Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

ZKasino, a DeFi casino platform, has initiated ETH refunds to compensate users after its $33M rug pull. So far, 2,500 of the 8,000 affected addresses (35%) have received partial payouts. A second refund batch is set for next week, potentially covering up to 75% of investors. Larger withdrawals will require KYC checks and may incur interest adjustments under legal obligations. The ETH refunds process follows the collapse of ZKasino’s “bridge-to-earn” campaign, where over 10,000 wallets bridged 10,515 ETH. Deposits were converted into vested ZKAS tokens and staked on Lido without consent. In April 2024, Dutch authorities arrested a suspect, seizing about $12M in crypto, real estate and vehicles. Ongoing liquidity and legal actions will determine the final recovery. Traders should monitor refund schedules, transparency measures and on-chain asset movements for potential market impact.

Strive Inc. closed an oversubscribed Nasdaq ‘SATA’ IPO, upsizing its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock from 1.25 million to 2 million shares at $80 each to raise $160 million. The company will deploy the proceeds to expand its Bitcoin treasury to 7,525 BTC, including a recent purchase of 1,567 BTC at an average price of $103,315. As the first corporate treasury firm to rely exclusively on perpetual preferred equity for Bitcoin accumulation, Strive leverages its Well-Known Seasoned Issuer status and $2+ billion in assets under management at Strive Asset Management. This non-dilutive financing model offers conservative investors a fixed-income–like exposure to Bitcoin while supporting predictable returns and long-term digital treasury growth.

Mastercard has launched a pilot to settle Gemini credit card purchases on the XRP Ledger using the RLUSD stablecoin. The trial is backed by Ripple, Gemini, and WebBank. It marks one of the first US-regulated bank transactions on a public blockchain. Under the program, WebBank will issue the Gemini Card. Payments will be facilitated and settled via RLUSD on the XRP Ledger. This RLUSD stablecoin settlement offers faster, transparent, and fully compliant stablecoin payments compared to traditional rails. The partners aim to integrate RLUSD into Mastercard and WebBank systems, pending regulatory approval. They also plan to leverage supportive legislation like the US GENIUS Act. The initiative enhances liquidity and sets a framework for broader blockchain-based card programs.

OpenAI has formally asked the US government to expand the Chips Act tax credit to cover AI data centers, servers and related power grid infrastructure. In a letter from Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane to White House science adviser Michael Kratsios, the company proposed extending the 35% Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) under the Chips Act to include AI build-outs. OpenAI says this expansion of the Chips Act tax credit will lower early-stage investment costs and attract private capital for domestic AI infrastructure. The proposal also calls for faster permitting and environmental reviews, a strategic reserve of key materials such as copper, aluminum and rare earths, and streamlined regulatory pathways for new data centers. CFO Sarah Friar confirmed OpenAI is not seeking direct subsidies or government guarantees, while CEO Sam Altman emphasized market-driven principles. The request coincides with OpenAI’s forecast of a $20 billion annualized revenue run rate by end-2025 and $1.4 trillion in capital commitments over eight years. The letter follows OpenAI’s recent acquisition of Software Applications, Inc., developer of the ‘Sky’ AI assistant for Mac. Traders should note that increased AI infrastructure spending could raise electricity demand, indirectly affecting energy markets and crypto mining operations.

The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) has proposed a £20,000 retail stablecoin cap to limit systemic risk from private digital currencies and prevent competition with bank deposits. Under the proposed cap, individuals could hold no more than £20,000 in fiat-backed tokens—such as USDT and USDC—at any time. The FPC will launch a public consultation ahead of finalising the rules later this year. The measure aligns the UK’s timeline with US stablecoin regulations and echoes global efforts like the EU’s MiCA framework. Industry participants warn that the stablecoin cap may dampen retail demand and hinder innovation in the short term but could enhance financial stability and boost sector confidence over the long run.

James Chanos, founder of Kynikos Associates, closed his 11-month short position on MicroStrategy (MSTR) and exited a long Bitcoin trade on November 7. MSTR shares plunged about 50% from their peak, narrowing the market net asset value (mNAV) premium on its 641,205 BTC holdings from 2.5× to 1.23×. Chanos said that most of his bearish thesis has played out, citing the collapse of valuation from $70 billion to $15 billion. Industry analysts see this move as a potential bottom for Bitcoin treasury stocks. Pierre Rochard of The Bitcoin Bond Company noted signs of an end to the bear market for bitcoin treasury firms, while Willy Woo expects MicroStrategy to hold its Bitcoin through future downturns. Traders should monitor MSTR for a possible rebound and short-covering rallies. The exit by one of Wall Street’s most prominent short-sellers signals improving market sentiment. A resurgence in bitcoin treasury stocks could spark renewed investor interest and trading opportunities in the sector.

Ethereum Foundation has overhauled its Ecosystem Support Program (ESP), pausing open applications and shifting to a proactive, strategy-driven grants model. From November 3, 2025, funding will be allocated via a high-priority “Wishlist” and targeted Requests for Proposals (RFPs), focusing on cryptography, privacy, application-layer infrastructure, security and community growth. This new approach aims to optimize resource allocation, reduce administrative burden and ensure support for high-impact projects. Concurrently, the Foundation launched Founders Lab at Devconnect Argentina (November 18–19). This mentorship accelerator pairs early-stage teams with industry leaders—such as Coinbase Base lead Jesse Pollak and Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal—for one-on-one guidance on go-to-market strategy, fundraising, product scaling and ecosystem integration. By combining strategic grants with hands-on support, the initiative is designed to strengthen project execution and accelerate innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Bitget CMO Ignacio Aguirre Franco has been appointed to drive global growth and advance the Universal Exchange (UEX) vision. As Bitget CMO, he brings over 15 years of experience at Adobe, SAP, Scorechain and Xapo Bank to lead product marketing and user engagement for Onchain, GetAgent and Stock Futures. His strategy centers on simplifying complex crypto trading products, integrating CeFi, DeFi and TradFi, and boosting mass adoption to reach 150 million users by 2026. The appointment strengthens Bitget’s brand amid partnerships with LaLiga, MotoGP and the UNTOLD Festival, highlighting its commitment to innovation, security and financial inclusivity.

Zcash price has surged dramatically, climbing 1,486% over the past three months to $676.64 after a 26% one-day spike. It then jumped 20% to $658, extending a 200% rally over the last month and a 1,300% year-to-date gain. ZEC’s market cap hit $10.3 billion, making it the 18th-largest cryptocurrency. Traders are focused on the upcoming Nov. 18 halving, which will cut block rewards by 50% and tighten supply. Historical data shows ZEC rose 92% after its 2020 halving. Speculative trading, negative funding rates and short squeezes have amplified recent price moves. Privacy adoption is on the rise, with over 30% of ZEC moving into shielded pools—a 60% increase in one month. Technical upgrades like Zashi Wallet and Project Tachyon underscore renewed interest in Zcash’s privacy features. High-profile endorsements, notably Arthur Hayes’ $10,000 price target, have spurred retail FOMO. Institutional inflows are picking up as well. Grayscale’s Zcash Trust assets under management doubled to $151 million. On-chain metrics show open interest up 22% to $1.12 billion, while daily trading volume fell 29% to $2.3 billion, indicating traders are holding positions. Zcash price technicals remain bullish despite an RSI of 83 signaling overbought conditions. Support sits near $550, with resistance between $700 and $720. A pullback to $600 could offer a buying opportunity, while a break above $720 may target $850.

KOL Rounds have become a dominant token distribution model in crypto fundraising, with projects bypassing VC and offering discounted allocations directly to influencers. According to recent data, 3,860 tweets mentioned “KOL” versus 3,078 for “VC,” signaling a shift toward influencer marketing. Successful KOL rounds like Aster (70× gains) and Holoworld AI’s HOLO (444% returns) showcase high early liquidity, but pump-and-dump cases such as SatoshiVM (SAVM from $11 to $0.075) and ZKasino’s asset freeze underline extreme volatility. Trading participants and retail investors should scrutinize token unlock schedules, vesting terms, VC backing, agency credentials and team reputation before buying into any KOL round. While KOL rounds accelerate FOMO-driven price spikes, they also introduce accountability gaps and steep sell-offs, making rigorous due diligence essential.

My First Bitcoin, founded by John Dennehy in 2021, has ended its partnership with El Salvador’s Education Ministry and closed its local office. After teaching over 27,000 Salvadoran students and accumulating 6,374 BTC (~$655 million), the nonprofit will adopt a fully remote model to expand Bitcoin education globally. It plans to open-source course materials and training tools for educators and community projects, aiming to scale its audience from local millions to billions worldwide. The shift follows El Salvador’s December 2024 IMF agreement, which paused further BTC accumulation and made acceptance voluntary, underscoring evolving crypto policy. This move marks a maturing phase in Bitcoin education.

Last week saw over $300 million in token unlocks across 24 altcoins between Oct 12–18, following U.S.–China tariff news. This week (Nov 10–16) brings a fresh wave of token unlocks amounting to about $207 million across 20 altcoins. Small-cap projects (HOME, CHEEL, ION) will unlock 3%–16% of supply. Mid-caps (MOCA, BB, ZKC) follow with 5%–7% releases. Major networks including Linea ($32.5 million, 16.3%), Aptos ($36.4 million, 1.6%) and Arbitrum ($28.1 million, 1.7%) also unlock tokens. Notably, WalletConnect Token and stablecoin STBL will unlock 46%–70% of supply on Nov 15–16, potentially fueling sell‐side pressure. Traders should track the detailed token unlock calendar to anticipate liquidity influx, manage trading risk, and adjust strategies ahead of likely short-term volatility triggered by these token unlocks.

Bitcoin price surged past $104,000 on Binance’s USDT market, marking a historic milestone that exceeded previous all-time highs and delivered a roughly 400% gain from 2023 lows. Institutional adoption and increased demand from major financial players have accelerated buying pressure. Favorable macroeconomic conditions, regulatory clarity, and upcoming network upgrades bolstered confidence. Trading volume spiked and market sentiment turned overwhelmingly positive, fueling FOMO among traders. On-chain fundamentals strengthened as long-term holders reduced selling, while technical analysis points to potential resistance near $110,000. Despite the bullish trend, traders should prepare for volatility by applying sound risk management and considering market cycles. This breakthrough reinforces Bitcoin’s position as digital gold and signals a maturing market dynamic poised for further growth.

Shiba Inu burn rate plunged 47.20% over the past week, with only 32.3 million SHIB tokens removed from circulation. The daily burn rate also tumbled by 78.31% to 919,747 tokens, reducing deflationary pressure. SHIB traded around $0.00000995, down 2.21% for the week, after falling to $0.00000837 on November 4. On November 8, an hourly golden cross formed when the 50-period MA crossed above the 200-period MA, triggering an 11% rally to $0.00001027. Traders now see support at $0.000007–$0.000008 and resistance levels at $0.00001085 and $0.00001255. Macro headwinds, including a U.S. government shutdown and weak consumer sentiment, add to market volatility. Crypto traders should monitor the Shiba Inu burn rate, volume spikes and technical analysis indicators to judge if the golden cross can sustain a bullish rebound or if low burns will delay recovery.

Onchain Lens data reveals that a newly created wallet deposited 6.27 million USDC into Hyperliquid on November 8, immediately opening a ZEC long at $504. The following day, the same wallet added 3.54 million USDC to launch a 10× leveraged ZEC long. These whale-level USDC inflows and high leverage underline strong bullish sentiment for Zcash. Historically, similar ZEC longs on Hyperliquid have driven notable price swings and heightened market volatility. Traders should watch this activity as a key indicator of potential upward price momentum in ZEC.

The Lyno AI presale launched at a $0.05 early-bird price and will progress to $0.055 and $0.10 in later stages. The presale has sold over 970,000 LYNO tokens, raising $48,515 to date. Backed by a Cyberscope audit, the Lyno AI presale token uses AI-driven cross-chain arbitrage across 15 blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum and Optimism. Flash loans and oracle price feeds exploit price gaps, while a 30% revenue-share on arbitrage profits and liquidity mining boost staking rewards. Investors staking over $100 enter a 100,000-token giveaway and compete for ten $10,000 prizes in a $100,000 campaign. Analysts forecast up to 17,200% ROI by Q4 2025 as ETH’s bullish momentum underpins AI-based DeFi innovation. By opening access to a $14 billion cross-chain arbitrage market, the Lyno AI presale offers traders a high-growth DeFi opportunity.

Ethereum is facing a growing short squeeze risk as over $10 billion in leveraged shorts cluster between $3 600 and $4 500. On-chain data show elevated open interest and negative funding rates, increasing liquidation pressure. Major whales and institutions, including Bitmine’s 234 846 ETH purchase and BlackRock’s accumulations, have been snapping up dips around $3 000–$3 400, signaling smart money support for a price recovery. Technical indicators also turn bullish: the RSI hovers near 45, the –DI on the DMI is fading, and price is testing the 20- and 50-day EMAs at about $3 460–$3 900. A decisive break above these EMAs could trigger rapid short covering and propel Ethereum toward $4 500. Traders should monitor funding rates, whale movements, liquidity clusters, and key EMA levels, using defined position sizes and protective stops. Historical precedents link concentrated shorts and smart money accumulation to sharp rallies, underscoring the bullish short squeeze potential.

Quantum computing stocks have surged over 1,900% in the past year despite minimal revenue and long commercialization timelines. Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum each command valuations above $10 billion, trading at more than 500 times projected revenue and burning cash on R&D with limited commercial income. Investors liken the trend to early biotech, betting on breakthroughs in drug design, climate modeling and cryptography. Political and corporate backing has intensified: the Trump administration prioritized quantum computing, Fidelity invested in Quantinuum at a $10 billion valuation, and Google claims quantum supremacy. Yet, critics warn that frothy valuations and momentum-driven buying resemble past tech bubbles. Harrington Alpha’s Bruce Cox has shorted Rigetti amid a 34% pullback from recent highs, which erased about $12 billion in combined market value. Analyst sentiment remains largely positive—six of seven covering Rigetti and all ten covering D-Wave recommend buys—but extreme market volatility and uncertain product rollouts pose significant downside risk. Crypto traders should weigh the hype in quantum computing stocks against fundamentals and monitor developments in quantum cryptography that could affect blockchain security.

Eric Trump, son of former US President Donald Trump, has restated his long-term Bitcoin price prediction of $1 million. He points to rising individual and institutional demand. Access via Bitcoin ETFs, 401(k) plans and Roth IRAs has accelerated adoption. Major families, private wealth funds and Fortune 500 firms are acquiring BTC daily. Some nations are using surplus energy to mine Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Trump highlights Bitcoin’s digital design for fast, low-cost global transfers and better liquidity than gold, noting its capped supply of 21 million. Through his firm AmericanBitcoins, he plans to launch a leading American Bitcoin company. Growing ETF launches and institutional demand could drive bullish market sentiment and speed Bitcoin’s price surge.

Ripple IPO plans remain shelved despite a decisive SEC victory and a $500 million funding round valuing the company at $40 billion. Avoiding a Ripple IPO allows the company to sidestep public market pressures and drive self-funded innovation. President Monica Long confirmed at Swell 2025 that Ripple will stay private, focusing on organic and inorganic growth powered by private capital. The decision follows the resolution of a five-year SEC lawsuit in August 2025, where Ripple paid a $125 million penalty to secure regulatory clarity. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin hit monthly volumes above $860 million by November 2025, and RippleNet processed over $100 billion in annual cross-border payments. XRP trades at $2.26, up 0.9% on the day, reflecting market stability post-litigation. Traders should watch XRP’s supply management, stablecoin adoption, and Ripple’s strategic partnerships for potential bullish momentum.

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) reported a third-quarter net loss of $54.8 million, nearly triple year-ago levels, as revenue fell 3.8% to $972,900 and legal expenses surged to $20.3 million. Trump Media’s shares plunged over 3% in after-hours trading and have declined more than 62% year-to-date, closing at $12.90. During the quarter, Trump Media invested $2 billion in Bitcoin at an average price of around $118,000 per BTC, only for its holdings to lose value as Bitcoin dipped to about $103,000. The company also unveiled a $6.4 billion crypto venture with Yorkville Acquisition and Crypto.com to accumulate Cronos tokens, mirroring institutional BTC strategies, though its existing CRO positions have also weakened. Transparency on Truth Social user metrics remains limited. Controversies around a proposed U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve, President Trump’s pardon of Binance’s CZ, and significant stock awards for CEO Devin Nunes amid ongoing cash burn have raised governance and insider-trading concerns. Traders should weigh Trump Media’s heavy crypto exposure and rising costs against market volatility and uncertain long-term value creation.

ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood has updated her 2030 Bitcoin forecast, cutting the bull-case target from $1.5 million to $1.2 million. She cites faster-than-expected stablecoin adoption in emerging markets, where digital dollars now dominate daily payments and savings. Wood’s revised scenarios include a bull case at $1.2 million, a base case at $600,000 and a bear case at $500,000. Despite the adjustment, she remains confident in Bitcoin’s fundamentals—capped supply, institutional demand and clearer regulation—and labels it the crypto “reserve currency.” Her 2030 Bitcoin forecast remains positive as former President Trump’s crypto-friendly stance has accelerated institutional inflows, reinforcing Bitcoin’s market role.

Pakistan’s State Bank, backed by the World Bank and IMF, is advancing a rupee-backed stablecoin and a central bank digital currency (CBDC) prototype. The CBDC has reached an advanced development stage, with pilot trials planned before full rollout. Endorsed by the Pakistan Banks’ Association, the initiative aims to modernize financial infrastructure, improve transaction efficiency, and boost the economy by up to $25bn. Goals include enhancing financial inclusion, reducing reliance on cash, cutting transaction costs, and strengthening monetary policy. Market participants emphasize that clear regulatory frameworks and upgraded payment systems are vital for the CBDC and stablecoin’s launch and adoption.

Data from Santiment highlights a growing Bitcoin divergence between whale and retail activity. Since October 12, large wallets holding 10–10,000 BTC have offloaded over 32,500 BTC during a dip from about $115,000 to $98,000. In contrast, small retail investors have been buying the retracement. This Bitcoin divergence underscores the risk of sudden market swings. Historically, price action follows whale activity, and such divergence often precedes market volatility or consolidation. Bitfinex analysts note that spot ETF inflows drove Bitcoin toward $125,000 in October before macro shocks and profit-taking led to a pullback. They expect continued consolidation and choppy trading in the near term. However, if weekly ETF inflows exceed $1 billion and economic indicators improve, Bitcoin could test $130,000. Traders should monitor whale movements, ETF flows, and macro factors for potential opportunities.

XRP price is currently trading in the $2.60–$2.90 range, consolidating after its SEC settlement and holding support at $2.00. A clean break above $3 could trigger a rally toward $4.50–$6 by late 2025. Over the longer term, partnerships around Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin with Mastercard, WebBank, BlackRock and VanEck bolster the XRP Ledger’s real-world asset tokenization case, potentially driving XRP price to $10 by 2025. Meanwhile, Remittix (RTX) offers a high-risk, high-reward PayFi platform with instant crypto-to-fiat conversions across Ethereum, Solana and Polygon. The project has raised $27.2 million, sold 684 million RTX tokens, onboarded over 40,000 holders and secured upcoming listings on BitMart and LBank. Backed by a CertiK Skynet audit, low gas fees, daily USDT referral rewards and real-time settlements in 30+ countries, analysts argue that RTX could deliver up to 5000% returns as volume scales.

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mike McGlone warns that Bitcoin’s hold at $100,000 is a critical ’do or die’ test. Historical volatility is near decade lows, with the Cboe Volatility Index and S&P 500 realized volatility subdued. Bitcoin repeatedly stalled below $110,000 and risks mean reversion toward $56,000. A correlation above 0.53 with the S&P 500 ties Bitcoin to equity market swings. JPMorgan strategists also flag deceptive calm in crypto markets. Traders should track market volatility, equity correlation and key price levels. Bitcoin’s role as a safe-haven versus a risky asset will be tested, especially around Q4 2025.

A US federal court has declared a mistrial in the groundbreaking case against Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, accused of using an MEV bot to exploit a 2023 Ethereum vulnerability and siphon $25 million in 12 seconds. The MIT brothers faced first-of-its-kind wire fraud and money laundering charges after allegedly deploying an MEV bot scheme that tricked trading bots and misled users into high-speed bait-and-switch transactions. Defense attorneys argued the strategy was a lawful trading innovation within decentralized markets. With the New York jury deadlocked, Judge Jessica Clarke left the prospect of retrial uncertain. The verdict highlights the growing risks of MEV bot exploitation, Ethereum security flaws, and rising regulatory scrutiny on DeFi trading bots.

Crypto investigator ZachXBT has uncovered a fake Hyperliquid app on the Google Play Store that mimics the official wallet interface to steal seed phrases and drain funds. This fake Hyperliquid app is linked to wallet address 0x8c12C21C394D9174c3b1a086A97d2C5523ABb8F5. Researchers at Cyble Intelligence Labs have identified over 20 malicious crypto apps on Google Play Store impersonating popular wallets and exchanges like SushiSwap and PancakeSwap. These phishing scams request 12-word recovery phrases and excessive permissions. Traders should verify app legitimacy via developer information and user reviews, download apps only from Hyperliquid’s official site or hardware wallets, enable two-factor authentication, reset passwords if affected, and report scams to Google. This incident underscores the need for robust crypto security, highlighting Google Play Store vulnerabilities and the importance of proactive app screening to protect digital assets.

October 2023 saw a major Balancer exploit that drained $120 million from its Composable Stable Pools. Attackers exploited a precision flaw in swap logic. By executing repeated small swaps, they built rounding errors that let amountOut exceed amountIn. This DeFi vulnerability drove USDC and USDT off-peg by up to 10%, triggering forced liquidations on lending platforms Euler and Morpho, adding about $50 million in sector losses. Weekly transaction volume on Balancer pools plunged by 70%. In response, Balancer paused affected CSPv6 pools, disabled factories, and launched a 20% recovery bounty for white hats. The team also coordinated with security partners to recover roughly $21 million in OS tokens. The incident underscores the need for stronger audits, multi-signature approvals, and robust smart contract tests under low-liquidity conditions. Traders should monitor stablecoin spreads and DeFi liquidity risks as markets digest the impact of the Balancer exploit.