Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Options trading activity eased in Q3 2026, with average daily volume down 4% from Q2’s record to 70.6 million contracts, according to Cboe. Single-stock options fell 8% to 32.7 million contracts a day, while index options declined 3% to 6.1 million. ETF options rose 1% to 28.3 million. Despite the slowdown, zero-days-to-expiration (0DTE) options reached a record average of 24.2 million contracts daily, about 36% of total options volume. Retail options flow rebounded to a record in September. Overnight trading in selected index options also set a September record, near 288,000 contracts a day. Cboe launched pre-market options trading on 27 liquid stocks and ETFs. FLEX options volume rose 6% to a record 2.33 million contracts daily.

MoneyGram has joined XDC Network as an institutional validator, operating a node that will help verify transactions and support the blockchain’s security and resilience. XDC Network says validators also have a role in network governance. The move expands MoneyGram’s blockchain involvement as it develops services around MGUSD, its US dollar stablecoin launched in June 2026. MoneyGram says it has been integrating blockchain into its payment infrastructure for several years and sees validation as a way to contribute to the network supporting onchain payments. XDC Network is designed for payments, trade finance and real-world assets. Its validator set includes companies such as SBI Holdings, Deutsche Telekom and NTT DOCOMO Global. MoneyGram serves about 60 million active customers through nearly 500,000 locations in more than 200 countries and territories.

Bitcoin treasury firm Strive has closed a $630 million offering of 7 million SATS preferred shares at $90 each, after increasing the deal from an initial 5 million shares. The shares carry a fixed, cumulative annual dividend of 15% on a $100 stated value—an initial yield of about 16.67% at the offering price if dividends are paid. Trading on Nasdaq under the SATS ticker was expected around October 20, 2026. Strive said proceeds may support general corporate purposes, including Bitcoin purchases, income-generating assets and share buybacks, but it has not specified how the funds will be allocated. The company planned an 18-month dividend reserve of $157.5 million at the final offering size; the amount actually set aside was not confirmed. SATS ranks below Strive’s variable-rate SATA preferred shares and above its common stock. The company recently raised an expected $369.2 million from warrant exercises and bought 2,822 BTC at an average price of about $83,266. The SATS offering expands Strive’s Bitcoin financing options, but its direct effect on BTC demand will depend on how much of the proceeds the company deploys to buy Bitcoin. The high dividend obligation and preferred-share structure are also relevant to investors assessing Strive’s balance sheet.

The Blockchain Association has asked the US Treasury to clarify how the GENIUS Act will apply to digital asset service providers, foreign-issued stablecoins and yield arrangements. In a November 4, 2025 letter, it urged Treasury to keep definitions narrow and tied to the statute, distinguishing customer-facing financial businesses from self-custody software and validators. It also said liability for knowingly facilitating unlawful stablecoin issuance should require actual knowledge and meaningful assistance, and that foreign-stablecoin obligations should rely on information platforms can reasonably access. The Association called for clearer compliance paths for smaller issuers and new entrants. The GENIUS Act sets two timelines for foreign stablecoins: conditions on platforms offering or selling foreign-issued payment stablecoins apply from the Act’s effective date, while a broader restriction on stablecoins from non-permitted issuers is scheduled for July 18, 2028. The effective date could come sooner than 18 months after enactment if primary federal regulators issue final rules, with the Act taking effect 120 days later. The rules could affect a stablecoin market valued at about $301.5 billion on October 20, 2026; USDT represented roughly 60.7%, according to DefiLlama. These are industry recommendations, not adopted rules. Treasury and other agencies’ decisions could shape platform compliance, DeFi infrastructure and access to foreign stablecoins, leaving uncertainty for traders and settlement markets.

Bitcoin is holding near the lower boundary of a rising channel, even as Wall Street retreats from AI stocks and broader risk pressures build. The article says a four-hour wedge is nearing a breakout, with falling Stochastic RSI readings and weakening momentum suggesting downside may be more likely in the short term. On the daily chart, Bitcoin is below an ascending trendline, but the 50-day simple moving average has so far acted as support. Daily Stochastic RSI indicators have turned up from oversold territory, leaving room for a recovery if momentum strengthens. The broader trend remains upward unless Bitcoin closes a weekly candle below the rising channel’s lower trendline. The article also flags hot inflation, rising bond yields and oil prices, and a strong US dollar as headwinds. If equities continue to fall, Bitcoin may struggle to decouple from the stock market.

BlackRock has filed to launch the iShares Bitcoin Managed Protect ETF, designed to provide exposure to Bitcoin gains while seeking to limit losses. The filing does not specify the level of downside protection or how much upside investors could capture. The proposal follows similar products from Calamos, whose protected Bitcoin ETF lost about 1% during its protection period starting in October 2025, while Bitcoin fell as much as 52% from its record high. The proposed fund would build on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which has more than $65 billion in assets. The move signals growing demand for Bitcoin investment products that manage volatility, but the filing alone does not create immediate buying pressure on spot BTC.

New York-based payments company Mural has raised $15 million in a Series A round led by Tether, with participation from North Island Ventures. The funding brings Mural’s total capital raised to $28 million, following a $5 million seed round in 2022. Founded in 2022 by former Palantir engineers Sinclair Toffa and Chris Fernandes, Mural offers businesses a single account to hold US dollars, local currencies and stablecoins. Its platform aims to simplify cross-border payments and compliance for payroll providers, software companies and fintech firms, reducing the need to work with multiple banks and payment providers. Mural has not disclosed how it will use the funds. The investment signals interest in stablecoin payment infrastructure, but the announcement includes no details of a token launch or broader crypto-market expansion.

Figma has added 20 partners to its Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration, including Sarvam, Notion, Linear and Mistral. Announced at Config India in Bengaluru on October 15, the expansion lets AI agents access design context and read from or write to Figma files through hosted and desktop MCP servers. Figma also launched Code Layers, an open-beta feature for code-backed prototypes, and Specs, a markdown editor in open beta for paid users. The broader Figma MCP rollout supports AI-assisted design and development, while access controls remain important because agents can change design files.

Bitcoin Suisse launched cryptocurrency trading, custody and staking services in Portugal on October 20 through its European subsidiary, Bitcoin Suisse (Europe) AG. The offering targets high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional clients, with dedicated relationship managers. The firm reports group assets under management of $3.5 billion to $4 billion. The Portugal launch follows a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) licence granted to the subsidiary by Liechtenstein’s Financial Market Authority on June 23, 2026. The MiCA licence enables the company to passport its services across the European Economic Area, without seeking separate approval in each market. Portugal is among the first countries where Bitcoin Suisse is using that authorisation.

Bitcoin (BTC) was reported above $84,000 on 12 October 2026, at $84,036.30, up 1.17% over 24 hours. In the later report, dated 20 October, the BTC price stood at 83,004 USDT, just above the 83,000 USDT threshold and up 1.21% in 24 hours. The latest snapshot is below the earlier quoted price, though both reports show BTC trading above key levels. Neither report includes trading-volume or broader market data, so the strength and durability of the move remain unclear.

Brent crude oil briefly pulled back to around $110 a barrel, according to Gate data. It was last quoted at $109.95, up 0.1% over 24 hours. The modest move in Brent crude oil provides little by itself to indicate a significant shift in energy markets.

Earnings reports can move tokenized stocks sharply, but their prices may not track traditional shares exactly. Tokenized stocks are designed to reflect the value of underlying equities, yet liquidity, market demand and issuer mechanisms can cause temporary premiums or discounts—especially when companies report results outside regular US market hours. Some tokenized stocks can trade or transfer on-chain around the clock, but 24/7 access does not guarantee 24/7 liquidity or close price alignment. Issuance and redemption may operate on more limited schedules, so prices can diverge when traditional markets are closed. Traders should check current quotes, spreads, liquidity, slippage and issuer-specific terms, including how dividends and corporate actions are handled. Eligible users may access selected third-party tokenized assets, including products from Ondo and xStocks, through 1inch. Availability depends on the asset, network, liquidity and jurisdiction; the article notes that these products are unavailable through 1inch to users in the US, UK and other restricted jurisdictions. The article is informational and highlights trading considerations rather than announcing a market-moving event.

France’s National Assembly has narrowly advanced a proposal to tax crypto-to-stablecoin swaps, with 38 votes in favour, 37 against and 25 abstentions. The amendment to the 2027 budget, tabled by Nicolas Sansu, is not law and must clear further budget votes and Senate review. The government opposed it and could use Article 49.3 to pass the budget while deciding which amendments to retain. If enacted, the stablecoin tax would apply from 1 January 2027. Swapping crypto into MiCA-defined e-money tokens pegged to a single official currency, such as USDC or EURC, would be treated as a disposal, ending the current deferral of tax on crypto-to-crypto trades until conversion to euros or spending. Gains would be taxed at France’s 31.4% flat rate, with acquisition costs calculated using a weighted average method. Supporters say stablecoin swaps can let gains escape taxation; the proposal’s narrow vote and uncertain path mean it is not an immediate market catalyst. A separate, industry-criticised proposal would require year-end reporting of self-custodied crypto holdings worth at least €100,000. Both measures remain subject to the wider budget process.

US housing starts fell 5.2% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.221 million units, below the market forecast of about 1.3 million. Starts were down 7.4% from a year earlier, with both single-family homes and buildings with five or more units declining. The Census Bureau said the monthly change has a wide margin of error, so the data does not establish a statistically certain drop. Building permits edged down 0.2% to an annual rate of 1.4 million. Despite the weak US housing starts report, Goldman Sachs kept its third-quarter GDP tracking estimate at 3.3% annualised. It expects higher mortgage rates, increased housing supply and lower builder margins to weigh on single-family construction over the next year. The estimate is not an official GDP figure; the BEA is scheduled to release its third-quarter advance estimate on October 29.

Apple plans to invest up to $100 million in Pennsylvania-based Perryman Company over three years to supply titanium for the iPhone Duo and other products. The titanium will be produced at Perryman’s Pennsylvania facilities, and material for the iPhone Duo will contain at least 80% recycled content. The figure is a spending ceiling, not a confirmed payment amount. The deal is part of Apple’s broader US manufacturing commitments. The company also announced an expanded partnership with Qnity Electronics to make advanced films for the iPhone 18 Pro’s variable-aperture camera. Apple says nearly 100 components for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro are made by US companies. The Perryman commitment is modest compared with Apple’s planned investment of more than $30 billion in a Broadcom agreement announced in July. The announcement comes as some iPhone Duo models reportedly face online preorder delivery estimates of about 14 weeks. Apple did not say whether the titanium partnership will ease near-term supply constraints.

WLFI fell about 5.7% to $0.0538 on October 20 as the circulating market value of World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin dropped by roughly $401 million in two weeks. USD1’s market cap declined 9.1%, from about $4.43 billion on October 6 to $4.02 billion on October 19. On-chain data recorded $385.03 million in net USD1 redemptions across Ethereum and BNB Chain from October 6 to 15. One unidentified wallet accounted for about $200 million of BNB Chain redemptions. USD1 continued to trade near its $1 peg, and the redemptions do not establish that they caused WLFI’s price decline. World Liberty has proposed taking over USD1 issuance and reserve management from BitGo through a planned trust bank. The bank has received preliminary conditional approval, but it is not yet operating and still needs to meet regulatory requirements. The falling USD1 supply signals withdrawals from the project’s stablecoin ecosystem, while the maintained peg indicates no documented loss of dollar parity.

ING economist James Smith says UK households may be more exposed to the energy crisis and cost-of-living pressures than consumers in much of Europe. Once pension contributions and housing investment are excluded, the UK savings ratio is negative, suggesting households have limited financial room to absorb rising costs. The UK savings ratio therefore gives a more fragile picture of household finances than headline measures may suggest. ING also finds that eurozone consumers now direct as much of their savings to investment funds and ETFs as to bank deposits.

Software loan spreads have widened again after tightening over the summer, although they remain below their year-to-date highs. The valuation gap between software loans and the broader leveraged loan market is still significant, reflecting persistent concerns about AI disruption. A small group of software issuers may benefit from wider AI adoption, but many face uncertain competitive prospects, business-model risks and execution challenges. Refinancing is also difficult: elevated base rates and wide software loan spreads can make borrowing costs prohibitively high. PIMCO expects performance differences between issuers to remain pronounced because the sector’s underlying risks have not materially changed.

Tele2 reported 2% organic growth in end-user service revenue and 3% growth in underlying EBITDAaL in the third quarter of 2026, compared with a strong period a year earlier. The Swedish telecom group also generated record equity free cash flow of SEK 2.3 billion. CEO Nicholas Hogberg said the company would update its full-year 2026 guidance, but the provided transcript excerpt does not include the revised outlook. Tele2’s results concern telecom operations and do not directly address cryptocurrency markets.

DefiLlama’s latest 30-day chain-revenue figures show Tron revenue at about $23.4 million, ahead of Ethereum’s $6.3 million and Solana’s $3.4 million. The figures include TRX fees burned on Tron and reflect DefiLlama’s specific methodology; they are not a complete comparison of income earned by apps, validators or infrastructure providers. Tron revenue is closely linked to stablecoin transfers, particularly USDT, as the network is widely used for moving dollar-denominated tokens. The figures offer traders one measure of network activity, but do not establish which blockchain is strongest overall. Fee policies differ, and other networks may lead in liquidity, application activity or developer adoption. The dashboard data can also change over time.

SHR Miner says it is marking its eighth anniversary with a promotion funded by 45% of its first-half profits. The cloud-mining platform advertises a $20 registration bonus, $1 daily check-in rewards, referral commissions of 4% for direct referrals and 2% for second-tier referrals, and instant deposit rebates of 1% to 10% for qualifying deposits. It also offers gifts, including a Porsche for users whose cumulative contract purchases reach $1 million. SHR Miner says eligible users should contact customer service from November 1 to 5 after the promotion ends to claim gifts, but it does not state the promotion dates. Users may remain eligible by continuing to buy contracts without withdrawing funds. The announcement does not independently verify the company’s profit claims or explain contract risks and withdrawal terms. Traders should treat the offers cautiously and verify the platform and conditions before depositing. The promotion is specific to SHR Miner and does not signal a change in crypto prices or market fundamentals.

A Kazakhstan court has barred Coinbase, BingX, HTX, BitMart, Bitcoin.com and WEEX from offering or advertising unlicensed crypto services in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The orders also prohibit distributing the relevant apps within the financial hub. The Kazakhstan court restrictions apply to the AIFC, not the whole country, and do not confirm that the platforms have halted nationwide operations. The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) says firms need a local licence to operate in the AIFC. It is preparing to ask Apple and Google to geo-restrict the platforms’ apps there. LBank was removed from the injunction after restricting access in Kazakhstan and addressing the regulator’s concerns. AFSA also said nine other platforms voluntarily restricted app access and seven expressed interest in applying for licences. The case followed AFSA warnings to more than 20 platforms in 2025 and court proceedings launched in early 2026. It comes amid a wider crackdown that reportedly blocked more than 1,100 unlicensed crypto exchanges in Kazakhstan. The ruling raises compliance requirements for the six platforms in the AIFC, but its limited geographic scope is unlikely on its own to move the broader crypto market.

Stablecoin transfers exceeded $400 million per hour in Q3 2026, according to a Coinbase-commissioned report by The Block Research. Adjusted quarterly stablecoin volume reached $891 billion, up from $216 billion in Q1 2023. The report’s 49.94% compound annual growth rate would imply $1.5 trillion in quarterly volume by the end of 2027, but this is an extrapolation, not a forecast. Separately, Dune data found that about 73% of screened transfers in the 12 months to July 31 occurred outside US banking hours; its filters differ and include automated activity, so the figure is not directly comparable with adjusted volume. The report says a $200 USDC remittance on Base costs about 86% less than the transaction-weighted average for traditional channels. It also counts 293 million stablecoin-holding addresses, while cautioning that addresses are not users; says seven of the 10 largest US banks are testing stablecoin or tokenized-deposit settlement; and models a $155 billion annual global GDP boost if stablecoins handled 80% of international transactions. Coinbase’s x402 standard processed 249 million payments by September, though the report does not attribute all of them to AI agents. The data indicate expanding stablecoin payment and settlement use, but do not establish an immediate price catalyst for USDC or the wider crypto market.

Circle has launched Arc, a blockchain designed to provide financial infrastructure for institutions and an economy increasingly involving AI agents. CEO Jeremy Allaire said Arc aims to support payments, financial contracts and other activity, with strict validator standards and geographically diverse operators. Circle’s USDC liquidity, banking connections and Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) could give Arc an advantage. Allaire said Circle handles about $150 billion in stablecoin mints and redemptions each quarter. Circle also plans to extend CCTP beyond USDC, potentially allowing other Arc-issued assets—including tokenised shares and credit products—to transfer across chains. Allaire and a16z crypto’s Chris Dixon said open blockchain infrastructure could help AI agents transact, access financial services and support new credit markets. Dixon argued that blockchain networks may counter AI’s tendency towards centralisation. These use cases remain early and uncertain; the launch and plans do not establish a near-term trading catalyst for USDC or the wider market.

Barclays says the growth cycle for AI infrastructure equipment suppliers may be peaking, with AI labs seeking lower costs and large buyers gaining negotiating power. The bank flags potential pricing and margin pressure for Siemens Energy, ABB and Schneider Electric, which supply data centres with electrical equipment such as transformers and switchgear. The warning follows a separate Barclays report on server makers Dell, HPE and NetApp. It said recent revenue growth may have been boosted by higher DRAM and HBM prices rather than lasting demand. Barclays estimated AI spending at about 5% of corporate IT budgets, with hardware making up roughly a quarter of that spending. The outlook could weigh on AI hardware sentiment, though the report points to margin risks rather than an immediate collapse in equipment orders.

The Florida Senate race has turned energy policy into a campaign issue. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) says Bernie Sanders and Democratic nominee Angie Nixon’s push to phase out fossil fuels could cost Florida energy-sector jobs and raise household expenses. Nixon is challenging Republican incumbent Ashley Moody in a state where Republicans hold a voter-registration advantage. Prediction markets are also tracking oil prices ahead of the November 2026 election. The article says prices above $80 a barrel by early November are associated with a greater chance of Republican success, while prices below that level are less supportive. Moody’s campaign has framed the contest as a choice between “freedom and socialism”; Nixon has backing from Sanders and the International Association of Machinists. The Florida Senate race remains an uphill contest for Democrats, and oil prices, polling and campaign messaging are among the factors to watch. The article does not provide evidence that the energy proposal has caused job losses or higher costs.

Blockchain.com options trading went live on 20 October 2026 for eligible users, expanding the exchange’s crypto derivatives offering. Traders can buy calls or puts on seven assets: BTC, ETH, SOL, HYPE, AVAX, XRP and TRX. Contracts expire within one week, are funded and settled in USDC, and require a minimum premium of $5, plus fees. Buyers must hold options until settlement; their maximum loss on a position is the premium paid, though repeated losses can accumulate. The launch follows Blockchain.com’s perpetual futures rollout earlier this year. The company has also filed with the CFTC for Futures Commission Merchant and Designated Contract Market registrations, which have not been approved. The options launch adds short-term trading tools but does not, by itself, establish a regulated US derivatives offering.

AI trading agents can monitor crypto markets and trade around the clock, but Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu warns that users may become dependent on services they do not control. If a provider suspends access, a trader could lose an agent trained on months or years of personal preferences. Siu recommends using specialized agents, protecting sensitive information and ensuring users can download their data to move to another service. AI trading agents may not provide an edge when many users rely on similar models, as their trades could converge. Personalized follow-up instructions can help shape an agent’s strategy, while human judgment remains important. Coinbase and Binance have introduced tools that let agents access wallets, market data and trading functions within user-defined limits. A 2025 survey found 14.5% of respondents would let AI manage their entire crypto portfolio. The Bank of England has also warned that similar AI-driven positions could amplify market shocks.

ARK Invest’s updated Tesla valuation model forecasts a 2031 share price of about $4,400 and a market capitalisation of roughly $17.5 trillion in its base case. The model projects annual revenue of $1.45 trillion and EBITDA of $902 billion. A Monte Carlo analysis using 32 variables puts the share price at about $3,300 in the bear case and $5,000 in the bull case; ARK estimates annualised share-price gains of 53% and 66%, respectively, and about 62% in the base case. The Tesla valuation depends heavily on autonomous-driving commercialisation and robotics. ARK expects Robotaxi to account for about 80% of enterprise value by 2031, while cumulative external Optimus sales reach about one million units and related robotics-as-a-service revenue reaches $212 billion. The model assumes AI infrastructure spending rises from about $7 billion at the end of 2025 to $225 billion by the end of 2031. ARK cautions that results could differ substantially because of uncertainties around technology, margins and capital efficiency; the model is not investment advice.