This week, the cryptocurrency community was rocked after Kadena’s sudden shutdown announcement sent the KDA price crashing by over 60% in a few hours. The massive price collapse triggered an enormous sell-off as investors scrambled to understand the abrupt closure of the once-promising blockchain project. Soon after, a shocking exposé from analysts revealed that the problems ran far deeper than market conditions, hinting at serious internal misconduct and mismanagement. Kadena Scandal Exposed After KDA Price Crash A day after the KDA price crash on Tuesday, crypto analyst Lovrin revealed on X social media that several Kadena employees were allegedly caught shorting the token with leverage just before shutdown announcements, securing tens of millions of dollars in profits. The reports indicate that crypto exchanges purportedly facilitated these trades, painting a picture of coordinated internal manipulation. Related Reading: Most Coordinated Attack In Crypto History? What Led To $19 Billion In Losses As Bitcoin Price Crashed Adding fuel to the scandal, a viral X post from crypto market commentator @Katexbt exposed additional allegations against the Kadena leadership. The post claimed that the Kadena founders, Stuart Popejoy and Will Martino, were allegedly sued by family members over a personal loan used to fund Kadena, raising questions about its financial transparency from the outset. Katexbt asserted that the blockchain was effectively non-functional, claiming a throughput of 480,000 transactions per second, yet it lacked real users or wallets. Partnerships and institutional involvement that were publicly promoted were reportedly exaggerated or fabricated, adding further doubts about the legitimacy of the Kadena project. The team also allegedly hired a KOL agency, prioritizing selling tokens for real money over paying the marketing firm for its services. Additional allegations point to complex ties between Kadena’s leadership and affiliated companies, including the Kaddex domain, which was said to have been registered under Popejoy’s Kadena Eco’s family golf club in Italy. Katexbt claimed that the blockchain project was slapped with a lawsuit at some point, but it made little difference as the team hid behind a maze of LLCs. Even more shocking, the crypto commentator alleged that the Kadena team had worked with Francesco Melpignano, the former CEO of Kadena Eco, to extract large amounts of KDA, which were then sold near peak prices, netting an estimated $20 million to $80 million in profits. Following this, community members reportedly ousted Melpignano, though Katexbt alleges that the former CEO remains on a shell company’s payroll. About The Kadena Shutdown On Tuesday, Kadena released a public statement confirming the cessation of all business operations. The team stressed that, despite the organization’s wind-down, the Kadena blockchain would continue to operate independently under a decentralized model. Related Reading: $19 Billion Bitcoin And Crypto Wipeout: What Caused The XRP Price To Crash 50% In A Single Candle? The announcement described the closure as a response to market volatility and unfavourable conditions, expressing gratitude to staff, partners, and the community. The Kadena team clarified that the blockchain itself was not owned or operated by the company, emphasizing that independent miners and maintainers would govern it in the future. They also noted that about 566 million KDA remain to be distributed as mining rewards through 2139, while 83.7 million tokens are scheduled to come out of lockup by November 2029. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
FalconX’s acquisition of 21Shares on Oct. 22 will add prime brokerage to the crypto investment management firm that oversees more than $11 billion across dozens of exchange-traded products (ETP). The deal, which has an undisclosed sum, merges prime brokerage infrastructure with one of the largest crypto ETP issuers, creating a vertical integration that could reshape […]
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Cryptocurrency trading platform Robinhood (HOOD), has recently announced the listing of HYPE, the native token of the decentralized exchange (DEX) Hyperliquid, sparking a new rally for the altcoin, which surged beyond $40 on Thursday, marking an intraday recovery of 13%. $1 Billion For HYPE Token Buyback HYPE, with a market capitalization nearing $11 billion, has emerged as one of the market’s top performers, skyrocketing by 1,000% from its launch price of $10 in December 2024. This growth has been accompanied by an 18% increase in trading volume over the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinGecko. Related Reading: $1.7 Trillion Firm T. Rowe Price Seeks Approval For Crypto ETF Linked To Multiple Tokens The recent uptick in HYPE prices also coincides with Hyperliquid Strategies’ filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise $1 billion for a buyback of HYPE tokens. The company is expected to hold approximately 12.6 million HYPE tokens, valued at around $470 million, along with $305 million in cash reserves designated for additional token purchases. Key Resistance And Support Levels For Hyperliquid’s Price As of now, the HYPE price is trading at approximately $40.54, still 31% below its all-time high of $59 reached earlier this year. Moving forward, key price levels for Hyperliquid include closing the week above $40, which would convert this previous resistance into a short-term support level for potential further increases. Related Reading: Gold Rotation Impact: Bitwise Warns Bitcoin Could Skyrocket To $242,000 To the upside, additional resistance for the HYPE price may be encountered at $42, $46, and $50 before the altcoin can attempt to retest its $59 peak. Conversely, a support floor for Hyperliquid’s short-term price action is anticipated at $35, established over the past week, providing a buffer against potential new declines in price. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
SEAL, the nonprofit security organization that has disrupted crypto drainer operations since late 2023, launched a real-time phishing defense network on Oct. 22 in partnership with MetaMask, WalletConnect, Backpack, and Phantom. The coalition deploys Verifiable Phishing Reports technology, which enables users to submit cryptographically attested evidence of malicious sites, thereby bypassing the manual review bottleneck […]
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A cluster of long-idle Bitcoin moved back into circulation Wednesday, raising fresh questions about selling pressure as prices slide from recent highs. Related Reading: All It Took Was A Tweet: FLOKI Jumps 27% After Musk Mentions It Sleeping Coins Stir After Years According to CryptoQuant analyst JA Maartun, exactly 15,965 BTC that had been idle for about three years were shifted earlier in the day. The coins moved while Bitcoin traded below $110,000, and at roughly $108,000 a coin the batch is worth about $1.724 billion. CryptoQuant’s on-chain records show these addresses had little to no activity since late 2022 and early 2023, and the funds were sent to undisclosed destinations. Market watchers flagged the timing. Old coins waking up during a pullback can signal profit-taking, or simply internal reshuffles between private accounts and trading venues. Reports have disclosed that such moves sometimes reflect tax planning, exchange custody changes, or large holders adjusting positions — but the exact motive here is not public. 15,965 BTC aged 2–3 years just moved on-chain ⏱️ This cohort has been dormant since late 2022–2023—until now. pic.twitter.com/vw2z0fjHvv — Maartunn (@JA_Maartun) October 22, 2025 New Whales Underwater Data from market trackers point to pressure on newer large holders who bought near recent highs. Those so-called new whales carry an average cost of $113,000 per BTC, leaving many positions underwater while prices trade below that level. The unrealized losses tied to these wallets are approaching $7 billion, according to the same datasets. At the same time, accumulation by other big wallets continues. Analysts reported that about 26,500 BTC have flowed into accumulation addresses in recent days, a sign that some large players are adding quietly during the dip. This mix of selling and buying creates a tug-of-war in price action. Short-term dynamics are fragile. Support around $107,000–$108,000 is one level traders are watching closely. If that zone holds, a bounce is possible; if it fails, further downside toward $100,000 could follow. Price Targets Spark Debate The big movements have intensified debate over how high Bitcoin might go next. According to public comments, the CEO of Galaxy Digital said reaching $250,000 by year-end would require “a heck of a lot of crazy stuff.” Other market figures keep more bullish targets in play: Fundstrat’s Tom Lee and BitMEX’s Arthur Hayes have each voiced conviction in $200,000–$250,000 outcomes, pointing to potential policy moves and inflows as drivers. Institutional numbers are part of the backdrop. Galaxy Digital reported a record quarter with $29 billion in revenue, a figure that supporters cite as evidence of growing institutional involvement in the market. That growth is part of why some investors remain confident even as short-term charts wobble. Related Reading: Tether CEO Claims USDT Reached 500 Million Users Worldwide Open Interest Falls, Risk Eases Meanwhile, on-chain analytics provider Glassnode shows open interest has dropped by about 30%, reducing some of the excess speculative pressure that can amplify moves. Lower open interest often cools violent swings and makes price trends easier to read, at least until fresh catalysts arrive. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Some of Bitcoin’s biggest holders, popularly known as whales, are quietly moving billions of dollars’ worth of coins into spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). On Oct. 21, Bloomberg reported that these whales executed roughly $3 billion in in-kind transfers through BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Instead of selling, they handed their Bitcoin to the ETF in […]
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According to comments from the creator of the stock-to-flow model, the familiar four-year cycle tied to Bitcoin halvings may no longer be a sure guide for traders. Related Reading: You Want $1K XRP? You’ll Need Iron Nerves — Or ‘Mental Illness’, Analyst Says The analyst — known as PlanB — warned that using just three past cycles to predict future tops is risky, and he said the next peak is not guaranteed to fall 18 months after the last halving in October. Cycle Timing May Vary Widely PlanB told followers that the top could arrive in 2026, or 2027, or even 2028, and that he is more focused on Bitcoin’s average price level than on a single high or low. Reports have disclosed that some market participants believe $126,000 was the peak and expect BTC to slide below $100,000 next year. PlanB called that view “a big misunderstanding,” arguing that three cycles do not form a strong statistical pattern. Bears think $126k was the top, and btc will fall below $100k, and 2026 will be a bear market mainly because … the 4 year cycle!? IMO that is a BIG misunderstanding. Yes, there is a 4y halving cycle that doubles S2F-ratio, and 6 months before until 18 months after a halving was… pic.twitter.com/tehnZ4rRab — PlanB (@100trillionUSD) October 20, 2025 Spot Versus Paper Liquidity According to some experts, the last bull run’s top was driven largely by short-term liquidity in paper derivative markets. Based on reports, they see less of that paper-driven liquidity this cycle, while longer-term spot buying has held up so far. That shift could mean the next major move in price will come from different places than before. Trader Sentiment Shifts With Price Moves Reports show Bitcoin briefly fell below $103,000 last week, sparking worries that a bear market had started. Analysts noted that sentiment changed quickly — traders were hoping for a bounce so they could exit at a decent level. Recent action has been bouncy. Bitcoin dropped more than 3% over a few hours on Tuesday morning Asian trading, slipping to about $107,000 before finding support near $108,000. No Clear Phase Transition Yet PlanB said he has not seen a clear “phase transition” for Bitcoin in this cycle. That means either the big institutional-driven jump is still ahead, or the market has moved toward a steadier price regime shaped by funds, mandates, and rebalancing. Both possibilities, he argued, could be positive for Bitcoin over time because they imply different forms of lasting demand. Related Reading: The XRP Shockwave Will Hit When No One’s Watching—Analyst Short-term volatility has kept traders on edge. Even when price recovers, the mood can flip fast. Based on reports, crypto markets still need stronger fundamentals or sustained flows to calm nerves and push prices higher for a longer stretch. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
The National Hockey League (NHL) has reached licensing agreements with prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, making it the first major US professional sports league to permit the use of its trademarks by prediction markets, or “licensed betting markets.” As The Wall Street Journal reported on Oct. 22, the multiyear deals grant both platforms rights […]
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According to a Reuters report, global asset management firm T. Rowe Price, with $1.7 trillion in assets under management (AuM), is seeking regulatory approval to launch its first actively managed crypto ETF linked to multiple tokens, marking the firm’s initial entry into the cryptocurrency market space. The Firm’s First Crypto ETF Bryan Armour, an exchange-traded fund analyst at Morningstar, commented on the development stating, “It’s a surprise to see them as a relatively late entrant, but they’re planning to offer something differentiated to try and break into the space.” Related Reading: Crypto Winter Looms: These Key Signals Point To A Deeper Crash Ahead While many asset managers have inundated the SEC with applications for ETFs tied to individual cryptocurrencies like Solana (SOL), XRP, Dogecoin (DOGE), among the most anticipated, proposals for new multi-coin products that are actively managed remain uncommon, Armour added. T. Row Price’s crypto ETF reportedly aims to provide investors exposure to a selection of five to 15 digital coins that meet specific eligibility criteria. The fund’s prospectus indicates that eligible assets could include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), SOL, DOGE, and Shiba Inu (SHIB). The managers will target outperformance of the FTSE Crypto US Listed Index, utilizing fundamental, valuation, and momentum factors to guide their asset selections and portfolio allocations, a spokesman told Reuters. T. Rowe Price’s New Digital Assets Strategy Rowe Price has been closely monitoring developments in the digital assets space and has developed the capability to trade digital assets in recent years, Reuters highlighted. In 2022, as one of its first steps to prepare for entering the industry, the firm appointed Blue Macellari, a former crypto hedge fund executive, as head of its digital assets strategy. This could be boosted by recent regulatory developments in the US, where the pro-crypto Trump administration has developed and introduced new crypto bills that aim to lay the foundation for transforming the country into the crypto capital of the world, as Donald Trump himself has stated repeatedly this year. Related Reading: Gold Rotation Impact: Bitwise Warns Bitcoin Could Skyrocket To $242,000 Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, an ETF market analysis firm, commented, “It’s exciting to see them expand their ETF lineup beyond stock and bond exposure.” Numerous crypto ETF applications are awaiting SEC approval amid a government shutdown that has significantly reduced the agency’s operational capacity. These products are unlikely to receive the green light until the shutdown concludes, despite the regulator’s recent adoption of new listing standards that have paved the way for a range of new offerings, including the T. Rowe Price crypto ETF. As of this writing, Bitcoin has resumed its downward trend, dropping to the lower boundary of its consolidation range at $107,988—a 3.5% decrease from Tuesday’s valuation. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Russia has officially unveiled a sweeping legal framework to integrate crypto into its foreign trade system, a move widely seen as a direct response to mounting Western sanctions. Related Reading: The XRP Shockwave Will Hit When No One’s Watching—Analyst The Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank have agreed to legalize crypto settlements for international trade, allowing Russian exporters and importers to transact in Bitcoin and other digital assets. This follows an experimental legal regime introduced in September, which tested crypto use for cross-border settlements. BTC's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview Russia Moves to Legalize Crypto for International Trade Under the new Russian policy, all crypto transactions for foreign trade will be processed through regulated channels supervised by the Central Bank, ensuring strict AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know-Your-Customer) compliance. The framework maintains Russia’s domestic crypto payment ban to protect the ruble but opens the door for Bitcoin- and stablecoin-based trade with partners in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Officials describe the reform as a “strategic necessity” that shields the economy from global financial isolation while promoting alternative trade routes. Bitcoin Authorized for Trade as Dedollarization Accelerates In a landmark development, Russia’s Ministry of Finance has authorized Bitcoin for foreign trade, marking one of the biggest policy reversals since the 2021 crypto ban. The move aligns with the Kremlin’s dedollarization agenda and leverages Russia’s massive energy reserves to support Bitcoin mining and liquidity. With over 2,395 BTC recently transferred by SpaceX’s corporate wallets sparking renewed market debate about corporate adoption, Moscow’s decision shows how state actors are now embracing the same asset once dismissed as “too volatile.” Analysts say Russia’s new framework may push BRICS nations like China and India to expand their own blockchain-based settlement systems, especially as global trade shifts away from dollar dependence. Bitcoin (BTC) rose past $108,500 following the announcement, with traders viewing Russia’s entry into crypto-backed commerce as validation of Bitcoin’s role as a neutral global reserve asset. Legal Integration and Global Implications Beyond trade, Russian lawmakers are also fast-tracking a Family Code amendment to classify cryptocurrency as marital property, a step toward full legal recognition of digital assets. The draft bill, sponsored by State Duma member Igor Antropenko, seeks to close loopholes that allow hidden crypto wealth during divorce proceedings, signaling how deeply digital assets are being woven into Russian law. If fully implemented, Russia’s crypto framework could reshape the geopolitical balance of finance. It offers a blueprint for sanctioned or developing economies to bypass Western-controlled systems like SWIFT. Related Reading: XRP Strengthens Under The Weight Of Heavy FUD And Loss-Selling, What This Means For Price While volatility and regulatory retaliation remain key risks, the integration of crypto into Russian trade strategy marks a historic pivot, one that could accelerate the global shift toward decentralized settlement networks and redefine how nations transact beyond the reach of traditional banking power. Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
As Bitcoin (BTC) continues to trade in the high $100,000 range following the October 9 crypto market crash, some bullish signs are starting to emerge. Notably, stablecoin reserves on leading crypto exchanges like Binance are entering all-time high (ATH) territory, hinting at a potential rally for BTC. Stablecoin Reserves Rise – Will Bitcoin Benefit? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor PelinayPA, Binance stablecoin reserves are approaching ATH levels, indicating that investors are ready to deploy funds to accumulate BTC at current or lower levels. Related Reading: Bitcoin Enters ‘Disbelief Phase’ – Could Short Sellers Face The Next Squeeze? The CryptoQuant analyst highlighted the rapidly falling Bitcoin-Stablecoin Ratio (ESR). For the uninitiated, the ESR measures the proportion of Bitcoin reserves to stablecoin reserves on exchanges like Binance. The ratio also gives hints about the market’s potential buying power and selling pressure. Past data shows that whenever the ESR falls sharply during market volatility, BTC’s price tends to surge. Essentially, a declining ESR means that stablecoin reserves are growing in comparison to BTC reserves on exchanges. This shows an increase in available “dry powder” on exchanges, which can quickly be used to buy more BTC and initiate another bull rally. Conversely, when the ESR rises, it means that stablecoin reserves are falling while BTC supply on exchanges is increasing. This points toward an increase in short-term selling pressure as traders deposit BTC to exchanges to sell. Currently, the ESR has fallen to historically low levels, implying that Binance holds relatively large stablecoin reserves compared to BTC reserves. According to PelinayPA, such a setup can have two interpretations: In a positive scenario, the abundance of stablecoins suggests significant latent buying power. If market confidence returns, this could trigger a strong wave of buying pressure and mark the start of a new bullish phase. Meanwhile, the negative scenario assumes that this liquidity would remain inactive, reflecting investor hesitation and a market in standby mode after the recent bloodbath that resulted in liquidations worth $19 billion. Will The Gold Rotation Help BTC? Following the crypto market crash earlier this month, which sent BTC from an ATH of more than $126,000 all the way down to $102,000, several whales faced liquidations. Despite the crash, some analysts are confident that the BTC top is not in yet. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whales Are Back: Three Indicators Suggest A Run Toward $130,000 One of the factors that can significantly benefit BTC in the near term is the capital rotation from gold to the digital asset. In a new report, Bitwise predicted that capital rotation from gold into BTC could propel it to $242,000. That said, veteran trader Peter Brandt recently forecasted that BTC could crash 50% from current price levels. At press time, BTC trades at $108,268, down 0.3% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com
According to Tether executive Paolo Ardoino, the stablecoin USDT has reached 500 million users worldwide. The figure was posted on his social feed. Based on reports, that user base would represent about 6.25% of the global population. At the same time, USDT’s circulating supply is reported to be roughly $182 billion. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whale Goes Big — $255M Longs Opened Before Trump–China Summit Tether Reports 500 Million Users The announcement came in a short social post from Ardoino celebrating the milestone. It’s the “biggest financial inclusion achievement” in history, he said. The company frames this as a major step for financial access, pointing to broad use in markets where traditional banking is limited. The method used to count “users” has not been made public, and the figure appears to be self-reported by Tether. Tether USDT reached officially 500 million users! Likely the biggest financial inclusion achievement in history. https://t.co/jbmnMDwidi — Paolo Ardoino ???? (@paoloardoino) October 21, 2025 Use Patterns In Emerging Markets In several emerging economies, market participants say stablecoins are used for more than trading. They are used for cross-border payments, local transfers, and as a quick store of value when local currencies fall in value. Based on reports, people and businesses often move money into USDT to avoid volatility in their own currencies. That practical use is part of why the company emphasizes the inclusion angle. Market Size And Supply Figures USDT’s reported $182 billion supply places it among the largest stablecoins in circulation. Analysts tracking on-chain data note that a large portion of stablecoin flows still occur on major blockchains and centralized exchanges. Verification And Counting Caveats The 500 million claim has raised questions from industry observers and some analysts. How a “user” is defined is unclear: It wasn’t fully disclosed in detail if it is a unique person, a wallet address, an account on a partner platform, or an aggregate of multiple identifiers. Reports emphasize that without detailed methodology, outside verification is limited. The number should be viewed as a company figure that signals scale, but not as an independently audited headcount. Related Reading: All It Took Was A Tweet: FLOKI Jumps 27% After Musk Mentions It Global Reach And Inclusion Claims Tether positions the milestone as a financial inclusion success. If even a portion of the 500 million are new entrants to digital finance, that would be significant. Meanwhile, regulators in several jurisdictions are watching stablecoins more closely. That scrutiny could affect how stablecoins are used in payments and remittances going forward. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
This week, the Ethereum ecosystem has been rocked by a $654 million ETH transfer by the Ethereum Foundation. This triggered intense scrutiny over developer compensation, transparency, and leadership, culminating in the public resignation of core developer Péter Szilágyi and renewed criticism of governance practices. Simultaneously, Polygon’s AggLayer upgrade has faced launch delays and network instability, […]
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An Amazon Web Services disruption on Oct. 20 knocked out MetaMask and other ETH wallets displays and slowed Base network operations, exposing how cloud infrastructure dependencies ripple through decentralized systems when a single provider fails. AWS reported a fault in its US-EAST-1 region starting at 03:11 ET, with DNS and EC2 load-balancer health monitoring failures […]
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After years of venture-funded dominance, Coinbase is reviving the idea that crypto projects can raise money directly from their users. The US-based exchange announced on Oct. 21 that it acquired Echo, a community-fundraising platform founded by veteran investor Jordan “Cobie” Fish, in a $375 million deal to rebuild fairer, on-chain capital markets. According to the […]
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XRP flirted with stronger levels this week but slipped back as traders reassessed positions. According to a tweet by community figure Zach Rector, the next rally could arrive without much warning and push the token to a fresh all-time high. Related Reading: You Want $1K XRP? You’ll Need Iron Nerves — Or ‘Mental Illness’, Analyst Says Price was at $2.40 on Wednesday, down from $2.43, marking a 1.14% fall over 24 hours. Daily trading volume rose to $4.9 billion, up 6.39%. Community Response Divided Reactions to Rector’s claim were split. Some holders sounded upbeat and said they would be “caught off guard” in a good way. Others pushed back, arguing that similar optimism has circulated for years with no sustained break above prior highs. Based on reports in the thread, one user said the prediction has been repeated for five years and has not yet come true. Another warned that XRP needs to reclaim $3 before talk of new records makes sense. The XRP pump to new all time highs will catch so many people off guard. — Zach Rector (@ZachRector7) October 20, 2025 Volume Signals And Price Action Market data gives a mixed picture. XRP is up 3.90% over the last seven days, and its market cap sits near $144 billion. Volume jumped even as price eased, a pattern traders often link to profit-taking or position changes ahead of bigger moves. Some market watchers see the higher volume as preparatory trading; others view it as a sign of selling pressure. Either way, the numbers show more activity than price movement alone would suggest. Regulatory And Macro Headwinds Reports have disclosed that broader events have affected XRP recently. The token dropped to an 11-month low after an announcement tied to tariffs from US President Donald Trump, and it has not fully recovered since. Several commenters on the thread tied XRP’s future to global trade ties and legislative progress in the US—factors outside trading charts that can still weigh on token demand. Bitcoin’s pull is also mentioned often; when Bitcoin weakens, many altcoins find it harder to launch on their own. Related Reading: All It Took Was A Tweet: FLOKI Jumps 27% After Musk Mentions It Skepticism Over Technical Hurdles Some analysts and users pointed out technical and liquidity barriers. Reclaiming $3 is seen as a short-term test; moving past that would still leave a long road toward new highs. There are pockets of optimism based on Ripple’s expanding partnerships in banking and payments, which supporters argue could support higher prices when market sentiment improves. In short, observers are split between hopeful holders and cautious skeptics. According to community chatter and the live figures, momentum is present but uneven. XRP’s path higher will likely require both favorable market moves and clearer macro or regulatory signals. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin (BTC) forced the closure of $740 million in leveraged positions on Oct. 21 as the price swung from $110,552 to $114,019 before retreating toward $108,000, executing a classic short-squeeze followed by long liquidations that cleared excessive derivatives exposure. Data from Coinglass shows $435.63 million in long positions and $304.64 million in shorts eliminated during […]
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Following a significant rally, the valuation of gold has begun to decline. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) appears to be experiencing a slight capital rotation towards it, as evidenced by Tuesday’s price performance, which led to a recovery of the $112,000 mark. In this context, asset manager Bitwise has released a new report that outlines promising price prospects for the market’s leading cryptocurrency, despite the challenges it has faced over the past few weeks. How Gold’s Rise Fuels Bitcoin Opportunities Authored by Andre Dragosch, Max Shannon, and Aayush Tripathi from Bitwise Europe’s research and analysis department, the report highlights that crypto prices have been underperforming compared to traditional assets, largely due to a bearish market sentiment triggered by renewed weaknesses in US regional bank stocks. The report emphasizes the fluctuating relative performance of Bitcoin against gold, which tends to vary with changes in cross-asset risk appetite. A renewed risk-on environment could potentially reaffirm Bitcoin’s leadership in performance over gold. Related Reading: Bear Market Alert: Top Expert Claims Bitcoin Price Fate Hangs On $101,700 Support Level A key catalyst for Bitcoin’s recovery over the coming months could stem from this capital rotation. Gold has experienced a meteoric rise this year, driven by expectations of easier monetary policy and growing concerns regarding US fiscal debt. According to Bitwise, even a modest capital rotation of just 3% to 4% from gold to Bitcoin could significantly impact the cryptocurrency’s price, potentially doubling its value, as seen in the chart below. Interestingly, a 5% shift in investments from gold to Bitcoin could increase its price by over 126%, propelling it to $242,391. This is based on a baseline price of $107,240, which is Bitcoin’s price at the time of Bitwise’s publication. Why Is $118,000 Key For BTC’s Outlook? Historical patterns suggest that Bitcoin’s performance leadership may reassert itself during a risk-on phase. This potential shift is not merely speculative; the report points out that a similar trend occurred in 2020, when Bitcoin began its ascent to new all-time highs in October, coinciding with a stall in gold’s rally that began in July. The analysts believe this performance pattern could repeat itself, particularly if gold’s rally pauses. They highlight that sustaining gold’s rally typically requires a significantly larger capital influx compared to Bitcoin, which could create headwinds for gold’s continued performance. Related Reading: Solana Co-Founder Ventures Into Perpetual DEX Development: What You Should Know Lastly, on-chain analysis reveals a robust liquidity cluster between $93,000 and $118,000, forming a critical boundary between bull and bear market conditions. The report suggests that a decisive move above the upper end of this range at $118,000 could result in a new price rally. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
While Bitcoin (BTC) has declined more than 13% from its fresh all-time high (ATH) of $126,199 recorded earlier this month on October 6, CryptoQuant contributor PelinayPA is confident that there is a 55% chance that the BTC top for this market cycle is not in yet. Bitcoin Top Not In Yet – More Upside Ahead? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor PelinayPA, there is a 55% probability that the Bitcoin top for the ongoing market cycle is not in yet. The analyst highlighted BTC’s recent on-chain flows to support their claim. Related Reading: Bitcoin Cycle Score Turns Negative With Trend Below $106,780 – When Will The Correction End? In their analysis, PelinayPA noted that although BTC’s price has tumbled from more than $126,000 to around $109,000 in the second half of 2025, there has been a noticeable increase in 0-1 day BTC inflows to exchanges. A rise in 0-1 days BTC inflows to exchange typically has two implications – short-term traders are taking profits, and there is a temporary phase of repositioning of liquidity as traders transfer their holdings to exchanges, anticipating price volatility. The analyst added that BTC held for more than six months is largely inactive, indicating that long-term holders are likely not selling despite the recent market crash. This signals market confidence among long-term holders, minimizing the possibility of another major sell-off in the near term. PelinayPA remarked that such behavior typically occurs in the mid or maturing stages of a bull cycle, where any dip in price is seen as an opportunity to accumulate instead of a trend reversal. Currently, the Bitcoin market is in a natural consolidation phase within an ongoing uptrend. The analyst added: In the short term, Bitcoin could revisit the $102K region as short term traders continue to take profits. However, since this selling pressure originates mainly from newer holders, it is unlikely to disrupt the broader bullish structure. These dips may offer attractive entry opportunities. Concluding, Pelinay commented that the lack of selling activity among BTC holders in the 6-months to 10-year time-band range shows that there is a 55% probability that the bull market top has not yet formed. BTC Could Dip To $102,000 The CryptoQuant contributor noted that, although it is likely that the BTC bull market top is not in yet, it does not mean that the top cryptocurrency would not see further temporary decline. If selling persists, BTC could once again test the $102,000 support level. Related Reading: Bitcoin Market Feels “Too Efficient” As Arbitrage Opportunities Vanish – What It Means For Price? Similarly, crypto analyst Elliot Waves Academy remarked that BTC has likely finished the bullish leg of the ongoing market cycle. The analyst added that BTC is likely to consolidate around its current levels. That said, a fellow CryptoQuant contributor noted that BTC has entered the ‘disbelief phase,’ and may take the bears by surprise with a sharp surge in price. At press time, BTC trades at $108,472, down 2% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com
The retail chain said it accepts payments in over 99 cryptocurrencies and supports 300 digital wallet systems.
A pro-XRP software developer sparked fresh debate this week by saying it takes “serious conviction” to hold volatile coins like XRP through long, wild swings. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whale Goes Big — $255M Longs Opened Before Trump–China Summit Vincent Van Code said holding XRP all the way to $1,000 — let alone $10,000 — would take “mental illness.” His comments have drawn attention not just for the blunt wording but for the story they tell about the human side of crypto risk. Holder Psychology Under Stress According to Van Code, the real test begins long before a coin hits big numbers. He pointed to Bitcoin as an example: Bitcoin traded under $1 in 2010 and now sits above $110,000. Many claim they would have held from those early days, but Van Code argued most people would have sold around $100. Every talks about “oh if I bought BTC for $1 id because billionaire today”. What you fail to realize is 99% of people would sell even at $100. Or what about when it dumped from $10k down to $1k then back up again. You really have to almost be mentally unstable to hold from $1… — Vincent Van Code (@vincent_vancode) October 19, 2025 Reports have also noted whales who were inactive for more than a decade recently moving coins bought for under $1,000 and cashing out millions or billions. The famous case of the French buyer who spent 10,000 BTC on pizza remains a blunt reminder that people do sell, sometimes at huge regret. XRP Near Key Demand Zone Technical calls are mixed. Ether Nasyonal, a crypto analyst, told followers that XRP is “cooking something” on the 1-month chart and highlighted an important demand zone. Following the sharp drop and quick bounce on Oct. 10, XRP failed to break past $2.5 and is still short of the $3 level. The token is down 14% this month. $XRP is cooking something up. Chart has been inverted, but the story remains the same. XRP is still gathering strength within the demand zone emerging from the 2018 major resistance. While the direction may seem confusing, the structure is clear. The next major move… https://t.co/HT9Sqhembx pic.twitter.com/s5grcnCMFZ — EᴛʜᴇʀNᴀꜱʏᴏɴᴀL ???????? (@EtherNasyonaL) October 19, 2025 Past movements add weight to caution: XRP plunged more than 90% after peaking above $3 back in 2018, a crash that punished holders who sold in panic and then watched prices recover later. Personal Stories And Public Bets Some holders frame their approach as a long-term plan. One user, TheXFactor33, said he has held XRP for over eight years and has weathered multiple crashes. Van Code has said he mentally removed the money from his balance sheet and intends not to sell even if prices head far higher. He told followers his aim is to convert the stake into something concrete for his family, such as buying a home for his children. Long-Term Bets Face Real Tests Views on how high XRP could go differ widely. Some analysts project a bullish scenario that sees XRP at $1,000 by 2040, a forecast that would require years of patience — roughly a 15-year hold from today’s levels under $3 — and a lot of market resilience. Related Reading: $3M In Stolen XRP Tracked — But Victim May Never See It Again: Investigator Meanwhile, a good number of investors say they would cash gains early to pay for cars, houses, or other goals, making multiyear holds rare. Surviving repeated crashes and strong rallies takes more than luck; it takes steady nerves and a plan. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
The broader crypto market is currently navigating a phase of uncertainty, with concerns mounting over the possibility of a new bear market. A recent analysis by Barchart analyst Rob Isbitts highlights three significant signals suggesting that a deeper retreat in crypto prices may be on the horizon. Emerging Correlations Among Crypto Prices The report points to notable trends observed in April of last year, when a 50% increase followed the launch of several spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs_. Specifically, BlackRock’s IBIT fund which boasts over $85 billion in assets under management, subsequently experienced a decline of approximately 25%. Related Reading: Bear Market Alert: Top Expert Claims Bitcoin Price Fate Hangs On $101,700 Support Level A similar pattern was evident in the early months of this year, where fluctuations were mirrored in the market as increased outflows in these investment vehicles began to rise. Currently, the Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO)—a key indicator used by Isbitts—signals increasing chances of a decline in Bitcoin’s price as the weeks progress. Ethereum (ETH) appears to be following a comparable trajectory. Isbitts notes that while Bitcoin remains the leading cryptocurrency, the correlation among various coins is strengthening over time. This heightened correlation implies that Ethereum may also experience declines in tandem with Bitcoin. However, for cryptocurrencies that are further removed from the Bitcoin core, such as Solana (SOL), additional risks emerge. In these cases, not only does correlation impact prices, but a higher “beta” can lead to even steeper declines, reflecting increased volatility. For instance, when Bitcoin recently dropped about 15% from its peak, the futures -based Solana ETF (SOLZ), which has attracted over $220 million in assets in less than seven months, fell by double that percentage. Has Gold Regained Its Safe Haven Status Against Bitcoin? A common thread among the charts shared by Isbitts, is the recent formation of lower lows, indicating a pressing need for a rebound. If this does not occur soon, the expert highlights that the likelihood of further declines in crypto prices increases. The report also discusses a shift in the perception of gold, which has traditionally been viewed as an “anti-US dollar asset.” The expert asserts that as global central banks increase their gold reserves, the dynamics of the market may be changing. Related Reading: Solana Co-Founder Ventures Into Perpetual DEX Development: What You Should Know Recently, gold has exhibited price movements akin to those seen in cryptos, suggesting a potential resurgence in its role as a safe haven. This shift has impacted crypto stocks and ETFs, with certain funds showing signs of vulnerability as indicated by the PPO nearing a one-year high. A longer-term analysis of Bitcoin by Isbitts illustrates its inherent volatility, yet it has consistently managed to achieve higher highs over time. While this trend may continue, the current market conditions suggest that any future rallies are likely to start from lower price levels. As of this writing, however, Bitcoin, the market’s leading crypto, has regained the $112,900 mark, rising 3% in the last hour of Tuesday morning’s trading session. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin is bracing for the release of the September US Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Oct. 24, the first major data point since the federal shutdown began. Analysts at The Kobeissi Letter emphasized the importance of this update, noting that it will be the first CPI release on a Friday since January 2018 and comes […]
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The internet is not dead, but it may be rotting. New research by scientists at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Purdue University finds that large language models exposed to viral social media data begin to suffer measurable cognitive decay. The authors call it “LLM brain rot.” In practice, it looks […]
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Elon Musk’s casual post about his dog sent shockwaves through meme-coin markets on Monday, with FLOKI jumping roughly 27% in minutes. Related Reading: Bitcoin Whale Goes Big — $255M Longs Opened Before Trump–China Summit According to reports, Musk posted “Flōki is back on the job as X CEO!” alongside an AI-made clip showing his Shiba Inu in a suit. The token’s price moved from about $0.0000657 to roughly $0.0000847, and some sources recorded intraday highs near $0.00009 after traders piled in. Musk Post Sparks Rally Based on market coverage, the move was quick and driven by social media momentum. Traders who watch meme tokens said the tweet and the short video triggered a buying wave that pushed prices up by about 20–29% depending on the exchange. Volume surged at the same time. The overall memecoin market cap rose nearly 6% to close to $64 billion as speculative bets picked up. Flōki is back on the job as ???? CEO! pic.twitter.com/Zu29Dos24r — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2025 Market Activity And Metrics Activity was heavy across spot and derivatives markets. Reports show derivatives volume spiked roughly 660% to $280 million while open interest climbed about 165% to $37 million. That kind of move suggests many traders were not only buying the token but also opening leveraged positions. Some exchanges flagged fast order flow and a quick rise in short-term trading volumes. Community Buzz And Immediate Reaction The Floki project has built a large online community that watches every mention of the name closely. Messages and posts amplified Musk’s share, and that amplification helped fuel the rapid price rise. But it wasn’t a universal buy signal; certain wallets moved to take profits during the rally. Based on on-chain snapshots, a number of large holders sold small slices as the price spiked. Derivatives Surge Raises Questions Analysts and market watchers warned that heavy derivatives activity can push prices both ways. When leverage flows into a small market, moves can be magnified. A rapid inflow of speculative money can lift prices fast, and it can also trigger sharp drops when traders unwind positions. Several analysts suggested that gains tied to a single social post are fragile without steady buying behind them. Related Reading: ‘Buy Of The Century’: Cardano Could Be The 2026 Game-Changer Under $0.20 — Analyst Exchange Listings And Liquidity Notes Liquidity varied between venues. Some smaller platforms showed deeper price swings because their order books are thin. Larger exchanges saw volume rises but less dramatic price gaps. Based on figures, traders on decentralized platforms captured most of the early moves, while centralized venues absorbed the later orders. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
Tether’s USDT fell from 70% market dominance in November 2024 to 59.9% by October 2025, the second sub-60% reading in a single year, while Circle’s USDC climbed from 20.5% to 25.3% over the same span. The shift coincides with Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation enforcement, but the dynamics tell a more complex story than […]
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Fintech and crypto groups are urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop banks charging for consumer data access, saying the move would undermine open banking and disconnect crypto wallets and stablecoins from the U.S. financial system.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) began trading in the UK on Oct. 20, opening a market that could funnel between $1.5 billion and $2 billion into the fund over time as UK retail investors gain regulated access to Bitcoin (BTC) exposure. The launch capitalizes on the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) recent reversal of its ban […]
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Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder CEO of Solana Labs, has unveiled plans for a new decentralized exchange (DEX) named Percolator, designed as a sharded perpetuals protocol built directly on the Solana blockchain. The platform aims to provide a self-custodial and high-speed solution for perpetual futures trading, allowing crypto traders to speculate on price movements without the limitation of expiry dates. Solana’s Percolator Documentation Released The documentation for Percolator was released on GitHub, where it is described as “implementation-ready.” It introduces two primary components: a Router and a Slab program. The Router manages collateral, portfolio margins, and cross-slab routing, while the Slab program functions as a matching engine overseen by liquidity providers (LPs). Each slab operates independently, enabling what Yakovenko refers to as “fully self-contained matching and settlement.” Related Reading: Analyst Uses AI To Show How The XRP Price Could Rally To $1,700 This design ensures that any issues arising from a particular slab do not affect users who have not interacted with it. Yakovenko emphasized the advantages of this architecture, stating: This design keeps each LP’s slab fully self-contained and innovable, while the Router guarantees atomic routing, portfolio netting, and capability-scoped safety. The project’s GitHub repository already shows completed data structures for order books and memory pools, although the development of liquidation systems is still in progress. However, no official launch date has been announced. Competition In Derivatives Market Intensifies Currently, the Solana Foundation has not disclosed whether Percolator will receive formal ecosystem support or if it will emerge as a community-driven protocol. Should it succeed, Percolator would add to the expanding repertoire of native financial primitives being developed on the Solana blockchain, which already includes decentralized options, lending protocols, and tokenized asset platforms. At present, the code for Percolator remains under review on GitHub, and developers engaged with the repository indicate that the project is “deep in testing.” This suggests that a launch could be imminent, provided that the liquidation and governance components are finalized. The introduction of Percolator comes at a critical time, as competitors like Hyperliquid (HYPE) are expanding their presence in the derivatives-focused DEX space. Related Reading: ‘Buy Of The Century’: Cardano Could Be The 2026 Game-Changer Under $0.20 — Analyst Hyperliquid recently implemented permissionless, builder-deployed perpetual contracts through its HIP-3 upgrade, allowing users to stake a minimum of 500,000 HYPE tokens—approximately $18 million—to launch their own perpetual markets with independent margin rules. Hyperliquid accounted for 35% of all blockchain revenue in July, attracting users away from platforms like Solana, Ethereum (ETH), and BNB Chain. Asset manager VanEck recently noted that Hyperliquid has successfully retained high-value users, thanks in part to its “simple, highly functional product.” As of press time, SOL is trading at $187.70, marking a 20% loss over the past fourteen and thirty days. This puts SOL 35% below its all-time high of $293, which was reached earlier this year. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
After the massive crash on October 10 – which saw Bitcoin (BTC) touch $102,000 before recovering some losses – some analysts now predict that the top cryptocurrency may be on the verge of another bullish rally as it enters the ‘disbelief phase.’ Bitcoin In Disbelief Phase – Trouble For Bears? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor Darkfost, Bitcoin appears to be entering the disbelief phase, which increases the possibility of a rebound to the upside. The contributor emphasized the slightly negative funding rate to support their analysis. Related Reading: Bitcoin Cycle Score Turns Negative With Trend Below $106,780 – When Will The Correction End? For the uninitiated, the Bitcoin disbelief phase occurs when a new uptrend begins, but most investors remain skeptical after a recent correction, doubting that the recovery is real. During this phase, lingering bearish sentiment and short positions often act as fuel for a stronger rally once confidence returns. Darkfost stated that investors’ skepticism toward BTC returning to bullish mode can be gauged through BTC funding rates in the derivatives market. Funding rates remained negative at -0.004% on the exchange for six out of seven days over the past week, indicating traders are still slightly bearish. The likely reason behind traders’ short bias is the October 10 crypto market crash that led to a liquidation worth $19 billion. Since then, traders have consistently chosen to short the market instead of getting trapped in another price pullback. However, the longer BTC remains in the disbelief phase, the stronger the potential for an explosive upside move becomes. Darkfost added: If the current uptrend continues to establish itself, the growing pile of short positions against it could become a powerful fuel for the next leg higher. As these shorts get liquidated, it would drive prices upward, triggering a short squeeze. If a short squeeze happens, then BTC could quickly rally to major liquidity zones around $113,000 level, and even as high as $126,000 region, where significant short orders liquidations are clustered. The analyst shared two previous instance where such a pattern played out. In September 2024, BTC fell to $54,000 before surging to a new all-time high beyond $100,000. Similarly, in April 2025, the flagship digital asset rallied from $85,000 to $111,000, before climbing even higher to $123,000. To conclude, the Bitcoin market may be on the verge of another short squeeze, fueled by investors’ skepticism. BTC Investors Need To Be Cautious Although BTC is giving hints of a looming short squeeze, investors should still exercise some caution before entering the market in hopes of an instant turnaround in sentiment. For example, Bitcoin activity recently slumped below its 365-day average, raising fears of a loss of momentum. Related Reading: Bitcoin Market Feels “Too Efficient” As Arbitrage Opportunities Vanish – What It Means For Price? That said, some crypto analysts forecast that BTC is likely done with the price correction and is set to surge in the coming days. At press time, BTC trades at $110,814, up 2.8% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com