Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

YZi Labs has launched a $1B Builder Fund to boost growth on the BNB Chain. The fund offers up to $500,000 per team, plus mentorship, developer tools, and access to a 460 million–user network. It focuses on DeFi, tokenization, decentralized science, payments and wallet infrastructure. This follows the Maxwell Hardfork, which cut block times from 1 s to 0.75 s and gas fees to around 0.05 Gwei. Weekly DEX volume has surged to $16 billion, surpassing Solana’s $15 billion, and BNB hit a record $1,330 amid a memecoin rally. Led by Ella Zhang, YZi Labs combines its MVB accelerator with EASY Residency and expands hubs in New York, San Francisco, Dubai and Singapore. The Builder Fund aims to drive real-world dApps beyond speculative tokens. If BNB holds the $1,000 support level and attracts quality builders, it may test $1,500. Long-term growth depends on measurable product launches and sustaining user engagement.

North Dakota’s state-owned Bank of North Dakota will collaborate with Fiserv to issue ‘Roughrider Coin’, a USD-backed stablecoin fully reserved in dollars and short-term U.S. Treasuries, launching in 2026. Built on Fiserv’s digital assets platform and integrated with its FIUSD network, Roughrider Coin aims to modernize interbank transactions, improve overnight lending, interbank financing and infrastructure loans among community banks and credit unions, accelerate cross-border payments, and support merchant adoption. The stablecoin’s design ensures price stability and compliance under the 2025 GENIUS Act, with blockchain integrations by Paxos and Circle. Starting as an institutional tool, North Dakota may later expand Roughrider for broader retail use. As the second U.S. state-backed stablecoin following Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Token, this initiative underscores growing institutional interest in regulated digital dollars and could enhance capital flows within existing banking networks.

Coinbase has secured approval from the New York Department of Financial Services to launch crypto staking services for seven proof-of-stake assets: Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cosmos (ATOM), Cardano (ADA), Avalanche (AVAX), Polygon (MATIC) and Polkadot (DOT). This regulatory approval extends Coinbase’s staking platform to 46 states, excluding California, New Jersey, Maryland and Wisconsin. Staking rewards vary by asset, with Cosmos offering up to 16% APY and Ethereum yielding about 1.9%. The NYDFS green light follows recent SEC guidance clarifying that staking-as-a-service is not a securities offering when structured transparently. Earlier this year, Vermont, Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama and South Carolina dropped legal actions against Coinbase. Approval arrives after Adrienne Harris’s resignation as NYDFS head, who settled a $100 million compliance case with Coinbase in 2023. This move highlights the maturation of the US crypto staking market and strengthens Coinbase’s position as it pursues a National Trust Company Charter and broadens service integrations like Samsung Wallet. Traders should watch for increased crypto staking participation and potential shifts in market dynamics.

Canary Capital has filed final S-1 amendments with the SEC for its spot Litecoin ETF (LTCC) and spot Hedera ETF (HBR), each set at a 0.95% sponsor fee. Nasdaq has also submitted the required 19b-4 form to list the Litecoin ETF. These filings mark the “go-time” step identified by Bloomberg analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart, indicating they are poised for launch once normal SEC operations resume. Approval has been delayed by the US government shutdown, which forced the SEC to miss its October 2 deadline and pause spot ETF reviews. The HBAR ETF’s 240-day review window closes October 29, and Hedera’s strong compliance record suggests a smooth path to approval. Despite the pause, the spot Litecoin ETF and other altcoin products stand to benefit from a robust ETF pipeline. Firms including Tuttle Capital, GraniteShares and ProShares have filed nearly 250 new 3x leveraged ETFs tied to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), ready to debut post-shutdown. Traders are watching for renewed approval momentum and potential inflows into altcoin spot ETFs beyond BTC and ETH.

Bit Digital has expanded its Ethereum holdings by acquiring 31,057 ETH through a $150 million convertible notes offering priced at $4.16 per share. This raises its treasury to 150,244 ETH (approximately $675 million). These Ethereum holdings now rank Bit Digital among the top public ETH holders. Major institutional investors—including Kraken Financial, Jump Trading Credit and Jane Street Capital—participated in the deal. CEO Sam Tabar said the acquisition supports shareholder value and shows confidence in Ethereum’s role in future financial systems. The convertible notes hedge leverage risks common in digital asset treasuries. After SEC approval of spot Ether ETFs with staking components, ETH has shifted toward a yield-bearing asset. Growing institutional demand for Ethereum also underpins Layer 2 networks like Arbitrum and Optimism, boosting scalability and tokenization use cases.

Strategy Inc, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, posted a $3.9B unrealized Bitcoin fair-value gain in Q3 2025. Its 640,031 BTC stash reached $80.3B at Sept 29, reflecting the Bitcoin rally. The surge pushed Strategy’s market cap past Coinbase, making it the 106th largest US public company. The gain triggered a $1.12B deferred tax expense. MSTR stock climbed 25% year-to-date, peaking at $365 in premarket. To fund purchases, the firm raised $5.09B via a preferred share IPO and at-the-market equity programs, retaining $46.3B issuance capacity. It paused Bitcoin buying for the first time since April, aligning with $140M in dividends, and cited quarter-end adjustments rather than a strategy shift. Traders should note Strategy’s leveraged Bitcoin exposure and its potential to amplify market volatility.

Rezolve AI has acquired fintech firm Smartpay in an deal announced on October 7, merging Smartpay’s USDT-based stablecoin payment infrastructure with Rezolve’s blockchain expertise. Smartpay’s platform, which has processed over 19 million transactions totaling more than $1 billion, converts USDT payments into local fiat and serves merchants across Latin America and Central Africa, where currency volatility is high. The acquisition enables fee-free merchant checkouts and seamless Tether settlements for online and in-store transactions. Rezolve plans to roll out APIs and developer tools to support cross-border remittances and point-of-sale systems, leveraging stablecoin payments to reduce costs and accelerate settlement. Early pilot programs are expected to increase on-chain volume and strengthen Tether’s market position. This move underscores the growing demand for stablecoin payments and digital asset integration in retail, e-commerce, and service industries, positioning Rezolve AI as a scalable alternative to traditional payment processors.

BitGo’s MENA subsidiary has secured the VARA license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, authorizing institutional digital asset trading and brokerage services across the region. The BitGo VARA license approval arrives as VARA steps up enforcement—recently fining 19 firms, including TON DLT and Hokk Finance, for unauthorized crypto activities and marketing breaches. Concurrently, BitGo’s European unit received BaFin authorization in Germany, reinforcing the firm’s global expansion strategy through local regulatory compliance. This regulatory endorsement underpins BitGo’s planned US IPO; its S-1 filing with the SEC reports over $90 billion in assets under custody. Traders may anticipate boosted institutional inflows, enhanced liquidity in MENA markets, and broader institutional adoption as the BitGo VARA license and BaFin clearances signal growing regulatory alignment for digital asset services.

Fight Fight Fight LLC, issuer of the $TRUMP meme coin, plans to raise $200 million—potentially up to $1 billion—from private investors. The funds will finance a dedicated digital asset reserve company to accumulate and hold $TRUMP tokens on Solana. Led by Trump ally Bill Zanker, the reserve aims to provide sustained price support for the meme coin. $TRUMP launched in January ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, briefly peaking at $44. The token now trades around $7.55 with a market capitalization of $1.5 billion and a fully diluted valuation of $7.6 billion. Since launch, Zanker’s team has sustained momentum via events like the May “Trump Dinner” for top holders. In parallel, the Trump family–backed DeFi project World Liberty Financial (WLFI) maintains a $1.3 billion token reserve managed by Nasdaq-listed fintech Alt5 Sigma. Traders should watch the upcoming fundraising and reserve buildup for potential short-term support to $TRUMP token price, while remaining cautious on long-term viability.

Meanwhile, a Bermuda Monetary Authority–regulated insurer, has raised $82 million in a Series B round led by Bain Capital Crypto and Haun Ventures, with participation from Pantera Capital, Apollo, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures and Stillmark. The funds will fast-track the launch of Bitcoin life insurance, annuities, savings and insurance-bond products designed as inflation hedges and currency-risk protections. Meanwhile recently released its first audited Bitcoin financial statements, reporting over 200% year-to-date growth in assets under management. Together with a $40 million Series A, its total 2025 fundraising reaches $122 million. CEO Zac Townsend says the capital will support institutional-grade, compliant Bitcoin-denominated solutions for long-term savings and retirement planning. This milestone underscores growing institutional demand for Bitcoin life insurance and related products as inflation-proof assets.

BNY Mellon is piloting tokenized deposits to migrate part of its $2.5 trillion daily payment flows onto blockchain. Led by Carl Slabicki, the initiative will convert traditional bank deposits into on-chain tokenized deposits, enabling real-time settlement, 24/7 availability and reduced cross-border payments costs. In July, the bank teamed with Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Fidelity and Federated Hermes to launch a tokenized money market fund on a private blockchain. BNY Mellon also joined over 30 institutions collaborating with SWIFT on a shared blockchain ledger for instant international payments. Similar pilots from JPMorgan’s JPMD, HSBC and SBI Shinsei Bank demonstrate rising adoption of programmable finance and real-world asset tokenization. As U.S. and EU regulators clarify stablecoin and digital asset rules, tokenized deposits could reshape payments infrastructure, boost on-chain liquidity and drive broader market adoption.

Ondo Finance has completed its acquisition of Oasis Pro, an SEC-registered broker-dealer, alternative trading system (ATS) and transfer agent. Announced in July, the deal secures a comprehensive regulatory stack for tokenized securities and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. With these SEC licenses, Ondo Finance can launch regulated primary and secondary markets for tokenized securities and digital assets. These include tokenized Treasury bills, corporate debt, real estate assets and private equity stakes. The platform can also undertake underwriting and private placements. Oasis Pro, founded in 2019 as a FINRA member, was among the first to settle digital securities in fiat and stablecoins. Ondo Finance manages over $1.6 billion in assets. It already offers tokenized US stocks and ETFs 24/7 on Ethereum to non-US investors, plus products like OUSG treasuries and yield-bearing USDY tokens. Competitors such as Robinhood and Coinbase are exploring tokenized equities. Industry analysts forecast the tokenized asset market could reach $18 trillion by 2033. After the acquisition, ONDO token trades near $0.97, up 6.4% in 24 hours.

US Senator Cynthia Lummis reiterated that under President Trump’s March executive order, funding for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve could begin at any time. The order empowers the Treasury to use seized BTC and budget-neutral mechanisms without raising taxes. Lummis, alongside ProCap BTC CIO Jeff Park and advocate Anthony Pompliano, proposed tapping up to $1 trillion in unrealized gold-paper gains to buy Bitcoin, projecting a 30× return over 30 years at 12% annual growth and helping narrow the $37.88 trillion debt-driven budget gap. The BITCOIN Act would formalize Bitcoin as a national asset alongside gold, leveraging over 198,000 BTC already seized. Initial funding may use seized holdings, with additional reserves added in ways that avoid taxpayer costs. Lummis is also addressing crypto ATM fraud in the upcoming market structure bill. The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve aims to bolster financial stability, reduce debt reliance, and prepare the US for a digital economy, with implementation targeted by late 2025.

Ruble-backed A7A5 stablecoin has surged 43% in 24 hours, lifting its market cap to $474 million and overtaking EURC as the largest non-USD stablecoin. Launched in February 2025 on Ethereum and Tron, A7A5 stablecoin is backed 1:1 by ruble deposits in Kyrgyz banks and offers daily interest from its reserves. According to DeFi Llama, it now holds 40.8% of the non-dollar stablecoin market, with projections of 20% market share by 2028. At Token2049 Singapore, the team announced plans for fiat-to-A7A5 conversions and ruble debit cards. Despite its growth, A7A5 faces scrutiny over ties to sanctioned banks and reports of $6 billion moved under U.S. sanctions. In August 2025, nearly 80% of transaction volume flowed through Chinese jurisdictions, and the EU is considering measures to curb A7A5 transactions. The project is also expanding into Africa with offices in Zimbabwe and Nigeria, highlighting ongoing regulatory challenges for non-USD stablecoins.

Last week, crypto fund inflows reached a record $5.95B, up from $1.9B reported earlier, propelled by US-based ETFs which accounted for $5B of the total. BlackRock’s iShares ETFs led with $2.5B, followed by Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund with $692M. By asset, crypto fund inflows into Bitcoin funds attracted an all-time high $3.55B, while Ethereum vehicles saw $1.5B of inflows, and Solana and XRP funds logged $706M and $219M respectively. Year-to-date inflows have hit $12.6B, pushing total assets under management to $40.3B. The surge follows delayed market reactions to the Fed’s rate cut, weak US employment data and government shutdown concerns, with Bitcoin briefly touching a new high of $125.7K. Traders should note that robust inflows into crypto investment products, especially ETFs, could signal continued bullish momentum and higher liquidity in both the short and long term.

Last week, crypto ETP inflows reached a record $5.95 billion, driven by renewed US macroeconomic uncertainty and expectations of monetary easing. According to CoinShares, this 35% jump over the mid-July high of $4.4 billion was led by Bitcoin ETPs, which attracted $3.6 billion as BTC surged past $125,000. Ethereum funds followed with $1.48 billion in net inflows, lifting its year-to-date capital to $13.7 billion—nearly three times last year’s total. Solana and XRP ETPs drew $706.5 million and $219.4 million, respectively. The surge in crypto ETP inflows pushed total assets under management in these products to a new high of $254.4 billion. Meanwhile, Japan’s election of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi injected fresh optimism. Known for her pro-growth stance and support for digital innovation—including prior backing of cryptocurrency fundraising—her leadership could pave the way for clearer crypto regulations, local ETF launches, and further monetary easing. Traders view these developments as bullish catalysts, potentially fuelling short-term price rallies and sustaining longer-term institutional demand in crypto markets.

ApeX Protocol’s latest report ranks Singapore first in global crypto adoption, achieving a perfect score and doubling digital asset ownership to 24.4% since 2021. The city-state also leads in search interest and advanced infrastructure. The UAE follows closely, topping ownership at 25.3% with a 210% adoption surge, while the US ranks third, supported by regulatory clarity, spot BTC ETFs and 30,000 crypto ATMs. Canada and Turkey secure fourth and fifth spots amid rising inflation-driven demand. Notably, Singapore pursues tokenization via Project Guardian and launched XSGD, its first SGD-backed stablecoin. In contrast, Hong Kong’s strict KYC/AML rules have slowed stablecoin licensing until 2026. This trend underscores the impact of clear regulations and robust infrastructure on crypto adoption.

Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee recommends a conservative crypto allocation across client portfolios. It suggests up to 4% in opportunistic growth strategies and 1–2% for balanced income portfolios. The report highlights Bitcoin’s volatility and potential high returns, positioning BTC as “digital gold” and an inflation hedge. It stresses regular portfolio rebalancing—quarterly or at least annually—to manage risk. In addition, Morgan Stanley plans to launch retail crypto trading on its E-Trade platform in partnership with Zerohash by 2026. Major brokers are adding support for Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, expanding access to BTC, ETH and SOL. This move reflects growing institutional confidence in digital assets and the mainstreaming of crypto trading. This disciplined approach to crypto allocation and portfolio rebalancing helps manage volatility and diversify portfolios.

A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a 2022 lawsuit against Web3 developer Yuga Labs, ruling that its Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFTs and ApeCoin tokens do not qualify as securities under the SEC’s Howey Test. The court found no evidence of a shared enterprise or profit expectations tied to Yuga Labs’ ongoing efforts. Instead, BAYC NFTs were marketed as digital collectibles with membership perks, not as investment contracts promising returns. The ruling clarifies that roadmap milestones and future utility statements alone do not constitute a securities offering. By reducing legal uncertainty around consumer-focused NFTs, the decision may stabilize market perceptions and support trading activity in top NFT projects. However, the SEC continues to monitor projects with revenue-sharing or promotional payouts.

Blockchain revenue fell 16% month-over-month in September as calmer markets and lower volatility reduced network fees. Tron led annual blockchain earnings with $3.6B, driven by stablecoins—51% of USDT supply on its network—while Ethereum generated about $1B despite a market cap over 16 times larger. September revenues: Ethereum down 6%, Solana fell 11%, and Tron fees plunged 37% after an August vote halved gas charges. Volatility also cooled: Ether volatility slid 40%, SOL down 16%, and Bitcoin eased 26%, curbing high-fee trading. The stablecoin market cap topped $290B, highlighting how stablecoins underpin network revenues even when blockchain revenue dips overall.

The Coinbase Samsung partnership now lets U.S. Galaxy smartphone users buy and manage crypto directly in Samsung Wallet via Samsung Pay. This Coinbase Samsung partnership leverages Samsung’s global scale and Coinbase’s trusted platform to simplify mobile trading. Phase one grants 75m+ users free Coinbase One access with zero staking fees, boosted rewards, priority support and enhanced security. Built on improved U.S. regulatory clarity, this mobile on-ramp aims to boost crypto adoption, user engagement and trading volumes. COIN shares have surged 53% YTD, and a global rollout could extend services to over one billion Galaxy users.

Stablecoin market capitalization soared past $300 billion for the first time, driven by a 46.8% year-to-date gain. Data from DeFiLlama shows the milestone was reached on October 3, 2025. Tether’s USDT leads the stablecoin market with a 58% share at $172 billion, followed by Circle’s USDC at $74 billion. Yield-bearing USDe climbed from $6 billion in January to $15 billion in October, while DAI holds $5 billion. Ethereum hosts $171 billion in stablecoin supply. Solana-based tokens rose 70% to $13.7 billion, and Arbitrum and Aptos circulation grew 70% and 96%, respectively. Q3 saw $40 billion of inflows, suggesting the sector may add $23 billion by year-end to match last year’s 58% growth. Experts predict stablecoin supply could double to $600 billion within a year, fueled by new payment-platform tokens and deeper DeFi integration. Sector maturity, including Circle’s USDC transaction reversibility trials, indicates growing utility in trading, global payments and remittances. This stablecoin market rally underscores crypto recovery and trading demand.

Nomura’s Swiss arm Laser Digital is in pre-consultation with Japan’s Financial Services Agency for a Japan crypto license, aiming to provide broker-dealer and asset management services to domestic institutions and exchanges. Building on its Dubai license, the firm targets growing institutional demand amid a surge in Japan’s digital asset market, where transaction volumes reached ¥33.7 trillion ($230 billion) in the first seven months of 2025. The move follows Daiwa Securities’ launch of a Bitcoin and Ether-backed lending service and reflects regulatory reforms, including crypto rules aligned with securities law, tax incentives and a new yen-pegged stablecoin. A Nomura-Laser Digital survey found 54% of investment managers plan to invest in digital assets within three years, underscoring rising institutional appetite. Approval of the Japan crypto license would boost liquidity and align local regulations with global standards, potentially creating new opportunities for crypto traders.

Since 2017, a critical Unity vulnerability has been found in over 70% of popular mobile games and across Android, Windows, macOS and Linux projects. The Unity vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious code into game processes, enabling overlay attacks, keylogging and screenshot capture to steal crypto wallet private keys and mnemonics. Google is working with Unity to distribute patches privately and assist developers in updating apps on Google Play. No active exploits have been detected in official Play Store apps, but sideloaded APKs remain at high risk. Unity has begun issuing patch tools and will publish detailed update guidelines next week. Crypto traders should update Unity-based games and systems immediately, avoid unverified download sources, disable ‘draw over other apps’ permissions, check app permissions, disable unnecessary overlays, and isolate crypto wallets on separate devices.

AlloyX has launched its Real Yield Token (RYT), a tokenized money market fund on Polygon. RYT tokens represent shares in a traditional MMF backed by US Treasuries and commercial paper, custodied by Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong. This tokenized money market fund enables on-chain trading and use of RYT as collateral for borrowing. Traders can implement DeFi yield looping by recycling RYT tokens across protocols. The Polygon deployment leverages low fees, fast settlement, and a mature DeFi ecosystem. The market for tokenized short-term instruments has surged. Moody’s estimates an $8 billion market with average yields near 3.93%. Institutional players like BlackRock and Goldman Sachs have launched similar funds, underscoring growing demand for on-chain real-world assets. RYT on Polygon bridges traditional cash management and DeFi strategies. It offers traders regulated liquidity solutions with composability and potential yield optimization.

President Trump has nominated Travis Hill, the current acting chair, for a five-year term as FDIC Chair. The nomination has been sent to the Senate Banking Committee. However, the process may be delayed by the ongoing government shutdown and vacancies at the CFTC and SEC. Since January, Hill has championed crypto regulation at the FDIC. He reversed prior digital-asset restrictions, clarifying that banks can provide crypto services without seeking pre-approval. Hill also criticized the ’debanking’ of crypto firms and called for clear rules to foster innovation and protect consumers. Confirmation would cement crypto regulation at the FDIC and offer banks and digital-asset markets much-needed stability.

OpenAI has completed a $6.6 billion secondary sale of employee shares, lifting its valuation to $500 billion. This new OpenAI valuation surpasses SpaceX, making it the world’s most valuable private company. Investors such as Thrive Capital, SoftBank, Dragoneer and T. Rowe Price led the round. They cited OpenAI’s $4.3 billion revenue in H1 and ChatGPT’s market dominance. Microsoft’s earlier $13 billion investment in cloud infrastructure underpins this private company valuation. The share sale released liquidity for long-tenured employees and will fund expanded AI research, model training and compute infrastructure. Led by Sam Altman, OpenAI plans to enhance model capabilities and support global deployment as market demand for its technology grows. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s xAI, valued at $200 billion after a September round, has raised an additional $10 billion plus $2 billion from SpaceX. xAI’s Grok AI is integrated across Musk’s ecosystem, creating a data loop for customer insights. Analysts project Grok revenues rising from $500 million in 2025 to $19 billion by 2029. This breakthrough OpenAI valuation may reshape tech valuations and fuel interest in AI funding. Traders should watch AI investment trends as funding rounds and model advances could drive market shifts.

After Brian Quintenz’s stalled nomination, the White House is vetting new pro-crypto candidates for CFTC chair, including SEC’s Mike Selig and Treasury advisor Tyler Williams. Former CFTC head J. Christopher Giancarlo confirms the administration is also filling other vacant commissioner slots. Nominees must win Senate confirmation, a process delayed by political opposition and a partial government shutdown. With acting Chair Caroline Pham at the helm, the CFTC’s full crypto oversight remains limited. A fully staffed commission could gain spot-market jurisdiction over cryptocurrencies under pending market-structure legislation. Traders view clear CFTC leadership as vital to regulatory clarity and U.S. crypto market stability.

On September 24, 2025, SBI Crypto, one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pools and a subsidiary of SBI Group, fell victim to a $21 million SBI Crypto hack. Hackers linked by blockchain researcher ZachXBT to North Korea’s state-backed Lazarus Group stole BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE and BCH. The funds passed through five instant exchanges before entering the Tornado Cash mixer, highlighting loopholes in mining pool security and the difficulty of tracking laundered assets. SBI Group has yet to issue an official response. Traders should watch for possible spikes in Bitcoin mining fees, network stability risks and tighter regulations on privacy mixers following this major SBI Crypto hack.