Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrencymarket news

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (August 17) as of 12 noon UTC.

Bitcoin price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$63,261.75, up by one percent over the past 24 hours.

Chart via The Investing News Network

Bitcoin price performance, August 17, 2026.

Ether and altcoin price update

• Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$1,892.13, trading 1.3 percent higher over the last 24 hours.

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$0.996, trading flat over the past 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$75.28, trading 0.5 percent higher over the past 24 hours.

​Today’s crypto news to know

Tether completes long-promised audit with KPMG US

Tether announced it has completed its first full financial audit after years of promises and persistent market scrutiny surrounding its USDT stablecoin reserves.

Big Four accounting firm KPMG US audited Tether International’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, and issued an unqualified opinion.

The audit confirmed that Tether’s reserves exceeded its liabilities by US$6.814 billion at the end of 2025 under US GAAP standards. KPMG auditors tested Tether’s systems, transactions, valuations, counterparties, and ownership records while also physically inspecting and counting its gold bars.

The full financial audit marks a major upgrade from the quarterly reserve attestations Tether previously provided following a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office.

Concerns over the backing of USDT have long sparked debate across digital asset markets as the stablecoin’s market capitalization swelled past US$180 billion.

JPMorgan cut ties with Polymarket over regulatory concerns

JPMorgan Chase terminated its banking relationship with prediction market platform Polymarket last year October due to regulatory concerns.

The bank cut ties as prediction markets surged in popularity following the 2024 US presidential election and attracted intense scrutiny from state and federal regulators.

A Polymarket spokesperson strongly disputed suggestions of a rift, stating the company maintains close operational integrations and handles customer fund flows with JPMorgan across multiple entities.

The spokesperson highlighted that Polymarket’s CEO spoke at three flagship JPMorgan events during the past year.

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin recently accused major prediction market startups of using predatory marketing practices that target young traders. Meanwhile, New York’s attorney general sued rival prediction platform Kalshi last month for violating state gambling laws.

US OCC conditionally approves bank charter for World Liberty Financial

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) conditionally approved a national trust bank charter application for World Liberty Trust Company, a venture linked to President Donald Trump and his family.

The federal charter allows World Liberty Trust to directly issue its USD1 stablecoin, manage customer reserves, and handle nationwide asset custody under direct OCC supervision.

World Liberty previously relied on crypto firm BitGo to manage custody and issuance for its US$4 billion USD1 stablecoin, which now ranks as the fourth-largest stablecoin by market capitalization.

To satisfy regulatory conditions, the OCC required non-US investors and Trump family members, including Eric Trump, to sign passivity agreements promising not to exert operational control over the bank.

The OCC also mandated that World Liberty Trust maintain at least US$20 million in capital, hire an internal audit manager, and report any major business plan changes.

Democratic lawmakers condemned the charter approval as a severe conflict of interest for Trump-appointed Comptroller Jonathan Gould.

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Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.