Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Iran has submitted a four-point framework for ending the conflict to the United States through Qatari mediators during the UN General Assembly. The conditions are a comprehensive ceasefire, an end to US military pressure, the lifting of maritime blockades and economic sanctions, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. An Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington first reduces military pressure and lifts the port blockade. This is significantly faster than a June draft memorandum, which envisaged reopening the strait within 30 days under Iranian arrangements. US envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that indirect talks had taken place and described them as constructive and hopeful. President Donald Trump also adopted a more conciliatory tone after the meeting, saying that discussions were productive and that a solution was likely. However, the key obstacle remains sequencing. Iran wants sanctions relief and an end to the maritime blockade before reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington reportedly wants transit conditions agreed first. Iran’s latest public demands also omit earlier calls for US troop withdrawals and war reparations, although it is unclear whether those demands were removed from private negotiations. For crypto traders, the Iran-US talks and the Strait of Hormuz remain important geopolitical and energy-market signals. A credible reopening could ease oil and inflation concerns, while renewed tensions could increase volatility across risk assets.

Galaxy has allocated $100 million worth of sUSDS to the Sky Treasury and purchased SKY tokens, according to Odaily, citing The Block. The transaction strengthens Galaxy and Sky’s cooperation in lending-related business. The investment gives Sky additional treasury liquidity while creating direct exposure to SKY for Galaxy. Traders should monitor SKY’s price, trading volume, liquidity conditions and any follow-up details on the transaction. The deal is a project-specific development and does not necessarily signal a broader crypto market trend.

OpenAI has hired three former Patreon executives, including co-founder and former CTO Sam Yam, to strengthen its creator product strategy. The appointments suggest OpenAI is expanding beyond core artificial intelligence model development into tools and services for creators. The hires follow a broader OpenAI leadership reshuffle and come as the company says it does not plan to go public in 2026. However, the move may support future IPO readiness by broadening OpenAI’s product portfolio, market reach and potential revenue sources. Investors and prediction markets will watch OpenAI’s upcoming DevDay for announcements about creator-focused products, partnerships or funding. The development has no direct impact on cryptocurrencies, but it could influence sentiment around AI-related investments and technology valuations. Traders should treat any market reaction as indirect because the article provides no evidence of a new token, blockchain partnership or immediate financial transaction.

Bank of America Global Research now expects the Bank of England (BOE) to raise interest rates by 25 basis points in November 2026 and February 2027, potentially lifting the policy rate from 3.75% to 4.25%. The BOE rate hikes forecast aligns with projections from J.P. Morgan, Barclays and UBS. Markets are pricing in a 63% probability of a November 2026 BOE rate hike, according to LSEG data. The shift follows BofA’s June forecast, which called for rates to remain at 3.75% throughout 2026 after UK inflation eased to 2.8% in May. Renewed concerns about inflation, including the risk of price growth exceeding 4% in early 2027, have prompted major banks to revise their outlooks. Middle East tensions and potential energy-price shocks have added to the uncertainty. BofA described the November hike as a close call and said any tightening would likely be precautionary rather than the start of a prolonged hiking cycle. For traders, the BOE rate hikes forecast could support sterling and keep gilt yields elevated, although much of the November move may already be reflected in prices. The February hike remains dependent on incoming inflation, growth and global-market data.

Bitcoin bull market signals have strengthened, but Bitcoin price may face significant resistance near $90,000, according to CryptoQuant. The firm said traders who bought BTC one to three months ago have an average realized price of about $64,300. Its profit-taking upper band is near $90,300, aligning with an on-chain supply cluster between $88,000 and $90,000. CryptoQuant expects selling pressure to increase in this zone, potentially creating a temporary pause rather than ending the uptrend. The Bitcoin bull market case is supported by several indicators. BTC has reclaimed its 365-day moving average near $80,500, while the MVRV ratio has moved above its own 365-day moving average. CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said MVRV remained above its breakeven level of 1 during the 2026 bear market, suggesting that investors stayed profitable in aggregate. Ki also argued that rising institutional ownership is making Bitcoin market cycles less extreme. Institutional participation could limit both future rallies and market declines. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.7 billion in net inflows during the first two days of the week, including $999 million on Monday, the strongest single-day inflow since October 2025. For traders, the path toward $90,000 appears relatively clear, but the resistance zone could produce consolidation or short-term volatility. A sustained breakout above $90,000 would strengthen bullish momentum, while rejection could lead to profit-taking around current support near $86,000.

WorkBuddy users can connect B.AI models to the desktop application through its custom model settings. The integration uses the OpenAI Chat Completions protocol and requires a valid B.AI API key, an available model ID, sufficient account credit and permission to access the selected model. WorkBuddy is available for Windows 10 or later and macOS 12 or later, but not Linux. Users must sign in, open Settings > Models > Add Model, select Custom as the provider, and correctly configure the API URL, API key and model ID. The URL and custom protocol option must be configured consistently to avoid duplicate paths such as /chat/completions/chat/completions. After saving, users should select the B.AI model instead of Auto mode and test a normal text response. A separate workspace test can verify file-reading and tool-calling support. B.AI usage records should also be checked to confirm the request used the intended model. Common errors include 401, 403, 404, 429, model-not-found messages, timeouts and tool-permission failures. The guide warns users not to expose API keys. Configuration is stored locally in WorkBuddy’s .workbuddy/models.json file, so it may need to be recreated on another computer. WorkBuddy and B.AI are the primary keywords, while custom AI models, API integration and tool calling are key related terms.

Orange S.A. has been upgraded to a strong buy rating after reporting solid operational momentum and improved financial guidance. First-half revenue rose 3.5%, while EBITDAaL increased 5% to €6.1 billion. Free cash flow remained strong, supported by nearly 14% revenue growth in the Africa and Middle East business. Orange S.A. raised its 2026 guidance. EBITDAaL growth is now expected to exceed 4%, up from the previous 3% target. The company also lifted its organic cash flow target to approximately €4.3 billion. Its medium-term leverage target remains around 2x. The upgrade reflects the view that the European telecom group is trading at a significant discount to its estimated intrinsic value. The company’s defensive business model, improving operational performance, dividend potential and progress from the MasOrange merger may support long-term investor interest. However, macroeconomic conditions and broader market risks remain potential challenges.

Reddit will not be blocked in the Philippines after agreeing to government demands for stronger platform accountability. The company will appoint a Philippines-based representative and create a dedicated “Green Lane” for rapid government complaints and urgent safety issues. The agreement followed a Sept. 21, 24-hour ultimatum from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which warned foreign platforms to establish local representation or face access restrictions. The talks involved Reddit, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), CICC and civil society group Digital Pinoys. The Philippine government intensified scrutiny after three school shootings in four months. Investigators reportedly found that minors were exposed to violent extremist content and recruitment through online groups. Officials are also examining child safety and data privacy compliance across Reddit, Discord, Meta and Roblox. Digital Pinoys campaigner Ronald Gustilo said the Green Lane and local representative could help authorities respond faster to violent extremism, child exploitation, cybercrime and online radicalisation. He also stressed that enforcement should remain transparent, lawful and subject to safeguards. Reddit avoids an immediate service disruption, but regulatory pressure on foreign technology platforms is increasing. Discord still faces pending compliance demands, while Meta and Roblox are working with officials on safety measures. The outcome could influence how global platforms operate in the Philippines and may increase compliance costs across the digital and crypto sectors.

East Texas A&M University researchers have released and tested the Post-Quantum Lightning Network (PQLN), a research design aimed at protecting Bitcoin’s Lightning Network from future quantum-computing threats. PQLN combines NIST-standardised ML-DSA signatures and ML-KEM key exchange with existing Lightning cryptography. It protects node identities, gossip, peer transport, BOLT 11 invoices, BOLT 12 offers and payment onions without changing Bitcoin’s consensus rules. Tests found limited computational overhead. ML-DSA signing took up to 0.33 milliseconds, while payments over a 50-millisecond connection added 19 to 53 milliseconds per hop. The main cost was larger data. PQLN nodes downloaded about 10 times more gossip data and stored roughly nine times more. Initial gossip for around 33,000 public channels could increase from 26 MB to about 270 MB. An alternative Falcon configuration reduced the bandwidth increase compared with the default ML-DSA setup. PQLN remained compatible with standard Lightning nodes by falling back to classical cryptography, and testing across mixed-node configurations found no stuck payments. However, the implementation adds about 11,000 lines to a research rust-lightning fork and still needs testing with Core Lightning, LND and Eclair. PQLN also does not protect Bitcoin’s on-chain funds or transactions, which would require a Bitcoin consensus change. The post-quantum Lightning Network is therefore an important research milestone, but not a production-ready upgrade. Traders should treat the development as a long-term security signal rather than an immediate BTC price catalyst.

FomoPeek iOS malware was linked by SlowMist to nearly $580,000 in stolen USDT. Versions 1.1 and 1.2, released through Apple’s App Store on Sept. 9 and Sept. 12, contained kernel exploits that could escape the iOS sandbox, gain elevated privileges and access sensitive data from other apps. Working with OKX’s security team, SlowMist found that FomoPeek loaded a remote-controlled exploit framework at launch. The framework targeted wallet and notes applications, including MetaMask, Trust Wallet, SafePal, OKX Wallet and Apple Notes. SlowMist confirmed that the app could collect application data, but did not establish that private keys or seed phrases were extracted from every named wallet. On-chain analysis identified a main hacker address that received about 579,984 USDT across multiple networks. Some funds were sent toward FixedFloat, KuCoin and cce.cash. FomoPeek version 1.3, released on Sept. 17, removed the malicious modules. Users who installed FomoPeek 1.1 or 1.2 should treat all wallet credentials accessible from the affected iPhone as compromised. SlowMist recommends creating a new wallet on a clean device and transferring assets immediately. Uninstalling the app or enabling iOS Lockdown Mode cannot recover data already exfiltrated. The FomoPeek incident highlights the risks of App Store crypto malware and the need for hardware wallets, isolated devices and rapid private-key rotation.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has announced a strategic action plan for implementing its first five-year strategy. In the short term, the regulator plans to introduce a new digital asset licensing regime, strengthen digital asset custody supervision, expand CrypTech market monitoring and improve anti-money-laundering capabilities. The SFC will also consider a regulatory framework for tokenised investment products in the medium to long term. The framework could cover tokenised gold and other real-world assets (RWA). The regulator plans to support the Hong Kong government in establishing a central clearing and settlement system for gold, as well as developing renminbi-denominated gold and commodity products. The digital asset licensing regime and RWA framework could provide clearer compliance standards for exchanges, custodians, tokenisation platforms and institutional investors. However, the announcement does not include implementation dates, specific licensing requirements or details on which assets will be approved. Traders should therefore view the policy as a long-term regulatory development rather than an immediate market catalyst.

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment (NASDAQ: PLAY) began its Q4 2025 earnings call on 31 March 2026. CEO Tarun Lal, CFO Darin Harper and investor-relations executive Cory Hatton participated, with analysts from Jefferies, BMO Capital Markets, UBS, The Benchmark Company, Gordon Haskett and Raymond James expected to ask questions. The opening remarks covered the call format, recording notice and forward-looking statements. Management cautioned that projections face risks and uncertainties. The available Dave & Buster’s earnings call excerpt includes no revenue, earnings, same-store sales, cash-flow, guidance or outlook figures. An earlier transcript reference concerned a separate Q2 2026 call scheduled for 14 September 2026, whose available text also contained only opening disclosures and no financial data. For traders, the Q4 2025 earnings call remains a company-specific stock event, not a direct cryptocurrency catalyst. Any move in PLAY will depend on the full results, guidance and analyst commentary. The impact on crypto markets is expected to be limited.

Bitcoin is consolidating near $86,400-$86,600 after briefly rising to about $87,000. Traders are watching the quarterly Bitcoin options expiry on 25 September, when roughly $15.9 billion in BTC options are due to settle on Deribit. Calls account for about $9.56 billion of open interest, compared with $6.35 billion in puts, producing a put/call ratio of roughly 0.66. This indicates a moderately bullish options positioning, but does not guarantee further gains. The $85,000 strike is the key short-term level. A break below it could increase market-maker delta hedging and amplify volatility, while sustained support may allow Bitcoin to retest $90,000. Large call positions are also concentrated around $100,000, representing an upside target rather than a current fair-value level. Deribit data indicates that around 10,202 BTC in open interest was previously concentrated at the $85,000 call strike, with about 7,193 BTC at $100,000. The expiry’s estimated max pain is near $75,000, well below the current Bitcoin price. Traders should not treat max pain as a price forecast, as Bitcoin would need to fall more than 10% to approach that level. Settlement is scheduled for 08:00 UTC, or 4pm Taiwan time, on Friday. After expiry, the removal of existing gamma and delta hedging flows could make Bitcoin’s next market direction clearer. The immediate outlook is therefore range-bound but vulnerable to sharp moves around the $85,000-$90,000 zone.

Binance will migrate users’ Zilliqa (ZIL) holdings from the legacy Zilliqa network to Zilliqa EVM at a 1:1 ratio. The exchange will manage the technical process, while ZIL spot, margin, futures and Binance Earn products will remain available. ZIL deposits and withdrawals through the legacy network have been suspended since 5 August. After the migration, Binance will reopen deposits and withdrawals through Zilliqa EVM without a separate announcement. The old network will no longer be supported. The Binance migration follows a security incident involving Zilliqa’s Ledger application. A flaw in Schnorr nonce generation weakened private-key security for legacy, non-EVM transactions. Zilliqa confirmed that at least 683.13 million ZIL were stolen across 66 transactions, while 6,772 accounts were exposed and 51 were drained. Zilliqa has disabled legacy transactions and is retiring the old system because previously exposed keys cannot be secured retroactively. Self-custody users will use a separate zero-knowledge-proof migration tool to transfer balances to EVM addresses without sharing seed phrases or private keys. For traders, the Zilliqa EVM migration should reduce future infrastructure risk, but the theft and uncertainty around compensation remain negative sentiment factors. ZIL liquidity and access may be temporarily affected during exchange migrations, although Binance trading is expected to continue normally.

Billease is expanding from digital credit into regulated banking after the Rural Bank of Sta. Maria (Ilocos Sur), acquired by its parent company, was renamed Billease Bank, Inc. The rebrand supports the integration of banking services into the Billease mobile app. Billease Bank plans to introduce savings and deposit products directly in the app. The move would allow users to borrow, save and manage funds on one platform, reducing reliance on external bank accounts. Billease is also targeting more than ₱1 billion in capitalization by the end of 2026 as part of its modernization programme. Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Eduardo G. Bobier has joined the bank as an independent director, subject to final BSP approval. His experience includes financial controls, risk management, treasury operations and central banking administration. Billease Bank said its strategy could support financial inclusion in the Philippines. World Bank data from 2024 indicated that about half of Filipino adults did not have a formal financial account. For crypto and fintech traders, the development highlights growing competition between digital lenders, banks and financial apps, although it does not directly affect any cryptocurrency or token.

BC.GAME’s BC Engine has distributed more than 8.6 million BCD, worth over US$8.6 million, to eligible $BC holders since launching on 8 April 2026. The total is about 4.1 times the 2.1 million BCD reported on 28 May and represents a rise of more than 309% in less than four months. Reward accumulation also accelerated. The average daily distribution increased from roughly 47,500 BCD between late May and late July to at least 69,000 BCD between late July and 18 September, a gain of about 46%. BC.GAME describes BC Engine as a recurring settlement mechanism that distributes BCD rewards every hour and links platform activity with $BC holders, users and commercial partners. The company says the rewards reflect completed settlement rounds rather than projected returns or appreciation in the $BC token price. The milestone comes as BC.GAME expands internationally, including through its regulated presence in Mexico and a brand partnership with Mexican footballer Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa. The company is also scheduled to attend SBC Summit 2026 in Lisbon from 29 September to 1 October. For traders, the BC Engine figures indicate growing platform activity and token utility, but they do not by themselves confirm demand for $BC or guarantee future returns.

Meta’s Muse AI agent is facing its first major privacy and security tests less than three weeks after launch. The AI agent can browse websites, fill out forms, send emails, book travel, negotiate bills and make purchases on behalf of users. Reuters reported that Meta tested a “human concierge” system in which contractors quietly handled some phone calls initiated through Muse. The trial was intended to improve call success rates, but employees raised concerns that users might unknowingly disclose sensitive information to contractors. Meta has since rolled back the feature and said any future rollout would include clearer disclosures and stronger privacy protections. Muse recorded about 2.8 million downloads in its first 12 days. Meta shares have also risen more than 20% since its launch, adding roughly $200 billion to the company’s market value. The strong adoption has increased investor attention on AI agents and agentic commerce. Amazon blocked Muse from shopping on its website, while Shopify supports the agent through Shop Pay and PayPal is integrating with it. Meta also patched a Mac vulnerability that could have allowed malware already present on a device to hijack Muse’s access. The Muse AI controversy highlights the risks of autonomous software that can make calls, spend money and interact with businesses. Its future growth will depend on privacy safeguards, security, user consent and cooperation from major online platforms.

ClawQuest is rebranding as Agent Arena, an AI gaming platform where players create strategies and game content with artificial intelligence. Its first full AI Agent Game, Agent Fire, requires players to design tank tactics through AI rather than directly control the tanks, then test those strategies in battles. The platform’s AIP2-1.0 agent has joined the Command-to-Earn programme. Users receive 200 CLAW Points for every US$1 of eligible token consumption, with points settled daily. Under the current rules, CLAW Points are planned to convert to $CLAW at a 1:1 ratio when the token airdrop begins. The terms may still change. Agent Arena plans to expand AI creation to NPCs, bosses, card decks and game levels. It also aims to develop creator tools, user-generated game spaces and a revenue-sharing system based on content ownership, contributions and player engagement. The Agent Arena Bot is live on Telegram, initially offering free AI credits. Existing ClawQuest games, $CLAW assets and points will remain in the original game during the rebranding process. The announcement is promotional content and does not confirm a $CLAW listing, token value or guaranteed airdrop. Agent Arena is the main keyword and may attract attention to the project, but traders should verify official rules before assigning value to CLAW Points.

PEPE has shifted from a whale-led bearish setup to a stronger but volatile breakout structure. Earlier, PEPE traded near $0.00000348 after rejecting its 200-day EMA at $0.00000364. Wallets holding 10 million to 100 million PEPE sold about 80 billion tokens, while smaller and mid-sized holders accumulated only 5.06 billion. Negative funding, a bearish MACD crossover and weakening RSI added to downside risks. A daily close below $0.00000313 could have exposed PEPE to around $0.00000230, while reclaiming $0.00000364 would have improved the outlook. In the latest update, PEPE trades near $0.00000492 after retreating from a seven-day high of $0.00000534. PEPE remains about 45% higher over the week and above the $0.0000044 breakout zone. Traders are watching $0.0000047 as immediate support and $0.0000044 as key structural support. A daily close below $0.0000044 could return PEPE to its previous range, while a move above $0.00000534 would confirm a fresh local high. Momentum has cooled, with the 14-day RSI falling from 78.09 to 51.37 and the MACD line remaining below its signal line. The September golden cross still supports the broader bullish trend, although historical signals have been mixed. PEPE open interest is near $393 million, against about $912 million in 24-hour futures volume and $267 million in spot volume. Futures liquidations reached roughly $1.96 million in 24 hours. Elevated leverage raises liquidation risk but does not show whether traders are net long or short. Holding $0.0000047 would preserve the breakout, while losing $0.0000044 would increase downside risk.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly a frontrunner to become President Donald Trump’s next AI czar, according to three sources cited by Semafor. The potential appointment comes after Trump announced plans on 19 September to create an “AI Force” amid growing concerns about artificial intelligence risks. Other reported candidates include Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management; and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said reports about unannounced personnel decisions were “baseless speculation.” Trump previously appointed David Sacks as his AI and crypto czar. Sacks left the role after reaching the service limit for a special government employee but continues advising Trump through the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The selection of an AI czar could influence US technology policy, digital-asset regulation and government support for artificial intelligence. However, no appointment has been confirmed, so traders are likely to treat the report as a limited policy signal rather than a direct crypto catalyst.

Crypto exchange failure risk depends on more than reserve percentages. Recovery can be shaped by custody arrangements, asset segregation, legal ownership, traceability and the insolvency rules governing customer claims. Bitget’s latest disclosures provide several counterparty-risk indicators. Its September 2026 Proof of Reserves was the 46th monthly update since December 2022. It reported a 135% total reserve ratio across 19 assets and offered Merkle-tree tools for users to verify whether their balances were included. Bitget’s Protection Fund report for August 2026 showed an average valuation of $382 million, a monthly high of $441.5 million, a low of $345.3 million and support from 5,500 BTC. However, these measures do not guarantee recovery in a crypto exchange failure. Proof of Reserves does not prove continuous solvency, cover every corporate liability or determine whether customer assets are bankruptcy-remote. Bitget’s standard-account terms state that balances are recorded on an internal ledger and are not segregated on-chain from other customer or business assets. Users should therefore not assume that standard trading balances have the same protection as assets held with a separate custodian. Eligible institutional clients can use third-party custody and off-exchange settlement, keeping assets with an external custodian while using Bitget for execution. For traders, the key due-diligence factors are the legal entity, jurisdiction, custody structure, reserve methodology, user-verification tools and any protection fund. The news is primarily a transparency and risk-management development, not evidence that Bitget or any exchange is immune to failure.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said blockchain development is moving beyond basic scaling towards programmable privacy, efficient verification and local computation. He argued that zero-knowledge proofs, including SNARKs and quantum-resistant STARKs, are ending the model in which every participant must re-execute every transaction. These technologies can verify computations without revealing all underlying data, improving both scalability and privacy. Buterin said blockchain originally determined who could send which digital assets. Programmable cryptography is expanding that role to determine who can see specific information. Over the next five years, he expects users to perform more computation locally before data reaches aggregators, block builders and the blockchain. Ethereum is therefore evolving from a single chain into a broader network made up of multiple layers and participants. He also highlighted artificial intelligence, formal verification, testing and redundant development processes as tools that could make complex zero-knowledge applications safer. The changes may enable privacy-preserving applications and more secure smart contracts that were previously impractical. For crypto traders, the comments reinforce long-term investment themes around Ethereum scaling, zero-knowledge infrastructure, privacy technology and modular blockchain networks, although they do not represent an immediate protocol upgrade or direct market catalyst.

NEAR price momentum has strengthened after NEAR Protocol launched spot trading on Hyperliquid. The new NEAR/USDC market gives traders direct access to the token alongside Hyperliquid’s existing NEAR perpetual contract. NEAR traded near $4.33 on Sept. 23, close to its 52-week high of $4.46, after rising from about $3.05 on Sept. 17. Hyperliquid data showed NEAR perpetual open interest of roughly $344.2 million and 24-hour volume near $269.1 million. Funding was positive at 0.0017% per hour, indicating that long traders were paying short traders to maintain positions. The combination of high open interest and positive funding increases liquidation risk if the NEAR price reverses, while stronger spot volume would provide evidence of more sustainable demand. The listing adds liquidity, hedging options and direct ownership access for Hyperliquid users. However, NEAR’s spot listing will take several days to appear on the platform’s Strict List under the usual deployment process. The move follows broader NEAR ecosystem growth. Confidential Intents’ total value locked exceeded $70 million, while its cross-chain infrastructure supports transactions across more than 30 blockchains. NEAR also partnered with Ondo Finance to provide access to 20 tokenized stocks and exchange-traded products. In the short term, the listing is a potential bullish catalyst, but traders should monitor spot volume, open interest, funding and liquidation levels.