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.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Binance Founder: Suspected Hack Poses No Risk to User Funds
Binance founder stated that a suspected hack incident at the exchange appears to pose no threat to user funds. The incident highlights vulnerabilities inherent to crypto exchanges and the importance of centralized safeguards in protecting customer assets from potential losses.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingCFTC Chair Criticizes Utah's Legal Action Against Kalshi
CFTC Chair calls Utah's prosecution of prediction market exchange Kalshi a "blatant overreach," amid federal litigation seeking to block the state's enforcement efforts. Utah has already secured an initial ruling against the exchange, marking an ongoing jurisdictional dispute over crypto-derivative regulation.
Read the original at The DefiantCoinbase Q3 earnings beat estimates as crypto rally boosts profit
Coinbase reported Q3 adjusted net income of $77.7 million, beating transaction revenue estimates amid rising crypto prices. Average USDC holdings in Coinbase products reached a record $22 billion, signaling increased stablecoin adoption on the exchange platform.
Read the original at The DefiantCoinbase CEO Armstrong Plans to Sell Up to $1.31B in Shares
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan to sell up to $1.31 billion in company shares, with sales potentially extending through 2027. Co-founders Fred Ehrsam and Emilie Choi also adopted similar share-sale plans with different trading windows, a routine disclosure practice for corporate insiders.
Read the original at The DefiantUnverified Claims of Binance Outflows to Tornado Cash Wallets Surface on X
An unverified claim circulated on X alleging Binance transfers to wallets funded by Tornado Cash, a privacy mixer; no public blockchain data has confirmed the allegations. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between privacy tools and regulatory oversight in cryptocurrency markets, raising questions about exchange compliance and user trust.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingBitcoin slides below $80K, Solana falls toward $95
Bitcoin dipped below $80,000 while Solana touched $95 amid broader crypto market volatility. The price movements highlighted risks posed by leveraged positions in the market and underscored the importance of clear communication to prevent panic-driven selling.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingGrayscale exec: stablecoins could enable 24/7 tokenized markets
Krista Lynch, an executive at Grayscale, argued that stablecoins could revolutionize financial markets by enabling continuous trading and reducing settlement risks. Lynch suggested the shift would require operational changes from market participants.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingGrayscale: US crypto activity at 15–20% of global market ahead of midterms
Grayscale's research head estimates the United States accounts for 15–20% of global cryptocurrency activity, according to a report published October 28. The firm argues that crypto adoption will continue regardless of the midterm election outcome.
Read the original at Crypto.newsKuCoin exits Russia and Belarus markets immediately
KuCoin announced on October 29 an immediate halt to services for users in Russia and Belarus. Affected customers will receive individual deadlines to close positions and withdraw assets, though the exchange did not specify withdrawal timelines or transition details in the announcement.
Read the original at Crypto.newsMystery whale withdraws $290M from DeFi nightly as Aave rates spike
Bitquery data shows a whale extracting approximately $290 million from DeFi protocols near midnight, coinciding with Aave borrowing rates tripling during the withdrawal window. October 29 recorded a milder borrowing rate snapshot, suggesting the pattern may indicate temporary liquidity squeezes tied to the large withdrawals.
Read the original at CryptoSlateBubblemaps Traces $2.7M Outflow From Polymarket Breach
Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps tracked a $2.7 million outflow following a Polymarket security breach. Trading has resumed on the prediction market platform, which committed to full reimbursement of affected users; one trader cited in the analysis confirmed moving funds to safety.
Read the original at The DefiantStellar Gains USDC Payment Corridor via Movantis for US-El Salvador
Movantis and the Stellar Development Foundation announced on October 29 that Stellar will become a settlement option within Movantis's multi-rail payment platform, enabling USDC transfers on the corridor between the US and El Salvador. The integration expands stablecoin infrastructure for cross-border payments in the region.
Read the original at NewsBTCGrayscale: US represents 15-20% of global crypto activity
Grayscale stated that the United States accounts for only 15-20% of global cryptocurrency activity, suggesting that international trends and regulatory policies outside the US may be more significant drivers of crypto market growth than domestic policy changes. The claim highlights crypto's inherently global nature and implies reduced dependence on US-centric regulatory developments.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingDeribit Bitcoin Options Expiry: $6.4B Settlement Due Friday
Approximately $6.4 billion in Bitcoin options are set to expire on Deribit tomorrow, representing nearly one-fifth of the exchange's open interest. The settlement's max pain level is positioned well below current Bitcoin trading levels, according to Decrypt's analysis of the derivatives market.
Read the original at DecryptCelestia Unveils Voyager Architecture for AI Payments
Celestia Labs announced Voyager, a pre-production execution architecture designed to support AI payments, citing a 21 million transactions-per-second benchmark in single-node testing. The publication notes the benchmark does not reflect live network throughput and represents an early-stage architectural expansion rather than a production-ready system.
Read the original at The DefiantSEC Charges BG Wealth, DSJ Exchange in $130M Crypto Fraud
The SEC has charged BG Wealth and DSJ Exchange with defrauding investors of over $100 million by promising guaranteed trading returns and falsely claiming regulatory approval. The firms allegedly used misleading filings to misrepresent their SEC status to investors seeking low-risk crypto exposure.
Read the original at The DefiantPolymarket Pledges Restitution After Third-Party Provider Compromise
Polymarket halted trading after identifying a compromised third-party provider and pledged to make affected users whole. The platform did not specify the scope of the incident or timeline for service restoration at the time of reporting.
Read the original at The DefiantGrayscale launches HYPG fund with 0.29% fee, $186.9M AUM
Grayscale's HYPG fund began trading on Nasdaq on June 3, offering exposure to the HYPE token with an annual sponsor fee of 0.29%. As of October 28, the fund held $186.9 million in assets under management.
Read the original at The DefiantStellar-based liquidity pilot launches automated pool
Pontoro and Archax have announced an Automated Liquidity Pool launching on the Stellar blockchain during Meridian 2026, testing new mechanisms for pricing redemptions in private fund offerings. The pilot explores alternative liquidity management approaches within the Stellar ecosystem.
Read the original at NewsBTCSlush Wallet adds stablecoin option for Sui network fees
Slush Wallet has introduced a feature allowing Sui users to pay network transaction fees in stablecoins rather than native SUI tokens. The wallet upgrade aims to improve user experience and lower barriers to blockchain adoption by simplifying the fee payment process for sends and payments.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingCFTC Chair Selig backs onchain finance rules at Link:NYC
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig pledged at Chainlink's Link:NYC event to help reshape regulations for onchain finance as the agency develops a federal registration pathway for crypto trading platforms. The remarks signal regulatory support for establishing clearer frameworks governing decentralized finance and onchain derivatives trading.
Read the original at Crypto.newsPolymarket halts trading after users report unauthorized wallet drains
Polymarket restricted trading to cancel-only mode and suspended relayer operations on Oct. 29 while investigating unauthorized withdrawals reported by users. One social media account alleged losses of $2.68 million in the incident.
Read the original at Crypto.newsWalmart, Eli Lilly reject OKXICE tokenized stock plans
Walmart and Eli Lilly have rejected participation in OKXICE's tokenized stock offering, bringing total corporate objections to 38. The rejections reflect broader concerns among companies about third-party control and regulatory risks associated with blockchain-based securities offerings.
Read the original at Crypto BriefingPolygon and Solana Partner on Stablecoin Payments for Banks
Polygon and Solana have announced a partnership to integrate Solana's stablecoin activity with Polygon's banking, wallet, and payment infrastructure. The collaboration aims to bring stablecoin payments to banks, combining the two networks' capabilities in a move that sets aside historical competitive tension between the projects.
Read the original at CoinDeskCircle petitions SEC to exempt stablecoins from Wall Street capital rules
Circle has submitted a letter to the SEC requesting regulatory relief from a financial rule that it argues limits stablecoin growth. The company seeks separate permissions for stablecoin offerings, brokerage capital requirements, and customer reserve segregation, highlighting gaps in current issuer regulation where regulators have not yet established definitive guidance.
Read the original at CryptoSlateHTX Exits UK Market Following FCA Settlement
HTX has ceased UK operations following a settlement with the Financial Conduct Authority. Existing customers are barred from trading and must request approval to access a one-time 48-hour withdrawal window, with all transactions subject to sanctions compliance checks.
Read the original at The DefiantIndia's ED Launches Searches in $524M Crypto Transfer Probe
India's Enforcement Directorate announced searches related to alleged cryptocurrency transfers totaling $524 million, naming Binance and Bybit as platforms involved in suspected foreign payouts. The agency did not announce charges against either exchange, and details on targeted entities or investigation scope remain limited.
Read the original at The DefiantZilliqa CEO Steps Down Amid Security Probe
Zilliqa's CEO has stepped down as the board assumes oversight during an active security investigation. The incident has triggered closure of the X-Bridge in both directions and resulted in reported losses across four token pools on PlunderSwap, a platform operating within the Zilliqa ecosystem.
Read the original at The DefiantFluid Launches DEX v2 Beta With Customizable Collateral
Fluid has opened a beta version of its decentralized exchange v2 on Ethereum, featuring custom collateral and debt range parameters. Governance has established $50,000 borrowing ceilings per asset for the new contracts, while pool creation remains restricted during the beta phase.
Read the original at The DefiantUtexo Plans USDT Launch on Bitcoin Via RGB Protocol
Dubai-based startup Utexo announced plans to relaunch Tether's USDT on Bitcoin using the RGB protocol, with a public launch scheduled for November 28. Lightning Network support is expected in Q1 2027. The initiative addresses bridge risk concerns in a stablecoin market where approximately $300 billion already operates on Ethereum, Tron, and other networks.
Read the original at Bitcoinist