Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Reaches Record High

The difficulty of bitcoin mining has hit a new all-time record, surpassing 142.3 trillion (T). This means competition among miners is at its strongest level ever, and the security of the Bitcoin network is higher than at any time in its history.

The surge in mining difficulty reflects the growing presence of large, well-funded mining companies equipped with specialized hardware and access to cheap energy.

At the same time, Bitcoin’s total hashrate — the combined computing power of all miners — continues to climb. It now exceeds 1.25 zettahashes (Zhs), crossing the 1 zettahash threshold for the first time and solidifying the zettahash as the new standard measure. (For context: “zetta” means one trillion teras — it’s three orders of magnitude above “tera,” the unit you might recognize from hard drive capacities.)

While a higher difficulty boosts network security, it also poses challenges. Smaller independent miners are finding it increasingly difficult to stay profitable amid rising operational costs. This trend could lead to greater centralization in mining — a development that runs counter to Bitcoin’s original vision of decentralization and remains a hot topic of debate within the community.

PayPal Simplifies Cryptocurrency Transfers

PayPal announced last week that it is integrating cryptocurrencies into its peer-to-peer (P2P) payment system, making it easier than ever for users to send and receive digital assets.

U.S. customers can now send bitcoin, ether, PayPal USD (PYUSD), and other cryptocurrencies not only between PayPal accounts, but also to external digital wallets worldwide. Additionally, the new PayPal Links feature allows users to create one-time payment links shareable via SMS, email, or chat — letting recipients claim money or crypto instantly.

The feature is rolling out in the United States first, with expansion to the United Kingdom and Italy expected by September.

For everyday users, this change brings both convenience and tax relief. PayPal confirmed that P2P crypto payments between individuals (such as gifts, bill splitting, or shared expenses) will be exempt from Form 1099-K reporting — a significant advantage for U.S. taxpayers.

SEC Streamlines Crypto ETF Approvals

In a major policy shift, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved new general standards for listing spot cryptocurrency ETFs, dramatically simplifying the approval process.

Previously, each ETF application required a lengthy individual review and public comment period. Under the new framework, an ETF can now be listed automatically if the underlying cryptocurrency has been trading futures on Coinbase or other approved exchanges for at least six months. These ETFs can launch directly under the 1933 Securities Act (the “33 Act”), without further SEC intervention.

This new system could cut approval times from several months down to 60–75 days.

Currently, around 15 cryptocurrencies meet the criteria — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Avalanche, Chainlink, Polkadot, and BNB.

The move signals the SEC’s intent to adapt to rapid innovation in digital assets. However, some commissioners cautioned that this change might lead to a flood of ETF products, where approval depends solely on the existence of futures trading rather than on factors like market size or liquidity.

Ethereum Targets the AI Economy

The Ethereum Foundation has announced a new research initiative called the dAI Team, led by Davide Crapis, aimed at positioning Ethereum as a core infrastructure for the AI-driven economy.

The team’s mission is to enable AI agents to:

• Make payments autonomously

• Coordinate activities among themselves

• Follow transparent on-chain rules without intermediaries

At the same time, Ethereum aims to develop a decentralized AI infrastructure to serve as an alternative to today’s centralized AI systems dominated by a few large corporations.

One of the team’s first major projects is the development of a new ERC-8004 standard, which will make AI agents traceable, verifiable, and interoperable within the Ethereum ecosystem. The standard is expected to be finalized by November and presented at Devconnect 2025 in Buenos Aires.

Golden Trump Statue Holding Bitcoin Appears in Washington

And finally, a touch of crypto-inspired surrealism. On Wednesday, a temporary 3.6-meter statue of former President Donald Trump was unveiled in front of the U.S. Capitol Building — holding a bitcoin in its hand.

The installation, which lasted from morning until afternoon, was funded by an anonymous group of cryptocurrency investors who said the project aimed to spark discussion about the impact of crypto on economics and politics, especially in light of the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts.

Organizers described the statue as

“a tribute to President Trump’s visionary leadership and commitment to bitcoin and decentralized technologies.”

They added that the work symbolizes the growing influence of digital assets and references Trump’s pro-bitcoin stanceand opposition to government-controlled digital currencies (CBDCs) or overregulation of crypto markets.

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