News Roundup —Bitcoin Mining Profitability Last Month Hit Highest Level Since the Halving

Major news stories this week;

1. How to use cryptocurrency to buy a home in Dubai (legally and safely)
2. Rouble-Backed Stablecoin A7A5 Surges Past $40B in Transactions Amid July Surge
3. Bitcoin Mining Profitability Last Month Hit Highest Level Since the Halving
4. Japan’s MUFG buys $681 million Osaka tower, plans to tokenize it
5. Democrats probe housing regulator over considering crypto in mortgages

Story Summaries;

1. Dubai allows legal and safe property purchases using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins under the oversight of VARA and the UAE Central Bank, with major developers such as Damac and Emaar accepting digital assets and converting them to AED before registration. Buyers must work with licensed brokers, pass KYC and compliance checks, and use approved platforms to ensure secure, regulated transactions, while also benefiting from faster settlement, global accessibility, and lower fees.
2. The rouble-backed stablecoin A7A5, launched in Kyrgyzstan and operated by Russian state-linked Promsvyazbank and platform A7, has surpassed $40 billion in transaction volume amid surging July demand, positioning itself as a key tool for Russia to bypass Western sanctions. Blockchain analysts and regulators warn the coin is likely being used to facilitate restricted trade, including dual-use goods between Russia and China, through Kyrgyzstan’s rapidly expanding and loosely regulated crypto infrastructure.
3. Bitcoin mining profitability in July reached its highest level since the April 2024 halving, with average daily block reward revenue hitting $57,400 per EH/s, though still significantly below pre-halving levels, according to JPMorgan. Increased network hashrate and mining difficulty signaled rising competition, while ten of thirteen tracked U.S.-listed miners outperformed Bitcoin, with Argo Blockchain leading gains and Core Scientific lagging behind.
4. Japan’s MUFG has purchased a $681 million tower in Osaka with plans to tokenize it, offering fractional ownership to retail investors and packaging it into a private REIT for institutions like life insurers. Despite Mitsui ending its trust partnership with MUFG, the two remain connected through MUFG’s Progmat platform, highlighting continued collaboration in Japan’s growing but still early-stage market for tokenized real estate.
5. Five Senate Democrats, led by Jeff Merkley, have questioned FHFA Director William Pulte over his directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to explore including crypto assets in mortgage applications without converting them to U.S. dollars. Citing concerns over volatility, security risks, and potential conflicts of interest—including Pulte’s crypto-holding spouse and Trump family ties to the industry—the senators demanded greater clarity and accountability regarding the order’s development and implications.

And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!