Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

QNB Group, Qatar’s largest bank, has adopted JPMorgan’s Kinexys blockchain network for real-time USD corporate payments. The system replaces batch-based cross-border transactions with 24/7 settlement, cutting transfer times from days to around two minutes. Launched in 2019, Kinexys blockchain now handles about $3 billion in daily transfers and aims to scale by onboarding more financial institutions across JPMorgan’s global banking network. Kamel Moris, QNB’s head of transactional banking, calls this upgrade “a treasurer’s dream” for faster cash flow and reduced payment uncertainty. Analysts say the move marks a shift toward large-scale distributed ledger technology adoption in corporate treasury. Meanwhile, SWIFT is conducting its own blockchain trials with BNP Paribas and BNY Mellon, with pilot results expected soon.

Major asset managers have updated their S-1 filings with the SEC to outline staking operations for a staked Solana spot ETF. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart sees active dialogue between issuers and regulators and predicts SEC approval in weeks or even days. NovaDius president Nate Geraci echoes a green light within two weeks. The SEC’s May guidance now excludes staking rewards from securities classification and accelerates reviews to 60–75 days. Early staking ETPs show strong demand: REX-Osprey’s Solana fund now manages over $300 million, and Bitwise’s EU staking ETP raised $60 million in five days. A U.S. staked Solana spot ETF would offer both token exposure and yield from staking rewards. Analysts estimate billions in inflows, boosting mainstream adoption and setting a precedent for future Ether staking ETFs. Traders should monitor SEC approval signals and staking yield mechanics. A successful launch could spur SOL demand, enhance liquidity, and shape the next wave of cryptocurrency ETFs.

World Liberty Finance (WLFI) has completed its first community-approved token burn and market buyback, removing 7.89 million WLFI tokens to reinforce its deflationary tokenomics. The protocol burned 3.11 million WLFI collected from DeFi fees and spent $1.06 million in USDT, USDC and USD1 to repurchase 3.81 million WLFI across BNB Smart Chain and Ethereum, with an additional 3.06 million tokens pending burn on Solana. This fee-based burns and buyback strategy mirrors traditional share repurchases by redirecting protocol fees to value capture and reducing circulating supply. WLFI now trades near $0.20 (up 6% daily, down 33% monthly) with a $5.12 billion market cap and $346 million daily volume. On the four-hour chart, WLFI holds its 50-EMA as momentum indicators improve, facing resistance at $0.22. A clear break above could target $0.24–$0.26, while a drop below $0.20 may retest support. Traders will monitor the Solana burn timing and potential boost to WLFI liquidity and market sentiment.

In late September, crypto ETF flows turned sharply negative, with major Bitcoin and Ethereum funds recording substantial outflows across two key sessions. On September 22, Bitcoin ETFs saw $363.2M withdrawn and Ethereum ETFs $75.9M, totaling $439.1M. Three days later, on September 25, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a $253.4M net outflow while Ethereum ETFs added $251.2M, bringing combined outflows to $504.6M—among the largest single-day withdrawals this year. These crypto ETF outflows reflect weakening investor demand and bearish market sentiment. Traders should monitor ETF flows closely as indicators of liquidity and potential downward pressure on BTC and ETH prices amid ongoing market uncertainty.

Nine European banks have formed a Dutch entity to launch a MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin in H2 2026. The consortium will apply for an e-money license from the Dutch Central Bank under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. The euro stablecoin aims to support instant, low-cost payments, 24/7 cross-border settlements and programmable transactions on blockchain. Member banks will offer secure wallets and plan to appoint a CEO after regulatory approval. Open to new partners, the project seeks to reduce reliance on USDT and USDC, bolster Europe’s digital sovereignty and capture a share of the $295 billion stablecoin market.

Tether is in talks to raise $15–20 billion by selling roughly 3% of its equity at a $500 billion valuation. USDT’s market cap has topped $172 billion, securing over 60% of the stablecoin supply. The issuer reported a 99% profit margin and holds $162.5 billion in reserves. Proceeds will fund expansion into stablecoin issuance, distribution networks, AI applications, commodity trading, energy and media. Tether also plans to boost U.S. compliance under the GENIUS Act with the launch of USAT, a U.S.-focused stablecoin issued via Anchorage Digital. Former White House crypto advisor Bo Hines will serve as USAT’s CEO. Cantor Fitzgerald, a Federal Reserve primary dealer and Tether’s custodian, advises on the deal. This funding round aims to strengthen Tether’s governance, transparency and reserves auditing. For crypto traders, the equity raise and USAT debut signal Tether’s push for institutional backing and U.S. market legitimacy, potentially reinforcing USDT’s market position and supporting bullish momentum.

On September 22, the UXLINK hack exploited a multisignature wallet flaw to gain admin rights and siphon roughly $11 million in USDT, USDC, WBTC and ETH. The attacker converted funds to DAI on Ethereum, swapped Arbitrum USDT for ETH, and bridged assets on-chain. Next, about 1–2 billion UXLINK tokens were minted on Arbitrum, with nearly 490–542 million dumped across DEXs and CEXs, triggering a token crash from $0.30 to $0.09—a 70% plunge that erased over $70 million in market cap. Exchanges like Upbit froze $5–7 million in suspect deposits, but approximately 6,732 ETH (≈$28 million) remains in attacker wallets. In an ironic twist, the hacker fell victim to a phishing scheme (Inferno Drainer) and lost about 542 million UXLINK (~$48 million). UXLINK has engaged law enforcement and security firms, launched a token swap to restore trust, and warned users to avoid unauthorized tokens. The UXLINK hack underscores persistent multisig vulnerabilities and the need for rigorous smart contract audits and stronger DeFi security frameworks.

Bitcoin price dipped below $112,000 on both September 23 and 24, according to OKX data. It slid 0.74% intraday to $111,998.70 on September 23 and dropped 0.81% to $111,958.20 on September 24. These moves highlight ongoing market volatility and intraday declines as traders watch key support levels around $112K. Attention now turns to whether Bitcoin can reclaim the breached level or head toward the next support near $110,000. The sustained dip may prompt traders to adjust positions amid cautious sentiment.

Yzi Labs has increased its investment in Ethena to accelerate USDe expansion on BNB Chain and across centralized venues. USDe, a synthetic stablecoin backed by crypto collateral and derivatives hedges, aims to maintain a stable $1 peg while offering liquidity in DeFi and CeFi. The funding will support new money markets, protocol partnerships and exchange listings, including the Aster perpetual exchange. Ethena is also developing USDtb, a treasury-backed digital dollar, and Converge, an EVM-compatible settlement layer for tokenized assets. Supported by Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and DragonFly, the project benefits from deep institutional networks and regulatory momentum from the GENIUS Act. With USDe’s market cap at $14 billion—behind USDT’s $171.5 billion and USDC’s $73.9 billion—this strategic backing underlines a broader push to embed a yield-bearing digital dollar at the core of the crypto economy.

On September 18, REX-Osprey’s Spot XRP ETF (XRPR) and Spot DOGE ETF (DOJE) began trading on the Cboe BZX Exchange under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 (40 Act). XRPR drew a record US$24 million in its first 90 minutes—five times the debut volume of any XRP futures ETF—while DOJE saw nearly US$6 million in its opening hour. Unlike most crypto funds, the XRP ETF holds XRP tokens and invests in overseas spot ETFs, and the DOGE ETF gains exposure via a Cayman Islands subsidiary using futures and derivatives. This launch follows REX-Osprey’s Solana Staking ETF and the SEC’s approval of Grayscale’s Digital Large-Cap Fund (GDLC) along with streamlined generic ETF registration standards. High first-day inflows highlight strong demand for regulated spot crypto ETFs. Traders can watch for potential price rallies in XRP and DOGE as these new 40 Act products improve institutional access and market liquidity.

Bitwise Asset Management has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a combined Stablecoin ETF and Tokenization ETF. The fund will track the Bitwise Stablecoin and Tokenization Index, split between an equity sleeve and a crypto sleeve. The equity sleeve holds stocks of public firms issuing stablecoins, providing tokenization services, payment processing and blockchain infrastructure. The crypto sleeve invests in regulated ETPs covering Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), blockchain oracles and network infrastructure, with no single position exceeding 22.5%. The filing follows the 2025 GENIUS Act, which established reserve, audit and AML standards for stablecoins, and highlights surging stablecoin circulation and real-world asset tokenization. Registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the ETF will be rebalanced quarterly. If approved, Bitwise could launch the fund around November 2025. This proposal may attract institutional and retail inflows and deepens the integration of Stablecoin ETF and Tokenization ETF products into mainstream finance.

Openbank has rolled out in-app crypto trading for German retail clients under the EU’s MiCA regulation. The service lets users buy, sell and hold Bitcoin (BTC) and four altcoins—Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Polygon (MATIC) and Cardano (ADA)—directly on Openbank’s investment platform, eliminating the need for third-party exchanges. Trades carry a 1.49% fee (min €1) and incur no custody charges. Crypto-to-crypto conversions will be available soon. Openbank plans to introduce the feature in Spain within weeks and extend it across the EU later this year, reinforcing Santander’s digital assets strategy amid competition from Deutsche Bank and BBVA.

Binance is negotiating with the U.S. Department of Justice to drop the three-year external AML compliance monitor imposed under its $4.3 billion 2023 settlement. The talks aim to replace the costly monitorship with more detailed internal reporting, reflecting the DOJ’s recent shift away from oversight measures that disrupt normal operations. Binance remains under FinCEN scrutiny and earlier this year sought removal of a separate Treasury AML monitor. Founder Changpeng Zhao served a four-month sentence after pleading guilty to exchange-related violations. In May, the SEC dismissed its civil suit against Binance and Zhao under new Chairman Paul Atkins. Traders view these developments as regulatory easing that could reduce Binance’s operational constraints and set a precedent for other major crypto firms.

Bitwise Asset Management has filed an S-1 registration statement with the U.S. SEC to launch a spot Avalanche (AVAX) ETF. The proposed Avalanche ETF will hold actual AVAX tokens, tracking net asset value via the CME CF Avalanche-Dollar Reference Rate. Coinbase Custody Trust Company, regulated under New York banking law, will store tokens in segregated cold storage. Shares will be issued in 10,000-share baskets, redeemable in cash or AVAX. Other asset managers, including VanEck and Grayscale, have submitted similar AVAX ETF proposals, signaling rising institutional interest in altcoin ETFs. AVAX recently traded above $30, reflecting a 6% one-day gain, though it remains down over 50% from its all-time high. Approval of this regulated Avalanche ETF is pending SEC review and potential amendments. Traders should monitor filing updates, custodian arrangements, and AVAX price movements, as an approved ETF could boost liquidity and price discovery in the Avalanche ecosystem.

Gemini IPO priced at $28 per share on Nasdaq raised $425 million, valuing the exchange at about $1.3 billion. In its trading debut, Gemini IPO shares opened around $17, surged to highs near $40 before retracing to mid-$30s amid intense institutional demand. Total volume topped 50 million shares, making it one of the most active tech IPOs this year. This price volatility underscores the market’s appetite for regulated crypto exchange IPOs and highlights short-term profit-taking pressures. Traders should monitor ongoing trading volumes, upcoming crypto exchange IPO filings and regulatory signals alongside Gemini’s long-term fundamentals and compliance outlook. Overall, the Gemini IPO debut signals healthy demand for crypto exchange stocks while reminding traders of the risks inherent in fast-moving markets.

Blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence initially traced over 108,000 BTC (approx $5.6B) tied to the Movie2K piracy site across more than 100 wallets. Of these, about 45,000 BTC worth roughly $5B remain untouched and dormant since 2019. In early 2024, German authorities seized and liquidated around 50,000 BTC for $2.9B. However, these Bitcoin seizure operations failed to capture the bulk of the holdings. The report highlights enforcement limits in Germany’s Bitcoin seizure efforts and underscores challenges in blockchain forensics. Traders should monitor on-chain movements. Any large transfer could boost market supply and trigger price volatility.

Tron founder Justin Sun has demanded that World Liberty Financial (WLFI) unfreeze his 600 million unvested presale tokens—worth about $200 million—after blockchain analytics firms Nansen and Arkham Intelligence flagged $9 million in suspicious WLFI transfers to HTX. Sun’s WLFI tokens were blacklisted following three days of $10 million moves, and analysts noted a subsequent arrival of 60 million WLFI (≈$12 million) on Binance, representing 52.6% of HTX holdings. Sun argues the token freeze breaches decentralization principles and risks damaging market confidence in WLFI. Critics accuse him of illicitly selling locked tokens, a claim Sun denies. Both parties are now in talks to resolve the governance dispute. Traders should monitor any WLFI token unlock, which could introduce sell pressure and short-term volatility, although overall market impact may remain limited.

Sora Ventures has launched Asia’s first $1B Bitcoin Treasury Fund, securing $200M in initial commitments during Taipei Blockchain Week. The fund will convert its entire $1B into BTC over six months, building on Sora’s partnerships with Metaplanet, Moon Inc., DV8 and BitPlanet. This regulated Bitcoin Treasury Fund offers unified custody, audit and disclosure standards, aiming to standardise digital asset allocation and mitigate regulatory and forex risks across Asia’s corporate balance sheets. Operating from Taipei, Hong Kong and Tokyo, the fund strengthens Bitcoin’s role as a strategic corporate reserve asset and boosts market liquidity, driving broader institutional crypto adoption.

Kraken acquires Breakout, a crypto-native prop trading firm, and integrates its evaluation-based model into Kraken Pro. Traders who pass a structured risk assessment can access up to $200,000 in funded accounts with up to 5x leverage on BTC and ETH contracts. They keep up to 90% of profits. The platform enforces strict drawdown limits, requalification rules and allocates capital on merit. The move adds institutional-grade tools and liquidity within a regulated exchange environment. It follows Kraken’s purchase of Capitalise.ai and its MiCA licence in the EEA, as the exchange prepares for a possible IPO in early 2026.

Circle has launched Arc, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed to optimize USDC payments and tokenized asset transfers. Announced in Q2 2025, Arc uses the Malachite consensus engine for sub-second deterministic finality and tested throughput above 10,000 TPS. Gas fees are charged in USDC via an EIP-1559-inspired model with load-smoothing algorithms to ensure predictable costs. The network supports multiple stablecoin fees through a Paymaster feature and includes a built-in FX engine for 24/7 price discovery and automatic PvP settlements. Arc offers confidential transactions with view keys for privacy and compliance. Fully EVM-compatible, it leverages cross-chain bridges like CCTP to connect with Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem. Circle will launch Arc with a Proof-of-Authority validator set, aiming to boost monthly USDC payments—already $6.3 billion as of February 2025—and target nearly $1 trillion in annual volume by 2030. Key use cases include cross-border transfers, instant DvP in capital markets, on-chain lending, stablecoin perpetual futures and programmable commerce. Traders should watch USDC flow dynamics, cross-chain activity and liquidity shifts as Arc challenges L2 rollups, Visa and Stripe while prompting debates over centralization and censorship risk.

Bitwise’s latest Bitcoin price prediction projects a rise to $1.3 million by 2035, implying a 28.3% CAGR that outpaces stocks, bonds and gold. This Bitcoin price prediction rests on three pillars: surging institutional demand (75% of Coinbase volume from institutions, 35 public firms holding ≥1,000 BTC), Bitcoin’s limited supply (94.8% in circulation, issuance rate dropping from 0.8% to 0.2% by 2032, 70% of coins dormant over a year) and macro-economic pressure (US debt at $36.2 trillion with $952 billion in annual interest costs). Optimistic scenarios lift targets to $2.97 million (39.4% CAGR), while pessimistic ones see $88,005 (2% CAGR), highlighting potential volatility. Miners produce 450 BTC/day versus institutional off-take of 2,500 BTC every 48 hours, creating what Bitwise calls a “perfect storm” for price surges. Regulatory risks, political uncertainty and Bitcoin’s novelty pose threats, with technical risks like quantum computing remaining secondary. Traders should balance the bullish long-term outlook against possible mid-term fluctuations when adjusting allocations. The low correlation with stocks and bonds suggests reduced volatility, strengthening Bitcoin’s appeal as an inflation hedge and portfolio diversifier.

BONK, the Solana-based meme token, climbed 4% intraday to $0.0000218 as trading volume surged to 574.8 billion tokens. The token briefly jumped 1.9% at 19:00 UTC from $0.0000211 to $0.0000215 before support formed at $0.0000212, reflecting an 8% daily volatility range. Institutional confidence in Solana strengthened after Galaxy Digital, Multicoin Capital and Jump Crypto announced a $1 billion Solana investment fund backed by Cantor Fitzgerald’s infrastructure. This initiative could inject substantial liquidity into Solana projects, positioning BONK among the most active tokens in the ecosystem. Corporate interest also rose: beverage firm Safety Shot allocated $25 million in BONK as part of a $30 million financing package, marking a novel treasury use case for meme tokens. The combined move by institutional and corporate players underscores growing trust in Solana’s on-chain liquidity and may drive further BONK momentum. Traders should watch for shifts in trading volume and support levels around $0.0000212. With mounting institutional investments and high-liquidity corporate backing, BONK’s short-term price action may turn bullish, while long-term growth hinges on continued Solana ecosystem developments.

MetaMask has introduced a new social login feature that lets users create and restore their self-custody wallets using Google or Apple credentials plus a custom password. This replaces the traditional 12-word mnemonic by generating the Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP) in the background, streamlining onboarding and lowering the entry barrier for Web3 adoption. MetaMask maintains it cannot access or recover the SRP—only the user’s social login and password can unlock the wallet locally. However, this social login approach introduces dependencies on external infrastructure: account suspensions, multi-factor authentication failures or service outages at Google and Apple could block wallet recovery and lead to irreversible fund loss if the password is forgotten. Traders should balance the convenience of MetaMask’s social login against emerging crypto wallet security risks and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Standard Chartered has raised its Ethereum forecast to $7,500, up from $4,000, citing key supply-reduction drivers such as the protocol’s transition to proof-of-stake and the EIP-1559 burning mechanism. The report sees rising staking yields, growing institutional demand, surging DeFi activity, and NFT demand fueling network usage and fee revenue. Analysts also point to regulatory catalysts like the GENIUS Act approval and active engagement by the Ethereum Foundation. The bank expects Ethereum to reclaim its all-time high by Q3 2025, with market-cap targets of $2 trillion by 2028 and price milestones of $12,000 in 2026, $18,000 in 2027, and $25,000 in 2028. This Ethereum forecast underscores increased market volatility but highlights strong upside potential, recommending traders monitor upgrade timelines, on-chain metrics, and macro trends to time entries and manage risk.

EU central banks and regulators are evaluating issuing a digital euro as tokens on public blockchains like Ethereum and Solana. The move is driven by U.S. stablecoin regulations and the rapid growth of dollar-backed tokens, aiming to protect the euro’s global role and reduce reliance on foreign payment providers. On Ethereum, the CBDC could leverage existing programmable payments and wallet infrastructure, while Solana offers lower fees and higher throughput. However, public-chain transparency conflicts with GDPR privacy and the ECB’s goal of cash-like anonymity, leading to proposals for privacy layers such as zero-knowledge proofs or hybrid models. Governance risks include validator control outside EU jurisdiction and potential network congestion. ECB officials estimate a two-to-three-year technical readiness timeline post-legislation, pending robust privacy engineering, legal frameworks, and pilot testing. Choosing a public blockchain would signal maturity for DeFi integration and secure the euro’s role in a tokenized economy.

Grayscale Investments filed an S-1 registration with the U.S. SEC on August 22, 2025, to convert its Avalanche Trust into a spot AVAX ETF trading on Nasdaq under the ticker AVAX. The proposal, marking the second stage of approval, would rename the fund the Grayscale AVAX Trust ETF. The AVAX ETF will use a basket-based creation/redemption system of 10,000 shares per basket. Authorized participants can transact in cash, while a designated liquidity provider handles AVAX token trading. Coinbase Custody will secure holdings and BNY Mellon will manage fund administration. Pending regulatory sign-off, up to 85% of AVAX assets may be staked to generate yield. VanEck has also filed for an Avalanche ETF, with its application acknowledged by the SEC in April 2025 and a decision expected following a July delay. AVAX traded at $24.3, down over 35% year-to-date, compared with roughly 70% gains for Bitcoin and Ethereum. Launching an AVAX ETF could broaden retail and institutional access to AVAX, test U.S. regulators’ stance on altcoin ETFs, and influence AVAX liquidity and staking dynamics.

LayerZero has completed its $110 million acquisition of Stargate after 95% of STG holders approved the governance vote, outbidding Wormhole, Axelar and Across. Under the deal, all circulating STG tokens will be indefinitely swapped to LayerZero’s native ZRO at a fixed rate of 1 STG = 0.08634 ZRO. veSTG stakers who locked before August 10 will receive 50% of Stargate’s protocol revenue over the next six months, after which all revenue will support a ZRO buyback program. The combined platform preserves cross-chain transfers and liquidity pools, spanning 138 chains, supporting over 550 applications and surpassing $120 billion in transfers. Record participation from 15,000 addresses (~7.6 million STG) highlighted strong community engagement. Traders should anticipate potential ZRO liquidity shifts and short-term volatility as investors swap STG positions.

The Winklevoss twins have pledged a $21 million Bitcoin donation to Donald Trump’s Digital Freedom Fund PAC, aimed at promoting the US as a global crypto hub. This Bitcoin donation will back pro-crypto candidates for the 2026 midterms and fund a Crypto Bill of Rights guaranteeing self-custody and transaction freedoms. The PAC plans to ban a US central bank digital currency (CBDC) while pushing for lighter crypto regulation and fair banking access. The twins cited Trump’s swift progress in mainstreaming digital assets, highlighting the President’s Working Group report and current SEC leadership. Their political engagement coincides with Gemini’s planned NYSE IPO and underscores growing institutional support. Bitcoin trades near $114,000, down 6% last week and 8% below its August peak, as traders weigh the potential for regulatory clarity to bolster market sentiment.

SoFi Technologies is partnering with Bitcoin infrastructure firm Lightspark to launch instant cross-border payments using the Bitcoin Lightning Network and Lightspark’s Universal Money Address (UMA). The feature will debut this year on the US-Mexico corridor, converting USD to BTC over Lightning and reconverting to local currency. It offers real-time settlement, transparent exchange rates and fees aiming to undercut the average 6% cost of traditional remittances. This launch marks SoFi’s return to crypto services after pausing blockchain offerings in 2023 and paves the way for new digital-asset initiatives—including stablecoin issuance, crypto-backed loans and staking—under the US GENIUS Act.