TL;DR

Liverpool retires Jota’s No. 20; Modric joins Milan; ETH, BTC surge as crypto, sports intersect.

Highlights

• Liverpool honored Diogo Jota with a 4–1 Anfield win, permanently retiring his No. 20 jersey; Gondomar SC and Portugal’s national team also paid tribute 26.
• Luka Modric, 39, joins AC Milan on a free transfer, targeting Champions League qualification and immediate adaptation 3.
• Ex-Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey granted bail on five rape charges; Villarreal reconsidering his signing 1.
• FIFA faces a billion-euro class action in the Netherlands over transfer rules, with potential compensation for 100,000+ EU/UK players 4.
• Ether (ETH ) surged above $3,700, outperforming Bitcoin ; institutional buyers accumulated over 221,500 ETH in a single day 914.
• Bitcoin rebounded above $115,000; MicroStrategy increased its holdings, with forecasts up to $225,000 by end-2025 1316.
• CFTC to allow U.S. futures exchanges spot Bitcoin trading; Trump administration plans fines for banks debanking crypto firms 11.
• Coinbase and PayPal to continue stablecoin rewards (3–5%) despite new U.S. law barring issuers from offering yield 12.
• Prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi posted record July volumes ($1.8B), driven by sports contracts 10.
• Binance launching nine Alpha tokens and listing Succinct’s PROVE on Aug 5; rival exchanges racing to list new assets 15.
• EA’s Battlefield 6 open beta starts Aug 9, focusing on realistic skins and technical consistency 20.

Commentary

Liverpool’s return to Anfield was defined by tributes to Diogo Jota, with the club retiring his No. 20 jersey and launching a “Forever 20” campaign 26. Gondomar SC’s commemorative kit and Portugal’s national team’s dedication to his memory illustrate Jota’s impact across club and country 6. For fantasy and betting, Liverpool’s squad depth and morale will be closely watched as the season progresses.

In transfer news, Luka Modric’s move to AC Milan brings veteran leadership to a youthful squad aiming for Champions League qualification 3. Modric’s adaptation and minutes will be key variables for Serie A fantasy managers and outright bettors. Meanwhile, Thomas Partey’s legal proceedings introduce uncertainty for Villarreal and any fantasy or betting markets tied to his potential signing 1.

Off-field, the FIFA class action in the Netherlands could have long-term implications for player contracts and transfer strategies, especially in Europe’s major leagues 4. For fantasy players and bettors, any changes to transfer rules or compensation structures could alter player movement patterns and team stability.

Crypto continues to intersect with sports, as Ether’s (ETH ) rally and large-scale institutional accumulation signal ongoing volatility and potential sponsorship or payment integrations 914. Regulatory shifts—such as the CFTC’s green light for spot Bitcoin trading and the Trump administration’s banking policy—could further increase crypto’s relevance in sports finance 11. Prediction markets are seeing record volumes, particularly in sports, highlighting growing interest in alternative betting platforms 10.

For the week ahead, monitor Liverpool’s squad updates, Modric’s integration at Milan, legal developments around Partey, and crypto market moves that could impact sports-related financial activity.