Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

The NPM supply chain attack compromised 18 popular JavaScript packages, including chalk, debug and strip-ansi. Hackers hijacked a developer’s NPM account via phishing and injected crypto clipper malware that monkey-patches fetch and XMLHttpRequest. In real time, it swaps copied Web3 wallet addresses for attacker-controlled ones, making fraudulent transactions nearly undetectable. The affected packages see over two billion weekly downloads. The malware intercepts MetaMask and other software wallets. Software wallet users face high risk; only hardware wallets with transparent signing can verify addresses safely. To date, less than $500 has been stolen, and key protocols such as Uniswap (UNI), SUI, Jupiter (JUP) and wallets including MetaMask and Ledger report no direct losses from this NPM supply chain attack. Developers are urged to audit dependencies, lock package versions, and update lockfiles to prevent further compromise. Most infected packages have been cleaned, but researchers continue to monitor threats. Traders should pause on-chain transactions, verify every address before signing, and switch to hardware wallets until a full package audit is complete.

SwissBorg lost 193,000 SOL (~$41M) after a Solana hack. This Solana hack was the result of a Kiln API exploit in its Solana Earn staking program. The breach impacted 1% of users and 2% of platform assets. SwissBorg and Kiln paused staking and activated incident response protocols. They are working with law enforcement and white-hat hackers to freeze the stolen SOL. SwissBorg will fully cover user reimbursements from its reserves. The incident underscores crypto security and staking risk. SOL price dipped over 2% before rebounding. The attack follows a $2.4M USDC hack on Sui’s Nemo Protocol and a $4.65M rug pull by Aqua. Total DeFi losses in 2025 now exceed $2.37B. Traders should monitor API vulnerabilities and staking partner risks.

Tether denies BTC sell-off and confirms its hybrid reserve strategy. Recent analysis claimed its Bitcoin holdings fell from 92,650 BTC in Q1 to 83,274 BTC in Q2, suggesting a sale for gold. However, 19,800 BTC were allocated to its investment arm, Twenty One Capital (XXI), boosting net BTC reserves to over 100,521 BTC (worth ~$11.17 billion). Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino reaffirmed that no Bitcoin was sold. He highlighted that the issuer now holds around $8.7 billion in gold (nearly 80 tons) in Zurich and invested $105 million in gold royalties via Elemental Altus. Tether’s gold-backed token, XAUT, has surpassed a $1.3 billion market cap. By denying BTC sell-off rumors, Tether signals confidence in its Bitcoin reserves and diversified reserve model.

Stripe and Paradigm have unveiled the Tempo blockchain, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 network optimized for stablecoin payments. The Tempo blockchain uses a proof-of-stake model and targets 50,000 transactions per second (TPS) in its initial testnet, with plans to scale beyond 100,000 TPS for sub-second finality and minimal fees. Users can pay gas fees in any ISO 20022–compatible stablecoin; native features include dedicated payment channels, on-chain stablecoin swaps, batch transfers, and compliance tools. Integrated with Stripe’s payment rails, merchants can settle transactions in stablecoin or fiat. Led by Paradigm’s Matt Huang, Tempo has secured support from backers and early validators such as Deutsche Bank, Visa, Anthropic, and Revolut. With no native token planned and developer grants to foster dApp growth, Tempo blockchain aims to accelerate use cases from cross-border remittances to micropayments. Crypto traders should watch stablecoin payment volumes and on-chain liquidity shifts as the network moves from private testnet to wider launch.

Michael Saylor debuted on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index at rank 491 with a net worth of $7.37 billion, driven by gains in MicroStrategy stock and Bitcoin price rallies. He holds $650 million in cash and $6.72 billion in MSTR shares. MicroStrategy’s corporate reserves include 659,739 BTC (about 3.4% of circulating supply), while 17,732 BTC in his personal account remain unverified for net-worth calculations. Year-to-date, Saylor’s net worth rose by approximately $1 billion (16%), with MicroStrategy stock up 12% and Bitcoin surging. Bloomberg updates show his wealth can swing by $167 million in a single update, highlighting market volatility. After missing out on S&P 500 inclusion, MSTR shares fell nearly 3% after hours and are down 15% over 30 days. Crypto traders should monitor Bitcoin price and MicroStrategy share performance for short-term volatility signals and long-term trend insights.

EU regulators are moving to extend MiCAR stablecoin regulation to non-EU issuers. At the ESRB conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that legal gaps could expose investors to liquidity risks when stablecoins promise quick redemptions but back assets with risky investments. She called for robust equivalence regimes to prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure safe cross-border asset transfers. Under MiCAR, stablecoin issuers must hold 1:1 reserves, obtain authorization, and ban redemption fees. However, multi-issuance schemes combining EU and non-EU entities currently escape full oversight. To close these gaps, Lagarde urged global cooperation. Meanwhile, the upcoming US GENIUS Act, effective by 2027, requires stablecoins such as USDC to maintain one-to-one backing. This may satisfy EU standards and foster convergence in stablecoin regulation. Traders should monitor these developments, as tighter rules could affect issuance, liquidity, and cross-border redemptions.

Itaú Asset Management has launched its first dedicated crypto division within its multi-desk investment structure, managing BRL117 billion across 15 desks. Led by former Hashdex executive João Marco Braga da Cunha, the Itaú crypto division will build on existing offerings, including the BITI11 Bitcoin ETF, BTC-linked retirement plans and the Itaú Bitcoin Index fund, which together hold over BRL850 million. Through its mobile app, Itaú also enables in-house custody and direct trading of 10 crypto pairs such as BTC, ETH, SOL and USDC. The new unit plans to roll out fixed-income-style digital asset products, higher-risk derivatives funds, staking vehicles and is exploring a proprietary stablecoin. This move underlines Itaú’s strategy to deepen its presence in Brazil’s growing crypto market—ranked tenth globally in adoption—supported by recent regulations and the launch of a spot XRP ETF. For crypto traders, the expanded Itaú crypto division means broader institutional-grade products and more liquidity options in Brazilian digital assets.

Ripple has expanded its USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD across key African markets via partnerships with Chipper Cash, Yellow Card and VALR. RLUSD is fully reserved, audited and issued by Prime Trust, and now trades in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa. The token also lists on Gemini, Kraken and Bitso, enabling cost-effective, instant cross-border payments and US-dollar liquidity on-chain. On-chain transaction volumes rose from $120m in July to $194m in August, and the stablecoin’s $710m market cap highlights growing adoption. In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures pilots RLUSD-based insurance products against drought and rainfall risks. Ripple’s SVP Jack McDonald reports rising demand for the stablecoin in payments, tokenization and collateral. Crypto traders should watch RLUSD trading pairs on partner exchanges for arbitrage and hedging opportunities as Africa’s DeFi ecosystem strengthens.

OKX faces a €2.6M fine from the Dutch central bank (DNB) after operating without official AML registration from July 2023 to August 2024. The OKX fine underscores rising cryptocurrency regulation across Europe ahead of the EU MiCA framework. Similar penalties hit Crypto.com, Kraken, Binance and Coinbase for AML compliance failures. OKX called the sanction a legacy registration matter, noting it has moved Dutch customers to its MiCA-licensed OKCoin Europe arm—unaffected by the penalty. This follows a €1.1M AML breach fine in Malta and a Philippine SEC warning. Holding a current MiCA license, OKX will continue in the Netherlands. Traders should monitor AML compliance updates as exchanges adjust to stricter oversight.

Galaxy Digital and Superstate have launched tokenized shares on the Solana blockchain, representing Galaxy Digital Class A common stock and managed by Superstate as an SEC-registered transfer agent. This move ensures compliant on-chain recording of legal ownership and real-time settlement. Verified investors can now hold and transfer tokenized shares in crypto wallets, leveraging Solana’s high throughput and low fees for near-instant settlement and potential 24/7 trading. Future plans include exploring liquidity on AMMs and DeFi platforms, subject to regulatory approval, aiming to integrate tokenized shares with DeFi primitives and unlock new secondary liquidity channels. The announcement drove a 2.85% rise in Galaxy Digital shares (up 112% year-over-year), signaling growing institutional confidence in on-chain capital markets. Traders should monitor Solana’s performance and regulatory developments as tokenized shares promise to reshape traditional equity trading.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled the Trump Corruption memecoin as part of his Campaign for Democracy fundraising drive. Launched on Kara Swisher’s Pivot podcast and at the California Agenda Summit, the meme token mocks former President Donald Trump’s own Solana-based WLFI coin. Proceeds from the Trump Corruption memecoin will support redistricting battles and voter outreach efforts. Traders should watch on-chain transparency, total capital raised and regulatory scrutiny. Critics warn of high memecoin volatility and pump-and-dump risks, while supporters say the political crypto stunt could engage younger voters and set a fundraising precedent. Initial volatility in Trump’s WLFI token underlines the risks of politically linked tokens. Overall, the launch is a high-profile satire with limited impact on major crypto markets.

Europe’s securities regulator ESMA warns that tokenized stocks are synthetic claims tied to share prices that do not confer voting or dividend rights. ESMA Executive Director Natasha Cazenave urged a regulatory pause to prevent investor misunderstandings. Major platforms such as Robinhood, Kraken and Coinbase have faced stricter compliance reviews after launching tokenized equity products in the EU. The MiCA framework and blockchain sandbox trials aim to balance innovation with investor protection through licensing, white paper disclosures and AML/KYC requirements. Despite benefits like 24/7 trading, fractional ownership and lower issuance costs, the tokenized stocks market remains small and illiquid. Traders cite weak cross-chain interoperability and lack of a pan-European passport as major hurdles. Experts recommend on-chain AMMs, standardized APIs and clearer rights disclosures to boost liquidity and transparency. Meanwhile, Taiwan is considering a cautious approach following MiCA’s lead, which may delay local tokenized stock initiatives. Crypto traders should monitor regulatory developments closely, as evolving rules could impact market access and tokenized asset liquidity.

El Salvador’s National Bitcoin Office has redistributed its entire 6,286 BTC reserve across multiple new addresses, each capped at 500 BTC, to reduce exposure to quantum-computing threats. By using unused addresses with hashed public keys, the move mitigates risks from potential Shor’s algorithm attacks that could reveal private keys. The reallocation, valued at about $686 million, aligns with institutional custody standards and maintains transparency through a public dashboard. Despite official claims of buying one Bitcoin daily, IMF loan conditions bar new accumulations. This suggests on-chain shifts reflect internal reallocations rather than fresh purchases. Traders should monitor on-chain activity, official updates and IMF statements for future policy signals that may affect market sentiment and liquidity.

Two senior Hong Kong SFC officials withdrew from Bitcoin Asia 2025, officially citing business and family reasons. However, unnamed sources link their departure to political sensitivities over Eric Trump’s keynote. Clarence Shen will replace Eric Yip at the conference. Their absence could delay on-site discussions on custody rules, bank access requirements and compliance guidance. Bitcoin Asia 2025 now proceeds without key SFC input, highlighting Hong Kong’s effort to balance digital-asset ambitions with geopolitical tensions. Despite the high-profile withdrawals, Bitcoin and major cryptocurrencies saw no immediate price reaction. Traders should monitor Hong Kong SFC statements for updates on crypto regulation and potential market impacts.

Vanguard is preparing to give brokerage clients access to select third-party crypto ETFs amid rising investor demand and a more favorable regulatory climate. The firm, led by CEO Salim Ramji—who previously oversaw BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust launch—plans a careful evaluation of external digital asset funds and has no immediate intention to launch its own crypto ETFs. Recent SEC approval of a new ETF listing standard and a planned joint SEC-CFTC roundtable on crypto oversight could speed crypto ETF approvals and support digital asset index funds. This move signals growing institutional acceptance of crypto ETFs and may boost market liquidity.

Tether is in talks with SoftBank and Ark Invest for a private placement of $15–20 billion, targeting a $500 billion valuation. The Tether funding aims to fuel growth in AI, energy, telecoms and real estate. The issuer recently appointed Benjamin Habbel as chief business officer to oversee finance and portfolio expansion. Tether is also preparing USAT, a US-regulated stablecoin led by former White House official Bo Hines, to comply with the GENIUS Act. Meanwhile, USDT daily wallet‐to‐wallet transfers have surged over $17.4 billion, highlighting strong demand in emerging markets. This Tether funding round and strategic hires reinforce the company’s push for regulatory compliance, market diversification and resilient infrastructure.

Ethereum co-founder Jeffrey Wilcke transferred 1,500 ETH (around $6 million) to Kraken as the price dipped from $4,000 to $3,900. While such Ethereum deposits can signal insider selling, Wilcke’s past transfers did not lead to immediate sell-offs. On-chain data from Lookonchain shows 15 whale wallets bought 406,000 ETH (about $1.6 billion) over two days, drawing tokens from Kraken, Galaxy Digital, BitGo and FalconX. Meanwhile, Kraken raised $500 million at a $15 billion valuation ahead of a planned 2026 IPO, reinforcing its role as a key liquidity hub. Traders should monitor ETH whale accumulation and Wilcke’s wallet movements for clues to market direction.

Bitwise Asset Management has filed an S-1 registration with the U.S. SEC for a spot Hyperliquid (HYPE) ETF. The fund would directly hold HYPE tokens under Coinbase Custody Trust Company, allowing both cash and in-kind creations and redemptions without leverage or derivatives. Key details—exchange listing, ticker symbol and fee structure—remain pending SEC review and a Form 19b-4 filing, as Hyperliquid lacks CFTC-registered futures. Hyperliquid is a Layer-1 blockchain powering a decentralized derivatives exchange. Its HYPE token underwrites platform fees, governance and incentives. Yet supply concerns loom: 237.8 million HYPE tokens vest monthly from November (approx. $500 million), while buybacks cover just 17% of the unlock. Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes has sold his position. HYPE fell 1.5% on the filing day and 24% over the past week, trading near $42. Institutional interest is rising. VanEck has proposed a spot-staking HYPE ETF in the U.S. and a related ETP in Europe, offering regulated staking rewards. Regulatory hurdles persist: the SEC has delayed several altcoin ETF applications. Approval of a spot Hyperliquid ETF would mark a milestone for institutional access to the HYPE token and broader mainstream adoption.

Toncoin slipped below its 21-day and 50-day moving averages after bears drove the price through the $3.00 support level. The token plunged to a one-year low of $2.60 before bulls stepped in, creating long lower wicks on the daily chart and signalling market indecision. This breakdown follows a week of consolidation under the $3.40 barrier and highlights growing bearish momentum. Technical indicators show downward-sloping SMAs and price bars trapped in a tight $2.60-$2.85 range. Key resistance zones lie at $2.85, $4.00, $4.50 and $5.00, while immediate support levels are at $2.60, $2.50 and $2.35. Traders should watch the $2.60 pivot for a potential bounce or a decisive close below this level, which could trigger further losses toward $2.50.

Forward Industries has secured a $1.65 billion PIPE on Solana to launch a Solana-based digital asset treasury (DAT). Co-led by Multicoin Capital, Jump Crypto and Galaxy Financial, the round includes a $25 million personal investment from Multicoin co-founder Kyle Samani. Forward’s DAT strategy focuses on growing “SOL per share” through three pillars: staking SOL at around 8% yield (with 1.86% real yield from MEV), forging DeFi partnerships for yield boosts and engaging in yield arbitrage between on-chain finance and traditional markets. The company will deploy low-cost USD loans into Solana yield strategies targeting 15% returns and pursue M&A arbitrage to expand its on-chain SOL holdings. Forward prefers at-the-market issuance and perpetual preferred shares for financing, with all SOL acquired on secondary markets to avoid conflicts. The firm plans to tokenize equity, fundraising, dividends and governance on Solana. Kyle Samani will chair the board, with observers from Jump Crypto and Galaxy joining. Ultimately, Forward aims to build a 24/7 Solana capital market infrastructure capable of 10 billion daily transactions, reflecting growing institutional confidence in Solana.

Mutuum Finance presale has rapidly raised $16.3 million across six phases, attracting over 16,550 investors and selling 730 million MUTM tokens. Starting at $0.01, the token climbed to $0.035, delivering 250% gains for early backers and targeting a 500% surge at the $0.06 launch price. The Mutuum Finance presale structure rewards early adopters with incremental price tiers and bonus distributions. The protocol features a dual lending model with Peer-to-Contract pooled markets and isolated Peer-to-Peer markets. Depositors receive mtTokens at a 1:1 ratio and borrowers choose between stable and variable rates. Protocol fees will fund a buy-and-distribute mechanism to support MUTM demand post-launch. A beta platform is set to launch alongside the token for immediate DeFi lending and borrowing access. Roadmap highlights include Layer-2 integration, multi-chain deployment and Chainlink oracle feeds to boost scalability, reduce costs and ensure price accuracy. Security is backed by a CertiK audit score of 90/100 and a $50,000 bug bounty. Upcoming initiatives, such as an over-collateralized stablecoin and community rewards, aim to drive long-term engagement.

XRP Tundra has launched a dual-token presale on Solana and the XRP Ledger. The project is offering TUNDRA-S at $2.50 and TUNDRA-X at $1.25, implying potential 25× returns for early buyers. A 40% token allocation is reserved for presale participants, with a 17% bonus on TUNDRA-S and free TUNDRA-X tokens valued at $0.0205. Staking is enabled via Cryo Vaults, allowing traders to lock XRP for 7–90 days and earn up to 30% APY without moving funds off-ledger. Frost Keys NFTs act as yield multipliers or reduce lockup periods. The presale and token contracts passed audits by Cyberscope, Solidproof, and Freshcoins, and the team completed KYC with Vital Block. By contrast, Cardano price forecasts vary, with Finder projecting ADA at $1.60 by 2026 and VanEck eyeing $6–8 by 2030. XRP Tundra’s fixed pricing, clear tokenomics, and audit-backed framework offer traders a transparent entry point. This update may reshape how early-stage crypto presales and staking opportunities are evaluated.

At 08:00 UTC this Friday, Deribit’s end-Q3 crypto options expiry will see $22.4 billion in contracts lapse, including roughly $17 billion in Bitcoin and $5.3 billion in Ethereum options. Bitcoin’s put/call ratio stands at 0.76 with a max pain level of $110,000. Ethereum’s ratio is 0.80 and its max pain price is $3,800. Open interest for Bitcoin concentrates at the $140,000 (2.7 billion) and $120,000 (2.2 billion) strikes, with total options OI near $60 billion and futures OI around $80 billion. Ethereum options OI sits at about $18 billion, tilted toward puts at the $95,000 strike (1.9 billion). September’s market correction (BTC -12%, ETH -20%) underlines traders’ expectations of heightened volatility. This crypto options expiry could intensify sell-pressure around key support and drive sharp price swings ahead of settlement.

KuCoin has filed a federal court appeal against FINTRAC’s CAD19M enforcement notice. The crypto exchange disputes its designation as a Foreign MSB and argues the fine is excessive. FINTRAC had accused KuCoin of failing to report large transfers nearly 3,000 times from 2021 to 2024 and not flagging 33 suspicious transactions. CEO BC Wong stressed the company’s commitment to transparent operations, regulatory compliance, and user asset security. KuCoin says its services and compliance measures will remain unchanged while the case proceeds. This legal challenge marks another regulatory hurdle for KuCoin, highlighting cross-border enforcement risks in the crypto industry.

US miner CleanSpark has secured a $100 million Bitcoin-backed credit facility from institutional lender Two Prime, raising its total collateralized financing capacity to $400 million. The loan, backed by over 12,000 BTC from the company’s treasury, provides non-dilutive funding for data center expansion and high-performance computing projects. This follows a recent $100 million line with Coinbase Prime and underscores an industry-wide shift toward Bitcoin-backed financing among major miners. CFO Gary Vecchiarelli highlighted the facility’s favorable cost of capital and enhanced liquidity without selling core assets, while Two Prime CEO Alexander Blume noted growing institutional confidence in BTC collateral. CleanSpark now operates at 50 EH/s of hashrate with a Bitcoin treasury exceeding $1 billion. Despite the new facility, CLSK shares remain steady near $13.68 as trading volumes surge, reflecting increased market interest.

M2 Capital has invested $20 million in Ethena’s governance token ENA as the protocol’s TVL approaches $15 billion. The firm will integrate Ethena’s USDe and sUSDe synthetic dollar stablecoins into its regulated wealth services via M2 Global Wealth. Ethena’s delta-neutral hedging model has delivered up to 14% yields and generated over $666 million in fees over the past year, with Q3 2025 fees hitting $137.7 million. Institutional backers like YZi Labs and Sui Foundation have similarly boosted their stakes, supporting Ethena’s expansion on BNB Chain and other platforms. This strategic move underscores growing DeFi adoption and marks a key step in bringing synthetic dollar stablecoins to regulated markets.

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade, scheduled for December 3, 2025, introduces Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS) to enhance Ethereum scaling by enabling nodes to verify and reconstruct block data without downloading full blocks. PeerDAS uses probabilistic sampling and erasure coding, allowing nodes to securely rebuild a block when over half of its data chunks are available. This reduces network congestion while preserving security and decentralization. Fusaka also raises blob capacity from 6–9 to 14–21 per block, accommodating demand from Layer-2 rollups such as Base (BASE), Worldcoin (WLD), Arbitrum (ARB), Optimism (OP) and Scroll. These networks currently spend over $200,000 weekly on mainnet fees. Higher blob limits aim to drive Ethereum scaling on Layer 2, potentially cutting transaction fees below $0.10. Future phases will test cell-level messaging and distributed block building to further support long-term layer-2 growth. PeerDAS and Fusaka align with Ethereum’s roadmap to expand gas throughput to 150 million per block, paving the way for efficient, low-cost scaling across L1 and L2 layers.

BNB Chain validators have proposed cutting gas fees from 0.1 to 0.05 Gwei and shortening block times from 750 ms to 450 ms, potentially reducing median transaction costs to $0.005. This follows prior cuts—from 3 to 1 Gwei in April 2024 and from 1 to 0.1 Gwei in May—which drove a 140% surge in daily transactions and slashed median fees from $0.04 to $0.01. On-chain trading now accounts for 67% of activity (up from 20% year-to-date), and DEX Aster is generating over $12 million in daily revenue, with its ASTER token up 2,000% since launch. Lower fees are also attracting small-cap alts: Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) raised $18 million, offering 65% staking yield via a Solana VM layer-2 on Bitcoin, while Best Wallet Token (BEST) secured $16 million and provides 82% APY in a non-custodial wallet ecosystem. Validators aim to keep staking APY above 0.5% and utilization below 30%, preserving headroom for growth. If approved, the proposal could reinforce BNB Chain’s position as a low-cost, high-throughput DeFi hub, boosting liquidity and altcoin demand, and creating fresh trading opportunities.

Australia’s Treasury has released draft crypto regulations requiring digital asset platforms (DAPs) and tokenised custody platforms (TCPs) to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). Under the AFSL licence proposal, crypto exchanges must meet conduct standards, custody rules and enhanced disclosures. Firms face penalties of up to A$16.5 million or 10% of annual turnover for serious breaches. Low-value operators processing under A$10 million annually or holding less than A$5,000 per client are exempt. ASIC will oversee compliance. Public consultation runs until 24 October 2025. In parallel, regulators are developing a stablecoin licensing framework. APRA may oversee issuers under a new stored-value facilities regime, while ASIC has licensed AUDM and AUDF and Coinbase plans to add AUDD. Industry leaders welcome the clarity of the AFSL licence and stablecoin framework, citing improved consumer protection, market stability and reduced regulatory uncertainty.