Geopolitics Hits Crypto: US-Iran escalation is driving a fresh risk-off mood, with Bitcoin sliding and large liquidations reported after strikes tied to Iranian infrastructure. Regulation Clock Ticking: The GENIUS Act’s stablecoin rulemaking missed its July 18 deadline, leaving key reserve and compliance details unfinished for payment-stablecoin issuers. ETF Momentum: Bitcoin ETF inflows hit a record $2.1B, reinforcing the “institutional confidence” narrative as markets price in possible rate cuts. Market Microstructure: Bitcoin’s rebound is running into a dense short-term holder supply band around $62K–$65K, with $66K framed as the near-term trigger level. Security Scare: Ostium confirmed a July 15 exploit that drained $23.75M USDC after compromised off-chain pricing let false trades clear. Mainstream Adoption: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong doubled down on self-custody as the path to global scale, while a Florida gubernatorial candidate became the first in the 2026 race to accept crypto donations. Scam Watch: A Florida student was arrested over malware-infected Steam games that allegedly stole crypto wallet details from thousands of victims. Sports Meets Crypto: FIFA’s 2026 World Cup is fueling crypto engagement via collectibles, memecoins, and prediction markets, with Kraken pushing the sponsorship push.