Crypto News

Ethereum researcher Justin Drake said developers hope to complete the network’s post-quantum and post-AI transition by December 2028. The target is one year earlier than the Ethereum Foundation’s current quantum-resistance deadline of December 2029. Speaking at Devcon 8 in Mumbai, Drake said developers have 24 months to deliver three more network upgrades. The proposed transition would cover Ethereum’s execution, consensus and data layers. The accelerated timeline is an ambition, not a formal change to the foundation’s roadmap, which is due for review in January 2027. The plan follows earlier proposals for production-ready leanVM technology in 2027 and post-quantum deployments across Ethereum’s layers in 2028. The timeline has drawn scrutiny: StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson has called the existing 2029 target too late, while Starknet’s community has backed research into becoming an independent post-quantum layer-1 network. For traders, the announcement highlights Ethereum’s long-term security work, but it does not immediately change network operations or confirm a delivery date. Its near-term market impact is therefore likely limited unless the roadmap is formally updated or development milestones affect adoption.

Ethereum (ETH) rose above $2,300 on 4 November, reversing its losses earlier in the day. HTX market data put ETH at $2,300.09, up 0.01% on the day. The brief update provides no details on trading volume or the wider market, so the move alone offers limited evidence of a sustained trend.

Spot silver rose 2% during the day to $50.85 an ounce, according to market data from Bitget. The report provides no further details on the factors behind the move. The rise in the silver price does not, by itself, indicate a direct shift in cryptocurrency market conditions.

Global markets rebounded on 4 November after US midterm election results, with investors appearing to have priced in the political outcome. Bitcoin recovered above $78,000 and Ethereum climbed above $2,300, reversing earlier losses. US equity futures also recovered from steeper declines, while Hong Kong and South Korean shares turned higher. China’s STAR 50 index rose more than 5%, supported by gains in semiconductor stocks. Gold and silver advanced as well. The broad election-driven market rebound points to improved short-term risk appetite, though the figures are a snapshot and do not establish that the election alone caused the move.

A crypto market commentator argues that once the US midterm election outcome is clear, asset prices may continue rising as money supply expands. The article attributes voter discontent to high inflation, citing sharp increases in fuel and food costs and a squeeze on household budgets. It argues that, regardless of which party governs, policymakers may keep relying on inflation to sustain economic activity. The view is speculative: the article provides no market data or evidence that the election outcome will lead directly to more money printing or gains in Bitcoin and other assets.

The Mercado Bitcoin hack is drawing attention after attackers converted about $18.19 million worth of altcoins into ETH. The incident raises concerns about exchange security and could increase near-term caution among crypto traders. CZ said large-scale attacks point to serious security vulnerabilities and called for transparent disclosure and meaningful improvements. Separately, blockchain investigator ZachXBT said French bank Crédit Mutuel Arkéa may be linked to an EU entity reportedly involved in a $133 million theft; the claim has not been established in the provided report. The roundup also said Apple has prohibited employees from using confidential information to place bets on prediction markets. In political news, investor Yi Lihua suggested that possible Republican losses of control of Congress could weigh on US stocks, while Bitcoin may prove relatively resilient. These developments add to a mixed backdrop for crypto markets, with the Mercado Bitcoin hack and security concerns the most direct crypto-related risks.

The Hang Seng Tech Index turned higher in afternoon trading on 4 November 2026, with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) leading the index’s constituent stocks. The Hang Seng Index was up 0.81% at the time of the report. The move signals strength in Hong Kong technology shares, but the report provides no direct indication of cryptocurrency market activity.

US President Donald Trump congratulated Democrats on their midterm election victories and said he was willing to work with them, while warning he could veto legislation. He blamed some Republican losses on candidates who lacked voter support or were not his allies, and said Republicans would have done better if he had been on the ballot. On the Iran war, Trump said its end would be decided by him. The comments add to uncertainty about congressional cooperation and the conflict’s course. Neither statement outlined new policy, but changes in US political and geopolitical risk can influence broader market sentiment, including crypto trading.

The Moscow Exchange plans to start trading Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Tether (USDT) on December 1. Trading is scheduled from 06:50 to 23:50 Moscow time, with the National Clearing Centre handling trades and same-day or next-day settlement. Swap tools are also planned to support liquidity management. The Moscow Exchange’s crypto trading launch would bring the assets onto Russia’s main stock exchange, but both the exchange and clearing centre have been under US sanctions since June 2024. Tether may also freeze wallets linked to sanctioned parties, creating uncertainty around settlement. Retail investors will have to pass a test and face an annual purchase cap of 300,000 roubles (about $3,700) through one broker; qualified investors have no stated limit. Officials have cited substantial potential activity, including an estimate of 50 billion roubles in daily crypto turnover and a projection of 4 trillion roubles in the first year under the new rules.

Changpeng Zhao (CZ) says the reported $6.3 billion Binance hack exposed serious security failures across the crypto industry. He said attackers targeted hundreds of employees and systems over months or years, but compromised only a small number. CZ added that no platform is immune to attacks, while stressing that this does not excuse preventable weaknesses. He supports greater transparency so crypto firms can learn from the incident, and expects Binance to take responsibility and make meaningful security improvements. CZ no longer manages Binance and said he was not involved in its internal response; he also said Binance covered the losses and that its rapid public response helped ease fears of wider market contagion. He warned that AI is speeding up cyberattacks, called for closer cooperation with AI firms and a crypto security alliance, and expects more incidents in the short term. He estimated that 6% to 10% of post-incident withdrawals went to other centralized exchanges, without identifying the data source. For traders, the Binance hack renews concerns about exchange security and custody risks, although the response may have limited immediate market anxiety.

Analyst ChartNerd says XRP could reach $5–$8 in 2027, based on a long-term chart pattern that he believes has guided the token through previous market cycles. He expects more turbulence in the near term, however, and says XRP could fall to $1.16–$1.04 if it fails to reclaim the $1.30 level after losing that support. XRP was trading near $1.25 when the article was written. It was down more than 3% over seven days and 16% over a month, and remained about 65% below its reported $3.65 record high from July 2025. ChartNerd also says XRP may need to revisit a historical demand zone against Bitcoin before it can outperform BTC again. Another analyst, EGRAG CRYPTO, has outlined higher targets of $8, $13 and $30, but says a monthly close above $1.65 is needed to support that outlook. These are analyst projections, not confirmed price targets; near-term support levels and broader market conditions remain key risks for XRP traders.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged that the Iran war contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections, but said he does not regret launching the conflict. He said he would make the same decision again. Trump argued that surging petrol and diesel prices, rather than the war itself or dissatisfaction with the economy, were the main political burden. He also said he had no plans for changes to his administration and praised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Iran war and its impact on fuel costs remain key political and economic concerns.

Chainalysis disclosed on October 30 that an external attacker accessed some internal systems and tools, exposing a subset of customer information, including user IDs, names, email addresses and organizational role labels. The company has not said how many customers were affected or identified the attacker. It reported no evidence that investigation records or graph data, passwords, authentication credentials, multifactor authentication secrets or session tokens were compromised. Chainalysis brought in outside cybersecurity specialists, notified customers and advised them to watch for suspicious password-reset requests and authentication prompts. The company described the intrusion as involving “offensive agentic techniques.” The Chainalysis security incident is unrelated to the reported $6.3 billion Binance breach and does not mean all customers or products were affected. Exposed contact details could enable targeted phishing or social engineering, so customers should use verified company notices and avoid unsolicited reset links. Further investigation findings and any confirmed misuse remain key developments to watch.

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT alleges that more than $133 million in cryptocurrency was stolen from centralized exchange accounts linked to French banking group Crédit Mutuel Arkéa. The bank’s involvement has not been independently confirmed, and it is unclear whether the assets belonged to the bank, its customers or another party. ZachXBT first reported more than $106 million in suspicious withdrawals, then identified over $27 million in additional outflows. Earlier reporting said funds were traced from accounts at Kraken, Crypto.com and OKX, including about $63 million in stablecoins converted to Ether (ETH) within four hours. The later account says USDC and USDT were moved across services and blockchains, with some funds reportedly converted into Monero (XMR). WellWallet, Kyrrex and Wagyu were named as services that received or routed transfers, but there is no evidence they knowingly participated. ZachXBT said the total could be higher if over-the-counter transactions are included. The attacker, access method, amount frozen or recovered, and containment status remain unknown. Kraken and Crypto.com previously said they had restricted accounts or blocked funds linked to the suspected theft and that their platforms remained secure. ZachXBT said he was highly confident Lazarus Group was not responsible, but this is not a formal attribution. His claim that inadequate disclosure allowed more than $30 million to be laundered is also unverified. The alleged crypto theft raises concerns about exchange and institutional-fund security, but its direct effect on ETH, XMR or stablecoin prices is unclear.

Arbitrum’s Security Council moved 8,425 ETH and about 74.56 million ARB, worth roughly $30 million, linked to the October 29 Binance hack into a holding address on October 30. Using emergency powers, the council temporarily modified Arbitrum’s Ethereum Inbox contract to make the transfers without the targeted wallet’s private key or signatures, then restored the original code in the same Ethereum transaction. At least nine of the council’s 12 members approved the action. Arbitrum said it did not affect other users or applications. The assets remain frozen and have not been returned to Binance; a separate ArbitrumDAO vote is required for any release, and no timetable has been announced. This is not the same as Binance’s customer reimbursement: Binance said the breach involved about $6.34 billion, with $2.85 billion frozen or intercepted, and that it had replenished 98% of affected tokens and allocated enough funds to cover losses. The FBI attributed the theft to North Korea’s TraderTraitor operation. For traders, the Arbitrum intervention may reduce the risk that the identified assets can be moved, but it does not resolve ownership or guarantee recovery. The emergency upgrade also highlights the authority of Arbitrum’s governance, leaving the DAO’s next decision and any on-chain transfer as key developments for ARB and network confidence.

Coinbase has restored crypto staking for eligible customers in New Jersey after the state’s Bureau of Securities withdrew a cease-and-desist order issued in 2023. The order had restricted Coinbase staking services in the state for more than three years and alleged that the products involved securities requiring registration or an exemption. Regulators also withdrew a proposed $5 million civil penalty, without resolving the wider legal questions around staking. Coinbase says customers can once again stake supported assets for up to 12% APY. The exchange will continue seeking access in Wisconsin, Maryland, California and Washington. The move is positive for Coinbase staking access, but applies only in New Jersey and does not establish a broader US regulatory precedent. Its direct effect on crypto prices is likely limited; traders will watch for further state-level decisions and possible implications for Ethereum staking and demand.

Hyperliquid, a decentralised crypto derivatives platform that is officially inaccessible to US users, is drawing attention from US policymakers and established financial firms as its offshore market presence grows. Some firms are reportedly exploring regulated US products built on Hyperliquid’s infrastructure, though the article gives no details of specific plans or policy action. HYPE was reported trading at $82–$85, with 24-hour volume of $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion. A prediction market put the chance of HYPE reaching $100 by 31 December at about 46%. For traders, the key factors to watch are any regulatory developments or partnerships: either could affect sentiment, but neither is confirmed in the report.

Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $116 million in net outflows on 3 November, marking a third consecutive day of withdrawals, according to SoSoValue. IBIT led outflows at about $94.98 million, while BITB drew $21.92 million and FBTC attracted $6.76 million. Bitcoin spot ETFs held $99.16 billion in net assets, equal to 6.33% of Bitcoin’s market capitalisation, and cumulative net inflows remained positive at $56.47 billion. The continued outflows suggest near-term pressure on Bitcoin, although the funds’ substantial cumulative inflows show that institutional demand remains significant.

Boundless Foundation plans to launch its tokenised AI inference programme on 2 January 2027. Users who stake ZKC will receive credits for using open-weight AI models, allocated every two days according to their share of total staked ZKC. The initial pool is worth about $1,000. Staked tokens will not be spent or need to be moved or restaked. Boundless will suspend its zero-knowledge proof service indefinitely from 5 November 2026, ending new proof requests and proof rewards. Its Explorer interface is due to close on 30 November, while staking will remain available through a separate interface. The final staking rewards period ends on 1 January 2027. After rewards are settled, ZKC issuance will stop as the token moves towards a fixed supply. AI usage credits will replace the existing staking and proof rewards.

Hong Kong plans to introduce a licensing regime for virtual asset trading, custody, advisory and management services. Deputy Financial Secretary Joseph Chan said the government aims to submit an amendment bill to the Legislative Council in 2026, under the direction of the city’s Digital Asset Development Policy Statement 2.0. The proposal could give virtual asset firms a clearer compliance path, though details of the rules have not yet been announced. Securities and Futures Commission chief executive Julia Leung said artificial intelligence and tokenisation could support financial market development, while stressing investor protection, market integrity and stronger cyber resilience. Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief Eddie Yue said the city’s Fintech 2030 strategy would help banks and fintech firms make better use of data, AI and tokenisation.

US crypto regulation could face tougher congressional scrutiny if Democrats win control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections. Prediction markets put the odds of Democratic control at about 94% for the House and 75% for the Senate, as of Tuesday, according to the article. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats have raised questions about Donald Trump’s crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP memecoin. Binance’s recent hack has added to calls for stronger exchange security and accountability, although no established link connects the incident to the political relationships cited. Democrats have also proposed the STOP Corrupt Bets Act, which would prohibit event contracts tied to elections, sports, government actions and war. That could affect Kalshi, where sports and parlay trading reportedly account for about 84% of this year’s volume. Meanwhile, crypto regulation is still advancing through existing agency powers: the SEC has allowed certain venues to trade tokenized US stocks on a temporary basis, and the CFTC has opened a path for stock perpetual contracts on eligible regulated exchanges. For traders, the outlook is mixed. More oversight could raise compliance risks for exchanges and prediction markets, but it does not automatically halt regulatory approvals. The article also identifies the Iran conflict as a larger near-term market wildcard, with potential effects on oil prices, inflation and risk assets, including crypto.

Bitbase has launched its Bitbase points program with Origin, a 26-week campaign running from 4 November 2026 to 4 May 2027. The exchange will distribute one million points each week, and eligible new and existing users do not need to register to participate. Points are calculated daily based on trading, asset holdings, consistent activity and referrals. Referrers earn an additional 25% of the contribution value generated by users they directly invite, while invitees’ own contribution values remain unchanged. Eligible users’ previously earned Alpha points also count. From 9 November, participants will receive a shareable weekly trading-personality card. Bitbase says the program is designed to reward sustained participation rather than short bursts of trading. It follows the platform’s Bitbase 2.0 product and brand update. The Bitbase points program could boost user engagement, but the announcement does not confirm a token listing or suggest a direct price catalyst.

US spot Ether ETFs recorded $139.7 million in net outflows on 2 November, including about $138.3 million from BlackRock’s ETHA, according to Farside Investors. The following day, Ethereum spot ETFs saw another $85.35 million in net outflows, extending the streak to seven consecutive days, SoSoValue reported. BlackRock’s ETHA led withdrawals on 3 November with $74.44 million, followed by Grayscale’s Ethereum Mini Trust ETF with $10.91 million. Despite the outflows, the funds held $13.32 billion in net assets, equal to 4.76% of Ethereum’s market capitalisation, while cumulative net inflows remained positive at $12.06 billion. The continued Ethereum spot ETF outflows may indicate softer near-term institutional demand and could weigh on sentiment around ETH. However, ETF flows alone do not establish that investors sold ETH or determine its price direction; traders can also watch spot liquidity and broader risk appetite.

The Mercado Bitcoin hacker has transferred $11.45 million worth of stolen altcoins to multiple addresses for sale, according to blockchain monitoring platform Arkham. The hacker also appears to be consolidating ETH at an address starting with 0x4691. The asset transfers could add selling pressure to the affected tokens, although the report does not identify which altcoins were moved or confirm how much has already been sold.

Democrats have secured control of the US Senate with 51 seats after Iowa Democrat Josh Turek won his race, according to the Associated Press. The change in Senate control could reshape the stalled CLARITY Act, committee leadership and confirmation of nominees to regulatory posts. It may also bring closer congressional scrutiny of Trump-linked crypto businesses and regulators’ decisions. The CLARITY Act failed a Senate procedural vote 49–50 in September. Ethereum France president and EthCC co-founder Jerome de Tychey warned that the bill may have to restart from scratch if it is not passed by January. He said the crypto industry will need bipartisan support, while noting that conflict-of-interest rules and customer protections could strengthen regulation. D3 co-founder Fred Hsu also urged crypto firms to engage lawmakers from both parties. The change in Senate control creates uncertainty for US crypto regulation, but does not by itself determine the bill’s fate.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $115.6 million in net outflows, while spot Ethereum ETFs saw $85.3 million leave on the same day, for combined outflows of $200.9 million. Among Bitcoin funds, IBIT had the largest outflow at $95 million, while BITB recorded $21.9 million in inflows. Ethereum fund ETHA led outflows with $74.4 million. The daily figures point to weaker demand for spot Bitcoin ETFs and spot Ethereum ETFs, though a single session does not establish a lasting trend.

US stock index futures trimmed their losses on 4 November, but remained lower. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 1.58%, S&P 500 futures dropped 0.93%, and Dow futures declined 0.57%, according to BIT market data. The narrowing losses indicate some easing in selling pressure, though US stock futures remained firmly in negative territory. The move may affect crypto trading through shifts in broader risk appetite, but the report did not identify a specific catalyst or provide direct cryptocurrency price data.

CoinEx founder Haipo Yang says three preventable security failures contributed to the reported $6.3 billion Binance hack on October 29: insufficient separation between development and production systems, weak employee authentication, and inadequate independent checks by transaction signers. Yang argued the incident reflected failures in security discipline rather than a lack of available technology. His assessment has not been confirmed in full by Binance. Binance’s November 3 incident report said attackers used social engineering, malware and stolen credentials to access wallet infrastructure. The campaign reportedly included fraudulent recruitment and compromised employee devices. The FBI attributed the theft to North Korean state-sponsored attackers; North Korea denied the allegations. Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said the exchange had replenished 98% of affected assets and that about $2.85 billion had been frozen or intercepted. Binance said it would cover the remaining losses and strengthen wallet controls, device protection and monitoring. Co-CEO Yi He said the exchange had blocked 57 suspected North Korea-linked cyber threats in 2026. The Binance hack raises concerns about exchange security and operational risk. Recovery efforts may help limit immediate confidence damage, but traders will watch for further disclosures, withdrawal disruptions and evidence that the security weaknesses have been addressed.

BitMart founder Sheldon Xia said the crypto exchange was hacked on 3 November, describing the breach as small but not disclosing its scope or whether user funds or data were affected. BitMart began investigating and strengthened its security measures. Preliminary findings suggest the attackers may be linked to the group suspected of targeting Brazilian exchange Mercado Bitcoin, though this connection remains unconfirmed. Xia also said recent restructuring left BitMart with a small core team and significant security understaffing. The BitMart hack adds to concerns about crypto exchange security; traders may watch for official updates, withdrawal issues and signs of broader market contagion.