Crypto Briefs — Monday, October 26, 2026
Bitcoin fell below its 200-week moving average following macroeconomic headwinds from stronger-than-expected employment data, while Solana accelerated its position in euro stablecoin adoption with $22 million in inflows this week. Meanwhile, regulatory developments continued shaping the sector, with Republican senators warning that capital adequacy rules could prevent U.S. banks from holding Bitcoin despite congressional efforts to expand institutional participation. These movements reflect ongoing tensions between market dynamics, regulatory clarity, and infrastructure expansion across digital asset markets.
Ducat launches UNIT stablecoin on Cashu ecash protocol
Ducat has integrated its UNIT stablecoin into Cashu ecash, creating a variant called Turbo UNIT. The move aims to enhance privacy and transaction efficiency for stablecoin operations within Bitcoin's ecosystem, according to Crypto Briefing.
Solana adds $22M in euro stablecoins in single week
Solana accumulated $22 million in euro stablecoins within one week, outpacing all other blockchain networks during the period. The growth signals increasing adoption of euro-denominated digital assets on Solana and reflects the chain's expanding role in stablecoin markets traditionally dominated by Ethereum.
Helium Co-Founder Haleem Steps Down as Nova Labs CEO
Amir Haleem has stepped down as CEO of Nova Labs, moving to chairman, with Mario Di Dio assuming the top role. The leadership change follows Nova Labs' sale of its consumer mobile carrier to Andrew Yang's Noble Mobile, as HNT token has declined 99% from its peak valuation.
Pump.fun Launches GO Bounty Platform Amid Suicide Content Backlash
Pump.fun released GO, an escrow-based bounty marketplace for SOL-denominated tasks, but faced immediate scrutiny when a user posted a $690,000 listing linked to suicide content within hours of launch. The platform had not removed the listing as of reporting, raising concerns about content moderation policies.
Republican senators warn 1,250% capital rule may bar US banks from Bitcoin
A group of Republican senators sent a May 27 letter to Federal Reserve and FDIC leadership warning that an obscure capital adequacy rule could prevent US banks from holding Bitcoin, despite congressional efforts to expand traditional finance's role in digital assets. The senators argue the regulation creates an unintended barrier to bank participation in cryptocurrency markets.
Crypto Exchanges Pivot to Commodities as Retail Trading Wanes
Major cryptocurrency exchanges are experiencing declining retail trader activity but offsetting losses by offering Wall Street-style derivatives betting on gold, silver, oil, stocks, and indexes, according to a CryptoQuant report. The shift reflects platforms' efforts to capture new revenue streams during a weak retail trading period.
Cardano Social Activity Spikes as ADA Hits Four-Year Lows
Cardano (ADA) has fallen below $0.20 to its lowest level in four years, while on-chain metrics show active addresses at four-month highs and social dominance near a 2026 peak, according to Santiment data. The surge in activity follows warnings from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson about a "wave of failures" in the ecosystem.
Bitcoin Recovers Above $61K After $1.6B Liquidation Rout
Bitcoin fell to $59,227 overnight before recovering above $61,000 following a selloff triggered by Friday's strong jobs report, which depressed equities and bonds alongside crypto markets. The decline triggered $1.6 billion in liquidations across leveraged positions as the Nasdaq 100 dropped approximately 5%.
Zcash Bug Exposes Privacy-Security Tradeoff, Experts Warn
A critical bug in Zcash that allowed undetectable counterfeiting has prompted security experts to discuss inherent tensions between privacy and verifiability in cryptocurrency design. The incident illustrates how privacy mechanisms can complicate detection of fraudulent transactions, raising questions about the fundamental tradeoffs privacy-focused coins must navigate.
Lido Expands Ethereum Validators with 32 ETH Operator Bond
Lido has introduced larger Ethereum validators requiring a 32 ETH operator bond, with stake distribution determined by activation schedules, protocol caps, and inflows. The change allows operators to post collateral separately while validator stake volumes depend on downstream protocol conditions and deposits.
Bitcoin Whales Increase Binance Deposits Amid June Selloff
Large Bitcoin holders have sharply increased deposits to Binance during June's market correction, with whale inflows reaching 8,200 BTC on June 2 and 6,400 BTC on June 4, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost. Monthly average whale inflows to the exchange have more than doubled from roughly 1,200 BTC in mid-April to over 2,800 BTC currently, a pattern last observed during February's market stress that analysts interpret as a potential sell-side signal.
Binance Delisting Triggers 30%+ Crash for COS and Three Other Altcoins
COS token plummeted over 30% in valuation following Binance's decision to delist the altcoin, according to CryptoPotato. The exchange's move sparked significant losses for three additional tokens, highlighting market sensitivity to major exchange delistings.
Institutions May Be Crashing Bitcoin Price Ahead of Clarity Act
Crypto pundit Ash Crypto has speculated that institutions are deliberately suppressing Bitcoin's price to buy before the Clarity Act passes, citing a similar pattern in August 2022 when BlackRock's private trust filing preceded a 36% drop and subsequent 95% surge after the spot ETF approval. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $22 billion in outflows over 14 trading days, with Michael Saylor attributing the decline to capital rotation toward AI rather than fundamental weakness.
Peter Schiff Predicts Tether Market Cap Will Surpass Bitcoin
Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff predicted that Tether's USDT stablecoin will eventually surpass Bitcoin in market capitalization, citing USDT's current $188 billion valuation and growing use in payments and remittances. Schiff also reiterated his bearish Bitcoin thesis, predicting BTC could fall 80% to below $20,000 from its October 2025 peak and citing tech stock weakness as a headwind.
UNDP launches two-year blockchain cybersecurity program
The United Nations Development Programme and Blockchain for Good Alliance announced a two-year cybersecurity initiative on October 19 focused on public-sector blockchain adoption. The program addresses operational resilience for institutions deploying blockchain services, emphasizing incident prevention, response capability, and access restoration.
SEC Official Argues Blockchain Code Is Constitutionally Protected
A federal securities regulator has distinguished between writing blockchain code and responsibility for its use, suggesting the constitutional protections may apply to software developers in decentralized finance. The statement could influence how U.S. authorities regulate DeFi developers going forward, potentially limiting liability for code authors.
Cardano analytics platform TapTools shuts down
TapTools, a Cardano analytics platform, announced it is winding down operations, marking a setback for the ADA ecosystem. The shutdown comes as Cardano faces criticism over allegations that the network is a 'zombie chain' with low user activity.
Ripple Swell Conference Set for October in New York
Ripple will host its Swell conference October 27–29 in New York, merging its institutional event with the Apex developer gathering. The conference will be watched for announcements that demonstrate concrete products and implementation paths connecting commercial promises to working solutions.
Bitcoin Breaks Below 200-Week MA on Fed Cut Repricing
Bitcoin fell below its 200-week moving average to $61,000 for the first time since 2022, driven by a stronger-than-expected May payrolls report that reduced expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. The decline exposed a $1.2 billion options wall at the $60,000 level, highlighting key technical and derivative support levels amid macroeconomic headwinds.
Cardano Founder Hoskinson Floats Blockchain Split Amid Ecosystem Crisis
Charles Hoskinson suggested splitting Cardano as a "nuclear option" following the collapse of a major ecosystem tool, amid tensions over funding, governance, and developer support. Hoskinson warned that additional applications may fail, citing deeper structural issues within the network's ability to sustain builders.
Securitize Clears SEC Approval for NYSE Public Listing
Securitize, the tokenization firm managing BlackRock's BUIDL fund, has received SEC approval for its merger registration, clearing the path for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The approval marks a significant milestone for the blockchain infrastructure provider backing one of the crypto sector's largest tokenized fund offerings.
AI Uncovers Four-Year-Old Flaw in Zcash Privacy Network
An AI model identified a previously unknown four-year-old vulnerability in Zcash's privacy protocol, prompting security researchers to warn that similar bugs may exist across cryptocurrency and traditional financial systems. The discovery raises concerns about undiscovered security issues in both crypto networks and banking infrastructure.
Bitcoin Purists Attribute $200B Crash to AI Capital Drain
Bitcoin advocates including Mati Greenspan, Michael Saylor, and Jameson Lopp attributed a sharp price decline that wiped $200 billion in market value to capital rotation toward artificial intelligence investments. Jack Mallers declined to forecast price direction but suggested the downturn presented a buying opportunity, reflecting divergent responses among prominent bitcoin figures to the market selloff.
Tom Lee's BitMine Prices Ethereum Treasury Preferred Shares
BitMine, associated with Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee, has priced preferred shares offering a 9.5% dividend in an upsized offering to fund Ethereum purchases. The move mirrors a similar strategy employed by Grayscale's Bitcoin Treasury, packaging equity and yield to attract institutional capital into digital-asset holdings.
BNB Chain plans high-performance EVM layer-1 with CZ backing
BNB Chain announced plans for a new EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain focused on decentralized trading speed and AI integration, with Changpeng Zhao backing BNB as its sole token. The initiative aims to close performance gaps with centralized exchanges through enhanced throughput capabilities.
BloomTrading bot users lose nearly $1M in wallet drain
BloomTrading bot users collectively lost approximately $1 million as their wallets were drained, according to Crypto Briefing. The incident underscores security risks associated with custodial trading bots and highlights the importance of platform transparency and user security practices.
XRP ETFs Resume Gains as SOL Funds Post Outflows
XRP exchange-traded funds returned to positive inflows during the latest trading week, extending a winning streak, while Solana-linked funds continued to experience net outflows. Despite overall market strength, the magnitude of inflows into XRP ETFs remained modest relative to trading activity.
Foundation Passport Phishing Traced to Compromised Cloudflare Keys
Foundation, maker of the Passport hardware wallet, linked phishing emails targeting users to compromised Cloudflare API keys, according to The Defiant. Messages included personal and purchase details; the company stated Passport hardware and user funds remained secure despite the breach affecting its infrastructure.
Canada Proposes 1% Fee Cap on Direct Stablecoin Cash-Outs
Canada has proposed regulations allowing small stablecoin holders to redeem directly without minimum thresholds, capped at a 1% fee. The framework acknowledges potential constraints from reserve-market illiquidity and banking access limitations on daily redemption volumes. The proposal aims to enhance consumer protection while addressing practical operational challenges.
Bitcoin falls below $80k as traders reduce risk before Fed
Bitcoin dropped below $80,000 as traders de-risked ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting. Ether and XRP led losses among major cryptocurrencies, while the AI trade declined further in Asian markets after Goldman Sachs lowered its Kospi index target by 25 percentage points.
Flare's $4M XRP Liquidity Pool Reaches Closure After $25M Volume
Flare's XRP liquidity pool concluded operations with over $25 million in four-month trading volume and had achieved double-digit fixed XRP rates by May, according to on-chain records. The rollover marks a liquidity milestone for the Flare ecosystem.
Bitcoin Falls to $60K as Treasury Holders Sell, $62B in Value Erased
Bitcoin declined to levels near $60,000 on Friday, down roughly 52% from its October all-time high of $126,000, amid renewed selling pressure from major holders. MicroStrategy sold 32 BTC for approximately $2.5 million—its first sale in nearly four years—triggering broader market uncertainty. Combined Bitcoin treasury company stocks fell to $72 billion from a peak of $134 billion in early October, erasing $62 billion in value as forced selling by debt-burdened firms undermines the "buy and hold" narrative.
Saylor Maps Bitcoin Community Into Four Factions in New Paper
Michael Saylor released a paper categorizing the Bitcoin ecosystem into four distinct groups, arguing that Bitcoin has evolved beyond its early niche status to serve individuals, companies, banks, capital markets, and governments. The framework appears aimed at bridging internal disagreements within the Bitcoin community.
apxUSD Stablecoin Loses Dollar Peg Amid Bitcoin Decline
Apyx Finance's apxUSD stablecoin fell to $0.94 following Bitcoin's drop to $63,000, marking the first documented peg break for the collateral mechanism tied to Strategy's BTC treasury. The incident highlights risks in Bitcoin-backed stablecoin design during market volatility.
CZ responds to BNB Chain's L1 launch plan with shared BNB token
Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, reacted to BNB Chain's announcement of a new Layer 1 blockchain targeting 200-millisecond blocks that will use a shared BNB token rather than issuing a separate asset. The testnet is scheduled for late 2026 with a mainnet launch planned for 2027.
CZ Comments on BNB Chain's Planned Layer-1 Blockchain
CZ responded to BNB Chain's announcement of a new Layer-1 blockchain targeting 200-millisecond block times and using the shared BNB token rather than a separate asset. The project plans a public testnet in late 2026 ahead of a 2027 mainnet launch.
Monero community funds 45 XMR proposal for core development
Monero's Community Crowdfunding System is backing a three-month development proposal requesting 45 XMR for full-time work on privacy infrastructure, wallet software, and core network improvements. Developer jpk68 submitted the initiative, which had accumulated 31.04 XMR in community support at the time of reporting.
PancakeSwap directs opBNB CAKE holders to bridge before Nov 23
PancakeSwap has instructed CAKE token holders on the opBNB network to bridge their tokens before November 23 due to LayerZero support discontinuation on the chain. The move may reshape CAKE liquidity distribution across networks and signal potential changes to the protocol's tokenomics strategy.
Reflect Launches Create Token Issuance Tool on Solana
Reflect launched Create on October 22, a platform for issuing branded yield-bearing tokens on Solana, with the ecosystem promoting the tool. The platform simplifies token issuance mechanics, though token economics remain dependent on underlying collateral and interest-distribution models rather than the issuance interface itself.
Bitcoin Wallet Bug Allowed Attackers to Steal Funds via Fee-Bumping Exploit
A vulnerability in Bitcoin wallet software enabled rogue servers to replace legitimate transactions with fraudulent ones, then prompt users to approve higher fees on the fake transactions, potentially allowing theft of funds. At least one user lost bitcoin to the exploit before developers patched the flaw.
Hyperliquid User's Wallet Flagged After HTX-Linked Transfer
A Hyperliquid user reported their wallet was marked high-risk after receiving a repayment from a transfer linked to crypto exchange HTX, raising questions about how automated sanctions screening affects users with no direct connection to flagged platforms. The incident highlights potential collateral damage from blanket compliance measures in decentralized finance.
BloomTrading promises refunds after $954K Solana wallet drain
BloomTrading said it will refund nine wallets following reports that 9,408 SOL (approximately $954,000) were drained from 49 suspected victims. The cause of the incident remains under investigation, though the company committed to making affected users whole.
Anchorpoint delays HKDAP retail access as HSBC launches RedCoin
Anchorpoint, backed by Standard Chartered, has delayed confirming retail access to its HKDAP Hong Kong dollar stablecoin. The announcement follows HSBC's launch of RedCoin, its own stablecoin offering available to 3.3 million PayMe users, intensifying competition in the Hong Kong digital currency market.
ECB targets 2027 pilot for digital euro amid payment sovereignty push
The European Central Bank reaffirmed plans for a digital euro, citing reduced dependence on foreign payment providers as a key rationale. The ECB has scheduled a pilot program for 2027 with a potential full rollout by 2029, according to an October 24 interview.
LND Implements Fee-Estimate Guardrail in 0.21.5 Release Candidate
LND's October 22 release candidate introduces a ceiling for external Bitcoin fee estimates to mitigate wallet risk from inflated API values. The update addresses a vulnerability where software could treat outside fee recommendations too generously, alongside fixes to other node operations.
Foundation warns Passport users after Cloudflare API key breach
Foundation notified Passport users that compromised Cloudflare API keys allowed attackers to send fraudulent emails from official Foundation domains. The breach did not compromise hardware wallets, user funds, or private keys, but users were advised to verify the authenticity of Foundation communications going forward.
Solana Tokenized Stock Holders Surge to 1.5M Despite SOL Price Weakness
Solana reported 1.5 million tokenized equity holders as of October 26, a fivefold increase since August, according to Blockworks data cited by the Solana team. The milestone comes despite SOL trading near $100 after weeks of selling pressure, highlighting a disconnect between protocol adoption metrics and token price movement.
Zcash community divided over $550k adult industry grant
Zcash's community grant program awarded $550,000 for outreach at adult industry events, sparking criticism from some traders while organizers argue the initiative addresses privacy needs among populations excluded from traditional banking. The dispute reflects tensions within the Zcash community over the project's strategic priorities and use cases.
Bitcoin Faces Macro Headwinds: Fed, PCE, GDP Data Due This Week
Bitcoin and broader markets face a week of significant macroeconomic data releases, including Federal Reserve decisions, PCE inflation readings, and GDP figures, alongside major technology earnings reports. Analysts expect the confluence of events to create outsized volatility across digital assets and traditional equities.
11M Bitcoin in Unidentified Wallets Suggests Long-Term Retail Holding
CoinDesk analysis finds over 11 million bitcoin—more than half of all bitcoin in circulation—held in wallets with no identifiable owner, suggesting retail investors have maintained positions for extended periods. Observers caution the metric provides limited insight into actual ownership patterns or market concentration, as wallets may belong to exchanges, institutions, or dormant addresses.
MicroStrategy sold 32 BTC; traders blamed Saylor amid broader sell pressure
MicroStrategy disclosed a sale of 32 BTC between May 26 and May 31 for $2.5 million at an average net price of $77,135, according to a June 1 Form 8-K filing. Bitcoin traders initially attributed recent price weakness to Saylor's sale, though analysis suggests larger selling pressure originated elsewhere in the market.
Bitcoin Falls Below $60,000 to Weakest Level Since October
Bitcoin dropped below $60,000, reaching its lowest price since October 2024 amid multiple headwinds including a shift by its largest buyer to seller status, ETF investor outflows, and rising rate-hike concerns. The confluence of negative factors pressured the asset lower during the session.
Ethena rebounds 8% despite Hayes' $2.7M token sale
Ethena (ENA) rose 8% toward $0.21 following Arthur Hayes' $2.7 million token sale, according to Crypto.news. Traders are monitoring $0.23 as a key resistance level while assessing risks of further correction.
Galaxy Research: 55% of Bitcoin Supply Remains Unidentified
Galaxy Research estimates that 55% of Bitcoin's circulating supply—roughly 11.6 million BTC—cannot be linked to any known individual or institution, remaining outside major blockchain research firms' ownership records. The analysis highlights significant gaps in Bitcoin ownership visibility despite growing institutional adoption and on-chain monitoring capabilities.
RWA perpetuals open interest approaches $20 billion
Real-world asset perpetuals have accumulated nearly $20 billion in open interest, according to CryptoRank data. The growth signals increasing institutional participation in tokenized asset markets and suggests a diversification of trading strategies beyond native cryptocurrencies.
ConsenSys Warns Ethereum Operators of eMudhra Signing Risks
ConsenSys identified security vulnerabilities in eMudhra certificate signing affecting some Ethereum node operators, particularly those with non-default Java trust store configurations. Web3Signer deployments using eMudhra are advised to implement immediate access-control changes, though default setups remain unaffected.
UK Regulators Launch Crypto Consultation on Listings, DeFi, Staking
UK financial regulators have initiated a major consultation addressing crypto asset listings, decentralized finance, and staking activities, proposing to apply traditional financial regulation frameworks to the digital asset sector. The consultation aligns with the UK Treasury's stated goal of extending existing financial rules to cryptocurrency markets, signaling a shift toward comprehensive regulatory oversight.
Bitcoin drops below $80k ahead of Fed rate decision
Bitcoin fell below $80,000 on October 26, declining 1.02%, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's October 28 policy announcement. The price movement raises questions about market support levels and the potential for further selling if buyer interest wanes amid broader monetary policy uncertainty.
Blast Publishes Withdrawal Guide With $40M Remaining in Bridge
Blast Layer 2 has released contract-level exit documentation ahead of its withdrawal interface deadline, though $40 million in assets remain bridged. Users must provide proofs, wait one day for processing, and claim DAI separately for USDB withdrawals, creating additional friction in the exit process.
Bitcoin Wallet Vulnerability Patched in Version 4.8.3
A security vulnerability affecting Bitcoin wallets has been addressed in version 4.8.3, which patched a malicious-server attack capable of converting manual fee increase requests into unauthorized payments directed by attackers. The flaw did not require compromise of private keys to execute the theft, representing a novel attack vector on wallet software.
Fed, ECB, BOJ Rate Decisions and Coinbase Earnings Shape Crypto Week
Major central bank interest-rate decisions from the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan are scheduled for the week of Oct. 26, alongside Coinbase's earnings report. These macro events are expected to influence cryptocurrency markets through their impact on risk appetite and asset valuations.
Alsobrooks: Clarity Act requires ethics accord before Senate vote
Maryland Democrat Alsobrooks stated that the bipartisan Clarity Act crypto legislation is nearing completion but requires resolution of ethics and illicit finance concerns before a Senate floor vote. The comments indicate remaining disagreements between lawmakers on regulatory guardrails and compliance standards despite overall legislative momentum.
Dogecoin, Shiba Inu tumble 9% as Bitcoin approaches $60K
Dogecoin and Shiba Inu fell 9% as heavy trading volume and liquidations broke through key support levels, part of a broader risk-off move across cryptocurrency markets. The memecoin losses tracked Bitcoin's approach to $60,000.
Cypherpunk Technologies Shares Fall 40% on Zcash Privacy Bug
Shares of Cypherpunk Technologies, the Winklevoss-backed Zcash treasury operator, fell nearly 40% to their lowest level since March amid concerns over a privacy vulnerability in ZEC. The decline reflects market concern about the bug's potential impact on the privacy-focused cryptocurrency.
Sherman warns government stablecoin payments risk tax evasion
Rep. Brad Sherman cautioned that permitting U.S. government payments via stablecoins would legitimize alternatives to the dollar and potentially fuel tax evasion. Sherman's concern reflects broader lawmaker skepticism toward integrating digital assets into federal payment systems, though the source provides limited detail on specific policy proposals under consideration.
MEXC confirms lack of MiCA license, exits Netherlands
MEXC exchange confirmed it does not hold a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license as it winds down operations in the Netherlands and exits Russia and Belarus. The exchange also identified 13 prohibited jurisdictions where it will restrict services, citing regulatory compliance requirements across multiple regions.
Ripple launches Aviva Investors' £22B fund tokenized on XRP Ledger
Ripple and Aviva Investors have tokenized a share class of a £22 billion sterling fund on the XRP Ledger, with £50 million initially invested across two fund offerings totaling £86 million. The deployment marks a major use case for institutional asset tokenization on the ledger.
Hong Kong's Licensed Stablecoin Issuers Chart Divergent Retail Rollout Paths
Hong Kong's first two licensed stablecoin issuers are pursuing different strategies for retail adoption: HSBC launched RedCoin through its PayMe mobile wallet on October 23, while Anchorpoint's HKDAP has operated under institutional restrictions since August. Both face regulatory hurdles as they work toward broader retail deployment in the city's newly licensed digital-asset framework.
Binance Futures Adds AbbVie and Indonesia ETF Perpetuals
Binance Futures launched four new 24/7 perpetual contracts with up to 20x leverage, including positions on pharmaceutical company AbbVie, Indonesia ETF, chipmaker STMicroelectronics, and EQT. The addition expands Binance's non-crypto derivatives offering tied to traditional finance assets.
CoinShares rebrands Toncoin staking ETP to Gram Staking ETP
CoinShares renamed its Toncoin Staking ETP to CoinShares Gram Staking ETP, aligning the product with Telegram's original vision for the blockchain project. The rebranding is intended to enhance investor confidence and improve the product's market positioning.
CoinShares rebrands Toncoin staking product to Gram Staking ETP
CoinShares has rebranded its Toncoin Staking ETP to CoinShares Gram Staking ETP, aligning the product with Telegram's original vision for the blockchain. The move is intended to enhance investor confidence and improve the product's market positioning.
Bitcoin Call Options Surge Ahead of US Midterm Elections
Traders on Derive are accumulating Bitcoin call options positions in anticipation of the US midterm elections, signaling expectations for significant price volatility. The surge in call buying reflects positioning ahead of a potentially market-moving political event, though the source provides limited detail on the scale or specifics of the positions.
Solana trader Kimchi adds Pump.fun to bio; KIMCHI token surges 150%
Solana trader Kimchi restored Pump.fun to his X biography on October 25, three days after removing it, prompting his KIMCHI meme coin to jump more than 150% briefly. The move follows a crypto saga that began with a deleted token post and subsequent crash; neither party has publicly explained the removal or restoration.
Retail Bitcoin Holders Deposit to Binance at 6-Month High; Whales Withdraw
Small Bitcoin holders are depositing coins to Binance at the fastest pace in six months while whale deposits have declined by one-third since late August, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost. The divergence occurs as Bitcoin attempts to sustain $80,000 ahead of a Federal Reserve decision on Wednesday, with the contrasting flows suggesting disagreement among market participants on near-term price direction.
Dogecoin traders eye $0.081 as technical signals align
Market analyst Ali Martinez has identified $0.081 as a potential inflection point for Dogecoin, citing alignment of technical signals, on-chain support metrics, and whale accumulation activity. The price level represents a convergence of multiple analytical frameworks that some traders view as significant.
Bitcoin Dead Search Interest Peaks; CZ Says Buy Dip
Google searches for 'Bitcoin is dead' reached their highest level since 2022, according to ZyCrypto. Binance founder CZ responded by noting the phrase has been repeatedly declared throughout Bitcoin's history, implying the current pessimism presents a buying opportunity.
BitMine accumulates 10,452 ETH, repurchases 2.04M shares
BitMine added 10,452 ETH to its holdings and executed a share buyback of 2.04 million shares within a single week, according to Crypto Briefing. The moves reflect the company's confidence in Ethereum's value proposition and are intended to enhance shareholder returns through capital allocation to both digital assets and equity reduction.
Circle Mints ~4 Billion USDC on Solana in Week
Circle minted approximately 4 billion USDC tokens on the Solana blockchain over the past seven days, according to Crypto Briefing. The minting activity may reflect strategic positioning or increased demand for stablecoins on Solana and could influence the network's transaction volume and market dynamics.
Aviva Investors Launches £22B Sterling Fund on XRP Ledger
Aviva Investors deployed a tokenized share class of its £22 billion Sterling Liquidity Fund on the XRP Ledger on October 26, with Ripple serving as technology partner; this marks the firm's second tokenized fund on the network following a dollar-denominated version in July. The institutional adoption milestone did not drive XRP price materially higher, with the token remaining below $1.30.
Strive Completes Largest Bitcoin Purchase at 6,182 BTC
Strive acquired 6,182 bitcoin in what the company claims is its largest-ever purchase, surpassing its previous record set during the Semler Scientific merger. The acquisition underscores ongoing corporate demand for bitcoin as a treasury asset.
Schwartz argues banks should prefer XRP over Ethereum, Solana
David Schwartz, former CTO of Ripple, defended XRP's relevance in international finance, arguing that banks may favor XRP over Ethereum and Solana for certain use cases. Schwartz's comments reflect ongoing competition among the three blockchain projects for institutional adoption in cross-border payments.
Vanguard ETF reportedly acquires $7.5M stake in Metaplanet
Vanguard's FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) has reportedly purchased 4.5 million shares in Metaplanet, a Japanese Bitcoin treasury company, valuing the position at approximately $7.5 million according to Bitcoin Treasuries data from October 26. The move signals institutional investment interest in publicly traded crypto-focused corporate treasury strategies.
Ripple Expands Corporate Finance Services for Digital Assets
Ripple has launched a new venture enabling eligible businesses to generate returns on qualifying digital assets, including its stablecoin RLUSD, outside traditional market hours. The move expands Ripple's presence in corporate finance by offering yield-generation capabilities for institutional participants.
Nexus Mutual, Firelight differ on coverage limits, claim filing
Kraken's Firelight insurance arrangement caps coverage at $100,000 per depositor address per period, while direct Nexus Mutual buyers can select their own coverage amount but must file claims themselves. The structural differences affect how users access protection and the maximum payout they receive in loss events.
OCC Encourages Community Banks to Issue Stablecoins
The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is encouraging community banks to become stablecoin issuers, though applications have not yet opened and new issuers must obtain regulatory approval before launching operations in the U.S. The move signals potential expansion of bank participation in the stablecoin market.
OCC Crypto Bank Charter Approvals Draw Pushback From Banking Lobbyists
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved conditional bank charters for five cryptocurrency firms—Ripple, Circle, BitGo, Paxos, and Fidelity—prompting criticism from traditional finance industry groups. Banking lobbyists have raised concerns about stablecoins and the regulatory shift, signaling potential friction over the OCC's approach to crypto sector legitimization.
Kraken named Fintech Company of the Year at National Awards
Kraken was awarded Fintech Company of the Year – Established at the Business Post's National Fintech Awards 2026 in Dublin on October 15. The award recognizes innovation, product advances, and impact on the Irish fintech sector, with Kraken competing against major Irish fintech firms. The exchange emphasized Ireland's importance to its operations serving EEA clients.
Canada Opens Stablecoin Consultation, Maintains Yield Restrictions
Canada has launched a consultation on stablecoin regulations while keeping in place restrictions on yield-bearing stablecoins. The regulatory framework aims to provide market clarity, though critics argue the yield ban may limit innovation in the stablecoin sector.
Keystone to Destroy 18,835 Wallets After Auth Key Breach
Hardware wallet maker Keystone confirmed that hackers obtained a device authentication key and accessed personal data of 25,964 customers, prompting the company to destroy 18,835 units and halt shipments. The October 26 announcement details the security incident and remediation steps, affecting a significant portion of its distributed devices.
Robinhood Chain DEX volume drops 23% amid momentum questions
Robinhood Chain's decentralized exchange volume fell 23.1% week-over-week while maintaining $1.132 billion in DeFi deposits, according to DefiLlama data as of October 26. Traders are questioning whether the post-launch volume decline indicates sustained growth challenges for the blockchain.
Strategy pauses Bitcoin buys; STRC buybacks hit $205M
Strategy has repurchased $204.9 million of its STRC preferred stock while making no Bitcoin purchases or sales in the week ended October 25, according to an October 26 filing. The company's Bitcoin holdings remain unchanged at 848,517 BTC. The pause in Bitcoin acquisitions comes as the company prioritizes share buybacks.
MemeToro Launches Open-Source AI Agent for Memecoin Deployment
MemeToro, an open-source memecoin launchpad on BNB Chain, has developed an AI agent capable of launching memecoins in seconds with transparent, auditable code rather than centralized control. The platform aims to address accountability concerns by enabling community verification of the agent's operations rather than requiring trust in a single operator.
Ripple Treasury adds 24/7 returns, AI cash management for RLUSD
Ripple announced 24/7 Returns and new AI automation tools for Ripple Treasury on October 26, enabling eligible corporate customers to earn yields on qualifying digital assets and manage cash outside traditional banking hours. The update combines yield-bearing capabilities with automated cash management features designed for institutional users of the Ripple ecosystem.
Solana RWA holders surge to 1.73M in weekly growth sprint
Solana's real-world asset (RWA) holders grew to 1.73 million, adding 140,000 participants over one week. The rapid adoption is framed as evidence of increasing blockchain adoption and potential acceleration in asset tokenization on the network.
Metaplanet US subsidiary acquires 4 Bitcoin ahead of Super League deal
Metaplanet's US subsidiary has acquired 4 Bitcoin as the company moves forward with a strategic expansion into US markets through a Super League partnership. The acquisition is part of Metaplanet's broader effort to enhance liquidity and market influence ahead of future investment activities.
DogeOS integrates RedStone oracle for Dogecoin DeFi
DogeOS has partnered with RedStone to integrate oracle data services into Dogecoin's DeFi ecosystem. The integration is intended to enhance Dogecoin's decentralized finance capabilities by providing reliable price feeds and data access, potentially attracting additional developers and users to build DeFi applications on the network.
Polymarket US records 74M trades in October
Polymarket US logged a record 74 million trades in October, signaling growing mainstream adoption of regulated prediction markets. The milestone underscores the platform's expansion but raises questions about whether such trading volumes can be sustained.
Balancer Uncovers $500K+ in Forgotten User Assets
Balancer protocol discovered over $500,000 in overlooked user assets during a review, including buffer positions associated with Ethena and Gauntlet, as well as unclaimed legacy LDO rewards for Gnosis DAO and its stakeholders. The protocol is addressing the recovery and return of these dormant funds.
Ritual Launches AI-Native Layer 1 Blockchain for Autonomous Agents
Ritual, founded by former Polychain Capital partners Niraj Pant and Akilesh Potti, has announced Ritual Chain, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for autonomous agents and AI software. Unlike traditional blockchains focused on financial transactions, Ritual Chain enables software to independently use intelligence, control capital, and interact with blockchain systems.
CFTC Advances Voluntary Crypto Exchange Registration Pathway
CFTC Chairman Mike Selig announced the agency is advancing a voluntary federal registration pathway for crypto exchanges amid continued congressional stalling on comprehensive crypto market-structure legislation. The move represents the regulatory agency's effort to establish oversight mechanisms for digital-asset trading platforms absent legislative action from Congress.
Ethereum Foundation Backs Default Wallet Privacy via Kohaku SDK
The Ethereum Foundation endorsed default privacy in wallets through an update on Kohaku, an SDK integrating three privacy protocols, arguing that attackers should have reduced access to users' on-chain histories. The development represents the Foundation's push toward privacy-by-default features in Ethereum infrastructure.
Kraken Pro Launches BTC and ETH Options Trading in EEA
Kraken Pro has made European-style options trading available to eligible clients in the European Economic Area, offering BTC and ETH options on web and mobile through its Derivatives account. Options are cash-settled in USD with portfolio margin enabled by default, share collateral with existing Futures positions, and trade via request-for-quote mechanism supporting up to five legs per order.
Kraken Parent Payward Plans CFTC-Regulated Futures Launch
Payward, the parent company of Kraken exchange, plans to launch CFTC-regulated cryptocurrency futures for US clients. The move aims to boost market credibility and expand offerings, though regulatory approval remains pending and could affect future market dynamics.
BNB Standard plans BNB Chain validator ahead of Nasdaq listing
BNB Standard's CEO outlined plans to launch a BNB Chain validator as the firm prepares for its Nasdaq debut. The validator launch is expected to enhance the company's strategic position within the crypto ecosystem and potentially impact shareholder value.
Payward pursues CFTC regulation as Hyperliquid HIP-3 deployer
Payward is seeking to become the first CFTC-regulated deployer on Hyperliquid's HIP-3 protocol, potentially integrating blockchain infrastructure with US derivatives regulatory compliance. The move could reshape US derivatives trading by establishing a regulated on-chain trading venue and influence global market structure.
Ethereum Foundation's ETH Sale Draws Community Criticism
The Ethereum Foundation faced backlash for selling ETH, with community members questioning why the organization continually liquidates its holdings rather than pursuing strategies to increase the asset's value. An analyst expressed frustration over the pattern, highlighting tension between the Foundation's treasury management and stakeholder expectations for asset stewardship.
Hyperliquid Tests Permissioned Markets for US Derivatives
Hyperliquid is testing optional onchain allowlists to enable permissioned markets, part of Payward's strategy to launch US-regulated perpetual futures contracts. The existing Hyperliquid markets would remain unchanged under the proposal, though the US perps contracts still require regulatory approval before launch.
Circle Acquires Interop Labs Team and Axelar Cross-Chain Tech
Circle, the issuer of USDC stablecoin, has acquired the team and technology from Interop Labs, which developed Axelar Network's cross-chain infrastructure. The acquisition aims to enhance Circle's cross-chain capabilities and interoperability solutions for USDC and its broader platform.
Coinbase expands US bank partnerships with PNC, Chase, Citi
Coinbase has established partnerships with three major US banks: PNC offers eligible private banking clients Bitcoin trading and custody via its digital platform; JPMorgan Chase enables account funding; and Citi supports stablecoin payments. The deals represent further mainstreaming of crypto services through traditional banking infrastructure.
NBA Names Kalshi, Polymarket as Official Prediction Markets
The NBA designated Kalshi and Polymarket as preferred prediction-market exchanges, granting them access to official league data and U.S. marketing rights. The move comes as Kalshi faces a Utah lawsuit alleging unlawful fees of up to $61.2 million, underscoring regulatory pressure on prediction-market platforms amid state-level challenges.
NBA names Kalshi, Polymarket as preferred prediction-market exchanges
The NBA has designated Kalshi and Polymarket as its official prediction-market exchanges, granting both platforms access to league data and U.S. marketing rights. The announcement comes as Kalshi faces a Utah lawsuit alleging unlawful fee collection of up to $61.2 million, adding regulatory pressure to the growing prediction-market sector.
MetaMask Adds Anthropic Pre-IPO Perpetual Contracts via Hyperliquid
MetaMask has enabled trading of pre-IPO perpetual contracts for Anthropic through Hyperliquid, allowing crypto users to speculate on the AI company's future valuation before any public offering. The move could increase market engagement and liquidity around Anthropic's value discovery.
MetaMask Lists Anthropic Pre-IPO Perpetual Contracts via Hyperliquid
MetaMask has enabled trading of pre-IPO perpetual contracts for Anthropic through the Hyperliquid decentralized exchange. The offering allows crypto market participants to gain derivatives exposure to the AI company ahead of any potential public offering, potentially increasing market liquidity and influencing valuation expectations.
Bitcoin consolidation near $80K may break as macro events loom
ARP Digital suggests Bitcoin's consolidation around $80,000 could end within days as macroeconomic events approach. The analysis implies upcoming macro catalysts may trigger significant price movement, though the direction remains unspecified by the source.
Backpack Securities records $584M weekly tokenized stock volume
Backpack Securities reported $584 million in weekly trading volume for tokenized stocks, underscoring the platform's market position in the emerging tokenized securities space. The achievement suggests that execution quality and user experience may outweigh the breadth of available assets in driving adoption of tokenized equity trading.
Chainlink launches CustodySync custody-to-DeFi borrowing product
Chainlink announced CustodySync on Oct. 26, a product enabling institutions to borrow from decentralized lending markets using assets held in qualified custody, with Anchorage Digital Bank as its launch partner. The service connects custodians' collateral to DeFi protocols, expanding institutional access to on-chain lending.
Strive closes in on second-largest corporate Bitcoin treasury
Strive is acquiring Bitcoin aggressively and now sits 1,001 BTC behind Metaplanet in the second-largest corporate treasury ranking. The competition among companies building Bitcoin reserves reflects growing institutional adoption and strategic shifts in corporate treasury management.
Bitcoin eyes $94K rebound if $80K support holds
Bitcoin could rally toward $94,000 if buyers successfully defend the $80,000 support level and the price closes above its 50-day exponential moving average, according to CryptoPotato's technical analysis. The report suggests these key technical levels will determine the cryptocurrency's near-term direction.
Solana explores geo-aware leader scheduling amid security trade-offs
Solana researchers have proposed a geographic leader schedule to reduce latency through faster validator handovers, but the approach raises security concerns by concentrating leaders in specific regions. The research highlights a fundamental tension between improving network performance and maintaining decentralization across different validator locations.
SEC Clarifies 30-Day Notice Rule for Tokenized Stock Venues
SEC staff guidance has clarified that venues operating under the temporary tokenized-stock exemption must provide 30 days of public notice before launching operations. The requirement aims to give market participants and regulators time to review proposed tokenized equity trading platforms before they go live.
Gemini Launches Prediction Markets Across US After CFTC Approval
Gemini has rolled out Gemini Predictions, its prediction market service, to all US states following CFTC approval as a Designated Contract Market. The launch expands Gemini's digital asset offerings and marks a regulatory milestone for the exchange's expansion into derivatives trading.
Injective Launches GPU Rental Index Perpetuals With 10x Leverage
Injective Protocol announced the launch of perpetual futures markets tracking rental prices for five Nvidia GPUs, with up to 10x leverage available on its new Super Intelligence Compute Index (SICI). The market went live on October 26, allowing traders to hedge or speculate on GPU rental costs as demand for AI computing resources fluctuates.
Akash Network votes to migrate from Cosmos to Solana with 98% support
Akash Network governance poll shows approximately 98% support for migrating from the Cosmos blockchain to Solana, with AKT tokens to be converted into SPL tokens on Solana. The shift is expected to enhance AKT liquidity and integration within Solana's ecosystem, with potential implications for the decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) sector.
Solana Web3.js 3.1 Release Targets Developer Stack Fragmentation
Solana released Web3.js v3.1 on October 16, according to the project's changelog, alongside updates to validator-client releases and developer tooling. The update aims to reduce fragmentation in Solana's developer stack.
Bitso Launches Morpho Lending Integration via Bóvedas Vaults
Bitso integrated Morpho lending protocol into its platform through a product called Bóvedas, enabling users to deposit USDC and peso-pegged MXNB into noncustodial lending vaults with variable returns. The offering carries no deposit insurance, placing the risk of principal loss on users participating in the lending pools.
Osmosis Halts OSMO Token Inflation, Reallocates Staking Model
Osmosis ended OSMO token inflation and transitioned staking rewards to a revenue-based model, removing approximately two percentage points of APR previously funded by issuance. The change freezes about 51.9 million pre-minted developer tokens, marking a structural shift in the protocol's incentive system away from perpetual dilution.
Vultisig Patches Critical Private Key Vulnerability
Vultisig released an August update addressing a critical security flaw that could have allowed a compromised signer to recover private keys through malicious ECDSA messages exploiting an ignored stop condition. The wallet vulnerability potentially exposed user funds to theft if an attacker gained partial access to the signing process.
Blink Wallet Introduces $1 Monthly Inactivity Fee on Custodial Accounts
Blink Wallet began charging a $1 monthly fee on custodial accounts inactive for 12 months, with first charges processed by mid-October 2026. The wallet offers full refunds to users upon login, according to Bitcoin Magazine. The move is designed to encourage migration toward self-custody solutions.
Tuttle Files for Leveraged ETFs Including 2x Zcash Funds
Tuttle has filed for leveraged exchange-traded funds that include a 2x Zcash product, according to Crypto Briefing. Leveraged ETFs amplify market movements and carry heightened risk and reward potential in cryptocurrency markets.
XRP whale concentration hits 68.5%, highest since November 2022
Large XRP holders now control 68.5% of the token's supply, marking the highest concentration since November 2022, according to Crypto Briefing analysis. The increased whale dominance raises concerns about potential market manipulation and challenges claims regarding XRP's decentralization.
BCG Study: Institutional Custody Buyers Prioritize Governance Beyond Security
A Boston Consulting Group report commissioned by Ripple found that institutional custody buyers now weigh governance, interoperability, and operational integration alongside traditional asset security when evaluating providers. The study suggests custody solutions must address broader institutional needs beyond key management to compete for enterprise clients in digital-asset markets.
BCG Study: Institutions Demand Governance and Interoperability in Crypto Custody
A Boston Consulting Group report commissioned by Ripple surveyed institutional custody preferences, finding that buyers prioritize governance structures, interoperability across blockchains, and operational integration alongside traditional asset security measures. The findings suggest custody providers must broaden service offerings beyond key management to compete for institutional capital.
Coinbase Institutional Co-CEO: Second Wave of Institutional Bitcoin Capital Arriving
Coinbase Institutional Co-CEO Brett Tejpaul told Bitcoin Magazine that seven mega banks are now using Coinbase infrastructure, signaling what he calls a "second wave" of institutional capital entering Bitcoin. Tejpaul attributed the adoption surge to stablecoin rails enabling easier transactions, while noting institutions continue to view Bitcoin primarily as a technology asset rather than a currency.
Analyst Sets Downside Targets for VVV, TRAC, ARC
A crypto analyst has identified bearish technical setups for three AI-related altcoins. VVV and TRAC require 4-hour closes below key support levels to confirm downside moves, while ARC needs a daily close below its price channel to signal further declines.
SEC Adds Tokenization and AI to 2027 Examination Priorities
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has included tokenization and advanced technology risks on its fiscal 2027 examination watchlist, signaling regulatory focus on these areas. The move reflects the SEC's ongoing supervisory attention to emerging technologies and their implications for market participants and investor protection.
BlackRock Moves $140M Ethereum to Coinbase Amid 6% Decline
BlackRock transferred $140 million in Ethereum to Coinbase exchange, according to Crypto Briefing, as ETH declined 6% in recent trading. The transfer may indicate strategic repositioning by the asset manager amid volatile market conditions, though BlackRock has not publicly commented on the motivation behind the move.
Briefs summarize stories currently reported by a single outlet. All briefs · How we work