Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Citigroup is expected to report resilient third-quarter earnings, following what analyst Ian Bezek described as a strong second-quarter performance. The bank raised its dividend by 12% and announced a $30 billion share buyback, highlighting robust capital returns and confidence in its balance sheet. Bezek upgraded Citigroup to a hold from a more cautious stance, citing improved valuation and operating results. However, rising interest rates and a flat yield curve remain sector-wide risks. These factors could pressure bank valuations, loan demand and net interest income. The Citigroup Q3 preview suggests the stock may remain supported by shareholder returns, but a stronger macroeconomic backdrop is needed before a bullish view is justified. The analysis is relevant to equity traders monitoring US bank earnings, financial-sector sentiment and interest-rate expectations.

Block has launched its first major Bitcoin consumer campaign in the United States, targeting about 60 million “Bitcoin-curious” Americans. Its message, “Some things don’t make sense. Bitcoin does,” presents Bitcoin as everyday money rather than a speculative asset. The campaign highlights Bitcoin’s capped supply and decentralised design while appealing to consumers concerned about inflation, living costs and economic uncertainty. The initiative builds on Block’s existing Bitcoin infrastructure. Cash App supports Bitcoin buying and transfers, Square provides merchant payment services, and Bitkey offers self-custody storage. Cash App also offers 5% Bitcoin rewards and automatic conversion features. Block reportedly held 8,883 BTC in its corporate treasury in early 2026. The campaign is intended to generate demand for Block’s Bitcoin products and complement Square’s rollout of Bitcoin payment services to millions of sellers. However, wider adoption may depend on US tax reform, including a proposed de minimis exemption that would reduce reporting burdens on small Bitcoin transactions. Traders should monitor Cash App Bitcoin activity, Square merchant adoption, Block’s BTC holdings and developments in Washington. The campaign could support long-term Bitcoin usage, but it is unlikely to create an immediate market-wide price move without evidence of stronger transaction volumes or new investment flows.

Ameren Corporation presented at the Wolfe Research Utilities, Midstream & Clean Energy Conference 2026 in New York. The available article contains only the publication notice for Ameren’s event slide deck and does not provide details on financial results, forecasts, capital spending, clean-energy projects, or management commentary. Ameren is a US utility company, but no new trading-relevant figures or cryptocurrency-related information are reported.

zkAPI, developed by the Open Anonymity Project with support from the Ethereum Foundation, is now live on Ethereum Mainnet. The protocol lets users pay for metered services, including AI APIs, without linking their identity to usage records. Users deposit ETH or USDC into an Ethereum vault and receive private usage credits. Their device then generates zero-knowledge proofs to authorize spending without revealing the funding note, deposit, or user identity. A short-lived API key supports a capped session, while signed usage receipts settle the actual cost after the session ends. zkAPI separates the payment layer from the service provider. The payment server does not see prompts or API content, while the provider sees requests but not the associated billing identity. The system uses Groth16 proofs, the BN254 curve, Poseidon hashing and a 32-level Merkle tree. Users can withdraw funds directly from the vault even if the zkAPI server is unavailable. The initial focus is private AI inference, but the system could also support blockchain RPC queries, image generation, VPN bandwidth and machine-to-machine payments. zkAPI does not hide IP addresses, traffic patterns or information contained in prompts. Users may need Tor, VPNs or other privacy tools for stronger anonymity. For crypto traders, the launch is a technical and adoption milestone for Ethereum-based zero-knowledge payments, but it is not expected to create an immediate material impact on ETH or USDC prices.

SoftBank has completed the final $10 billion tranche of its $30 billion follow-on commitment to OpenAI, bringing its total investment in OpenAI to $64.6 billion. The Japanese conglomerate now holds an estimated 13% stake in the ChatGPT developer. OpenAI’s February 2026 funding round raised between $110 billion and $122 billion at a pre-money valuation of about $730 billion. Its post-money valuation was estimated at $840 billion to $852 billion. Amazon committed up to $50 billion, subject to performance milestones, while Nvidia contributed $30 billion. The latest payment corrects speculation that Nvidia also added a further $10 billion in October. Nvidia’s contribution remains $30 billion. OpenAI is using the capital to expand computing infrastructure and data-centre capacity. For traders, the OpenAI investment highlights SoftBank’s growing exposure to artificial intelligence and the potential valuation risk tied to private AI companies. The funding could support demand for data-centre infrastructure and semiconductor suppliers, but future fundraising will be important in testing OpenAI’s valuation. The article also notes that Deribit’s Starbase matching engine has cut median latency by about 61 times, although this is a separate exchange-technology development rather than a direct market catalyst.

USD/JPY rose above 158, reaching 158.017 in the earlier report before edging to 158.011 in the latest update. The pair’s 24-hour gain eased from 0.7% to 0.4%, but USD/JPY still signals sustained US dollar strength against the Japanese yen. The move may increase forex volatility and could affect liquidity and demand for risk assets if it reflects higher US yields or tighter financial conditions. Crypto traders should monitor USD/JPY, US interest-rate expectations, Treasury yields and broader risk sentiment. The reports provide no direct update on Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, so the currency move alone does not confirm a crypto trend.

Dogecoin perpetual futures are now available to US retail traders through Kalshi, a platform operating in a CFTC-regulated jurisdiction. The contracts use a fractional size of 10 DOGE and track CF Benchmarks’ DOGEUSD_RTI spot index. Leverage is capped at 3.8x for long positions and 2.8x for short positions, well below the 50x or 100x leverage commonly offered offshore. Funding is recalculated every eight hours, while settlements operate around the clock. Early trading recorded about $952,100 in daily volume and $553,300 in open interest. Bears held a slight advantage, accounting for 54% of positions versus 46% for bulls. The Dogecoin contracts receive Section 1256 tax treatment in the US. This applies the 60/40 rule, with 60% of gains taxed at the long-term capital gains rate and 40% at the short-term rate, regardless of holding time. Kalshi also offers 3.25% annual interest on eligible uninvested dollar margin balances, although accounts are not FDIC- or SIPC-insured. The launch expands regulated DOGE trading options for US investors, but the initial market remains relatively small. Traders should monitor liquidity, spreads, open interest and funding rates as participation develops.

Shelby, an Aptos-based decentralized storage platform for AI workloads and distributed computing, has moved from testnet to private beta. The team announced the transition on 29 September 2026 after shutting down its public testnet on 3 August. Shelby said months of testing showed that its core storage infrastructure was reliable. However, builders requested better developer tooling, APIs and compatibility. The testnet offered SDKs for React, Ethereum and Solana, as well as S3-compatible tools designed to help existing applications connect to Shelby with limited code changes. The private beta will focus on selected builders, real customer applications and AI data workloads. Shelby combines Aptos smart contracts with RPC servers, private networks and erasure coding. Aptos contracts are used for auditing and cryptographic commitments, while the wider infrastructure manages data storage and redundancy. No native Shelby token, airdrop or points programme has been confirmed. Traders should therefore avoid treating testnet participation as evidence of a future token reward. The project’s next catalysts include new SDK and API releases, public beta participants and any announcement of an economic model. For Aptos, Shelby could demonstrate how the blockchain can support data-intensive infrastructure beyond financial applications. The move to private beta is a development milestone, but it does not yet provide a direct trading catalyst for APT.

Bitcoin Core has published version 32.0 release candidate 3, following release candidate 2 in the testing process ahead of the final Bitcoin Core 32.0 launch. The release candidate is intended for developers, node operators and infrastructure providers to test software stability, identify bugs and verify compatibility. It is not recommended for immediate production deployment. The Bitcoin Core update does not change Bitcoin’s monetary policy or network rules. Traders should monitor developer feedback, node adoption, compatibility or security issues, and the timing of the final Bitcoin Core release. The update is more relevant to long-term network development than to Bitcoin’s immediate price direction.

Illinois has agreed to delay its 0.2% crypto tax, known as the Digital Asset Tax, from 1 January to 1 July 2027. The Sangamon County Circuit Court must approve the joint motion before the delay takes effect. The tax was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in June as part of Illinois’ 2027 budget. It would apply to crypto purchases and transfers, with brokers and exchanges responsible for collection. Lawmakers estimate it could raise up to $60 million in 2027 and may affect businesses with more than $100,000 in receipts, including firms handling transactions and asset custody. The Digital Chamber and Illinois Blockchain Association are continuing their lawsuit against state officials, arguing that the crypto tax is unconstitutional, unenforceable and potentially pre-empted by federal law. Critics say the levy could apply even when users do not realise a gain, creating significant crypto compliance costs. The Blockchain Association and Crypto Council for Innovation are pursuing a separate legal challenge and say companies have already spent millions preparing compliance systems without clear state guidance. For crypto traders, the crypto tax delay reduces immediate regulatory and cost pressure in Illinois. However, the crypto tax remains unresolved, so future court action, repeal efforts or implementation could affect exchanges, custodians, transaction costs and market access. The development is policy relief rather than a direct change to cryptocurrency market fundamentals.

DoxxNet founder Barrett Lyon told a16z’s Joel de la Garza that the company is developing a privacy-focused peer-to-peer internet designed to reduce reliance on centralised intermediaries. Lyon said traditional VPNs address only part of the privacy problem because many online services still route communications and data through central application servers. DoxxNet is building a parallel mesh network that allows users to communicate directly, transfer large files, make calls and send messages. The company owns its infrastructure and operates artificial intelligence systems locally instead of depending on third-party inference providers. The discussion also covered extensive internet tracking and the risks of increasingly capable AI systems analysing that data. Lyon argued that core internet protocols are ready for renewed experimentation, drawing on his experience with DDoS attacks, internet mapping and global network infrastructure. The news highlights DoxxNet’s privacy technology and decentralised networking model, but it does not announce a cryptocurrency, token launch, funding round or commercial partnership. For crypto traders, the main relevance is thematic: stronger demand for privacy, peer-to-peer communication and decentralised infrastructure could support long-term interest in related technology sectors, although no immediate market catalyst is evident.

Bitcoin has gained 42% over the past three months, supporting expectations that the current rally could continue towards a new all-time high. However, analysts warn that the 3 November 2026 US midterm elections could increase Bitcoin volatility and trigger a correction. Ali Martinez pointed to historical post-election declines of 72% in 2010, 65% in 2014, 52% in 2018 and 27% in 2022. The figures do not prove that elections caused the losses, but they highlight a recurring risk pattern. Bitcoin’s fourth-quarter performance during midterm years was mixed, including losses of 16.7% in 2014, 42.16% in 2018 and 14.75% in 2022, despite a 391% gain in Q4 2010. Martinez identified the $73,000 area, near the short-term holder cost basis, as potential Bitcoin support. Trader bee expects a possible rise towards $90,000, with resistance around $90,000-$95,000 and a pullback zone near $75,000-$77,000. Bitcoin is trading between its 50-week moving average near $77,600 and its 100-week average around $89,700, while the 200-week average is near $66,000. Doctor Profit also expects a possible retest of $79,000. Prediction markets currently favour a Democratic advantage in the US midterms. A Democratic takeover of Congress could add uncertainty around crypto regulation after the CLARITY Act failed to advance in the Senate in September. Traders may consider partial profit-taking if Bitcoin approaches $100,000 in late October, while monitoring $73,000-$79,000 for potential support. The outlook is not an immediate bearish call, as Bitcoin has posted positive returns in 10 of the past 13 Octobers, but election risk could produce sharp short-term moves.

TopNod Wallet has integrated Axil Pot (APT), an on-chain yield vault curated by Axil. The Axil APT yield vault targets an estimated APY of about 8% and offers T+0 liquidity for eligible withdrawals, while larger withdrawals follow T+7 or standard settlement windows. The product is designed to help users earn yield on idle stablecoins and digital assets without fixed lock-ups. It launches with a $10 million deposit capacity on a first-come, first-served basis. T+0 withdrawals are limited by a daily liquidity buffer and may be capped. APY figures are variable and not guaranteed. TopNod provides a non-custodial wallet interface, while Axil independently structures and curates the strategy. The Axil APT yield vault uses on-chain liquidity reserves and short-duration liquid assets to balance yield, risk and withdrawal access. The launch could appeal to traders seeking liquid cash-management tools between trades, but users should assess smart-contract, strategy, liquidity and counterparty risks.

MetaMask is investigating a security incident affecting part of its Ethereum staking infrastructure. The company said it has found no immediate threat to MetaMask wallets and has not reported compromised private keys or withdrawal credentials. As a precaution, MetaMask is exiting validators linked to its non-custodial staking operation, formerly known as Consensys Staking. Clients retain control of withdrawal credentials, while MetaMask operates the validator infrastructure. Lido confirmed the related Ethereum validators have also begun the exit process. The final affected validators are expected to leave the active set by 7 October 2026. However, the full exit, withdrawal and possible re-entry process could take up to 45 days because of Ethereum’s validator queue. Affected operators may lose staking rewards and face limited downtime penalties. Lido’s stETH holders do not need to take action. MetaMask and Lido are working with external security partners but have not disclosed the affected component, attack method or number of validators. The incident coincided with the transfer of 133,298 ETH, worth more than $356 million, from a wallet linked to Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin. Blockchain tracker Lookonchain reported the transfer, but there is no evidence connecting it to the MetaMask security incident. For crypto traders, the MetaMask security incident currently represents operational risk rather than confirmed wallet theft. Lido’s distributed-validator model and reserve of more than 6,750 stETH could help limit wider disruption. Traders should monitor official updates, validator-exit activity and ETH liquidity, while avoiding assumptions of a direct wallet compromise.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals discussed an expanded collaboration focused on next-generation, long-acting immunology antibodies. The available article content contains only a reference to a company slide deck and does not provide details on the collaborating parties, financial terms, development timelines, clinical data or expected commercial impact. Regeneron and long-acting antibodies are the main topics identified.

Independent crypto analyst SMQKE demonstrated that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) can support ISO 20022 payment workflows for banks and businesses. The process uses a software layer to retrieve XRPL payment data, convert it into an ISO 20022-compatible file and import it into existing accounting systems. A test payment of five Swiss francs showed that businesses can send and receive XRPL payments without replacing their current accounting procedures. The integration translates blockchain transaction data into formats familiar to accountants and financial institutions. ISO 20022 is becoming an important messaging standard for global banking interoperability. The demonstration suggests that XRPL could help connect blockchain payments with traditional financial infrastructure. However, it does not confirm adoption by major banks or guarantee commercial deployment. For XRP traders, the development is a potentially positive long-term adoption signal. In the short term, its market impact may remain limited because the demonstration provides no information on transaction volumes, institutional partnerships or regulatory approval.

Volmex has launched the BVIV Bitcoin implied volatility perpetual contract on Hyperliquid, giving traders direct exposure to Bitcoin volatility rather than BTC’s price direction. The index uses options data from Deribit and OKX to estimate Bitcoin’s expected 30-day volatility. Recent BVIV readings in the mid-to-high 30s suggest relatively elevated volatility expectations. Each BVIV index point is settled at 1 USDC. The contract uses isolated margin, offers leverage of up to 5x and applies hourly funding rates. Hyperliquid has also introduced an initial open-interest cap, which may limit liquidity during the early trading period. The BVIV contract could help traders hedge market uncertainty or trade volatility without taking a conventional BTC spot or perpetual position. However, leverage, funding costs, price dislocations and limited early liquidity could increase execution and liquidation risks. The BVIV launch is neutral for Bitcoin’s directional price outlook and does not signal that BTC will rise or fall.

Binance burned 334,879,422 LUNC on 1 October, sending the tokens to a permanent burn address. The latest Binance LUNC burn brings its cumulative destruction total above 88 billion tokens. Across all participants, more than 460.1 billion LUNC has now been burned, while circulating supply stands at about 5.51 trillion. Despite the Binance LUNC burn programme, the token has seen little immediate price or momentum impact. LUNC trades near $0.000052, well below key Double EMA and SMA resistance levels. Spot-market trading volume has fallen below $10 million, indicating weak demand. The token last reached a notable high of about $0.00012 in mid-May. Some traders are watching a rise in whale activity. Chaikin Money Flow has climbed to 0.14 since early September, which may indicate accumulation by larger holders. However, subdued trading volume and competition across the altcoin market could limit any near-term recovery. The Binance LUNC burn is structurally deflationary, but a sustained price rebound will likely require stronger demand and improved broader market sentiment.

The Simplify Target 15 Distribution ETF (XV) uses a barrier put spread strategy to generate high monthly income while providing an initial 25% downside cushion. The Simplify Target 15 Distribution ETF recorded a 20.38% distribution yield over the past 12 months, but both payouts and net asset value remain sensitive to market volatility and investor risk sentiment. The strategy is designed as a hedged alternative-income product and may help limit losses during severe market declines. However, rising macroeconomic risks, adverse market pricing and a potential black swan event could weaken performance. The analysis assigns XV a Hold rating, noting that its complex options structure does not eliminate downside risk. The ETF may appeal to income-focused investors, but traders should monitor volatility, broader risk appetite and the sustainability of distributions.

African businesses are increasingly using stablecoins to address cross-border payment delays, limited US dollar access and high settlement costs, according to Kora CEO Dickson Nsofor. He said supplier payments, commercial settlements and cross-border payouts are driving demand. Nsofor recalled that paying a Chinese manufacturer from Nigeria once took 10 to 14 days through correspondent banks. Stablecoins can provide a dollar-based settlement layer, reduce reliance on multiple banks and currency conversions, and help payment providers manage liquidity across markets. However, savings depend on local currency conversion, funding, withdrawals and payout infrastructure. A Banca d’Italia study of 200 USDC transfers across 10 international corridors found costs ranging from 0.30% to nearly 9%. Transfers involving South Africa took one or two business days when traditional banking rails were used, while corridors supported by instant-payment systems settled in under 20 minutes. Kora says stablecoin adoption still requires interoperability with banks, mobile-money networks and merchants, as well as licensing, identity checks, anti-money-laundering controls and transaction monitoring. Nsofor also warned that reliance on foreign dollar-backed token issuers creates risks involving reserves, redemption, regulation and continued access. For crypto traders, the trend signals growing real-world stablecoin utility and payment-network demand, but not an immediate directional catalyst for major crypto assets.

The SEC has proposed a dedicated BTC custody framework for registered investment advisers and regulated funds. The proposal would set federal requirements for safeguarding client digital assets, including recordkeeping, reporting, disclosures, operational controls and audits. It may also allow self-custody under specific conditions and permit state-chartered trust companies to serve as custodians. The SEC is accepting public comments for 60 days. The BTC custody proposal is not final, so its implementation timeline, eligibility rules and compliance costs remain uncertain. Clearer BTC custody standards could reduce regulatory uncertainty and support institutional crypto services over the long term.

The US stock market accounts for 42% of global market capitalisation on an unadjusted basis, but major index providers such as MSCI and FTSE assign it a 62% weighting after applying free-float and investability adjustments. US equities also trade at a steep valuation premium, with trailing price-to-earnings ratios of about 27 times compared with 16 times for non-US stocks. The analysis argues that US investors have an unusually strong home bias. Their portfolios hold about 85% US equities, far above the country’s unadjusted global market share and its proportion of the world economy. This concentration increases exposure to US valuation risk and reduces international diversification. Several structural forces could lower the US stock market’s share of global indexes over time. These include potential currency reversion, changes in free-float adjustments, and faster economic and equity-market growth outside the US. A decline in US market weight would not necessarily mean an immediate sell-off, but it could encourage investors to rebalance towards international and emerging-market equities. For traders, the key signals are relative valuations, index-rebalancing flows, currency trends and earnings growth outside the US. The article does not directly address cryptocurrencies, but shifts in global equity allocation could affect broader risk appetite and liquidity conditions across financial markets.

The Open Anonymity Project, developed jointly with the Ethereum Foundation, has launched ZKAPI, a tool designed to support private API payments and AI inference. The announcement, published on 1 October 2026, identified paying for API access and AI inference as its initial use cases but provided no technical specifications, adoption data, supported tokens or deployment details. ZKAPI could strengthen privacy-focused infrastructure in the Ethereum ecosystem, although its immediate effect on ETH trading is likely to be limited until further information emerges.

Phantom Wallet has added BNB Chain support, allowing users to view BNB balances, send and receive tokens, and swap assets directly in the app. Users must update Phantom Wallet to the latest version to access the features. The integration expands Phantom’s multichain wallet coverage and could improve access to BNB Chain liquidity and decentralised applications. Phantom previously added Robinhood Chain support but discontinued support for Monad and Sui. The announcement provided no data on trading volumes, supported tokens, price impact or a potential Phantom token launch.

A Bitcoin wallet that had been inactive since May 2011 transferred 20.43 BTC, worth about $1.7 million, after 15.4 years of dormancy. Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham identified the coins as rewards originally paid by Braiins, formerly known as Slush Pool, at a time when the payout was worth roughly $3 to $4. The Bitcoin was split and moved to SegWit addresses. The transaction fee was below $1, and the funds had not been sent to a known exchange deposit address. Earlier transactions linked to the wallet were labelled as associated with Mt. Gox and Silk Road, both commonly used channels in 2011. The movement is being watched by Bitcoin traders because transfers from very old wallets can signal potential selling pressure, although there is no evidence of an exchange deposit or an immediate sale. The Mt. Gox trustee reportedly still holds about 34,500 BTC, with creditor claims due by 31 October 2026.

Artificial intelligence is driving major developments across the technology and power sectors. Constellation Energy (CEG) signed a 20-year power agreement with Amazon (AMZN) to support data-centre growth and investment in the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant. The deal gives Amazon greater long-term electricity cost certainty for AWS and AI workloads, while Constellation benefits from another major corporate customer after its agreement with Microsoft. As an unregulated utility, Constellation can negotiate directly with large technology companies, potentially supporting higher returns than traditional regulated utilities. Oracle (ORCL) is reportedly negotiating a five-year, $7 billion AI chip lease with Tencent (TCEHY). If confirmed, the agreement could diversify Oracle’s AI customer base and reduce its dependence on OpenAI. Investors have been concerned about Oracle’s rising debt, customer concentration and higher credit-default-swap costs. Tencent could gain access to advanced Nvidia or AMD chips that are difficult to obtain directly in mainland China because of export restrictions. Micron Technology (MU) reported results that significantly exceeded Wall Street expectations, supported by strong AI demand for memory and storage products. Analysts see substantial earnings potential, but Micron remains exposed to the traditional boom-and-bust cycle of the memory industry. A slowdown in AI spending, higher interest rates or geopolitical disruption could pressure the stock, despite strong long-term agreements and optimistic fiscal 2026 and 2027 guidance. The AI theme remains a key driver for technology markets, but traders should monitor bond yields, corporate debt and signs of slower data-centre spending.

U.S. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $148.69 million in net outflows on Wednesday, ending a nine-session inflow streak that had attracted roughly $3 billion. Fidelity’s FBTC led withdrawals with $125.58 million, followed by Bitwise’s BITB at $13.63 million and BlackRock’s IBIT at $9.48 million. No Bitcoin ETF reported an inflow. Trading volume reached $2.36 billion, while total net assets stood at $107.98 billion. The Bitcoin ETF reversal coincided with broader crypto fund selling. Ether ETFs lost $59.58 million, Solana ETFs recorded $11.10 million in outflows, Zcash ETFs shed $30.25 million and HYPE ETFs lost $5.03 million. XRP ETFs reported no net flow. Bitwise’s newly launched NEAR ETF was the only major crypto ETF category to attract capital, receiving $14.04 million. The Bitcoin ETF outflows may reflect profit-taking or a temporary pause after strong institutional buying. Traders should monitor ETF flows, BTC price momentum and trading volume to assess whether demand stabilises or weakens further. Despite the single-session withdrawal, cumulative Bitcoin ETF flows remain near previous highs and positive for 2026.

NEAR Intents, a cross-chain trading platform in the NEAR ecosystem, suffered a security exploit that caused losses of more than $3.8 million. The NEAR Intents hack was linked to a bug involving its Omni deposit and withdrawal infrastructure and smart contracts. The incident was first identified through unusual withdrawals from a NEAR Intents-linked BNB Smart Chain hot wallet. The stolen assets were reportedly sent to KuCoin and converted or bridged into Bitcoin. NEAR Intents patched the vulnerability and said it is working with blockchain analytics firms and law enforcement to trace the funds. Deposits and withdrawals on several networks, including BNB Smart Chain, Polygon and TON, were suspended for about 12 hours while core services were restored. The platform has promised to fully reimburse affected users. NEAR Intents says it has processed more than $30 billion in volume across 35 blockchains, making the breach a significant warning for cross-chain security. The NEAR token fell about 6% over 24 hours after the news, increasing short-term selling pressure. Traders may continue to monitor recovery progress, compensation plans and any further wallet movements. The incident may also weigh on confidence in cross-chain infrastructure over the longer term.

Zcash (ZEC) is consolidating near $1,400 after reaching almost $1,687 in September and closing the month at $1,414. Technical signals remain cautious. The token is trading inside a rising channel, while bearish RSI divergence suggests weakening momentum. A break below $1,360 could expose ZEC to deeper losses, while a move above the channel could reopen resistance near $1,600-$1,700. On-chain data provides a potential support signal. Lookonchain reported that two wallets believed to belong to the same whale withdrew 24,706 ZEC, worth about $28.17 million, from Binance and Gate. The coins were acquired at an average price of roughly $1,140. Withdrawals reduce exchange supply, although wallet ownership and investment intentions have not been confirmed. Zcash ETF momentum has also slowed. Following the launch of Grayscale’s spot Zcash ETF, ZCSH, on 25 August, cumulative inflows approached $268 million by the end of September. However, the funds recorded outflows of $8.12 million on 28 September and $30.25 million on 30 September. These flows indicate weaker short-term institutional demand but do not yet erase the product’s overall positive flow trend. Zcash’s privacy technology, powered by zk-SNARKs, remains a central long-term theme. Traders are watching whether ZEC can hold $1,400, with $1,360 as key downside support and $1,600-$1,700 as the main upside resistance zone.