Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Norwegian Nobel Institute has launched an investigation into Polymarket Nobel Peace Prize bets following a sudden surge in wagers on candidate María Corina Machado. Data showed three accounts, including ‘dirtycup’, turning $70,000 into $90,000 in profits hours before the official 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement, raising suspicions of insider trading. Polymarket, launched in 2020, received a $2bn investment from ICE, parent of the NYSE, and a CFTC no-action letter in September. Traders should monitor regulatory scrutiny around Polymarket Nobel Peace Prize bets and other event markets, as probes may undercut liquidity and confidence. Watch for CFTC statements and legal updates.

China Renaissance Holdings Ltd has revealed plans to raise $600 million to establish a US-listed digital asset treasury dedicated to buying and holding Binance’s BNB token. The bank will commit $200 million alongside YZi Labs, the family office of Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, with the remaining $200 million open to institutional investors and public markets. This follows China Renaissance’s initial $100 million BNB purchase, tapping into the growing trend of corporate crypto treasuries. The new vehicle will list in the US, aiming to drive demand and liquidity for BNB. BNB has surged more than 8% in 24 hours to around $1,319, approaching its all-time high of $1,375. Technical indicators show strong support near $1,235 and an RSI of 66, suggesting further upside but with a potential pullback to $1,100 if key levels are breached. The move underscores rising institutional demand for BNB and the broader embrace of crypto assets by traditional finance, enhancing China Renaissance’s digital asset exposure while managing operational risk.

Ethereum whales have amassed 128,718 ETH (about $480 million), according to Lookonchain, moving tokens off FalconX and Kraken after a recent price dip. On-chain data shows ETH withdrawals from exchanges have declined, diverging from the usual 250,000–300,000 ETH outflows seen at past cycle peaks. Whales are defending strategic buy walls between $3,300 and $3,500. Meanwhile, ETH traded near $3,824, up roughly 2% on the day. Technical indicators show the RSI around 37, suggesting mild oversold conditions, and the MACD below zero with shrinking bearish momentum. The positive directional movement index (DMI) also points to easing downside pressure. This combination of whale accumulation, reduced withdrawals, and firm support levels hints at a potential next rally, though the lack of a withdrawal spike raises questions about whether the cycle top has yet arrived. Traders should monitor whale activity and exchange flows for signals of increased volatility and price direction.

Analyst Timothy Peterson’s Bitcoin price forecast combines data-driven simulations and an AI model to predict October gains. Initial simulations assign a 50% chance of BTC closing above $140,000 and a 43% probability of ending below $136,000, reflecting average October gains of 20.75%. At the time of analysis, BTC traded around $122,000, with key support at $120,900 and resistance near $124,150. The updated AI-powered Bitcoin price forecast now projects a closing price of $130,000 by month-end, a roughly 12% increase from current levels near $113,500. Peterson notes an 18% chance of an October loss—an “Uptober” scenario despite typical bullish seasonality. His seasonality analysis places BTC at the 30th percentile this October, implying a December target near $162,000. Seasonal drivers include Q3 portfolio rebalancing, fiscal-year planning and year-end reporting. Major uptrends are expected from the third week of October. Crypto traders should track on-chain signals, market sentiment and risk metrics to fine-tune entry and exit points.

Bybit has secured the UAE’s first VARA License, following earlier in-principle approval by the Securities and Commodities Authority. The fully regulated license allows Bybit to offer spot trading, derivatives and other digital asset services regionally under a compliant framework. The Dubai-based exchange will establish operations in the DMCC free zone as part of its Middle East expansion strategy. This approval underscores Bybit’s focus on compliance, transparency and the emerging unified licensing reciprocity between SCA and VARA. Analysts say the license strengthens Bybit’s global footprint, may prompt other exchanges to seek similar permits and boost market confidence and institutional participation.

Bitcoin ETF inflows surged to $1.19B, led by BlackRock’s IBIT drawing $969.95M and lifting its AUM to about $98.5B. Combined trading across BlackRock and Fidelity hit $5.48B, while total spot Bitcoin ETF volume topped $6.53B. Over the past month, Bitcoin ETF inflows reached $4.61B, outpacing Ethereum ETF inflows at $1.05B and signaling a rotation back to Bitcoin after ETH’s August lead. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETF inflows stood at $176.56M with $2.65B in trading volume, pushing ETH ETF AUM to roughly $32.01B. These inflows reflect growing institutional demand, tighter ETF spreads and broader crypto ETF adoption. Traders may view this as a bullish sign for Bitcoin ETFs, potentially fueling further market momentum.

Walmart will introduce crypto trading and custody services for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) on its OnePay app by the end of 2025. The feature, powered by Zerohash, ensures secure, compliant transactions. Initial rollout in select U.S. states positions Walmart alongside PayPal, Cash App and Venmo in digital finance. Future plans include enabling digital asset payments for purchases, creating a new on-ramp for retail investors. Crypto trading volumes typically rise with new entry points, suggesting this launch could drive higher demand for BTC and ETH. Traders should monitor trading volumes and liquidity shifts as mainstream adoption accelerates.

Bitwise has named Solana’s stablecoin network as Wall Street’s top choice for stablecoin issuance and tokenization. The Solana stablecoin network delivers high throughput and 150-microsecond settlement with rapid transaction finality. On-chain data show stablecoin supply on Solana has risen to $13.9bn (4.7% market share), compared with Ethereum’s $172.5bn (59%). Financial institutions are attracted by low fees and faster unstaking, ahead of Solana’s upcoming Alpenglow upgrade. Bitwise runs a $30mn Physical Solana ETP and awaits SEC approval for a spot SOL ETF, with a decision due October 16.

New York lawmakers introduced Bill S.8518 to impose a tiered energy tax on proof-of-work bitcoin mining. Under the proposal, operations using up to 2.25 million kWh per year are exempt. Usage between 2.26 and 5 million kWh incurs a $0.02/kWh fee, rising to $0.03 for 5–10 million kWh, $0.04 up to 20 million kWh, and $0.05 beyond. Miners powered entirely by renewable energy avoid the levy. Revenue will fund the state’s Energy Affordability Programs for low- and moderate-income households. Sponsors estimate the bitcoin mining tax will offset $79 million in residential and $165 million in small-business energy costs annually. The bitcoin mining tax proposal also aims to curb emissions and reduce grid strain, ensuring miners pay a fair share of rising utility bills. Critics warn higher costs could push operations to other states, affecting local mining activity.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz will retire from his day-to-day role at year-end after 13 years leading the XRP Ledger (XRPL) development. The decision by Ripple CTO underscores strategic shifts expected in Ripple’s technical roadmap. He will transition to emeritus status, retaining a board seat and continuing code contributions and node management. Community influencer Mason Versluis called this one of the most significant XRP updates in years, noting that Schwartz’s ongoing involvement mitigates risks for XRP holders unless he joins rival networks. The leadership change balances continuity in cryptographic expertise with room for new management to shape XRPL strategy. Traders should monitor the appointment of a new CTO, potential shifts in XRPL strategy, and resulting effects on XRP liquidity and market sentiment.

On October 1, two Sweden Democrats MPs filed a motion calling on the government to conduct a study into a national Bitcoin reserve to complement Sweden’s existing gold and foreign exchange reserves. The proposal highlights Bitcoin’s role as “digital gold,” offering asset diversification and an inflation hedge. It seeks clarity on reserve management structures—whether overseen by the central bank, finance ministry or a new agency—as well as custody, funding, auditing and liquidity details. Critics warn that Bitcoin’s high volatility, liquidity constraints and custody risks pose governance challenges. The government review will assess strategic benefits, regulatory implications and reserve management models before deciding on a formal Bitcoin reserve, reflecting growing state-level interest in cryptocurrency.

British authorities have convicted Zhimin Qian, dubbed the “Bitcoin Queen,” for running a multi-billion-pound Ponzi scheme targeting over 128,000 investors from 2014 to 2017. In a landmark operation, the Metropolitan Police seized 61,000 BTC, leading to a record Bitcoin seizure. Qian used forged documents to enter the UK and laundered illicit proceeds through luxury real estate in London and Dubai. Investigators also confiscated encrypted devices, cash, and gold tied to the operation. The historic Bitcoin seizure marks the largest single crypto confiscation to date. The UK government now holds the coins pending decisions on sale, retention, or victim compensation. Traders should note the heightened risks of crypto fraud and the growing momentum of global cooperation on money laundering. Active due diligence and monitoring of potential asset liquidations are essential to navigate anticipated market volatility.

Deutsche Börse has signed an MoU with Circle to integrate the stablecoins USDC and EURC into its trading and settlement infrastructure. The stablecoin integration will list both tokens on the 360T digital exchange 3DX and support them on the institutional platform Crypto Finance. Clearstream will serve as the primary custodian, and Crypto Finance as sub-custodian, enabling banks and asset managers to use regulated stablecoins within existing workflows. Backed by Europe’s MiCA framework, this stablecoin integration marks Circle as the first major issuer to achieve MiCA compliance. The deal aims to reduce settlement risk, cut costs, and boost efficiency, setting a precedent for regulated, cross-border on-chain payments and furthering institutional adoption of tokenized assets.

Poland crypto law Bill 1424 passed the Sejm, enforcing strict KNF licensing and compliance requirements. The legislation aligns with the EU’s MiCA framework and mandates that all crypto service providers obtain a KNF license, maintain robust capital reserves, and implement AML, risk management, and internal controls. Firms have a six-month transition window, yet license approvals may be delayed up to 30 months under the new Poland crypto law. Unlicensed operations face fines up to 10 million złoty and two-year prison sentences. Supporters argue these measures boost market oversight and attract institutional investors; critics warn high compliance costs and lengthy approval processes could drive startups abroad and stifle innovation. The bill moves to the Senate, with President Nawrocki weighing a veto on criminal penalties and broad KNF authority.

Kazakhstan has launched the Alem Crypto Fund, its first state-backed crypto reserve fund, marking a strategic shift toward digital asset reserves. Managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group under the Astana International Financial Centre and overseen by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Alem Crypto Fund made its inaugural acquisition of Binance Coin (BNB) in partnership with licensed Binance Kazakhstan. The fund benefits from Binance’s technical expertise, regulatory compliance, and global network. This move follows Kazakhstan’s rollout of the tenge-pegged KZTE stablecoin on Solana. With a leading global hash rate in Bitcoin mining and plans for a “CryptoCity” pilot zone and comprehensive digital asset legislation by 2026, the country aims to attract institutional demand and enhance market transparency. Traders should watch for growing institutional interest in BNB and its adoption as a treasury asset.

South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum was convicted of crypto embezzlement after diverting ₩4.34 billion (~$3.1 million) from her agency into 13 transactions in early 2022. Of that, ₩4.2 billion funded cryptocurrency purchases, with the remainder covering taxes and personal expenses. The Jeju District Court handed her a two-year prison term, suspended for four years, citing her clean record, full repayment by mid-2024, and public apology. Her case prompted major broadcasters and brands to cut ties, reflecting rising reputational and compliance risks. This high-profile crypto embezzlement case underscores South Korea’s tightening regulatory oversight of crypto investments. Crypto traders should note the potential for stricter compliance measures and increased scrutiny on celebrity-backed crypto transactions.

Tron founder Justin Sun escalated his legal battle against Bloomberg after a Delaware federal judge denied his request for a temporary restraining order to prevent publication of his crypto holdings. Filed in August, Sun’s lawsuit claimed Bloomberg breached a confidentiality agreement by reporting that he holds over 60 billion TRX, 17 000 BTC, 224 000 ETH and 700 million USDT for its Billionaires Index, and argued the disclosures increased his risk of hacking and physical threats. Judge Colm F. Connolly dismissed Justin Sun’s bid, ruling he failed to show a contractual promise of confidentiality or irreparable harm, noting his own prior disclosures on social media. Bloomberg journalists denied any confidentiality pact and said external estimates matched their figures. TRX price traded near $0.338 with a $32 billion market cap, showing little price reaction. The case proceeds to discovery and further motions, with possible settlement talks ahead. This dispute highlights tensions between privacy claims and public interest in high-profile executives. For traders, Justin Sun’s ongoing US legal challenges, including an SEC suit over unregistered securities and a token freeze dispute, may weigh on TRX market sentiment.

WLFI executed a $1.06 million buyback across Ethereum, Solana and BNB Smart Chain, repurchasing 6.04 million tokens using DeFi fees and liquidity earnings. On September 26, the Trump-linked DeFi project burned 7.89 million WLFI tokens worth $1.43 million through a governance-approved mechanism to cut supply and relieve selling pressure. A further 3.06 million tokens (approx. $638,000) remain on Solana pending future burns. WLFI trades at $0.20, down nearly 60% from its all-time high and 33% in the past month. The platform also signed an MOU with Korean exchange Bithumb to expand its USD1 stablecoin in Asia. This buyback-and-burn strategy reflects evolving DeFi governance tools aimed at boosting scarcity and restoring market confidence.

In a notable on-chain move, an anonymous whale transferred $30 million USDC from Kraken to Hyperliquid, acquiring 22.37 million XPL tokens at an average price of $1.34, as reported by Lookonchain. This USDC investment triggered a 22.7% price surge in XPL—from $1.17 to $1.54—highlighting the impact of large trades in low-liquidity markets. With 41.52 million USDC still reserved for further accumulation, the whale activity underscores strong market conviction and potential for continued upward momentum. Traders should monitor on-chain analytics, liquidity shifts, and XPL fundamentals to manage volatility risks and capitalize on bullish signals.

In a landmark move, Kraken PAC donations total $2 million to U.S. crypto PACs ahead of the 2025 elections, with $1 million each to Freedom Fund and America First Digital PACs. These Kraken PAC donations defend digital asset rights, self-custody and permissionless finance as Congress debates new crypto regulation and market structure bills. Despite bipartisan progress such as the GENIUS Act, enforcement actions and unclear rules fuel uncertainty in the U.S. crypto market. Kraken aims to influence policy, support pro-crypto candidates and resist restrictive legislation. Traders should monitor regulatory shifts, election outcomes and political financing trends, as growing crypto PAC influence could sway market sentiment and asset prices.

Chainlink has integrated its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and full suite of oracle services—including Data Streams, data feeds, Proof of Reserve, and NAVLink—into the Canton Network, enabling the oracle provider to operate as a super validator handling transaction ordering, confirmation, and cross-domain consensus. Canton Network, a permissionless blockchain backed by Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Cboe Global Markets, Digital Asset and Paxos, supports over $6 trillion in on-chain assets and processes $280 billion in daily repo trades. By joining the Chainlink Scale program, Chainlink offsets oracle operating costs and provides secure, cost-efficient oracles for smart contracts and cross-chain operations. Digital Asset’s CEO Yuval Rooz says the integration strengthens governance and network resilience, and Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov expects the partnership to unlock large-scale TradFi and DeFi real-world use cases. Traders should note this development as it expands tokenized assets, stablecoins, digital identity and payment solutions on an institutional blockchain, potentially boosting on-chain adoption and oracle demand.

Tether is in talks with major investors to raise $500 million in equity funding. The capital raise will bolster USDT reserves and support a long-term USDT market cap target of $500 billion. Currently, USDT circulation sits near $110 billion, maintaining its position as the leading stablecoin, ahead of rivals like USDC. The funding aims to improve transparency and strengthen the equity-to-liability ratio. Tether plans to use the fresh capital to expand product offerings amid growing demand for stablecoins across DeFi platforms and institutional trading desks. Market watchers view the move as a sign of confidence in Tether’s stability and a potential step toward a future IPO or debt issuance. For crypto traders, this funding underscores USDT’s liquidity backing and reinforces its market dominance without affecting the stablecoin peg.

Google has launched the open-source AP2 protocol, an AI payments protocol enabling autonomous transactions across stablecoins, credit cards and digital assets. Backed by over 60 partners—including Coinbase, American Express, Mastercard and the Ethereum Foundation—AP2 relies on cryptographic mandates to ensure authorization, authenticity and accountability. The framework also introduces the A2A x402 extension for reliable stablecoin settlements. All technical specifications, documentation and reference implementations are available on GitHub. The AP2 protocol aims to drive blockchain integration, streamline AI-led e-commerce and financial services, and accelerate stablecoin payments adoption.

Poland’s Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) has listed Bitcoin ETF BETA (ticker BTCBET), the country’s first regulated crypto ETF. This Bitcoin ETF, supervised by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority and managed by AgioFunds TFI SA, invests in CME Bitcoin futures contracts to offer direct Bitcoin price exposure without holding the asset outright. The ETF debuted with PLN 5.2 million in trading volume and PLN 3 million in net inflows, amid a broader 94.2% surge in GPW ETF turnover to PLN 1.9 billion this year. With a 0.75% annual fee, Bitcoin ETF BETA follows similar futures-based products launched in the US and Germany, leveraging recent EU regulatory clarity on digital asset products. Market analysts expect the new crypto ETF to drive institutional and retail investment, enhance market liquidity, and pave the way for more regulated Bitcoin ETFs in Europe.

BitGo IPO is set to debut on the NYSE under ticker BTGO after reporting a strong H1 2025 performance. The crypto custodian posted revenue of $4.19 billion, a 275% year-on-year increase, and net profit of $12.6 million. Active users grew 18% to 1.15 million. Goldman Sachs and Citigroup lead the underwriters. The S-1 filing outlines a dual-class share structure that secures CEO Mike Belshe’s control post-IPO. The BitGo IPO marks one of the most anticipated crypto listings this fall. BitGo highlighted stablecoin partnerships, including USD 1 issuance with World Liberty Financial. It also secured a BaFin license to offer regulated services across the EU. IPO proceeds will fund technology development, acquisitions, and stock-based compensation. The listing follows recent market entries by Circle, Bullish, and Figure.

BDACS and Woori Bank have launched the KRW1 stablecoin on the Avalanche blockchain. The KRW1 stablecoin is fully collateralized 1:1 with Korean won held in escrow at Woori Bank and follows a successful proof-of-concept for fiat integration and on-chain reserves verification. Avalanche was chosen for its scalability, reliability and KISA endorsement. BDACS plans to pilot KRW1 for low-cost payments, remittances and public-sector settlements. The project seeks to bridge traditional finance and DeFi with transparent fiat backing and set a technical standard before South Korea’s Digital Asset Basic Act and the Financial Services Commission’s October stablecoin guidelines. Major Korean banks are also exploring won-pegged digital assets with Tether and Circle. Traders should monitor KRW1 stablecoin adoption for its potential to boost Avalanche network activity and stablecoin trading volumes.

PayPal has launched P2P crypto transfers for U.S. users, enabling Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and PayPal USD (PYUSD) transactions within PayPal, Venmo and to compatible wallets. This PayPal P2P crypto transfers feature builds on July 2025’s “Pay with Crypto” merchant service, which supports 100+ cryptocurrencies with instant conversion and lower fees. The update also adds PayPal Links, allowing users to generate one-time payment or request links via text, chat or email. PayPal’s P2P volume rose 10% year-on-year in Q2 2025, reflecting strong demand ahead of the PayPal World global payments rollout scheduled for late 2025. As with other friends-and-family payments, P2P crypto transfers remain exempt from IRS 1099-K reporting, preserving user privacy and tax benefits.

The Ozak AI presale has raised $2.97 million by selling over 877 million OZ tokens in five stages, from $0.001 at launch to $0.01 in Stage 5. Early investors now enjoy more than 900% returns. The project allocates 3 billion of its 10 billion total token supply to the presale. Built on a decentralized physical infrastructure layer (DePIN), Ozak AI integrates an AI arbitrage engine and real-time analytics to power smarter dApps and cross-chain scalability. A CertiK audit and partnerships with Hive Intel and SINT bolster security and credibility. With strong whale and retail participation, the Ozak AI presale offers an asymmetric risk-reward profile, limiting downside to the initial outlay while targeting 50–100× upside if tokens list above $0.5. Crypto traders should monitor the project roadmap and exchange listing timelines to gauge short-term momentum and long-term adoption. The Ozak AI presale remains one of the most promising high-growth opportunities in the AI and crypto space.

The Shibarium bridge, a layer-2 scaling solution for the Shiba Inu ecosystem, suffered a sophisticated flash loan exploit that drained approximately $2.4M in assets. The attacker borrowed 4.6 million BONE tokens via a flash loan to seize control of eight out of 12 validator keys and executed malicious state changes. As a result, 224.57 ETH and 92.6 billion SHIB were stolen and used to repay the flash loan, leaving the bridge compromised. In response, the Shiba Inu team paused staking and unstaking functions, secured remaining funds in a 6-of-9 multisig hardware wallet, and froze the attacker’s locked BONE tokens. The K9 Finance DAO blacklisted the hacker’s address, freezing about $700,000 in K9 tokens. Shiba Inu developers offered a bounty and hinted at waiving charges if the funds are returned. Forensic teams from Hexens, Seal 911 and PeckShield are investigating, and authorities have been notified. The flash loan exploit on the Shibarium bridge pushed SHIB down to $0.0000130 and BONE to $0.19336. This incident highlights rising security risks in DeFi bridges and layer-2 solutions, underscoring the need for stronger cross-chain security protocols.