The Block - 2026-06-17
14 items collected.
1. Strategy’s STRC preferred stock closes day 11% under par at $89
Author: Daniel Kuhn
Published: 6/17/2026, 8:59:57 PM
Categories: Companies, Finance firms, Markets, Public Equities, Strategy, STRC
Wednesday's close of $89 appears to be the lowest on record since the stock was first issued in 2025.
2. Crypto markets wobble after hawkish Fed outlook in Kevin Warsh’s first FOMC meeting
Author: Kyle Baird
Published: 6/17/2026, 8:19:28 PM
Categories: Central Banks, Market Updates, Markets, Policy, The Block, Crypto Movers, Federal Reserve
Most major cryptocurrencies fell between 1% and 3% following the decision, with bitcoin dropping to $64,150.
3. ‘One of the most anti-crypto laws in the US’: Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs 0.2% crypto tax
Author: Daniel Kuhn
Published: 6/17/2026, 6:50:22 PM
Categories: Policy, U.S. Policymaking, crypto-tax
Crypto industry lobbyists and representatives are speaking out against the Digital Asset Tax Act passed into law in Illinois on Tuesday.
4. Polychain and Coinbase-backed Satori Finance DEX winds down citing ‘unfavorable market conditions’
Author: Daniel Kuhn
Published: 6/17/2026, 4:19:48 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, DeFi, Markets, Restructuring, DEXs
Satori raised $10 million in a May 2022 seed round led by Polychain Capital with participation from Coinbase, Jump and others.
5. Trump comments fuel dispute over Polymarket’s $120 million ‘permanent’ Iran peace deal market
Author: Kyle Baird
Published: 6/17/2026, 3:48:43 PM
Categories: Markets, Policy, The Block, U.S. Policymaking, polymarket, prediction-market
Polymarket traders clash over whether a U.S.-Iran memorandum qualifies as a permanent peace deal.
6. ‘Biggest spend of the cycle:’ Fairshake crypto PAC’s pick Barry Moore wins Alabama GOP Senate primary
Author: Sarah Wynn
Published: 6/17/2026, 3:39:40 PM
Categories: Policy, Regulation, U.S. Policymaking, 2024 Elections, Congress
Rep. Barry Moore clinched a win in Alabama after being bolstered by millions of dollars from the crypto industry.
7. EarnOS launches anti-AI slop app, raises $6 million from 1kx, Circle and Coinbase
Author: RT Watson
Published: 6/17/2026, 2:57:16 PM
Categories: Companies, Deals, Tech, Venture Capital, EarnOS
Ero app is designed to help brands verify human internet traffic, reduce wastes caused by bots, and reward "authentic digital behavior," said EarnOS.
8. Bhutan sends $34.5 million in bitcoin to Binance, holdings fall below 1,750 BTC: Arkham
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 6/17/2026, 2:27:00 PM
Categories: International Policymaking, Market Updates, Markets, Policy, Arkham, Bhutan, bhutan bitcoin
Bhutan transferred 533 BTC worth $34.5 million to Binance, leaving state-linked wallets holding 1,749.96 BTC, Arkham data shows.
9. Stablecoin infrastructure firm Trace Finance raises $32 million Series A, says valuation grew 10x from seed
Author: Yogita Khatri
Published: 6/17/2026, 2:19:00 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Crypto Infrastructure, Deals, Stablecoins, Startups, Venture Capital, Series A
CoinFund led the round, with Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, Jump Capital, Paxos, Chainlink Labs and others participating.
10. Limitless CEO says no prediction market platform will dominate, citing perpetual futures precedent
Author: Naga Avan-Nomayo
Published: 6/17/2026, 2:11:58 PM
Categories: Companies, Markets, People, bernstein, prediction-markets
Limitless CEO CJ Hetherington tells Bernstein no platform will dominate prediction markets, sizing the institutional opportunity 10x sports.
11. ‘He had his day in court:’ Sens. Lummis and Gallego press Trump not to pardon former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried
Author: Sarah Wynn
Published: 6/17/2026, 1:10:57 PM
Categories: Companies, Exchanges, Legal, Policy, Regulation, U.S. Policymaking, FTX, Senate Banking Committee
Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts related to defrauding FTX customers, lenders, and investors.
12. Bitcoin holds below $65,000 as Warsh faces first FOMC test and Strategy concerns linger
Author: Naga Avan-Nomayo
Published: 6/17/2026, 12:28:15 PM
Categories: Equities, Market Recap, Market Updates, Markets, Kevin Warsh, U.S. inflation, US Federal Reserve
BTC trades below $65K, with the Fed expected to hold rates while inflation sits near a three-year high ahead of Warsh's first FOMC meeting.
13. Benchmark sees Coinbase moving past ‘cyclical crypto brokerage,’ reiterates $270 price target
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 6/17/2026, 12:01:53 PM
Categories: Companies, Equities, Exchanges, Markets, Public Equities, Analyst Reports, benchmark, Coinbase, coinbase exchange
Benchmark reiterated its Buy rating on Coinbase, citing an expansive product rollout pushing it beyond a "cyclical crypto brokerage."
14. ‘Long-term holders are hodling’: K33 says record supply metric suggests bear market may be nearing an end
Author: James Hunt
Published: 6/17/2026, 11:17:12 AM
Categories: Central Banks, Equities, Markets, Policy, Token Projects, Analyst Reports, Bitcoin, Federal Reserve
K33 said stabilizing conditions and trading activity falling back to yearly lows reflect a market where holders are reluctant to sell.