According to Fixygen, the global cryptocurrency market is nearing the end of the week without a clear direction: Bitcoin held steady at around $64,500, while Ethereum fell significantly, and inflows into U.S. cryptocurrency ETFs remained volatile.
As of Friday, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $64,400. On Monday, July 20, the leading cryptocurrency opened the week at around $64,680. Thus, the weekly decline was less than 0.5%, indicating consolidation following the market’s massive drop in previous months.
Ethereum showed significantly weaker performance over the same period. At the start of the week, its price was around $1,870, while by Friday it had fallen to approximately $1,620. The weekly decline reached 13%.
The total market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market was estimated at approximately $2.2 trillion. Bitcoin accounted for about 59% of the total market value, reflecting sustained investor demand for the largest and most liquid digital asset amid uncertainty.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw about $274 million in net inflows over four trading days from July 20 to 23. On Monday, inflows totaled $226.8 million; on Tuesday, $203.2 million; and on Wednesday, $69.1 million.
However, on Thursday, investors withdrew $225.1 million from Bitcoin ETFs. The bulk of the outflow—$202.5 million—came from BlackRock’s IBIT fund. This virtually wiped out a significant portion of the positive results from the beginning of the week. Data for Friday had not yet been published at the time of writing.
Spot Ethereum ETFs attracted approximately $174.5 million from Monday through Thursday. Net inflows were recorded daily, including $72.7 million on Wednesday and $26.3 million on Thursday. However, these inflows were unable to prevent a decline in the price of Ethereum, indicating that pressure on this asset persists across the broader market.
Earlier, U.S. Bitcoin ETFs broke an eight-week streak of outflows, during which investors withdrew more than $8 billion from the funds. The return to inflows was a positive sign, but the volume remains insufficient to indicate a sustained recovery in institutional demand.
A report published this week by CoinGecko showed that the cryptocurrency market capitalization in the second quarter of 2026 fell by 12.6%—from $2.4 trillion to $2.1 trillion.
The market capitalization of stablecoins decreased by 1.6% to $305.1 billion. This marked the first quarterly decline in this metric since the third quarter of 2023 and may indicate a partial withdrawal of liquidity from the cryptocurrency system.
Spot trading volume on the ten largest centralized crypto exchanges fell by 27.9% in the second quarter—to $1.95 trillion. In May, the figure dropped to $619 billion—the lowest monthly level since the start of the year—before rebounding to $695 billion in June.
Trading volume in perpetual futures on the largest centralized exchanges decreased by 10%—from $14.1 trillion to $12.7 trillion. The more moderate contraction of the derivatives market compared to the spot segment indicates that traders remain primarily interested in short-term and speculative trades.
One of the week’s major regulatory developments was the publication on July 22 of an updated version of the U.S. CLARITY Act. The bill aims to establish comprehensive rules for the digital asset market and allocate authority between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
In May, the Senate Banking Committee approved the bill by a vote of 15 to 9. However, the updated version sparked new disagreements, particularly regarding investor protection, combating illicit financing, and limiting conflicts of interest among government officials.
Thus, the week did not provide the market with a clear signal. Bitcoin showed relative stability, but Ethereum’s decline, the sharp reversal of flows into Bitcoin ETFs on Thursday, and weak quarterly figures for exchange activity indicate that market participants remain cautious.
The final results of the week will depend on Friday’s flows into U.S. ETFs, the situation in global risk markets, and further progress on cryptocurrency legislation in the U.S.
The Ukraine-Philippines Business Forum, attended by more than 65 representatives of companies, government agencies, financial institutions, law firms, and business associations from both countries, took place on July 23 in Makati City, Philippines.
The event opened with video messages from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and a speech by Philippine Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Seferino Rodolfo.
Participants discussed opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation in the agri-food sector, information technology, digital services, the food industry, creative industries, as well as in the defense sector and the field of dual-use technologies.
During the forum, the business environment in Ukraine and the Philippines was presented, along with financial and legal tools for foreign companies, the results of Ukraine’s digital transformation, and the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex.
Representatives from the Makati Business Club, the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed market access, attracting investment, and developing direct contacts between companies with entrepreneurs. These organizations, together with the Ukrainian Embassy, served as partners for the forum.
The event concluded with bilateral B2B matchmaking sessions, during which Ukrainian and Philippine companies were able to discuss specific projects and areas for further cooperation.
The forum was the centerpiece of the Ukrainian business mission to the Philippines, scheduled for July 23 through August 1, 2026. Its goal is to expand the presence of Ukrainian companies in the Philippine market and in Southeast Asia as a whole.
According to Experts.news, the Experts Club think tank analyzed the results of the international Expat Insider 2026 survey, conducted by the InterNations community. Panama, Mexico, and Thailand were named the best countries for expats to live in, while Norway, Germany, and Turkey ranked last.
The survey was conducted from February 1 to March 31, 2026. A total of 7,786 expats representing 162 nationalities participated. The final ranking included 31 countries, each of which received at least 50 completed questionnaires. Participants evaluated up to 53 aspects of life abroad, including work, personal finances, quality of life, living conditions, and ease of social adaptation.
Panama took first place for the third year in a row. About 87% of foreigners living in the country said they were satisfied with their life abroad, while the global average was 70%.
The country ranked first in working conditions and personal finances, second in ease of adaptation and access to essential services, and sixth in quality of life. About 90% of respondents believe their current income is sufficient for a comfortable life, and 76% are satisfied with their financial situation.
Panama also received the highest ratings for housing affordability. Nine out of ten expats reported that it is easy to find housing in the country. 82% of respondents described the visa application process as simple. Retirees make up a significant portion of the expat community—their share reached 37%, and 34% of respondents intend to stay in the country permanently.
Mexico took second place, once again becoming the global leader in ease of social adaptation. About 73% of foreigners said it was easy for them to make friends among locals, compared to a global average of 39%.
However, safety remains a weak point for Mexico. 68% of respondents rated their personal safety positively, compared to a global average of 81%. Despite this, 73% of expats are satisfied with their financial situation, and 38% plan to stay in the country permanently.
Thailand took third place and became the country with the most life-satisfied expats. 86% of respondents reported feeling content, and 42% expect to stay in the country permanently.
Expatriates particularly praised the cost of living, the affordability of rent, and the quality of healthcare. At the same time, Thailand received low ratings for its environmental conditions, digital administrative services, and the ease of opening bank accounts. Only 33% of respondents rated air quality positively, and 80% consider the Thai language difficult to learn.
The top ten in the ranking also included the UAE, Brazil, Spain, Singapore, Portugal, Malaysia, and Luxembourg. The top five countries in the personal finance index are Panama, Thailand, Mexico, Portugal, and Malaysia. In most of the top-ranked countries, expats also rate housing affordability and the attitude of the local population highly.
Norway came in last, at 31st place. Only 46% of foreigners living there are satisfied with their lives, and 72% find it difficult to make friends among the local population. Only 39% of respondents rated their financial situation positively.
At the same time, Norway remains one of the countries with the highest ratings for environmental conditions, air quality, job security, and economic stability. The main challenges for expats were the high cost of living, social isolation, the climate, and limited leisure opportunities.
Germany ranked 30th. About 61% of expats described dealing with the bureaucratic system as difficult. Only 19% rated housing affordability positively, and the same percentage found it easy to find housing.
Germany also ranked last on the index of basic conditions for expats. Survey participants criticized the lack of online access to government services, problems with home internet, and the limited availability of cashless payments. In addition, 57% of expats reported that they found it difficult to make friends among Germans.
Turkey ranked 29th, placing last in terms of working conditions, wages, and economic stability. About 61% of respondents gave a negative assessment of the state of the Turkish economy, and 34% reported an annual income of less than $12,000 before taxes.
Fifty-eight percent of expats are satisfied with life in Turkey, 14% intend to leave the country within the next year, and only 13% plan to stay permanently.
The bottom ten also included Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Eight of the ten countries at the bottom of the ranking are in Europe. However, Austria ranked fifth in quality of life, Switzerland eighth, the Czech Republic 13th, and Sweden 15th. This suggests that a low overall ranking is often linked not to infrastructure or safety, but to the high cost of living, bureaucracy, and difficulties with social integration.
According to Maxim Urakin, founder of the Experts Club think tank, the study’s results should not be viewed as a universal ranking of countries’ levels of development.
“The ranking does not show which country is objectively richer or better governed, but rather how easily a specific foreigner can integrate into local daily life. Developed infrastructure and high salaries can go hand in hand with expensive housing, complex bureaucracy, and social exclusivity.
At the same time, less affluent countries may score higher thanks to affordable living costs, simple paperwork, and a welcoming attitude toward newcomers,” Urakin noted.
He added that when choosing a country to move to, it is necessary to analyze immigration laws, the tax system, the labor market, healthcare, education, and real estate prices separately.
InterNations emphasizes that the ranking is based on the subjective satisfaction of respondents, rather than on a comparison of official statistics. It does not take into account a number of important factors, including international taxation and childcare services, and the safety rating reflects respondents’ personal perceptions rather than the actual crime rate.
Astarta, an agro-industrial holding and Ukraine’s largest sugar producer, increased its product sales by 34.3% in April–June 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 266,640 metric tons, according to data published by the holding on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
According to the data, due to lower prices for sugar and milk, revenue growth was more modest—at 16.9%: in total, the company sold 4.58 billion UAH worth of its main products in the second quarter of this year, compared to 3.91 billion UAH in the second quarter of 2025.
In particular, sugar sales increased by 28% in volume terms in the second quarter of this year—to 92,600 metric tons—while the average selling price fell by 14.3%—to 20,770 UAH per metric ton.
Astarta’s sales volumes of wheat and corn during the reporting period amounted to 62.03 thousand metric tons and 3.18 thousand metric tons, respectively, at average prices of 9.90 thousand UAH per metric ton and 27.45 thousand UAH per metric ton, respectively, whereas the company did not sell these products in the second quarter of last year.
Corn sales, on the other hand, fell by 19.1% to 32.39 thousand metric tons, while the price rose by only 3.9% to 10.02 thousand UAH per metric ton.
Sales of soybean oil in the second quarter of 2026 fell by 27.8% compared to the same period in 2025—to 8.48 thousand metric tons—as the price of this product rose by 13.9%—to 52.28 thousand UAH per metric ton. Sales of soybean meal also fell by 15.8%—to 37.11 thousand metric tons—as the price rose by 23.1%—to 18.76 thousand UAH per metric ton.
The agricultural holding’s milk sales in April–June 2026 increased by 2.6% to 30.84 thousand metric tons, but the price of this product fell by 14.8% to 15.79 thousand UAH per metric ton.
Taking these figures into account, Astarta increased its total sales volume of core products for the first half of the year by 32.3% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 656.28 thousand metric tons. Due to lower prices for sugar and milk, revenue growth was also lower—by 20.2%: in total, the company generated 10.95 billion UAH in revenue from its core products, compared to 9.11 billion UAH in the first half of 2025.
In June 2026, Express Insurance paid out more than 11 million UAH to customers for claims related to military risks, which is 26 times higher than the figure for the same period in 2025.
According to the insurer’s website, the company settled 26 insurance claims in June of this year, more than five times the figure for the same period last year. Meanwhile, the average payout per claim also increased more than fivefold—to 424,100 UAH.
The largest number of insurance claims related to military risks in June was settled in Kyiv, which correlates with the increased intensity of airstrikes on the capital over the past few months.
The largest payout during the reporting period was an insurance claim of more than 1.2 million UAH for a 2024 Mercedes-Benz damaged as a result of military operations.
In total, during the first half of 2026, Express Insurance settled 50 insurance claims related to military risks, totaling 15.5 million UAH—nine times more than during the same period in 2025.
“The trend in payouts in this area reflects the reality facing Ukrainian car owners. Damage to vehicles resulting from military operations is no longer an isolated occurrence but an integral part of insurance practice. And while many drivers previously viewed coverage for military risks in a comprehensive auto insurance policy as an optional feature, today’s insurance claims statistics convincingly demonstrate its practical necessity,” the insurer’s statement notes.
Express Insurance LLC was founded in 2008 with the participation of “Ukravto Group,” a leader in the Ukrainian automotive market. The company specializes in auto insurance. The company has more than 300 insurance agents throughout Ukraine and is actively expanding its network of partner service stations. To date, the number of partner service stations exceeds 100.
According to Serbian Economist, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reaffirmed that the country’s accession to the European Union remains Belgrade’s strategic goal and expressed hope to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a bilateral visit.
Vucic made these remarks in an interview with Rainer Novak, editor-in-chief of the Austrian newspaper Die Presse, published on July 23.
“The European path is our strategic goal. There are no other paths for us. This means that we must cooperate closely with all candidate countries,” said the Serbian president.
According to him, it is in the European Union that he sees his country’s future.
Speaking about relations with Ukraine, Vučić stated that he sees no reason to abandon cooperation with Kyiv. He reiterated that Serbia supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provides it with financial, medical, energy, and humanitarian aid.
“I hope we will be able to welcome him to Serbia on a bilateral basis,” said Vučić, referring to Zelenskyy.
Vucic also announced that Serbia is ready to participate in the reconstruction of one of Ukraine’s smaller cities. In addition, the parties are discussing the development of a road and rail route from Trieste through Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Moldova to Ukraine.
The Serbian president had previously reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but did not sign the final declaration, which condemned Russian aggression and called for increased sanctions pressure on Moscow.
Commenting on criticism of cooperation with Kyiv, Vučić stated that Ukraine had not taken any action against Serbia and had not recognized Kosovo’s independence.
“We cannot oppose someone just because someone else opposes them. I see no reason why we should not cooperate with Ukraine,” he said.
At the same time, Vučić emphasized the need to take into account Serbia’s relations with Asian countries and Russia and reaffirmed the country’s military neutrality.
Serbia was granted EU candidate status in March 2012, and membership negotiations began in January 2014. In recent years, the opening of new negotiation chapters has effectively stalled, despite Belgrade’s statements that it is ready to meet the technical criteria for membership.
