Japanese payment provider Netstars said it signed an MOU with the Kaia DLT Foundation to support stablecoin adoption for in store payments in Japan. The plan links Kaia stablecoins with Netstars' StarPay and Stablecoin Pay, targeting use of tokens pegged to the Korean won, Hong Kong dollar, New Taiwan dollar, and Southeast Asian currencies at Japanese retailers.

Sam Bankman Fried has petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn his fraud conviction and 25 year prison sentence, arguing trial evidence was mishandled. He also challenged an $11 billion forfeiture order described as the largest crypto related asset seizure in US history.

Pumpfun's mobile app has been blocked from download on the Apple App Store in the US and India, limiting new iOS installs in two major mobile markets. The existing iOS version continues to work, and the app remains available on Google Play Store, according to the platform's update.

The CFTC approved Kalshi's Bitcoin perpetual contract as a futures product, raising questions about how U.S. traders should report gains to the IRS. Section 1256 could apply if it qualifies as a regulated futures contract, but CME says perpetuals are swaps excluded from Section 1256. The CFTC view does not bind the IRS, leaving treatment unresolved.

ChainCatcher reports that, based on GMGN market data, EMBER—the platform token of Solana's Ember Curve—has pushed its market capitalization above $40 million. The token climbed 170% over the past 40 minutes and is up 730% in the last 24 hours, with 24-hour trading volume reaching $29.6 million. Ember Curve is a newly launched token issuance platform on Solana built on Meteora. Noted trader Bonk Guy said he bought EMBER—his first Solana ecosystem token purchase in a long time—describing Ember Curve as one of the strongest fundamentally backed token launch platforms currently available, citing Meteora's resources and endorsements. Bonk Guy also forecast that EMBER's market cap could exceed $100 million. On-chain data shows Bonk Guy's public address holds about $1.16 million worth of EMBER, with unrealized gains of 180%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to publish the August 2026 Consumer Price Index on Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Wall Street expects another step down in inflation, a pattern the Federal Reserve has been looking for as it weighs its next policy move. FactSet consensus calls for headline CPI to rise 3.3% year over year, easing from 3.4% in July and extending the decline from the 4.2% peak recorded in May. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, is projected at 2.4% YoY and 0.2% month over month. If realized, the core rate would cool from July's 2.5% and move closer to the Fed's 2% goal. Monthly momentum looks less comforting. Economists see a 0.4% increase for August versus 0.1% in July, with gasoline prices the main driver after providing relief the prior month. July's report was dominated by shelter costs, which accounted for roughly two-thirds of the overall increase, while lower energy prices helped keep the monthly figure subdued. August is shaping up as a partial reversal: energy rebounding even as the broader disinflation trend persists. The recent path underscores that trend. Headline CPI peaked at 4.2% in May, fell to 3.5% in June, eased to 3.4% in July, and is now expected at 3.3%. Timing may matter as much as the print. The release arrives five days before the Fed's Sept. 16 policy meeting. A 3.3% headline reading would support a hold in rates and could encourage officials to signal a more dovish tilt into year-end. Core CPI at 2.4% would be especially consequential given its proximity to target. A result at or below consensus would likely weaken the argument for further tightening, while an upside surprise could revive uncertainty heading into the meeting. Crypto and other risk assets have become increasingly sensitive to macro data over the past year, and CPI is a key catalyst. A cooler-than-expected report would likely bolster risk-on positioning in digital assets by easing inflation expectations, potentially pressuring the dollar and lowering the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets such as Bitcoin. The forecast 0.4% monthly gain adds complexity: a hotter-than-expected monthly number could rattle risk markets even if the year-over-year trend remains constructive. Shifts in Fed expectations also matter for stablecoin yields and DeFi lending rates. If markets price in a less restrictive stance, spreads that have made on-chain fixed income attractive versus traditional money markets could narrow. Investors will also be watching shelter closely. Housing-related costs have been among the stickiest components for more than two years, and their outsized impact in July points to uneven progress. On Sept. 11, the focus won't be limited to whether headline CPI matches the 3.3% forecast; the composition of inflation—the mix of shelter, energy and services—will shape whether policymakers feel confident acting on Sept. 16.

BlockBeats reports that U.S. August CPI data is due in about an hour on Sept. 11, a release that could shape expectations for whether the Federal Reserve moves with its first rate increase in more than three years. CME FedWatch data shows markets pricing a 30.6% chance the Fed holds rates steady at this month's meeting, versus a 69.4% probability of a 25-basis-point hike. The next Fed policy decision is scheduled for Sept. 16 (2:00 a.m. Beijing time on Sept. 17). The U.S. Department of Labor will publish August CPI at 8:30 p.m. Beijing time tonight. Consensus forecasts call for headline CPI to rise 0.4% month over month and 3.4% year over year, while core CPI is expected to increase 0.2% month over month and 2.4% year over year. The figures are widely viewed as a key input for next week's Fed decision on whether to begin tightening for the first time in more than three years. The Fed's most recent rate hike was on July 26, 2023, when it raised the federal funds target range by 25 basis points to 5.25%–5.50%. Traders are especially focused on the month-over-month core CPI print. Analysts suggest a 0.2% gain could support a hold, while a 0.4% reading may materially tilt expectations toward a hike. A 0.3% result would likely shift attention to unrounded details and key components including housing, services, and core goods.

Markets are bracing for today's U.S. CPI release, which could set the tone for the next leg in risk assets. Bitcoin is trading below the $80,000 mark, and U.S. equities head into the print on the back foot as Treasury yields and oil prices climb. A softer inflation reading could revive expectations for Fed rate cuts, pulling yields lower and lifting Bitcoin and growth stocks. A hotter result risks pushing yields and the dollar higher, forcing traders to reduce risk. With the Federal Reserve meeting next week, the inflation print is viewed as especially consequential and could trigger an immediate reaction. Why August CPI Matters More Than Usual The August CPI report is the final inflation update Fed officials will see before the September 15'16 policy meeting, giving the data added policy weight. Consensus expects headline CPI to rise 0.4% from July, keeping year-over-year inflation at 3.4%. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, is seen up 0.2% month over month, easing the annual core rate to 2.4% from 2.5% in July. The headline forecast marks a sharp shift from July, when gasoline helped keep monthly inflation at 0.1%. Gas prices rose in August, with the average U.S. pump price increasing to about $4.19 a gallon from $4.06 in July. Investors will be watching whether energy pressure stays isolated or begins to spread more broadly across the inflation basket. Oil Prices Raise the Stakes for the Fed Energy has become the clearest upside risk heading into the release. Brent crude has recently moved above $100 a barrel following fresh geopolitical disruption, raising the risk of a stronger headline CPI print and, if sustained, higher transportation and consumer costs. Thursday's producer-price data added to the caution: U.S. PPI rose 0.4% in August, and the annual rate accelerated to 5.4%. For the Fed, core inflation is likely to matter more than an energy-driven headline surprise. A tame core print would support the view that the oil shock is temporary; a firmer core reading would undermine that argument. Three CPI Scenarios That Could Shape Today's Tape Cooler than expected: A headline reading below 3.4% or, more importantly, core CPI below 0.2% m/m could ease persistence concerns. That would likely pressure Treasury yields and support Bitcoin and growth stocks. In line: A 3.4% headline and 0.2% core print would keep the policy debate broadly unchanged. Markets may swing on the details before refocusing on the September Fed decision. Hotter than expected: Core CPI above 0.2% m/m is the clearest downside risk for BTC and equities. A hotter print could lift yields, strengthen the dollar, and increase expectations for a more restrictive Fed stance, especially if both headline and core surprise to the upside. Bitcoin Awaits the CPI Verdict Bitcoin is near $77,500 after failing to regain $80,000. Traders have largely stayed cautious ahead of the inflation data and the Fed meeting that follows. BTC recently rebounded from the mid-$60,000s back into the $80,000's'$84,000 resistance area, but the rally has stalled. $80,000 remains the first key hurdle. A sustained break above it would bring $82,000'$84,000 into view, where a stronger breakout would be needed to confirm the broader recovery. On the downside, BTC needs to hold the $76,000'$75,000 zone to preserve its current structure. A decisive break below could open the door to $72,800'$73,000. U.S. Stocks Face Their Own Inflation Sensitivity The CPI report follows a weak session on Wall Street. On Thursday, the S&P 500 fell 0.6%, the Nasdaq lost 0.7%, and the Dow declined 0.6%. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to about 4.95%. Higher yields raise the discount rate applied to future earnings, making rich valuations harder to justify. What to Watch Next With Bitcoin below $80K, the Nasdaq under pressure, and Treasury yields near 5%, the market is primed for an outsized reaction to any inflation surprise. A softer core print could give BTC another run at $80K and support equities via lower yields. A hotter reading would challenge the recent risk-on rebound and reinforce the higher-for-longer trade.

Blockstream says it will not pay a ransom to recover roughly 598.5 BTC that remains unreturned following the Liquid Network incident, according to CoinDesk. The company said attacker-linked addresses moved nearly 4,000 BTC out of the Liquid Federation wallet on September 6, representing most of the reserves at the time. A major withdrawal was recorded that day. On September 7, 3,400 BTC was sent back to the federation address, or about 85% of the amount taken. The remaining 598.5 BTC stayed in addresses controlled by the counterparty and was valued at close to $47 million at the time of the large-scale return. Blockstream said the individuals involved initially presented themselves as "white hats" and communicated via messages embedded in Bitcoin transactions. The company rejected that characterization. In a September 11 post on X, Blockstream said an unauthorized transfer and withholding of assets is theft, not responsible disclosure or white-hat behavior. Blockstream said it engaged with the counterparty out of concern for protecting users and the broader Bitcoin community, but that contact does not constitute acceptance of the withdrawals or any conditions proposed. Based on onchain messages and direct communications, after the vulnerability was patched the counterparty offered to return most of the bitcoin but did not commit to returning all of it. Blockstream said the party later demanded a 10% bounty paid from corporate funds, warning Liquid holders would otherwise face losses. Blockstream said it has explicitly refused. The company said the bug has been fixed and will continue to be monitored. Blockstream attributed the incident to a cache key conflict vulnerability in Liquid's confidential transaction validation logic, adding that federation keys were not compromised. It said relevant bridge nodes have been patched. During the incident, Liquid temporarily halted block production and exchanges were asked to suspend LBTC deposits and withdrawals. Blockstream said the recipient still has the option to return the remaining funds voluntarily. If the bitcoin continues to be withheld, the company said it will work with law enforcement, exchanges, service providers, and onchain forensic firms to trace the assets and identify those responsible. It also noted that Bitcoin transactions leave a public trail on the blockchain and can be tracked even if the funds are later split across multiple wallets. Blockstream reiterated it will not pay any ransom and will continue pursuing recovery of the remaining bitcoin.