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The FDA just recommended tighter restrictions and the potential drug classification of kratom products containing a specific extract called 7-OH.
Currently, these unregulated, non-FDA-approved products are available across the country in a variety of gas stations and smoke shops.
Here’s what you need to know about kratom and 7-OHs.
On Tuesday, the US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, said he planned to officially classify kratom products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as drugs based on their abuse or dependency potential, per the New York Times. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), also said he planned to restrict access to products containing this powerful oxidized kratom extract, which can currently be purchased online or in gas stations, smoke shops, and supplement stores.
“7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic,” Dr. Makary said in a press release.
Currently, 7-OH and kratom products are not approved or regulated by the FDA. In a consumer update posted this week, the FDA recommended that consumers avoid 7-OH products, “including conventional foods, dietary supplements, and those claiming to treat an ailment or disorder.” The agency is not focused on regulating kratom leaf products at this time.
Seen signs for kratom or 7-OH products in your hometown and wondering what all this means? Here’s why the FDA is warning consumers about 7-OH extracts, and what toxicologists and an addiction medicine specialist want you to keep in mind when it comes to kratom.
Meet the experts: Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University; Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a toxicologist at MedStar Health; Juan Franco, MD, addiction medicine physician at Caron Treatment Center
What is kratom?
Kratom is a tropical tree, in the same family as the coffee tree, that’s native to Southeast Asia, per the FDA. In the US, you can buy products prepared from kratom leaves, which claim to treat anything from pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression to opioid use disorder and opioid withdrawal. Kratom is often billed as a natural painkiller or alcohol alternative, and started appearing in American smoke shops in the late 2010s.
Kratom leaves are usually crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or put into gel capsules, per the DEA. Kratom is not approved for medical use under the FDA, and it’s listed by the DEA as a “drug of concern.”
At low doses, kratom produces stimulant-like effects, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). But at high doses, it works like a sedative and can cause psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence. The DEA cites several cases of psychosis linked to kratom, where people had psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations, delusion, and confusion. Its use can also lead to addiction and a CDC report found 152 kratom-related deaths from 2016 to 2017 alone.
Initially, “because of its euphoric effects, kratom has been promoted as a ‘safer’ alternative to opioid analgesics and may also be described as an ‘herbal high,’” says Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a toxicologist at MedStar Health. However, despite the fact that “many people perceive kratom as being safe, kratom intoxication is associated with serious undesirable health effects,” she says.
“Like traditional opioids—oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine—kratom has significant abuse potential,” says Juan Franco, MD, addiction medicine physician at Caron Treatment Center.
What are 7-OHs?
7-OH occurs naturally at low levels in the kratom plant, but the FDA is most concerned with products that contain 7-OH in oxidized extracts at high levels, which can be dangerous. In fact, the FDA refers to them as “novel potent opioid products.”
“Kratom is broken down by the human body into active metabolites, including 7-OH,” Dr. Johnson-Arbor explains. “As an active byproduct of kratom, 7-OH possesses many of the same side effects of kratom, including the ability to transfer into the brain and cause sedation and euphoria.”
The 7-OH content in kratom products can have varying potencies and may be inconsistently labeled, Dr. Franco says. “That increases the risk of overdose and adverse effects,” he says.
“Right now, anyone can buy this [product],” points out Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. “But one of the issues is that you can actually become addicted to the substance, meaning that when you stop taking the substance you will crave it and you may have withdrawals.” This might look like sweating, shaking, body aches, and diarrhea, she explains.
“One of the other major concerns is that kratom—and 7-OH—are a central nervous system depressant,” Alan says. When it’s taken with other central nervous system depressants like opioids (pain medications), benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety and sleeping medications), and alcohol, it can increase the risk of side effects up to and including death, she points out.
Are 7-OHs legal?
7-OH products are not currently approved or regulated by the FDA. While many of these products are marketed as supplements (which are only loosely regulated by the FDA), the agency notes that they are “not lawful as a dietary supplement or when added to conventional foods because it has not met the appropriate safety standard.”
Is there going to be a 7-OH ban?
Possibly, since Dr. Makary said this week that he is recommending that 7-OH be scheduled as a drug. “Let’s be honest,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday, per The New York Times. “There’s also a lot we don’t know. This may be the calm before the storm. It may be the tip of the iceberg, but let’s be aggressive and proactive.”
Right now, it remains to be seen if a full ban will play out.
Alan, for her part, is glad 7-OH products are being investigated. “This is really a risky product,” she says.
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
Dogecoin’s price performance continues to raise concerns among DOGE holders as it continues its drop. However, an increasing wave of investors is quietly shifting their attention to more utility-based projects like Unilabs Finance. While Dogecoin price prediction remains conflicted with mixed influences, traders looking for real-world utility cases and strong fundamentals are now comparing DOGE’s speculative energy to Unilab’s asset management model.
With DOGE hovering around a key recovery zone, analysts are still divided on whether it will be able to repeat its early-year gains or if the real breakout potential lies in altcoins with potential for real-world adoption.
Dogecoin Price Prediction: $0.26 Possible If Bullish Momentum Revives
The current Dogecoin price sits near $0.22 after rebounding from the $0.21 support level. The DOGE chart reveals that a bullish continuation is possible, especially if the token can close above the $0.23 resistance point.
Source: CoinMarketCap
Momentum indicators like the RSI and MACD point toward bearish trends while it trades over both the 50-day and 200-day EMAs. DOGE’s market volume is also down 22%, despite news of whale interest and over 130M DOGE being bought at $0.22. This could help sustain a more bullish Dogecoin price prediction if the current rates are sustained over the short term.
Still, DOGE news has been mostly mixed in nature. Unlike some newer projects gaining momentum, DOGE is struggling with its image as a meme coin and trying to add on utility features for practical use cases. There is potential for some upside, but the meme coin image is hindering its implementation.
Unilabs Finance Emerging As The Breakout Crypto Of 2025
Unilabs Finance is a real product play. Built to simplify investing in DeFi assets, it has already raised $7.2 million, sold over 1.2 billion tokens, and is priced at just $0.008. It is the first dedicated crypto asset management platform. It is also proving highly effective due to its utilization of AI trading tools. As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, it has the power to transform the way people invest their capital.
A major tool is the Market Pulse, which relies on advanced AI to scope the market for opportunities. Another powerful tool is the proprietary Early Access Scoring System. This ranks projects based on a combination of factors, like team credibility, use-case potential, project tokenomics, and market sentiment. This dynamic scoring system simplifies the investment decision-making by presenting clear, data-backed ratings for upcoming crypto projects for quick decision-making and higher gains.
Why Unilabs Is Making Headlines
It’s not surprising that the project is catching headlines, with its multiple cutting-edge features like:
Four AI-Powered Funds: AI Fund, BTC Fund, RWA Fund, Mining Fund.
Asset baskets are built to include a combination of DeFi tokens to yield maximum returns.
Tokenized ROI: Yield-backed token with real-time NAV tracking
Real-time AI model switching across different market segments, including meme coins, different fund baskets, and risk levels.
In addition, investors in Unilabs can stake their UNIL tokens to earn regular passive income, as well as by referring new investors to the project.
What You Need to Consider
Dogecoin price prediction fans are still hoping for a rally, but DOGE remains tightly linked to sentiment and short-term momentum. In comparison, Unilabs offers a roadmap, live adoption, and tokenomics designed for a long and profitable market run.
With Dogecoin price at a critical turning point and its news dominated by technical concerns, now might be the best time to explore alternative projects that show real staying power. Unilabs could be that opportunity.
For more information about Unilab Finance, visit the links below:
NFT sales surged in July, reaching $574 million in total volume, the second-highest monthly total of the year, according to data from CryptoSlam. This represents a 47.6% increase compared to June’s $388.9 million, although it remains below the peak of $678.9 million recorded in January [1]. Despite the robust sales figures, the total number of transactions dipped by 9%, falling to 5 million from 5.5 million in the prior month [1].
The average sale value rose sharply to $113.08, the highest in six months, signaling a shift in buyer behavior. Unique buyer participation dropped by 17% to 713,085, while unique sellers increased by 9% to 405,505, highlighting a growing concentration in the market [1].
Ethereum-based NFTs were at the center of the July boom. The price of ETH rose by 62% in late July, climbing from around $2,400 to over $3,900, and remains above $3,800 [1]. This rally directly lifted valuations across Ethereum NFT collections. According to NFT Price Floor, all of the top 10 NFT collections by market cap over the past 30 days were Ethereum-based [1]. CryptoPunks led the pack with $69.2 million in total value traded, followed by Pudgy Penguins at $55.5 million. Pudgy Penguins saw the most significant growth, with a 65.44% increase in floor price, outpacing collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club and Mutant Ape Yacht Club [1].
Ethereum-based NFTs accounted for $275.6 million in sales in July, a 56% rise compared to the previous month [1]. Bitcoin and Polygon followed with $74.3 million and $71.6 million in NFT sales, respectively [1].
Performance across other blockchains was mixed. Cardano posted the highest percentage growth, with a 102% increase in NFT sales [1]. Solana saw a more modest 8% rise [1]. Meanwhile, Polygon and BNB Chain experienced sharp declines, with NFT sales falling 51.1% and 54% respectively [1].
Although transaction numbers and buyer participation have declined, the rising average sale values and dominance of high-profile NFT collections suggest that the market is increasingly prioritizing quality over quantity. Higher-value transactions are attracting more substantial capital, indicating a maturation of the NFT market [1].
Source: [1] NFTs See July Boom with Over $574M in Sales, Ethereum Takes the Lead (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/688b792e680c444f8ca7e94d/)
Copper price is under strong bearish pressure to push it to decline below the support at $5.3200, to lose most of its previous gains to reach $4.3900, to face the moving average of 55.
Despite the main stability within the main bullish channel’s levels, the contradiction between the main indicators may increase the chances for suffering extra losses by targeting 161%Fibonacci extension level at $4.2650, while renewing the bullish attempts requires stepping above $4.7400 level, providing chance for recording gains again.
The expected trading range for today is between $4.2600 and $4.5200
Trend forecast: Fluctuated within the bullish track
Matcha, which comes from specially grown and processed green tea, is growing in popularity. It’s known for its vibrant green hue and superfood health halo; as well as its distinctive taste.
It’s still a relatively niche market. The global matcha market size is around $4.3bn: a drop in the ocean compared to the mega $269bn coffee market.
Both categories are going strong: matcha has a particularly impressive CAGR of 7.9% for 2024-2030. That is, however, against a growing CAGR of 5.3% for coffee for 2025-2030.
So can matcha move in on coffee and steal market share?
Coffee shop winner
With margins tight and the category under pressure, coffee shops know they need to expand and offer more consumers more drinks for more occasions.
And Emilie Holmes, as founder of Good & Proper, sees matcha as a winning drink when it comes to diversification.
Over the last decade, the company has seen matcha shift from niche to necessity for those in the on-trade.
“The growth of Matcha can only be a good thing for a hospitality industry still struggling to bounce back after Covid,” she said. “Matcha is a reason for non-coffee drinkers to visit a cafe for an out of home experience that they might not be able to replicate at home”.
And she points out that matcha is a premium product that consumers are willing to pay for, offering a good margin for operators.
“And it’s actually much more versatile than coffee and pairs well in a number of different formats where coffee doesn’t.
“It pairs well with fruit and chocolate and has a completely different flavour profile to coffee whilst still containing caffeine.”
Matcha is also seen as a much ‘healthier’ source of caffeine. Comparing the levels of caffeine in coffee and matcha can be tricky (depending always on the type and brewing process) although matcha can generally expected to have less caffeine than coffee.
But more important is the presence of L-theanine in matcha: the amino acid well-known for its calming properties.
“The production of L-Theanine during the growing process results in a much smoother caffeine release and gives consumers more of a calm focus than you see with the caffeine spike and crash with coffee,” she said.
Standout ingredient
US ‘drink tank’ ingredient specialist Imbibe knows that consumers are increasingly drawn to functional beverages that provide health benefits, and matcha is already a ‘standout ingredient’ in the space.
That’s thanks to the support of influencers: who are particularly influential in the coffee shop sphere as well as the wider beverage industry. In the same way influencers have driven coffee shop trends, they can turn this power to matcha. And the vibrant green color lends itself perfectly to visually important posts.
“Much of matcha’s rising popularity can be attributed to social media influencers, especially on TikTok, who highlight both its health benefits and its visually appealing presentation,” said Matthew Bae of Imbibe. “Reflecting this momentum, global Google searches for matcha now exceed 2.7 million per month, marking a 70% increase over the past year.”
Matcha isn’t just about providing an alternative to coffee: it’s about embracing the space and elevating it. That could either be as a drink in a cafe; or as a matcha flavoring in RTD drinks in retail.
“I see matcha as more of a complement to coffee than a competitor,” said Bae.
“In fact, the growing popularity of the “dirty matcha” – a drink that blends matcha with espresso – highlights this synergy, with global searches for the beverage up 75% in the past year. Consumers are clearly interested in combining the benefits of both.
“Matcha appeals to those seeking a unique flavor profile, a slightly lower caffeine content, a boost in antioxidants, or even a visually striking drink to share on social media.”
Renowned fintech analyst Armando Pantoja has challenged the conventional belief that XRP’s price is inherently capped by market capitalization. In a recent social media post, Pantoja emphasized that using traditional stock market metrics to evaluate blockchain assets is outdated and misleading [1]. He drew a comparison between skepticism around XRP and similar doubts that surrounded Microsoft Office in the early 1990s, arguing that technology adoption cannot be limited by arbitrary financial valuations.
Pantoja explains that while market cap—calculated as price multiplied by circulating supply—can be a useful reference in equity markets, it fails to capture liquidity, usage, demand, or innovation in the blockchain space [1]. “You can’t apply stock market metrics to technology,” he stated, reiterating that the crypto market is a new financial frontier requiring a different analytical approach.
XRP is not merely a speculative token but a functional asset designed for global payments. It powers Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) and supports stablecoin transfers such as RLUSD. Its utility extends to enterprise-scale cross-border transactions, and its deflationary mechanism—where a small amount of XRP is destroyed with each transaction—increases scarcity over time [1]. These features support the argument that XRP’s value could rise significantly in the long term.
While technical analysis and price charts are relevant for short-term traders, Pantoja argues that they hold less significance over a longer investment horizon. “Short term, yeah, technical analysis… all this stuff matters. Long term, none of that matters,” he said [1]. The ultimate driver of value, he insists, is real-world adoption, and XRP’s growing list of institutional and enterprise users points to a strong long-term value proposition.
As of late July 2025, XRP was trading at $3.14, with a market capitalization of approximately $186 billion, placing it among the top three cryptocurrencies globally [1]. Pantoja warns against using these figures to limit expectations for XRP’s future price potential. He argues that as financial systems evolve and digital assets gain utility, tokens like XRP could command much higher valuations—potentially into the thousands [1].
The discussion around XRP’s potential has also been influenced by broader developments in the crypto ecosystem. Optimism surrounding possible XRP ETF approvals has increased interest in the asset, although analysts caution that such outcomes remain speculative [2]. Ripple’s CTO, David Schwartz, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), noting that greater adoption of the platform could enhance XRP’s utility and value [3].
Despite this, some analysts remain skeptical. A report from June 2025 highlighted the challenges XRP would face in reaching a $1,000 price point, citing the current global stock market cap of approximately $110 trillion [4]. This underscores the significant gap between XRP’s current valuation and the capitalization of the broader financial market.
XRP’s strengthened market position—now the third-largest cryptocurrency with a $187 billion market cap—reflects a shift in investor focus toward utility and network activity rather than just price metrics [5]. Experts have outlined scenarios that could drive XRP toward higher price targets, such as adoption by central banks, institutional investment, and regulatory approvals. However, these remain speculative and have not yet materialized [6].
Analysts stress the importance of distinguishing between forecasts and actual market behavior, urging investors to consider the limitations of extrapolating current trends into the future [6]. The ongoing debate highlights the evolving nature of crypto valuation and the need for a dynamic, technology-focused approach to assessing digital assets like XRP.
Sources:
[1] Expert Explains Why Market Cap Doesn’t Limit XRP Price Rally to $1,000. (https://timestabloid.com/expert-explains-why-market-cap-doesnt-limit-xrp-price-rally-to-1000/)
[2] Optimism about XRP ETF approval leads to a surge in XRP. (https://timestabloid.com/optimism-about-xrp-etf-approval-leads-to-a-surge-in-xrp-smart/)
[3] Here’s What Will Boost XRP Value, According to Ripple’s CTO. (https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/07/31/heres-what-will-boost-xrp-value-according-to-ripples-cto/)
[4] XRP price prediction 2025-2031: Will XRP reach $5? (https://www.cryptopolitan.com/xrp-price-prediction/)
[5] White House crypto report hails achievements. (https://www.aol.com/finance/white-house-crypto-report-hails-205203798.html)
[6] Dogecoin (DOGE) Won’t Deliver 13800% This Cycle. (https://coincentral.com/dogecoin-doge-wont-deliver-13800-this-cycle-experts-say-ruvi-ai-ruvi-can-thanks-to-early-bonuses-and-new-coinmarketcap-partnership/)
On July 31, 2025, Hyperion DeFi experienced a significant surge in its stock price, rising by 10.91% during the pre-market trading session. This notable increase can be attributed to several key developments within the company.
Hyperion DeFi has recently made strategic moves to bolster its cryptocurrency treasury reserve, focusing on the HYPE token, which is native to the decentralized digital asset exchange and Layer-1 blockchain, Hyperliquid. The company announced the acquisition of an additional 108,594 HYPE tokens, expanding its total holdings to 1,535,772 HYPE. This purchase was made at an average price of $36.14 per token, demonstrating the company’s commitment to strengthening its financial position and leveraging the potential of the HYPE token.
In addition to the token acquisition, Hyperion DeFi is hosting an investor webinar on July 29th at 2:00 PM ET. This event is expected to provide further insights into the company’s strategic initiatives and future plans, potentially driving investor confidence and contributing to the stock price increase.
The EURCAD attempted to regain the bullish bias by its rally above the broken bullish channel’s support at 1.5945 level, achieving some of the gains by its rally to 1.1600, to face a strong rejection due to entering zones of high liquidity absorption, to rebound to the downside strongly towards 1.5775, confirming its exit from the bullish track again.
Forming a strong resistance at 1.5930 level against the current trading and providing negative momentum by stochastic, these factors make us prefer the bearish bias dominance, which might target 1.5660 level, reaching the extra support at 1.5530 level.
The expected trading range for today is between 1.5660 and 1.5860
Copper price is under strong bearish pressure to push it to decline below the support at $5.3200, to lose most of its previous gains to reach $4.3900, to face the moving average of 55.
Despite the main stability within the main bullish channel’s levels, the contradiction between the main indicators may increase the chances for suffering extra losses by targeting 161%Fibonacci extension level at $4.2650, while renewing the bullish attempts requires stepping above $4.7400 level, providing chance for recording gains again.
The expected trading range for today is between $4.2600 and $4.5200
Trend forecast: Fluctuated within the bullish track
