Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

XLM saw a 5% midday gain from $0.36 to $0.37 on record trading volumes of 82 million tokens, breaking above the $0.36 resistance. Later, an institutional-driven surge lifted XLM 7% to $0.39 on 56.8 million volume at 08:00 UTC, establishing support at $0.37 and briefly flipping $0.38 into a new floor. However, aggressive profit-taking triggered a swift reversal back to $0.37. Volume spikes during the sell-off and a zero-volume print suggest traders are reassessing the $0.37 support zone. Despite strong annual gains, Protocol 23 upgrades and cross-border use cases underpin bullish fundamentals, while resistance near $0.40 and rising PayFi competition point to heightened volatility ahead.

During the BNB Chain hack on Tuesday, attackers compromised the official BNB Chain X account in a phishing scam, posting WalletConnect URLs for a fake "BNB x Aster airdrop" and "BNB rewards vote". Changpeng Zhao warned users to avoid clicking malicious links. By 5am ET, the team had regained control, limiting losses to an estimated $8,000 and pledging full reimbursement. This BNB Chain hack reinforces the importance of safeguarding official channels and verifying communications.

Stripe Open Issuance is a Bridge-backed platform that cuts stablecoin issuance timelines from months to days. The service automates mint and burn operations and lets businesses customize reserve ratios. Companies can back tokens with cash or government bonds and appoint reserve managers like BlackRock, Fidelity and Superstate. By delegating token issuance and reserve management, Stripe Open Issuance reduces compliance risks and technical hurdles compared to in-house builds. Onboarding involves reserve setup and regulatory checks, but stablecoins can go live within days. Stripe is pursuing a US federal banking charter and a New York trust license to meet compliance requirements. The launch, part of more than 40 product updates this week, underscores Stripe’s push into programmable money, tokenization and crypto infrastructure. Traders should monitor new stablecoin programs and regulatory developments for potential impacts on liquidity and payment rails.

Ethena whale activity accelerates as two major ENA deposits hit Binance. Wallet 0x877 transferred 5M ENA (~$3.81M) just 14 minutes ago, and address 0x325…55E50 moved another 5M ENA (~$2.84M) about five hours ago. The latter had received 22.28M ENA from Ethena’s multisig six days earlier and split these tokens into two deposits, indicating potential sell-side intentions. Over the past two weeks, these whales have sent over 44M ENA (~$30.5M) to Binance. Traders should monitor ENA deposit flows on Binance closely. Large whale deposits often precede market volatility and can signal short-term bearish pressure on ENA. This sustained token flow to major exchanges raises questions about upcoming liquidity events and long-term distribution patterns.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has overtaken Deribit to become the leading venue for bitcoin options open interest, reaching nearly $38 billion versus Deribit’s $32 billion. Launched in November 2024, IBIT has amassed $87 billion in assets under management and holds 768,000 BTC, commanding 45% of global bitcoin options open interest. This shift underscores growing institutional capital moving into regulated US markets, delivering tighter spreads, deeper liquidity and greater efficiency. While Deribit, now owned by Coinbase, retains appeal for crypto-native traders with a 41.9% market share, coexisting regulated and offshore venues are expanding arbitrage opportunities and bolstering market infrastructure for all participants.

OKX Proof of Reserves has maintained full backing for 22 assets in its latest disclosures, releasing its 35th monthly report. The report confirms $33.1 billion in total reserves for key cryptocurrencies and stablecoins—Bitcoin (BTC) at 105%, Ethereum (ETH) at 103%, Tether (USDT) at 105% and USDC at 100%. All 22 listed assets hold reserve ratios above or equal to 100%, down slightly from $33.7 billion last period. As the first major crypto exchange to publish monthly PoR statements for over two years, OKX underscores its commitment to transparency and risk management. Traders can view these consistent reserve disclosures as a bullish signal, reflecting strong solvency and boosting confidence in market stability.

Zhimin Qian pleaded guilty in a UK court to Bitcoin laundering linked to a $7 billion Chinese pyramid scheme. Authorities seized more than 61,000 BTC (about $6.7 billion), marking one of the largest Bitcoin seizures to date. Prosecutors revealed Qian used fake identities, shell companies and UK property deals to conceal and move illicit funds across borders. The case underscores growing UK enforcement against crypto fraud and cross-border money transfers. Qian’s sentencing is set for November, and investigators expect further arrests and civil claims as defrauded investors seek recovered assets. Traders should watch for increased regulatory scrutiny and its potential impact on Bitcoin markets.

Metaplanet purchased 5,419 BTC on September 21, 2025, through a $615 million preferred stock offering, boosting its holdings to 30,800 BTC and making it the fourth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder. The company aims to control 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply by 2027. In Q3, its Bitcoin segment delivered a record $16.7 million in revenue, driven by rising market demand and an expanding treasury. This strategic accumulation reflects growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin, potentially tightening circulating supply and supporting price levels. Traders should monitor key support zones and liquidity for bullish momentum opportunities.

Stripe has launched Open Issuance, a stablecoin issuance platform powered by its $1.1 billion Bridge acquisition. The API-driven solution lets businesses mint and redeem custom stablecoins with minimal code. Treasuries are managed by BlackRock, Fidelity, and Superstate, while Lead Bank safeguards cash reserves. Firms can adjust holdings between treasuries and cash, ensuring full interoperability and low-cost conversions via the Bridge API. The first token, Phantom’s CASH, is already live, with mUSD for MetaMask and USDH for Hyperliquid rolling out next. By reducing operational barriers, Stripe’s stablecoin issuance model helps companies retain yield and reward customers directly. Beyond payments, Stripe unveiled an Agentic Commerce Protocol built with OpenAI, powering Instant Checkout via AI agents in ChatGPT. Announced at Stripe Tour New York, these updates join 40+ product enhancements covering fraud prevention, tax support, hybrid billing and global hardware. As the stablecoin supply surged 57% in the past year, Stripe’s turnkey issuance tools aim to boost autonomy in digital payments. Traders should monitor liquidity management and compliance risks as firms adopt custom stablecoins.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has secured backing from the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) for an EU-wide ban on multi-issuance stablecoins. This move targets USD-pegged tokens issued locally in one member state and concurrently backed abroad. ECB President Christine Lagarde warns that stablecoin models from Circle (USDC) and Paxos (PAX) pose risks to monetary sovereignty and financial stability. While the ESRB recommendation is non-binding, it heightens pressure on regulators to adopt strict EU rules or propose alternatives under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. Protracted debates could undermine MiCA’s credibility and reshape stablecoin liquidity. Concurrently, the ECB is advancing its digital euro (CBDC) project, pending legal groundwork. The stablecoin ban initiative is set to influence short-term market sentiment and long-term compliance strategies for crypto traders.

BlockDAG has raised nearly $415 million through its 30-stage presale, selling over 26.5 billion tokens and delivering a 2,900% ROI since batch 1. The token is price-locked at $0.0013 ahead of a Coinstore listing, with the 30th batch priced at $0.03. To accelerate adoption, BlockDAG inked a multi-year sponsorship with the BWT Alpine Formula 1 team, unveiled in Singapore ahead of Token2049 and the Grand Prix. The partnership includes on-track branding, integration into Alpine’s RISE+ app, NFTs, co-branded merchandise, fan activations, global hackathons, and alignment of its hardware ecosystem (20,000 X1 units shipped; 2,000 new units weekly from X10/X30/X100 series) with F1 outreach. With 312,000 token holders and 3 million daily miners on its X1 app, BlockDAG positions itself as a utility-driven Layer 1 infrastructure leader. Traders should watch the expiring price lock, the upcoming Coinstore debut, and hardware-driven utility as catalysts for token demand.

SEC approval of spot XRP ETFs could unlock major institutional inflows and send XRP soaring. Six issuers, including Bitwise, WisdomTree and Franklin Templeton, have filed S-1 registrations targeting an October 2025 launch following Ripple’s legal victory. Analysts assign over 90% odds to approval. Forecasts foresee $5–10 billion inflows in month one, growing to $10–18 billion by year-end, potentially driving XRP from $2.80 to $37–$50. With around 35 billion XRP locked in escrow and a thin free float, demand shocks could trigger significant volatility. Historical parallels with Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETF approvals and the launch of XRP futures on CME and Coinbase highlight deepening institutional support. Traders should use staged exposure and strict risk management as XRP consolidates near $2.84, weighing upside potential against timeline and inflow uncertainties. A denial would likely postpone a major rally.

Visa has launched a stablecoin prefunding pilot on its real-time Visa Direct network, allowing businesses to deposit fiat-pegged stablecoins for cross-border payments and cut settlement times from days to minutes. First announced on September 30 and unveiled at Sibos 2025, the trial is open to select partners and aims for limited availability by April 2026. Recipients can choose to receive funds in local currency after on-chain settlement. The initiative integrates blockchain programmability with Visa’s network, aligns with new regulatory frameworks (e.g., U.S. GENIUS Act, EU MiCAR, Asia rules), and comes as stablecoins – led by USDT and USDC – exceed $307 billion in market cap.

Solana ETF approval odds have reached 100% after the SEC adopted generic listing standards for crypto-linked commodity trusts, bypassing 19b-4 reviews and making S-1 registration the final step. On Sept. 29, the SEC withdrew all delay notices for multiple crypto ETF filings. Solana’s amended S-1 (#4) now awaits sign-off from the SEC’s Corporate Finance team. With spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs already live, nine firms are eyeing Solana ETF launches alongside applications for XRP, Litecoin and Cardano products. Although SOL trades near $208–$210, traders view the clear path to a Solana ETF as a bullish catalyst, potentially driving SOL toward $260 as institutional capital flows in and market stability improves.

Robinhood is set to expand its successful US-based prediction markets to the UK and EU, leveraging its Prediction Markets Hub that allows crypto traders to buy and sell event contracts on real-world outcomes, from interest rate decisions and elections to sports results. In the US, these prediction markets are treated as futures and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), with contracts executed via CFTC-licensed partner Kalshi and settled in US dollars. CEO Vlad Tenev reported over 4 billion event contracts traded to date, with more than half of the volume occurring in Q3. Robinhood is now discussing classification of its prediction markets with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and engaging EU regulators to ensure compliance, determining whether the products should fall under derivatives rules or gambling laws. This expansion addresses growing demand among crypto traders for regulated event trading, a trend driven by decentralized platforms like Polymarket on Polygon, which processed billions in volume using smart contracts during the 2024 US election cycle. By offering a regulated, user-friendly alternative, Robinhood’s prediction markets aim to boost trading volumes and diversify offerings for crypto traders across Europe.

Ethereum ETF inflows reached a record $547 million, pushing total spot ETF holdings to $22.8 billion. Despite strong demand, ETH traded in a narrow range near $4,100, failing to break above $4,200. On-chain metrics weakened, with network fees down 12% and transactions off 16% over 30 days. Layer2 networks like Arbitrum and Polygon saw marked drops in activity. Institutional investors continued buying, with BitMine Immersion adding 234,800 ETH to boost its treasury to $10.6 billion, targeting 5% of supply. Futures open interest stands at $55.6 billion, and a 5% annualized premium indicates modest leverage demand. Analysts warn that a rally to $4,350 could liquidate nearly $1 billion in short positions. A new Consensys-SWIFT cross-border payment prototype highlights growing use cases for Ethereum. Upcoming FTX Recovery Trust distributions may further bolster demand. Traders await clearer Fed policy signals and US economic outlook to drive ETH past resistance.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan forecasts that Tether could become the most profitable company in history if USDT assets reach $3 trillion, about 3% of the global money supply. At current U.S. Treasury yields, Tether’s stablecoin portfolio would generate interest income exceeding Saudi Aramco’s projected $120 billion profit for 2024. Hougan highlights Tether’s $100 billion in U.S. Treasury holdings, $12 billion profit over two years and $652 million average monthly revenue. With USDT controlling over 58% of the $297 billion stablecoin market and strong adoption in emerging markets, digital payments and institutional services, Tether is positioned to capture trillions in deposits and related yield. This projection underscores the growing role of stablecoin issuance, interest income strategies and global finance applications in the crypto sector.

Ripple and Ondo Finance have launched OUSG, tokenized Treasuries on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). They use RLUSD stablecoin for 24/7 minting and redemption. This gives institutional investors on-chain access to short-term U.S. government debt. OUSG TVL has surpassed $690 million, contributing to more than $7 billion in tokenized Treasuries across chains. Meanwhile, Remittix has launched CertiK-audited crypto-to-bank rails and a wallet beta. It has sold 672 million tokens and raised $26.7 million to expand PayFi. These moves boost XRPL’s DeFi ecosystem and reinforce its role in real-world asset tokenization and institutional PayFi.

ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood reiterated her conviction in Bitcoin as the leading pure cryptocurrency, citing its unbreached Layer-1 security and rules-based monetary model. Speaking on The Master Investor podcast, she forecast Bitcoin reaching $1.5 million by 2030 and noted ARK’s ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF holds 43,799 BTC (~$4.91 billion). Wood cautioned that Ethereum could lose network activity and fees to emerging Layer-2 solutions like Coinbase’s Base, even as she praised Ethereum’s pivotal role in DeFi and its shift towards zero-knowledge scaling. She also highlighted on-chain protocols Uniswap and Hyperliquid as promising. Wood maintains her top picks—Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana—underscoring a balanced outlook that may guide traders towards Bitcoin’s security and growth potential while monitoring Ethereum’s evolving ecosystem.

OKX Pay has launched the first stablecoin payment service on GrabPay in Singapore, enabling users to pay merchants citywide with USDT and USDC. Through its integration with Grab and StraitsX’s regulated infrastructure, stablecoin payments are converted to XSGD and settled instantly in SGD, reducing price volatility risks. The service is live at cafés, restaurants, retail outlets and hawker stalls, expanding stablecoin adoption beyond trading. OKX Pay plans to add more stablecoins and digital currencies, while StraitsX enhances its settlement network for cross-border payments, creating a potential model for global stablecoin adoption.

Bitcoin rebounded to $114,000 this week despite $900 million in spot ETF outflows and the sale of 3.4 million coins by long-term holders. Traders eye whether the rally can extend to $120,000. Analysts point to three catalysts that could drive a Bitcoin surge. First, joint SEC–CFTC discussions are expected to deliver greater digital asset regulatory clarity. Second, temporary relief from a potential US government shutdown reduces market risk aversion. Third, upcoming US labor market releases, including JOLTS data and nonfarm payrolls, may alleviate rate concerns and boost risk appetite. Optimism is also rising around a proposed US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. A budget-neutral plan to build a Bitcoin reserve, similar to gold, could add significant buying power. Traders should monitor ETF flows, regulatory guidance and key economic indicators to gauge momentum toward $120,000.

Telegram censorship is at the center of the dispute, as founder Pavel Durov accused French intelligence agencies of pressuring him to remove opposition channels before Moldova’s parliamentary vote, sharing internal ban lists and correspondence. While Telegram complied with legal requests, Durov refused to enact unwarranted Telegram censorship on channels that abided by platform rules. French authorities denied political motives, saying discussions focused on counterterrorism and child protection. Observers note parallels with the Tornado Cash developer prosecution, highlighting risks of state influence over digital platforms and the need for clear global standards to protect free speech and crypto privacy.

On September 25, 2025 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), joined by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DPS and CBP, raided the Lonestar Dream Bitcoin mining site in Pyote, Texas. Agents arrested 12 Bitmain contractors at ADW Tech’s ASIC repair centre on visa violations. This Bitcoin mining raid underscores the intensifying U.S.–China tech standoff and its impact on the cryptocurrency market. Since late 2024 U.S. Customs has seized imported ASIC miners over concerns that restricted AI chips from Chinese firms like Sophgo are embedded in Antminer control boards. Supply chain disruptions and tariffs have pushed miner prices up by 24–36%. Bitmain plans a U.S. factory by early 2026 to bypass trade barriers and ease maintenance. Traders should watch for ASIC shortages, hardware price swings, and heightened regulatory scrutiny affecting mining efficiency and Bitcoin’s network hashrate.

SWIFT, in partnership with Consensys and over 30 global banks including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup, has unveiled a conceptual prototype of a real-time, 24/7 blockchain ledger to streamline cross-border payments. The platform supports tokenized asset transfers, smart contract validation and enhanced interoperability between existing fiat rails and emerging digital finance systems. Following positive feedback from participating banks, SWIFT plans to roll out the blockchain ledger across its network of 11,500 institutions in more than 220 countries, which currently processes $150 trillion in annual transactions. This upgrade aligns with SWIFT’s strategy to modernise its payment infrastructure, bridge traditional finance with CBDCs and tokenized assets, and deliver faster, cost-effective and secure cross-border payments globally.

On September 25, Plasma launched its mainnet Beta and native token XPL with a $0.1 airdrop that delivered $8,390 worth of XPL per participant. Plasma saw XPL surge to $1.50 within hours, lifting its fully diluted valuation close to $120 billion. The 10 billion XPL supply allocates 18% to circulation, 10% to public sale and 40% to team and investors, with U.S. holdings locked until July 2026. Plasma absorbed over $4 billion in USDT deposits in 24 hours, pushing stablecoin supply past $7 billion. Backed by Tether and secured by the PlasmaBFT consensus, Plasma offers zero-fee USDT transfers and is integrated with 100+ DeFi protocols including Aave and Ethena. Futures trading volume jumped over 1,500%, while whales moved $39.6 million in XPL cross-chain. Pre-sales raised $1.6 billion, rewarding early backers with up to 19× returns and bonus airdrops. XPL mining pools launched on major exchanges and official vaults hold $1.5 billion USDT at 31.6% APY. Looking ahead, Plasma targets Southeast Asia, Turkey and South America with low fees, customizable gas tokens and privacy features. Its upcoming Plasma One card will offer 4% cashback and 10% yield on stablecoin balances. Traders should watch user adoption, regulatory compliance and competition from Ethereum, Solana, Tron and other layer-1 rivals.

FalconX has launched the Electronic Options platform, a 24/7 crypto options trading solution for institutional investors. The platform merges OTC flexibility with electronic execution to address liquidity fragmentation. It offers institutional-grade features: weekly expiries, a matrix-style strategy builder for multi-leg positions, high liquidity for large orders, and turnkey API access – with Talos as its first partner. Initial coverage includes BTC, ETH, SOL and HYPE, with additional tokens planned. FalconX’s institutional desk has executed over $50 billion in OTC derivatives this year and support exceeds 80 tokens. The launch follows Deribit’s $850 billion YTD crypto options volume and CME Group’s recent SOL and XRP options announcement. This development underscores growing institutional demand for crypto options trading and enhances hedging, leverage management and volatility strategies for professional traders.

SWIFT has teamed up with Consensys and over 30 global banks to develop the SWIFT blockchain settlement platform, enabling real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments. The SWIFT blockchain settlement platform will record transactions on distributed ledger technology (DLT), leverage smart contracts for instant compliance, and bridge fiat rails with public and private networks. Central and commercial banks will select which tokenized assets to support, with SWIFT processing messages for 11,500 institutions in over 200 countries. Consensys will lead the proof-of-concept prototype and outline phased rollouts, after which SWIFT and participating banks will manage further development and deployment. The system aims to modernize SWIFT’s messaging infrastructure by integrating digital asset transfers, enhancing security, reducing errors, and mitigating fraud risks. As a cornerstone of SWIFT’s long-term strategy, this initiative could reshape global payments infrastructure and accelerate digital asset adoption.

Strategy Inc. has continued its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy, acquiring 430 BTC for $51.4 million earlier to bring its holdings to 629,376 BTC (about 3% of Bitcoin’s total supply), and subsequently adding another 196 BTC (~$22.1 million) at an average price of $113,048 per coin. These purchases boost the company’s Bitcoin treasury to 640,031 BTC, valued at $47.35 billion with a $73,983 average cost basis. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor reiterated Bitcoin’s role as a primary corporate treasury asset, highlighting its superior returns compared to tech giants and enhancing long-term balance sheet resilience. With a goal of growing Bitcoin holdings to $84 billion by 2027, Strategy Inc.’s move underscores rising institutional adoption, driven by regulatory clarity and increasing Bitcoin ETF capital inflows, and may influence broader corporate treasury management strategies.

Decentralized exchange Hyperliquid has launched a permissionless quote asset feature on its mainnet, allowing any on-chain token to serve as a quote currency without centralized approval. The USDH stablecoin from Native Markets is the first permissionless quote asset, underpinning the new HYPE/USDH trading pair. Hyperliquid will introduce additional quote assets via transparent Dutch auctions to ensure fair price discovery. The permissionless quote asset rollout aligns with decentralized finance principles, removing gatekeepers and expanding liquidity. Alongside, Hyperliquid dropped 4,600 Hypurr NFTs on its HyperEVM chain. Rare Hypurr NFTs have traded for up to 9,999 HYPE (about $467,000), and the collection has generated over $36 million in trading volume on OpenSea. This update enhances on-chain activity, deepens liquidity pools, and broadens trading options for crypto traders.