Crypto News

A Seeking Alpha analysis says Tower Semiconductor (TSEM) is entering a potential growth phase led by silicon photonics, supported by reported contracts worth $1.3 billion for 2027 and $290 million in customer prepayments. The company reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $460 million, up 23.7% year on year, a 30% gross margin and normalized earnings per share of $0.88, beating expectations, according to the article. Management is targeting $3.6 billion in revenue and $1.2 billion in net income by 2028. The analysis says reaching those goals depends on improving gross margin to 45% and raising capacity utilization to 85%. Its author maintains a Buy rating but flags the stock’s premium valuation, execution risks and the need for stronger cash-flow conversion. The article concerns semiconductor equities, not cryptocurrencies.

Bitdeer reported mining 1,355 BTC in September, nearly three times the 452 BTC produced in September a year earlier. The company cited a self-mining hash rate of 82.3 EH/s and co-mining capacity of 28.7 EH/s in its October 19 operating update. The higher Bitcoin production reflects added mining capacity, but does not by itself indicate stronger profits. Network difficulty, electricity costs, equipment efficiency and capital spending all affect mining returns. Investors will need to assess these factors alongside Bitdeer’s BTC output. Bitdeer is also developing AI cloud and data-center services, including planned capacity agreements in Malaysia with delivery windows in 2027 and 2028. These are future plans, not evidence of current completed capacity or revenue. The update highlights Bitdeer’s dual focus on Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure, while underscoring the different timelines and investment needs of each business.

Polymarket faced criticism on X after a photo of its fortune-cookie advertisement drew more than 500,000 views. The purple promotional slip displays the Polymarket name, logo, a partly obscured QR code and a statement acknowledging paid advertising. The restaurant, supplier, campaign reach and spending have not been confirmed, and OpenFortune’s involvement remains unverified. The ad adds to scrutiny of Polymarket’s marketing. Past promotions included sports-related campaigns and paid creator posts. Politico reported that creators received at least $350,000 over 14 months, with more than 490 posts mentioning Polymarket that did not disclose they were paid. New York City officials have also examined marketing practices across prediction-market companies and sought information from Polymarket and other firms. The online backlash is a reputational issue, while disclosure and consumer-protection questions could add regulatory pressure. The article reports no direct change to Polymarket’s operations, token status or crypto-market prices.

SpaceX’s planned $40 billion off-balance-sheet financing to buy Nvidia chips has hit a snag, as market volatility and higher borrowing costs complicate pricing negotiations. The financing is expected to comprise three tranches of 144A bonds, including a $25 billion to $30 billion subordinated tranche, plus $10 billion and up to $5 billion in additional tranches. SpaceX aims to keep the debt outside its balance sheet to protect its investment-grade credit rating. However, a previous attempt to arrange off-balance-sheet financing for Elon Musk’s AI company xAI was challenged by auditors; about $13 billion of debt was ultimately recorded on SpaceX’s balance sheet. The financing delay could raise questions about SpaceX’s borrowing costs and credit profile, though its CFO says the company intends to finance its plans prudently while maintaining its investment-grade rating.

Anna Kelly, the White House principal deputy press secretary, has emerged as a leading contender to become President Donald Trump’s next press secretary. Prediction-market odds of her appointment have risen to 26%, but the White House has not confirmed a decision. Trump has said he is in no rush to name a successor to Katie Zacharia, whose tenure lasted five days. The appointment remains uncertain, and odds could shift if the administration announces a decision or other candidates gain momentum.

NYU Stern professor and valuation expert Aswath Damodaran warned that a projected $10 trillion to $15 trillion artificial intelligence market could carry serious economic and social costs if its growth depends on replacing workers rather than supporting them. He cited the risk of widespread job displacement and its effects on incomes and social roles. The article says the concerns may weigh on sentiment toward AI companies, including Anthropic. Prediction-market pricing put the chance of Anthropic reaching a $600 billion valuation by December 31 at about 2.7% (the table lists 2.8%). The article does not provide details of a specific change in odds or trading volume. Investors may watch Anthropic’s funding and partnership announcements, as well as evidence that AI is augmenting workers rather than displacing them. The debate adds uncertainty to the AI sector’s long-term growth and valuation outlook.

Applied Materials (AMAT) has been initiated at Buy with a $583.80 price target, implying 55% upside, according to the article. The investment case centers on Applied Materials’ semiconductor equipment and materials engineering businesses, which stand to benefit from AI-related demand, advanced logic, DRAM and advanced packaging. The company’s services and installed-base revenue also provide recurring income and help cushion equipment-cycle fluctuations. Recent third-quarter results showed revenue growth of 25% and earnings-per-share growth of 41%. Fourth-quarter guidance points to year-over-year growth of 51% in revenue and 85% in EPS. The bullish outlook is balanced by risks including China exposure, customer concentration, semiconductor-equipment cyclicality and the need for continued research and development to preserve its competitive edge. Applied Materials’ outlook offers a view into demand across the AI chip supply chain, but the article concerns an individual stock, not cryptocurrency markets.

HIVE Digital Technologies has committed more than $250 million to data centres in Paraguay over the past 18 months, as it seeks to develop an AI computing hub powered by hydropower. Its facilities near the Itaipú dam currently have 300 megawatts of capacity. HIVE aims to expand its Yguazú site to 400 MW by the third quarter of 2026. Including energy procurement and infrastructure, HIVE’s total commitments exceed $400 million. The company says it has added more than 300 local jobs, including 40 engineering roles. HIVE currently mines about 8.5 BTC a day and also exports computing capacity to the United States. The expansion could help HIVE shift some capacity from Bitcoin mining to AI and high-performance computing. Key risks include construction delays and reliance on Paraguay’s power supply and regulatory environment.

The UK flash PMI indicates that economic growth gained momentum in October, reaching its strongest pace since February. The UK PMI data also point to a pickup in demand, prompting firms to add workers for the first time since September 2024. Price pressures remain elevated. The report says a Bank of England rate hike at its upcoming policy meeting is considered highly likely, with markets also facing the prospect of further increases into 2027. The figures suggest a resilient economy but reinforce concerns that interest rates may stay higher for longer.

HYPE has fallen 22% from its peak, according to Lookonchain. One address (0xf02...3454c6) holds a short position of 715,300 HYPE, valued at $54.57 million. The position has $5.56 million in unrealised profit, while the trader has also earned $620,000 in funding fees. The large HYPE short highlights bearish positioning, though a single wallet does not establish broader market sentiment.

The 24 October crypto market roundup highlights several developments traders are watching. US senators are investigating Tether’s $6.3 million payment to a company with shares held by a former White House crypto adviser. Hyperliquid Strategies, which holds $2.96 billion in HYPE, expanded its buyback plan to $100 million. The company’s HYPE holdings and larger buyback could affect token sentiment and liquidity. Base said Mastercard is adopting an agent-payment system using x402 and USDC, with settlement on Base. Meanwhile, prediction-market activity is surging: Kalshi and Polymarket crypto event contracts recorded a weekly trading volume of $2.7 billion, a new high, as 15-minute Bitcoin price predictions gain traction. Other headlines include Bitdeer selling 283.4 BTC this week while maintaining zero Bitcoin holdings, and a reported deployment of more than 1,500 DarkSword phishing sites. An Argentine judge dismissed a criminal investigation into President Javier Milei over the LIBRA token scandal. Separately, US officials reportedly described the Iran threat level as the highest since the conflict began, prompting some embassies to reduce staffing. For traders, the HYPE buyback and Mastercard’s USDC payment adoption are notable project and adoption catalysts, while the Tether investigation, phishing activity and geopolitical tensions are potential sources of risk. The roundup offers mixed signals rather than a clear market-wide direction.

The Fed rate hike raises fresh questions about how long high interest rates will weigh on crypto markets. In September 2026, the Federal Reserve lifted its policy rate by 25 basis points, its first increase in more than three years. The move came as US inflation remained above the Fed’s 2% target and the economy showed resilience. Officials’ forecasts also pointed to the possibility of further tightening. The article says the main risks to crypto are higher Treasury yields and real interest rates, a stronger dollar, reduced risk appetite and leveraged liquidations. Past cycles show that a rate increase does not automatically trigger a crypto sell-off: market expectations and conditions within the crypto industry also matter. In 2022, rapid tightening coincided with major failures and credit stress, deepening the downturn. By contrast, widely anticipated hikes can have limited immediate effects. After the September 2026 decision, BTC and ETH traded higher. Over the following seven days, BTC gained 11.58%, ETH 11.94% and SOL 18.70%, according to the article. These gains show that crypto prices can rise despite a rate hike, but do not remove the risk of renewed pressure if inflation stays high or rates remain elevated. Traders are advised to watch inflation and employment data, Treasury yields, the dollar, ETF flows and leverage. The article expects outcomes to vary by asset, with smaller, higher-beta altcoins potentially more volatile. It also notes that high rates could support demand for tokenised Treasury products and other real-world asset (RWA) products.

Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake has warned that advances in artificial intelligence could threaten the elliptic-curve cryptography protecting crypto wallets, potentially before quantum computers can. He urged the industry to prepare for “Bunker Mode,” while Vitalik Buterin backed the need for readiness but cautioned against rushed transfers. No current cryptographic system has been broken. Anthropic’s Claude recently traced the origin of NIST elliptic-curve parameters to ordinary pseudorandom-number generation, finding no evidence of a deliberate backdoor; the finding does not directly affect Bitcoin or Ethereum’s secp256k1 wallets. Developers are advancing post-quantum signatures, including hash-based approaches, while Bitcoin’s BIP-360 remains a proposal. For traders, the issue is a long-term security risk, not an immediate reason to move funds. AI wallet security merits attention, but panic transfers can invite scams. AI wallet security upgrades could eventually affect blockchain infrastructure and user confidence.

Argentine President Javier Milei said the LIBRA scandal had been used for political purposes after a judge rejected a criminal investigation against him, according to Odaily. In a lengthy post on X, Milei said he had endured 1 year, 8 months and 9 days of false accusations and defamation. He described the case as part of a political and media campaign intended to damage the presidency, and accused opposition groups and media figures of exploiting it. The LIBRA controversy has drawn attention to the token and its political fallout, but the report provides no new information about the token’s price, trading activity or the judge’s reasoning.

On-chain data tracker Onchain Lens reported that Arthur Hayes moved $6.2 million worth of tokens after a nine-day pause. Arthur Hayes transferred 14 million ENA, worth $2.74 million, to Binance; 323,000 UNI, worth $2.24 million, to Wintermute; and 1.89 million ETHFI, worth $1.22 million, to FalconX. Transfers to exchanges and trading firms can attract attention because they may precede sales or other trading activity, but the transactions alone do not confirm that the tokens were sold.

Crosslight Partners rates PJT Partners a Buy, arguing that rising credit risk tied to AI infrastructure could create opportunities for the financial advisory firm’s restructuring business. The investment thesis says PJT Partners’ established restructuring franchise and growing secondary-transactions business may help offset weaker mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity and slower primary fundraising. The analyst believes market pessimism about M&A cyclicality underestimates the potential for a wave of corporate restructurings. PJT’s valuation offers less upside than Houlihan Lokey’s, according to the article, but the analyst sees lower execution risk at PJT Partners. Risks include a delayed recovery in restructuring work, AI-related fee compression and regulatory headwinds. The article presents an investor’s view, not a report of a confirmed AI credit crisis or restructuring wave.

A wallet linked to Arthur Hayes transferred 8,000 ETH, worth about $19 million, according to Onchain Lens. It sent 1,600 ETH, worth roughly $3.8 million, each to Binance, Galaxy Digital and FalconX, reportedly for potential sale. The transfers may add short-term selling pressure on ETH, but the report does not confirm that any ETH has been sold. The destination of the remaining 3,200 ETH was not specified.

Odaily says its app was not affected by the DarkSword cyberattack that disrupted BlockBeats’ website. Some users received Apple security notifications, but Odaily says these were related to the app’s temporary removal from the App Store, not a security breach. The app was taken down last week because of an issue involving the company’s Apple developer account and is undergoing review for relisting, which Odaily expects to happen next week. The company says the issue is operational and does not affect the app’s security; existing users can continue using it.

This week’s crypto market outlook spans regulation, macro risk and trading economics. The US OCC finalized rules under the GENIUS Act for payment stablecoins, covering reserves, redemption, custody and risk management. The rules take effect on 18 January 2027 and preserve some flexibility for third-party rewards. The framework could benefit stablecoin issuers and distributors such as Circle and Coinbase, while supporting wider payment and DeFi use. Bitcoin (BTC) remains sensitive to macro conditions, with its links to equities, dollar liquidity and risk appetite shaping how it may respond to US midterm election uncertainty. Separately, a study found retail users trading through six Hyperliquid-linked apps lost a combined $280 million; fees accounted for more than half of the reported losses. Perpetual DEXs generated about $125 million in user fees over 30 days, with Hyperliquid contributing roughly $84.6 million. Other developments highlight market risks. MSCI’s proposed screening framework could remove some digital-asset treasury companies from indexes, potentially prompting passive-fund selling. The CLARITY Act stalled in the Senate, while the White House crypto council has lost all four of its core members. Meanwhile, Circle reported that distribution costs and investment left it retaining about seven cents of each dollar of revenue. Overall, crypto traders face mixed signals: clearer stablecoin rules may support adoption over time, but macro uncertainty, policy delays, leverage and trading costs remain near-term risks.

Ethereum (ETH) traders face mixed signals after early holders moved 4,000 ETH to Kraken-linked addresses, while exchange balances recorded their largest daily net outflow in more than four months. Lookonchain reported that one holder transferred 1,000 ETH from an original 100,000 ETH ICO allocation, and another moved 3,000 ETH valued at about $7.23 million. The transfers indicate potential selling, but the posts do not confirm completed trades or proceeds. Santiment reported that 169,770 ETH left exchanges on a net basis on Oct. 22. Lower exchange balances can reduce immediately available selling supply, but the firm said the outflow does not guarantee a price bottom. It identified $2,400 as a key pivot: a sustained move above $2,500 would strengthen its recovery case, while a drop below roughly $2,330 would weaken it. Selling pressure may also come from a previously inactive institution. It deposited $9.12 million in AAVE and $9.67 million in WLD to exchanges, although completed sales were not confirmed. Ethereum ETFs had $320.1 million in net withdrawals during Oct. 12–16, adding another cautious signal. Overall, whale transfers and ETF outflows contrast with ETH’s large exchange outflow, leaving traders to watch price levels and whether deposits turn into confirmed selling.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei said a court decision clearing him and his sister, Karina Milei, in the LIBRA crypto case had “put things back in their proper place.” He accused political and media figures of conducting a campaign intended to damage his presidency, and asked who would compensate him for reputational harm he says he suffered over one year, eight months and nine days. The court had previously ended the criminal investigation into Milei and his sister. The LIBRA case remains a political and legal story; the report gives no new information about the token’s operations or market performance.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is monitoring prediction markets for possible manipulation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Chairman Michael Selig said in an October 23 interview. He did not announce a new election-related enforcement case or identify Kalshi or Polymarket as targets. The markets have attracted substantial activity. Dune data showed $250 million in combined midterm open interest on Kalshi and Polymarket as of October 18: $210 million on Kalshi and $40 million on Polymarket. The figure is a dated snapshot, not evidence of manipulation. Past CFTC actions show the agency’s focus on individual conduct. Former White House staffer Gabriel Perez and former congressman George Santos each received financial penalties and three-year trading bans over trades linked to personal information or statements. Separately, September guidance called for contract-specific safeguards for markets tied to a person’s words, actions or appearances. For traders, the immediate significance is increased regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets, not a confirmed crackdown on either platform. New safeguards or enforcement could affect which contracts are listed and how these markets operate. The CFTC’s broader authority over prediction markets remains contested in court.

The US Flash PMI signalled continued strong economic growth in October, even as its headline Composite Output Index eased to 57.6 from 58.4 in September. The survey readings were consistent with GDP growth at an annualised rate of about 5%. At the same time, supply-chain bottlenecks worsened and order backlogs grew. These conditions gave companies greater scope to pass higher costs on to customers, pointing to further inflation pressure. The US Flash PMI therefore showed an economy still expanding rapidly, but with a risk that persistent inflation could influence interest-rate expectations.

US intelligence chief Jay Clayton warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 23 that alleged Iranian plans for lethal attacks on Americans had reached an advanced stage. Officials described the threat to US personnel as the highest since the war began in February, and said it may extend beyond the Middle East, including possible targets in Europe and potential Iranian operatives inside the US. The US State Department ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. US missions in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE also reduced staffing but remained open. Officials linked the measures to threats from both Iran and Yemen’s Houthi movement, while denying that the drawdowns were connected to possible renewed US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The warning adds to geopolitical uncertainty around the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude recently reached a six-month closing high of $113.17 a barrel amid reports of possible military action. The developments could increase risk aversion across financial markets, including crypto.

Footage shared by Hong Kong hardware outlet HKEPC on 23 October shows batches of new Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics cards being dismantled and rebuilt as two-slot blower cards for AI servers. Workers remove the original coolers and transfer the GPUs and memory to new circuit boards, then test the finished cards. The thinner design exhausts heat out of the server and allows more cards to fit side by side. The video does not confirm where the factory is or how the cards reached it. Reports have pointed to China, where the full RTX 5090 is barred from sale under US export controls; the article says the footage alone does not establish how the cards were sourced. Nvidia executive Jeff Fisher denied on 16 October that the RTX 5090 had been discontinued, but acknowledged supply constraints without giving a timeline for improvement. US retailer listings cited in the article put many RTX 5090 cards above $9,300, compared with a $1,999 suggested retail price. The RTX 5090 conversion highlights strong AI-server demand and tight GPU supply, but its scale and effect on consumer availability remain unclear.

China’s third-quarter real GDP growth came in at the high end of economists’ expectations, but other indicators point to ongoing weakness. The Shenzhen A Share index, a benchmark for mainland Chinese stocks, is down 26% from its peak earlier this year. Household spending also remains a much smaller share of GDP than in many other parts of the world. The article briefly mentions AI developer DeepSeek, but the supplied text provides no further details. Overall, China’s economy is showing a gap between headline growth and subdued equity-market performance and domestic consumption.

The University of Michigan’s final Consumer Sentiment Index reading fell to 48.0 in October, a five-month low and a 0.1-point decrease from September. The Current Economic Conditions Index dropped 8.3% to 46.7, while the Consumer Expectations Index rose 5.4% to 48.8. Year-ahead inflation expectations edged up from 4.6% to 4.7%. The figures show weak consumer sentiment overall, with a mixed outlook on current conditions and future expectations.

Kalshi and Polymarket recorded a combined $2.7 billion in weekly crypto prediction-market volume in mid-October 2026, a record driven mainly by short-term Bitcoin price bets. Bitcoin contracts on Kalshi alone generated more than $2 billion, led by its 15-minute up-or-down product. Polymarket’s US arm recorded about $92 million to $101 million in 15-minute Bitcoin volume in its first full week. Crypto became the second most traded category on both platforms, behind sports. The figure represents notional contract volume, not money flowing into spot Bitcoin. The surge highlights growing demand for rapid, speculative exposure to Bitcoin price moves as spot trading volumes decline and platforms expand into prediction markets.

US margin debt reached $1.48 trillion in September, up 1.8% from August and 31.4% from a year earlier. After adjusting for inflation, margin debt rose 2.6% month over month and 26.7% year over year. The figures point to increased borrowing by investors to finance securities purchases, which can signal stronger risk appetite but may also amplify losses if markets fall. The report also puts US investor credit balances at $1,046.1 billion.