Bitcoin edged down 0.4% overnight and is trading just below $64,000 following a volatile week in which the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday. SEC Chair Paul Atkins subsequently signaled that further rate hikes may be forthcoming, contributing to a mild pullback across both cryptocurrency and equity markets. The Fed's posture carries particular weight for risk assets like Bitcoin, which have historically responded to shifts in monetary policy expectations.

Despite the broader softening, Bitcoin ETF flows remained positive, marking a second consecutive day of net inflows. Total purchases across the various ETF products reached +$233 million, with over $180 million attributed to BlackRock's IBIT fund. The persistence of institutional inflows even as spot prices retreat and sentiment deteriorates highlights a divergence between ETF demand and broader retail market mood that has been a recurring pattern since the products launched in January.

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization rose approximately 0.5% from the previous day to $2.29 trillion. Daily trading volume across the crypto market stood at $59.1 billion, down modestly from $63.4 billion the day prior.

The Fear & Greed Index dropped three points to 25/100, placing it back in the "Extreme Fear" band. The persistent inability to exit this zone suggests that market participants remain uncertain about whether the bottom has been established.

Australia Launches Legal Action Against Telegram Over Terrorist Content

The action follows recent reports that Russia has sanctioned Telegram founder Pavel Durov on terrorism charges. Australia's online safety regulator has now initiated legal proceedings against the messaging platform, accusing it of breaching the country's online safety laws.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner filed a civil case in the Federal Court, alleging that Telegram violated the Online Safety Act by failing to take adequate measures against extremist content. The eSafety Commissioner has previously pursued enforcement actions against other major platforms, including X and Meta, as part of an escalating global effort to hold tech companies accountable for moderation failures. Authorities contend that Telegram did not remove terrorist material even after receiving user reports.

If found liable, Telegram could face penalties of up to AUD 54.6 million (approximately USD 35.8 million). The eSafety investigation spanned roughly one year, during which the regulator asserts that Telegram failed to remove certain illegal material even after becoming aware of it. In some cases, this content allegedly remained accessible for up to three weeks.

Authorities further claim that the platform did not take sufficient steps to prevent repeat violations, such as suspending the accounts, channels, and groups responsible for distributing terrorist content.

Additionally, eSafety alleges that Telegram failed to promptly detect and remove previously identified extremist videos, including footage from the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks and the 2022 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. The Christchurch footage in particular prompted worldwide pressure on platforms to overhaul their content removal protocols after being livestreamed and shared extensively across multiple services.

As of publication, Telegram had not issued an official statement regarding the lawsuit. However, the company's official X account posted a video with the caption "Freedom of expression."

AUSTRALIA SUES TELEGRAM OVER TERRORIST VIDEOS! Australia's eSafety Commissioner has launched Federal Court proceedings against Telegram, alleging it left videos of terrorist executions and mass shootings, including Christchurch and Buffalo, online for as long as three weeks… pic.twitter.com/jfi7dZMfp3 — Crypto Banter (@crypto_banter) July 30, 2026

Binance.US Seeks CFTC Approval for Derivatives and Prediction Markets

Binance.US is preparing to seek federal approval to offer prediction markets as part of a broader push to diversify beyond spot cryptocurrency trading. The move positions the exchange within a rapidly expanding sector that has drawn interest from major brokers and crypto platforms, even as state regulators intensify their scrutiny.

Stephen Gregory, Chief Executive of Binance.US, stated that the company plans to apply in August for designation as a contract market with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). If granted, this designation would allow the exchange to list regulated futures, options, and event contracts for retail customers in the United States.

The application aligns with the strategy Gregory outlined earlier in July, which centers on pursuing derivatives, perpetual futures, and prediction markets. Binance.US is seeking new revenue streams as it works to recover from regulatory challenges that significantly reduced its footprint in the U.S. market. Those challenges culminated in the November 2023 settlement in which Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering and U.S. sanctions violations, resulting in over $4 billion in penalties and Zhao's resignation as CEO.

Gregory indicated that the exchange aims to reclaim its former market share, which stood at approximately 20% of the American crypto market. The company has since restored dollar banking services across most of the states in which it operates and is implementing lower fees and improved liquidity to attract returning customers.

A CFTC license would place Binance.US in direct competition with platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket US. Earlier this year, Gemini secured its own federal market license, while Coinbase currently offers event contracts through a partnership with Kalshi. The prediction market sector has grown sharply in 2024, with event contracts tied to elections and sports drawing record volume, though the CFTC has simultaneously moved to tighten its oversight of certain event contracts.

Just In: Binance US Plans to Apply for CFTC DCM Status to Offer Prediction Markets — Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that Binance US plans to apply to the CFTC in August for designated contract market status, with the goal of offering prediction markets to customers. pic.twitter.com/I44g1A0eLH — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 29, 2026