver a talk on the “wealth uncanny valley” at WebX 2026 today. In the same post, Lee said the ETH/BTC ratio is worth watching and described it as a signal of a recovery in crypto. The update was reported by Odaily. No other details about the speech were provided in the source text.
Lawson, the Japanese convenience store chain, will begin a JPYC payment pilot at its Tokyo Gateway City store in early August, according to FN News, as cited by ChainCatcher. The trial is being carried out with digital asset wallet provider Hashport and is designed to let shoppers pay with a smartphone wallet. FN News said the test marks Japan’s first experiment linking stablecoin payments to a point-of-sale system. By connecting the payment flow to the POS system, purchase data such as item counts and payment timing can be managed through Lawson’s existing store management system. The company plans to use the pilot to check the stability of the integration and measure the time required for real-world payments before deciding whether to roll out the system more broadly.
CryptoRank data shows that prediction markets ranked first among crypto sectors by average VC deal size in 2026, with funding rounds averaging $118 million. Trading platforms came next at an average of $76.2 million per round, followed by blockchain projects at $47.8 million and compliance-focused ventures at $29.4 million. The figures were cited by BlockBeats in a July 13 market update. The dataset compares average financing size across several crypto industry segments and places prediction markets at the top of the list for the year.
Thailand will require individuals depositing more than 5 million baht in cash, or about $150,000, to verify the source of funds, according to local media cited by ChainCatcher. The measure expands compliance duties for commercial banks across cash networks, large currency-exchange transactions, precious metals trading, and suspicious stablecoin activity. Thai authorities said the step is aimed at stopping regulated entities from facilitating systemic corruption or the shadow economy. At the same time, the Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission are carrying out joint audits with a focus on Tether’s USDT to identify and block illicit fund flows. The broader crackdown also tightens oversight of precious metals transactions, with banks required to report suspicious patterns such as rapid digital purchases followed by same-day physical withdrawals as part of anti-money laundering efforts.
South Korea’s KOSPI index briefly fell below the 7,400 mark at the open on July 13 before quickly reversing higher, according to market data cited by BlockBeats from Bitget. In the same move, SK Hynix was down 3.5%. The update points to a sharp intraday swing in the benchmark index shortly after trading began. No additional details on the broader market or the drivers behind the move were provided in the source update.
XSE Pro League Guangzhou 2026 concluded on July 12, with no sponsorship branding from cryptocurrency or blockchain companies visible at the event, according to Techub News. The Counter-Strike 2 tournament carried a $1 million prize pool, was organized by Xin Sai Esports, and featured 16 international teams. The report described it as the first top-tier CS2 ranking event in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Citing CryptoBriefing, the item said the esports sector is continuing to pull back from crypto sponsorships. It also said China’s regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies has made such partnerships difficult to execute in the region. The report did not mention any specific crypto firms that had considered sponsoring the event.
South Korea’s KOSPI index quickly rebounded and moved into positive territory after falling by more than 1% earlier, according to data cited by Odaily and sourced from Gate. The brief market update was published as a 7x24 newsflash, with no additional trading details or broader context provided in the original item. Odaily’s note only stated the intraday reversal and the earlier decline, without naming specific drivers behind the move. The source material did not include index levels, sector performance, or time-stamped market data beyond the reversal itself.
WTI crude oil climbed 3.26% on July 13 to $73.81, according to market data from Bitget. BlockBeats said the move may be tied to renewed geopolitical tension in the Middle East. The report linked the price increase to an escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has raised concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the security of global crude supply. Those worries have pushed the crude risk premium higher. The update was published as a short market analysis item and focused on the direct price move, the reported catalyst, and the supply route concerns cited in the source.
