Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Charles Schwab CEO Rick Wurster said the brokerage is open to acquiring crypto businesses if pricing is attractive, while expanding its crypto services. Schwab plans to roll out spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) trading in the first half of 2026 after phased testing, is considering launching a stablecoin, and aims to let clients consolidate crypto holdings on its platform, where they already hold about $25 billion in crypto ETPs. Wurster spoke at the Reuters NEXT conference, emphasizing strategic deals that strengthen client offerings. Primary keywords: Charles Schwab, crypto acquisitions, spot BTC trading, spot ETH trading, stablecoin. Secondary/semantic keywords: brokerage expansion, digital assets, ETPs, valuations, product rollout.

Zcash (ZEC) has suffered a steep pullback, losing over 25% from its recent rally, but chart patterns and volume trends suggest selling pressure is easing and a near-term recovery is possible. ZEC has formed a tightening range near key support levels: buyers defended the $330 area and the token reclaimed the $340 zone. Technical indicators show shortening red candles, falling volume, and an RSI that may be nearing a reversal point. Crucial levels to watch: bullish momentum requires holding $330 and breaking above $385 (with increased volume) to target $400 and the $525–$545 zone; failure to hold $330–$345 risks a retest of $300 and potentially a drop toward $270. Traders should monitor volume and price action around $330 and $300 for confirmation. Primary keywords: Zcash, ZEC price, ZEC support, ZEC resistance, crypto trading.

Bitcoin briefly climbed to $92,000 before failing to sustain gains and sliding toward $85,000 over the weekend after low spot volume. TradingView analysts note key resistance between $92K–$95K; a clear break above $95K would likely clear the way to $100K. Technicals show downward pressure: 14‑day RSI near 33 and 30‑day moving averages around $95K. Amid uncertainty, some investors are rotating into presale altcoins, notably Digitap (TAP). Digitap, positioning itself as an omnibank bridging crypto and fiat with Visa partnerships and multi‑rail payments, reportedly raised over $2.2 million in its presale and recorded more than 120,000 participating wallets. The project ran a large Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion distributing over $1M in bonus tokens and offering stacked discounts expected to end within 72 hours; the confirmed launch price cited is $0.14. The article is a paid promotional piece and includes a disclaimer. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin price, $92K, BTC resistance, Digitap presale, TAP token, crypto presale.

Bitcoin briefly touched $93.9K on December 3 before a slight pullback as markets position for the December 9–10 FOMC meeting. Traders assign an ~87% probability to a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut, a development likely to increase liquidity and support risk assets. Strong institutional demand is signalled by recent crypto ETF inflows (about $220m at month-end). If BTC reclaims and holds the $93K–$94K zone, a rally toward $100K becomes plausible; failure to hold current levels or an unexpected Fed outcome could see a short-term drop toward $88K–$89K. The piece frames the outlook as cautiously optimistic: Fed policy will likely be the main price driver in the near term, while ETF flows underpin institutional interest. Disclosure: not investment advice.

Pi Network’s native token PI has shown a modest 2% uptick as on-chain data points to accumulation by large wallets. CryptoQuant reports rising average spot order sizes, suggesting whales are buying near the bottom of PI’s consolidation range. Technical indicators are mixed: RSI sits near 48 and MACD is flat, while price approaches the apex of an ascending triangle. A confirmed breakout above the identified resistance could trigger a multi-stage rally potentially targeting $1 — a rise of roughly 300%+ from current levels — while a failure to hold the trendline could produce a drawdown near 16%. The article also highlights an unrelated early-stage meme/gaming project, PEPENODE (PEPENODE), a virtual-mining platform built on Ethereum that claims deflationary tokenomics and has raised over $2.2 million. Traders should note that on-chain whale accumulation and higher average order sizes can presage momentum, but mixed technical signals and standard market risks mean confirmation (volume and decisive close above resistance) is needed before positioning for a large upside move.

Weekly market analysis: several altcoins have lost bullish momentum and face renewed selling pressure, pushing them back toward key support levels and into bearish trend zones. MemeCore (M) is the weakest performer, trading around $1.35 after a 7‑day loss of 28.66%, with support at $1.20 and downside risk to $0.42 if that support breaks. Zcash (ZEC) fell beneath moving averages to $353.87 (7‑day loss 24.66%), with forecasts pointing to $261 before potential oversold bounce. Starknet (STRK) trades near $0.1182 (7‑day loss 16.96%), range‑bound between $0.10 support and $0.16 resistance. Aptos (APT) has dropped to $1.82 (7‑day loss 12.84%) and sits in oversold territory, showing Doji price action and limited-range trading. KuCoin Token (KCS) fell after rejects at $16, trading near $9.19 (7‑day loss 8.37%), with prior lows at $7.19 and $6.29 and visible buying wicks suggesting support around $8.00. Market caps and 24‑hour volumes cited for each token indicate materially different liquidity profiles. The author notes these are personal opinions and not investment advice. Primary keywords: altcoins, bearish trend, support levels, selling pressure, oversold.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is trading around $34 with 24‑hour volume near $480M after a 9% 24‑hour gain following a bounce from a $30–$33 support zone. Price has tested that support multiple times since June and recent action shows two lows there, suggesting a potential double‑bottom reversal. Immediate resistance sits at $36–$38; a decisive break could open targets at $40 and the $48–$50 area. Technical indicators point to improving momentum — MACD has crossed above its signal line and RSI is rising toward mid‑range. Futures open interest has risen to about $1.57B, signaling renewed trader participation but also higher liquidation risk if price fails to follow through. Separately, Hyperliquid Strategies is expected to list via a merger with Nasdaq‑listed Sonnet under ticker PURR and will hold roughly 12.6M HYPE plus $300M cash, creating a large on‑balance treasury that could support demand and liquidity. Traders should watch the $36–$38 breakout for confirmation, monitor volume and open interest for aggressive positioning and liquidation risk, and consider the Nasdaq listing/treasury as a bullish fundamental catalyst that may lift medium‑term demand. This summary is for informational purposes and not investment advice.

ETHZilla acquired a 20% fully diluted stake in Karus, an AI-driven auto-lending and decisioning platform, in a $10 million deal ($3M cash, $7M in ETHZilla stock). The purchase grants ETHZilla a board seat, governance rights and access to Karus’s underwriting engine — trained on more than 20 million historical auto-loan outcomes and used to evaluate over $5 billion in originated loans — plus its distribution network of 20,000+ U.S. car dealerships, banks and credit unions. ETHZilla plans to integrate Karus’s AI credit models into its Ethereum-based infrastructure to issue AI-segmented, tokenized auto-loan portfolios with onchain settlement. The firm targets first tokenized offerings in early 2026 and projects $9–$12 million adjusted EBITDA per $100 million deployed into Karus‑modeled tokens. ETHZilla holds about 94,060 ETH in its treasury and reported a near 5% share-price rise after the announcement. The deal positions ETHZilla to tap the US auto-loan ABS market (around $1.6 trillion) for global investors and reflects broader 2025 growth in debt tokenization (including Treasurys and private credit). Key themes: tokenization, real-world assets, AI underwriting, Ethereum infrastructure.

Chainlink (LINK) has seen a sharp price rally after receiving ETF approval and being listed on US exchanges, attracting significant institutional interest. The ETF—which targets professional and institutional investors—recorded a net inflow of about $37 million on its first day, outpacing comparable tokens such as DOGE. LINK’s price rose more than 15% in 24 hours and climbed roughly 20% from a recent low, trading near $14–$14.5 at the time of the report. Technical targets cited in market commentary include near-term levels around $15.6–$17.15, with a breakout above $20.16 opening sights toward $27.8. Analysts attribute the move to ETF-driven demand and Chainlink’s entrenched role providing DeFi price feeds and real‑world asset (RWA) infrastructure, positioning LINK as exposed to growing institutional flows. The article cautions that crypto markets are volatile and that ETF-driven inflows may or may not sustain future gains.

BlockDAG (BDAG) is advancing into its "Value Era" as the presale reaches $438 million of a $600 million target with Batch 33 priced at $0.0078. Market makers project a potential public launch zone between $0.30 and $0.40, supported by an $86 million institutional tranche, fixed vesting, removal of referral bonuses, and an open Dashboard V4 tracking presale metrics. Leadership reports 4.1 billion BDAG remain in the final stage and hardware deployments (20,000 X Series miners and 3.5 million X1 mobile miners) in 130+ countries. The presale end date is listed as 10 Feb. By contrast, SUI is trading neutrally around $2.44 with a neutral RSI and steady validator activity, indicating consolidation rather than breakout potential. ASTER has shown a technical breakout above resistance amid higher volume, attributed to governance clarity and integration progress, though short-term profit-taking is possible. The piece is a paid press release and not investment advice.

Binance’s on‑exchange Bitcoin (BTC) reserves have fallen sharply to multi‑year lows as long‑term holders and whales move coins into private wallets and custodial storage tied to U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs (e.g., BlackRock, Fidelity). CryptoQuant/Finbold data show reserves declining from roughly 595,000 BTC in late November to about 572,000 BTC by early December, a drop of ~23,000 BTC. Analysts (XWIN Research Japan, Arab Chain) say this reflects market maturation and rising institutional demand rather than imminent selling. Short‑term factors — late‑November sell‑offs and derivatives liquidations (notably during Asian hours) — also reduced margin deposits and exchange balances, contributing to volatility. Price action has swung between below $85,000 and about $93,000, triggering large short liquidations (over $300m) and a recent ~7% 24‑hour gain; BTC remains down roughly 13% month‑to‑date. For traders: tightening on‑exchange supply and growing ETF custody demand are medium‑/long‑term bullish signals for BTC, while ETF flows, derivatives liquidations and redemptions increase near‑term volatility and liquidation risk. Key indicators to watch: exchange reserve trends, ETF inflows/custody reports, Binance‑Coinbase price gap and Coinbase Premium Index, and open interest/liquidation levels in futures markets.

Deal values in crypto M&A reached a record $8.6 billion through Nov. 20, 2025, driven by large acquisitions by major exchange operators including Coinbase and Kraken, according to Bloomberg citing PitchBook. The surge reflects renewed industry consolidation as leading firms buy assets and competitors to expand product lines, custody capabilities, user bases and regulatory scale. Key trader takeaways: 1) M&A volume and value are sharply up year-to-date, indicating higher corporate liquidity and strategic repositioning among exchanges; 2) Acquisitions by regulated, well-capitalized players (e.g., Coinbase, Kraken) may accelerate institutional adoption and strengthen infrastructure and custody services; 3) Market reactions can be mixed — exchange tokens or service providers integrated into larger platforms may see gains, while smaller rivals could face pressure; 4) Regulatory clarity and improved capital availability appear to be major drivers of deal flow. Traders should monitor exchange-led liquidity shifts, merger-arbitrage opportunities, and sentiment changes that can affect spot and derivatives flows. Primary keywords: crypto M&A, Coinbase, Kraken, PitchBook, Bloomberg. Secondary/semantic keywords: consolidation, exchange acquisitions, institutional adoption, market liquidity.

Ripple unlocked 1 billion XRP from escrow in December via two 500 million XRP transfers to Ripple-controlled addresses. Both transfers were idle at the time of reporting; Ripple commonly reallocates unused escrowed XRP for operations and returns the rest to escrow, maintaining a predictable monthly release schedule and supply discipline. XRP traded around $2.17 with daily volume above $4 billion. Technical analysts highlight a key resistance zone near $2.30 — a decisive level where sellers have recently defended gains. Support levels noted include $2.18 and $2.02, with lower targets at $1.92 and $1.88 if price retraces. A daily close above $2.30 could target $2.45–$2.50. Charts also suggest XRP is tracking Bitcoin’s trend. Traders are watching whether the added liquidity from the escrow unlock will contribute to a breakout above $2.30 or trigger a retracement toward deeper support.

Aster (ASTER) failed to reclaim the $1.10 point-of-control (highest-volume node), drawing a sharp rejection that signals the recent rally lacked sustaining bullish volume. The article highlights: heavy resistance at $1.10, thinning bullish volume, and a likely downside continuation toward the high-time-frame support near $0.92. The setup matches a dead‑cat bounce pattern — a short-lived rise followed by resumed bearish trend — and is reinforced by a bearish order block below $1.10. On-chain allegations about a $35M transfer to Changpeng Zhao were debunked and did not drive the move; technical selling appears to dominate. Traders should watch for either a convincing surge in bullish volume to reclaim $1.10 or further weakness carrying price down to $0.92. Key SEO keywords: Aster, ASTER price, point of control, dead-cat bounce, resistance $1.10, support $0.92, bearish volume.

Ethereum (ETH) is showing renewed bullish signals: on-chain metrics point to tighter exchange supplies, large-holder accumulation around $3,738, and growing institutional interest in CME ETH futures. Technicals referenced a five-year bull pennant and a triple-bottom near $3,600, supporting a potential rally toward $4,000 and higher. Concurrently, DeFi newcomer Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has drawn strong presale demand—reported participation rose to roughly 18,350–18,450 investors with about $19 million raised. Phase 6 tokens are offered at $0.035 (reported 75–95% sold across updates) before a Phase 7 price of $0.04. Mutuum’s protocol pairs pooled liquidity markets that issue yield-bearing mtTokens with an isolated peer-to-peer lending layer for volatile assets; a V1 Sepolia testnet launch is planned for Q4 2025 with initial ETH and USDT support. For traders, the combined news suggests potential renewed upside for ETH driven by lower exchange balances and institutional flows, while MUTM’s strong presale may attract speculative capital and raise short-term altcoin volatility. Primary keywords: Ethereum, ETH, Mutuum Finance, MUTM presale, DeFi.

Pi Network (PI) is showing technical weakness after failing a breakout and slipping below key resistance and the value area high on higher time frames. Price action formed a bearish engulfing pattern and trades below the 0.618 Fibonacci level, indicating sellers control the market. If PI cannot hold the daily point of control, analysts expect a move toward the value area low near $0.20, where liquidity accumulation could cause rapid wick-style declines. Ongoing regulatory progress — notably an application for MiCA compliance that may ease future European exchange listings — and ecosystem expansion (including deeper ties with CiDi Games for Web3 gaming) have not provided enough bullish momentum. A decisive break above resistance with high buying volume would be required to invalidate the bearish setup. Traders should watch daily closes around the point of control, volume spikes, and price reaction at $0.20 for short-term trade decisions.

Ark Invest expanded its exposure to crypto-linked equities and a Bitcoin ETF across late November and Dec. 2–3, buying sizable parcels of Coinbase (COIN), Bullish (BLST), Circle (CRCL), Robinhood (HOOD) and adding to its ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) holdings. Recent disclosures show ARKK bought 28,315 Coinbase shares (~$7.5M) and 42,434 Bullish shares (~$1.8M), while ARK funds purchased earlier tranches including 62,166 Coinbase shares (~$16.5M) and multiple Circle and Bullish lots in late November. Coinbase is now ARKK’s second-largest holding at about 5.58%. Market context: Coinbase and Bullish have traded below mid-year highs (Coinbase down ~20% m/m at report time; Bullish down ~37% YTD), while Bitcoin has staged a short-term recovery. For traders, Ark’s continued accumulation signals institutional conviction in exchange and payments stocks and may add demand-side pressure and liquidity into these listings and related ETFs. However, broader macro headwinds — tightening liquidity, higher rates and risk-off sentiment — keep volatility and downside risk elevated. Primary keywords: Ark Invest, Coinbase, Bullish, ARKK, crypto stocks. Secondary keywords: Cathie Wood, Robinhood, Circle, ARKB, ETF buying.

Polymarket, a prediction-market platform, has resumed services for US users by rolling out a redesigned app to those on its waitlist. The relaunch follows regulatory and operational adjustments that previously restricted US access. The new app aims to comply with US rules while restoring market access for American traders, offering standard prediction-market functions—event-based contracts, real-money stakes, and market-driven odds. Polymarket’s reentry could reopen a US customer base that had been displaced, potentially boosting trading volume on the platform. Traders should watch for changes in liquidity, market depth, and fee structures as the platform scales back into the US market. Key takeaways for traders: monitor Polymarket’s US product rollout timeline, liquidity indicators on popular markets, any altered KYC/AML requirements, and fee or margin adjustments that could affect short-term volatility and execution costs.

Bitcoin (BTC) recovered to about $92,400 amid an active market and renewed debate over the AI sector after a leak suggested Microsoft lowered AI sales targets. Key institutional and corporate developments supported market movement: Bank of America advised wealthy clients could allocate up to 4% to crypto and favored an upcoming rate cut; the SEC’s Paul Atkins said the agency has sufficient authority over crypto rules with an innovation exemption starting in January; Strategy signaled potential Bitcoin lending that could raise annual revenue by over $2 billion; BitMine added 18,345 ETH (~$55M) to its treasury; Uniswap partnered with Revolut for global expansion; Coinbase plans to list JUP (Solana ecosystem); Circle launched the Circle Foundation offering equity for CDFIs; Anthropic and OpenAI are eyeing major IPOs by 2026. Analyst Sherpa highlighted PENGU as a short-term trade opportunity after an extended decline (80% drop and a 130-day drawdown), though Bitcoin’s struggle to hold $92K complicates near-term strength. Traders should note heightened volatility from macro and AI-related headlines, institutional positioning signals, and specific altcoin attention that may produce short-lived trading setups. (Main keywords: Bitcoin, BTC, PENGU, AI leak, institutional crypto allocation.)

Binance launched Binance Junior on Dec. 3 as a parent‑managed app for children and teens aged 6–17 under its Family Finance initiative. The app is positioned as an educational, low‑risk entry to blockchain and digital finance and is already listed in select Apple App Store and Google Play regions. Key features: age‑segmented modes (6–12: view‑only Minor Mode; 13–17: limited transfers with parental approval and daily limits), prohibition of spot, margin and derivatives trading, and placement of funds into Binance Flexible Simple Earn to earn stable interest. Parents must hold a KYC‑verified Binance account with 2FA to create supervised subaccounts via QR code; they receive real‑time notifications, can freeze accounts, and block transfers to non‑parent adults. Users 13+ can initiate in‑app transfers subject to local age rules and parental approval. Binance also published an interactive children’s book, “ABCs of Crypto,” to teach private keys, wallets and blockchain basics. The launch coincided with internal leadership updates and was framed as a family finance and estate‑planning tool rather than a trading product. The announcement drew mixed reactions: some community members and regulators warned about exposing minors to crypto and added compliance risk, while proponents said it can aid financial literacy and inheritance planning. For traders, the product is unlikely to move markets directly but signals product diversification by Binance and continued push into mainstream financial services and user lifecycle management.

Bitcoin surged past $92,000 following fresh institutional and retail on-ramps and supportive macro signals. Vanguard began allowing its ~50 million retail clients to trade regulated crypto ETFs (including BTC and ETH), prompting sizable flows into spot and futures markets, a short squeeze and a rally across large-cap tokens. Bitcoin climbed from the low-$80Ks to above $93K while ETH reclaimed $3,000. Market cap hovered around $3.12T with BTC dominance near 59.1%. Drivers cited: (1) Vanguard opening regulated ETF access for mainstream investors creating a structural demand channel; (2) rising rate-cut hopes and looser liquidity improving risk appetite; (3) ETF inflows and short-covering amplifying the move. Other notable developments in the report: Georgia signed a deal with Hedera to explore putting its land registry on-chain; the UK granted legal status to crypto and stablecoins as personal property; BlackRock executives praised tokenization; Binance appointed Yi He as co-CEO alongside Richard Teng. Traders should watch ETF flow data, macro signals (Fed/rate expectations), and whether new retail inflows from Vanguard sustain momentum. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin price, Vanguard crypto ETF, Bitcoin rally, ETF inflows, macro tailwinds.

Jupiter updated the HumidiFi ICO schedule on its dark-pool DEX, increasing the JUP staker allocation and the public sale allocation to 3% each (previously 2%). The Wetlist (first-round) sale was postponed from Dec 3 to Dec 4 and its allocation was reduced from 6% to 4%, shrinking early-access supply. These changes align liquidity incentives for JUP stakers and broader public participants while tightening initial Wetlist availability. Key figures: JUP staker round = 3% (up from 2%), public sale = 3% (up from 2%), Wetlist allocation = 4% (down from 6%). Traders should note possible short-term selling pressure from increased public allocation, and reduced Wetlist supply could intensify demand during initial listings.

Ripple’s XRP climbed 6.4% amid broader market movements, but investor attention is shifting toward GeeFi (GEE), a new blockchain project running a rapidly advancing presale. GeeFi’s presale has seen fast momentum and growing interest from retail participants, drawing liquidity and narrative attention that might otherwise go to established tokens like XRP. The article highlights the contrast between steady gains in XRP and the speculative rush around GEE’s token sale, noting potential short-term effects on trading flows and sector sentiment. Key data points include XRP’s 6.4% price increase and the rapid pace of GeeFi’s presale (no exact presale hard-cap or price steps were provided). Traders are advised to monitor GEE presale progress, potential listing timelines, and on-chain activity, while considering XRP’s relative stability and regulatory context when sizing positions.

Polymarket has begun rolling out its mobile app in the United States via a waiting list, starting with sports prediction markets. The iOS app launched on the App Store (Android coming soon) and earned a 4.9-star average across ~29K reviews after heavy download volume. Access is currently gated by a waitlist; users must download the app to join. Polymarket said the rollout follows completion of regulatory requirements after its 2022 dispute with US regulators. The platform added over 377,000 new accounts in November (after ~400,000 in October) and recorded monthly active trader counts near 494,000 in October, with daily volumes around $130 million. The waitlist announcement affected an on-platform prediction market about Polymarket’s US launch: the ’yes’ token briefly traded near $0.99 but the market entered dispute and final settlement processes, partly relying on UMA protocol governance. Polymarket will phase in other event markets later; the initial US offering will be limited and focused on sports until real-money trading and broader markets are enabled.

Coinbase CEO says major global banks are running live cryptocurrency pilot programs using Coinbase’s platform and technology. The pilots, which test custody, settlement and tokenization use cases, involve several large banks and are intended to explore institutional access to digital assets and token-based products. Coinbase positions these pilots as collaborations to evaluate custody services, tokenized deposits and settlement efficiencies rather than full production launches. The company highlights institutional demand for custody and tokenization solutions and frames the work as part of broader efforts to provide regulated infrastructure for banks and institutional clients. No specific bank names, timelines or dollar figures were disclosed.

IDC projects Apple will ship 247.4 million iPhones in 2025 — a 6% increase that would surpass its 2021 record of 236 million units. The iPhone 17 series is cited as the primary driver, with particularly strong demand in China where IDC forecasts a 17% year‑over‑year jump in Q4 shipments. The China rebound led IDC to revise its outlook for the country’s smartphone market from a 1% decline to 3% growth for 2025. Counterpoint Research similarly expects Apple to outsell Samsung for the first time in 14 years. Potential headwinds include a reported delay of the base iPhone 18 to 2027, which IDC warns could trigger a 4.2% shipment decline in 2026. Apple’s fiscal results show momentum: management guided December‑quarter revenue growth of 10–12%, implying roughly $138 billion if consensus holds. Fiscal 2025 revenue reached $416 billion, up 6% year‑over‑year, and net income in the reported quarter was $27.46 billion. For traders: stronger iPhone demand and China recovery support Apple’s hardware revenue outlook and broader iOS ecosystem monetization, while the possible iPhone 18 delay creates a near‑term risk to shipment growth and supply‑chain sentiment.

MEXC has appointed Vugar Usi Zade, former head of Bitget’s international expansion, as its Chief Operating Officer. Zade brings 15+ years of growth and operations experience from firms including Facebook, Coca-Cola and Sony, plus a marketing‑tech startup he co‑founded. At Bitget he helped scale the exchange from mid‑tier to one of the world’s top exchanges by user base, reportedly contributing to more than 120 million registered users. MEXC — which serves over 40 million users across 170 markets and promotes zero‑fee spot trading — is shifting operations toward stronger compliance and global market penetration. Zade will focus on launching markets and strengthening regulation readiness in regions identified as high‑potential corridors: Eastern Europe, Turkey, the CIS and Latin America. The hire follows recent structural partnerships (for example, with Hacken) and signals MEXC’s push to combine retail‑friendly access with institutional‑grade operational and regulatory standards.

Bitwise Asset Management says Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade, scheduled to go live imminently, is a structurally important but underappreciated improvement that strengthens Ethereum’s role as the on-chain settlement layer for finance. Fusaka raises the layer-1 gas limit to 60 million per block (boosting throughput and roughly doubling capacity within a year), and implements PeerDAS to reduce validator data verification burden and preserve node efficiency as rollups scale. Critically, Fusaka introduces EIP-7918: a minimum blob base fee tied to execution fees (approximately execution base fee / 16). That change prevents blob fees falling near zero in quiet periods, stabilizing ETH burn and improving value capture from layer-2 activity—important as stablecoins, DeFi and tokenization migrate to rollups. Bitwise warns upgrades do not always produce sustained ETH price rallies and can see sell-the-news reactions, but argues Fusaka reinforces Ethereum’s institutional appeal and long-term settlement utility. Key implications for traders include potential reduction in fee volatility, a steadier ETH burn trajectory, and clearer long-term value accrual from rollup demand.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has paused review and effectively blocked several proposed high-leverage ETFs that targeted 3x–5x daily returns on stocks, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Regulators sent warning letters to nine issuers, including Direxion, ProShares, Tidal and Volatility Shares, saying the filings exceed permitted leverage and fund-relative risk limits. The SEC flagged issues such as reference assets that don’t reflect target volatility, attempts to circumvent an effective 2x leverage boundary, and opaque risk exposure measures. Some proposed products named in filings targeted volatile single stocks (Tesla, Nvidia) and crypto assets (Bitcoin, Ethereum). The action is a regulatory pause: issuers must restructure or withdraw applications before reviews resume. Context: leveraged ETFs (about $162 billion in assets) reset daily, carry amplified volatility and suitability concerns for retail traders, and have a history of rapid losses in stressed markets. For crypto traders, the ruling raises regulatory risk for crypto-linked leveraged products, may delay launches of new leveraged Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, and could reduce short-term supply of aggressive leverage instruments — factors likely to increase volatility around related tokens and trading strategies.