Crypto News

Stablecoin adoption interest is growing across Asia Pacific, according to Visa’s Consumer 360 survey of 14,250 people in 14 markets. Some 46% of respondents said they may use stablecoins within five years, compared with 16% who used them in the previous 12 months. Nearly half, or 49%, believe stablecoins could become common for cross-border payments, including remittances, international transfers, travel and online purchases. Awareness reached 66%, but only 6% of respondents correctly understood how stablecoins work. Among people aware of stablecoins but yet to use them, 38% cited fraud concerns and 36% said they lacked sufficient knowledge. Misconceptions also remain widespread: 49% believed stablecoins are used only for cryptocurrency trading, while 41% thought they always increase in value. Hong Kong had the highest awareness, followed by India and Thailand. Vietnam and India recorded the strongest five-year usage intentions. Consumers placed the most trust in government- or central bank-linked entities, banks and regulated financial institutions. Visa is expanding its Visa Stablecoin Platform with banks, regulated institutions and payment partners. The company said more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programmes operate globally and related payment volume has risen almost 200% year on year. The findings point to strong long-term potential for stablecoins in digital payments, but near-term adoption and any trading impact will depend on regulation, security, education and integration with existing financial services.

US spot crypto ETF flows showed mixed signals from September 28 to October 5. Bitcoin ETF flows remained relatively strong, with $82.9 million in provisional net inflows in the earlier period and $241.09 million in weekly inflows in the later data, marking a third consecutive positive week. Bitcoin ETF flows have reached about $57.8 billion since launch in 2024. However, Bitcoin ETFs recorded daily outflows on October 5, while BlackRock’s IBIT attracted $69.85 million and remained a key source of institutional demand. Ethereum ETF flows weakened sharply. After $118 million in outflows in the earlier period, Ethereum ETFs recorded another $138.02 million weekly outflow, despite a fresh daily inflow on October 5. Ethereum’s year-to-date ETF inflows were about $1.5 billion. Solana ETF flows were modest, with $800,000 in the earlier period and about $2.43 million for the later week. XRP ETFs gained $4.74 million, while Zcash ETFs recorded about $94 million in their first weekly outflow. Hyperliquid ETFs attracted $3.4 million in the earlier data. Bitcoin traded near $85,000-$86,000 as institutional capital continued to favour BTC over ETH. The ETF flows point to short-term rotation rather than a confirmed trend reversal. Bitcoin ETF flows remain a supportive signal for BTC, but changing daily flows could increase volatility across crypto markets. A sustained recovery in Ethereum ETF flows would be needed to improve sentiment for ETH and other altcoins.

Binance has reaffirmed its existing stock-to-bStocks conversion service for eligible non-U.S. users. The Binance service allows supported stock positions to be converted into tokenized bStocks at a 1:1 ratio without a conversion fee, with reverse conversion available through an eligible Stock Account. bStocks are BEP-20 certificates issued by Binance affiliate BTech Holdings and backed 1:1 by shares held with regulated custodians. They trade on Binance Spot 24/7 and can be withdrawn to compatible BNB Smart Chain wallets, creating potential arbitrage opportunities and allowing equity exposure outside traditional market hours. Binance launched bStocks in June 2026, and assets under management later exceeded $500 million. New listings included ADBEB, FWDIB and HPEB. bStocks do not provide direct shareholder rights, voting rights or direct cash dividends. Dividends are generally reinvested through an on-chain multiplier, while stock splits adjust token balances and prices. Conversions may pause during maintenance or corporate actions, and minor rounding differences can occur because stock and token balances support different decimal precision. U.S. persons remain excluded because the products are not registered under U.S. securities laws. The latest announcement does not introduce a new Binance feature. It restates the existing conversion facility. Separately, Binance is running a third-party tokenized-securities conversion promotion through 11 October 2026 and trading campaigns offering SPCXB token vouchers through 2 November 2026. Traders should also consider custodian, proof-of-collateral, smart-contract, wallet-security and DeFi risks.

The S&P 500 rose 12.8% year to date through October 2, but market leadership narrowed sharply. Energy gained 40.4% and Technology rose 30.2%, making them the only two sectors to outperform the S&P 500. Eight of the index’s 11 sectors posted gains, but no other sector delivered a double-digit return. Bespoke Investment Group said this was the lowest number of outperforming sectors for October 2 in data going back to 1990. For crypto traders, the S&P 500’s narrow leadership signals strong momentum in energy stocks and the tech sector, but also highlights weak market breadth, valuation risk and potential sector rotation. Any spillover into crypto markets is likely to depend on changes in risk appetite, technology valuations and energy prices.

Polymarket is challenging the Dutch prediction-market ban in court, arguing that its event contracts are derivatives rather than gambling products. It says the contracts should be supervised by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), not the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA). The KSA ordered Polymarket on 20 January to stop serving Dutch users within four weeks or face a €420,000 weekly penalty, capped at €840,000. Inspectors reportedly used a Dutch IP address and bank account to open an account, deposit €10 and buy $1 of “yes” shares in a market on the next Dutch prime minister. Polymarket said it enabled IP blocking on 18 February, but the KSA ruled that the restriction came one day late and sought to collect the €420,000 penalty. The regulator rejected the company’s objection on 23 June, maintaining that Dutch law prohibits betting on non-sporting events and that licensed operators cannot accept cryptocurrency payments. Polymarket argues that prices are set by market demand, users can exit before settlement and the platform does not operate like a traditional bookmaker. It also points to Polymarket US, which is registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and offers certain event contracts classified as binary options. However, the AFM prohibits binary options for retail investors, creating a separate regulatory risk if the contracts are treated as financial products. The Polymarket case could shape European rules for prediction markets, derivatives and crypto-based betting platforms. France, Spain and the Czech Republic have also taken action against Polymarket or similar services. The Dutch enforcement order remains active while the appeal proceeds.

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The September US jobs report showed nonfarm payrolls rose by only 29,000, well below the 89,000 forecast and down from August’s revised 133,000 gain. The weak jobs report signals a cooling labour market, although it does not yet point to a sharp deterioration. The unemployment rate increased to 4.2%, while the broader U6 underemployment rate fell to 7.6%. Labour force participation rose to 61.8% from 61.6%. JOLTS data and weekly jobless claims also indicated that hiring and worker separations remained close to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting limited labour-market slack rather than a severe downturn. The jobs report has reduced expectations of another Federal Reserve rate hike in October and may strengthen bets on future rate cuts. That could support liquidity-sensitive assets such as Bitcoin. However, slower growth, possible job cuts and weaker risk appetite could increase volatility. Crypto traders should monitor Treasury yields, the US dollar and upcoming inflation data for confirmation. The jobs report remains a key driver of Bitcoin market sentiment.

IMD, an Ethereum-based AI agent project, gained more than 200% in a week after opening its agent network to NFT holders on 20 September. Registered nodes increased from dozens to more than 370 within five days, highlighting strong early participation. The project uses 2,000 identity.md NFTs as agent seats. Operators run open-source worker software and cover their own computing and AI subscription costs, including Claude or Codex access. Agents receive tasks, submit results and undergo container verification and peer review. By 25 September, about 380 seats had been registered and 372 agents were online. The network recorded roughly 50,700 task attempts, with an 86% acceptance rate. The later update showed that commercial demand remained limited. Only 115 paid orders had been completed, generating 57.5 IMD, worth about $560 at the time. This indicates that network growth has not yet translated into significant revenue. IMD has a fixed supply that declines through the Uniswap V4 POOL4 burn mechanism. When pool inventory exceeds its cap, 85% of the excess IMD is burned. The remainder supports computing reserves, stakers and NFT seats. Supply has fallen from 10 million to about 7.1 million tokens, while roughly 2.3 million IMD, or 32% of supply, is staked as sIMD. The project also operates a Community Coins launch platform using IMD liquidity, although external agent deployment remains on Sepolia. For traders, IMD combines a potentially deflationary token model with exposure to AI-agent adoption. However, high volatility, limited paid usage, early-stage infrastructure and execution risk remain significant. IMD’s long-term value will depend on whether the agent swarm can attract sustained demand and generate meaningful fees.

An unidentified whale has continued accumulating HYPE through Coinbase Prime. Earlier reports said a newly created wallet withdrew 198,290 HYPE, worth about $17.29 million, and retained the full position. The latest update reported 158,780 HYPE accumulated over the past month, worth approximately $13.08 million, followed by a further purchase and withdrawal of 54,020 HYPE worth about $5.13 million on October 6. The differing reported totals may reflect separate transaction periods or updated on-chain data. The HYPE outflows could reduce immediately available exchange liquidity, but the buyer’s identity, strategy and holding period remain unknown. Traders should monitor HYPE price action, exchange net outflows, follow-up purchases and any transfers back to exchanges before treating the activity as a confirmed bullish signal.

The Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) has defended OCC crypto bank charters issued to digital-asset firms, calling national trust bank licenses lawful tools for competition and financial innovation. CCI chief executive Ji Hun Kim said the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) lawsuit seeks to restrict crypto payment innovation and competition. ICBA sued the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in federal court. It argues that crypto firms can gain the credibility of a banking license without meeting safeguards imposed on traditional banks. These include Community Reinvestment Act obligations, consolidated supervision, capital and liquidity standards, and FDIC deposit insurance. The OCC has approved or conditionally approved applications linked to World Liberty Financial, Circle, Ripple, Fidelity Digital Assets, BitGo and Paxos during Donald Trump’s presidency. The approvals have also faced scrutiny from lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, particularly because of World Liberty Financial’s links to the Trump family. The lawsuit is unlikely to halt OCC crypto bank charters or materially change approval timelines in the short term. However, it could shape future legislation, oversight and regulatory requirements. Successful charters could improve crypto firms’ access to payments, custody, settlement and tokenised-asset services. A court challenge or tighter oversight could instead increase compliance uncertainty and weigh on sentiment in stablecoins, custody and institutional finance. The direct price impact is likely limited, but XRP, USDC and WLFI-related trading could react to regulatory headlines.

Bitcoin (BTC) initially broke above 86,000 USDT on OKX, reaching 86,005.4 USDT and gaining 1.62% over 24 hours on 5 October 2026. BTC later fell below 85,000 USDT before rebounding to 86,007.3 USDT at 06:02 UTC+8 on 6 October. The Bitcoin rebound points to renewed short-term buying momentum and may attract momentum traders. However, the move lacks confirmation from trading volume or the wider crypto market. Traders should watch whether BTC can hold 86,000 USDT as support. A sustained breakout could support further gains, while another rejection may trigger profit-taking and higher volatility.

VanEck digital assets research head Matthew Sigel says Bitcoin could eventually reach $500,000 by capturing about half of gold’s market capitalisation. He presented this as a long-term valuation scenario that could play out during the current market cycle or the next, rather than a short-term Bitcoin price forecast. The Bitcoin-to-gold ratio fell to about 16–17 from roughly 40, suggesting Bitcoin could potentially gain against gold without reaching an unprecedented relative valuation. Institutional demand has also improved. US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted about $6.34 billion in the third quarter of 2026, reversing roughly $5 billion in second-quarter outflows, while Bitcoin gained nearly 43% in Q3. In a later discussion, Sigel said Bitcoin miners may hold an increasingly valuable asset in the artificial intelligence economy: electricity. Long-term power contracts lasting 10 to 20 years, especially those backed by investment-grade counterparties, could create additional value for miners and reduce their historical correlation with Bitcoin prices. He described this exposure as an underappreciated option. Sigel also cited dollar weakness, inflation, fiscal dominance and Bitcoin’s role alongside gold. He considers quantum computing a genuine long-term risk, but not an immediate reason to sell. For traders, the outlook remains bullish over the long term, but the comments offer no clear near-term catalyst. Bitcoin price action is likely to remain sensitive to interest rates, liquidity, macroeconomic data, institutional flows and risk appetite. Traders are watching resistance near $87,000 and $90,000; a sustained break above these levels could improve momentum, while rejection may limit the recovery.

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $241.1 million in net inflows last week, extending their positive streak to three consecutive weeks. The funds attracted capital on every trading day except Wednesday, when investors withdrew nearly $149 million. Earlier inflows of $102.7 million on Thursday and $31.7 million on Friday helped start October on a positive note after September 30 outflows of $148.7 million ended a nine-session inflow streak. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust received more than $450 million, while Fidelity and Morgan Stanley funds also saw strong activity. Since launch, cumulative Bitcoin ETF inflows have reached $58.1 billion, with total net assets of about $101.1 billion. September delivered $2.65 billion in net inflows, making it the funds’ second-best month since October 2025. Bitcoin traded near $85,605 and was up almost 7% over 30 days after briefly reaching $87,173, close to its September high. CryptoQuant said Bitcoin had re-entered a bull market after moving above its 365-day moving average. The cryptocurrency also benefited from the debasement trade and strong third-quarter performance. A weaker U.S. jobs report, with 29,000 jobs added in September and unemployment rising to 4.2%, reduced expectations for an October rate hike. CME FedWatch data put the probability at 14%, down from 70% earlier in the week. Traders will focus on the September CPI report on October 14 and the Federal Reserve meeting on October 28. The Bitcoin ETF inflows and improving technical signals support the positive start to October, a month often associated with strong Bitcoin returns. However, Bitcoin spent much of 2026 in a bear market and remains vulnerable to macroeconomic shifts, liquidation events and sharp volatility. Myriad traders put the probability of Bitcoin failing to reach a new all-time high in 2026 at 93%.

Bitcoin rose about 43.88% in Q3 2026, climbing from roughly $58,500 to $84,000-$86,000. It was Bitcoin’s strongest third-quarter performance since 2017 and ended a three-quarter losing streak. Bitcoin also outperformed major traditional assets, including gold, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. The main catalyst was a sharp reversal in US spot Bitcoin ETF flows. Funds moved from about $5 billion in cumulative outflows at the end of July to roughly $1 billion in net inflows by late September. A record weekly inflow of approximately $2.39 billion, together with corporate purchases, helped support Bitcoin near the $83,000-$87,000 range. Strategy’s holdings also rose to about 847,666 BTC. The later market update highlighted a tougher macroeconomic backdrop. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points on 16 September, taking its target range to 3.75%-4.00%. The 10-year and 30-year US Treasury yields subsequently reached about 5.22% and 5.51%, respectively. Higher yields increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding Bitcoin and could limit further gains. Earlier expectations of easing pressure from Treasury debt repurchases and improving inflation data therefore remain secondary to renewed rate and bond-market risks. Bitcoin’s Puell Multiple also moved above 1.00 for the first time in nearly 11 months, reaching about 1.07 in early October. The rise suggests improving miner profitability. Traders should monitor spot Bitcoin ETF flows, corporate purchases, Treasury yields, Federal Reserve policy, inflation data and the Puell Multiple. Continued ETF demand could extend Bitcoin’s uptrend, while elevated yields, profit-taking or a more hawkish Fed could trigger volatility and weaken momentum.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies has bought another 15,112 ETH, worth about $41 million, extending its weekly Ethereum buying programme launched on 30 June 2025. Its holdings have risen to 6,016,414 ETH, valued at roughly $16.4 billion and equivalent to about 4.9% of Ethereum’s total supply. The purchase puts Bitmine about 99% of the way towards its “Alchemy of 5%” Ethereum treasury target. The latest purchase follows an earlier acquisition of 17,362 ETH, showing that the company continues to accumulate ETH despite broader macroeconomic pressure. Chairman Tom Lee said a crypto bull market is under way and noted that ETH had outperformed the S&P 500 by 6,832 basis points during the quarter, even as oil prices and bond yields rose and the Federal Reserve remained hawkish. Bitmine’s total assets have reached about $17.4 billion. They include 214 BTC, $643 million in cash and marketable securities, and investments in Beast Industries and Eightco Holdings. The company remains the largest Ethereum treasury and the second-largest corporate crypto treasury after Strategy. Bitmine has staked 5,067,309 ETH, or 84% of its holdings, through the MAVAN institutional platform. Based on current yields, the position is expected to generate about $363 million in annualised revenue. Continued corporate accumulation is a bullish long-term signal for ETH, but the company’s concentrated exposure also creates market, liquidity and balance-sheet risks that could amplify volatility.

Bitcoin rose to about $86,100-$86,757 after softer inflation and weak US jobs data reduced expectations for further Federal Reserve rate rises. September payrolls increased by only 29,000, below forecasts, while unemployment rose to 4.2%. CME FedWatch data put the probability of an October rate hold at 74%, up from 35.8% a week earlier. The shift supported Bitcoin and other risk assets, although stronger inflation or jobs data could renew rate-hike concerns. Bitcoin remains below resistance near $87,354. A break above that level could open a move towards $90,000, while rejection may trigger short-term profit-taking. The 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages have both moved above the 200-day EMA, creating bullish golden-cross signals. However, these indicators lag price action and do not guarantee further gains. Bitcoin is still about 31% below its record high from a year earlier. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $189.84 million in the latest reported daily inflows. September inflows reached $2.65 billion and third-quarter inflows totalled $6.34 billion, lifting total ETF net assets to about $101.1 billion. Net inflows for 2026 remain below $1 billion after first-half outflows, suggesting recent demand has also been allocation-driven rather than solely dependent on easier liquidity. Options traders show downside protection concentrated around $80,000, while call interest is focused between $89,000 and $92,000. Bitcoin’s Fear & Greed Index stood at 68. Traders are watching the Federal Reserve meeting minutes on 7 October, US September CPI on 14 October and the next Fed meeting on 27-28 October. Ethereum and XRP posted modest gains, while Solana declined. High Treasury yields and upcoming inflation data remain risks to Bitcoin’s short-term momentum.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken over a renewed investigation into an alleged sexual assault involving people linked to Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity. The case initially resulted in no criminal charges. A civil lawsuit later prompted Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to review the evidence, with possible grand-jury proceedings. James’s appointment as special prosecutor adds state-level scrutiny and could lead to criminal charges if new evidence supports the case. Cornell said it took disciplinary action after a separate Title IX investigation and is conducting its own review of the incident and its response. Prediction-market pricing assigns a 29.5% probability to the specified YES outcome, indicating limited confidence in a major legal development. Traders should monitor statements from James and Van Houten, grand-jury activity and new evidence. The New York AG investigation is primarily a legal and political story, with no direct cryptocurrency-market catalyst.

Stripe launched its stablecoin card programme with Visa in March, initially serving 18 countries, mainly in Latin America. The company now plans to expand the stablecoin card programme to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026. The cards can be used at more than 175 million Visa merchant locations. Stripe’s Bridge acquisition, valued at $1.1 billion, provides stablecoin infrastructure, while Privy supports wallet and blockchain services. Stripe says it has processed more than 400 million cards since 2018. Existing stablecoin card users include Kraken and Ramp. Stablecoin card spending reached about $1.2 billion in September 2026, roughly three times the level a year earlier. The broader digital dollar market has exceeded $300 billion. Stripe intends to remain stablecoin-agnostic and blockchain-agnostic, while exploring tokenised deposits, decentralised finance and additional digital assets. Henri Stern, Privy’s co-founder, also oversees stablecoins and crypto at Stripe. The stablecoin card expansion could increase real-world payment adoption and demand for stablecoin infrastructure. However, the rollout remains a target and may depend on regulatory approvals, licensing and local banking partnerships. Traders should monitor live country launches, card spending volumes and new payment-platform customers. The news is unlikely to create immediate buying pressure for Bitcoin or other major tokens.

Strive bought 2,000 BTC for $169 million last week, at an average price of $84,422 per Bitcoin, CEO Matt Cole said. The purchase raised Strive’s total Bitcoin holdings to 29,462 BTC. The company said 61.5% of the financing came from SATA, while warrants generated $56.7 million. Strive also reported key third-quarter 2026 metrics and KPIs in an 8-K filing. The Bitcoin accumulation reflects continued corporate treasury demand, but the immediate effect on BTC price and broader market liquidity is likely limited.

Hyperliquid perpetual futures are now available through Bloomberg Terminal market-data workflows, giving professional users access to 24/7 pricing across crypto, equities, commodities, foreign exchange and indices. Coverage includes Bitcoin, gold, oil, the S&P 500 and semiconductor-related contracts. The Bloomberg integration provides data and visibility only. It does not offer trading, custody or clearing, and it is not regulatory approval. Bloomberg users can compare Hyperliquid prices with traditional benchmarks when conventional markets are closed, including overnight and weekend sessions. Hyperliquid perpetuals also continued trading in oil, gold and silver during periods when markets were disrupted by the Middle East conflict. The expansion highlights Hyperliquid’s move from a crypto derivatives exchange towards a cross-asset, 24/7 derivatives venue. US regulatory prospects are also attracting attention after President Donald Trump said CFTC Chair Michael Selig was working to bring Hyperliquid into the US legally and compliantly. Bloomberg exposure could improve institutional awareness and liquidity over time, but it does not create an immediate capital inflow. Traders should monitor price differences between venues, future Bloomberg coverage, regulatory developments and the leverage risks of perpetual contracts.

FinCEN and four US banking regulators said on 8 September 2026 that compliant verifiable digital credentials (VDCs) can satisfy documentary identification requirements under the Customer Identification Program (CIP) rule. The clarification does not change the CIP rule or require banks to adopt VDCs. It allows banks to accept government-issued credentials, including mobile driver’s licences, during branch, remote and online account opening. A qualifying VDC must be digitally signed by its issuer, cryptographically linked to a device and protected by a PIN or biometric factor. Government-issued VDCs can establish nationality or residence and include a photograph or comparable safeguard. Private-sector credentials cannot replace government identification, but banks may use them as non-documentary evidence alongside databases, public records and other checks. Banks using VDCs must update written CIP procedures and support signature validation, revocation checks, device-binding verification and activation-factor controls. They may also need new infrastructure, staff training and interoperable systems for different issuers and wallet providers. The framework could strengthen digital identity, KYC compliance and anti-fraud technology, while potentially supporting cryptographically verified delegation for AI agents. For crypto traders, the announcement is indirectly relevant. It may accelerate regulated digital identity and secure wallet adoption, but it does not change cryptocurrency fundamentals or create a direct price catalyst. The expected market impact is therefore limited.

Silver price gains accelerated in the later update, rising 2.08% to $61.455 an ounce on 5 October, compared with the earlier reported increase of 1.8% to $61.286. Gold also advanced, although its gain eased slightly from 0.36% to 0.25%, reaching $4,152.26 an ounce. The reports did not identify a specific catalyst, but the silver price remained a key sign of strength in precious metals. Currency markets were relatively stable. USD/CNH rose 0.04% to 6.70701, while USD/JPY increased 0.39% to 158.261. European equities were mixed, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up 0.14%, the FTSE 100 down 0.13% and Germany’s DAX 40 down 0.09%. Oil prices weakened further in the later report. WTI crude fell 2.13% to $91.97 a barrel, compared with an earlier decline of 1.27%, while Brent crude dropped 0.76% to $105.49. Stronger silver and weaker oil point to divergent commodity signals rather than a broad-based shift in risk appetite. For crypto traders, silver price trends may provide context on precious-metals demand and macro sentiment, but they do not offer a direct Bitcoin or altcoin signal. Traders should watch the US dollar, bond yields, real yields and wider risk appetite for confirmation. Gate’s TradFi services also provide access to precious metals, foreign exchange, stock CFDs, indices and commodities.

The US Treasury has sanctioned a Hamas-linked fundraising network accused of collecting more than $2 million through cryptocurrency and purported humanitarian donations between 2020 and 2026. Treasury said about $1.5 million was raised after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. The network allegedly involved Gaza-based Al-Qassam Brigades member Saleem Abdallah Saleem al-Zaq, France-based fundraisers Faouzi Barika and Amel Oualid, and two France-based organisations, Association Baraka and Ensemble C Mieux. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency were allegedly transferred to al-Zaq, who reportedly directed funds to Hamas’s military wing. The sanctions freeze assets under US jurisdiction, prohibit US persons from dealing with the designated parties and may expose foreign financial institutions to secondary sanctions. Treasury officials said traditional finance remains Hamas’s main funding channel, despite its use of crypto. The action increases compliance pressure on crypto exchanges, stablecoin providers, charities and blockchain-monitoring firms. However, the Hamas crypto case is unlikely to create a major direct effect on broad cryptocurrency prices. Traders should instead monitor enforcement activity, wallet screening and potential restrictions on crypto donations and payment networks.

Liquid Capital co-founder Yi Lihua says the crypto primary market is facing its worst downturn in a decade. He identifies four structural problems: narrative-driven investing is losing credibility, project supply is excessive, the “1+3” token unlock model is unfair, and centralised exchange listing costs are too high. Under the “1+3” model, project teams, market makers and exchanges often gain liquidity faster, while venture capital investors face longer lock-ups and weaker exit terms. Yi says this shifts downside risk to crypto VC funds and may increase selling pressure after token listings. Listing fees at major exchanges can reportedly reach millions of dollars. Projects respond by seeking larger funding rounds and higher valuations, creating a cycle of expensive listings, excess token supply and weak secondary-market performance. Yi calls for stronger Binance-style listing standards, the removal of the “1+3” structure, and a return to sustainable revenue, cash flow and token buybacks or other value-sharing mechanisms. The crypto primary market could face further professional VC withdrawals if reforms fail, leaving more influence with established token issuers and memecoins. For traders, unlock schedules, venture-backed supply, exchange listings and launch valuations remain key risks for newly listed assets.

Arkham identified more than 1,000 wallets linked to Kelsier Ventures and Hayden Davis in February 2025, holding nearly $300 million in crypto assets, mainly LIBRA tokens. Arkham has now published the full address set, which has expanded to roughly 1,200 wallets. The combined holdings are worth about $2 million, alongside previously identified USDC and SOL withdrawn from LIBRA liquidity pools. The decline does not confirm whether assets were sold, transferred or lost through LIBRA’s price collapse. Kelsier Ventures was closely involved in the launch of LIBRA, which later lost about 95% of its value after reaching a multibillion-dollar market capitalisation. The wallet disclosure gives LIBRA traders more data to monitor, but wallet labels are not proof of wrongdoing. Future transfers from the remaining holdings could affect liquidity, sentiment and short-term volatility.

The Kansas Senate race has become unusually competitive, with Democrat Adam Hamilton challenging Republican Senator Roger Marshall in a traditionally safe GOP state. Early polling showed Hamilton gaining ground, while some surveys put him slightly ahead or showed the candidates in a virtual tie. The latest development is a $14 million advertising commitment from the Senate Leadership Fund, a major Republican super PAC, to support Marshall’s re-election campaign. The funding exceeds the previously reported $8.2 million commitment and signals a stronger effort to protect the Kansas Senate seat. Prediction markets have reduced the estimated probability of a Democratic victory following the announcement, although close polling suggests continued volatility. Traders should monitor Kansas Senate race polling, campaign spending, endorsements and voter sentiment. The event has no direct fundamental impact on cryptocurrency prices, but political-market participants may see short-term changes in election-contract odds.

Hashbank, part of W Group, has launched an integrated crypto banking service that combines fiat accounts with external crypto-wallet connectivity in one mobile app. Hashbank supports more than 150 digital assets, allowing customers to receive crypto from external wallets and platforms, exchange it for fiat currency, and send assets to external blockchain addresses. The bank obtained a full licence from Georgia’s National Bank in 2023 and began live operations in 2024. It reports about 60,000 customers across 73 countries. Its services include everyday banking, crypto transfers, international payments and direct integration with WhiteBIT, which reports 10 million users. Hashbank says transfers use authentication, address verification, anti-money-laundering controls and blockchain analytics. It plans to expand payment rails, supported currencies and cross-border corridors. It is also exploring banking-as-a-service and embedded banking for fintech companies, crypto platforms and other businesses. For crypto traders, the announcement signals further institutional adoption and a regulated bridge between traditional finance and Web3. However, it does not disclose transaction volumes, revenue, investment figures or a new token launch. The announcement was sponsored by WhiteBIT and has not been independently verified.

US stocks remain near record highs, but market breadth has weakened sharply. Morgan Stanley strategist Mike Wilson estimates a 12% gap between the S&P 500 index and underlying participation. About 51% of Russell 3000 stocks have fallen more than 20% from their June peaks, while the median S&P 500 stock is 16% below its 52-week high. Semiconductors, automobiles and software have been particularly weak. Bond volatility is now the key market risk. The 10-year Treasury yield has returned to 5.25%, and the MOVE bond volatility index is above 100, while the VIX remains below 15. Wilson warns that sustained bond volatility could trigger an approximately 6% S&P 500 correction toward 7,300, with a possible 6,800–7,300 trading range before a year-end recovery. If bond volatility eases, lagging stocks could recover and improve market breadth. Analysts largely view the weakness as valuation compression rather than an earnings collapse. Wilson favors large-cap quality stocks with strong free cash flow and improving earnings expectations. For crypto traders, Treasury yields and bond volatility are important risk indicators. Persistent bond volatility could strengthen risk-off sentiment and pressure digital assets, while a decline in volatility could support a broader recovery.

The crypto tax deadline for most U.S. taxpayers who extended their 2025 federal returns is Oct. 15, 2026. The extension applies only to filing. Taxes were generally due on April 15, so unpaid balances may already be accumulating late-payment penalties and interest. The crypto tax deadline is also the first major filing season involving Form 1099-DA. Custodial brokers generally report gross proceeds from eligible digital-asset sales, but most forms for 2025 do not include cost basis. Traders must use exchange, wallet and DeFi records to calculate proceeds, cost basis, capital gains and losses. Taxable activity may include crypto sales, swaps, spending digital assets, staking and mining rewards, compensation, and crypto payments. Buying and holding crypto with U.S. dollars, or transferring assets between wallets controlled by the same taxpayer, generally is not taxable. Crypto used to pay transaction fees may require reporting. Missing the crypto tax deadline can result in failure-to-file penalties of up to 5% of unpaid tax per month, capped at 25%, plus late-payment penalties and daily-compounding interest. Taxpayers who cannot pay in full should still file and may seek an IRS payment plan. Mandatory cost-basis reporting for certain covered transactions begins in 2026, while more detailed 1099-DA forms are expected for the 2027 filing season. Pending crypto legislation does not change the current rules or Oct. 15 deadline.