Crypto News

Bitcoin lending and yield generation could create a new source of institutional demand, according to a report from Bitcoin infrastructure developer RootstockLabs. The report estimates that only 1.5% of Bitcoin’s supply is currently used in lending and Bitcoin-native finance, while identifiable institutional investors hold about 3.9 million BTC. RootstockLabs says lending, structured credit and using Bitcoin as collateral could help institutions earn returns on existing holdings and improve balance-sheet efficiency. In a hypothetical scenario where institutional holdings double to 7.8 million BTC, a 5% yield on 5% of those holdings would generate 19,500 BTC a year. The report presents this as potential returns, not a forecast of new demand. The report also highlights risks from leverage, rehypothecation, custody failures, borrower defaults and legal uncertainty. RootstockLabs institutional propositions director Tony DiCarlo said Bitcoin’s verifiable collateral and programmable liquidation rules may mitigate some risks, while volatility remains a concern. He cited a $750 million Bitcoin-backed loan by MARA to help finance a planned Ohio power plant acquisition as an example of Bitcoin being used for real-world financing.

Chainalysis traced a network of Russian intermediaries that helped North Korean IT workers convert millions of dollars in cryptocurrency into cash through the Russian exchange Garantex. The findings followed US sanctions against 10 people and one entity accused of helping North Korean government-run IT schemes fund weapons programmes. The US Treasury said Russian national Ilya Boykov converted about $3.5 million in cryptocurrency for sanctioned company Alis since 2024. Another Russian, Vitold Obertas, allegedly handled nearly $2 million in conversions for North Korean officials since January 2025. Chainalysis described one route in which a North Korean worker’s stablecoin payments were converted into Ether (ETH), consolidated, sent to Boykov, and then transferred to Garantex for cash-out. The case highlights ongoing risks from North Korean IT workers using false identities to obtain jobs at crypto firms, as well as scrutiny of exchanges and intermediaries facilitating illicit crypto flows.

Russia’s central bank has registered NAUFOR as the country’s first self-regulatory organization for crypto exchangers and digital depositories. The move adds an industry body to Russia’s developing crypto regulation framework, with a role in setting standards and supporting compliance. The central bank’s registries currently list 23 crypto-exchange participants and eight digital depositories, including entities linked to VTB, Sberbank and T-Bank. The development signals closer formal oversight of Russia’s crypto sector, but the article gives no details on new rules or enforcement measures. Its immediate effect on crypto trading and Bitcoin prices is therefore uncertain.

US core PCE inflation rose to 2.5% year over year in September, above the 2.4% forecast but below the previous 3.3% reading. The Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of underlying inflation remains above its 2% target, suggesting price pressures have not fully eased. The data could encourage a more cautious Fed stance on interest rates. For crypto traders, the prospect of tighter monetary policy may weigh on risk appetite, although the article reports no specific market price reaction. Bitcoin prediction markets showed a lower likelihood of BTC reaching $78,000. Traders will watch comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and subsequent rate expectations for clues about the dollar, broader markets and crypto assets.

Lookonchain reported that five crypto whales opened long positions in HYPE over several hours, totaling 597,912 HYPE worth about $52.7 million. The sizeable HYPE positions point to a bullish bet by these traders, but the report does not specify leverage, entry prices or whether the positions remain open.

US third-quarter GDP grew at an annualised rate of 3.4%, accelerating from 2.2% in the second quarter and beating analysts’ 3.2% forecast. US third-quarter GDP growth was supported by strong investment in AI data centres and advanced technology equipment, while consumer spending remained resilient despite persistent inflation. Federal Reserve Chair Warsh said economic momentum had strengthened and capital spending was historically high as a share of GDP. The stronger growth highlights the resilience of the US economy, but may also keep attention on inflation and the path of interest rates.

On-chain monitoring firm MLM says 625,000 HYPE, previously idle for nearly three weeks, has moved to a new wallet and from HyperEVM to Hypercore. The wallet’s funding is linked to addresses associated with TradeXYZ’s purchases on Hyperliquid, and the tokens may belong to TradeXYZ. The transfer comes from a 3.75 million HYPE over-the-counter trade last month: 3.125 million HYPE was staked in a single wallet, while the remaining 625,000 HYPE was initially sent elsewhere. MLM speculates that ICE bought the full 3.75 million HYPE and that the latest transfer may be part of an investment in TradeXYZ, but neither claim has been confirmed. The HYPE movement is a notable on-chain signal, not confirmation of a completed deal.

Parity Technologies CEO Gavin Wood says the company is reducing costs and roles as it shifts from developing Polkadot’s core technology to a more focused engineering operation. The company plans to concentrate on completing developer platform features, advancing Polkadot as an application platform—including engineering related to proposals for its economy—and developing JAM. Polkadot Hub is live, while the Polkadot Community Foundation is taking on a larger role in ecosystem growth and adoption. Wood said the changes reflect long-term financial planning and are intended to support Parity through its next two-year budget cycle; no further restructuring is planned during that period, barring unforeseen events. The number of affected jobs was not disclosed. For traders, the announcement signals a strategic and cost-base shift rather than a stated change to DOT’s tokenomics or network operations.

Axis Robotics (AXIS) fell about 40% in 24 hours after on-chain investigator ZachXBT reported that insiders withdrew more than 76 million AXIS tokens, worth over $12 million, from a multisig wallet and sold them through decentralised exchanges. Some tokens were also transferred to Bitget. One insider reportedly sold 42 million AXIS today and now holds more than $5.04 million in USDC across eight wallets. The reported insider selling has put AXIS under pressure and may heighten volatility as traders monitor further transfers and exchange inflows.

Strategy faces possible removal from MSCI’s global equity indexes under proposed rules for companies with limited operating assets and concentrated financial holdings. MSCI is expected to name affected companies on November 11, with changes scheduled after the market close on November 30, 2026. The decision on Strategy is not final. The proposed framework considers operating assets and financial tests, and includes safeguards for existing index constituents. Other firms, potentially including digital-asset treasury company Metaplanet and uranium investor Yellow Cake, could also be affected. JPMorgan estimates that Strategy’s removal could prompt about $2.8 billion in passive selling of its shares. If other major index providers adopt similar rules, the total could reach $8.8 billion. These estimates concern Strategy stock, not its Bitcoin holdings. MSCI’s classification could therefore pressure Strategy shares without requiring direct BTC sales. Strategy says its financing and capital-allocation model—including common stock, preferred securities and convertible debt—makes it more than a vehicle holding Bitcoin. MSCI says its rules must distinguish operating companies from firms that primarily hold financial assets. Chairman Michael Saylor has played down MSCI’s influence on capital flows and criticised its approach. For traders, the main risks are index-driven selling and potentially more difficult fundraising. A weaker share premium or softer demand for securities could constrain Strategy’s ability to finance further Bitcoin purchases. The ruling may also shape how index providers classify Bitcoin treasury companies. It could weigh indirectly on BTC sentiment, but it does not change Bitcoin’s fundamentals or automatically trigger Bitcoin sales.

Robinhood reported record third-quarter revenue of $1.42 billion, up 12% year on year, as prediction markets, options and equities offset weaker crypto trading. Crypto revenue was $120 million, down 55% from a year earlier, although it rose 20% quarter on quarter. Robinhood Chain contributed $26 million in its first quarter on mainnet; excluding the new Ethereum Layer 2 network, crypto revenue would have fallen 6% quarter on quarter. The chain, built with Arbitrum technology, processed more than $80 billion in decentralised exchange volume and generated over $50 million in fees. Traditional crypto transaction revenue was $94 million, down 6% quarter on quarter despite a 23% rise in trading volume to about $49.8 billion. Prediction-market event contracts generated $173 million, surpassing crypto revenue. Robinhood’s net income fell 14%; the latest report put it at $415 million, partly reflecting a $67 million unrealised loss on its Ventures Fund I portfolio. The company also agreed to use Ripple’s RLUSD for international settlement, treasury operations, trading and financing. Early fourth-quarter average daily volumes across equities, options and crypto were about 5% below the strong third-quarter pace. The results show Robinhood crypto revenue increasingly depends on new infrastructure while its traditional crypto trading business remains under pressure.

Coinbase applied to Brazil’s central bank on Oct. 28 for authorization to operate as a virtual asset service provider, ahead of the Oct. 30 deadline. Under Brazil’s new crypto rules, existing firms that apply on time can keep operating while their applications are reviewed. Coinbase expects its current services to continue during the review; the rules cover governance, customer asset safeguards and compliance. The Coinbase Brazil crypto license application follows filings by Binance and other platforms as the country brings crypto services under central bank supervision. Coinbase also plans to bring its “Everything Exchange” strategy to Brazil, potentially including foreign exchange and payments, but those services would need separate approval. Binance has restricted some local services and delisted 22 crypto assets. The filing supports Coinbase’s continued access to a major Latin American market, but does not announce an immediate change to trading services.

Crypto exchange HTX has agreed to stop unlawful crypto promotions to consumers in the UK until 21 October 2031, under a settlement with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The pledge covers promotions through HTX’s website, apps and social media. The FCA says HTX already blocks UK customers from making deposits and new users from opening accounts. The settlement follows an FCA case brought in October 2025. Its terms are confidential, and Huobi Global S.A., the company behind HTX, did not admit liability or wrongdoing. The agreement concerns UK crypto promotions and does not itself announce a wider suspension of HTX’s services. HTX also faces separate UK and EU sanctions. The UK imposed an asset freeze on Huobi Global in May over suspected support for Russia’s government. The EU later imposed a transaction ban on HTX, effective 23 August. The developments add regulatory pressure on the exchange but are unlikely, on their own, to affect the broader crypto market significantly.

An OKX survey found that 19% of European respondents consider cryptocurrencies a better option for building long-term wealth than retirement plans, which were preferred by 8%. The results point to stronger stated confidence in crypto, although the article provides no survey methodology or evidence that respondents have changed their actual investments. The report cites the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework as part of the regulatory backdrop. It also notes prediction-market odds of about 1% for Ethereum reaching $10,000 by 31 December 2026. The survey signals investor sentiment, but it does not establish a direct outlook for crypto prices or Ethereum demand.

An Anthropic IPO could revive investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and help trigger a rebound in technology stocks, as positioning has become cautious. Deutsche Bank data shows active investors have cut US equity exposure to its lowest level in more than a month, while computer-driven funds have also reduced holdings. Goldman Sachs says its hedge fund clients sold short about $5 in stocks for every $1 they bought this month, bringing borrowed-share bets against a rally close to a five-year high. If stocks rise, short sellers may have to buy shares to close positions, potentially amplifying gains. The proposed Anthropic IPO is a possible catalyst, not a confirmed trigger; the scale and timing of any rebound remain uncertain.

Fidelity Digital Assets reported that Bitcoin’s net unrealized profit and loss (NUPL) indicator rose from 0.09 to 0.36 last quarter. The report says that historically, when Bitcoin NUPL has been around 0.36, within a range of plus or minus 0.05, the median return over the following year has been 93%. The figure is a historical observation, not a forecast or guarantee of future performance.

Kraken Prop added gold, silver, WTI and Brent oil, copper and natural gas on October 29, 2026. The new commodity markets are priced using index oracles and available for simulated trading 24/7 in supported regions, except the UAE. On plans other than Lite, Kraken Prop cut commissions on all non-crypto markets from 4 basis points to 2 basis points per side. The lower rate also covers the S&P 500 and XYZ100 indices and applies to existing evaluation and funded accounts. Crypto commissions are unchanged. Gold offers up to 5x leverage and a $500,000 notional cap on non-Lite plans; limits vary for other commodities. Lite plans retain their existing commission rate. The platform says its account limits, evaluation rules and profit share are unchanged. Trading involves simulated positions, while payouts are based on simulated performance; the article says payouts are typically made within 24 hours. The expansion gives traders more markets and lower costs, but does not represent direct trading in real commodity positions.

Bakkt (NYSE: BKKT) has raised its 2026 transaction-volume target to $3 billion, but the company’s ability to turn higher activity into lasting revenue and profit remains uncertain. An analysis by Dorine Cherop maintains a Hold view, citing low take rates, high costs, weak margins and slow customer activation. Bakkt’s prospects depend in part on expanding cross-border payments and other higher-margin transactions. Until the company demonstrates stronger unit economics and progress towards profitability, losses and potential shareholder dilution could limit the stock’s upside. The $3 billion goal is a growth signal, but execution and financial results remain key tests.

Airtm has partnered with Mastercard-owned stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK to let users in emerging markets pay participating retailers directly from their digital wallets. The integration will run through Airtm Connect and use the Stellar blockchain for payments. The companies expect to begin rolling it out in Q4 2026, but have not yet named the first countries, merchants or supported stablecoins. The partnership will also give Airtm access to Mastercard’s Global Money Platform, which supports fiat accounts, stablecoin payments and international transfers. BVNK will add another provider to Airtm’s infrastructure for deposits, incoming transfers and merchant payments. The arrangement may make it easier for users to move between digital wallets and conventional payment systems, while expanding stablecoin use in everyday commerce.

Galaxy Digital has applied to the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Galaxy National Bank, headquartered in New York. If approved, the federally supervised trust institution would offer digital-asset custody, trading and staking, as well as fiduciary investment advice. Galaxy Digital says a federal framework would allow the bank to serve customers across the United States.

Solana tokenized equities reached a record 2,077 unique products, surpassing the previous high of 2,036. The milestone comes as the sector expands in supply, trading and holders: tokenized equity supply reached $684 million in September 2026, up 47% in three weeks, while monthly trading volume rose to $4.4 billion. Holder addresses topped one million, although wallet counts do not represent unique investors. Issuers including xStocks, Ondo Global Markets and Backpack Securities are adding products to the Solana network. Up to 63% of tokenized equity trades occur outside traditional US stock-market hours, and Solana’s DeFi integrations let users trade or lend these assets on-chain. A September 2026 SEC innovation exemption may also support on-chain trading of certain listed US stocks. For traders, Solana tokenized equities offer fractional exposure and round-the-clock access, but issuer structures vary and after-hours liquidity may be thin, widening price gaps with underlying shares. Despite record growth, the market remains small compared with traditional equities.

Bulktrade plans to support deposits and withdrawals from Arc, Tempo, Arbitrum and HyperEVM while keeping trading on its specialised execution layer. The platform uses a modified Solana validator client and its BULKBFT matching system, but Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko said an app that does not run on Solana’s base layer is not actually part of Solana. The debate highlights a distinction between using Solana technology and operating on the Solana network. Bulktrade, which raised $8 million in January with Yakovenko as an angel investor, launched its mainnet beta in September. By late October, it had recorded more than $1.3 billion in cumulative trading volume, open interest of about $13 million to $14 million, and roughly $8 million in total value locked. Bulktrade’s multichain access could attract liquidity from other networks, though the dispute may complicate how the exchange is perceived within the Solana ecosystem.

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko said projects that run outside Solana’s layer-1 blockchain should be treated as independent networks, not as part of Solana. His comments followed decentralized trading platform BULK’s plan to expand beyond Solana and connect collateral from networks including Arbitrum and HyperEVM to a shared trading system. BULK founder kdot said the platform needs its own execution infrastructure, order book and risk management systems to support high-frequency perpetual futures trading. The proposed setup would let users deposit funds from different blockchains and trade through common markets, though no rollout date was announced. Yakovenko said he wants BULK’s founders to succeed but remains focused on products built directly on Solana. The disagreement highlights an ongoing debate over whether dedicated execution networks improve trading performance or fragment a blockchain ecosystem. The exchange itself does not signal a change to Solana’s technology or adoption, but the outcome of BULK’s expansion could affect how traders assess liquidity and cross-chain access.

Bitcoin has fallen in the month after 12 of the Federal Reserve’s 16 rate hikes since 2018, according to a review of 71 Fed decisions. Traders are pricing in about a 79% chance of another hike on December 9, though the one rate increase in the current cycle was followed by gains for BTC. The Fed held rates at 3.75% to 4% on Wednesday. Bitcoin briefly climbed from $80,860 to $81,788, then retreated overnight. It was recently near $79,800, down about 5% over 30 days and 36.7% below its October 2025 record. The article links the overnight decline partly to a sell-off in Asian technology shares. Historically, Bitcoin’s response has varied by decision type. After rate hikes, BTC was higher a month later in only four of 16 cases, with a median decline of 3.5%. However, most hikes occurred during earlier tightening cycles, so the record may not predict the current market reliably. Technically, Bitcoin is trading just above its 50-week EMA near $78,637. A weekly close above $84,898 could open a move towards $87,396. A break below the EMA would put support near $74,968 in focus. Traders are watching inflation, GDP and jobs data ahead of the December Fed meeting, with the 50-week EMA and incoming economic data likely to shape Bitcoin’s near-term direction.

Arkham Intelligence has moved full wallet histories, cross-chain tracing and risk scores behind its paid Enterprise tier. Its free plan now displays only a wallet’s 100 most recent transactions, prompting users to consider Arkham alternatives for crypto investigations and compliance work. A review tested two Bitquery tools against the January 2026 Truebit exploit, in which an attacker stole 8,535 ETH, worth about $26.4 million, and sent the funds to Tornado Cash within 53 hours. Bitquery MoneyFlow offers free visual tracing across 17 chains, while its MCP tool lets users ask AI assistants to trace funds and assess risk. The article says both tools followed the stolen ETH to Tornado Cash, though they do not automate cross-chain tracing. Other Arkham alternatives include Nansen for trading research, Chainalysis Reactor and TRM Labs for institutional investigations, Dune for SQL-based analysis, and Etherscan for individual wallet and transaction checks. Arkham’s free address labels remain a notable advantage. The article’s author discloses working at Bitquery.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said XRP remains the company’s “North Star”, despite recent attention on its RLUSD stablecoin. He said Ripple aims to pursue activities that benefit XRP, while acknowledging that fiat currencies or RLUSD may be more suitable for some transactions. In those cases, he argued, XRP capturing part of a transaction is preferable to capturing none. Garlinghouse described XRP as foundational to Ripple’s expanding blockchain infrastructure business and said he hopes it will become an institutional standard for crypto rails over the next five years. The comments came as Ripple announced institutional developments at its Swell event, including a strategic partnership with Robinhood, expanded support for XRP and RLUSD through BNY Mellon’s custody platform, and final regulatory approval for Ripple’s National Trust Bank. XRP was trading near $1.30 at the time of the article, down about 2% in 24 hours, nearly 4% over seven days, and almost 13% over a month. It was also down roughly 50% year over year. The announcements could support the long-term case for XRP adoption, but the price figures show continued near-term weakness.

The US Treasury has sanctioned 10 individuals and one entity over North Korean IT worker schemes that allegedly defrauded US companies and funded weapons programmes. The North Korean crypto network used money laundering and cryptocurrency transactions to move funds, Treasury said. Russian nationals Ilya Boykov and Vitold Obertas were accused of converting millions of dollars in crypto for North Korean groups. Treasury said Boykov handled the equivalent of $3.5 million in crypto since 2024, while Obertas converted nearly $2 million since January 2025. The sanctions list includes Ethereum and Tron addresses, with one Ethereum address linked to both men. Treasury also targeted a North Korean-controlled center in Vladivostok, Russia. It said six Russia-based North Korean IT workers generated more than $750,000 for the center since 2025. The North Korean crypto network forms part of broader efforts to use fraudulent IT employment to finance the country’s weapons programmes. The action adds to previous US sanctions and similar designations by Australia and the European Union.

The MIKA token plunged about 99% minutes after influencer Mika (@mikadontlouz) posted what traders identified as the developer wallet’s private key instead of the token’s contract address. On-chain data cited in the report shows roughly 500 million MIKA—about half the initial supply—was sold shortly after the post. The token’s market cap fell from around $1.6 million to about $85,500. Mika launched a second MIKA token later that afternoon. It briefly reached a market cap near $1.5 million before falling below $300,000 within an hour. The relaunch was reported to have one wallet holding about half the supply. Whether the key post was accidental or deliberate remains unproven; some traders also questioned whether the claimed $40,000 loss was genuine. The episode renews scrutiny of celebrity tokens, which often launch with concentrated ownership and limited liquidity. Similar sharp declines have hit tokens including LAPTOP, TRUMP, MELANIA, LIBRA, YZY, HAWK and MOTHER. The MIKA crash highlights the risks of thinly traded meme coins, concentrated token holdings and rapid post-launch selling.

HYPE, Hyperliquid’s native token, rose 10% after reports that Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, plans to bring Hyperliquid futures to the US with Trade.xyz. The proposed market for perpetual futures would depend on regulatory approval. Hyperliquid’s perpetual-futures platform currently operates outside the US and is not officially available to US participants. The report has raised expectations of wider access and a more regulated route to trade products built on Hyperliquid. HYPE’s rally reflects increased market interest, but the plan has not been confirmed as operational. Traders will be watching for official details and regulatory developments; delays or a lack of approval could temper the reaction.