9.1 AI Daily Crypto Assets Industry Changes: From Ethereum Foundation Strategic Adjustments to Global Regulatory Tightening

1. Headlines

1. The Ethereum Foundation has suspended open grant applications, focusing on long-term priorities.

The Ethereum Foundation has announced a pause on open funding applications to redesign its funding expense strategy, focusing on long-term priorities. The foundation will reduce its annual financial expenditure from 15% to 5% to ensure the sustainability of funding.

This decision aims to respond to the rapid development of the Ethereum ecosystem and the growing demand for foundation resources. The foundation stated that pausing open applications will enable it to better focus resources on supporting key projects and initiatives that are critical to the long-term development of Ethereum.

This move highlights the Ethereum Foundation's commitment to ensuring the sustainable development of the ecosystem. As Ethereum's influence in the cryptocurrency space continues to grow, the foundation needs to prudently allocate its limited resources to maximize the long-term development of the network.

Industry insiders believe that this decision reflects the Ethereum Foundation's commitment to the long-term vision of the ecosystem. By prioritizing long-term goals, the Foundation is expected to lay a solid foundation for the ongoing innovation and development of Ethereum.

2. Japan Post Bank plans to launch a digital deposit currency DCJPY in 2026.

According to reports, Japan's largest deposit institution, Japan Post Bank, plans to introduce a DCJPY-based digital deposit currency in the fiscal year 2026. This currency will be pegged to the yen at a 1:1 ratio, allowing its approximately 120 million account holders to convert their savings into tokens, primarily for the settlement of security tokens and the distribution of local government subsidies.

DCJPY is defined by regulators as a "tokenized deposit", which is different from stablecoins. It operates on a permissioned blockchain and is managed by regulated financial institutions. This initiative aims to leverage blockchain technology to improve the efficiency and transparency of financial services.

Analysts point out that the launch of DCJPY marks a significant shift as traditional financial institutions in Japan are actively embracing digital transformation. By tokenizing deposits, Japan Post Bank is expected to streamline transaction processes, reduce operational costs, and provide customers with a more convenient financial service experience.

However, some experts have expressed concerns about this. They believe that while tokenized deposits are expected to improve efficiency, they may also bring new risks, such as cybersecurity threats and regulatory challenges. Therefore, Japan Post Bank needs to take appropriate risk management measures to ensure the security and compliance of DCJPY.

Overall, the launch of DCJPY reflects that the Japanese financial industry is actively exploring the application of blockchain technology to improve service quality and efficiency. However, it is also necessary to weigh the risks and benefits to ensure the orderly development of new technologies.

3. The municipal governments of various cities in Sweden have frozen a ransom of 1.5 Bitcoin due to a cyber attack.

According to reports, municipal governments in Sweden were forced to freeze 1.5 Bitcoin (, approximately $170,000 ), as ransom due to a cyber attack targeting the IT system provider Miljödata. Hackers demanded a ransom in exchange for not disclosing sensitive information.

The attack was discovered on Saturday, but efforts to assess the impact were hindered because the affected computers were heavily encrypted. 80% of Sweden's cities rely on Miljödata, and it is expected that a total of 200 municipal and regional services will be unavailable, including educational institutions and some private organizations.

The incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. Sweden's Minister of Civil Defense, Carl Oscar Bolin, emphasized the significance of cybersecurity and suggested that new cybersecurity legislation will be developed to enhance the security requirements for various organizations.

Analysts point out that while paying the ransom may be a stopgap measure to address the immediate crisis, strengthening cybersecurity is the fundamental solution in the long run. Cyberattacks can lead to economic losses and may also endanger public safety and the functioning of society.

Therefore, governments and enterprises need to invest more resources to improve cybersecurity levels, including strengthening employee training, upgrading systems, and adopting advanced security technologies. At the same time, there is a need to enhance cross-border cooperation to combat cybercriminals.

Overall, this incident serves as a wake-up call, reminding all sectors to pay attention to cybersecurity risks and to take practical and effective measures to protect critical systems and maintain the stable operation of society.

4. Will launch World Liberty Financial, set seed tags

According to the official announcement, World Liberty Financial(WLFI) will be launched on September 1 and spot trading will be opened, with seed tags applicable to WLFI.

WLFI is a cryptocurrency supported by the Trump family, and its launch has sparked widespread attention and intense controversy. Supporters believe that the involvement of the Trump family will bring greater recognition and influence to WLFI. However, critics are concerned that WLFI may become a political tool, undermining the decentralized spirit of cryptocurrency.

The total supply of WLFI is 80 billion tokens, with an initial circulation of only 5%. This setup aims to create scarcity, but it may also intensify price fluctuations. Analysts point out that the success of WLFI will depend on its actual use cases and community support.

Setting seed tags for WLFI means that the platform will implement stricter regulations on it. This move is aimed at protecting investors' interests, but it may also limit the development space for WLFI.

Overall, the launch of WLFI has once again sparked discussions in the cryptocurrency field about decentralization, regulation, and political influence. Its future development will be closely monitored by various stakeholders both inside and outside the industry.

5. Ethereum developers propose the ERC-8004 standard to promote the development of the AI agent economy.

Ethereum core developer David Klapis recently proposed the ERC-8004 standard draft, aimed at establishing a unified interface for AI agents to discover each other on the chain, verify identities, and conduct transactions. This proposal has even received co-signature support from core staff of Google's Agent2Agent protocol.

Developers predict that in the next 3-5 years, most of the traffic on Ethereum will come from machines, and AI agents will become the core user group of the network. To this end, they believe it is necessary to establish unified standards to ensure that AI agents can interact efficiently and securely with each other.

Supporters say that Ethereum's payment channels, digital identity tools, and scalable multi-layer architecture make it the most efficient infrastructure for an AI-driven economy. Through ERC-8004, Ethereum will further enhance its competitiveness in the AI field.

But there are also concerns about this. They believe that the AI agency economy may bring new security and privacy risks, requiring strict regulatory measures. At the same time, the widespread application of AI agents may also impact human employment.

Overall, the introduction of the ERC-8004 standard reflects that the Ethereum ecosystem is actively embracing AI technology, preparing for the future AI economy. However, while promoting development, it is also necessary to weigh the risks and ensure the healthy and orderly development of new technologies.

2. Industry News

1. Will Bitcoin drop below $100,000 in September? XRP is gearing up to challenge the key resistance at $3.

The total market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market remains at $3.78 trillion, despite a daily trading volume plunge of 26.71%. Bitcoin is currently priced at $108,876, Ethereum holds steady at $4,369, and XRP is trading around $2.81. Technical analysis shows that the three major cryptocurrencies are facing critical resistance tests, and September may trigger a breakout or a deep correction.

Bitcoin faces important support pressure around $107,000. Analysts point out that if this level is lost, Bitcoin may further test the range of $106,000-107,000. However, if it stabilizes and rebounds, it needs to regain the 30-day moving average at $108,700 to repair the short-term trend. The trading volume has significantly increased during the decline, indicating heavy selling pressure from bears.

On the Ethereum side, the resistance level at $4,865 is key. Breaking through this level will open up upward space towards $5,100. However, if the trendline support at $4,265 is lost, there may be a risk of a pullback. Institutions such as JPMorgan and BlackRock are positioning themselves for Ethereum staking, and the adoption by Wall Street will become a key catalyst.

XRP has recently entered a consolidation phase below $3. Technical analysis shows that although it fell below the $3 support level on August 28, the price remains above the key trend line. Analysts point out that XRP is building the foundation for a new round of upward movement. The weekly chart indicates that the lower support of the important "white area" is intact, and breaking above $3.5 will open the long-term upward channel toward $7, $11, or even $27.

2. Can PYTH continue to rise after a 100% surge? A comprehensive analysis of bullish reasons and key risks for 2025-2026.

Last week, the spotlight in the crypto market undoubtedly fell on Pyth Network (PYTH). The U.S. government announced it would put economic data on the blockchain and chose PYTH as the infrastructure for deployment. As soon as the news broke, the price of PYTH surged over 100% during trading, reaching an all-time high, with trading volume and derivatives market activity both skyrocketing.

Analysts believe that PYTH still has further upside potential in 2025-2026. First, as the official data on-chain infrastructure, PYTH will receive strong support from governments and institutions, and is expected to become an industry standard. Second, PYTH's decentralized oracle mechanism ensures the reliability and transparency of data, meeting regulatory requirements. In addition, the PYTH ecosystem is rapidly developing, with applications in DeFi, derivatives, etc., expected to drive token demand.

However, PYTH also faces some risks. Firstly, there is the risk of increased competition, as other oracle projects may eat into its market share. Secondly, there is regulatory risk, as policy changes may affect the development of PYTH. Furthermore, technology risk cannot be ignored, as any major vulnerabilities or hacking attacks could shake market confidence.

Overall, PYTH has long-term upward potential relying on government support and technological advantages. However, investors should also be aware of potential risks and view price fluctuations rationally.

3. Trump's family crypto project World Liberty Financial is embroiled in a $750 million circular trading controversy!

The cryptocurrency World Liberty Financial (WLFI) issued by the Trump family was launched on mainstream exchanges on September 1, but it soon fell into controversy. Analysts pointed out that the circulating market value of WLFI is between 20 billion and 55 billion dollars, but its initial circulation is only 5%, posing a serious risk of deflation.

Furthermore, analysis indicates that the WLFI team conducted circular trading operations worth up to $750 million within 24 hours before the launch, artificially driving up the token price. This practice has been described as a typical "pre-sale hype" behavior, which severely harms the interests of investors.

The WLFI team has not commented on this. However, industry insiders have indicated that as a political token, WLFI itself is subject to significant controversy and disagreement. The direct involvement of the Trump family makes it a political narrative coin, attracting strong support and sharp criticism.

Analysts generally believe that the high speculation and political color of WLFI will bring significant price volatility risks. Investors need to be highly vigilant and rationally assess its long-term value. Meanwhile, regulatory authorities need to strengthen supervision and maintain market order.

Overall, the launch of WLFI has brought new vitality to the cryptocurrency market, but it has also sparked numerous controversies and doubts. Investors need to remain highly cautious, and market regulation should keep pace with the times.

3. Project News

1. The Solana Alpenglow proposal has been approved, reducing the final block confirmation time to 150 milliseconds.

The Alpenglow proposal (SIMD-0326) on the Solana network has been officially passed through community voting. The core achievement of this upgrade is to reduce the network's deterministic block finalization time from the original approximately 12.8 seconds to a target range of 100-150 milliseconds.

Alpenglow is essentially not just a simple parameter adjustment and optimization, but a reshaping of the consensus layer of the Solana network. Its impact goes far beyond just performance improvements; more importantly, it may bring about comprehensive changes to the Solana consensus mechanism, economic model, and future development direction. In short, the far-reaching effects of this transformation will radiate throughout the entire ecosystem.

Analysts believe that sub-millisecond finality will significantly enhance the composability of Solana, paving the way for the construction of complex decentralized finance applications. At the same time, the new economic model will also drive a more diversified ecosystem, attracting more innovative projects to enter. However, due to the substantial nature of the changes, the network may face some uncertainties in the short term, which requires close attention.

2. The Sui ecosystem continues to expand, with Grayscale Trust and USDC launching.

The Sui ecosystem continues to expand, with Grayscale Trust and USDC successively launching on the Sui mainnet. Grayscale Trust is the first institutional-level trust product launched on Sui, marking Sui's entry into the global institutional financial system. At the same time, the launch of USDC also brings a native stablecoin to Sui, helping to attract more DeFi applications.

As an emerging public chain that adopts the Move language, Sui has attracted significant attention since its release. Its innovative parallel execution engine and brand-new consensus mechanism are expected to break through the performance bottleneck of existing public chains. The recent addition of Grayscale Trust and USDC undoubtedly further strengthens Sui's capabilities.

Industry analysts indicate that Sui is moving towards becoming a true "application chain". The support of institutional-level trust products and stablecoins has laid the foundation for Sui to attract traditional financial institutions and DeFi applications. In the future, Sui will need to continue to make efforts in ecological construction and application expansion to demonstrate its unique value.

3. IoTeX token IOTX has been included in CF Benchmarks, which is expected to drive institutional demand.

The IoTeX ecosystem token IOTX was officially included in CF Benchmarks on September 1, marking IOTX's entry into the global institutional financial system, with the potential for ETF and derivatives development, and is expected to further enhance market liquidity and global recognition.

Since 2017, IoTeX has been committed to bringing trustworthy, real-time physical world data into AI systems and applications. It currently supports over 100 projects and more than 40 million devices, covering fields such as transportation, robotics, energy, and health. With partnerships with Google, Samsung, IEEE, ARM, and others, IoTeX is leading a trillion-dollar scale AI + data economy.

Analysts believe that IOTX's inclusion in CF Benchmarks is an important milestone in the development of the IoTeX ecosystem. In the future, IOTX is expected to become the preferred tool for institutional investors to invest in AI + data economy. At the same time, as a highly decentralized digital asset, IOTX will also provide traditional financial institutions with a completely new investment approach.

However, there are also views that whether IOTX can truly gain the favor of institutions depends on the actual implementation of its ecological applications. After all, institutional investors pay more attention to the actual value of the project and its long-term development prospects.

4. Economic Dynamics

1. The U.S. non-farm payrolls grew moderately in August, with inflation pressures continuing.

The U.S. Department of Labor's non-farm payroll data for August showed an increase of 232,000 jobs, which is lower than the expected 350,000. The unemployment rate slightly rose to 3.7%, in line with market expectations. Despite the slowdown in job growth, the overall job market remains relatively tight.

Economic Background: The US economy experienced a strong recovery momentum in the first half of this year, with GDP growth exceeding expectations. However, inflationary pressures have also intensified, with the core PCE price index rising by 4.6% year-on-year, significantly higher than the Federal Reserve's target level of 2%. To curb rising inflation, the Federal Reserve has cumulatively raised interest rates by 5 percentage points since March of last year.

Important event: Federal Reserve Chairman Powell reiterated at the annual central bank meeting in August that interest rates will continue to rise until inflation falls to around 2%. The market widely expects a 0.75 percentage point increase in September. This moderate job growth may provide the Federal Reserve with more policy space.

Market reaction: Investors' responses to the employment data show divergence. On one hand, slowing job growth suggests that the economy may be cooling down, alleviating inflationary pressures; on the other hand, the job market still appears tight, and the Federal Reserve may continue to raise interest rates significantly to suppress demand. The stock and bond markets have experienced severe volatility.

Expert Analysis: Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius stated that despite a slowdown in job growth, the labor market remains overly tight. He expects the Federal Reserve to end its rate hike cycle in November, but interest rates may remain at a high level of over 4%. JPMorgan economist Michael Feroli, on the other hand, believes that the job market is gradually cooling, and the Federal Reserve may end rate hikes within the year.

2. The European Central Bank raised interest rates by 0.75 percentage points, the largest single increase in 20 years.

The European Central Bank decided to raise interest rates by 0.75 percentage points at its monetary policy meeting in September, increasing the benchmark rate to 1.25%. This is the first rate hike since 2011 and the largest single rate increase in 20 years. This move aims to curb the persistently high inflation pressures in the Eurozone.

Economic Background: The inflation rate in the Eurozone reached 9.1% in August, far exceeding the European Central Bank's target level of 2%. Factors such as soaring energy prices, supply chain disruptions, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have all intensified inflationary pressures. At the same time, economic growth in the Eurozone is slowing, with GDP growth of only 0.6% in the second quarter.

Important event: ECB President Lagarde stated at a press conference that "decisive action" will be taken to curb inflation expectations, and hinted that significant rate hikes will continue in the coming months. She also warned that if inflation continues to rise, Europe could fall into recession.

Market reaction: The euro to US dollar exchange rate rebounded slightly after the European Central Bank raised interest rates. However, investors remain concerned about the economic outlook in Europe, leading to a decline in European stock markets. The bond yield curve has further inverted, indicating an increased risk of economic recession.

Expert Opinion: David Folkerts-Landau, Chief Eurozone Economist at Deutsche Bank, stated that the European Central Bank's interest rate hikes have exceeded expectations, demonstrating its determination to combat inflation. However, he warned that overly aggressive monetary policies could push the Eurozone economy into recession. Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, believes that the European Central Bank may raise interest rates above 2% in the future.

3. The new Prime Minister of the UK claims to launch a large-scale tax reduction plan to aid economic recovery.

In her first major speech after taking office, new British Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a large-scale tax cut plan aimed at stimulating economic growth, attracting investment, and helping families and businesses cope with the current cost of living crisis.

Economic background: The UK economy is facing the most severe inflation pressures in 40 years, with an inflation rate of 9.9% in August. At the same time, the UK economy is also slowing down, with a quarter-on-quarter GDP decline of 0.1% in the second quarter. The Bank of England has raised interest rates six consecutive times to curb inflation.

Important event: Truss promised in her speech to announce a "decisive" tax reduction plan in the coming weeks, including the cancellation of the corporate tax and national insurance contributions increased during the tenure of the late Prime Minister Johnson. She also hinted at introducing more tax reduction measures to stimulate investment and economic growth.

Market reaction: Truss's tax cut promises have caused a significant rebound in the pound's exchange rate. However, investors have expressed doubts about the feasibility of her plans, fearing that tax cuts could further increase inflationary pressures. UK bond yields have surged, reflecting a rise in market expectations for future interest rate hikes.

Expert analysis: Former Governor of the Bank of England, Kim Fowler, criticized Truss's tax cut plan as "very irresponsible," stating it will further increase inflation and put more pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates. James North, Chief UK Economist at Standard Chartered, believes that while tax cuts can help boost the economy, they need to be accompanied by spending cuts to control the fiscal deficit.

5. Regulation & Policy

1. Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences laureate warns that insufficient regulation of stablecoins may trigger government bailouts.

Background: Stablecoins have developed rapidly in recent years as a bridge between cryptocurrencies and the traditional financial system, but their regulatory policies have always been controversial. Nobel laureate Jean Tirole ( recently issued a warning regarding the regulation of stablecoins, drawing industry attention. As the 2014 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, Tirole is renowned in the fields of monetary policy and financial regulation.

Policy Content: Tether's CEO stated in an interview that he is "very, very concerned" about the regulation of stablecoins, and that if there is doubt about the underlying reserve assets tied to these digital tokens, depositors may run on them. He warned that the current "regulatory oversight of stablecoins is insufficient", and if these tokens collapse in a future financial crisis, the government may be forced to provide billions of dollars in bailouts.

Market Reaction: Stablecoin issuers and cryptocurrency exchanges have expressed concern about this. They believe that overly strict regulation could stifle innovation, but a regulatory vacuum could also bring systemic risks. Industry insiders are calling for the establishment of a clear and reasonable regulatory framework that protects investor rights while creating a favorable environment for the development of stablecoins.

Expert Analysis: Cryptocurrency analyst Nic Carter stated that there is indeed a lack of regulation concerning stablecoins, but they should not be equated with traditional banking. He believes that stablecoin issuers should follow prudent reserve management and undergo third-party audits to ensure complete transparency. At the same time, regulatory bodies need to establish practical rules rather than impose blanket restrictions.

) 2. Japan Post Bank plans to launch the digital deposit currency DCJPY

Background: As Japan's largest deposit institution, Japan Post Bank ### plans to introduce a blockchain-based digital deposit currency DCJPY. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of financial infrastructure, attract younger users, and potentially intensify competition in Japan's fintech sector. The Japanese government has made continuous progress in the regulation of stablecoins and crypto assets in recent years.

Policy Content: According to reports, Japan Post Bank is expected to allow approximately 120 million account holders to exchange their savings for DCJPY tokens starting from the fiscal year 2026. This currency will be pegged 1:1 to the yen and will mainly be used for settlement of security tokens and distribution of local government subsidies. DCJPY is defined by regulators as "tokenized deposits" and is different from stablecoins; it operates on a permissioned blockchain and is managed by regulated financial institutions.

Market Reaction: This move has sparked heated discussions among industry insiders. Supporters believe that DCJPY helps improve the efficiency of financial services, reduces costs, and provides more financial options for Japanese residents. However, some are concerned that this may exacerbate homogeneous competition in the banking sector and present new challenges for regulation.

Expert Opinion: Financial technology experts point out that DCJPY represents an important step by the Bank of Japan and regulatory authorities in the digitalization process. It not only helps in the innovative transformation of the banking industry but also lays the groundwork for the future issuance of central bank digital currency (CBDC). However, at the same time, relevant institutions need to closely monitor potential financial stability risks.

( 3. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority may implement a regulatory framework for stablecoins in October.

Background: As an international financial center, Hong Kong has been actively exploring the regulation of digital assets. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority ) recently held a meeting on the regulation of stablecoins to discuss relevant guidelines and licensing mechanisms, attracting market attention. Stablecoins are seen as a key link between cryptocurrencies and the traditional financial system, making their regulatory policies highly anticipated.

Policy Content: It is reported that the Monetary Authority held a meeting at the end of last month regarding the regulation of stablecoins, discussing five major themes, including stablecoin guidelines, licensing mechanisms, ecosystem collaboration, and the establishment of a dedicated group. The meeting focused on compliance requirements such as KYB### Know Your Business( and KYC) Know Your Customer(. Representatives from multiple institutions, including Ant Group and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, attended the meeting. The stablecoin regulatory framework is expected to be officially implemented in October this year.

Market Reaction: Industry insiders have mixed reactions. Supporters believe that a clear regulatory framework will create a favorable environment for the development of stablecoins and boost investor confidence. However, some are concerned that excessively strict regulations could stifle innovation and hinder Hong Kong's development as a fintech hub.

Expert Analysis: Financial law experts in Hong Kong state that the regulation of stablecoins needs to seek a balance between investor protection, financial stability, and innovative development. They suggest that regulation should follow the principle of "same industry, same rules" to establish uniform standards for stablecoin issuers and traditional financial institutions, creating a fair competitive environment.