Crypto News

Outlier Ventures’ October 2025 essay describes the agentic layer as a new internet stack where AI agents interpret goals and act across decentralised systems. Unlike fixed-rule bots, these adaptive agents could manage assets, sign transactions and interact with smart contracts. The article calls them “smart agents” and says on-chain specifications could set their goals and limits, while on-chain verification would make their actions auditable. It also highlights open standards such as MCP, A2A, x402 and ACP as potential tools for interoperability. The agentic layer could enable new applications, including automated portfolio management and DAO governance, but the essay presents a technology vision rather than a specific product launch or market event.

Crypto wallets are evolving from tools for storing keys and signing transactions into hubs for digital identity, asset management and AI agents, according to an essay based on Outlier Ventures’ 2025 Post Web Thesis. These smart wallets could hold verifiable credentials, manage access to data and computing resources, and set permissions for agents that transact on a user’s behalf. The essay describes zero-knowledge proofs, multi-party computation and trusted execution environments as tools for improving privacy and security. It cites Safe as an example of a smart wallet that supports automated transactions, spending limits and whitelists. As users move from manually approving transactions to expressing goals, smart wallets may route and verify actions across protocols. The article discusses a potential shift in crypto infrastructure, not a new product launch or market-moving event.

Hardhat v3.21.1 is a bug-fix release that removes the scheduled Amsterdam hardfork activation from the Hoodi testnet after the upgrade was postponed without a new date. The release also upgrades EDR to v0.25.0 and fixes issues involving forked-chain gas limits, transaction tracing, Solidity test isolation, gas reporting and local account signing. The Hardhat update primarily improves Ethereum development and testing reliability; it does not announce a change to Ethereum’s mainnet schedule.

Hardhat Utils 5.1.1 fixes two bugs in hex utilities. The `hexStringToBytes` function now converts `0x` and empty strings to empty byte arrays, rather than a zero byte. The `setLengthLeft` function now returns `0x` when truncating a hex string to length zero. The release notes also mention that the Nomic Foundation is hiring. These are developer-tool updates; the announcement does not describe changes to a cryptocurrency protocol or token.

The Dogecoin Foundation has ended its exclusive commercial partnership with Nasdaq-listed House of Doge, effective October 19. An October 23 SEC filing says House of Doge must pay $400,000 and give up its exclusive licensing rights. It can retain a limited, non-exclusive license for certain existing investment products, including 21Shares Dogecoin offerings, but must stop calling itself the Foundation’s official commercial partner. The Foundation has named Dogecoin Labs, which brings together MyDoge, Such App and DogeOS, as its new official commercial partner. House of Doge has also agreed to transfer selected Such App assets to Dogecoin Labs for shares valued at about $4 million, subject to closing conditions and lender approvals. The agreement changes the commercial structure around Dogecoin, but does not itself establish new demand for DOGE. House of Doge is shifting toward tokenized alternative investments and sports-related assets. Its planned acquisition of a tokenization platform remains subject to a definitive agreement.

A 2026 crypto presale guide compares MemeToro ($MT), Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), Maxi Doge ($MAXI), LiquidChain ($LIQUID) and SUBBD ($SUBBD), focusing on audits, tokenomics, team transparency and product progress. It stresses that presales are high-risk and that buyers can lose their entire investment. MemeToro is the only project in the comparison with open-source code under an MIT license and a live BNB Chain testnet round. Its token audits are attributed to Coinsult, SolidProof and BlockSAFU. The project says 71% of its 1.2 billion token supply is allocated to public sale and 2% to the team. Its launch contracts remain in development, and its team is pseudonymous. The other projects make audit claims, but the guide says reports or team details were not linked or confirmed in the cited listings. Product status, bridge custody and launch plans also require independent verification. The guide recommends checking audit reports against contract addresses, reviewing supply allocations, verifying team accountability and testing products before buying. It warns against guaranteed-return claims and pressure tactics. The article is partner content, not financial advice. Crypto presales may never list or deliver tokens, and prices and audit status can change.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has added tokenisation and emerging technologies to its fiscal 2027 examination priorities, announced on October 23. The risk-based programme covers more than 34,000 registered firms, including investment advisers, funds, broker-dealers, transfer agents and clearing agencies. The SEC plans to assess how artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies may affect compliance, fraud prevention and market operations. For tokenisation, examiners may consider familiar securities obligations, including record-keeping, custody, failed transactions, investor rights and firms’ responsibilities. Faster settlement does not remove those requirements. The priorities do not ban tokenised products or announce violations by specific firms. Nor do they restore crypto as a standalone examination focus. They signal closer scrutiny of tokenisation and technology-related risks, while leaving examiners discretion to review other securities-law concerns. For crypto traders, this is a regulatory development rather than a direct price catalyst: tokenised assets may face more compliance checks, but the announcement itself introduces no new rules or enforcement action.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio’s largest newspaper, has endorsed Democratic nominee Amy Acton for governor, ending its previous neutral stance. The decision follows controversy over a campaign ad by Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy that featured criticism of Acton from her estranged mother. Governor Mike DeWine criticized the ad, while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended it. Recent polls cited in the article show Acton leading Ramaswamy, though the race remains competitive. With the election scheduled for November 3, attention is on whether the endorsement or further campaign developments will affect polling and voter turnout. The article does not report a direct cryptocurrency market development.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has demanded testimony from Anthropic executives as it expands an inquiry into AI safety, consumer harm and potentially unfair practices. Anthropic, maker of Claude, is under scrutiny alongside OpenAI. The FTC has not announced enforcement action. The probe adds regulatory uncertainty for AI companies, and the article says market pricing reflects concern that scrutiny could weigh on Anthropic’s investor confidence and valuation prospects. Traders will watch for developments in the investigation and any effects on the company’s funding or partnerships.

Anthropic’s seven co-founders have pledged to donate 80% of their personal stakes to charity, estimated in the later report at $79.4 billion. The pledge is voluntary and non-binding; founders would retain significant voting power through Class F shares. It concerns personal holdings, so it does not directly change Anthropic’s ownership or governance. As Anthropic moves towards a potential IPO, the later report cites a $65 billion Series H funding round valuing the company at $965 billion and says it has filed for an IPO. The earlier report also detailed more than $660 million in non-cash expenses for employee charitable stock matching from October 2025 to March 2026, $540 million in corporate contributions for 2025, and $400 million in research commitments: $200 million for an Economic Futures Research Fund and $200 million over four years with the Gates Foundation for health and education AI applications. Investors may watch how the pledges are implemented, alongside Anthropic’s financing, partnerships and IPO disclosures; the news has no direct link to cryptocurrency prices.

An investor article argues that Intel (INTC) may be undervalued as demand for CPUs rises alongside agentic AI. It rates the stock a Buy at $85–86, citing stronger data-centre and AI (DCAI) performance and signs of progress in Intel’s foundry business. DCAI operating margins reportedly climbed from 16% to 39.5% year over year, which the article attributes to CPU shortages and improved pricing power. Intel’s foundry losses are said to be narrowing as yields and cost trends for its 18A process improve. The author also points to potential Apple and Tesla business pipelines as signals of strategic progress; the article does not provide confirmed contracts. For Intel’s Q3 results, the author highlights DCAI margins near 40%, foundry losses below $1.8 billion, and Q4 revenue guidance above $17.06 billion as figures that could support a share-price re-rating. These are targets to watch, not reported results. The article reflects the author’s positive investment view and long position in INTC.

Grok AI outlined a highly speculative scenario in which NEAR could reach $45–$80 by January 1, 2027, with a stretch target above $120. The scenario depends on major technology companies and AI research institutions choosing NEAR as infrastructure for a large decentralized AI agent network and data marketplace. The article says such coordination is currently highly unlikely; the forecast is not a base-case outlook. NEAR was described as consolidating around $4.40–$4.70, with resistance near $5.00–$5.50. A sustained move above $6–$7 could indicate stronger momentum, while support is cited around $4.20–$4.30 and $3.80–$4.00. The article also points to broader conditions—including crypto market liquidity, institutional adoption, and interest in AI-related blockchain projects—as potential influences. The NEAR price targets are scenario-based speculation, not a reliable prediction.

China AI stocks have lost about $480 billion in market value, with the STAR50 index falling roughly 40% in less than four months. The selloff reflects growing doubts about AI demand, corporate profits and high valuations. Despite the decline, the STAR50 trades at around 100 times trailing earnings, compared with about 30 times for the Nasdaq 100. The slump comes as Nvidia faces stronger competition in China. IDC data cited by Reuters puts Nvidia’s share of China’s data-centre AI accelerator market at 34% in the first half of 2026, while its shipments fell 44% year over year to about 678,000 units. US export controls and Beijing’s support for domestic suppliers, including Huawei, have helped local competitors gain ground. The losses are market-value declines, not an equivalent outflow of cash or a halt to AI investment. Still, lower valuations could make it harder for Chinese AI startups to raise capital. The story also highlights the tension between China AI stocks’ sharp correction and the continued global demand for AI infrastructure.

A wallet linked to the Ethereum Foundation sold 2,785 ETH for about $6.42 million on October 26, according to Lookonchain. The report revived concerns about selling pressure; a similar suspected Foundation-linked sale two weeks earlier was followed by a 9% ETH price decline. An early Ethereum investor also sold 1,500 ETH, while Maelstrom CIO Arthur Hayes said he had sold 6,400 ETH and other tokens, citing uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions. The sales have weighed on sentiment, with ETH’s Fear and Greed Index falling to 31, a reading in fear territory. Selling can add to the available supply and unsettle investors, though it does not guarantee further price declines. Buying activity offers a counterpoint. BitMine added 10,452 ETH, bringing its reported holdings to 6,051,933 ETH, or about 4.95% of supply, close to its 5% target. Ethereum staking also increased by nearly 2 million ETH in the third quarter, taking the total to 43.8 million, despite the annualized yield slipping from 2.81% to 2.63%. For ETH traders, the near-term outlook may hinge on whether selling pressure outpaces demand and accumulation.

Foundation Devices says attackers used customer records left accessible in legacy database tables to launch more than 23,000 phishing email attempts targeting its hardware wallet customers. Investigators confirmed 19,057 emails were sent through Mailgun and 1,503 through Google Workspace; the number of affected customers is not yet known. The Foundation Devices phishing incident involved names, shipping details, refund records and abandoned checkout information left behind after a legacy WooCommerce database migration. Recent Shopify order information may also have been exposed. The company said it has found no evidence that Passport hardware wallets or private keys were compromised, and its investigation is ongoing. The Foundation Devices phishing campaign raises customer privacy and security concerns, but no wallet compromise has been confirmed.

A prediction market account identified as 0x6ac5bb06a9eb05641fd5e82640268b92f3ab4b6e bought $195,000 worth of shares backing T1 to beat CFO in the League of Legends S16 World Championship Swiss Stage. The position was opened at an average price of 86.5 cents per share, for a total of 226,173.3 shares. The match is part of the third Swiss Stage round, where games are played as best-of-one. The trade reflects a sizable prediction market position on the esports match outcome; it does not directly indicate a move in cryptocurrency prices.

A certificate authority’s private key was reportedly set to the number 4 for more than a year, raising concerns about internet security and digital trust. Security expert Taylor Monahan said eMudhra passed two audits despite having eight weak keys. The discussion also questioned why revoking compromised certificates depends on coordination by email among Google, Mozilla and Apple. The episode argues that systems built on the assumption that few people would probe for weaknesses are increasingly exposed to persistent AI agents. It also covers PHP remote-code-execution vulnerabilities and a test transaction that attracted three competing theft attempts. These cases highlight wider risks to online infrastructure, though the article does not identify a direct cryptocurrency market catalyst.

PaperTrade attracted $140 million in pre-deposits by offering traders up to 1,000x leverage and PAPER tokens as rebates for losses. The protocol later said it no longer plans to make PAPER transferable, reversing a key expectation for early depositors. Delphi Research Head of Markets Jason Pagoulatos said the decision could reduce the risk of attacks on the platform, but described the change as a bait and switch for users who deposited under the original terms. One tracker showed PaperTrade staking revenue fell 93% in a day. The reversal raises questions about PAPER’s utility and demand, as well as whether the protocol can sustain a business without relying on its token.

A discussion on The Chopping Block covered a wave of critical software vulnerabilities dubbed “Black October,” banks restricting AI agents, Hyperliquid’s growing profile and a reported Visa bid for Fireblocks. The vulnerabilities hit PHP, Node and Railway within 48 hours. The discussion also cited Linux kernel exploits, a QUIC zero-day and millions of attempted exploits reported by Cloudflare. The hosts said the damage was limited relative to the scale of the security risks, and argued that open-source tools helped defenders respond. JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Schwab and Citi are restricting AI agents from interacting with customer accounts, reflecting concerns about automated access to financial services. The hosts also discussed Joe Weisenthal’s more positive view of Hyperliquid, a crypto trading platform, and a rumor that Visa may acquire Fireblocks for about $2.5 billion—below Fireblocks’ reported $8 billion valuation. The deal has not been confirmed. For crypto traders, Hyperliquid’s increased visibility is a notable sector signal, but the episode offers no new market data or confirmed transaction likely to drive prices on its own.

Altcoin season has yet to take hold, with Bitcoin dominance near 60% and the Altcoin Season Index around 52—below the 75 level often associated with a broad rally. On October 26, Solana traded near $101, XRP around $1.29 and Cardano near $0.20, while most major altcoins were slightly lower or nearly flat. The figures point to continued concentration in Bitcoin rather than a market-wide rotation. Institutional access is growing but remains selective. US Solana ETFs held about $1.69 billion in assets as of October 21, with roughly $1.56 billion in cumulative net inflows, although recent daily flows weakened. CME Group has also expanded its Emerging Crypto Index to include ten assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, including XRP, BNB and Solana. Traders are watching the Federal Reserve’s October 27–28 meeting. Economists generally expect rates to remain at 3.75%–4.00%, but a hawkish outlook could weigh on higher-risk altcoins. A durable decline in Bitcoin dominance, an Altcoin Season Index above 75, broader market gains and sustained institutional inflows would offer stronger confirmation that altcoin season is beginning.

A comparison of Deel and Remote finds that both start at $599 per employee per month for employer-of-record (EOR) services and charge $29 per employee for global payroll. Remote is cheaper for contractor management at $29 per month, compared with Deel’s $49, and offers eligible startups a 15% first-year discount on EOR and contractor plans. Remote also has no standard EOR deposit. Deel stands out for crypto payroll. It accepts USDC and USDT to fund eligible invoices, lets contractors withdraw USDC or USDT through supported wallets and networks, and allows some employees to receive 10% to 25% of net pay in stablecoins. Remote offers USDC payouts to eligible contractors in about 67 countries, but does not support stablecoin payments to employees or crypto-funded invoices. Its payout route is limited to individuals and sole proprietors. For a hypothetical team with 10 contractors and two EOR employees, list-price fees are $1,688 a month at Deel and $1,488 at Remote. The choice therefore depends on priorities: Remote may suit teams focused on lower contractor costs, while Deel may better serve crypto businesses seeking stablecoin funding and payouts. The comparison is based partly on company pricing and help pages reviewed on 26 October 2026; the author says their own Deel experience involved bank transfers, not crypto payouts.

Kraken Pro has launched BTC and ETH options for eligible clients in the European Economic Area (EEA). The European-style, cash-settled contracts are available through clients’ existing Derivatives accounts on web and mobile, with weekly, monthly, quarterly and semi-annual expiries. Options are linear and settled in USD, while more than 30 currencies can be used as collateral. Kraken options trade through a request-for-quote (RFQ) system, allowing up to five legs per trade. Portfolio margin is enabled by default, and options share collateral with Futures. Unlike perpetual contracts, options do not incur funding payments. Clients must complete an appropriateness assessment before trading. The launch expands access to crypto derivatives on Kraken Pro and gives eligible EEA traders tools to trade volatility, hedge holdings or take a defined-risk directional position. Options can also carry substantial risk: buyers may lose their full position value, while losses for sellers can exceed posted margin and may be unlimited.

Nethermind has released v2.2.2, a patch update based on v2.2.1 that incorporates Microsoft’s October 2026 out-of-band .NET security updates. The release updates the .NET runtime in Docker images and self-contained binaries to version 10.0.14, and refreshes related .NET packages. Nethermind v2.2.2 makes no changes to Nethermind code, database formats, configuration, consensus behavior or fork schedules. Operators can upgrade in place from any 2.2.x version; Docker users can pull the new image tag. The update is focused on client security and maintenance, rather than Ethereum network or protocol changes.

MetaMask 8.17.1 is an over-the-air hotfix release focused on correcting a send-flow pricing issue. The update fixes a bug that double-counted a token’s price when converting crypto amounts to fiat currency, which could have made displayed values inaccurate. The release also includes a range of previously developed fixes and updates, including improvements to perpetual trading screens, Android controls, transaction details, and payment flows. The changelog is a software release record, not an announcement of a new token or a change to crypto market fundamentals.

Anthropic’s S-1 filing for its planned IPO shows strong enterprise adoption of Claude and a strategy to retain customers through a connected product ecosystem. As of September 30, more than 11,900 customers spent at least $100,000 a year; over 1,900 spent more than $1 million, and about 250 spent at least $10 million annually. Anthropic sells Claude through APIs, developer tools and enterprise chat products. Using multiple services may make it harder for customers to switch to competitors, although customers relying mainly on API access could move to a cheaper or newer model more easily. The company says it has raised about $12.7 billion. Amazon has committed up to $4 billion, and Google has invested around $2 billion; both also distribute Claude through their cloud platforms. The Anthropic S-1 highlights the potential strength and risk of large enterprise accounts: deep adoption could support recurring revenue, while concentration among major customers leaves the company exposed if they reduce spending. The filing may also offer a signal of public-market appetite for AI companies.

Sakana AI plans to build domestic AI models from scratch in Japan, shifting beyond its earlier focus on refining existing models and combining their capabilities. The Tokyo-based startup says locally developed models could reduce reliance on foreign AI, particularly in sensitive areas such as finance and defense. Founded in 2023 by former Google researchers, Sakana AI raised ¥20 billion (about $135 million) in a November 2025 Series B round at a post-money valuation of $2.65 billion. Its products include the Japan-focused Namazu model series and tools for coordinating AI agents and enterprise work. The company’s new development plans align with Japan’s wider sovereign AI push.

U.S. gasoline prices are near $4.29 per gallon, up about 44% from $2.98 before the Iran conflict began on February 28. President Donald Trump called higher fuel costs a small price to pay to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and predicted gasoline could eventually fall to $1.85 after the war. Oil prices eased on reports of diplomatic efforts, but Brent remained around $114.82 a barrel and U.S. WTI near $101.19. Risks to Middle Eastern production and shipping, including around the Strait of Hormuz, continue to support prices. JPMorgan estimated Brent’s underlying value at about $94, suggesting geopolitical uncertainty accounts for part of the premium. Diesel has risen roughly 69% to about $6.35 per gallon, increasing costs for transport, farming and other businesses. Persistent gasoline and diesel price pressures could feed inflation and complicate the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate outlook. For traders, the direction of oil and fuel prices will depend heavily on diplomacy and the security of regional energy infrastructure.

Unconventional AI, founded by former Nervana Systems and MosaicML entrepreneur Naveen Rao, has acquired Israeli AI-chip startup NeuReality in a cash-and-stock deal with undisclosed terms. About 40 NeuReality employees are expected to join Unconventional AI, which plans to retain operations in Israel. The acquisition adds chip-design and deployment expertise as Unconventional AI develops a new computing architecture intended to make AI hardware up to 1,000 times more energy-efficient. That figure is a company goal, not a proven commercial result. The startup says it has produced an experimental chip and is nearing completion of a second. Unconventional AI raised $475 million at a $4.5 billion valuation before launching a commercial product. Its deal for NeuReality comes as rising data-centre power needs fuel interest in alternatives to conventional AI processors. The technology remains under development, and the key test will be whether it can operate reliably and economically at scale.

QNT rose 13% on Monday to about $214, briefly reaching $223.96, while Bitcoin, Ethereum and the wider crypto market fell. The token has gained nearly 100% in a month, with Binance spot volume reaching $27.4 million by 15:00 UTC—more than twice its recent daily average. Coinbase and Kraken also recorded strong dollar-pair activity, while derivatives open interest remained low and funding was slightly negative, suggesting the rally was driven mainly by spot buying rather than leverage. Interest centres on Quant’s role in The Clearing House’s On-Chain Money Initiative. Announced in September, the project aims to connect banks’ tokenized deposits with the RTP and CHIPS payment systems. Bank onboarding is expected in the first quarter of 2027, with live transactions targeted for the second quarter; revenue for Quant is therefore not an immediate catalyst. Nearly all of QNT’s 14.6 million maximum supply is already circulating. Technically, QNT rebounded from around $173.50 and broke above $212.87. Traders are watching $200 as near-term support and $251.60–$255 as resistance. A daily close below $200 could undermine the breakout, while a close above resistance may put the $270 area in view.