Crypto Briefs

Following a major Bitget exchange breach, approximately 1,497 of 2,377 identified attacker addresses have routed stolen funds through THORChain swaps, according to Bitget's live tracker. The incident has drawn scrutiny to THORChain's role in facilitating movement of illicit proceeds, raising questions about cross-chain swap protocols' exposure to hacked funds.

Two large bitcoin treasury holders, Strategy and Strive, collectively purchased more than 2,700 bitcoin in a single week, spending a combined $232.5 million. The purchases highlight ongoing institutional accumulation activity among major bitcoin holders.

Ethereum's leading liquid restaking protocol is abandoning its core restaking business amid collapsing yields and mounting smart-contract risks. The shift reflects a broader industry downturn in restaking profitability, with top protocols now operating at minimal margins as the initial restaking boom subsides.

Belarus has approved a legal framework for cryptocurrency banks operating within the country, marking the nation's first regulatory approval for such institutions. The framework was signed earlier in the year, though specific details on operational parameters and approved entities remain limited in available reporting.

Researchers from UC San Diego demonstrated an attack that allows impersonating a hardware security module without extracting its private key, exploiting vulnerabilities in RSA implementation. The findings raise security concerns for cryptocurrency hardware wallets and other systems relying on hardware vaults for key protection.

Chainlink has announced a collaboration with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to develop a new AppChain for 24/7 collateral management. The partnership aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in financial market operations through blockchain integration, potentially reshaping how collateral is managed in traditional finance.

Lido's reserve target remains at 1,500 ETH, though an unexecuted committee plan could reprioritize deposits as a new staking module launches. The current reserve level may slow stETH withdrawals during market stress, according to CryptoSlate reporting on protocol governance discussions.

Stellar has become the third-largest blockchain by tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), surpassing Solana, Avalanche, and Aptos. The ranking shift suggests growing adoption of Stellar's network for RWA tokenization projects, though the source does not specify total value locked or name the primary competitors ahead of Stellar.

The SEC staff revised its token buyback FAQ on September 25, adding an explicit requirement that systems lack centralized control for buybacks to qualify as non-sales under securities law. The updated guidance tightens the standard beyond prior language focused solely on functionality, potentially narrowing what token projects can do with repurchases.

Input Output Global founder Charles Hoskinson predicted that Midnight, a privacy-focused blockchain project, will grow larger than Zcash. The statement comes as IOG develops privacy infrastructure for the Cardano ecosystem. No specific metrics or timeline were provided for the comparison.

Robinhood reported a 24% increase in daily crypto trading volume during September, according to Crypto Briefing. The growth signals increased market engagement, though the source notes historical volatility and evolving trading strategies have characterized the platform's performance.

Democratic senators on the Senate Intelligence Committee published a report alleging that Tether (USDT) has become a key financial instrument for the Iranian government. The report characterizes USDT as a "lifeline" for Iran's regime, suggesting cryptocurrency stablecoins enable sanctions evasion. The allegations raise compliance concerns for Tether and underscore regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins in geopolitical contexts.

Gemini has launched staking for Hyperliquid's HYPE token with a 2.1% annual percentage yield. The offering is subject to regional restrictions but may broaden user engagement and investment options on the platform.

Russia will begin accepting cryptocurrency exchange applications on October 5 under new regulatory rules, though companies still require separate Bank of Russia approvals and must await final decisions on retail asset eligibility. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies lack confirmed retail clearance despite the application window opening.

XDP began trading on Kraken as of September 28, 2026, with funding and trading now live on the exchange. The announcement marks the token's debut on a major cryptocurrency trading platform.

Bitget announced the resumption of Bitcoin withdrawals following a $387 million security breach, with an 08:00 UTC restart scheduled. Ethereum and USDT withdrawals remain suspended. The exchange showed futures activity on both BTC and ETH ahead of the withdrawal restart.

Hyperliquid token (HYPE) declined 5% as an analyst warned of potential further downside toward the mid-70s price range. Despite the bearish short-term forecast, the same analyst characterized HYPE as a must-have holding for crypto portfolios, suggesting conviction in longer-term prospects.

Bittensor has proposed Gamma tokens as a mechanism to enhance collaboration between subnets within its network. According to Crypto Briefing, the tokens are designed to foster cross-subnet coordination and could improve overall network efficiency and economic integration.

Blockchain.com has filed a confidential S-1 registration statement with the SEC, signaling plans for a multi-billion dollar initial public offering. The move could establish new valuation benchmarks for crypto infrastructure companies and potentially accelerate adoption of tokenized securities in digital markets.

The Cardano Foundation announced a multi-year partnership with UCLA's Venture Accelerator at Anderson School of Management to introduce blockchain coursework, fund five startup fellowships, and sponsor a founder showcase at the Los Angeles campus. The initiative aims to expand blockchain education and entrepreneur development in the region.

Polygon is implementing a two-month increase to its gross POL staking rate, raising it from a baseline of approximately 3% to 7.7%, funded by protocol fees. The boost rewards stakers during the promotional window rather than based on when fees were collected.

Ripple's XRP token faces limitations in its freeze functionality as stolen coins move beyond freeze controls, according to 99Bitcoins reporting. Meanwhile, Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin circulation is nearing $2.5 billion across multiple networks, suggesting growing adoption of the asset.

Bitcoin traded near $84,000 on September 28 after retreating from above $87,000, with traders monitoring whether U.S. spot ETF demand can sustain the month's breakout. Technical analysis from Bitget Wallet research indicates a 4-hour Supertrend has shifted bearish, highlighting key support levels as the focus for near-term price action.

WisdomTree's tokenized Treasury money fund lagged its T-bill benchmark by 15 basis points over a one-year period, according to analysis by Dune. The underperformance highlights how fund expenses and liquidity terms eat into returns for tokenized money market products, a key metric for investors comparing on-chain and traditional fixed-income vehicles.

Wallet in Telegram has rebranded to Walt, supporting over 300 assets, as Telegram prepares to roll out its separate Gram wallet to users. The rebrand was announced September 28 and comes as Telegram expands its native cryptocurrency and wallet ecosystem.

Chainlink released CCIP 2.0, enabling financial institutions to run their own security checks on cross-chain transfers. The update arrives five months after Kelp DAO lost $292 million in a bridge exploit, highlighting growing institutional demand for customizable security controls in cross-chain messaging infrastructure.

Goldman Sachs is directing approximately $100 billion from its Treasury fund through institutional cryptocurrency firms' infrastructure, according to CoinDesk. The bank is doing so without creating a tokenized version of the assets, instead using existing crypto-native rails for settlement and custody.

Tether's USDT stablecoin grew on Ethereum throughout 2024, but the proportion held in smart contracts declined even as total issuance expanded, according to Bank for International Settlements data. Ethereum's historical contract-held share fell during the period, while Tron's smart contract holdings remained near 1%.

The Compound Foundation denied allegations of misusing V2 reserves after records showed 344,780 COMP tokens increased its voting power ahead of a $52 million V4 budget vote. The Foundation stated the proposal had sufficient support to pass without those tokens, addressing concerns about potential governance manipulation.

BNB Chain has appointed Thomas Chen to the role of Chief Business Officer, according to a Chainwire announcement. The appointment signals the blockchain platform's continued focus on business development and strategic partnerships.