Kalam Crypto #156: ETH ETFs Explode, Japan Unveils Yen Stablecoin

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” — Steve Jobs

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to the latest edition of Kalam Crypto, your trusted source for crisp, insightful updates on everything crypto across the globe and the MENA region. This week, innovation is on full display as the crypto world hits major milestones. From record-breaking ETF inflows for Ethereum to Japan entering the stablecoin arena and Solana showcasing incredible speed, the future of finance is being built before our eyes. Plus, we'll look at how Thailand is welcoming crypto-spending tourists and what rising Google searches mean for the market.

All this and more in this week’s Kalam Crypto! Let’s dive in👇

Global News 🌍

Ether ETFs Soar as ETH Hits Yearly High

US spot Ether ETFs are booming, with over $3 billion in inflows in early August and weekly inflows set to hit a record $2.9 billion. The surge coincides with ETH reaching a yearly high of $4,765, before stabilizing above $4,600, pushing total net assets across spot ETH ETFs to $29.22 billion. Now on a five-month inflow streak, these ETFs, led by BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust, reflect growing investor confidence.

Japan Gives Green Light to First Yen-Backed Stablecoin

Japan is officially entering the stablecoin market. The country is set to approve its first yen-backed stablecoin, JPYC, later this year. Pegged 1:1 to the Japanese yen, the token will be fully backed by liquid assets like cash deposits and Japanese government bonds (JGBs). This marks a major step for Japan in a market dominated by US dollar-pegged giants like USDT and USDC.

Thailand to Welcome Crypto-Spending Tourists with New Sandbox

Thailand is launching an 18-month regulatory sandbox called “TouristDigiPay” to boost its tourism sector. Starting in Q4 2025, the program will allow foreign visitors to convert their crypto into Thai baht for seamless spending at local businesses. With built-in safeguards like spending limits and KYC, this initiative places Thailand at the forefront of countries using crypto to enhance the travel experience.

Solana Showcases Massive Scaling Power, Hits 100,000 TPS

Solana just demonstrated its incredible potential by achieving over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) in a recent stress test. While not yet an everyday speed, this milestone sets a new benchmark for high-performance blockchains. Ongoing upgrades like Firedancer are aimed at bringing this raw power to real-world applications, enabling everything from high-frequency decentralized trading to complex on-chain gaming and AI.

Keep an eye on 👀

Retail Interest is Spiking

Public curiosity in crypto is on the rise. According to Google Trends, worldwide searches for "altcoin" just hit their highest level since 2021, while searches for "Ethereum" reached a two-year peak. While not a direct market predictor, this surge in retail interest often highlights growing mainstream attention.

Source: Google Trends “altcoin” August 13, 2025

Post Of The Week 🐥

Seeing this conversation on mainstream platforms is a huge step forward for the industry. We're proud to be building that future here in the MENA region.

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Quiz Corner ✅ 

Last week’s question: What is the main goal of the new agreement between the UAE’s SCA and VARA regulators? The correct answer is: B) To create a unified licensing and supervision framework for crypto firms

This week’s question is: Which financial giant's spot Ethereum ETF is leading the market in inflows?

A) Fidelity

B) Vanguard

C) BlackRock

D) J.P. Morgan

See the answer in next week’s newsletter. Or check out our learning platform https://university.coinmena.com/