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According to three informed sources, in mid-May, when U.S. negotiators attempted to reach an agreement to end the war with Iran, they encountered a problem: they could not determine whether the Iranian representatives across the negotiating table truly represented the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which holds significant influence in the country. The report stated that, as a result, officials from the Trump administration took an unusual approach—bypassing the Iranian negotiating representatives and directly contacting senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.The U.S. chose Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to handle this secret communication channel. He possesses a rare advantage: he has gained the trust of both the U.S. and the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This incident highlights that one of the significant reasons for the difficulties in U.S.-Iran negotiations is Washington's inability to determine who truly holds decision-making power in Iran. The U.S. and Iran did eventually reach a memorandum of understanding, but it quickly fell apart.

Ethereum developer Toni Wahrstätter posted on the X platform that Ethereum core developers are planning the next annual upgrade "Hegotá," with 66 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) currently on the candidate list. Future core developer meetings will screen these proposals to finalize the upgrade content that can be implemented, tested on the development network, deployed on the test network, and has the potential to go live in 2027. Proposals that do not make it into Hegotá will be postponed until the next hard fork, making the current screening process significantly impactful for Ethereum's future development direction.Currently, FOCIL (Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists) has been identified as one of the important upgrade contents for Hegotá. Developers believe that combining framework transactions (EIP-8141), keying Nonce (EIP-8250), and root references (EIP-8272) will help build native privacy capabilities, allowing privacy applications to operate without relying on third-party intermediaries. Additionally, enhancing scalability is also a crucial direction for Hegotá. Developers propose that it is necessary to prepare for a future increase in the Gas limit to 600 million by repricing data resources (EIP-8131, EIP-8279) and state growth costs (EIP-8368). Although these improvements are not as intuitive as privacy features, they are considered key work to promote Ethereum's scalability in the short term.Other candidate upgrades include shorter block times (EIP-8198), adjustments to the issuance mechanism (EIP-8363), anti-correlation penalty mechanisms (EIP-7716), EVM optimization and simplification, as well as discussions on the first EIPs related to zkEVM and quantum-resistant cryptography. It is reported that Hegotá cannot incorporate all the features the community expects, and the core team needs to make trade-offs between "future vision" and "near-term deliverable upgrades," with most candidate EIPs likely not making it into this upgrade. Currently, it has been 256 days since the launch of the current Glamsterdam upgrade, with the goal of completing deployment by the end of this year. Hegotá is planned to go live in 2027, and in the coming months, core developers and the community will discuss the priorities of various EIPs. Community opinions will still play a role in the screening process, and participants who support or oppose a certain EIP entering Hegotá can present their views to the core development team through public discussions.

As the deadline for the United States to impose tariffs on Canada approaches, the U.S.-Canada tariff negotiations have stalled due to core interest differences.U.S. President Trump has signed a notice to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian imports starting August 19.

HTX global advisor Sun Yuchen tweeted, "I have communicated with Binance, which only involves Binance users in the UK and EU. HTX itself does not operate in the UK and EU. We are also in ongoing settlement negotiations with UK and EU regulatory authorities. If any users are affected by this settlement negotiation, they can always reach out to HTX customer service, and we will coordinate a solution."

According to Catcher Predict monitoring, in the Polymarket prediction market for the event "San Diego Padres vs. Cleveland Guardians," the "San Diego Padres" option in the sub-market "Spread -1.5" experienced a sharp fluctuation in winning probability, dropping from 68% an hour ago to the current 52% (a fluctuation of 16%). Please note the impact of relevant breaking news.

According to a Reuters report on August 13, court documents show that the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is in settlement negotiations with Huobi HTX regarding related allegations. The FCA filed a lawsuit against Huobi HTX in October 2025, and in March of this year, both parties began a three-month settlement negotiation, which was extended again on June 25; the High Court of London has suspended the litigation process, giving both parties two months until the end of August to reach a settlement.A spokesperson for Huobi HTX stated that the platform is committed to maintaining high standards of compliance, transparency, and user protection, and will continue to collaborate with regulators to support the sustainable development of the crypto ecosystem.

According to monitoring by Catcher Predict, in the Polymarket prediction market event "Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres," the "Milwaukee Brewers" option in the sub-market "Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres" has experienced significant fluctuations in winning probability, soaring from 51.5% an hour ago to the current 70.5% (a fluctuation of 19%). Please note the impact of related breaking news.

Supported by the uncertainty of the reopening prospects of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, both WTI and Brent crude oil prices continued to rise in the U.S. trading session. Iran reiterated several conditions before agreeing to fully reopen the strait. According to Al Jazeera, the conditions proposed by the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Zolghadr, include: ending the U.S. maritime blockade and the withdrawal of the U.S. Navy and Air Force from around Iran.Tehran also demanded compensation for damages caused by recent conflicts, the lifting of sanctions, and the unconditional unfreezing of Iranian assets. These demands currently reduce the likelihood of a swift return to normal shipping and help maintain the risk premium in WTI prices. Meanwhile, negotiations with Oman to establish a secure shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz seem to be making progress.However, due to the failure to reach an agreement on full reopening, investors remain cautious about the risks of long-term disruptions to oil supply. Regional tensions are not limited to the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Saudi Aramco's refinery in Saudi Arabia. The latest attacks on major energy infrastructure have heightened market concerns about the security of regional oil supplies.

According to exclusive reports from CTech (Calcalist), Israeli AI startup Decart is in deep negotiations with an international tech giant for a sale, with a valuation of about $6 to $7 billion, and the deal could be signed next week. Founded in 2023, Decart focuses on the development of real-time video generation AI models, employing around 100 people, and has raised approximately $450 million to date. The company just completed a $300 million funding round in May, with a valuation of $4 billion. Initial negotiations were with NVIDIA, and as they were nearing an agreement, another giant intervened, prompting the founder to shift focus to the new buyer. Industry speculation suggests the new buyer could be SpaceX, but Amazon and Nebius are also reportedly interested in participating.Decart's technological advantage lies in its ability to generate videos at a cost far lower than its competitors. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has maintained regular contact with co-founder Dean Leitersdorf since experiencing the game Oasis developed based on Decart's technology in 2024. Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire (who organized Musk's post-war trip to Israel) has been investing in the company since the seed round. If the buyer is SpaceX, it will establish its first R&D center in Israel. Previously, SpaceX had acquired AI programming startup Cursor for $60 billion after its IPO, and acquiring Decart would further strengthen its position in the AI infrastructure sector.

According to monitoring by Catcher Predict, in the prediction market Polymarket for the event "Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres," the option "San Diego Padres" in the sub-market "Spread -1.5" experienced a sharp fluctuation in winning probability, dropping from 36.5% an hour ago to the current 18.5% (a fluctuation of 18%). Please note the impact of relevant breaking news.

The U.S. Senate has postponed the vote on the CLARITY Act until after the summer recess, increasing uncertainty about the bill's passage in the short term.The CLARITY Act had previously received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and aims to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets, clarify the responsibilities of different regulatory agencies, and promote the further integration of crypto assets into the U.S. financial system.North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis stated that with the vote postponed until September, the probability of the bill's final passage "may have decreased by 50%." Wyoming Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, who is responsible for pushing the negotiations, indicated that discussions have been ongoing for nearly 11 months, the bill text has increased by about 300 pages, and it has responded to numerous amendment requests from Democrats, and it should now enter the voting phase.Currently, Democrats still oppose the existing version, with the main disagreement centered on the restrictions on government officials' interests in crypto assets. Democrats believe that the current version does not adequately limit federal officials' investments and promotion of crypto assets, nor does it require relevant personnel to fully divest from related holdings, while also seeking to grant state attorneys general stronger enforcement powers.Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers had previously pushed for the inclusion of stricter ethical oversight provisions, but negotiations are still ongoing. Democrats are particularly concerned about the connections between Trump and his family with crypto projects like World Liberty Financial.Previously, the crypto industry hoped the Senate could advance procedural voting before the summer recess to adjust political investments during the 2026 midterm elections based on legislative progress. Data shows that the crypto industry's main political action committee, Fairshake, held nearly $200 million in cash reserves at the beginning of this cycle.

According to Bloomberg, to advance the landmark cryptocurrency legislation "Clarity Act," bipartisan senators have proposed an ethical provision to Trump that may include a clause allowing the president to defer capital gains tax on his cryptocurrency assets. The proposal requires the president to divest from cryptocurrency-related businesses, and the relevant terms are still being negotiated between the White House and lawmakers. In June 2025, Trump reported that his family's cryptocurrency business generated over $1.4 billion in revenue, indicating that most of his income has come from digital assets benefiting from his own policies. Democratic senators have made strong ethical provisions a condition for supporting the bill, which aims to clarify the regulatory authority over the cryptocurrency industry.

According to monitoring by Catcher Predict, in the event "San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks" on the prediction market Polymarket, the "San Diego Padres" option in the sub-market "San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks" has experienced a dramatic fluctuation in winning probability, soaring from 50.5% an hour ago to the current 76.5% (a fluctuation of 26%). Please note the impact of related breaking news.

According to the American media MS NOW, two Middle Eastern diplomats familiar with the negotiations stated that Oman has agreed to reach a framework agreement with Iran to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian government official said that the agreement will establish a new shipping route by allowing commercial vessels to enter the Persian Gulf via Iranian-controlled routes and exit via Omani-controlled routes. The agreement does not include charging tolls for commercial vessels seeking safe passage through the waterway. This proposal is a "temporary agreement" that will lay the groundwork for Washington and Tehran to announce a new ceasefire and restart nuclear negotiations.According to Iranian officials, the United Nations International Maritime Organization and the United States will participate in the formal announcement of the agreement. A government official from a Gulf country stated that the arrangement has been recognized by the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Officials have not disclosed when the agreement will be announced. However, whether the United States will support the management agreement for the strait will depend on the final details. An American official stated that Washington only supports a temporary agreement to reopen the strait on the premise of no tolls and unobstructed passage.

Punchbowl News reporters posted on the X platform that negotiations in the U.S. Senate regarding the CLARITY Act are affecting the legislative process before the recess. The Democratic leadership continues to push for a delay in the procedural vote on the cryptocurrency regulation bill, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer hopes to gain more time for further negotiations.Meanwhile, Republicans are calling for a swift move to a vote. Both sides are still coordinating on the content of the bill and related provisions, and there remains uncertainty about whether the CLARITY Act will enter the voting stage before the Senate recess.

According to The Information, OpenAI has acquired some patent assets from the AI chip startup Rain AI, after the two parties previously negotiated the acquisition but ultimately failed to complete the deal.Rain AI is a startup focused on the development of AI chips, founded about 8 years ago, with investors including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Reports indicate that due to the failure of the acquisition plan, Rain AI has nearly ceased operations recently, and most employees have left the company.This patent acquisition shows that although some companies personally invested in by Altman may have commercial collaborations with OpenAI, this does not mean that all invested enterprises will receive direct support from OpenAI.Rain AI was previously dedicated to developing specialized chips for artificial intelligence computing, hoping to reduce the operating costs of AI models through customized hardware and enhance edge computing capabilities. As competition in AI infrastructure intensifies, chips, computing power, and energy have become core strategic resources for large AI companies.Industry insiders believe that OpenAI's acquisition of Rain AI's related patents may be aimed at absorbing its technological assets and strengthening its layout in the field of AI hardware and computing infrastructure.

According to Catcher Predict monitoring, in the Polymarket event "San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks," the "Over" option in the sub-market "O/U 9.5" has experienced a dramatic fluctuation in winning probability, soaring from 30.5% an hour ago to the current 86% (a fluctuation of 55.5%). Please note the impact of related breaking news.

According to Jinshi, U.S. Vice President Vance stated that the negotiation process with Iran will be "full of twists and turns and time-consuming," and pointed out that Iran is "extremely difficult to deal with." He emphasized that although the process will be chaotic and take time, oil prices will decline and remain low, Iran will never be able to possess nuclear weapons, and the United States will be in a more advantageous position. Vance mentioned that they are currently in a game of strategy.

According to Jinshi reports, the situation in the Middle East remains tense, with the Houthi armed group once again claiming to have attacked Saudi oil tankers, bringing the total number of Saudi oil tankers forced to retreat in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to 29.Regarding US-Iran negotiations, Trump stated that an agreement will be revealed within 48 hours, with a 50% likelihood. Additionally, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that it is close to reaching an agreement with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz, but the new route is expected to be usable for only 2 to 4 months.