Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Puffer Finance’s official website (puffer.fi) and social media channels have been compromised in a security breach disclosed by PeckShieldAlert. Users are strongly advised to cease all interactions with the platform while the team investigates the incident. Although the team has resolved issues with its X account, the investigation into the root cause of the hack is ongoing. No fund theft has been reported so far, and Puffer Finance will provide updates once the review is complete.

USD.AI has launched its platform and introduced the Allo Game and an associated token airdrop. Through the Allo Game, users can mint or stake USD.AI to earn Allo points. Points determine eligibility for an ICO allocation or airdrop. The project caps total deposits at $100 million. Token distribution is split 70% for the ICO and 30% for the airdrop. Initial circulating supply is valued at $30 million, representing 10% of the total float, with a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $300 million. Allo point rewards will be linked to revenues generated by USD.AI’s AI infrastructure. All participants will receive tokens at the same valuation.

Bitcoin self-custody is widely promoted as simple—‘just write down 12 words’—but the reality is far more complex. Bitcoin self-custody requires users to deeply understand that their seed phrase represents real assets, ensure physical security, guard against social engineering, verify hardware integrity, and maintain long-term compatibility with future wallets. Without improved user interfaces, cross-vendor compatibility, and intuitive multi-signature solutions like Schnorr, mass self-custody adoption will stall, threatening Bitcoin’s decentralization. The article urges developers to simplify wallet security, integrate robust multi-sig schemes, and offer fiat-like support to help traders confidently manage private keys.

On August 19, blockchain platform Polkadot announced the launch of Polkadot Capital Group (PCG), a new capital markets arm targeting institutional investors and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Polkadot Capital Group is headquartered in the Cayman Islands and led by veteran institutional executive David Sedacca, aiming to help asset managers, banks, VCs and OTC desks integrate digital assets and upgrade market infrastructure. The move coincides with a clearer US regulatory roadmap, including the GENIUS stablecoin bill and proposed Crypto Market Structure Act, reducing compliance hurdles. RWA tokenization of real estate and bonds can enhance liquidity and cut settlement costs, while DeFi and staking services stand to benefit from improved frameworks. Challenges remain around technology integration and compliance complexity, requiring industry education and standardization. PCG’s success in attracting major institutions will be key to Polkadot’s next growth phase.

This article traces the evolution of Ruby Marshal deserialization exploits from an initial bug report in 2013 to modern industrialized gadget discovery. It highlights key milestones: Charlie Somerville’s 2013 bug tracker issue, Phrack’s 2016 proof-of-concept, Luke Jahnke’s 2018 universal RCE payload, and successive gadget chains from security researchers. The modern era features advanced tooling—CodeQL queries and Semgrep rules—to detect unsafe deserialization. Despite patches in Ruby 3.2 and safe YAML defaults, new gadgets continue to emerge, underscoring the futility of patch-and-hope. The article concludes with actionable recommendations: audit code for Marshal.load usage, adopt safe_load and JSON, and gradually deprecate Ruby Marshal with a safe_load API and runtime warnings. These steps aim to eliminate arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities tied to Ruby Marshal deserialization.

In today’s climate of complex crypto regulation, the American Innovation Project (AIP) is a new nonprofit backed by Coinbase, Uniswap Labs (UNI), Kraken, Paradigm and Digital Currency Group. It aims to bridge the gap between US lawmakers and experts in blockchain, AI and related technologies. Led by Kristin Smith of the Solana Policy Institute, AIP will host workshops and roundtables to educate legislators on topics like stablecoin rules and AI in financial services. Seed funding comes from the Cedar Innovation Foundation and a $1 million grant from DCG. Its supporters cover major segments of the emerging digital asset ecosystem. As Congress advances bills on digital asset oversight and the SEC begins Project Crypto, AIP seeks to ensure policies keep pace with rapid innovation. By promoting bipartisan dialogue, the group aims to boost technical fluency in policymaking. For traders, the initiative signals a maturing market where clearer guidance on crypto regulation and blockchain applications may reduce uncertainty and foster growth.

Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson urged investors to reallocate capital from Bitcoin to crypto infrastructure at the SALT conference. She emphasized that investing in crypto infrastructure components offers more sustainable returns than bitcoin speculation. These components include blockchain rails, consumer apps and node validators. Since taking the helm in 2020, the $1.6 trillion asset manager has launched multiple crypto ETPs and the OnChain U.S. Government Market Fund as tokenized products. Johnson predicts that mutual funds and ETFs will migrate on-chain for greater transparency and lower costs, once regulatory frameworks improve. She warned regulatory risk remains the main hurdle for tokenized financial products.

Hashkey, a leading digital asset service provider, moved 2,000 BTC—worth roughly $226 million—to an unknown wallet, according to Whale Alert. This large BTC transfer, often called a whale movement, has stirred speculation within the crypto market. Over-the-counter trades are one possible explanation behind the BTC transfer, while other theories include exchange rebalancing, institutional accumulation and security migrations to cold storage. Such whale movements can sway market sentiment: exchange-bound transfers may trigger selling pressure, whereas cold wallet shifts often support price by reducing circulating supply. Traders should monitor on-chain whale alerts and exchange inflows for indicators of potential volatility. Although the transfer’s intent remains unclear, this event underscores the dynamic capital flows and strategic behavior of major Bitcoin holders.

Analyst IamCryptoWolf views the recent Ethereum pullback as a healthy retracement after a 245% rally. Ether surged from a YTD low of $1,385 on April 9 to a peak of $4,788, breaking past the long-standing $4,000 resistance. The pullback is framed as a consolidation phase, with a key retest of the $4,000 breakout area, rather than signaling a trend reversal. The analysis, shared on TradingView by IamCryptoWolf—who has posted trading ideas since 2014 and amassed 111,000 followers—emphasizes market observation. This insight suggests the Ethereum pullback may set the stage for the next upward move.

Whale Alert recorded a major BTC transfer of 2,068 BTC (≈$233 million) from an anonymous wallet to HashKey. The BTC transfer moved significant liquidity to the regulated digital asset platform. Such whale movements often presage institutional trading, custody services, or over-the-counter transactions. HashKey is a licensed Asian financial services group offering exchanges, asset management, and custody. The inbound BTC transfer suggests an institutional investor or fund may be acquiring or rebalancing Bitcoin holdings. By routing funds through HashKey, the holder gains regulated custody and potential liquidity without impacting public order books. This BTC transfer highlights growing institutional adoption in crypto. Traders should watch for follow-up transfers or exchange inflows that could affect market supply. While the immediate price impact is uncertain, sustained large transfers to regulated platforms often signal bullish sentiment over the longer term.

Arctic Pablo Coin’s presale entered phase 36 at $0.0008 and now continues into phase 37 “Ice Ice Baby” at $0.00088, raising over $3.5 million. The project caps total supply at 221.2 billion APC, with 50% allocated to the public sale. Each weekly stage burns unsold tokens on Binance Smart Chain, enforcing a deflationary model and tightening supply. Early backers have secured up to 5,766% ROI, with a guaranteed 809% gain at the planned $0.008 listing price and bullish forecasts to $0.10. A 66% APY staking program vests tokens two months post-launch to ensure price stability. Referral bonuses further reward participants. With its meme coin mechanics, token burn deflation, and high-yield staking, Arctic Pablo Coin presale offers traders a structured, high-potential entry point.

The OCC updated its stablecoin guidance to allow community banks to partner directly with stablecoin issuers without a formal written non-objection. This stablecoin guidance paves the way for Ripple to integrate RLUSD into banks’ payment rails and custody services while its U.S. banking charter remains pending. The guidance clarifies permissible activities under Interpretive Letter 1183, recognising crypto custody and stablecoin reserves as allowable for federally regulated banks. Community banks can now launch pilots for tokenized payments and cross-border treasury services, offering faster, regulated payment options to local customers. Federal moves like the GENIUS Act and U.S. Treasury consultations reinforce the stablecoin guidance, providing clearer compliance pathways. RLUSD, backed by cash and U.S. Treasuries with over $500 million in circulation, benefits from Ripple’s Rail acquisition, which handles 10% of global B2B stablecoin flows. Banks should prioritise compliance reviews and operational readiness to capitalise on this shift.

Nasdaq-listed companies BitMine Immersion Technologies and SharpLink Gaming have strategically boosted their Ethereum holdings, acquiring a combined total of 2,264,133 ETH at below-market average prices. BitMine, known primarily as a Bitcoin miner, accumulated 1,523,373 ETH at an average cost of $3,730 between July 9 and August 17. SharpLink began its purchases on June 13, adding 740,760 ETH at an average price of $3,478. With Ethereum trading around $4,072.50 despite a recent 5.44% dip, both firms secured ETH at favorable entry points. Their strategic accumulation of Ethereum holdings underscores growing institutional adoption of digital assets, portfolio diversification, and interest in DeFi, NFTs, and staking opportunities following Ethereum’s shift to Proof-of-Stake. Large-scale corporate buys may tighten circulating supply and support upward price pressure, while signaling long-term confidence in Ethereum’s role in the decentralized ecosystem.

Dune Research reports LATAM crypto traffic rose from $3 billion in 2021 to $27 billion in 2024, a ninefold increase. This LATAM crypto traffic surge was led by Bitso, handling $25.2 billion for a 93% share. Mercado Bitcoin and Lemon Cash also saw volume gains, highlighting a shift to real-world use cases. On-chain, Ethereum totalled $45.5 billion (75% of flows) through July 2025, followed by Tron at $12.5 billion driven by USDT transfers. Solana and Polygon recorded $1.45 billion and $1.17 billion respectively, benefiting from lower fees and faster settlement. Adoption is fueled by economic instability, high inflation and demand for affordable remittances, while local platforms enhance financial inclusion. Regulatory uncertainty and crypto volatility pose risks. Traders should track regional policies and market sentiment as LATAM crypto traffic expansion presents new trading opportunities.

On August 20, OKX reported notable price movements among crypto tokens. MEME led intraday gainers, rising 5.74% to $0.00213. Other top performers included OKB (+4.06% to $127.39), LDO (+1.25% to $1.297), SOL (+0.88% to $179.56) and TON (+0.75% to $3.231). Meanwhile, ILV headed the losers, falling 3.85% to $15.225. Additional declines came from CRV (-3.06% to $0.834), GLM (-2.94% to $0.243), SNX (-2.74% to $0.635) and APE (-2.64% to $0.594). This crypto market update on OKX offers timely insights into token performance. These crypto tokens insights allow traders to anticipate volatility and refine their trading strategies.

Infrared is Berachain’s core liquidity infrastructure, leveraging a dual-token model (BERA and governance token BGT) and innovative Pol-vaults with tradeable iBGT to optimize capital efficiency. Users earn triple compounding yields by providing LP tokens, staking LP to receive BGT, and delegating BGT for boost rewards. Pol-vaults separate liquidity mining from delegation, reducing impermanent loss and complexity. The iBERA product offers auto-compounding staking of BERA, similar to Lido, while the new iVault strategy BYUSD yields 15% APR on stablecoin LPs. With over $530m TVL (iBGT representing 72% of BGT), Infrared dominates Berachain liquidity. Recent v1.7 updates introduce dynamic minting fees, an iBGT auction mechanism, and redemption limits to stabilize iBGT/BGT and iBGT/BERA prices. Infrared’s open-source protocol underwent 12 security audits with no critical flaws. Backed by Binance, Framework and Synergis, Infrared’s innovative products and near-monopoly position signal bullish prospects for Berachain trading.

Lloyds Auctions is offering over 280 premium Bitcoin domains in a single-lot auction. The Bitcoin domains portfolio spans key sectors such as payments, custody, exchanges, education and infrastructure. Included domains range from BitcoinWallets.com and BitcoinExchanges.com to region-specific names like JapanBitcoin.com and GermanyBitcoin.com. First registered as early as 2010, this collection follows Lloyds’s record A$4.5 million XBT.com sale. Prospective bidders must qualify to participate and can pay in Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH). Lloyds describes the package as part of Bitcoin’s digital economy lexicon, underscoring ongoing demand for premium Bitcoin domains and the rise of crypto-branded digital assets.

Solana price prediction models suggest SOL could reach $350 before 2026, despite a 6.25% 24-hour decline to $183.15. With a market cap of $98.9 billion and a 75.6% surge in trading volume to $6.17 billion, investors show mixed sentiment and are rotating capital into low-fee alternatives. The Remittix presale has raised over $20.3 million at $0.0969 per token, selling 609 million RTX ahead of a BitMart listing. Remittix utility targets the $19 trillion payments industry with cross-chain DeFi support, direct crypto-to-bank transfers in 30+ countries, and a multi-currency wallet for 40+ cryptos and 30+ fiat currencies. Key drivers include a CertiK audit, low gas fees, real-time FX conversion, and a $250,000 community giveaway. Remittix presale, strong tokenomics, and an upcoming Q3 beta wallet release position it as a fast-growing altcoin in 2025. Traders eye Solana price prediction and Remittix presale metrics as indicators of broader altcoin market momentum.

Bitcoin fell below $113,000 Tuesday amid a broader sell-off in US tech and semiconductor stocks, with Nvidia sliding 3.5% and AMD plunging 5.4%. Ethereum also dipped toward the $4,000 level, hitting an early low near $4,100. Major tech names like Tesla, Meta, and Netflix registered losses, while the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index saw declines of 0.59%, 1.46%, and 1.81%, respectively. Traders are now eyeing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s upcoming Jackson Hole speech (Aug 21–23) for clues on a potential September rate cut, currently priced at an 85% probability per CME FedWatch. Market participants warn that any dovish signals could trigger a rebound in growth sectors, whereas hawkish remarks may extend the tech sell-off and weigh further on Bitcoin and Ethereum.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk has decided to delay plans for forming a new political party in the United States. Sources say Musk, who previously explored creating a centrist party, is instead focusing on retaining his relationship with Republican Senator JD Vance. The decision comes as Musk evaluates the potential risks and benefits of launching an independent political movement ahead of the 2024 elections. By slowing down the process, Musk aims to avoid overextending his public influence and diverting attention from his businesses. While the move could reshape discussions around third-party alternatives in U.S. politics, it appears driven by strategic caution rather than opposition from established parties.

HTX trading volume climbed 33% month-on-month in July, topping CoinGecko’s global exchange rankings. New user registrations surged 45%. The exchange listed 12 assets, including meme token M—up 25× on debut—and AI token ANI, which gained 426%. Additional listings like BLUM and COOKIE broadened offerings. Stablecoin campaigns for USD1, USDC and USDD generated over $400 million in spot trades. HTX’s V11.0 app redesign boosted homepage click-through rates by 24%. Its updated DAO whitepaper outlines a shift toward decentralized governance, while Merkle Tree Proof of Reserves ensures transparency with 100%+ reserves maintained for 34 months. The ongoing 12th-Anniversary Carnival offers fee rebates, margin vouchers and token airdrops. These developments underscore HTX trading volume growth as a key market driver, highlighting strong user engagement, product innovation and robust ecosystem expansion.

A major Ethereum whale has offloaded 11,575 ETH (around $51.4 million) at an average price of $4,440, selling 8,500 ETH since yesterday alone. Post-sale, the wallet holds 6,710 ETH (approximately $27.6 million). On-chain data highlight significant liquidity shifts on the Ethereum network, potentially reducing short-term sell-side depth. Traders should monitor on-chain flows and exchange liquidity metrics before making trading decisions to gauge market impact and execution conditions.

Heavy spot Ethereum ETF inflows and robust leveraged flows have driven Ethereum dominance (ETH.D) from around 8% in May to 14% today. Spot ETH ETPs captured roughly $2.9 billion of last week’s $3.75 billion total crypto inflows, while weekly ETF trading volume neared $17 billion within a $40 billion BTC+ETH ETF cycle. On the derivatives side, ETH open interest reached about $65 billion, with leveraged flows pulling nearly $10 billion in early-month trading, compared to $1 billion for Bitcoin. The ETH/BTC ratio has climbed more than 70% since May, reflecting a clear capital rotation toward Ethereum. Traders should monitor weekly ETP inflows, ETH open interest and funding rates, and ETH/BTC momentum for confirmation. Sustained Ethereum ETF inflows and rising derivatives activity underpin a bullish outlook for ETH into 2025.

On August 20, former President Donald Trump used Truth Social to criticize the Federal Reserve’s recent policy, saying its rate hikes came “too late” and urging sizable rate cuts. He blamed higher rates for straining the US housing market and limiting mortgage access. Trump also cited subdued inflation readings to support his call for lower borrowing costs. His comments, framed as political commentary rather than market analysis, came amid ongoing debate over the Fed’s next move. Traders and investors, especially in high-risk assets like Bitcoin, are monitoring signals from Fed officials for clues on future rate paths. Any shift toward rate cuts could boost crypto markets by improving liquidity and lowering opportunity costs. However, analysts caution that policy decisions will depend on upcoming labor and price data. Market participants should watch Fed communications for confirmation before adjusting trading strategies.

Union Square Ventures (USV) executed a USV UNI sale of 731,000 UNI tokens, worth $7.43 million, via Coinbase Prime. This marks the firm’s first UNI sale since December, when it offloaded 3.51 million UNI for $54.6 million. Despite this USV UNI sale, on-chain data shows USV-linked wallets still hold approximately 9.68 million UNI ($96.7 million). The move suggests profit taking and portfolio rebalancing by this prominent institutional investor. While large offloads can affect market sentiment, USV’s maintained stake underscores continued confidence in Uniswap’s long-term potential. Traders should watch liquidity and price trends, but the substantial remaining holdings indicate a neutral signal for UNI price action.

Wyoming’s state treasurer has issued the Wyoming Stable Token (WST), marking the first government-backed stablecoin deployed across seven major blockchains. The USD-pegged stablecoin is live on Ethereum, Avalanche, Polkadot, Solana, XRP Ledger, Binance Smart Chain and Algorand. WST is fully collateralized with U.S. Treasury bills and FDIC-insured bank deposits to ensure stability and regulatory compliance. The multi-chain rollout aims to boost blockchain adoption in public-sector finance. State officials cited improved transaction speed, lower fees and enhanced transparency as key benefits. By integrating stablecoin issuance with existing financial frameworks, Wyoming seeks to set a regulatory precedent for digital currency innovation. Analysts view the launch of this stablecoin as a step toward mainstream institutional acceptance of blockchain-based money. Potential short-term impacts include increased demand for WST and activity across supported networks. In the long term, this historic move could encourage other states and governments to explore similar digital currency projects. Key figures involved include State Treasurer Curt Meier and the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force.

Deribit data shows Bitcoin option delta skew for 30-day contracts jumped to 12%, its highest level in over four months. In neutral conditions, skew typically oscillates between –6% and +6%. Readings above +10% are conventionally seen as extreme market fear rather than a new regime. On April 7, the skew peaked at 13% when BTC dipped below $74,500. Over the following month, Bitcoin rallied nearly 40%, trading above $104,000 on May 8. This reversal demonstrates how option-implied sentiment can flip amid volatility. Despite elevated skew readings, analysts find no clear evidence that the broader bull market has ended. Investor fear often overshoots fundamentals, and potential equity outflows could support crypto inflows. Traders should monitor Bitcoin option delta skew and related volatility indicators. Extreme fear levels may signal short-term selling pressure but also potential buying opportunities in a choppy market.

Elon Musk has paused his plan to launch the ‘America Party’, a proposed third political party aimed at restoring voter freedom. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Musk prefers to concentrate on overseeing his companies and is cautious about splitting Republican votes. He has maintained contact with Vice President Mike Pence during these discussions. Although Musk originally framed the new party as a vehicle to enhance political freedom, he recently told allies that he will not advance the initiative for now. Traders should note this underscores Musk’s current priority on business operations rather than political ventures.

Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, raised its holdings in Bullish (BLSH) by $21.2M and in Robinhood (HOOD) by $16.2M on August 19. The portfolio adjustment shows Ark Invest’s bullish stance on trading platforms ahead of potential market movements. Bullish stock positions now total 356,346 shares, while Robinhood holdings rose by 150,908 shares. These moves may impact trading volumes and investor confidence in crypto brokerage services. Ark Invest continues to actively rebalance its portfolio to capture growth in digital asset markets.