Crypto News

The gold price fell 0.4% to $3,984.66 an ounce, while silver declined 0.18% to $53.84. The gold price move came alongside mixed performance across other markets: WTI crude fell 0.54% to $102.58 a barrel, and Brent crude dropped 0.29% to $115.31. European markets were mostly lower, while Germany’s DAX edged up 0.03%. The US dollar rose slightly against the offshore yuan and the yen. The figures were reported by Gate, which offers trading in traditional financial products alongside crypto assets.

Bitcoin briefly fell below the key $80,000 level early on October 26, touching lows of about $79,700–$79,800 before quickly rebounding. It was trading near $80,067 at around 8:16 a.m. Taipei time, down about 0.8% over 24 hours. The fast recovery suggests buyers are defending the $80,000 support zone, but Bitcoin’s repeated tests show that downside risks remain. Ether also weakened, reaching roughly $2,310–$2,315, but stayed above $2,300 and recovered to around $2,330. The latest dip was shallower than the weekend low of about $79,280 for Bitcoin, when roughly $436 million in crypto positions were liquidated, including about $404 million in long positions. Liquidations have since eased: CoinGlass recorded about $118 million in liquidations over the latest 24 hours, while the Crypto Fear & Greed Index stood at 50, indicating neutral sentiment. Traders are watching whether Bitcoin can hold above $80,000 and Ether can defend $2,300, alongside US market moves and spot Bitcoin ETF flows. These support levels may shape near-term risk appetite across crypto markets.

StandX has launched an airdrop checker, allowing users to see whether they qualify for the airdrop and check their allocation. The announcement was posted on X. StandX did not provide further details in the report about the claim date or token distribution.

The AI trade is under pressure as investors reassess the cost of financing a rapid expansion in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Meta narrowed its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to $135 billion-$145 billion and expects fourth-quarter spending of $49 billion-$59 billion. The company has warned that it may need to raise hundreds of billions of dollars, prompting concerns that a wave of borrowing by AI firms could overwhelm bond-market demand and push financing costs higher. Credit stress is increasingly concentrated among weaker borrowers. US high-yield bond spreads reached a 17-month high, while CCC-rated yields rose to 15.85%, their highest since 2020. Hedge funds have also been cutting leverage, and crowded AI-related equity positions have suffered sharp losses. Goldman Sachs data showed its AI-related long-short basket had fallen about 55% from its June peak, wiping out its gains for the year. The pressure is not uniform. Barclays estimates AI-related credit assets total about $680 billion, and says spreads between issuers have widened as investors distinguish companies by funding needs and balance-sheet strength. Oracle, Meta, SpaceX and several data-centre operators have seen spreads widen more than the broader index, while shorter-dated bonds from Microsoft, Google and Amazon have been relatively resilient. For traders, the AI trade’s recovery depends not only on earnings but also on whether markets can absorb heavy bond issuance without further widening credit spreads. Higher borrowing costs and risk aversion could constrain AI-sector valuations and weigh on broader risk assets; continued differentiation among issuers may create opportunities as well as volatility.

Ariel Investments said its international and global equity portfolios underperformed their benchmarks in the third quarter of 2026. Information technology was the biggest drag, as memory-related stocks retreated from strong second-quarter gains. The portfolios also suffered from not holding energy producers and, in the global portfolio, from an overweight to oil-importing Asian markets. Ariel remains selective on AI investment, favouring suppliers such as semiconductor and power-equipment companies that benefit from demand without funding the full infrastructure buildout. It estimates infrastructure hosts have committed more than $1 trillion, while returns are still developing. The firm said GPU rental prices had risen about 32% year to date and token consumption had increased roughly 27 times year over year, indicators it sees as evidence that demand is absorbing available capacity. During the quarter, Ariel initiated a position in Qualcomm in its global portfolio, citing the potential for more AI processing on smartphones and other devices. It also highlighted new positions in Dynatrace, Sunny Optical and Komatsu. Looking ahead, the firm expects AI companies that turn investment into durable profits to outperform those whose valuations rely mainly on spending and expectations.

Asian stocks opened lower on Monday, 26 October. South Korea’s KOSPI fell 35.95 points, or 0.65%, to 5,514.35. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 281.18 points, or 0.45%, to 62,411.98. The declines point to a weaker start for Asian stocks, but the report provides no evidence of a direct connection to cryptocurrency markets.

Solana’s euro stablecoin supply rose by $22 million in the week ending October 25, 2026, more than the combined growth recorded on other blockchains tracked by Token Terminal. The increase equals about 2.4%–2.6% of the estimated $835 million–$916 million euro stablecoin market. Solana now holds an estimated 13.7%–14.8% of euro stablecoins, making it the second-largest network behind Ethereum. Its broader stablecoin value exceeds $15 billion, and more than 14 million addresses hold stablecoins on the network, up from fewer than 4 million in late 2024. Issuers on Solana include Circle’s EURC, Société Générale Forge’s EURCV and AllUnity’s EURAU. Their MiCA-compliant offerings, low transaction costs and payment integrations are supporting euro stablecoin activity. The rapid increase signals growing use of Solana for euro-denominated transfers and trading, though market-share estimates vary and supply remains sensitive to large mints or redemptions by a small number of issuers.

Ariel Focused Value returned 2.06% gross and 1.96% net in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, sharply trailing the Russell 1000 Value Index’s 13.87% gain and the S&P 500’s 15.20% rise. The concentrated value strategy said its limited technology exposure was the main reason for the gap as AI-related chipmakers surged. Micron rose 242% and Intel gained 216% during the quarter. Ariel Focused Value held only 1.6% in a single technology stock, Oracle, and said it remains wary of semiconductor companies’ cyclical, capital-intensive business models and high valuations. Its energy holdings fell 17%, while Lockheed Martin, Mosaic and Prestige Consumer Healthcare also declined. Generac and several other holdings gained, supported by company-specific factors. The firm said it added to FactSet and Bio-Rad, bought dental-equipment maker DENTSPLY Sirona, and sold J.M. Smucker. It argued that parts of the Russell 1000 Value Index have become exposed to the AI infrastructure trade, and presented Ariel Focused Value as a diversifying alternative focused on undervalued, cash-generative businesses. Ariel expects inflation and higher interest rates to favor hard assets and value stocks over time, while warning that market concentration has hurt near-term performance.

Ducat has introduced Turbo UNIT, a Cashu ecash version of its Bitcoin-backed UNIT stablecoin. Users deposit UNIT into Ducat’s Cashu mint and receive Turbo UNIT, which can be sent peer-to-peer via messages or QR codes without recording each payment on Bitcoin’s public ledger. Cashu uses blind signatures to make transactions harder to link to users’ identities and payment histories. UNIT’s issuance and Bitcoin collateral remain on Bitcoin, while the Cashu mint provides the off-chain payment layer. UNIT is a soft-pegged stablecoin issued using the Runes standard. Ducat requires at least 160% collateralization and sets liquidation at 135%. The token has typically traded between $1.01 and $1.04. Ducat says its closed mainnet alpha has processed more than 4 million transactions, vaulted over $700 million in Bitcoin, and issued more than $300 million in UNIT. The integration adds a private, potentially lower-cost payment use case, but users must trust the Cashu mint to redeem Turbo UNIT for UNIT. The mint’s redemption risk is distinct from the non-custodial vaults holding the underlying Bitcoin collateral.

Democrats are scaling back advertising in several Republican-leaning US House districts as fundraising challenges limit their ability to match Republican spending. House Majority PAC has cut advertising funds, suggesting a shift in campaign resources even as national polling averages show a slight Democratic advantage. Prediction markets currently favor Republicans in Kentucky’s 6th District, with a 53% probability of a Republican win, and Pennsylvania’s 1st District, at 55.5%. The article also points to close contests in Colorado’s 5th and Kansas’ 2nd Districts. These odds reflect market expectations, not confirmed election outcomes, and the article provides no trading-volume data.

Circle Match connects institutions with opposing USDC minting and redemption needs, allowing matched minting orders to receive fees paid by matched redemptions. But the service’s funding rules create a trade-off for treasury desks. Redeemers reserve USDC in a standard Circle Mint wallet. Mint-side participants must wire dollars that become restricted Match-only USDC, which cannot be sent directly on-chain. If an order fills, the institution receives regular USDC; unused restricted funds can be returned only through redemption to dollars by wire. Canceling an order therefore may not make funds immediately available for on-chain use. For traders and institutions, the value of Circle Match depends on more than the quoted fee rebate. They must weigh the likelihood of execution, time spent waiting, fallback costs and the opportunity cost of tying up liquidity. Order and execution records are needed to distinguish rolled orders from separate completed transactions and assess realized results. The update describes an operational change, not a change to USDC itself, and provides no transaction-volume or performance figures.

Arthur Hayes received $49.24 million in USDC after recent token sales, according to Onchain Lens. Galaxy Digital recently transferred $23.07 million to Hayes, contributing to the total USDC he received from trading desks and exchanges. The report does not identify the tokens sold or explain how Hayes may use the funds.

AI agents helped Ethereum researchers identify vulnerabilities in the planned Glamsterdam hard fork. The second Hoodi testnet rehearsal was cancelled after ChainSecurity found issues linked to EIPs 8037 and 8038 that could disrupt at least 13 DeFi contracts. Researchers from Eth Labs and the Ethereum Foundation coordinated AI agents through a GitHub message board to assess potential contract failures. A separate board is examining EIP-8198 for a future upgrade. Solana’s Alpenglow consensus upgrade went live on mainnet. Developer Anza said transaction finality fell from about 12.8 seconds to roughly 150 milliseconds, while the upgrade’s first phase changes validator voting and finalization. DeFi activity had not yet shown a clear response. Other developments included Starknet governance backing research into a possible post-quantum layer-1 network, with 93.52% of voting power supporting the proposal. Tether also faced a US Senate information request over a reported $6.3 million marketing deal. In weekly market performance, BTC fell 1.2% and ETH lost 1.9%, while STRK dropped 24.9%. The stories highlight AI-assisted crypto security, major network upgrades and ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

Pump.fun’s mobile app sharply narrowed its daily active trader gap with Fomo, a social trading platform on Solana. After Fomo recorded 105,727 daily active users on October 17, compared with 26,515 for Pump.fun, activity on both apps moved closer to 48,000–52,000 wallets in late October. Pump.fun reportedly led for four consecutive days, although figures for October 25 showed Fomo ahead, with 52,300 daily active wallets versus Pump.fun’s 48,400. The user-count gains have not translated into comparable trading activity. From October 21 to 24, Pump.fun’s volume was close to half of Fomo’s, while Fomo also maintained larger average swaps and higher overall volume. In September, Fomo’s daily revenue reached $1.76 million, compared with Pump.fun’s $1.1 million. Pump.fun is expanding its mobile trading app and plans to add perpetuals, gacha features and a cross-chain bridge. The rapid shift in Solana app usage suggests trader loyalty is fluid, but the volume gap indicates Pump.fun users may currently trade smaller amounts or less frequently.

Grayscale’s October 23 research note examines three crypto-AI infrastructure models: DATA for contributed training data, USD.AI for GPU-backed lending, and Pearl for AI computing linked to blockchain rewards. The report presents these as examples, not proof that the sector has achieved widespread adoption. The note highlights that AI tokens can represent very different business models and rights. For GPU lending, key risks include falling hardware values, concentrated borrowers and the ability to recover collateral after a default. For data networks, long-term viability depends on lawful, useful datasets and customers willing to keep paying. A functioning service does not automatically make its token valuable; holders need to understand whether a token provides governance, lending income or access to a service. Grayscale’s analysis suggests traders should assess AI tokens by their underlying customers, revenue, unit economics and enforceable claims—not by the AI label alone. Adoption and sustainable cash flows remain the key tests for these crypto-AI projects.

Lido says Ethereum ETP staking yields depend on how much ETH a product stakes, its fees and its liquidity arrangements. In a hypothetical example, a 100 ETH product with a 20 ETH unstaked buffer would earn staking rewards on only 80 ETH. At a 3% annual reward rate, that portion would generate 2.4 ETH before fees and other adjustments; these figures are illustrative, not a product forecast. An unstaked buffer can help an ETP meet redemptions, but it may reduce the ETH earning staking rewards. Native validator withdrawals rely on Ethereum’s network processes and queues, which can take time. Liquid staking tokens such as stETH offer a possible market exit without waiting for validators to withdraw, but selling depends on market depth and may involve price slippage, especially during periods of stress. Lido cites WisdomTree’s stETH-backed product while promoting liquid staking, so its comparison reflects a commercial interest. The note highlights why traders should compare Ethereum ETPs by staking allocation, net reward sharing, fees, liquidity and redemption terms—not headline yield alone.

Zcash Light Client Kit 4.0.0 restores shielded voting support for the NU6.3 “Ironwood” network upgrade and adds the consensus branch identifier to its SDK. The release also introduces typed voting inputs, vote-recovery tools and clearer error handling. Apps integrating voting must manage randomly generated hotkey secrets, protect voting databases and account for direct network connections that bypass the SDK’s Tor client. The SDK’s maintainers say this is the final Zcash Light Client Kit release. Support will end when NU7 activates, while development continues in the ZODL Swift Wallet SDK. Version 4.0.0 also updates Rust TLS dependencies to address compromised certificate authorities and restores compatibility with Xcode 15. For ZEC traders, the update is primarily a wallet-developer and security change, not a direct change to Zcash’s token economics.

House Democrats say they may pursue the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if they win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections. Democrats filed impeachment articles against Hegseth in April and could reintroduce them during the lame-duck session if they secure a majority. The prospect of Hegseth impeachment adds uncertainty to the election outlook, but the article provides no specific polling data linking the issue to voters’ choices. Its prediction-market discussion suggests political developments may affect Republican House odds, though the listed figures are limited and do not establish a clear market reaction.

JPMorgan expects Bitcoin (BTC) to outperform large-cap stocks, REITs and gold over the next 10–15 years, projecting a 10% annual compounded return. The bank cautions that Bitcoin could remain highly volatile. The forecast marks a contrast with CEO Jamie Dimon’s past criticism of Bitcoin, which he called a “fraud,” “worthless” and a “decentralized Ponzi scheme.” Meanwhile, JPMorgan has expanded its crypto and blockchain business: institutional clients can use BTC and Ether (ETH) as loan collateral, and the bank has developed tokenized products and JPM Coin (JPMD) across public blockchains including Ethereum and Base. The long-term outlook adds to institutional recognition of Bitcoin, but does not guarantee near-term price gains.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has extended voting in the presidential runoff until 7 p.m., following requests from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and challenger Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The move is intended to give more voters time to cast ballots amid a close race. In Amazonas, prediction-market pricing cited in the report showed Lula at 85% and Bolsonaro at 16%, although the article’s table lists a separate figure of 84.5% for one contract. The Brazil presidential runoff could prompt further changes in election-related market prices as turnout and official results emerge. The news has no direct cryptocurrency catalyst, but traders may monitor broader political risk and any volatility in prediction markets.

The S&P 500 is at a technical crossroads, with next week’s trading and major economic events likely to shape its near-term direction. The analysis identifies 7,620 and 7,504 as key support levels. A weekly close above 7,650 could support a November rally towards new highs near 8,000, while a weekly close below 7,600 may signal a deterioration in the outlook and raise the risk of a year-end decline. Investors are also watching volatility in AI-related technology stocks and possible sector rotation. The Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision and earnings from Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon are cited as important catalysts. The article presents the S&P 500 setup as uncertain, rather than a confirmed buying signal.

Republican Mike Rogers has launched his bid for a 2026 Michigan Senate comeback, promising to improve education, make housing more affordable and restore jobs. The seat is open because Democratic Senator Gary Peters is retiring. Rogers has backing from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and will face Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Polling averages cited in the article put El-Sayed slightly ahead, while listed prediction-market odds favor Democrats at 71.5% and Republicans at 29%. The Michigan Senate race remains competitive; upcoming polls, debates and endorsements may shift voter sentiment and market expectations.

OpenAI and Anthropic face growing calls to limit AI computing power, with proponents arguing that slower development would allow more time to improve safety safeguards. No formal agreement or cap has been announced. The proposal could affect competition between the companies because access to computing resources is central to training advanced AI models. The article reports that Anthropic has committed about $517 billion to computing resources and that OpenAI is seeking $30 billion in a valuation ahead of Anthropic’s anticipated IPO. These figures are presented as reported commitments and plans, not confirmed terms of a computing cap. Prediction-market listings show varied odds on which company will have the best AI model, but the article does not provide clear evidence that the calls to limit AI computing have caused a specific market shift. For traders, the main developments to watch are any public response from the companies, regulatory action, or a formal agreement. Any constraints on AI computing could alter the competitive outlook for the AI sector, but the article identifies no direct effect on cryptocurrency prices or trading.

Elon Musk expects tough debt markets to trigger consolidation among more than 200 neocloud providers, which rent computing capacity to AI companies. He warned that firms without significant revenue beyond AI data centres may struggle to secure financing and could fail. The five largest publicly listed neoclouds reportedly have $61 billion in combined debt, four times the level a year earlier, plus $18 billion in operating leases. CoreWeave, the sector’s largest provider, has reported debt estimates ranging from $35 billion to $52 billion. Despite a large order backlog, it remains unprofitable on a GAAP basis; its bond yields have risen and its shares recently fell more than 15%. Gartner forecasts that more than 80% of neocloud providers will no longer operate independently by 2030. The article also cites projected industry spending of $7 trillion from 2026 to 2030, compared with $3.6 trillion in revenue. For traders, rising bond yields, refinancing access and revenue diversification are key indicators of financial stress and potential consolidation in the AI infrastructure sector.

Amkor Technology (AMKR) has been reiterated as a Buy, with an analyst lowering the price target to $55 while citing stronger fundamentals and a more conservative valuation multiple. The company’s gross margin is projected to increase from 14.2% in Q1 to nearly 19% in Q3, supported by AI advanced packaging demand and Nvidia agreements worth about $3 billion. Nvidia prepayments are also expected to reduce the risk of Amkor’s capacity investments. Weakness in the communications segment, partly linked to migration to system-in-package technology, is expected to ease by mid-2027. Amkor trades at about 1.4 times estimated 2026 sales and 17 times estimated 2026 earnings per share. The analyst says the improved risk-reward profile supports the Buy rating, despite the lower price target.

Stacks co-founder Muneeb Ali says Bitcoin has about two years to introduce quantum-resistant signatures, followed by roughly two years for holders to move coins into protected addresses. He outlined the timeline at Token2049 Singapore on 8 October 2026, warning that quantum computing could eventually threaten Bitcoin’s existing ECDSA cryptography. The schedule echoes NIST guidance to phase out vulnerable signatures after 2030 and retire them by 2035, but it is Ali’s estimate, not an agreed Bitcoin network deadline. Ali also warned that post-quantum signatures could reduce Bitcoin’s effective base-layer transaction capacity to around 10% of current levels, potentially shifting more activity to secondary networks and affecting fees. Stacks Labs is developing a post-quantum and privacy roadmap, with a stated goal of increasing its network capacity 100-fold. The news highlights a long-term Bitcoin security and scaling debate; it does not announce an approved protocol upgrade.

Stablecoin deposits in DeFi protocols have reached $24 billion, up 560.8% over three years, according to Token Terminal data published on October 25, 2026. The growth reflects greater use of dollar-pegged assets in DeFi lending to earn yield, rather than simply holding them between trades. USDC leads with a 38.2% share, worth about $9.2 billion. USDT accounts for 20.3%, or roughly $4.9 billion, while USDe holds 9%, or about $2.2 billion. Together, the three stablecoins make up around two-thirds of deposits across the 193 assets tracked. The $24 billion total represents about 8% of the estimated $298.4 billion stablecoin market. DeFiStar.io separately puts stablecoin lending-pool TVL at about $25.68 billion, but reports net withdrawals of approximately $99.8 million over the past month. Deposits are concentrated in platforms including Aave V3, Morpho, Sky Protocol and Spark. The figures point to significant room for DeFi stablecoin lending to expand, but traders should monitor whether recent outflows continue. Lending yields also carry smart-contract, protocol and depeg risks.

The Bank Policy Institute (BPI) is pressing the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for clearer guidance on stablecoin rewards after the agency finalized its rule under the GENIUS Act. BPI objects to the OCC dropping a proposed presumption for some arrangements involving issuers and third parties. It says case-by-case decisions without a clear process or published reasoning could leave stablecoin providers uncertain about which rewards are permitted. The OCC’s broader rule covers reserve backing, redemption and risk management and takes effect on January 18, 2027. Separate work will address anti-money-laundering and sanctions requirements. The dispute centers on how the ban on issuer yield applies when a customer benefit is offered through another company. Who funds a payment, its connection to the issuer and the behavior it rewards may matter more than whether it is called a rebate, discount or yield. BPI warns that stablecoins could compete with bank deposits, but that is a forecast, not evidence of measurable deposit outflows caused by the final rule. For traders, the immediate issue is regulatory uncertainty around stablecoin rewards, rather than a demonstrated change in market activity. Published OCC decisions or further guidance could help clarify the rules and shape future stablecoin product designs.

A weekly crypto VC roundup highlights cybersecurity risks, a16z’s rebrand and new research. Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto arm is becoming a16z Frontier, broadening its focus beyond crypto startups to frontier technology companies. The article does not provide further details on the change. Union Square Ventures’ Jay Yu warned that AI is making complex software vulnerabilities easier to exploit, potentially exposing weaknesses accumulated in legacy systems. Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi said crypto hacks may offer an early signal for wider internet security risks: attacks are becoming more frequent, while stolen funds have remained broadly in line with 2025 levels, suggesting smaller average losses and increased targeting of poorly maintained protocols. The roundup also lists research on Papertrade’s high-leverage trading model, the potential value of prediction markets beyond trading, and speculation as an investment theme. It reports nine publicly disclosed fundraising rounds from 12–18 October, with combined funding exceeding $50 million. Overall, the crypto VC discussion points to technology and security trends rather than an immediate market catalyst.