Optimism (OP) Rally Fueled by Upbit’s USDT Trading Pair Launch

Optimism's native token OP surged 15% to $0.858—a two-month high—following Upbit's announcement of new KRW, BTC, and USDT trading pairs set to launch on July 28. The Layer 2 token later settled at $0.80 amid a 310% spike in trading volume, reaching $520 million, as speculative interest intensified. The rally highlights the impact of major exchange listings and regulatory compliance measures in the crypto market.

Optimism (OP) Surges 15% on Upbit Listing Announcement, Hits Two-Month High

South Korea's largest crypto exchange Upbit sent Optimism's native token OP soaring 15% to $0.858—its highest level since mid-May—after announcing new KRW, BTC, and USDT trading pairs launching July 28. The Layer 2 token pared gains to trade at $0.80 amid a 310% volume spike to $520 million, signaling intense speculative interest.

Upbit's strict deposit requirements highlighted regulatory compliance pressures, warning users to only send OP via the Optimism network. 'The market's Pavlovian response to exchange listings continues unabated,' observed one trader, noting how liquidity events routinely trigger volatile price dislocations in altcoins.

Tether's Aggressive USDT Expansion Hits $8B in July Amid Market Concerns

Tether's USDT minting operations reached unprecedented levels in July, with the stablecoin issuer creating another $1 billion tokens—bringing the month's total to $8 billion. This surge marks one of the largest single-month increases in stablecoin market capitalization, drawing scrutiny from observers tracking supply growth and whale activity.

On-chain data reveals consistent large-scale minting since July 1, with treasury movements suggesting institutional demand. The pattern continues Tether's 2024 trend of rapid supply expansion, though the scale of recent operations has intensified debates about market implications.

TRON Sees $1B USDT Mint: Liquidity Wave Incoming?

TRON has solidified its position in the stablecoin sector with $1 billion in USDT minted on its network today, bringing its total circulating supply to over $80 billion. The protocol now accounts for more than half of all Tether activity, surpassing ethereum in both supply and daily transactions.

The milestone follows TRON's recent Nasdaq listing, a rare feat for blockchain platforms. Despite a brief dip in TVL ahead of the listing, on-chain metrics show robust demand for TRON's fast, low-cost stablecoin infrastructure. Institutional and retail adoption continues to grow as the network cements its role as a key LAYER for digital dollar movement.