Binance's monthly futures trading volume has surged past $1.6 trillion, hitting a new high for 2026, according to CryptoQuant analyst maartunn. The milestone comes despite bitcoin lingering around $60,000 and persistent bearish sentiment among traders. While European markets adapt to MiCA regulations and summer holidays typically slow activity, Binance's derivatives platform continues to see strong engagement. The volume spike suggests traders remain actively positioned in futures markets even as broader market outlook stays cautious.

South Korea's KOSPI index plunged more than 8%, triggering a trading halt for 20 minutes as the country's exchange activated its circuit breaker for the seventh time this year. The sell-off was led by chip giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, with SK Hynix falling over 12% and Samsung nearly 8%, according to local reports. The sharp decline in equities signals growing risk aversion in Asian markets, with potential knock-on effects for crypto trading sentiment in the region.

Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings and the Solana Foundation have announced a strategic partnership to develop Japan's first on-chain financial market. Under the deal, the Solana Foundation will take a stake in SBI R3 Japan, which will be renamed SBI Solana Global KK, with existing shareholders SBI and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group advancing a new growth strategy. The collaboration marks a significant institutional push to bring traditional finance onto blockchain rails in one of Asia's largest economies.

FTX creditor representative Sunil announced that the next round of creditor distributions is expected on July 31, with an estimated $600 million to be allocated. The record date for the distribution is set for June 16. However, creditors from 45 restricted jurisdictions, including China, Egypt, and Russia, remain excluded from participation. The news is closely watched across Asia, where a large number of FTX users are based, as it offers a partial recovery milestone in the exchange's prolonged bankruptcy proceedings.

Singapore-listed bitcoin mining company BitFuFu has sold 184 bitcoin, bringing its total holdings down to 1,671 BTC, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET. The offload comes amid a challenging period for miners as bitcoin's price hovers around $60,000 and network difficulty remains high. BitFuFu, which went public via a SPAC merger, is one of the few Asia-based crypto miners with transparency into treasury management, making its moves a barometer for regional mining sentiment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai and deliver a keynote speech, the foreign ministry announced. The event, set for July 17-20, also includes a high-level meeting on global AI governance. For the crypto sector, the conference could shed light on China's evolving stance on emerging technologies, including blockchain and digital assets, even as the country maintains strict capital controls and a ban on cryptocurrency trading.

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