Cryptocurrency
US voters favor financial innovation, yet remain wary of crypto
A 22-percentage-point gap separates American support for general financial innovation from support for cryptocurrency-specific policies, according to a new Ipsos survey. While 35% of respondents want political candidates to back financial technology, only 13% voice support when the conversation explicitly turns to blockchain and decentralized finance.
Ethereum developers patch deposit-routing flaw in Glamsterdam upgrade
A critical vulnerability within Ethereum’s upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade, which threatened to misdirect validator staking deposits into builder accounts, has been addressed. Developers merged the formal specification fix on October 26, ensuring that funds are correctly segregated by withdrawal credentials even when public keys overlap.
IBM, Intel and Oracle Join Wave of Objections to OKX-ICE Tokenized Stocks
The roster of corporations challenging the OKX-ICE tokenized stock platform has expanded to 26, as IBM, Oracle, Intel, and IonQ formally filed objections under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s innovation exemption, effectively blocking the venture from listing their shares without direct authorization.
BlackRock, SBI and Startale Explore Tokenized Fund Links in Japan
BlackRock has signed a memorandum of understanding with SBI Holdings and Startale Group to explore connecting tokenized money market funds with JPYSC, a yen-denominated stablecoin. This collaboration aims to build technical infrastructure for blockchain-based financial services within Japan’s established regulatory framework for digital assets.
Hong Kong Gold Exchange Expands Gold Token Reach via Chainlink
The Hong Kong Gold Exchange is breaking the Ethereum-bound limits of its XGZ gold-backed token. By integrating Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, the world’s fourth-largest gold trading venue aims to enable the secure, cross-network movement of digital assets representing physical bullion reserves.
WhiteArmor Demands $15 Million Bitcoin Ransom from Casino Gamdom
A new cyber extortion collective known as WhiteArmor is demanding $15 million in Bitcoin from Gamdom, claiming to have breached the crypto gambling platform’s database. The group alleges it gained entry via an abandoned administrative account, potentially exposing the records of over 15.4 million users to the public.
Gemini Listing Fails to Ignite NEAR Recovery as Price Stagnates
NEAR Protocol’s native token has gained access to the Gemini exchange, yet the development has done little to shift its bearish momentum. Despite the expansion of its U.S. footprint, the asset continues to trade under pressure near $4.42, struggling to clear technical resistance levels that have capped recent gains.
Bitcoin Short-Term Selling Pressure Cools as Profitability Drops
The share of Bitcoin held at a profit by short-term investors has plummeted to roughly 70%, down from near-total profitability in late September. This shift, identified by blockchain analytics firm Glassnode, suggests the intense selling pressure that recently hampered the cryptocurrency’s recovery may finally be abating.
Zcash Co-founder Targets Community Grants in Network Funding Overhaul
Sean Bowe, a co-founder of Zcash, has proposed a radical shift in the network's financial structure by redirecting 8% of block subsidies away from Zcash Community Grants (ZCG). The plan aims to divert these funds into a sustainability reserve, effectively ending the current grant program to prioritize future mining rewards.
South Korea Considers Education Tax for Crypto Exchanges
South Korean authorities are weighing a plan to classify cryptocurrency exchanges as financial businesses, a move that would subject major platforms like Upbit and Bithumb to a mandatory education tax. The proposal marks a shift in how regulators categorize digital asset entities as they refine the upcoming Digital Asset Basic Act.
RedotPay Eyes $5 Billion Valuation in Renewed US IPO Push
A potential $5 billion valuation hangs in the balance as Hong Kong-based stablecoin processor RedotPay weighs a confidential U.S. regulatory filing before year-end. Despite ongoing legal headwinds, the payments firm is accelerating its path to a public debut, backed by a syndicate of major global investment banks.
Zcash marks decade of privacy tech fueled by dedicated developer fund
As Zcash approaches its tenth anniversary on October 28, a new report from Grayscale credits the network’s unique funding model for its persistent technical evolution. By allocating 20% of block rewards to development, the protocol has maintained steady security upgrades even during extended periods of market stagnation and weak token performance.
Injective Debuts GPU Rental Index with 10x Leverage
Injective has launched a perpetual futures market tracking the rental costs of five Nvidia GPU models, offering traders up to 10x leverage. The Super Intelligence Compute Index, or SICI, allows AI developers and infrastructure providers to hedge against volatility in computing power prices using USDC as margin.
Chainlink and Anchorage Bridge Institutional Assets to DeFi Lending
Institutions can now leverage assets held in qualified custody to access decentralized lending markets through Chainlink’s new CustodySync platform. By partnering with Anchorage Digital Bank, the initiative allows firms to maintain secure, off-chain collateral management while participating in automated on-chain loan operations and liquidations.
Vangrid Launches USDC Bounty Market for AI-Ready 3D Mapping
Vangrid has introduced a decentralized marketplace where users earn USDC by capturing smartphone footage of specific real-world locations. The platform, which has already facilitated over $675,000 in bounty settlements, transforms these submissions into textured 3D models for use in robotics, autonomous navigation, and simulation environments.
Payward Targets US Perpetual Futures via Hyperliquid Infrastructure
Payward, the parent company of Kraken, is moving to launch regulated onchain perpetual futures for US clients by leveraging Hyperliquid’s infrastructure. The proposed framework utilizes Bitnomial as the exchange operator and NinjaTrader Clearing as the clearinghouse, pending approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the new market architecture.
NBA Endorses Kalshi and Polymarket Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
The NBA has officially designated Kalshi and Polymarket as its preferred prediction-market exchanges, granting them access to exclusive league data and marketing rights. This strategic alignment arrives as the platforms face intensifying legal challenges from state regulators over the legality of their event contracts and betting fees.
Coinbase Expands Banking Integration Across PNC, Chase, and Citi
Coinbase has entrenched itself in the traditional financial sector through high-profile partnerships with PNC, JPMorgan Chase, and Citi. These deals move beyond basic custody, embedding crypto functionality—from Bitcoin trading to stablecoin-backed merchant payments—directly into the digital banking platforms used by millions of retail and institutional clients.
Canada launches 60-day stablecoin regulatory consultation
The Canadian Department of Finance has opened a 60-day public consultation on a draft framework for stablecoin issuers, which mandates 1:1 reserve backing and strict custody requirements. While the proposal maintains a firm ban on issuer-paid yield, it clarifies that transaction-based rewards remain permissible under the new oversight rules.
Vetting Crypto Presales: A Practical Guide for 2026
Navigating the volatile landscape of crypto presales requires moving beyond marketing hype toward verifiable data. With projects like MemeToro, Bitcoin Hyper, and LiquidChain vying for capital, investors must prioritize audit transparency, supply distribution, and functional product prototypes over the allure of early-stage token pricing.
Ethereum Foundation pushes for default wallet privacy via Kohaku SDK
The Ethereum Foundation is championing a shift toward default privacy in crypto wallets, arguing that shielding onchain history is essential to thwarting malicious actors. By backing the Kohaku software development kit, the organization aims to integrate protocols like Railgun, Privacy Pools, and Tornado Cash directly into user interfaces.
CFTC Proposes Federal Registration Path for Crypto Exchanges
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is moving to establish a voluntary federal registration framework for crypto exchanges, seeking to impose long-standing derivatives market protections on the sector while comprehensive legislation remains stalled in Congress.
Ripple Treasury Unveils AI-Driven Automation and 24/7 Asset Returns
Corporate treasurers can now put idle capital to work outside traditional banking hours through Ripple Treasury’s new 24/7 Returns program. By integrating AI-driven workflows and RLUSD stablecoin support, the platform allows businesses to manage liquidity, automate cash positioning, and settle transactions on weekends and holidays without manual intervention.
Strategy Shifts Focus to Preferred Stock Repurchases
MicroStrategy has pivoted its capital allocation, funneling $204.9 million into the repurchase of its STRC preferred stock while leaving its massive Bitcoin holdings untouched. The move, disclosed in an October 26 SEC filing, signals a tactical preference for reducing dividend liabilities over aggressive digital asset accumulation during the recent week.
MemeToro Tries to Build Transparency into AI-Driven Memecoin Launches
Autonomous agents are now capable of deploying memecoins in seconds, yet these bots often operate without accountability or a verifiable history. MemeToro, a new open-source launchpad on the BNB Chain, aims to address this by mandating that its AI agent document its reasoning before any capital is committed.
Robinhood Chain trading volume slides as investor patience wears thin
Conflict: A 23.1% weekly drop in decentralized exchange volume on Robinhood Chain has ignited a sharp debate between market participants expecting rapid growth and long-term observers who argue the platform is still in its infancy. While deposits hold steady, the network’s slipping market position has drawn pointed criticism from vocal traders.
Keystone to Destroy 18,835 Wallets After Security Breach
Hardware wallet manufacturer Keystone has moved to destroy 18,835 units from its current inventory after hackers stole a critical device authentication key. The breach, occurring on October 20, also exposed the personal data of 25,964 customers, forcing the company to suspend all shipments while it pivots to a new security protocol.
Bitmine Nears 5% Ethereum Ownership Goal Amid $400M Buyback Milestone
Bitmine Immersion Technologies is closing in on its target of controlling 5% of the total Ethereum supply, adding 10,452 tokens to its treasury last week. Simultaneously, the company has hit a significant financial benchmark, with total share repurchases for 2026 reaching nearly $400 million.
Vanguard Small-Cap ETF Adds $7.5 Million Stake in Metaplanet
Vanguard’s FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF has disclosed its first acquisition of Metaplanet shares, purchasing 4.5 million units valued at roughly $7.5 million. This move marks a notable expansion of the $13 trillion asset manager’s indirect exposure to the aggressive Bitcoin treasury strategy pursued by the Japanese firm.
Sony-backed Soneium to launch native token for entertainment IP
The Ethereum layer 2 network Soneium, a joint venture between Sony Group and Startale Group, has announced plans for a native ecosystem token dubbed SONEIUM. The move aims to anchor a new infrastructure for tokenized entertainment rights, spanning music, anime, and gaming royalties as the network scales its creative economy.