Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

An Seeking Alpha analysis rates Amazon (AMZN) a Strong Buy and sets a 12-month price target of $327, implying about 25% upside. The author argues that investors may be overlooking Amazon Web Services (AWS): its growth re-accelerated to 37%, the fastest pace in 18 quarters, and AWS generated 60% of Amazon’s operating income while supporting margin expansion. Amazon trades at 16.7 times trailing EV/EBITDA, which the analysis says is 21% below its five-year average and the lowest valuation among hyperscalers on that measure. Risks include continued negative free cash flow, rising capital expenditure and AWS growth trailing Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. The bullish case therefore rests on AWS momentum and valuation, while investment spending and cloud competition remain key factors for traders to monitor.

AGNC Investment Corp. reported a sharp decline in third-quarter tangible book value, which fell to $7.13 per share. The mortgage REIT faces pressure from rising interest rates and persistent inflation, which can weigh on the value of its investments. AGNC shares trade at about 1.18 times book value, above the historical median multiple of 1.03. The article’s author considers the valuation unattractive despite the company’s high yield, citing negative economic returns and an unfavorable risk-reward profile. The decline in AGNC’s book value and the premium valuation are key risks for investors assessing the stock.

Seeking Alpha contributor Samuel Smith argues that renewed inflation and higher interest rates are challenging income investors. The article attributes part of the inflation resurgence to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which it says disrupted global energy supply chains. It highlights two high-yield opportunities with inflation-resistant business models and strong cash flow, but the provided article excerpt does not identify them or include valuation details. The companies listed at the top are Western Midstream Partners (WES), Occidental Petroleum (OXY) and Genesis Energy (GEL). The central theme is that inflation-resistant income stocks may be becoming attractively priced, while higher rates and inflation remain risks for dividend-paying and leveraged businesses.

Sei’s cumulative decentralized exchange (DEX) volume reached $15.9 billion on 19 October 2026, bringing the trading-focused Layer-1 network close to the $16 billion milestone. Over the previous 30 days, Sei recorded $278 million in DEX trading volume, with Saphyre accounting for about $276 million. Other Sei DEXs combined handled roughly $2 million. Sei’s 24-hour DEX volume was $6.61 million, up 15.41% week on week. The network’s total value locked (TVL) stood at about $31.71 million, meaning monthly trading volume was nearly nine times the value deposited in its DeFi protocols. Saphyre, which evolved from DragonSwap, has processed more than $6.6 billion in lifetime Sei DEX volume. The concentration of activity in one venue is a key risk for the network, while the gap between trading volume and TVL is another metric to monitor. Higher trading activity may support demand for SEI transaction fees, but the data alone does not establish whether the uptick will persist.

OpenAI has added real-time collaboration to ChatGPT Slides, allowing multiple users to edit and comment on the same presentation. The features are available to Pro, Business and Enterprise subscribers with access to Space; free and lower-tier users are excluded for now. ChatGPT Slides also supports direct editing of slide text, images, shapes and charts, and exports to PowerPoint, PDF and Google Slides. However, collaborators can only receive view or full-edit permissions—comment-only access is not available. The update strengthens OpenAI’s competition with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, but has no clear direct impact on cryptocurrency markets.

AnchorWatch Trust Company, a Nevada-chartered trust company, has opened its Bitcoin custody service for fiduciaries, public companies, trusts and high-net-worth individuals. The service offers qualified Bitcoin custody with fixed-dollar fees based on vault size, capped at $10,000 per month. AnchorWatch says the cap can reduce costs for large clients as their Bitcoin holdings grow or the BTC price rises. Clients can choose between a model in which AnchorWatch holds some custody keys and a multi-institution setup that distributes key control among AnchorWatch, BitGo and CoinCorner. Clients may also apply for insurance backed by A+ rated Lloyd’s of London syndicates, with coverage limits of up to $370 million per client, subject to underwriting and policy terms. The launch adds another institutional Bitcoin custody option, with pricing and distributed key control as its main selling points.

Zions Bancorporation, National Association published its Q3 2026 earnings call presentation on 19 October 2026. The Seeking Alpha item identifies the presentation as accompanying the bank’s quarterly earnings call, but the provided article contains no presentation slides, financial results, forecasts or other operating details. As a result, it is not possible to assess the bank’s performance or compare its results with expectations from this content alone. Zions Bancorporation Q3 2026 earnings presentation is the only substantive development reported; traders would need the underlying slides or earnings release for figures that could affect ZION shares.

XPO has delivered strong revenue, profit and cash-flow growth, supported by market-share gains and operational improvements. The company is also seeking to divest its lower-margin European Transportation segment and focus on North American less-than-truckload (LTL) freight. Despite those positives, analyst Daniel Jones says XPO trades at a premium to industry peers. He rates the shares a “hold,” arguing that strong fundamentals alone may not be enough to drive market outperformance at the current valuation. XPO’s upcoming Q3 2026 results could show continued growth, but the cautious view would be reconsidered if the valuation improves or results beat expectations.

TSMC reported record third-quarter revenue and beat company and Wall Street expectations, with profits up 69%, according to the latest article. The earlier report said TSMC had also exceeded earnings and revenue estimates for 14 consecutive quarters, although its shares fell after results. Both reports attribute the chipmaker’s performance to strong AI demand; the newer report also highlights high-performance computing chips and estimates TSMC holds about 73% of the global foundry market. The newer article says TSMC trades at 17.6 times forward earnings, above its three-year average, but argues that long-term AI infrastructure investment and potential margin expansion could support further growth. A possible decline in gross margins remains a risk. For crypto traders, TSMC’s results may inform sentiment around AI-related technology and semiconductor demand, but neither report identifies a direct effect on cryptocurrency prices.

Intel has asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an expedited waiver to keep foreign-made automated guided vehicles (AGVs) operating in its US chip factories. The FCC added foreign-produced advanced robotics to its national security Covered List on July 28, 2026. In a petition filed in mid-October under docket 26-256, Intel seeks clarification on whether its AGVs fall under the restriction and approval for necessary modifications. The company says the robots have been used in semiconductor manufacturing for more than 20 years, no validated domestic replacements are available, and switching systems could take several years. Intel argues that an interruption could reduce US chip output. The FCC framework allows conditional approval for some foreign robotics, but requires the Department of War’s approval. The department has already approved certain AGV platforms, including one from Volley Automation. Its decision on Intel’s request is now a key point to watch.

Microsoft warns that AI agents with broad access to company systems could behave unpredictably, make serious mistakes or be manipulated, creating risks similar to insider threats. The company says enterprises should not rely on AI models to police themselves and should instead apply external security controls. Microsoft’s Guardian Agents, part of Project Perception, monitor AI activity and can limit permissions or require human approval for higher-risk actions. The company expanded its detection coverage from 25 to 60 types of AI agents, including OpenAI Codex and GitHub Copilot. The guidance reflects rapid enterprise adoption and reported cases of agents acting without authorization. For businesses using AI agents, Microsoft highlights inventory, access management and human oversight as key security priorities.

Ramp has applied to the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. The proposed entity, Ramp National Trust Bank, would focus on fiduciary investment management and digital-asset custody. Trust banks of this type cannot accept deposits or make commercial loans. The application was reportedly filed around October 16, 2026, and no review or approval timeline has been announced. Ramp, a New York-based fintech valued at $60 billion, reports a $2 billion annualized revenue run rate and serves more than 85,000 teams. If approved, the charter would bring digital-asset custody under federal supervision and expand Ramp’s financial services. The application adds Ramp to a group that includes Circle, Ripple, Paxos and BitGo, which have also sought OCC trust charters. The filing is an early regulatory step, not an approval; decisions on those pending applications may offer clues about the OCC’s approach.

Investor James Foord argues that rising AI-related credit stress could make corporate debt more attractive than buying technology stocks on a dip. He compares the risks to lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, when lenders often fared better than equity holders. Foord outlines five possible strategies, ranked by risk: Meta’s 5.625% notes due 2055; Oracle bonds paired with call options; the ANGL high-yield bond ETF; Alphabet’s 6.25% preferred shares; and gradually buying shares in companies positioned to consolidate their sectors. He cites yields of about 7% on Meta’s A+ rated bonds and 7.2% on Oracle’s 2032 notes, while warning that downgrades could trigger forced selling. The analysis flags Federal Reserve tightening, possible corporate solvency problems and uncertainty over government intervention as key risks. It stresses careful timing and position sizing. The article presents an investor’s strategy, not a report of completed trades or a market-wide forecast.

Thermador Groupe said it had about 900 employees in its third-quarter 2026 update, with staffing stable as turnover increased. The company also reported a slight decline in absenteeism, which CEO Guillaume Robin attributed to work by its teams. The price effect, which tracks inflation passed on to customers, was 0.9% at the end of the first half but slipped to minus 0.2% by the end of the third quarter. Thermador Groupe said it hopes the figure will return to positive territory by year-end. The call also briefly noted improving conditions for heat pumps and air-to-water heat pumps, but the available transcript provides no further details or sales figures.

Accel Entertainment (ACEL) remains a Buy, according to analyst Pedro Goulart, despite delays to the company’s planned video gaming terminal (VGT) rollout in Chicago. The article cites short-term price targets of $13–$14, implying about 20%–28% upside, and a $16 target after the Chicago launch. Regulatory delays are holding back the rollout, but ACEL has received state license approvals. The company could capture roughly 43.5% of Chicago’s market once operations begin. Its existing VGT business provides relatively stable EBITDA through long-term contracts, while regional acquisitions, including Toucan Gaming, are presented as a source of additional growth. The article says ACEL trades at forward EV/EBITDA multiples of about 5.3–5.8 times. The analyst views this valuation as attractive even if Chicago contributes nothing, while a successful rollout could offer further upside. The timing of regulatory approvals remains a key uncertainty.

The zkVM guests v2.3.0 preview is a temporary release for testing, not a production-ready launch. It provides guest binaries for ZisK 1.3.2-alpha, SP1 6.6.0 and OpenVM 2.1.0-rv64, built from commit b8407de1. The release includes SHA-256 checksums, a signed SHA256SUMS file and build provenance attestations that users can verify with GitHub CLI. The zkVM guests release is focused on testing and software verification; it does not announce a token, funding round or change to a blockchain network.

Strive bought 4,045 BTC from October 12 to 16 for about $335 million, at an average price of roughly $82,803 per coin. The purchase brings Strive’s Bitcoin holdings to 36,818 BTC, valued at more than $3 billion at the prices cited, making it the fourth-largest publicly traded corporate Bitcoin holder, according to the report. The company funded the purchase partly through warrant exercises, which raised about $369.2 million and issued 13.67 million new Class A shares. With traditional warrants fully exercised, Strive’s share count rose about 13.5% in a week, diluting existing shareholders. Warrant participation was 94%. Strive has also priced a $630 million offering of 15% SATS perpetual preferred stock, expected to settle on October 20. The company may use the proceeds for further Bitcoin purchases. The buying adds to corporate Bitcoin demand, but traders will be watching the offering’s settlement and any additional purchases, alongside the risks of share dilution and preferred-stock costs.

BlackRock filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 19 October 2026 for the iShares Bitcoin Managed Protection ETF. The proposed fund would offer gains linked to its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) while seeking to limit losses, though the filing details, protection mechanics, fees, ticker and launch date have not been disclosed in the article. The fund would be built around IBIT rather than introducing a new direct Bitcoin-holding structure. The application requires SEC approval before trading can begin. The filing expands BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF range, which also includes the income-focused BITA, and gives investors another potential way to manage Bitcoin exposure.

Gina Hinojosa has sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott, seeking more than 1,000 pages of unredacted communications between Abbott and Elon Musk. The records reportedly cover state incentives, broadband, artificial intelligence, data centres and environmental issues. The Hinojosa lawsuit follows the release of 1,374 heavily redacted pages. Musk has donated $500,000 to Abbott’s re-election campaign. Abbott’s office had not commented in the article. A prediction market cited by the report put the odds of a Democratic win in the 2026 Texas governor’s race at 24%, against 76% for a Republican win. The Hinojosa lawsuit is an election and government-transparency story, with no direct cryptocurrency market catalyst identified.

VinFast’s Q2 2026 earnings call opened with CEO and Chairman Pham Nhat Quan Anh, appointed on 12 September, leading the management remarks. Investor Relations Vice President Amandae Baey introduced the call and noted recent leadership changes, while CFO Lan Anh Nguyen and Chief Investment Officer Chien Nguyen also joined. The company described the leadership team as providing continuity as it pursues growth and profitability. The provided transcript excerpt contains opening remarks only; it does not include Q2 financial results, delivery figures, forecasts or analyst questions. VinFast Q2 2026 earnings call details on performance therefore cannot be assessed from this excerpt.

Silence Therapeutics is set to be acquired by Merck KGaA in an all-cash deal valued at $1.3 billion, offering $20 per American depositary share (ADS)—a 130% premium. The offer remains subject to shareholder and UK regulatory approval. The acquisition follows positive Phase 2 results for Silence Therapeutics’ siRNA candidate divesiran. In the SANRECO study, 88% of participants with phlebotomy-dependent polycythemia vera responded to treatment. An analyst has downgraded Silence Therapeutics from Buy to Hold, arguing the offer price limits further upside while approval is pending. If the deal falls through, the company may face funding challenges for Phase 3 trials and could need to raise capital, potentially diluting shareholders.

A Seeking Alpha contributor argues that long-term US Treasury bonds are becoming more attractive after years of weak performance and investor pessimism. The article says Treasuries with maturities of at least 10 years offer real yields of about 2% to 2.5%, and the author is adding exposure when yields are around 5% to 5.5%. They would consider larger allocations if yields rise to 6% to 7%. The author points to persistent inflation, large fiscal deficits and recent bond losses as risks, but says higher yields may compensate investors. They also cite high equity valuations and enthusiasm around artificial intelligence as reasons to hold Treasuries for diversification and potential downside protection. This is the author’s investment view, not a change in government policy. For crypto traders, the bond outlook matters indirectly: attractive bond yields can compete with risk assets for investment and may affect liquidity and risk appetite. The article does not discuss cryptocurrencies directly.

Anthropic says it will commit 5% of its shares to a new Public Benefit Fund, subject to stockholder approval. The company estimates that co-founder pledges and an employee matching programme could bring the share of its equity dedicated to public causes to about 20%. The fund will be a wholly owned LLC, and its equity cannot be used for lobbying or political donations. Anthropic has not yet detailed its tax treatment or public disclosures. The announcement comes as Anthropic prepares for a possible IPO as early as November, at a reported valuation of about $2 trillion. At that valuation, a 5% stake would be worth roughly $100 billion on paper. The company also recently proposed a draft AI safety bill that would allow the government to block the release of models posing certain severe risks. Elon Musk responded by saying he plans to give one SpaceX share to every child in the United States next year. Based on an estimated 72 million children and a share price of about $147, the pledge would be worth around $10.5 billion at current prices. The announcement concerns private-company equity and philanthropy, rather than cryptocurrency markets directly.

Solana recorded 8.92 billion successful non-vote transactions in Q3 2026, up 24% from Q2 and 104% from Q4 2025, making it the busiest quarter in the periods shown. A separate Solana Compass count was 8.78 billion, 1.6% lower, with both datasets pointing to rising Solana network activity. The figures do not establish how much activity came from organic users rather than bots or applications, or whether fees increased alongside transaction volume. SOL was trading near $104 when the reports were published; the data alone does not show that network growth caused or should have prevented price moves. Solana’s Alpenglow upgrade was scheduled for Oct. 21, targeting roughly 150-millisecond finality without changing transaction execution or user workflows. Traders may see transaction growth as a positive demand signal, but SOL’s direction also depends on broader market conditions, Bitcoin, regulation, partnerships and network reliability.

Stargate v2 will end support for Gravity Alpha Mainnet, Camp, GOAT Network and Metis Andromeda on October 23, 2026, citing low activity. Liquidity providers are urged to withdraw or bridge funds before the deadline. Stargate v2 users on the affected networks could face reduced access to cross-chain routes after support ends. LayerZero Labs will also discontinue its default Decentralized Verifier Network (DVN) and Executor services for these chains on October 30. Developers relying on those services must arrange replacement configurations where available; otherwise, some cross-chain functions may stop working. Official Ethereum–Metis bridges are not affected. The changes are part of a broader network-support wind-down. Stargate v1 pools across all chains are scheduled to close on December 15, 2026. Traders and liquidity providers should monitor withdrawals, available bridge routes and any resulting liquidity changes on the affected networks.

Stablecoin yield depends on how a platform generates returns, not just its advertised APY. The article compares six ways to earn on USDC and USDT, ranking them by the durability of their income sources. Funding-rate arbitrage ranks first: it earns payments from leveraged perpetual-futures traders, but returns can fall or reverse when funding turns negative, and exchange exposure adds risk. BitMEX data cited in the article found funding was positive for more than 92% of Q3 2025. Tokenized US Treasuries rank next for their clearer income source, though yields track short-term rates and access or redemption may be restricted. DeFi lending earns borrower interest, but rates fluctuate and smart-contract risks remain. Exchange rewards rely on revenue sharing and face regulatory uncertainty. Yield-bearing stablecoins carry both strategy and peg risks. Liquidity pools and farming rank last because headline APYs may depend heavily on token emissions that can decline in value or run out. The article says VectorTraders advertises annualised target ranges of 7.8% to 43.3%, depending on plan and term; these are not guaranteed returns. Its central advice to traders is to identify the actual source of yield and weigh sustainability, market, counterparty, regulatory and smart-contract risks over headline APY.

South Korea’s crypto gains tax is scheduled to start on 1 January 2027, but officials are again reviewing whether exchanges can meet the deadline. The tax has already been postponed three times. Finance officials are due to meet representatives of five major exchanges and the Digital Asset Exchange Alliance on 20 October to discuss readiness and unresolved implementation issues. The meeting cannot change the start date; any delay requires legislative approval. The planned tax is 22% including local tax, applied to qualifying annual crypto transfer and lending income above a 2.5 million won deduction. Exchanges say reporting systems and cost-basis calculations are not ready for different transaction types, including staking rewards, airdrops, hard forks and decentralised finance. They also cite challenges with overseas transaction records and reporting, warning that a rushed rollout could produce inconsistent tax treatment or shift trading to offshore platforms. South Korea’s National Tax Service is preparing implementation guidance, expected around November. A proposed bill would link taxation to international data sharing under the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework. If data sharing begins in 2027, the tax could start in 2029, but the proposal is not law. Until lawmakers act, South Korea’s crypto gains tax remains scheduled for January 2027, leaving traders and exchanges uncertain about compliance costs and possible effects on local trading activity.

JPMorgan is expanding JPM Coin to Ethereum, giving approved institutional clients another network for transferring dollar deposits and settling eligible digital-asset transactions. The move follows the token’s launch on Coinbase’s Base network in November 2025. JPMorgan cited Ethereum’s liquidity and existing client activity as reasons for the expansion. JPM Coin represents US dollar deposits held at JPMorgan. Eligible clients can transfer it around the clock, with payments settling in seconds rather than potentially taking days through conventional banking. The bank’s blockchain unit, Kinexys, supports the service. Ethereum’s smart contracts may also help coordinate payments with tokenized asset trades, including delivery-versus-payment settlement, or use JPM Coin as on-chain cash or collateral. JPM Coin is a restricted bank deposit token, not a publicly available stablecoin; access is limited to approved institutions. JPMorgan also operates a private blockchain network that processes more than $7 billion in daily transaction volume. The Ethereum expansion could advance institutional blockchain payments and settlement, but its direct effect on retail crypto trading is likely limited.

Nova Minerals CEO Christopher Gerteisen opened a company presentation covering the Estelle gold and critical minerals project and a reported U.S. antimony supply-chain award. The available transcript excerpt contains introductory remarks and a safe-harbour notice, but no project results, award details, financial figures or operational milestones. The host also corrected the company’s listing venue: Nova Minerals trades on the NYSE American, not Nasdaq, under ticker NVA.