The EU added 14 crypto platforms to its Russia sanctions list, targeting firms based in Georgia, UAE, and elsewhere. Coinbase launched AI agent USDC payments. Robinhood eyes prediction markets with Crypto.com.
The European Union added 14 crypto service providers to its latest Russia sanctions package, a move that tightens enforcement against digital asset platforms accused of helping circumvent restrictions. The list, adopted July 23 as part of the EU's 21st sanctions package, includes Rapira, Ipori Pro, ABCeX, WhiteBird, NoOn Crypto, TradiX, Moneyz, Bitpapa, Xnode and Xnode Pay, HTX, EXMO, A7 Nigeria, A7 Africa, and Pilot Finance, according to TRM Labs. The entities are based in Georgia, Panama, the United Arab Emirates, the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.
The package also introduces a broader enforcement tool. If platforms in a specific non-EU country are deemed to be helping Russia evade sanctions, the EU can restrict virtual asset services across that entire jurisdiction. That provision shifts the approach from case-by-case actions toward penalizing entire enabling environments, raising compliance risks for offshore exchanges, brokers, and payment intermediaries that handle European flows, TRM Labs said.
The EU added 218 new sanctions designations in total, described as the largest expansion in four years. The move signals that European authorities are tightening financial choke points even as enforcement challenges persist across cross-border crypto rails.
The European action landed alongside a busy week for U.S. crypto regulation and institutional positioning. A White House official told reporter Pete Rizzo that "Bitcoin clarity" legislation under discussion could reach the Senate floor and potentially pass, expressing optimism that supporters can secure the needed votes. Lawmakers and industry participants continue pushing for clearer rules around digital asset market structure.
ETF flows showed a more cautious tone. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $240 million on July 24, according to SoSoValue data cited by Wu Blockchain. Spot Ethereum ETFs posted net outflows of $70.62 million, snapping a five-session run of net inflows. The simultaneous pullback across both products suggested some risk reduction after a period of steadier allocations.
Coinbase (COIN) introduced a feature within Coinbase Business that lets AI agents execute payments in USDC using the open payment standard "x402." Merchants can accept autonomous USDC payments, and business customers can manage settlement and conversions within the same account. Idle USDC balances can earn 3.35% rewards, according to the report. Coinbase Business, launched in June 2025, has roughly 5,000 customers and has processed about $1 billion in cumulative payments and transactions. Coinbase also added tools allowing AI agents to check open orders, market depth, and real-time prices.
In Russia, state-backed lender Sberbank said it plans to launch Bitcoin and broader crypto trading and custody services this year, according to Rizzo. The rollout could expand access for retail and institutional clients and further normalize crypto exposure inside Russia's financial system as domestic rules evolve.
Robinhood (HOOD) is in talks with Crypto.com to cooperate on a prediction markets initiative, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. Crypto.com's prediction market products could be integrated into Robinhood's platform, allowing users to participate through the app. Robinhood has previously partnered with firms tied to event-contract offerings.
Coinbase also launched Coinbase Borrow across the U.S. excluding New York, operating on Base with support from Jito and Morpho, according to a post cited by Odaily. The expansion blends centralized distribution with on-chain liquidity and lending infrastructure.
Fidelity's public policy team urged the U.S. Senate to pass the CLARITY bill, arguing that clearer rules would bolster investor confidence and provide certainty for market participants.
Capital Group's Smallcap World Fund purchased an additional 481,772 shares of Strive's ASST stock, worth about $5.52 million, bringing its total holdings to roughly 2.93 million shares valued at about $33.62 million, according to data cited by BitcoinTreasuries.net. Capital Group oversees about $3.3 trillion in assets.
Sui (SUI) launched "gas-free" stablecoin transfers built into the protocol, enabling users to send stablecoins without holding separate gas tokens. If broadly adopted, the feature could reduce friction for consumer payments and app onboarding.
Coinbase carries an Alpha Score of 29/100, labeled Weak. Robinhood scores 39/100, labeled Mixed. Sui scores 51/100, also Mixed.
The day's developments showed a market shaped by enforcement and adoption simultaneously: Europe tightening screws on sanctions enablers, Washington edging toward clearer rules, and major platforms experimenting with stablecoin automation and new product lines. ETF flows suggested investors remain sensitive to macro and regulatory signals.
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