Crypto Briefs
Short updates on stories reported by a single outlet so far — summarized in a few sentences, always linking the original reporting. Stories picked up by more publications get full articles.
Friday, September 25, 2026
Bitget's $352M Hack Could Deplete 76% of Protection Fund
Bitget faces a reported $352 million hack linked to North Korean actors, which would consume 76% of its $464 million protection fund if fully covered, leaving reserves at $112 million below the exchange's stated minimum threshold. The incident poses questions about the sufficiency of Bitget's user protection mechanisms and recovery capacity.
Read the original at CryptoSlateMitchell Askew: 15M Inactive BTC Signals Seller Exhaustion
Bitcoin Magazine reports analyst Mitchell Askew's interpretation of on-chain data showing approximately 15 million BTC in long-term inactive supply, which he argues indicates seller exhaustion despite macroeconomic headwinds. Askew uses this metric to explain Bitcoin's recent rally and suggests limited selling pressure from long-term holders.
Read the original at Bitcoin MagazineBlackRock Expands Tokenization Efforts Through Ondo Partnership
BlackRock is deepening its involvement in blockchain-based tokenization of financial products, according to Decrypt. The move reflects a broader trend of major financial institutions accelerating their onchain product offerings. Details of the specific partnership scope were not disclosed in the brief announcement.
Read the original at DecryptMorgan Stanley Joins NEXTPredict Prediction Market Platform
Morgan Stanley has joined NEXTPredict, a prediction market platform, as the sector bets on attracting institutional traders. Prediction markets remain dominated by sports betting, though valuations increasingly hinge on anticipated institutional adoption and broader market participation.
Read the original at DecryptZest Protocol Enables Bitcoin Collateral for Ethereum USDC Loans
Zest Protocol launched a mainnet demo allowing users to collateralize native Bitcoin on the Bitcoin network to borrow USDC on Ethereum without wrapping or bridging assets. Bitcoin remains in self-custodial Taproot vaults during the process. The current demo limits collateral to 0.001 BTC per wallet and represents an early-stage release ahead of full production launch.
Read the original at BitcoinistMorpho Faces Risk Curation Model Sustainability Challenges
Morpho protocol has disclosed structural vulnerabilities in its risk curation business model, including dependence on offchain revenue streams and concentration risk among curators. The DeFi lending protocol's reliance on these mechanisms could undermine long-term sustainability and competitive positioning in the crowded lending market.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingKuCoin Launches Tokenized Stock Trading for Apple, Robinhood, SpaceX
KuCoin has added spot trading for tokenized representations of Apple, Robinhood, Strategy, and SpaceX stocks issued on Solana, with each token collateralized 1:1 by underlying assets held with a regulated custodian. The xStocks offering is restricted by jurisdiction, excluding the United States and United Kingdom among others.
Read the original at BitcoinistToshiba joins 26-firm Japanese EJPY stablecoin trial
Japan launched a six-month pilot program with 26 participants including Toshiba, financial institutions, and local government bodies to test EJPY and other yen stablecoins in payments, remittances, and related use cases. The initiative represents an expansion of Japan's effort to integrate stablecoins into commercial infrastructure.
Read the original at Crypto.newsAltcoins surge while Bitcoin consolidates near $84K
Altcoins rallied broadly with 93 of 100 CoinDesk 100 constituents rising, while Quant jumped 39% over 24 hours. The altcoin season index reached its highest level in more than three months as Bitcoin held near $84,000.
Read the original at CoinDeskMultiversX Restarts Mainnet After Exploit; Kraken Halts EGLD Trading
MultiversX resumed mainnet block production on September 24 following an exploit-triggered halt, but major exchange Kraken maintained restrictions on EGLD trading, allowing only cancellations while pausing deposits and withdrawals. The network outage and continued exchange restrictions highlight ongoing recovery efforts and custodian caution in the wake of the security incident.
Read the original at CryptoSlateKuCoin Launches 20x Leverage Moonshot AI Pre-IPO Perpetual
KuCoin has listed MOONSHOTUSDT, a perpetual futures contract linked to Beijing Moonshot AI Technology with up to 20x leverage and 24/7 trading, settling in USDT. The contract is a synthetic derivative tracking the company rather than direct share ownership or IPO allocation.
Read the original at BitcoinistPeirce Urges SEC to Address KYC Data Collection Before Stablecoin Rules Expand
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has called for ending what she characterizes as KYC "honeypots"—concentrated stores of customer identifying information—before proposed stablecoin regulations create additional ones. Peirce argues that direct stablecoin issuers should collect customer data conditionally rather than mandatorily, and that reliance on institutional intermediaries should remain an option to reduce centralized identity repositories.
Read the original at CryptoSlateTravala Establishes Permanent AVA Reserve, Doubles Monthly Buybacks
Travala announced creation of a permanent strategic reserve for its AVA token and committed to matching AVA Foundation monthly open-market buybacks, effectively doubling purchase volume each cycle. The company stated that tokens placed in the reserve will not be sold or transferred, representing a balance-sheet commitment to token supply management.
Read the original at BitcoinistCoinMarketCap acquires CoinGlass for derivatives analytics
CoinMarketCap has acquired CoinGlass, a crypto derivatives data provider, to expand its analytics capabilities. The move is intended to strengthen CoinMarketCap's competitive position in the crypto data market by integrating derivatives insights into its existing platform.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingWhitehats recover $5.7M in NFTs after Limit Break exploit
Whitehats recovered $5.7 million in NFTs following an exploit of Limit Break's payment processor. The incident underscores the importance of security infrastructure in blockchain systems to mitigate financial losses from vulnerabilities.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingBond Volatility Spikes to March Highs as Bitcoin, Stocks Stay Calm
Bond market volatility has reached its highest level since March, while cryptocurrency and equity volatility indexes remain near yearly lows. The divergence suggests different risk assessments across asset classes, with traditional bonds facing elevated uncertainty despite relative calm in bitcoin and stock markets.
Read the original at CoinDeskBitcoin Holders Cash Out Differently Than Previous Market Peaks
CoinDesk reports that Bitcoin holders are liquidating positions ahead of a potential market top, but the methods and patterns differ from prior bull-cycle peaks. The shift reflects evolving market infrastructure and holder behavior as the asset matures.
Read the original at CoinDeskKazakhstan Permits Crypto Miners to Use Flared Oil Field Gas
Kazakhstan has approved crypto miners' use of excess gas from oil fields for power generation, addressing energy waste through flaring. The policy aims to reduce emissions while supporting the country's mining sector competitiveness.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingEthena Expands USDe Backing Strategy to Tokenized Equities
Ethena has extended its basis trading strategy for USDe stablecoin backing to include tokenized U.S. equities and equity perpetual futures, moving beyond cryptocurrency-only funding models into traditional stock markets. The protocol now diversifies collateral funding across both crypto and equity derivatives.
Read the original at Crypto.newsRipple CEO: XRP May Cede Payment Flows to Stablecoins
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse acknowledged that XRP may not be optimal for all cross-border payment use cases, conceding that stablecoins could better serve certain customer needs. The statement reflects a shift in positioning as the company navigates competition in the payments space and regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrencies.
Read the original at Crypto.newsSwitchboard Oracle Support Ends on Solana; Migration Questions Remain
Switchboard, a Solana oracle provider, is ending support on September 25, requiring applications using its price feeds to migrate to alternatives. Current public documentation shows which applications depend on Switchboard data, but it remains unclear how many live markets have completed the transition before the deadline.
Read the original at Crypto.newsNEAR Rallies on Bitwise ETF Approval, Trades Near $5
NEAR token rallied to trade near $4.96 following NYSE Arca's approval of Bitwise's NEAR ETF listing. The price action reflects combined momentum from the exchange-traded product launch and existing staking initiatives, though technical indicators suggest stretched conditions ahead.
Read the original at Crypto.newsUS Seizes Capstone Bank Accounts Over Alleged Tether, Bitfinex Transfers
U.S. authorities seized Capstone's bank accounts amid allegations of illegal transfers connected to Tether and Bitfinex. The action underscores risks in crypto-banking partnerships and may discourage smaller banks from working with digital-asset firms, according to Crypto Briefing.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingPayPal's PYUSD stablecoin expands to 70 new markets
PayPal expanded its PYUSD stablecoin to 70 additional markets globally, according to Crypto Briefing. The expansion is positioned to reduce remittance costs and settlement times, potentially disrupting traditional financial infrastructure in those regions.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingSequans Communications Completes Bitcoin Treasury Exit
Sequans Communications has sold its final 314 Bitcoin, completing a full exit from its corporate treasury holdings. The company's strategic divestment reflects a broader corporate trend away from speculative cryptocurrency investments toward financial stability measures.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingBitcoin Long-Term Holders Realize 72% Gains Amid Profit-Taking
Bitcoin long-term holders have realized profits of 72%, according to CryptoQuant analysis. Exchange reserves and open interest have declined, though CryptoQuant notes the market recovery remains unconfirmed, suggesting uncertainty about whether profit-taking will trigger a broader selloff.
Read the original at Crypto.newsFed Drafts Stablecoin Issuance Rules for Banks and Subsidiaries
The Federal Reserve released two proposals on September 24 outlining requirements for stablecoin issuance. One proposal establishes terms for insured state member banks to seek approval for stablecoin subsidiaries, while the other governs issuer qualification. The rules detail asset backing and operational standards for dollar-pegged tokens.
Read the original at Crypto.newsCFTC Updates Guidance on Crypto as Derivatives Collateral
The CFTC has issued updated guidance on tokenized customer-fund investments and blockchain record-keeping, refocusing attention on existing rules permitting futures intermediaries to accept cryptocurrency as margin collateral. The article examines the cascading effects triggered when collateral tokens decline in value.
Read the original at Crypto.newsSolana Upgrade Targeting 150ms Finality Enters Public Testnet
Solana has launched a network upgrade targeting 150-millisecond finality on its public testnet. The upgrade represents a long-awaited development aimed at improving the blockchain's transaction speed and performance characteristics.
Read the original at ZyCryptoSamourai Wallet Co-founder Faces Prison Transfer After Program Closure
Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of privacy-focused Samourai Wallet, faces another prison transfer after FCI McKean deactivated a treatment program he was enrolled in. Rodriguez had recently completed a 30-day ordeal at the facility, and the program closure now necessitates his relocation within the federal prison system.
Read the original at Crypto.news