Crypto News

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.

REITs extended their rally for a third consecutive week as early earnings reports showed improving fundamentals. Fifteen REITs raised full-year funds-from-operations (FFO) guidance, supporting the view that operating conditions are stronger than recent share-price performance suggests. Office REITs reported better leasing, rent spreads and occupancy. Industrial and net-lease results were broadly constructive, while apartment results pointed to continued stabilization. Residential mortgage REIT earnings were less severe than expected. Crown Castle also gained a potential growth catalyst from reported SpaceX plans to expand terrestrial wireless services. Broader markets remained unsettled by questions about the economics and financing of the AI investment boom, alongside a renewed oil-price surge that complicated the inflation outlook ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision. Treasury yields fell for a third straight week, and markets priced in a 10% chance of an October rate hike. For traders, REITs’ earnings resilience is a positive sector signal, but interest-rate and energy-price uncertainty remains a risk.

Deposits of tokenized stocks in DeFi protocols exceeded $300 million in September and October 2026, up sharply from an estimated $15 million to $22 million in January. The reported year-on-year increase varies by calculation, ranging from 1,961% to the headline figure of 2,451.5%. Solana and Robinhood Chain each held roughly $87 million to $98 million in tokenized stock deposits, while BNB Chain held about $36 million. Kraken parent Payward’s xStocks accounted for approximately 58% of deposits, or $111 million across 15 protocols. Around 65% of funds were in liquidity pools and 28% in lending and borrowing markets. The growth followed the launch of Binance’s bStocks in June and Robinhood’s stock tokens and chain in July. DeFi deposits represent about 6% to 8% of the estimated $3 billion to $3.8 billion tokenized-equity market. Despite rapid growth in tokenized stocks, the market remains relatively small and concentrated among a few issuers and networks, with liquidity-pool activity dependent on providers maintaining their positions.

The US State Department has ordered nonessential government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, citing security concerns amid Houthi missile and drone threats. The order does not amount to a full evacuation of the US Embassy in Riyadh. The article says recent attacks have targeted critical infrastructure, including a deadly strike on King Khalid International Airport earlier this month. The move raises concerns about regional security and potential escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Prediction-market odds cited in the article put the chance of a Saudi-Houthi ceasefire announcement by November 1 at 2.1%, while the probability of the Houthis entering Aden by December 31 is 23.5%. For traders, further attacks or military responses could increase broader geopolitical risk, although the article reports no direct effect on cryptocurrency markets.

Anthropic says its total token volume has risen 3.6 times since Claude Opus 5.5 launched on September 22, 2026. The model is cheaper and faster than its predecessor, with input and output prices down 20%, cached-read prices down 60%, and output generation more than 30% faster. Anthropic also reports operating costs are about 40% lower than for Opus 5. Early testers, including Box, say Claude Opus 5.5 can use one-third fewer tokens to complete tasks without reducing accuracy. The combination of lower per-task use and much higher overall volume suggests customers are running more AI workloads, a pattern known as the Jevons paradox. However, higher token volume does not necessarily mean higher revenue: Anthropic has not disclosed the mix of token types or the financial impact of the price cuts. The company expects to launch Sonnet 5.5 and Haiku 5.5 in the weeks after Opus 5.5.

CoreWeave’s funding needs are raising concerns about whether the AI infrastructure boom can be financed sustainably. The AI cloud-computing company may need about $85 billion to support its backlog, while its shares are near a 52-week low. Its use of a large term loan and unsecured debt has intensified scrutiny of its financial position and refinancing prospects. CoreWeave’s ability to secure funding or restructure its obligations could influence investor confidence in other AI companies. The article also points to market pricing that suggests doubts about Anthropic reaching a $600 billion valuation by 31 December 2026. CoreWeave’s situation is not evidence that bankruptcy is imminent, but its handling of debt and cash needs is being watched as a test of AI-sector funding conditions. For crypto traders, the development is an indirect risk-sentiment signal, not a direct cryptocurrency catalyst. Any broader retreat from high-growth technology investments could weigh on speculative assets, while successful refinancing may ease some concerns.

SK Hynix overtook Intel to become the world’s third-largest chip supplier by revenue in 2025, as demand for AI memory surged. SK Hynix reported $67.2 billion in revenue, up 42.3% year on year, while Intel’s revenue fell 3.7% to $48.5 billion. High-bandwidth memory (HBM), used alongside AI processors, powered SK Hynix’s growth. The company held about 50% of the HBM market and remained Nvidia’s leading HBM supplier. Strength in HBM and DRAM helped lift SK Hynix’s second-quarter 2026 operating margin to about 76%. Intel was the only company among the top 10 chip suppliers to record a revenue decline. It raised $20 billion through a share offering in August 2026 and later announced a technical partnership with Applied Materials focused on chip technologies for AI workloads. The figures highlight how AI infrastructure investment is shifting semiconductor industry growth toward memory suppliers.

Kraken has ended deposits and trading for 13 tokens: BMB, ELX, APU, BDXN, DUCK, BOS, U, OBOL, IDEX, FIS, UXLINK, ALTHEA and NOBODY. The trading cutoff took effect at 14:00 UTC on October 23. Kraken delistings have entered a separate withdrawal phase: customers can withdraw remaining balances until January 29, 2027, at 15:00 UTC. The exchange plans to liquidate balances left behind from February 1 to 12, 2027. Kraken warns that thin or inactive markets could mean liquidation proceeds are far below recent quoted prices, or even negligible. There is no guaranteed minimum recovery. Customers considering a withdrawal should check that the destination supports the exact token and network, and that deposits are enabled. The end of trading does not itself prevent withdrawals, but it removes access to Kraken’s order books for the affected tokens.

The Federal Reserve’s rate decision and major hyperscaler earnings are the week’s key market catalysts. Markets largely expect the Fed to hold its policy rate at 3.75%-4%, with fed funds futures implying about a 10% chance of another hike. Some analysts see a possible rate cut if financial-stability risks grow, though persistent inflation could keep the Fed hawkish. Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon results will test whether heavy artificial-intelligence investment is translating into cloud growth and revenue. Microsoft is expected to report fiscal first-quarter revenue of about $90.6 billion and earnings of $4.72 a share. Investors will watch Azure growth, AI monetization and capital spending. Analysts are divided: bullish views cite enterprise AI demand and cloud expansion, while skeptics warn that roughly $200 billion in annual data-center spending could pressure cash flow and returns. The Fed decision and hyperscaler earnings may influence broader risk appetite, while other major corporate results and JetBlue’s financial update add to a busy week for markets.

Mississippi district attorney Scott Colom has entered the US Senate race against Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith. Colom’s campaign may depend on strong Black voter turnout and winning about 25% of the White vote. The article describes the contest as potentially competitive, though polling claims vary: some suggest a close race, while an informed matchup could give Colom a lead. A Polymarket contract priced Colom’s chance of winning at about 12.5%, compared with 87.5% for Hyde-Smith, indicating the incumbent is currently favoured by market participants. Turnout, endorsements and new polling could shift those odds.

A 10-year backtest suggests different strategies suit Bitcoin and the S&P 500. Buy-and-hold returned an annualised 62.8% for Bitcoin, while a strategy that held Bitcoin only during confirmed uptrends returned 68.4%. Over the past five years, the trend model averaged 25% a year, compared with 8% for buy-and-hold. A more complex long-short approach lagged, returning 40.8% annualised over the 10-year period. For the S&P 500, buy-and-hold performed better: it gained 392% over 10 years, versus 166% for trend-following. The article attributes this difference partly to the index’s regular replacement of weaker companies and exposure to corporate earnings growth. Bitcoin is currently described as being in an uptrend, but macroeconomic uncertainty, AI infrastructure financing pressures and potential cybersecurity risks could affect sentiment or reverse momentum. The article also cites expectations of a possible December US rate rise and seasonal strength in US equities from November to April. These backtest results are historical and do not guarantee future performance; traders may monitor Bitcoin trend signals and macroeconomic developments.

Bitcoin is struggling to hold the $80,000 support after being rejected near $85,000. Crypto analysts Ted Pillows and EGRAG CRYPTO say a further decline could still fit a broader bullish pattern. Pillows sees similarities with Bitcoin’s price action after its November 2022 cycle bottom. If the pattern repeats, Bitcoin could fall to $74,000-$75,000 before recovering toward $90,000. EGRAG also views the current consolidation as potentially bullish. He says a move above $82,900, followed by a break through $86,000-$87,000, could confirm a rally, with targets at $98,400 and $114,900. These are analyst projections, not confirmed price outcomes.

DeFi price manipulation attacks reached 43 cases by 21 October 2026, surpassing the previous annual record of 27 set in 2022. The attacks caused an estimated $199 million in losses, although that total is below the losses recorded in some previous years. One Tectonic incident accounted for about $125 million. Of the other 42 attacks, 32 each caused losses of less than $1 million. The record number of DeFi price manipulation attacks highlights persistent protocol and market-oracle risks, even as most reported incidents were comparatively small.

AI data center tenants are demanding more than $5 million a day in penalties for late delivery of power and facilities, up from about $1 million a day earlier this year. The higher data center penalties reflect mounting concern over project delays and the financial cost of missing delivery deadlines. Only 50% to 60% of scheduled US data center capacity is expected to come online on time over the next one to two years. Power constraints, permitting, equipment shortages and construction delays are among the obstacles. The stricter contracts shift more delivery risk to developers. The article also flags the possibility of regulatory action in Louisiana, where a data center moratorium is being watched. For crypto traders, the development is an indirect signal: data centers and AI infrastructure compete for power and investment, but the report identifies no direct effect on cryptocurrency prices or blockchain projects.

Grayscale’s Zcash ETF, ZCSH, recorded $41.1 million in net inflows for the week ending October 23, its strongest weekly result since mid-September. After three weeks of outflows totalling $143 million, the fund saw inflows on four consecutive days, though the latest gain recovered less than a third of that earlier decline. ZEC rose about 7% and traded near or above $1,200 during the week. ZCSH had approximately $686 million in assets under management and held more than 3% of Zcash’s circulating supply, making ETF flows a potential source of both buying pressure and downside risk. The wider crypto ETF picture was mixed. US spot Bitcoin ETFs ended the week with $301.2 million in net inflows despite more than $500 million in outflows over two days. Spot Ether ETFs recorded about $220.7 million in net outflows. The figures show renewed demand for the Zcash ETF but do not, on their own, establish a lasting shift in investor sentiment.

AI data center delays are driving sharply higher penalties for landlords. Hyperscalers and AI labs are seeking more than $5 million a day when facilities or power connections are late, up from about $1 million earlier in 2026. The stricter lease terms reflect bottlenecks in grid connections, permits, generators and transformers, which can take 12 to 24 months to procure. In Ohio, an agreement between OpenAI and SB Energy grants OpenAI one rent-free day for each day of delay, with the penalty doubling after 90 days. A one-year delay could amount to about 640 days of free rent. Oracle has also issued a force majeure notice related to its Project Jupiter campus in New Mexico, preserving its right to defer rent if power delays affect its planned 2028 opening. The AI data center delays shift more financial risk to developers, even when key obstacles are outside their control. For investors, the terms underscore the growing cost and execution risk of AI infrastructure expansion.

Alphabet’s Google Cloud revenue rose 82% year over year to $24.8 billion in Q2 2026, accelerating from 63% growth in the previous quarter. Google Cloud operating income more than tripled to $8.8 billion, with a 35.6% operating margin. Alphabet also reported a $514 billion backlog of contracted revenue yet to be recognized. The Gemini app reached 950 million monthly active users, up from about 450 million a year earlier, while daily active users tripled. Nearly 90% of Fortune 100 companies use Gemini Enterprise, and Google’s models process 22 billion API tokens per minute. Alphabet’s Q2 capital expenditure doubled year over year to $44.9 billion as it expands AI infrastructure. CEO Sundar Pichai said the company may prioritize computing capacity for its advanced models over some short-term Google Cloud revenue. The results point to strong demand for cloud and AI services, alongside rising infrastructure costs and capacity constraints.

Arf announced on October 22 that it will use RLUSD on the XRP Ledger to provide short-term settlement financing to licensed payment businesses. The loans are designed to cover working-capital gaps while cross-border payments settle, typically over one to five days. Arf’s reported $10 billion in annual settlement activity relates to its wider existing business; it is not a disclosed RLUSD loan pool or a commitment to buy XRP. The announcement describes a staged plan: direct RLUSD financing is the current focus, while a later move to native XRPL lending depends on proposed protocol amendments receiving validator support and activating. The arrangement could help payment firms bridge timing mismatches, but the article provides no figures for financing outstanding, repayment performance or corridors served. RLUSD loan volume should not be equated with demand for XRP: loan principal, ledger fees and account reserves measure different kinds of activity. The commercial impact will depend on whether the financing reliably reaches payment firms when payouts are due.

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its October 27–28 meeting, but persistent inflation and oil prices above $100 could limit its ability to cut rates. The Kobeissi Letter estimates that rates averaging 150 basis points above the Congressional Budget Office’s baseline through 2036 could add about $6 trillion to US deficits, lifting public debt to 133% of GDP. Even a 50-basis-point overshoot could add nearly $2 trillion and push debt to 124% of GDP. The analysis highlights the tension between costly government borrowing and the Fed’s inflation-fighting priorities. For Bitcoin, the Federal Reserve’s guidance may matter more than the expected pause: softer signals on future rate hikes could ease pressure from Treasury yields and support risk appetite, while a hawkish message or surprise hike could weigh on BTC. In the longer term, the fiscal burden of sustained high rates may strengthen expectations that monetary policy will eventually ease.

Cynthia Lummis said Democrats requested tighter fundraising limits for crypto-related activity: an annual cap cut from $75 million to $50 million, plus a $200 million lifetime cap. Lummis said the limits were accepted and added to the CLARITY Act, but Democrats later voted against the rule. The dispute highlights ongoing divisions over crypto regulation and investor protections. The CLARITY Act’s market impact will depend on its legislative progress and final terms; the report does not specify the vote’s timing or outcome beyond the stated opposition.

Source-of-funds checks at crypto sportsbooks typically follow identity and address verification. Large deposits or withdrawals, sudden changes in betting activity, and blockchain risk flags can trigger a review. Operators may request exchange statements, records linking withdrawals to deposits, payslips, sale documents or records of crypto income. A clear, consistent funding trail can help shorten delays; incomplete or altered documents may prolong a review or lead to account closure. Dexsport says it can request identity documents when needed and may pause account operations for up to 14 business days during fraud investigations. Before withdrawals, deposits must also meet its turnover rules: one sports wager at minimum odds of 1.3, or two rounds of casino play. These source-of-funds requirements are compliance matters, not a signal about crypto prices.

Crypto sportsbooks often allow users to register with an email address or crypto wallet and request identity checks later. Verification may be triggered by deposits, bonus claims, betting patterns, first withdrawals or large cumulative payouts. This differs from many British bookmakers, which verify a customer’s age and identity before the first bet. Risk-based checks can make sign-up easier, but a smooth start does not guarantee a quick withdrawal. Sportsbooks may review identity, source of funds and betting activity, with arbitrage, late betting or automated tools potentially leading to limits or account reviews. Dexsport permits registration without documents, but requires email confirmation for its sports welcome offer and Sports Club entry. Before withdrawal, users must meet its turnover rules: one-time sports wagering at odds of 1.3 or higher, or two-time casino wagering. Its terms allow identity checks at any stage. The article advises bettors to review current rules and prepare documents before requesting a large payout.

Applied Materials (AMAT) shares have fallen about 48% from their all-time high, which the article’s author views as a potential long-term buying opportunity. The bullish thesis centers on robust AI-driven semiconductor demand and anticipated chip-supply shortages through 2030, which could support demand for AMAT’s manufacturing equipment. The article reports a 25% increase in revenue, 330 basis points of margin expansion and more than 40% earnings-per-share growth, alongside positive fourth-quarter guidance. It also cites Wall Street analysts’ projected upside of more than 66%. These figures underpin the author’s positive outlook for Applied Materials, but the investment case depends on continued semiconductor demand and is not a guarantee of future returns.

Bitcoin price recovered above $80,000 on Sunday after falling to about $79,100, a five-week low. It was still down 1.95% over the week, while Ethereum fell 3.41% to around $2,332 and Solana slipped to about $101. Altcoin losses were broad: Bitway fell 29.31%, while Rain and Hedera each lost more than 13%. Pepe and MemeCore bucked the trend, gaining 14.15% and 19.4% over seven days, although MemeCore also saw a steep daily drop. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded about $773.5 million in outflows on October 22–23, reversing some earlier inflows. A sell-off on October 24 triggered roughly $546.9 million in leveraged-position liquidations. Bitcoin price faces resistance near $82,368, with $84,725 another level to watch. A fall below $80,000 could put support near $78,000 in focus. The week’s trading reflects fragile sentiment, despite Bitcoin’s rebound and gains in a few tokens.

Dan Bin’s Orient Harbour overseas funds kept AI stocks at the center of their US portfolio in the third quarter of 2026, while shifting exposure within the technology sector. Data from Simu Pai Pai showed the funds held 13 US-listed stocks worth about $1.469 billion at quarter-end, with Google as the largest holding. The funds added to Nvidia, Micron Technology, Sandisk, Google-C and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, while reducing positions in Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom and Lumentum, which had been newly added in the second quarter. The changes point to a preference for AI-related chip and memory companies. AI stock holdings remain a key focus, but the portfolio’s sector allocations have shifted toward Nvidia and memory makers such as Micron.