Crypto News

DeFi Development Corp (Nasdaq: DFDV) has continued building its Solana treasury, but its buying pace has slowed. The company acquired about 47,706 SOL and SOL equivalents after 21 September, then bought a further 26,203 SOL between 28 September and 2 October for roughly $3 million. Its treasury now holds about 2,564,212 SOL and SOL equivalents, valued at approximately $302 million as of 5 October. The latest purchase increased the Solana treasury by about 1% from 25 September. Buying has fallen from 101,381 SOL in the week ending 18 September to 47,706 SOL the following week and 26,203 SOL most recently. Since its 12 August earnings update, the treasury has grown by about 11%, or more than 226,000 SOL equivalents. DeFi Development Corp is a digital asset treasury company modelled partly on Strategy’s Bitcoin approach. It offers shareholders leveraged SOL exposure and operates Solana validators that generate network rewards. The company uses staking, validator operations, its CHAD preferred stock and a $300 million at-the-market share-sale programme to fund its strategy. It paid the first annualised 13% CHAD dividend on 1 October. Continued SOL accumulation may provide some support for Solana sentiment, but the slower buying pace and reliance on equity financing are important risks. Returns also depend on SOL’s price, staking performance, financing costs and the premium or discount of DFDV shares to the value of its crypto treasury. The announcement is unlikely to materially affect the wider crypto market in the short term.

Aptos has introduced an optional Encrypted Mempool to protect pending transactions from frontrunning, sandwich attacks and other forms of maximal extractable value (MEV). The Aptos Encrypted Mempool hides transaction instructions while validators determine block order, then decrypts them before execution. Confirmed transactions remain publicly recorded onchain. The feature uses threshold encryption and batch processing. Aptos researchers reported an additional 27 milliseconds of proposal-to-execution latency, or about 14% above baseline, while online decryption could take less than 20 milliseconds per batch. Earlier rollout information said the system was live on devnet, with testnet support expected and mainnet deployment dependent on governance approval. The proposal remains subject to Aptos governance, and the feature is opt-in. The upgrade targets professional trading activity, including users of Decibel, Aptos’ order-book and perpetual futures platform. Decibel has reportedly exceeded $1 billion in cumulative volume, while Aptos cited hundreds of billions of dollars in monthly DEX trading activity across the market. Aptos and the Aptos Foundation have also committed more than $50 million to products, protocol research, trading infrastructure and artificial intelligence partnerships. For APT traders, the Aptos Encrypted Mempool could reduce order-flow leakage and improve execution fairness if validators, exchanges and users adopt it. However, the near-term price effect is likely limited because deployment is not final and adoption remains uncertain. Governance results, testnet performance, security findings and usage rates are the main catalysts to monitor.

Ethereum’s validator exit queue fell to 767,349 ETH on 5 October 2026, down from a peak of about 851,000 ETH on 2 October. The backlog still implies a wait of roughly 13 days and eight hours, well above the 166,000 ETH recorded on 29 September. The surge followed MetaMask Staking’s decision to withdraw about 17,000 validators operated for Lido, representing an estimated 523,000 ETH. MetaMask said the move was a defensive response to a security incident disclosed on 30 September. It found no evidence that user wallets or funds were affected. Lido expects most of the withdrawn ETH to return to staking, although re-entry could take up to 45 days. Ethereum’s entry queue also remains large, with about 1.44 million to 1.5 million ETH awaiting activation and an estimated delay of around 25 days. ETH in either queue does not earn staking rewards. Ethereum’s churn limit restricts validator inflows and outflows to about 256 ETH per epoch, or roughly 57,600 ETH per day. The exit backlog remains a relatively small share of the estimated 43.6 million ETH staked, so the event does not currently indicate a systemic network problem. ETH traders should monitor re-staking activity, staking yields and further details about the MetaMask incident. The queue may create short-term volatility and liquidity concerns, but its gradual decline reduces immediate downside risk.

Binance will introduce new Brazil crypto transfer rules on 1 November. Brazilian users must state the purpose of every international crypto transfer and provide counterparty details before processing. Binance will report the transactions monthly to Brazil’s Central Bank under foreign-exchange regulations. The Brazil crypto transfer requirements cover assets sent to or received from overseas accounts, including transfers between a user’s Brazilian and foreign exchange accounts. Corporate customers must also disclose whether the counterparty belongs to the same economic group. Domestic transfers between Brazilian residents are excluded. Transfers of up to $50,000 will use 10 simplified purpose codes. Transactions above $50,000 must use one of 96 detailed classifications, with no general “other” option. A separate $100,000 per-transaction limit may apply when the foreign counterparty is not authorised to operate in Brazil’s foreign-exchange market. Binance said eligible overseas exchanges will be assessed and listed. Withdrawals will be blocked until the required information is submitted. Overseas deposits may remain pending or be returned. Transfers to or from a user’s own self-custody wallet require ownership confirmation but no purpose code. The rules also apply to API users and corporate accounts. The policy is separate from Brazil’s planned crypto Travel Rule, expected to cover domestic transfers in 2027 and international transfers in 2028. Traders should expect more compliance checks, slower cross-border settlement and greater transaction traceability. The measures do not restrict ordinary trading or domestic transfers.

Bitcoin rose to about $86,100-$86,757 after softer inflation and weak US jobs data reduced expectations for further Federal Reserve rate rises. September payrolls increased by only 29,000, below forecasts, while unemployment rose to 4.2%. CME FedWatch data put the probability of an October rate hold at 74%, up from 35.8% a week earlier. The shift supported Bitcoin and other risk assets, although stronger inflation or jobs data could renew rate-hike concerns. Bitcoin remains below resistance near $87,354. A break above that level could open a move towards $90,000, while rejection may trigger short-term profit-taking. The 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages have both moved above the 200-day EMA, creating bullish golden-cross signals. However, these indicators lag price action and do not guarantee further gains. Bitcoin is still about 31% below its record high from a year earlier. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $189.84 million in the latest reported daily inflows. September inflows reached $2.65 billion and third-quarter inflows totalled $6.34 billion, lifting total ETF net assets to about $101.1 billion. Net inflows for 2026 remain below $1 billion after first-half outflows, suggesting recent demand has also been allocation-driven rather than solely dependent on easier liquidity. Options traders show downside protection concentrated around $80,000, while call interest is focused between $89,000 and $92,000. Bitcoin’s Fear & Greed Index stood at 68. Traders are watching the Federal Reserve meeting minutes on 7 October, US September CPI on 14 October and the next Fed meeting on 27-28 October. Ethereum and XRP posted modest gains, while Solana declined. High Treasury yields and upcoming inflation data remain risks to Bitcoin’s short-term momentum.

DeFi Dev Corp (DFDV), a Nasdaq-listed Solana treasury company, has continued its aggressive SOL accumulation strategy. An earlier purchase added approximately 55,491 SOL worth $5.78 million, taking its holdings to about 2.49 million SOL. In the latest update, DFDV reported buying a further 26,203 SOL, lifting its SOL and equivalent-asset holdings to 2.564 million SOL. The company said its holdings rose 11% in roughly seven weeks. SOL per share recorded double-digit growth, while net asset value per share and cash increased by more than 100%. DeFi Dev Corp shifted from Janover to a Solana-focused treasury model in April 2025 and is reportedly one of the largest public SOL holders. It has also announced a $300 million CHAD perpetual preferred stock programme to fund further purchases. The strategy combines capital raising, SOL purchases and staking income, but it increases exposure to SOL price volatility, dilution and fixed preferred-stock obligations. The latest purchase supports the institutional demand narrative for SOL, although its direct market impact is likely limited relative to Solana’s overall market. Traders should also monitor network activity, liquidity, broader crypto sentiment and Solana DeFi performance.

FinCEN and four US banking regulators said on 8 September 2026 that compliant verifiable digital credentials (VDCs) can satisfy documentary identification requirements under the Customer Identification Program (CIP) rule. The clarification does not change the CIP rule or require banks to adopt VDCs. It allows banks to accept government-issued credentials, including mobile driver’s licences, during branch, remote and online account opening. A qualifying VDC must be digitally signed by its issuer, cryptographically linked to a device and protected by a PIN or biometric factor. Government-issued VDCs can establish nationality or residence and include a photograph or comparable safeguard. Private-sector credentials cannot replace government identification, but banks may use them as non-documentary evidence alongside databases, public records and other checks. Banks using VDCs must update written CIP procedures and support signature validation, revocation checks, device-binding verification and activation-factor controls. They may also need new infrastructure, staff training and interoperable systems for different issuers and wallet providers. The framework could strengthen digital identity, KYC compliance and anti-fraud technology, while potentially supporting cryptographically verified delegation for AI agents. For crypto traders, the announcement is indirectly relevant. It may accelerate regulated digital identity and secure wallet adoption, but it does not change cryptocurrency fundamentals or create a direct price catalyst. The expected market impact is therefore limited.

Silver price gains accelerated in the later update, rising 2.08% to $61.455 an ounce on 5 October, compared with the earlier reported increase of 1.8% to $61.286. Gold also advanced, although its gain eased slightly from 0.36% to 0.25%, reaching $4,152.26 an ounce. The reports did not identify a specific catalyst, but the silver price remained a key sign of strength in precious metals. Currency markets were relatively stable. USD/CNH rose 0.04% to 6.70701, while USD/JPY increased 0.39% to 158.261. European equities were mixed, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up 0.14%, the FTSE 100 down 0.13% and Germany’s DAX 40 down 0.09%. Oil prices weakened further in the later report. WTI crude fell 2.13% to $91.97 a barrel, compared with an earlier decline of 1.27%, while Brent crude dropped 0.76% to $105.49. Stronger silver and weaker oil point to divergent commodity signals rather than a broad-based shift in risk appetite. For crypto traders, silver price trends may provide context on precious-metals demand and macro sentiment, but they do not offer a direct Bitcoin or altcoin signal. Traders should watch the US dollar, bond yields, real yields and wider risk appetite for confirmation. Gate’s TradFi services also provide access to precious metals, foreign exchange, stock CFDs, indices and commodities.

The Kansas Senate race has become unusually competitive, with Democrat Adam Hamilton challenging Republican Senator Roger Marshall in a traditionally safe GOP state. Early polling showed Hamilton gaining ground, while some surveys put him slightly ahead or showed the candidates in a virtual tie. The latest development is a $14 million advertising commitment from the Senate Leadership Fund, a major Republican super PAC, to support Marshall’s re-election campaign. The funding exceeds the previously reported $8.2 million commitment and signals a stronger effort to protect the Kansas Senate seat. Prediction markets have reduced the estimated probability of a Democratic victory following the announcement, although close polling suggests continued volatility. Traders should monitor Kansas Senate race polling, campaign spending, endorsements and voter sentiment. The event has no direct fundamental impact on cryptocurrency prices, but political-market participants may see short-term changes in election-contract odds.

Greek police arrested 17 people in Katerini on September 30 over an alleged $8 million crypto pyramid scheme. Nine suspects were reportedly military personnel, including two non-commissioned officers accused of leadership roles. A 44-year-old leader of the Association of Artificial Intelligence Friends in Katerini was remanded in custody, while some suspects were released on bail of €15,000 to €20,000. Investigators allege that the unlicensed crypto pyramid scheme promised to double investments within 50 days with minimal risk. It was promoted through the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Team Association, or AT Team Greece, which reportedly claimed that AI-powered trading generated automated returns. Recruitment bonuses allegedly helped attract new investors. Authorities estimate that about 10,000 people took part and that the operation had been active since at least 2025. The platform reportedly froze withdrawals around September 1. Police seized approximately €295,090 in cash and electronic devices. Only 18 victims have so far reported identified losses of about €55,970, although the figure may increase. Investigators also estimate that the group recruited 1,842 members and collected roughly €2 million in Katerini alone. The crypto pyramid scheme emerged after two anonymous complaints were submitted through Greece’s gov.gr portal in July. The allegations and financial estimates have not been tested in court. The case does not name a specific cryptocurrency, so its direct effect on token prices is likely limited. However, further arrests, asset seizures or regulatory action could increase scrutiny of unlicensed crypto investment platforms.

Dogecoin (DOGE) ETF inflows continue to support its recovery, although the latest report shows demand has cooled. Earlier data indicated $860,960 in weekly spot ETF inflows and a four-week positive streak, while the newer report recorded $327,360 and a three-week streak, suggesting that inflows remain positive but may be moderating. DOGE traded above $0.096 and remained above its 200-day EMA near $0.093, its 50-day EMA near $0.088 and its 100-day EMA around $0.086. Derivatives positioning was slightly bullish. The long-to-short ratio stood at 1.01, while the 0.0092% funding rate showed that long traders were paying shorts. This points to stronger demand for bullish perpetual-futures positions, but also raises liquidation risks if DOGE reverses. RSI near 58 indicated positive but not overbought momentum, while a slightly negative MACD suggested that upside momentum was weakening. DOGE faces key resistance at $0.102. A sustained breakout could target the $0.1050, $0.11 and $0.1150 areas. Failure to hold support near $0.093 could expose DOGE to $0.088 and $0.086, with earlier analysis identifying deeper downside risk near $0.0883. Traders should monitor ETF flows, leverage and confirmation above $0.102. Broader weakness in Bitcoin and the crypto market could continue to pressure DOGE.

Anthropic’s planned IPO has drawn strong market attention after reports suggested the AI company could seek a valuation of up to $2 trillion. That would be more than double its last reported private valuation of $965 billion following a May 2026 funding round. Anthropic confidentially filed for a US IPO on 1 June 2026, but has not disclosed its price range, share count or underwriting details. A later report cited leaked figures showing an estimated $8 billion operating loss and $42 billion net loss in 2025. The figures have not been independently verified. Prediction-market pricing indicates scepticism that the Anthropic IPO will close above a $1.25 trillion market capitalisation. The reported losses could pressure Anthropic to lower its valuation, adjust IPO pricing or provide additional financial disclosure as it competes with OpenAI. For crypto traders, the Anthropic IPO is an indirect indicator of risk appetite in AI, technology stocks and other speculative assets. It is not a direct cryptocurrency catalyst. Short-term volatility could rise around the SEC filing, confirmation of the losses, changes to the IPO timetable or underwriter guidance. Any valuation repricing could weigh on broader risk sentiment, while strong investor demand could support technology-led speculation. The direct impact on cryptocurrency prices is expected to remain limited.

Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett says the US stock market is showing signs similar to the period before the 2000 dot-com crash. The AI bubble remains concentrated in the “Magnificent Seven” and other technology shares, while market breadth has weakened sharply. About 400 S&P 500 companies are below their 50-day moving averages and 300 are below their 200-day averages. The median S&P 500 stock is around 16% below its peak, even as the index remains near a record high. Hartnett also warned that hyperscaler capital spending could form a major AI investment bubble. He identified credit stress, weaker liquidity and geopolitical capital outflows as key risks. His latest assessment adds that recent flows are moving toward safer assets: $18.8 billion entered bonds, compared with $15.8 billion in equities and $900 million in cryptocurrencies. Hartnett recommends buying US Treasury bonds, calling the trade “buy humiliation”. The 10-year Treasury yield has reached 5.33%, while long-duration government bonds and investment-grade technology debt have weakened. Traders are watching several risk levels, including MOVE above 125, the Global Financials ETF below $125, the MDY mid-cap ETF below $666 and the IJR small-cap ETF below $135. For crypto traders, the AI bubble warning points to a potentially bearish short-term backdrop. A reversal in concentrated technology leadership could trigger broader risk reduction and pressure cryptocurrency prices. However, falling bond yields, renewed liquidity or policy support could improve conditions for digital assets over the longer term.

Japan has added crypto exchange Garantex to its Russia sanctions list, restricting payments and capital transactions involving the platform unless approved by the Japanese government. The action also covers 33 Russia-linked entities, nine individuals and 35 vessels associated with the country’s shadow fleet. The Garantex sanctions limit the exchange’s access to Japanese financial channels. The United States and European Union previously sanctioned Garantex over alleged illegal transactions and sanctions violations. US authorities estimate that the exchange processed more than $96 billion in cryptocurrency activity since 2019, although this figure does not indicate that all transactions were illicit. Japan is also restricting funding, repairs, technical assistance, insurance and other services for the designated vessels. Blockchain intelligence reports suggest that some Garantex-linked activity moved to alternative infrastructure, including Grinex, after earlier enforcement actions. For crypto traders, the case signals tighter sanctions compliance, greater counterparty risk and increased scrutiny of exchanges with links to Russia or sanctioned entities. The direct impact on major cryptocurrency prices is likely to remain limited, but affected platforms could face reduced liquidity, disrupted payment access and further enforcement pressure.

Microsoft’s official X account, followed by more than 13 million users, was briefly compromised and used to promote the unauthorized CLIPPY meme coin linked to the company’s former Clippy assistant. Attackers changed the profile image, followed and reposted content from a Clippy impersonation account, and claimed CLIPPY’s liquidity pool was paired with Microsoft stock, MSFT. Those claims were not independently verified. Microsoft said the Microsoft X account hack was unauthorized. It removed the posts, secured the account and launched an investigation. The company said it did not endorse, sponsor or issue any cryptocurrency connected to Clippy, Microsoft or the MSFT ticker. The promotion reportedly remained online for about 30 minutes, followed by a deleted apology. The Microsoft X account hack reflects a wider crypto scam pattern in which attackers compromise trusted profiles to create false legitimacy for meme coins. Similar incidents involved accounts linked to Robinhood, SpaceX and Starlink, while an operation involving 15 hacked accounts reportedly generated nearly $500,000. Traders should verify token announcements through official websites and multiple trusted sources before trading, as hacked-account promotions can trigger short-term volatility and rapid losses.

DeepSeek and Huawei have open-sourced six software modules for Huawei Ascend AI chips, targeting Nvidia’s CUDA advantage. The toolkit includes FlashMLA, DeepEP, DeepGEMM, TileKernels, DeepSelect and an Ascend version of TileLang. TileLang is the central component, offering a higher-level framework intended to simplify AI development while retaining hardware performance. The tools support many operators used to train DeepSeek’s V4 models. DeepGEMM supports BF16, FP8 and FP4 matrix operations, while TileKernels aims to provide compatible Python interfaces for Nvidia GPUs and Huawei NPUs. DeepSeek and Huawei have also optimised computing and communications for a 128-chip Ascend 950 cluster. The partnership is expanding. DeepSeek is preparing to deploy at least 160,000 Ascend 950DT chips at a data centre in Inner Mongolia. The chips are expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, while parts of the facility could come online from late 2027 to early 2028. DeepSeek has already optimised its V4 model for Ascend hardware and used Ascend 950 chips in some training workloads. The release could reduce Chinese developers’ reliance on Nvidia and limit exposure to US export controls. However, the performance evidence remains limited. Early tests used an unpublished proof-of-concept development kit and manual configurations. Full bandwidth is expected only with Huawei’s commercial Atlas 850E kit, reportedly planned for October 2026. DeepEP currently reaches about 90% to 95% of physical bandwidth at expert-parallelism scales of up to 32, while larger configurations and data-combine operations are still being optimised. FlashMLA is not yet supported on Ascend, and DeepSelect currently supports only BF16. For crypto traders, this is a neutral and mainly long-term technology story rather than an immediate market catalyst. The DeepSeek partnership may support demand for domestic AI infrastructure, semiconductor alternatives and data-centre capacity, but it does not directly affect major cryptocurrency fundamentals. Traders should monitor TileLang adoption, Ascend shipments, DeepSeek’s future hardware purchases and Nvidia’s China market share.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has recovered from below $0.000005 in September but remains below the key $0.000006-$0.0000061 resistance zone. SHIB traded near $0.00000576 on September 30 after briefly reaching about $0.00000591, while later CoinCodex data placed the token near $0.0000057-$0.00000572. A sustained SHIB breakout above $0.0000061 could target $0.0000067 and then approximately $0.0000072 if broader crypto-market sentiment improves. Traders are watching $0.0000055-$0.0000056 as near-term support. A break below $0.0000055 could expose the $0.0000051-$0.0000052 area and weaken September’s recovery. The latest development was a more than 17,000% 24-hour surge in SHIB’s burn rate on October 3, according to Shibburn. However, SHIB remained near $0.00000572, showing little immediate reaction. This contrasts with an earlier fall of more than 91% in the burn rate, when the token still held near short-term support. For SHIB traders, technical resistance, liquidity and meme-coin demand currently appear more important than daily token-burn fluctuations.

US President Donald Trump has appointed Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to help lead a new Super Intelligence Force coordinating federal AI policy. The group will report to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and consult AI companies, consumers, public-interest groups, religious organisations and critical infrastructure providers. The earlier announcement said the task force would assess AI risks and opportunities and recommend ways to preserve US leadership in advanced AI. It was also expected to review AI incident-reporting systems, with the group initially given 120 days to produce recommendations. The later update did not provide a detailed mandate or timeline. Jay Clayton is closely watched by crypto traders. As SEC chair during Trump’s first term, he oversaw 57 enforcement cases involving crypto firms, initial coin offerings and blockchain projects. The SEC’s 2020 lawsuit against Ripple alleged that $1.3 billion in XRP sales were unregistered securities offerings. Clayton later advised crypto companies, including One River Asset Management and Fireblocks. In 2025, he became interim US attorney for the Southern District of New York, whose office continued prosecuting Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm. The appointment does not introduce new cryptocurrency rules or immediately change market liquidity. It may influence sentiment around AI tokens, data centres, semiconductors and technology regulation. For XRP and the wider digital-asset market, traders are likely to monitor whether Clayton’s enforcement-focused background affects future AI or crypto policy.

Near Intents recovered the full $3.8 million stolen in a cross-chain exploit after its general manager, Alex Shevchenko, gave the attacker 48 hours to return the funds. The recovery covers assets including Bitcoin, BNB, Ethereum and Solana, reducing the risk of direct losses for users. The exploit was caused by a flaw involving Near Intents’ Omni deposit and withdrawal layer and its main smart contract. The platform suspended services, promised full user compensation and reported the incident to law enforcement. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT said the assets were moved to KuCoin and later bridged to Bitcoin. An on-chain message attributed to the attacker admitted wrongdoing, praised the team’s response and encouraged hackers to use bug bounty programmes. Near Intents said it had ended its investigation. The platform supports swaps across 35 blockchains and has processed more than $30 billion in volume. For traders, the Near Intents recovery limits immediate user-loss concerns but does not remove broader smart-contract and cross-chain security risks. The incident may keep security and service-restoration updates in focus, while the recovered funds are unlikely to create a lasting price catalyst for the cryptocurrencies involved.

Ethereum price prediction remains focused on whether ETH can reclaim $2,700 and secure a daily close above the $2,775–$2,800 resistance zone. ETH closed near $2,687 on October 4 after briefly reaching $2,765, leaving the market at a key technical decision point. A sustained breakout above $2,800 could target $2,900, $3,000 and potentially $3,050. Failure to hold $2,700 may expose support around $2,600–$2,650, while the broader support zone remains near $2,400–$2,500. A break below $2,560 would weaken the short-term bullish setup. Ethereum price prediction is also being shaped by mixed momentum indicators and weaker institutional demand. Monthly RSI at 51.53 shows moderate improving momentum, but MACD remains negative without a confirmed bullish crossover. US spot Ethereum ETFs recorded three consecutive sessions of net outflows through October 2: $59.6 million on September 30, $55.4 million on October 1 and $17.3 million on October 2. This followed about $118 million in outflows from September 28 to October 2, after roughly $689.8 million of inflows in the previous week. Earlier, BlackRock-linked funds bought about $1.57 billion worth of ETH over 20 days, highlighting the mixed institutional picture. The Glamsterdam upgrade is scheduled to activate on the Sepolia testnet on October 6. It targets Layer-1 scaling, block construction and more efficient gas pricing, with mainnet activation expected later in the fourth quarter. The upgrade could support longer-term sentiment, but traders are likely to prioritise the $2,800 breakout, ETF flows and support near $2,560 when assessing Ethereum’s next major move.

Investor Michael Burry has accelerated his bearish outlook on the AI bubble, saying a major correction could arrive within a year rather than around 2028. He has replaced some direct short positions in Micron Technology and Nebius Group with put options expiring in June and September 2027. His bearish exposure also includes the SOXX semiconductor ETF, while he remains critical of Nvidia, Palantir and Oracle. Burry cited heavy data-centre spending, debt-funded AI infrastructure and the risk of excess capacity. He also referred to Acer’s chief executive, who said memory supply, particularly DDR4, may be approaching equilibrium. Falling memory prices could pressure Micron after its shares rose more than 270% this year. The change from short selling to put options limits potential losses but creates expiry risk. If the AI bubble corrects after the options expire, Burry’s bearish thesis may not produce gains. Traders should monitor memory prices, data-centre debt issuance, capital expenditure and whether major AI companies generate adequate investment returns. The AI bubble debate could increase volatility in semiconductor and technology stocks, with potential spillover into risk-sensitive crypto markets.

Wallets suspected of being linked to Ethena have made large ENA transfers involving centralised exchanges. Since 3 September, the wallets reportedly deposited about $6.75 million worth of ENA, including 19 million ENA worth roughly $3.29 million sent to Bybit. More recently, blockchain data showed withdrawals worth about $68.26 million: approximately $13.1 million from Bybit and $55.16 million from Coinbase. The wallets reportedly received ENA from an Ethena multisignature address about two years ago and had remained inactive until the latest activity. Ethena later posted transaction hashes on X but did not explain the purpose of the transfers. Traders should monitor whether the withdrawn ENA moves to staking, treasury or operational wallets, or returns to exchanges. Exchange inflows could increase selling pressure, while sustained outflows could reduce available liquidity and support short-term sentiment. Wallet ownership and the transfers’ intentions remain unconfirmed.

Visa stablecoin payment volume grew nearly 200% year over year, with more than 160 stablecoin-linked card programs now serving consumers, businesses and commercial clients worldwide. Business and commercial cards accounted for about 17% of Visa’s stablecoin-linked card volume in fiscal 2026 year to date, according to VisaNet data. Visa also reported that stablecoin settlement activity exceeded a $20 billion annualised run rate, more than 15 times the level recorded a year earlier. Card payment volume and settlement volume measure different parts of the network, and Visa did not disclose the dollar value behind the 200% card-payment growth. Stablecoin adoption is expanding beyond crypto trading into cross-border payouts, supplier payments, treasury management and business-to-business commerce. Allium estimated that global stablecoin payments reached $401 billion to $527 billion during the first eight months of 2026. Business-to-business payments were the largest category, with 43% of geographically identified B2B volume involving cross-border transfers. Visa is also developing stablecoin infrastructure for banks, fintech firms and crypto companies, including settlement, wallet and lending tools. The growth strengthens the long-term adoption case for stablecoins and related payment infrastructure, but it is unlikely to provide an immediate directional catalyst for major cryptocurrency prices.

The Philippines has frozen 116 financial assets in an alleged plunder and kickback investigation linked to government flood-control projects. The Court of Appeals order covers 25 crypto wallets, 86 bank accounts, four investment accounts and one insurance policy. The freeze order was dated 21 September 2026 and announced on 1 October. The assets are reportedly linked to an unnamed lawmaker, a corporation and associated individuals. The Anti-Money Laundering Council said funds moved through intermediaries, banks, a money service business, a virtual asset platform and multiple wallets to obscure their origins. Investigators found no apparent operating revenue sufficient to support the scale of the investments. Earlier investigations into the scandal, which emerged in 2025, examined suspected corruption funds converted into USDT and estimated crypto movements of $50 million to $100 million. Those figures have not been directly linked to the 25 crypto wallets in the latest order. Authorities have not disclosed the wallet addresses, cryptocurrencies, platform or value of the frozen crypto assets. The freeze is an interim measure and does not establish criminal guilt. For crypto traders, the case is mainly a regulatory and compliance development. It may increase scrutiny of Philippine crypto exchanges, wallet providers and transaction-monitoring systems. The immediate impact on global crypto prices is likely to remain limited unless major exchanges, widely traded tokens or broader illicit-finance activity become involved.

Former UK National Crime Agency officer Paul Chowles has been ordered to forfeit £1,810,678.93 after stealing 50 Bitcoin from evidence seized during the Silk Road 2.0 investigation. The Bitcoin was worth about £59,409 in 2017, but its later rise increased the assessed criminal benefit to £1,970,759.27. Chowles transferred the Bitcoin, split the funds and used the Bitcoin Fog mixer to conceal the transactions. He also converted part of the holdings through Cryptopay and Wirex cards. Police linked the transfers to his iPhone, notes and account records after arresting him in 2022. He pleaded guilty in May 2025 and received a five-year-and-six-month prison sentence. Authorities recovered 30 of the 50 stolen Bitcoin. A separate confiscation order was issued against darknet operator Thomas White after the theft was initially attributed to him. The case highlights Bitcoin custody, blockchain tracing and the legal risks of mishandling seized cryptocurrency. It is unlikely to create direct selling pressure on Bitcoin, making the market impact neutral.

Cronos Network said its community approved two CRO tokenomics proposals. The Cronos community pool has burned 228 million CRO, taking total CRO burns to 428 million. Under the updated CRO tokenomics plan, 100% of revenue from Cronos Ult and Cronos Launch will fund open-market CRO buybacks. The repurchased tokens will be burned monthly, and Cronos will publish transaction hashes for transparency. CRO staking rewards will not change and will remain funded by the Strategic Reserve. The buyback-and-burn programme could reduce circulating supply and create recurring demand for CRO over time. Traders should monitor ecosystem revenue, buyback size, burn data and broader market sentiment. The short-term price effect may remain limited if purchases are small or market conditions weaken.

Tether-backed infrastructure project Utexo plans to launch USDT on Bitcoin by the end of September 2026 through the RGB protocol, updating its earlier October target. The move would return USDT to Bitcoin more than a decade after its first issuance through Omni. Utexo raised $7.5 million in seed funding and received a commercial licence from Tether to use the USDT brand and issue the stablecoin on Bitcoin. Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino has supported the project, while Utexo says more than 450 businesses, including exchanges and wallet providers, have expressed interest. No major integrations have been confirmed. The Bitcoin-native USDT is designed to support private transfers, direct BTC-USDT swaps and Bitcoin-backed loans without requiring users to wrap BTC. RGB uses client-side validation and links ownership to Bitcoin UTXOs, keeping most transaction details off the public blockchain. Utexo also plans future Lightning Network support for faster and cheaper stablecoin payments. For compliance, Utexo would blacklist UTXOs linked to sanctions or illicit activity. The assets would not be frozen directly, but exchanges and bridge providers could block redemption or transfers to networks such as Ethereum and Tron. A successful launch could add native USDT liquidity to Bitcoin DeFi and improve BTC payment and collateral use. However, the market impact is likely to remain limited in the short term because adoption, RGB’s technical development, regulatory approval and wallet, exchange and bridge support remain uncertain. Traders should treat the launch as a notable infrastructure development rather than a confirmed BTC price catalyst.

The TRUMP meme coin will hold its third holder dinner on 22 November at Trump National in Virginia, with US President Donald Trump and three unnamed guests expected to attend. The top 185 registered TRUMP holders will qualify based on a time-weighted score that rewards larger balances and longer holding periods. The final ranking snapshot will be taken on 12 November at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The top 29 holders will receive VIP access, while the four highest-ranked participants will receive 18-karat gold Trump watches. Organisers said the event will not include private meetings or meet-and-greet sessions with Trump. The first TRUMP holder dinner, held in May 2025, drew criticism over concerns that token ownership could be linked to political access. The latest event follows a failed key Senate vote on the Clarity Act. Restrictions on Trump’s crypto interests were reportedly among the main obstacles in negotiations. Trump’s latest financial disclosure showed more than $635 million in 2025 income from the TRUMP meme coin, mainly from licensing royalties, and more than $1.2 billion in total crypto-related income. TRUMP was trading near $2.04, with a market capitalisation of about $576 million. The TRUMP meme coin has fallen more than 97% since its January 2025 launch. The dinner could create short-term publicity and speculative buying, but political scrutiny, regulatory uncertainty and the token’s prolonged decline remain significant risks for traders.

Bitcoin price volatility intensified after a softer-than-expected US jobs report initially pushed BTC from about $86,000 above $87,000. The rally was quickly rejected, sending Bitcoin below $84,000 and causing a decline of more than $3,000 within hours. BTC later stabilised near $84,500 after repeatedly defending support around $83,000, but it remains below the $85,000 resistance level. Nearly $600 million in crypto positions were liquidated over 24 hours, with long positions accounting for almost all recent hourly liquidations. The largest single liquidation was close to $12 million on Binance. Bitcoin’s market capitalisation stood at about $1.69 trillion, while its dominance rose to 59%. Ethereum fell below $2,700, XRP declined 3.5% to below $1.50, and Zcash dropped more than 5%. Dogecoin, Chainlink, Cardano, RAIN, Stellar and NEAR also weakened. Total crypto market capitalisation fell nearly 2%, or about $80 billion, to approximately $2.88 trillion. QNT and NIGHT bucked the broader crypto market correction, each gaining about 13%, with QNT moving above $260 and NIGHT reaching $0.50. Despite supportive signals from inflation and the US labour market, the Bitcoin price rejection and heavy liquidations show that traders remain cautious and that leveraged positions face continued downside risk.