The Elon Musk-owned X social media platform has gone public with claims that a bribery network tried to pay its staff to bring back suspended crypto accounts. According to the company, middlemen acted on behalf of banned users, offering money to insiders in hopes of overturning account suspensions tied to scams and market abuse. Related Reading: From $2 Trillion To $400T? CEO Sees Bitcoin Exploding 200x – Here’s More Bribery Network And Methods Based on the company posts and follow-up reporting, the scheme did not involve direct contact between banned users and staff. Instead, intermediaries were paid to make offers and set up meetings with employees. Reports have disclosed that the operation targeted accounts tied to crypto fraud and coordinated manipulation. Some outlets say the network is linked to a wider cybercriminal group known in reporting as “The Com.” X has exposed and is taking strong action against a bribery network targeting our platform. Suspended accounts involved in crypto scams and platform manipulation paid middlemen to attempt to bribe employees to reinstate their suspended accounts. These perpetrators exploit social… — Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) September 19, 2025 The Scale And The Links Law enforcement and platform teams are now looking into how broad the effort went. X’s Global Government Affairs team said it had identified multiple attempts, but did not list names or say how many staff were approached or whether any account was actually restored because of payments. Reports also connect the scheme to other online spaces; investigators say similar tactics have been used against other social services and gaming communities. Legal Action And Internal Review Based on reports, X has opened legal proceedings against people tied to the network and is working with outside authorities to share evidence. The GGA also says it will step up internal checks and audits to reduce the chance of employee collusion. At this stage, public filings or indictments have not been posted; the investigations are ongoing. Numbers And Context The platform has said it suspended hundreds of millions of abusive accounts in recent months — a figure some posts put at 335 million — as it moved to curb scams and bad actors on the site. Broader industry reports also note large losses from crypto phishing and fraud in recent periods, though those totals come from different compilations and are not tied directly to the bribery ring described by X. Related Reading: Bitmine’s Ethereum Appetite Grows With Fresh $70 Million Buy What This Means For Users For everyday users, the key risk is that banned accounts tied to scams could be brought back if internal controls fail. Reinstated scam accounts can spread phishing links, false giveaways, and other fraud quickly. Reports say X is trying to limit harm by pursuing wrongdoing in court and tightening how account actions are approved. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has taken a decisive leap into digital finance by launching its own blockchain-powered platform for private funds. This is the first time a major global stock exchange has deployed blockchain infrastructure to transform how markets work. The new system, called Digital Markets Infrastructure (DMI), covers the full digital asset cycle …
Bitcoin (BTC) has surged from around $108,000 on September 1 to above $115,000 at the time of writing – recording a gain of roughly 4% over the past two weeks. However, fresh on-chain data suggests that Bitcoin may be on the cusp of a fresh rally that could propel it to new all-time highs (ATH). Bitcoin Rises Above Mid-Term Holders’ Realized Price According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor ShayanMarkets, Bitcoin’s recent rebound from $107,000 to just above $114,000 has lifted the digital asset over the Realized Price of mid-term (3-6 months) holders. Related Reading: Bitcoin Miners Shift Strategy: Accumulation Over Selling Signals Stronger Bull Cycle For the uninitiated, the mid-term holders’ Realized Price is the average acquisition cost of Bitcoin held by wallets that last moved their coins within the past 3–6 months. It serves as a key pivot level, often acting as support or resistance that reflects sentiment and potential sell pressure from this cohort. Per analysis by ShayanMarkets, the mid-term holders’ Realized Price currently stands at around $114,000. Now that BTC has surged above this level, the likelihood of an immediate sell-off has reduced significantly. The analyst added: A firm breakout and hold above this level would confirm renewed confidence from mid-term holders, potentially serving as the launchpad for another bullish leg that could propel Bitcoin to new all-time highs. Conversely, failure to hold above $114K risks shifting sentiment back toward caution and opens the path to deeper corrective moves. A Bump On The Road For BTC Fellow CryptoQuant contributor Gaah brought attention to short-term holders’ (STH) Spent Output Profit Ratio (SOPR), normalized with a 30-day moving average. The contributor noted that after four months of consistently operating above the break-even line, the indicator is now showing that STH are selling their holdings at a loss. Related Reading: Bitcoin Holds $112,000 Support As Binance Whale Activity Cools Off – What’s Ahead? The STH selling their BTC at a loss indicates a “momentary loss of confidence” on the part of speculators, who are typically more sensitive to changes in price. Although BTC has jumped from $60,000 to as high as $125,000 over the past year, the SOPR STH has recorded descending peaks. In past cycles, a sharp surge in price was usually accompanied by peaks in the Extreme Greed region, suggesting strong retail participation. However, the current market cycle did not see any such dynamic at play, hinting that the rise in price was likely sustained by institutional investors. Gaah added that historically, market tops have only been confirmed when SOPR STH levels reached levels of extreme greed, a development that has not yet occurred in the current rally. As a result, the long-term trend remains firm, and the current realization of losses may just be a temporary healthy pullback. That said, some analysts caution that Bitcoin may already be very close to hitting its peak for this market cycle. Others predict that BTC may slump in September, before it resumes its bullish trajectory in Q4 2025. Still, some analysts forecast Bitcoin reaching as high as $150,000 by Christmas. At press time, BTC trades at $115,050, up 0.7% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com
After a summer marked by cautious investor sentiment and shifting priorities across the sector, new figures show that capital flows into crypto are starting to cool. Overall funding for crypto protocols was down 30% in August, sliding to nearly $2 billion from July’s $2.67 billion, according to DeFiLlama. Related Reading: ETF Dreams For Dogecoin: Serious Possibility Or Just Hype? Funding Dips Yet Quarter Gains Based on reports, third-quarter totals reached $4.57 billion in just two months, pushing past Q2’s $4.54 billion. That shows money is still moving, even if monthly flows look cooler compared with past peaks. At the start of 2022, monthly raises hit about $7 billion. Numbers have come down since then, but 2025 has shown several big spikes that kept investors alert. Investor Focus Shifts To Existing Projects According to market analyst Daan Crypto Trades, funding has moved away from nonstop new-chain launches toward treasuries and teams building on existing projects. He points out that new launches are hitting lower valuations, which has helped keep price moves quieter after listings. The Total Funding Raised for new Crypto projects has seen an increase the past few months but is nowhere close to what it was back in 2021 & 2022. This cycle has been all about treasury companies which are building on top of projects that are already out there. Most capital… pic.twitter.com/nqo25QxVUo — Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) September 11, 2025 Investments Spread Beyond DeFi DeFi still drew attention in August, with money flowing into infrastructure and trading platforms. But other sectors also saw notable rounds. Stablecoin infrastructure was busy too, with Rain’s raise at $58 million. Payment solutions also attracted funding; OrangeX took $20 million in a Series B. South Korea Opens VC Doors Following approval by the State Council and cabinet, South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups said it lifted a long-standing VC funding ban on September 16. The amendment to the Enforcement Decree removes the label that had kept exchanges and brokerages classified as “restricted venture businesses” since October 2018. Recent laws, including the Virtual Asset User Protection Act passed in July 2025, introduced deposit safeguards, record-keeping rules, and bans on unfair trading. Those steps helped convince regulators to reopen the market. Related Reading: Institutional Adoption Rises: 21X Brings Chainlink Into Europe’s Tokenized Securities Market Government Support Could Boost Local Firms The decision to lift South Korea’s long-standing restrictions on crypto funding came with a clear message from policymakers. Officials said the move aims to create a more transparent and responsible ecosystem, and to help venture capital flow to companies focused on blockchain and cryptography. If VCs return, local crypto firms may find new sources of growth capital, while investors look for projects that can deliver longer-term value. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin is back in the spotlight after reports confirmed that coins untouched since 2012 have been moved for the first time. Related Reading: Institutional Adoption Rises: 21X Brings Chainlink Into Europe’s Tokenized Securities Market The reactivation of an old wallet came at a moment when the market is already buzzing with strong ETF inflows and record levels of stablecoin liquidity. Wallet Reactivates After 13 Years According to Onchain Lens, the address that first received coins on November 26, 2012, moved 132.03 BTC in a single transaction. The transfer was worth about $15 million at current prices. The same wallet also sent five BTC to the Kraken exchange. After those moves, it still holds 308 BTC — a stash now valued at nearly $35 million. In total, the address once controlled 444 BTC, which the report places at more than $50 million combined. A dormant whale woke-up after 13 years, moved 132.03 $BTC ($15.06M) to a new address and depositing 5 $BTC into #Kraken. The wallet still holds 307.79 $BTC ($35M). It has received these $BTC for just $5,437 at $12.22https://t.co/mhCNYQs7cA pic.twitter.com/L0ltIwu6Oe — Onchain Lens (@OnchainLens) September 11, 2025 Early Holder Made A Tiny Bet That Paid Off Based on reports, the coins were originally bought when Bitcoin traded at about $12.22 per coin. The wallet’s total purchase cost was only $5,435. That original outlay has turned into massive gains. The current math shows a profit in the ballpark of $15.60 million on that small initial buy. Simple numbers like that help explain why stories about old wallets get attention. Bitcoin Price And Market Momentum Bitcoin has pulled back above the $116,000 mark. Data from Coingecko show BTC trading at $116,083, a daily move of 0.25% and up 3% over the past week. The market still remembers August 14, 2025, when BTC hit an all-time high of $124,450. Those price swings are part of the backdrop for why a whale moving coins draws extra interest now. Institutional Flows Pick Up Data shows that Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $757 million in inflows on Wednesday. That is the largest single-day number since July 17 and extends a three-day streak of positive flows. The steady inflows suggest bigger players are adding exposure, or at least reallocating capital into the market. Total crypto market cap at $3.95 trillion on the daily chart: TradingView Stablecoin Reserves Hit Records Meanwhile, reports from CryptoQuant indicate Binance saw its largest net stablecoin inflow of the year on Monday, a little over $6 billion. Binance’s stablecoin reserves are reported to be near $40 billion, while aggregate stablecoin holdings across exchanges hit about $70 billion last week. Related Reading: ETF Dreams For Dogecoin: Serious Possibility Or Just Hype? New Layer Of Intrigue The sudden movement of coins untouched for more than a decade has added a new layer of intrigue to Bitcoin’s latest rally. With the asset holding above $116,000, ETFs drawing hundreds of millions in inflows, and record stablecoin balances sitting on exchanges, the market is flush with liquidity and attention. Whether this wallet activity signals profit-taking, repositioning, or something else entirely, it highlights the enduring power of early bets on Bitcoin and the continued influence of long-term holders on today’s market. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
SOL Strategies Inc., the company that grew out of Cypherpunk Holdings, made its Nasdaq debut this week under the ticker STKE. According to reports, the move converts the company’s Canadian listings into a US trading venue and gives American investors direct access to a firm that holds a sizable Solana treasury. Related Reading: Institutional Adoption Rises: 21X Brings Chainlink Into Europe’s Tokenized Securities Market The firm’s SOL holdings were valued at roughly $83 million–$94 million around the time of the listing, and SOL token prices were trading in the $214–$220 range as markets reacted. Nasdaq Debut And Trading Volatility According to market watchers, STKE opened around $12.85 on Nasdaq before tumbling to roughly $8.18 in early trades, showing heavy volatility in the first session. The company still maintains a presence in Canada, where it trades as HODL on the Canadian Securities Exchange, and its OTCQB shares (CYFRF) are being migrated into the Nasdaq listing. Reports have disclosed that the early price swings were driven by speculative flows and the usual market churn that follows a high-profile uplisting. A Bigger Picture On Holdings SOL Strategies has been built as a Solana-focused treasury and operational group. It runs validators, takes part in staking, and invests in projects inside the Solana ecosystem. The company’s holding size puts it among notable North American SOL treasuries, though some peers hold far more. For example, coverage shows Upexi Inc. holds about 1.9 million SOL, which was valued at roughly $319 million, while DeFi Development Corp holds about 1.18 million SOL, worth about $198 million at market rates cited in reports. Market Reaction And Investor Interest According to market coverage, the Nasdaq listing gave SOL Strategies fresh visibility and attracted both retail traders and institutional curiosity. The share-price swings were large enough to draw headlines, and trading volume spiked as investors weighed the risks and rewards of a treasury-backed crypto firm now trading on a major US exchange. Some traders treated STKE as a way to get indirect exposure to SOL, while others saw it as a pure equity play in a niche operator. Related Reading: Bitcoin Jumps Past $114K As Markets Eye Fed Easing After PPI Report Regulatory And Competitive Issues SOL Strategies is smaller than several competitors, raising questions about scale and sustainability if SOL volatility returns. Regulators and market watchers will likely keep a close eye on how crypto treasuries are presented to investors, and on disclosures about staking, validator income, and treasury management. Featured image from Google Images, chart from TradingView
The market expects a 25 basis point cut, with a 91% probability according to the CME's FedWatch Tool.
Solana has pulled well ahead of other networks on a key measure: revenue. That gap is large enough to change how traders and builders talk about where money flows in crypto. Related Reading: Altcoins Feel The Pinch As Crypto Market Sentiment Sours Solana Tops Blockchain Revenue Charts According to data shared by crypto media outlets, Solana has generated $1.25 billion in revenue year-to-date. That is about two and a half times the revenue of Ethereum, which sits at $523 million so far this year. Only two other chains have cleared the $100 million mark: BNB Smart Chain at $148 million and Bitcoin at $135 million. Base, Coinbase’s layer-2, records $54 million and leads the L2 group, while Arbitrum, Polygon and Optimism report revenues between $10.80 million and nearly $3 million. $SOL is in a league of its own. Solana has generated $1.25B in revenue YTD… Nearly 2.5x more than Ethereum. That’s real demand for blockspace and right now, no chain comes close. pic.twitter.com/yRWYU6wUrt — Milk Road (@MilkRoadDaily) September 8, 2025 Monthly Numbers Show App-Driven Growth In the past 30 days, Solana pulled in more than $210 million in revenue. Much of that cash was earned by apps on the network rather than by Solana’s base layer. Based on reports, memecoin launchpad Pump.fun and trading bot Axiom Pro generated close to $53 million and $51 million respectively in the last month. Decentralized exchanges such as Jupiter and Meteora, along with the Phantom wallet, also rank among the top revenue generators. Solana’s own on-chain fee haul was $4.56 million over the same period, placing the chain itself eighth among revenue sources. Apps Capture Most Of The Fees Reports have disclosed that developers and investors see this as a feature of Solana: apps can make big money fast. Axiom Exchange became the fastest app to reach $200 million in revenue, doing so in 202 days when it hit the mark on August 4. Pump.fun reached $200 million in 303 days. Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz has said that the ecosystem’s architecture attracts builders who can run revenue-heavy services, and the numbers appear to back that view. #Solana surges 5.8% to $215 ???? DEX volume hits $2.6B in 24H, fueled by #DeFi. Trump-backed $WLFI leads with $1.23B, showing political hype is driving liquidity and cementing Solana as the go-to for high-volume plays. Check out Top 10 Tokens on Solana by 24H Volume ???? Which… https://t.co/k8s7VMNopa pic.twitter.com/xR5P2CYqAy — Solana Daily (@solana_daily) September 8, 2025 Related Reading: Bitcoin Could Hit $150K By Christmas, Analysts Tell Michael Saylor Price Moves Follow Revenue Headlines SOL has been reacting. According to price trackers, SOL climbed about 6% to $215 in a single session and is up 17% over the past 30 days. Year-to-date, however, SOL lags some larger tokens such as Bitcoin, Ether, XRP and BNB. Market gains and big app revenues together are driving bullish sentiment among traders and some fund managers. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
What is Giwa? South Korea’s biggest crypto exchange, Upbit, has sparked excitement with a teaser for a new blockchain project called “Giwa.” The teaser site only shows the phrase “trusted structure, not just shape” along with a countdown. The full reveal is expected at the upcoming Upbit Developer Conference. Crypto Community Buzz The lack of …
A website tied to the name of the project is live, featuring a countdown suggesting an announcement could be made within the next few hours.
Ethereum (ETH) has just made history with a development that could reshape its market trajectory. For the first time, the Ethereum exchange balance has turned negative, meaning more tokens are being withdrawn from trading platforms than deposited. This structural shift in supply dynamics has analysts labeling it a key bullish signal for the market’s next rally. Ethereum Exchange Balance = Negative Crypto market expert Cas Abbe shared a new report showing that Ethereum’s exchange flux has slipped into the negative territory for the first time on record. He suggests that the latest development could be bullish for ETH, as it signals reduced selling pressure and growing investor confidence. Related Reading: MemeCore Explodes 3,800% For ATH — But Is A Collapse Around The Corner? Historically, the exchange balance metric has served as one of the clearest indicators of investor behavior. When balances rise, it typically signals mounting selling pressure, as traders move coins for liquidation purposes. Conversely, when they fall, it indicates that coins are being withdrawn into private wallets, which are less likely to be sold. The analyst’s chart illustrates a sharp and accelerating drop in Ethereum’s exchange balances over the past few years, culminating in this historic low. Billions worth of ETH have been removed from centralized platforms, coinciding with the asset’s advance toward a target above $5,500. This indicates a clear reduction in liquid supply during already heightened demand. According to Abbe, the importance of this decline cannot be overstated. He noted that market tops in crypto generally occur after inflows spike back into these centralized platforms, not when balances are draining to new lows. In other words, Ethereum may not be positioned for a sell-off but for accumulation. As selling pressure subsides, long-term holders exert greater control over supply, creating conditions for potentially strong upward price momentum. If history is any guide, Abbe suggests that the shrinking exchange balance could set the stage for Ethereum’s next leg up. Analyst Sets $7,000 As ETH’s Next Target While Ethereum’s exchange supply hits uncharted lows, technical analysts like Crypto Goos are increasingly bullish on its price. The market expert announced in a post on X that ETH has officially broken out of a long-term wedge pattern, which has constrained price action since 2021. The accompanying chart illustrates ETH finally piercing through resistance after years of sideways trading. Crypto Goos points to the breakout level around $3,600, and with Ethereum now trading significantly above it, the move appears confirmed. Related Reading: XRP Poised For Amazon-Like Boom? Analyst Predicts $200 Rally Although Ethereum has experienced a number of price swings in the past few weeks, Crypto Goos remains confident that it can reach a new all-time high soon. The analyst’s projection from the wedge breakout targets the $7,000 region, representing a potential upside of about 62% from current price levels above $4,300. Should momentum persist, the cryptocurrency could extend even beyond the $7,000 milestone. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
MemeCore’s native token M has raced from near-zero to headline-making highs in a matter of weeks, drawing both excitement and sharp warnings from market watchers. Related Reading: XRP Poised For Amazon-Like Boom? Analyst Predicts $200 Rally MemeCore’s Meteoric Rise According to reports, M hit a fresh all-time high of $1.69 Friday before easing back to $1.60, while 24-hour volume climbed past $53 million. At the time of writing, M was up 250% in the weekly timeframe, data from Coingecko shows. That follows July lows near $0.036, a move that translates into roughly a 3,750% gain in about 90 days. Traders piled in quickly. A lot of money followed. Market Moves Outpaced Fundamentals Price action has been wild. Momentum indicators show parabolic behavior and the RSI has flashed extreme overbought readings, signaling the run may be stretched. Based on technicals, the token has swept through resistance levels since mid-August and is trading in territory where a fast reversal is possible. Some traders say M is being propelled by hype and big marketing plays more than by on-chain usage today. Event-Driven Hype And Community Stunts Reports have disclosed that MemeCore rented Seoul’s Lotte World for the final night of Korea Blockchain Week, an attention-grabbing move that pushed social interest higher. The project pitches itself as the first Layer-1 built for meme culture and uses a Proof of Meme consensus model alongside community-focused tokenomics. Those features have been shouted about in the community, and they help explain why momentum traders have shown up in force. Bulls Point To Network Story; Bears Point To Liquidity Risk Supporters highlight the promise of a meme-driven economy as reasons for continued upside. If consolidation holds above $1, a push toward $2 is floated by optimistic traders. But risks are clear. If $1 support gives way, liquidation cascades could accelerate downside toward $0.40–$0.50. Liquidity outside major centralized exchanges looks thin, and event-driven spikes can reverse quickly. Memecore Price Forecast And Sentiment Snapshot Meanwhile, based on current projections, MemeCore’s price is predicted to fall by 23% to about $1.19 by October 5, 2025. Market sentiment is still labeled Bullish by some indicators, while the Fear & Greed Index sits at 48, which is neutral. Related Reading: American Bitcoin, Backed By Trump, Ends Nasdaq Debut Up 17% Over the past 30 days, M recorded 16/30 green days and roughly 35% price volatility, showing how choppy trading has been. Those figures suggest a market that favors quick movers but leaves slower traders exposed to steep losses. Featured image from MemeCore, chart from TradingView
SUI Group Holdings moved again in the market, adding 20 million SUI to its holdings and lifting its total to about 102 million tokens, a stash worth roughly $344 million at current prices. Related Reading: No Fireworks, Just Grind: Bitcoin Could Drift To $1M Over 7 Years: Analyst The Minnesota-based company, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker SUIG, bought the tokens through an arrangement tied to the Sui Foundation, a press release dated September 3 shows. The deal, reports have disclosed, gives SUI Group access to discounted, locked tokens that are not available on the open market. Crypto Holdings And Staking Most of the company’s close to 102 million SUI is being actively staked, treasury update Shows. That staking currently yields about 2.2% annually. Based on the figures released, staking income translates to roughly $20,000 in daily rewards credited to the treasury. The firm also reported nearly $60 million in liquid cash, a war chest it says will help it pursue more buys of discounted tokens. Investors have a new yardstick to watch: SUI per share. As of September 2 that metric stood at 1.14 SUI per share, calculated against a fully adjusted share count of 89 million common shares outstanding. After the announcement, SUI traded up about 4%, rising from a daily low of $3.20 to as high as $3.40. The token, however, remains well below its January peak of $5.36. Exclusive Deal With Sui Foundation The arrangement with the foundation is central to the story. By purchasing locked SUI at a lower cost, SUI Group creates a cushion between its book value and what retail buyers see on exchanges. That cost-basis advantage was described in the release as a deliberate part of the firm’s plan to grow its treasury while aiming to “fund further purchases” through accretive capital raises. The move resembles how some public companies concentrate an asset on their balance sheet, though it is being done here with tokens rather than traditional holdings. Related Reading: XRP Faces Crucial Test With ETF Approval Chances Now At 87% Among The Biggest The coin’s price bump shows the market took the news seriously but did not overheat in response. Reports have noted that holding more than 100 million tokens places the company among the largest single holders in the Sui ecosystem, which naturally draws attention. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
The chain's stablecoin-first design aims to handle global payouts, microtransactions, remittances and AI agentic payments, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison said.
Following a rejection at $4,946 on August 24, Ethereum (ETH) is now trading in the low $4,000 level. However, some analysts are still hopeful that ETH is likely to surge beyond $5,000 in the coming weeks, thanks to its rising illiquid supply and positive exchange-traded fund (ETF) momentum. Ethereum To Hit $5,500 In September? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor Arab Chain, Ethereum’s latest upswing in August which pushed the digital asset from a range of $3,700 – $4,000 to its latest all-time high (ATH) of $4,946, was largely buoyed by broader market rally and positive ETF inflows. Related Reading: Ethereum’s Latest Rally Fueled By Large-Scale Binance Orders, Analyst Says The analyst noted that ETH reserves on Binance crypto exchange witnessed a sharp uptick in August. The quick surge in inflow of tokens to the exchange shows that holders are choosing to sell or take profits at higher prices. Arab Chain shared the following chart which shows both liquid (green) and illiquid (beige) ETH supply. According to the chart, the vast majority of ETH supply remains illiquid, creating a structural supply shortage. On the other hand, the chart shows a slight increase in the liquid supply, suggesting that a portion of ETH has returned to circulation and could add to short-term selling pressure. The analyst remarked: The overall illiquidity of the supply reinforces the long-term bullish outlook. Short-term cautionary signals – rising Binance reserves combined with a small increase in liquid supply – suggest a potential correction after the recent strong upswing. If the growth in ETH reserves on Binance shows signs of slowing down or withdrawals resume, the digital asset’s supply shortage will remain pronounced. Consequently, a clear and decisive break above the $4,800 resistance level could propel ETH toward $5,200 – $5,500 in the near term. The CryptoQuant analyst concluded by saying that September is likely to witness sideways to a slightly bullish move for ETH between $4,300 to $5,000. However, a failure to break through the $4,800 level – coupled with rising exchange reserves – could raise the possibility of a correction to $4,200. What’s In Store For ETH? While a breakout above $4,800 is possible, some analysts are tempering their expectations by saying that ETH may test the psychologically important $4,000 level before resuming its uptrend. Related Reading: Whales Load Up On Ethereum, But Analysts Fear $4K Dip Ahead Meanwhile, on-chain data shows whales accumulating ETH at record pace. According to a recent report, ETH whales added a whopping 260,000 ETH to their wallets on September 1. Offering a more ambitious prediction, Ethereum co-founder and ConsenSys CEO Joseph Lubin recently said that “ETH will likely 100x from here.” At press time, ETH trades at $4,429, up 2% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com
The Improbable-backed blockchain says it processed over 10 billion testnet transactions and lists Google Cloud among its validators.
Mastercard is steadily expanding its footprint in Europe’s crypto landscape, exploring new ways to integrate digital assets into traditional finance. Rather than seeing crypto as a threat, the payments giant views it as an opportunity to enhance existing systems, bringing more security, flexibility, and innovation to the financial sector. Christian Rau, the company’s Head of …
The Shiba Inu development team has sounded the alarm over a wave of scams tied to LEASH and other tokens within its ecosystem. Related Reading: Ethereum Bullishness: Ark Invest Boss Scoops $16-M More In BitMine Stock In notices put up on X by Susbarium, a Shiba Inu-committed profile, scam websites and pretend migrant links are being exploited to deceive owners into attaching wallets and confirming malicious transactions. Fraudulent Sites And Phishing Attempts One of the scams highlighted involved a website promoting a fake LEASH migration. The warnings stress that any messages on Telegram encouraging users to take part in “LEASH V2 Migration” are phishing schemes designed to drain funds. Shiba Inu holders were told to avoid clicking links or approving wallet requests that do not come from official channels. ???? SHIBARMY SAFETY ALERT ???? Beware of fake migration sites and scam messages targeting $LEASH and other Shiba Inu ecosystem tokens. ???? The site seen in the image is confirmed to be fraudulent. ???? Telegram messages promoting “LEASH V2 Migration” with wallet connection requests… pic.twitter.com/ritcxUChQC — Susbarium | Shibarium Trustwatch (@susbarium) August 30, 2025 LEASH Supply Concerns Spark V2 On August 11, 2025, LEASH supply unexpectedly grew by 10%, sparking concern across the community. This event contradicted the long-standing belief that the token’s supply was fixed and that rebasing had been disabled. After reviewing the incident, developers and the community agreed that LEASH v2 would be launched under a new audited non-rebase contract. Shiba Inu developers noted that work on LEASH v2 is already underway. The stated goal is to provide a secure migration process, with full verification and protections for token holders. At the same time, the team emphasized that any announcements about LEASH migration outside the official SHIB website should be treated as scams. Warnings Against False Claims Susbarium also pointed out that coordinated groups of bad actors are spreading misinformation across social media through networks of fake accounts. These efforts, according to the watchdog, are aimed at creating confusion and preying on less experienced investors. The Shiba Inu team has made clear there is no official LEASH token on Solana. Claims of migration to that blockchain are fraudulent, and any Solana-based version of LEASH is fake. Only tokens listed on the official SHIB website are valid parts of the ecosystem, the team stated. Related Reading: XRP ETF Launch Could See $5B Inflows, Outpacing Ethereum ETFs: CEO Community On Alert The repeated warnings underline how token migrations or contract changes often become a magnet for scams. Shiba Inu developers say their priority is protecting holders during the shift to LEASH v2 while ensuring every step is transparent and verifiable. For now, the community is being told to remain vigilant and avoid any unofficial migration offers. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Solana’s price action has shown some sort of resilience in the past few days while much of the cryptocurrency market turned red. After surging past $210 to reach as high as $218 on August 29, SOL briefly dipped below $200 but quickly stabilized, outperforming major large-cap assets such as Bitcoin, which has been locked in a decline since August 14. This has put Solana in an interesting position, and technical analysis shows its correction phase is constructive and could prepare the token for another breakout. Related Reading: A New Vision For Money: Hoskinson Predicts Bitcoin Will Hit $10 Trillion Analyst Says Correction Is Important For Breakout Crypto analyst RLinda on the TradingView platform described Solana as stronger than the market. According to the analyst, Solana’s recent price behavior, where it managed to remain steady above $200 even after pulling back from a new multi-month high of $218, its highest price point since February. Although the multi-month high ultimately resulted in rejection and a downward move, Solana is doing much better than Bitcoin. According to on-chain analyst Ali Martinez, Solana investors realized close to $1 billion in profits immediately after the cryptocurrency broke past $210 before eventually reaching $218. Particularly, data from Glassnode shows realized profits spiking to over $911 million after Solana broke above this level. SOL Realized Profit: @ali_charts on X According to RLinda’s analysis, the ongoing correction is not a reversal but rather a consolidation stage and there’s likely going to be a liquidity test between $202.5 and $195.3. However, the analyst noted that the outlook will remain positive as long as buyers can defend the $200 level during this corrective move. This, in turn, will pave the way for a breakout from $200 up to $240. Chart Image From TradingView: RLinda What’s Next For Solana? The last two times Solana broke above $200 this month, it entered into an ensuing correction that brought its price action below $180. However, the most recent break, which led to a peak at $218, has managed to hold above $200. The formation of higher highs and higher lows shows that sellers are losing their grip and are now unable to force the token back under $200. Therefore, the bullish outlook from here is the formation of another higher high, with RLinda pointing to $240 as the next target. Reaching $240 would translate to a new peak since January. However, RLinda also highlighted resistance levels at $216.5 and $220 before reaching this target, and then a final resistance at $244 should the higher high extend past $240. Related Reading: Ethereum Bullishness: Ark Invest Boss Scoops $16-M More In BitMine Stock On the other hand, the analyst also noted support levels at $202.5, $198, and $195.3. The overall expectation is that Solana could resume its bullish trading trajectory once the correction slows down and bounces at either of these levels. At the time of writing, Solana is trading at $205, up by 1.6% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
The Cardano price action is back on analysts’ radar, with new bold predictions pointing to a potential rally of more than 300% to a $4 all-time high. Despite struggling to keep pace with other altcoins during this bull cycle, ADA is now sparking renewed discussions across the crypto community as experts weigh in on this latest price forecast. Cardano Price Set To Hit $4 By Year’s End Mintern, Chief Meme Officer (CMO) at Minswap DEX, recently took to X to share a bullish outlook, predicting that Cardano could climb nearly 400% from its current price of under $1 to $4 by year’s end. According to the analyst‘s chart, ADA is forming a strong technical setup that could pave the way for a major breakout. Related Reading: A New Vision For Money: Hoskinson Predicts Bitcoin Will Hit $10 Trillion A detailed Elliott Wave structure reveals a series of corrective and impulsive waves, suggesting that Cardano may be in the midst of a potential wave extension toward the $4 price point. The Fibonacci Extension levels on the chart also show targets ranging from $1.47 to $4.14, with the upper range representing the 200% retracement level. Notably, Mintern’s bullish forecast comes when Cardano’s price is still trading sideways around $ 0.80, leaving many within the crypto space skeptical of a $4 target. Several crypto members argued that ADA has failed to deliver strong gains in this bull market despite other altcoins rallying to new ATHs. One critic even dismissed the cryptocurrency as a “waste,” pointing to its seven-year history of developments and updates without the price performance and appropriate network achievements to match. On the other hand, some community members see Mintern’s ambitious $4 price prediction as a turning point. Optimistic traders are also hoping for at least a move to $1 in the short term, while a few envision a potential rally beyond $4 should market conditions improve and become increasingly bullish. For now, ADA’s path to $4 remains a polarizing topic, with technical indicators suggesting a possibility but market sentiment keeping expectations in check. ADA Interest Rises To 2021 Levels Another crypto expert, known as ‘The DApp Analyst’, has outlined a fresh bullish narrative for Cardano, pointing to a key historical signal. Using Google Trends data, he revealed that search interest in ADA is currently at the same level as in January 2021. Back then, the altcoin embarked on a massive 1,500% rally, pushing its price from under $0.2 to over $3 within just a few months. Related Reading: Ethereum Bullishness: Ark Invest Boss Scoops $16-M More In BitMine Stock The resurgence of interest at this historical level is particularly significant, as it aligns with broader macroeconomic shifts. According to the DApp Analyst, Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D) is starting to decline, the US dollar index (DXY) is weakening, and interest rates are projected to ease as quantitative tightening could conclude by year-end. With these factors in play, the analyst predicts that Cardano could be on the verge of its strongest run since 2021. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Japan’s Gumi Inc., known in the gaming sector, is moving deeper into crypto by planning a major purchase of XRP. The company said it will acquire 2.5 billion yen, or close to $17 million, worth of the token as part of its blockchain push. Related Reading: Ethereum Bullishness: Ark Invest Boss Scoops $16-M More In BitMine Stock Accumulation Over Several Months According to a press release, the acquisition will not be a single purchase. Instead, Gumi will buy XRP gradually from September 2025 through February 2026. By spreading out its spending, the company appears to be aiming at lowering risk from sudden price changes in the market. XRP Price Could See Boost Analysts say Gumi’s steady, large-scale commitment could act as a price catalyst. With 2.5 billion yen entering the market over several months, consistent buying pressure might create upward momentum — especially if other institutions keep adding XRP to their treasuries. The move also sends a signal: a gaming organization tied to SBI Holdings is backing XRP’s role in cross-border payments and liquidity solutions. That confidence could draw extra investor attention to the token’s long-term utility. The company explained the move as part of its effort to get involved with XRP’s ecosystem. It highlighted XRP’s role in global remittances and its expanding use in financial services. Ripple’s close ties with SBI Holdings, Gumi’s major shareholder, were also pointed out as an important factor in the decision. Bitcoin Already In Play Before this XRP announcement, Gumi had already added Bitcoin to its balance sheet. Earlier this year, the company spent 1 billion yen, around $6.7 million, to acquire BTC. That investment didn’t just sit idle. The Bitcoin was staked on Babylon, a protocol that allows holders to earn rewards while waiting for possible price gains. With that strategy already in motion, the company is now set to run a two-pronged approach: Bitcoin will be used to generate steady income through staking, while XRP will be held as a long-term asset tied to its growing utility in payments and liquidity management. Related Reading: A New Vision For Money: Hoskinson Predicts Bitcoin Will Hit $10 Trillion Rising Institutional Interest In XRP The Japanese gaming giant’s latest move comes at a time when a growing number of institutions are welcoming XRP into their balance sheets. Over recent months, several entities have disclosed their treasury game plans that include the top altcoin. Their aim, similar to Gumi’s, is to position ahead of potential gains if adoption pushes the price higher. For Gumi, this is more than a financial experiment. Executives believe Bitcoin and XRP together can provide a base for its blockchain-related business. They say the two assets will support growth in revenue while helping the company build lasting value. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
DoubleZero was first announced in December 2024 as a blockchain layer intended to be faster than the internet. Since then, nearly 12.5% of SOL staked is operating on the DoubleZero testnet.
Charles Hoskinson, a founder of Ethereum and the driving force behind Cardano, laid out a sweeping forecast for crypto markets and payments this week. Related Reading: Dogecoin Gears Up For Triple Surge Vs. Bitcoin – Details He predicted Bitcoin could reach $250,000 in the current market cycle and said the token’s total market value might hit $10 trillion in the next five years. Reports have disclosed that he links that outlook to new US stablecoin rules and what he calls clearer market structure. Bitcoin’s Role And Limits In an interview on the David Lin Report, Hoskinson argued that Bitcoin’s design made it strong as a store of value but limited as a global payments rail. He pointed to the old “big block” debates that pushed the network toward saving rather than everyday payments. Layer Two solutions, he said, are where Bitcoin gains the speed and lower cost needed for daily use. This framing leaves room for other blockchains to offer broader financial services. Cardano’s Track Record And Staking Hoskinson framed Cardano as an alternative path — one built on research and formal methods rather than rapid experimentation. Based on reports, the network has operated continuously for about eight years and uses a proof-of-stake model that many users back. Reports also state that over 70% of ADA in circulation has been staked by holders who support the network. That figure is commonly cited when comparing Cardano’s staking take-up to other blockchains. Stablecoins, Lawmakers, And Push For Tokenization Stablecoins are central to Hoskinson’s case. He told lawmakers and audiences that tokens tied to fiat could give people in countries with weak local currencies access to dollar-like stability. According to White House materials, the GENIUS Act has moved through the political process and was signed into law by US President Donald Trump, creating a new US framework for stablecoins. Based on data, the stablecoin market has topped $250 billion in supply, a milestone that regulators and banks are watching closely. A Critique Of Traditional Markets Hoskinson was blunt about exchanges and the stock market. He called current exchange practices “preposterous” and criticized systems that rely on centralized trust, including large listing fees and gatekeeping by a few firms. Related Reading: Finance News Giant Outlines Where XRP Could Be In 2026 And Beyond He said decentralized exchanges — where the protocol enforces rules — could cut out those middlemen and give people more control over their assets. That pitch fits a wider industry argument for moving custody and trade settlement onto public blockchains. For Hoskinson, Bitcoin will stay digital gold, while stablecoins, tokenized assets, and decentralized systems grow around it. The real question, he suggests, is not only how high Bitcoin’s price can go, but how the movement of money will be reshaped. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
Although Ethereum (ETH) failed to break the $5,000 mark on August 24 – pulling back from a new all-time high (ATH) of $4,956 – the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap may soon cross that milestone, driven by booming new contract activity. Ethereum New Contract Activity Booming – Will Price Follow? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor PelinayPA, a sharp rebound in Ethereum contracts could be seen in 2024 and 2025. This year specifically, new contracts surged dramatically as ETH price climbed beyond $4,500. The CryptoQuant contributor highlighted that during the 2016-17 market cycle, new contract activity remained relatively muted. Despite the subdued activity, ETH price entered a strong uptrend. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Lags Despite All-Time High In Daily Transactions – What’s Next For ETH? On the contrary, following the 2018 bull run, ETH entered a price downtrend despite a rise in new contracts. ETH’s price reaction to a growth in new contracts showed that usage growth could not offset the bursting of the speculative bubble surrounding digital assets. Meanwhile, during the 2020-21 bull market, Ethereum contract creation spiked significantly, in-line with the decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFT) boom. At the time, increased network activity served as a key catalyst in aiding ETH’s rally. Later – during the 2022 bear market – both contract number and ETH price dropped. The digital asset’s price and network activity was also adversely impacted due to dwindling developer interest and user demand during the market cycle. The aforementioned examples confirm that over the long-term, growth in contract creation shows rising confidence and adoption within Ethereum’s ecosystem. These factors play out positively for ETH’s price. That said, sudden surge in contract creation have not always directly resulted into price gains. This was evident from the price corrections observed during 2018 and 2021 cycles. What Does The Current Outlook Indicate? In her analysis, PelinayPA remarked that the latest surge in new Ethereum contracts signals renewed network activity, primarily driven by DeFi, NFT, and institutional adoption. If the trend sustains, it could fuel the next ETH bull run. Related Reading: Ethereum Average Daily Outflow Hits 40,000 ETH Amid Rising Buying Pressure – Details As far as long-term effects are concerned, the analyst said that consistent growth in new contracts highlights Ethereum’s rapidly expanding real-world use-cases. This gives immense support to ETH’s price. However, hype-driven contract spikes can lead to short-lived price corrections. Recent predictions point toward further room for growth for Ethereum. For instance, Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee forecasted that ETH may climb to $5,500 “in the next couple of weeks.” In the same vein, Standard Chartered’s digital assets research chief, Geoffrey Kendrick, noted that ETH could rise to $7,500 by the end of the year. At press time, ETH trades at $4,582, down 0.2% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com
BTC has recovered from sub-$108,800 alongside new highs in the S&P 500.
Ethereum (ETH) staking levels continue to break records, with the latest snapshot of the blockchain showing nearly 36.1 million ETH staked on the network – the highest level in history. Ethereum Staking Hits New ATH, Will Price Follow? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor XWIN Research Japan, close to one-third of Ethereum’s circulating supply is now staked. This high proportion suggests that ETH may be on the verge of a structural supply shock. Related Reading: Ethereum Average Daily Outflow Hits 40,000 ETH Amid Rising Buying Pressure – Details The following chart shared by the analyst shows that even during sharp corrections in 2022 and 2023, staking levels continued to climb. Unlike speculative flows, which often exit the market during downturns, staking activity has proven “sticky” – with investors choosing to lock ETH into the network rather than liquidate. Staking ETH carries several key implications. First, it compresses supply – as more ETH is staked, less liquid supply remains on exchanges, creating a natural “supply shock” that amplifies demand-driven price moves. Similarly, it shows the priorities of investors. By staking ETH, investors essentially work as long-term participants. In this way, they align their incentives with network security and yield instead of short-term trading. ETH’s recent rally to $4,500 also coincided with record staking levels, creating a feedback loop – higher prices attracted institutional inflows from custodians, exchange-traded funds (ETG), and whales, while reduced liquid supply added further upward pressure. ETH’s Transition Into An Institutional Asset ETH ETFs now hold more than $300 billion in reserves, while asset managers such as BlackRock are actively accumulating. This underscores Ethereum’s transition from a speculative asset to a yield-bearing, institutionally supported infrastructure layer. Related Reading: Can Ethereum Really Hit $20,000 This Cycle? Analyst Maps The Path U.S.-based spot ETH ETFs also enjoyed a long streak of positive inflows, lasting from the week ending May 16 through the week ending August 15. Commenting on this shift, XWIN Research Japan noted: Ethereum’s all-time-high staking levels reveal its underlying strength: while Bitcoin faces selling dominance in taker metrics, ETH is experiencing structural supply reduction. This divergence highlights Ethereum’s growing role not just as a crypto asset, but as the backbone of tokenization, DeFi, and RWA adoption. Similar sentiments were recently echoed by Tom Lee, the co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors. Lee noted that ETH is getting closer to becoming the backbone of global markets. That said, some risks remain. For instance, ETH price is still lagging despite ATH in daily network transactions. At the time, the analyst said that ETH was likely still in the accumulation phase. Similarly, the recent price pullback in ETH after creating a new ATH over $4,900 shows how recurring liquidation cycles are shaping ETH’s price action every week. At press time, ETH trades at $4,606, up 2.5% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com
Rich Widmann, head of Web3 at Google, outlined on Tuesday how his firm's upcoming layer-1 blockchain for finance differs from Stripe's Temp and Circle's Arc.
Google Cloud has taken its first major step into blockchain infrastructure development with the launch of the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), a Layer 1 network designed to support faster payments and settlement across borders. The initiative places Google directly in the path of global financial institutions seeking scalable ways to handle digital money and […]
The post Google Cloud builds neutral layer-1 blockchain in biggest threat to Swift yet appeared first on CryptoSlate.
XRP is now on the verge of being integrated into the backing of USDe, the $11.8-billion stablecoin issued by Ethena Labs. The company’s risk committee recently confirmed that XRP has passed all thresholds required under its newly launched Eligible Asset Framework, which puts it alongside BNB and HYPE as top candidates for onboarding. XRP’s massive liquidity, its market capitalization of over $181 billion, and daily trading volumes comfortably above $10 billion now see it ready to take on a new role in the USDe ecosystem. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Next Stop For 2025? $175,000, According To SOL Strategies Boss Ethena’s Eligible Asset Framework Ethena Labs, the company behind the USDe stablecoin, recently introduced the Eligible Asset Framework as a formalized system to expand the collateral options backing USDe. According to an announcement, the framework is based on specific thresholds that assets must meet before gaining approval. These thresholds include maintaining over $1 billion in average open interest across two weeks, daily spot trading volumes above $100 million, and perpetual futures volume exceeding $100 million per day. Liquidity requirements are also included, such as a spot order book depth of more than $500,000 and perpetual futures depth above $10 million on a two-week average. XRP has cleared all these requirements, which means that it is strong enough from a risk perspective to be considered as part of USDe’s perpetual futures collateral system. For years, XRP has maintained its status as one of the most liquid digital assets in the market. Its market capitalization, which is at $181.944 billion at the time of writing, has grown massively in the past year. This has seen it climbing in market cap ranks, and it is now sitting behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum. Beyond the numbers, XRP’s deep order books and global trading presence in exchanges in America, Europe, and Asia allow it to handle large transactions without disrupting price stability. This level of liquidity and depth makes XRP an ideal candidate for integration into USDe, which has already been minting hundreds of millions of dollars weekly. For instance, data shows that USDe mints were in excess of 670 million over the past week. What Does This Mean For XRP? According to Ethena, XRP, alongside HYPE, has only met all the thresholds and is a candidate for onboarding shortly. Only BNB has been approved as the first new eligible asset for the perpetual futures portion of the collateral backing of USDe. If Ethena formally onboards XRP for onboarding, it would become an important expansion of XRP’s utility. It might not be the update expected by XRP holders, but this development could open a new chapter in the cryptocurrency’s utility and adoption. Related Reading: Crypto Strategist Sounds The Alarm: Bitcoin Surge Could Clash With Fed Reserve Goals Simultaneously, Ripple’s US dollar-pegged RLUSD, has had its own success in the stablecoin market. So far, RLUSD has crossed a market capitalization of approximately $680 million within its first seven months and continues to grow. Moreover, Ripple is extending RLUSD’s global presence by partnering with SBI VC Trade to bring it to the Japanese market by early 2026. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $3.02, up by 6.5% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Virtune, chart from TradingView
Sussman succeeds Zain Saidin, who will remain on the company’s board and take on a new role as senior adviser.