Сборщик RSS-лент

До конца текущего года первая криптовалюта способна достичь пика в $200 000, считает автор книги о личных финансах «Богатый папа, бедный папа» и инвестор Роберт Кийосаки (Robert Kiyosaki).

Following a successful showing in 2024 US elections, the cryptocurrency industry is significantly increasing its political spending in preparation for the 2026 midterms. A number of super political action committees (PACs) focused on crypto are pooling together a major $263 million war chest, according to Bloomberg.

Fairshake Leads With $141 Million

The legislative victories with the passage of the GENIUS Act, coupled with the Trump family’s endorsement of crypto, are reportedly prompting many newer super PACs to pivot from previous strategies and align more closely with Republican candidates. 

A primary focus is a proposed crypto market-structure bill that seeks to implement comprehensive changes to the oversight of digital assets, potentially empowering the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which has been more receptive to the industry’s interests.

Collaborations have further emerged between crypto firms and Trump-affiliated ventures, along with donations to Trump’s inauguration and military events. Several companies are also contributing to the development of a new White House ballroom, with notable supporters including Coinbase, Ripple, and the US arm of Tether (USDT).

Fairshake remains the largest PAC, reporting $141 million in its coffers as of the end of June, after spending more than $133 million to back pro-crypto candidates during 2024.

In its efforts to promote crypto-friendly policies across party lines, Fairshake allocated around $10 million each to support Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Ruben Gallego, both of whom successfully won their races in Michigan and Arizona. 

They were among the 18 Democratic senators who voted in favor of the GENIUS Act, which facilitated broader usage of stablecoins, a favored instrument of the crypto sector.

New Super PACs Arise To Boost Pro-Crypto Candidates

Another new organization, the First Principles Digital PAC, identifies itself as a Republican-focused entity dedicated to electing pro-crypto leaders. Led by Republican strategist Jason Thielman, this PAC was established after the 2024 elections and reported approximately $954,000 in cash as of the end of June.

Fellowship PAC, which emerged in September with $100 million in commitments, is another new player, though its donors have not been publicly disclosed. Initial filings indicate its treasurer is an executive from Cantor Fitzgerald, the financial firm previously headed by Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick.

Democrats are increasingly apprehensive about the financial firepower of the crypto sector. Erik Balsbaugh, who has campaigned for Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton, now directs a new group called Open Frontier, which aims to amplify progressive voices within the crypto conversation. 

“Many on my side are striving to understand this industry,” Balsbaugh stated. “There’s a lack of trustworthy messengers, and significant skepticism about crypto remains.”

Democrats Reevaluate Stance

Ahead of this new election cycle, Bloomberg reports that there are indications that the industry’s growing financial reserves and political clout are prompting some Democrats to reassess their positions. 

Even Sherrod Brown has moderated his criticisms, with his campaign manager stating, “Cryptocurrency is increasingly becoming integrated into America’s economy, especially in Ohio. 

Industry executives are also looking beyond the immediate target of the market-structure bill, which Republicans hope to advance before the midterms. 

Their goals include reforming digital asset taxation, revising regulations surrounding money laundering and sanctions, and establishing clearer guidelines for decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Quick Facts:

• 1⃣ Taking advantage of the renewed risk-on sentiment in the crypto market, $XRP has recorded a 9.45% surge on the weekly chart – outperforming $BTC and $ETH.
• 2⃣ It’s too early to tell whether $XRP can sustain the momentum, however, as derivatives market data and technical indicators give mixed signals.
• 3⃣ Meanwhile, the Best Wallet Token presale is approaching $17M, as investors pivot to early-stage infrastructure projects to offset losses from the October 10 deleveraging event.

$XRP is one of the best performers among heavy-cap cryptos this week.

For context, $BTC has surged 5% over the past seven days, while $ETH is up 4.5%. Considering the previous weeks’ bloodbath, the trend paints an optimistic picture for the market, but their gains pale in comparison to $XRP’s 9.45%.

The cross-border remittance token has managed a steady climb for most of the week, briefly touching $2.69 before retracing slightly. Keeping up with the spot market’s energy, the derivatives market has also perked up, as open interest (OI) crosses $4.5B.

But How Strong is the Rally?

Multiple factors indicate that $XRP’s recent surge might be short-lived. It could be a while before it reclaims its all-time high of $3.65, since the rise in open interest could swing either way.

For instance, the OI-weighted funding rate has declined, revealing that confidence in $XRP will be fragile in the absence of a significant broader market shift. Short positions likely anticipate another test of the key support level at $2.18.

The RSI (Relative Strength Index) is now at 51, while the current price is just slightly below the 50-day exponential moving average of 2.6852, further indicating that the recent rally is slowing down.

However, investors are awaiting a potential Fed rate cut on Wednesday, which could channel more capital into top altcoins.

That partly explains the renewed activity in the derivatives market, which dropped to $3.49B on October 19 – its lowest point since late April.

With the US and China set to discuss trade frictions and the Fed rate cut looking increasingly likely, $XRP could soon capitalize on the return of risk appetite and head for $3.

Despite the crypto market simmering in uncertainty since October 10, a new crypto infrastructure coin has been attracting steady investor traction. The Best Wallet Token presale is making its way toward $17M, defying broader market trends.

Backed by a non-custodial wallet that boasts hundreds of thousands of downloads on iOS and Android devices, it’s clearly not just the token’s low presale price that’s drawing interest.

Is Best Wallet Token the Next Crypto to Explode?

Companies like Strategy continue to buy the crypto dip, as the market is entering a promising phase supported by friendlier regulations.

While institutional giants can afford to buy $BTC and $XRP for a fortune, retail investors are playing a completely different game. For them, the smarter bets are emerging coins with much lower market caps.

Not just any new coin, but those backed by promising projects.

Smart investors are exercising this strategy while curating their portfolios ahead of the next crypto super cycle, likely to begin in November. This reallocation is behind the growing interest in the Best Wallet Token presale, which powers the Best Wallet ecosystem.

Best Wallet Targets 40% Market Share by 2026

The project is on a mission to capture 40% of the global crypto wallet market share by 2026. It’s an ambitious target but not one that is far-fetched, considering the Best Wallet app is:

• Non-custodial and thus offers holders complete control over their private keys, staying true to the crypto market’s founding principle of financial freedom without middlemen.
• Multi-chain and flexible, letting users transfer assets across top blockchains like Ethereum, Bitcoin, Polygon, and BNB Chain (50+ more will be added in the coming phases).
• Secured with Fireblocks’ MPC techology.
• Part of an extended ecosystem that offers features like cross-chain swaps, presale access, and – down the line – an everyday crypto shopping card.

$BEST tokens play a key role in fueling this ecosystem, which looks beyond crypto storage and towards driving retail crypto adoption. For holders, it unlocks privileges like early access to vetted presales, lower fees, higher staking rewards, and voting rights.

Being anchored to a thriving ecosystem with a growing user base, the token is expected to take off following its upcoming launch, making the current presale deal too good to ignore.

But more importantly, organic demand could underpin the token’s value during volatile periods.

Our Best Wallet Token price prediction sees the price potentially climbing to $0.62 during the course of next year, and reaching $0.82 by 2030.

For early investors who buy the token at $0.025865 in the current presale phase and grab the 79% staking APY, that leaves room for jaw-dropping returns.

Thinking of investing in $BEST? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to buying the Best Wallet Token before heading to the official presale website.

Being a presale, however, the price rises in stages, while the staking APY lowers as more holders join the staking pool. And the next price surge is just a day away.

So be sure to join the Best Wallet Token presale today to lock in the best deal.

As always, do your own research before investing in crypto. This is not financial advice.

Authored by Bogdan Patru, Bitcoinist – https://bitcoinist.com/xrp-price-prediction-ahead-of-fomc-rate-cut-best-crypto-to-buy

Гендиректор международной компании Visa Райан Макинерни (Ryan McInerney) рассказал, что в рамках расширения своих криптосервисов, платежный гигант планирует добавить поддержку четырех стейблкоинов, работающих на четырех блокчейнах.

Федеральная антимонопольная служба России (ФАС) предложила с 2027 года изменить порядок расчета соцнормы потребления электроэнергии. Это приведет к ликвидации экономической основы для «серого» майнинга, заявил заместитель гендиректора по развитию группы компаний Intelion Максим Симуткин.

Quick Facts:

• 1⃣ Bitcoin has found strong support at a major upward-sloping trendline that has sustained its rally since November 2022.
• 2⃣ According to DeepSeek’s latest Bitcoin price prediction, the pattern mirrors past rallies and could propel $BTC toward the $190K mark.
• 3⃣ If you’re looking for the best crypto to buy now, low-cap altcoin gems like $HYPER, $MAXI, and $TRUMP could ride Bitcoin’s next big wave.

After falling over 7% on October 10, Bitcoin has now found strong support at a major upward-sloping trendline.

It’s worth noting that this is the same trendline that has held Bitcoin’s upward momentum ever since November 2022. In fact, the last two contact points with this trendline resulted in new all-time highs.

So, going by this alone – and considering that another Fed rate cut could be just around the corner – there’s a high likelihood we could see a new ATH in the next few days.

That said, given that Bitcoin today is not far from its mid May price (~$112K), speculation is rife about whether the token has lost steam. Bitcoin may need a deeper correction before setting the stage for another rally to new highs.

To find out what’s what, we turned to DeepSeek, one of the most powerful AI chatbots out there.

It swept through not only real-time price movements and industry updates but also what both big and small crypto analysts are saying across social platforms.

DeepSeek was quick to filter out relevant Bitcoin chart analyses. Chief among them was one by @CryptooELITES, who has more than 258K followers on X.

The analyst switched to Bitcoin’s weekly chart to show that in March, the token bounced 70% after a successful retest of a breakout from a major resistance line that had held the token down since April 2021.

And now, $BTC is once again forming that exact same pattern.

According to this analysis, we could see a similar leg-up this time around – remember, history tends to repeat itself – meaning Bitcoin could be headed for the $190K mark in the next few weeks.

Exciting, right? After all, this gives you the opportunity to back low-cap altcoins that could ride $BTC’s momentum all the way to the moon.

Here are our top three suggestions for the best crypto to buy now ahead of a $BTC rally.

1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – New Bitcoin L2 for Solana-Like Speeds & Web3 Support

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is arguably the most promising way to ride Bitcoin’s upcoming rally – primarily because of its under-the-radar, low-priced nature.

Currently in its presale phase, one $HYPER token is available for just $0.013185, and according to our Bitcoin Hyper price prediction, it could soar 1,420% to reach $0.02 by the end of 2026.

So, what is Bitcoin Hyper? It’s a game-changing altcoin building the ‘best-ever’ Layer-2 (L2) solution for Bitcoin. It’ll integrate the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) to massively boost Bitcoin’s real-world utility.

With this tech, the new L2 will increase Bitcoin’s throughput from the current 7 transactions per second to thousands, as it will use parallel execution – all while lowering costs and maintaining Bitcoin’s native security.

Additionally, Hyper’s SVM will enable developers to build smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) – something not possible before within Bitcoin’s ecosystem.

Hyper’s non-custodial canonical bridge will let you convert your Layer-1 Bitcoin into wrapped, L2-compatible tokens, allowing you to seamlessly interact with the SVM-powered Web3 ecosystem.

This means you’ll soon be able to access high-speed DeFi trading apps, NFT marketplaces, governance platforms, lending, staking, and gaming dApps, all compatible with $BTC.

Get $HYPER tokens and join the Hyper DAO. 2. Maxi Doge ($MAXI) – Next Potential Dogecoin Eyeing Insane Virality

Maxi Doge ($MAXI) gives you a rare opportunity to turn back the clock and ride Dogecoin’s initial pumps.

How so? Because Maxi is Dogecoin’s distant cousin – one who’s aggressively building a loyal fleet of HODLers to take revenge on his elder brother.

You see, Dogecoin is the reason Maxi had to grow up in loneliness. The OG crypto hogged all the limelight thanks to its fun-loving, celebrity-backed status.

However, $MAXI used this setback to hit the gym, bulk up with caffeine shots and protein shakes, and dedicate his life to overthrowing Dogecoin as the best meme coin in the world.

To achieve this, Maxi’s developers have reserved a whopping 40% of the total token supply for marketing, including paid PR campaigns, influencer collaborations, and social media blitzes.

Plus, based on our $MAXI price prediction, a $100 investment today could potentially turn into $2,100 by the end of 2026, as $MAXI could reach a high of $0.0058 in just a few months. It’s currently available for just $0.0002655.

In addition to raw gains, buying $MAXI will also unlock holder-exclusive events such as weekly trading competitions and leaderboard rewards.

On top of that, $MAXI plans to partner with futures platforms, aiming for dominance across both CEXs/ DEXs and the derivatives trading market, right alongside his arch-rival $DOGE.

Buy $MAXI and ride the new Doge’s pump. 3. OFFICIAL TRUMP ($TRUMP) – Viral Meme Coin Ready to Rally Again

OFFICIAL TRUMP ($TRUMP), Donald Trump’s very own crypto coin, had a breathtaking start.

Soon after its launch in the third week of January, it skyrocketed over 2,000% in just a couple of days, riding the popularity of the ‘crypto president’ of the United States.

Since then, Trump has consistently rallied for pro-crypto causes. Still, that support has arguably not been reflected in the price of the $TRUMP coin, primarily due to the tariff wars and his somewhat controversial personality.

But the token has now found strong support around the $5.3 level, and looks primed for a strong rebound.

It’s currently challenging a major downward-sloping resistance line that has been pushing prices lower since February this year.

Sure, this is an important resistance level, but given that it has already been tested over six times, there’s a high likelihood of a breakout now.

If that happens, we could see a sharp run-up to at least the $24.5 level – a nearly 215% gain from current levels.

The most recent fundamental catalysts behind this potential rally include Trump’s pardoning of Binance’s founder CZ and his push to appoint Mike Selig – an openly pro-crypto figure – as the new CFTC lead.

Interested? Grab $TRUMP tokens on Binance today.

Recap: With Bitcoin rebounding from strong trendline support, now’s the time to load up on low-priced gems like Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), Maxi Doge ($MAXI), and OFFICIAL TRUMP ($TRUMP) before the next big breakout.

Disclaimer: Invest in crypto only after doing your own research. The market is highly unpredictable, and none of the above is financial advice.

Authored by Krishi Chowdhary, Bitcoinist – https://bitcoinist.com/best-crypto-to-buy-as-deepseek-bitcoin-price-prediction-reveals-190k-target

Lawmakers have reportedly introduced a comprehensive crypto bill proposal in the French Parliament that could establish a national Bitcoin (BTC) reserve and boost the industry’s adoption in the country.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Proposal

On Tuesday, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) party, led by Eric Ciotti, was set to introduce a pro-crypto bill in the French Parliament to address three key areas of France’s crypto ecosystem.

Gregory Raymond, co-founder of The Big Whale, shared the news on X, noting that this is the first time such comprehensive legislation has been introduced in the country. “This text contains several proposals that the sector has championed for many years, as well as other unprecedented ones,” he stated, noting that it follows the steps of US President Donald Trump, “whose commitment to this issue has helped attract a new electorate that few had previously courted.”

According to the post, the main policy proposed a French Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) with the creation of a Public Administrative Establishment (EPA) to diversify foreign exchange reserves and protect the country’s financial sovereignty by building a “national digital gold” reserve.

The EPA would be dedicated to holding and managing 2% of the total Bitcoin supply, or 420,000 BTC, within the next 7-8 years. Notably, the strategic reserve would be funded by public Bitcoin mining using surplus nuclear and hydroelectric power.

Additionally, the text proposed using systematic retention of BTC seized during legal proceedings, payments of taxes made in Bitcoin, and the allocation of “a quarter of the amounts collected through the Livret A and LDDS savings schemes” for daily BTC purchases on the secondary market to fund the strategic reserve.

Crypto Bill Tackles Stablecoins, Industry Support

The bill also encourages euro-denominated stablecoins, recognizing these digital assets as a credible alternative to traditional payment systems and proposing key regulations for the sector. Among the proposals, the text suggested a €200 daily cap for euro-pegged stablecoins, which would be exempt from taxation and social contributions. It would also authorize the use of euro-denominated stablecoins for paying taxes.

The policy reportedly aims to ease the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) to facilitate the issuance of stablecoins by European banks and companies, a topic recently discussed by the global watchdogs. At the same time, it seeks to oppose the euro-based Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) at the EU Council, which is considered to centralize and pose a threat to financial freedom.

Moreover, the proposed legislation also addresses energy and financial barriers, adapting electricity taxation for crypto mining by creating a progressive, dynamic excise duty based on price tiers, experimenting with flexible TURPE tariffs for flexible and adjustable consumer sites, and integrating Bitcoin and other crypto assets into the stock savings plan (PEA) via exchange-traded notes.

In his X post, Raymond explained that the proposed bill’s chances of passing are low, as it is an independent legislative proposal unrelated to the Finance Bill currently in the French parliament and was designed without the collaboration of other political parties. “It therefore has little chance of being adopted by the Parliamentary Bureau due to the UDR’s limited weight in the chamber (16 MPs out of 577),” he added.

Nonetheless, he affirmed that despite the extremely low probability of advancing, it demonstrates UDR’s “ambition to position itself as the party best able to defend the interests of the French crypto ecosystem.”

Основатель Cardano Чарльз Хоскинсон (Charles Hoskinson) в подкасте с Суджалом Джетвани (Sujal Jethwani) рассказал об ожиданиях развития своей сети, а также поделился рассуждениями о конфиденциальности и политических аспектах, влияющих на криптоиндустрию.

President Donald Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, is set to become the first social media company to introduce prediction markets, thanks to a new partnership with crypto exchange Crypto.com. 

Truth Social Introduces ‘Truth Predict’

According to a Tuesday press release, Truth Social users will have the opportunity to engage in prediction markets concerning a wide range of topics, including political elections, fluctuations in interest and inflation rates, commodity prices such as gold and crude oil, and events across major sports leagues. 

The new feature, called “Truth Predict,” provides real-time price updates. This will allow users to respond quickly to current events, similar to Kalshi and Polymarket. The latter is poised to re-enter the US market after receiving regulatory approval.

Devin Nunes, Chairman and chief executive officer of Trump Media, expressed enthusiasm about this new collaboration, stating: 

We are thrilled to become the world’s first publicly traded social media platform to offer our users access to prediction markets. Truth Predict will empower our dedicated users to participate in prediction markets within a trusted framework, leveraging our social media platform to create unique avenues for discussion and comparison of their predictions.

Trump Media’s Plan For A New CRO Treasury

The event contracts will be provided through CDNA, which ensures a federally compliant method for accessing event contracts and making predictions related to politics, economics, finances, and sports, all integrated with Truth Social’s technology.

Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and chief executive officer of Crypto.com, highlighted the potential of prediction markets, stating:

Prediction markets are poised to become a multi-deca-billion dollar industry. Crypto.com has rapidly established itself as a trusted provider of prediction market services, and we are excited to collaborate with Truth Social to deliver the world’s first prediction markets accessible through a social media platform. 

Beta testing for this integration is expected to commence soon on Truth Social, followed by a full launch in the United States. Trump Media plans to expand the service globally once all necessary requirements are fulfilled.

In line with this initiative, users of Truth Social and the Truth+ platform who hold Truth gems—earned through engagement on the platforms—will have the option to convert their gems into Crypto.Com’s native token Cronos (CRO), which can then be used to purchase Truth Predict contracts.

This collaboration between Trump Media and Crypto.com builds on a recently established strategic partnership to introduce a CRO rewards system across the Truth Social and Truth+ platforms. 

Additionally, Trump Media Group is set to establish a new CRO-focused digital asset treasury (DAT), following a definitive agreement for a proposed business combination with Yorkville Acquisition Corp, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC). 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

The price of Bitcoin (BTC) continues to hover around the $114,000 mark as investor sentiment swings between optimism and caution.

Related Reading: Analyst Shares Why He Bought A Massive Stack Of XRP, ‘It’s Not A Gamble’

According to Standard Chartered’s head of digital asset research Geoffrey Kendrick, the recent developments may mark a transformative phase for Bitcoin, one where its six-figure price zone becomes a lasting support level rather than a fleeting milestone.

Macro Tailwinds Drive Market Mood

Kendrick points to a rebound in global risk appetite after recent signs of détente between the United States and China.

Discussions around delayed rare-earth export restrictions and increased U.S. agricultural purchases by China have eased trade tensions ahead of the high-level summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.

Kendrick notes that this shift in geopolitics has helped restore confidence in risk assets, including Bitcoin, and may be influencing the recent uptick in the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio, a key sentiment indicator for crypto markets.

In parallel, expectations of a potential interest-rate cut by the Fed and the possibility of the bank pausing its quantitative-tightening programme have also lifted hopes of increased liquidity, further favouring risk-on trades. Analysts suggest that if the Fed pivots, it could serve as a boost for Bitcoin’s structural up-trend.

Spot Bitcoin ETF Flows Could Cement the New Floor

Beyond macro trends, Standard Chartered emphasises the growing role of institutional flows into spot Bitcoin ETFs. The believe that over $2 billion recently exited gold-backed ETFs, and argues that even half of those funds shifting into BTC products would represent a major structural change in capital allocation.

This matters because it signals a shift away from the traditional narrative that Bitcoin’s price moves are primarily driven by its miner-reward “halving” events.

Instead, large-scale adoption and institutional investment now appear to be the dominant drivers of the market. If this momentum persists, Kendrick asserts that Bitcoin may be entering a new phase where dropping below $100,000 becomes unlikely.

Bottom Line

At present, Bitcoin remains within a consolidation range near $112,000–114,000, with technicals pointing to a tightening in volatility and potential for a breakout once macro catalysts settle.

Related Reading: Citigroup Teams Up With Coinbase To Develop New Stablecoin Solutions

If Bitcoin can hold above this cluster and institutional flows continue unabated, the $100,000 level may no longer be just a psychological barrier, it could become the de facto floor. Traders and investors will be watching closely in the days ahead for confirmation of these trends.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

IBM has introduced a platform called IBM Digital Asset Haven aimed at giving banks, governments and other regulated organizations tools to hold, move and manage tokenized assets.

According to IBM’s newsroom, the product will be available as a SaaS or hybrid SaaS offering in Q4 2025, with an on-premises option planned for Q2 2026.

The company says the system ties custody to transaction lifecycle controls and governance features meant for large institutions.

What The Platform Offers

Reports have disclosed that IBM built the service with Dfns, a digital-wallet infrastructure provider that claims to have created about 15 million wallets for more than 250 clients.

The platform is said to work across 40+ public and private blockchains, and to include APIs and SDKs for integration with existing systems.

According to descriptions from IBM, the stack covers custody, governance and entitlement management, transaction orchestration and identity/AML integrations.

Security And Custody Tools

Security is a major part of the pitch. IBM points to hardware security modules such as Crypto Express 8S on IBM Z and LinuxONE, and to support for multi-party computation (MPC) and cold-storage signing orchestrators.

Multi-party authorization workflows are included, designed to require several approvals before sensitive moves occur.

Those capabilities are being positioned as a way for regulated institutions to keep control over where keys and data are stored, and how approvals are logged.

Who Might Use It And Why It Matters

Banks and sovereign entities that are weighing token issuance, stablecoin custody or cross-chain settlement could find the platform useful.

Based on reports, IBM is targeting organizations that need residency controls and policy-driven access to assets.

For many such firms, the real hurdle has not been the tokens themselves but fitting new rails into old core systems while meeting compliance checks.

IBM’s offering tries to bridge that gap by packaging infrastructure, governance and some pre-integrated compliance services.

Crypto Activity On The Rise

The news comes as crypto activity among institutions has been climbing again, with more banks and governments exploring tokenized payments, stablecoins, and digital bonds.

IBM’s launch signals that traditional tech giants are moving to meet that demand by giving regulated players a safer way to handle crypto operations.

As trading volumes rise and tokenization gains traction, platforms like Digital Asset Haven could become the bridge connecting conventional finance to the growing crypto economy.

Featured image from Picture Alliance/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Institutional investors are brimming with excitement as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to Solana (SOL), Litecoin (LTC), and Hedera (HBAR) prepare to debut on U.S. exchanges this week, even as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains partially shut down.

Industry insiders confirm that fund issuers have filed the requisite documents and received listing notices, paving the way for a landmark expansion of crypto products into the traditional finance sphere.

Altcoin ETF wave surges ahead

The stalwart asset managers behind this push, Bitwise Asset Management, Canary Capital, and Grayscale Investments, have signalled that their funds will launch this week.

According to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, exchange listing notices have been posted for Bitwise’s Solana ETF and Canary’s Litecoin and Hedera ETFs, with launches slated for Tuesday. Grayscale’s Solana fund conversion is expected on Wednesday.

What’s key is how this is happening despite the U.S. government shutdown. Issuers are relying on regulatory mechanisms, notably Form 8-A filings and amended S-1 registration statements allowing automatic effectiveness after 20 days, to go live without requiring the SEC’s manual sign-off.

This regulatory workaround, combined with the generic listing standards approved in September, has created a rare window for altcoin ETFs to break into the market.

What the new ETFs mean for crypto markets

For Solana, this ETF launch could prove transformative. As the sixth-largest blockchain by market cap, Solana already draws institutional interest for its high-speed ecosystem.

The proposed product from Bitwise (ticker: BSOL) reportedly includes staking features, offering long-term holders a compelling “own crypto via a regulated fund” route.

Meanwhile, Litecoin and Hedera, though smaller in market cap, gain legitimacy through this ETF channel. Canary Capital’s CEO confirmed the spot LTC and HBAR funds will trade on the Nasdaq starting Tuesday under the tickers “LTCC” and “HBR”.

Institutional access is widening. Investors who previously needed to hold crypto wallets and navigate exchange custody can now access regulated funds via brokerage accounts. The market views this as a major step in bridging DeFi/crypto assets with mainstream finance.

Bottom Line

That said, timing matters. The surrounding conditions, regulatory innovation, shutdown-driven inertia at the SEC, and investor appetite for fresh crypto exposure, have aligned uniquely.

Market watchers caution that while the launches are historic, they are not without risk, token prices, liquidity flows, and investor behaviour around product debut remain uncertain.

In sum, the crypto industry stands at a tipping point. With Solana, Litecoin, and Hedera gaining regulated ETF wrappers, the era of altcoin funds may be officially underway, despite Washington being partially shut down. The countdown is on.

Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview

An exchange on X between Polygon’s CTO Mudit Gupta and Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox reignited a long-simmering debate over whether privacy-preserving shielded pools can be perfectly audited — and, by extension, whether ZEC’s 21 million cap can be trusted under all conceivable failure modes. The dispute hinged on a familiar fault line in privacy-coin design: zero-knowledge protocols can obfuscate individual balances and flows, but they still must preserve a hard monetary base.

Polygon CTO Attacks Zcash

Gupta opened with a stark framing: “Nobody knows how many Zcash tokens actually exist. Shielded assets like Zcash are hard to audit. In March 2019, an infinite mint bug was detected in Zcash shielded assets. It was fixed in October 2019 but there is no guaranteed way to tell if the bug was ever exploited.”

Nobody knows how many zcash tokens actually exist.

Shielded assets like zcash are hard to audit.

In March 2019, an infinite mint bug was detected in zcash shielded assets. It was fixed in October 2019 but there is no guaranteed way to tell if the bug was ever exploited.

— Mudit Gupta (@Mudit__Gupta) October 26, 2025

He later softened the immediate risk assessment — “Based on heuristic, it’s unlikely the bug was exploited so no reason to panic” — while stressing what he called an enduring category risk: “I’m just highlighting an attack vector with Zcash and similar privacy pools… I’m not claiming any bug was exploited, just mentioning the possibility and risk.”

Wilcox pushed back, calling the initial post “not accurate,” and pointed Gupta to “publicly-verifiable on-chain audits” that track the monetary base. “They show the integrity of the Zcash monetary base. A straightforward game-theoretic analysis further shows zero counterfeiting,” he wrote, linking to community dashboards and documentation.

In a follow-on, Wilcox encapsulated the ZEC position with a thought experiment about the legacy Sprout pool: “Suppose someone counterfeited ZEC in the Sprout pool before October 28, 2018. Then there is a ‘race to the exits’ between the counterfeiter and his victims. Whoever moves their ZEC out of the Sprout pool first gets to keep all the money. Conclusion: there was no counterfeiting.” He added that “even if there was counterfeiting… there would still be only 16,355,911 ZEC in existence, and still only 21 M ever. Thanks, turnstiles!”

Stripped to its essentials, the technical disagreement is less about Zcash’s intended monetary policy and more about the edge-case guarantees when privacy meets auditability. Zcash’s published economics mirror Bitcoin’s: a fixed 21 million upper bound and a halving-style issuance schedule. That cap is unambiguous in official materials.

The Backstory

The controversy traces back to the counterfeiting vulnerability affecting ZEC’s earliest shielded pool, Sprout. According to the Electric Coin Company (ECC) and the Zcash Foundation, the flaw was discovered privately in 2018 and publicly disclosed on February 5, 2019; critically, the Sapling upgrade that activated on October 28, 2018 removed the vulnerable construction, and Zcash introduced “turnstile” accounting to constrain exits from shielded pools to, at most, the amount verifiably entered.

ECC reported at disclosure that it had seen “no evidence that counterfeiting has occurred,” a stance it has reiterated, and it described turnstile enforcement as a defense to preserve the monetary base even under hypothetical counterfeiting.

This is the heart of Wilcox’s argument. Because ZEC can only enter or leave a shielded pool via transfers that reveal values at the boundary, the chain can compute an expected pool balance. If more value tries to exit than has ever entered, the discrepancy becomes observable at the turnstile.

The “race to the exits” intuition — while informal — captures the idea that any attacker who minted bogus ZEC inside Sprout would be competing against legitimate holders to withdraw before the turnstile constraint bites; absent an unexplained drain to zero or a negative reconciliation, long-lived counterfeiting is inconsistent with observed pool totals. Zcash’s documentation describes these value-pool turnstiles and their role in monitoring pool integrity, and community discussions dating back years have treated them as the canonical mitigation.

Gupta’s rejoinder is about epistemic certainty, not policy intent. “Perhaps I should have been clearer,” he wrote. “Due to [the] possibility of bugs, there’s no guarantee that the shielded pools have the same amount of Zcash circulating inside them as transparent Zcash that went in. Therefore, you can’t be 100% sure of the actual total supply… [though] the likelihood of a bug like this being exploited is essentially 0.”

At press time, ZEC traded at $325.

Bitcoin is attempting to push higher after weeks of consolidation and sustained selling pressure that followed the sharp October 10 crash. The market remains in a delicate recovery phase, with volatility compressing as traders await the next major catalyst. This week could prove decisive, as all eyes turn to Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting, where policymakers are expected to announce their next move on interest rates — a decision that could shape global risk sentiment for the remainder of the year.

On-chain data adds another layer of intrigue to the current setup. According to CryptoQuant, Bitcoin’s dormant supply is waking up, with long-inactive coins — held between three and five years — showing significant movement in recent blocks. Such activity often signals renewed engagement from long-term holders, sometimes preceding key market inflection points.

While the short-term outlook remains mixed, analysts note that the reactivation of old coins amid tightening macro conditions suggests growing investor anticipation. If the Fed signals a softer stance on monetary policy, Bitcoin could see renewed capital inflows. However, another hawkish surprise might extend the consolidation phase, keeping BTC locked below resistance until clearer macro conditions emerge.

Long-Term Holders Make A Move

Top analyst Maartunn shared data revealing that Bitcoin’s 3–5 year dormant supply has seen a sudden spike in activity, with 4,657.48 BTC spent in a single recent block. This metric tracks coins that have been untouched for several years — a cohort often associated with early bull-cycle investors or strategic long-term holders. When such coins move, it typically signals renewed activity from investors who have weathered multiple market phases.

In the historical context, similar awakenings in long-term supply have preceded major shifts in market structure. For instance, during past consolidation periods, old coins were reactivated as investors prepared for volatility — either to take profits near local highs or to reposition ahead of a trend reversal. The magnitude of this recent movement suggests that seasoned holders are once again reassessing their allocations amid tightening macro conditions and elevated expectations for the Federal Reserve’s rate decision this week.

What makes this particularly interesting is the contrast with current sentiment. Despite the spike in long-term holder activity, on-chain indicators such as the Bull-Bear Structure Index and Unified Sentiment Index remain in mildly bullish territory. This implies that while some early investors are realizing profits or reallocating, broader market conviction is improving — especially as Bitcoin holds above the $113,000–$114,000 range.

This movement shouldn’t be interpreted as panic selling but as healthy on-chain rotation. Long-term holders moving coins after years of dormancy often signal the beginning of liquidity redistributions that accompany the next phase of market growth. If Bitcoin maintains its current support levels and macro conditions remain stable, these shifts could fuel the liquidity needed for a new impulse phase toward higher prices.

BTC Bulls Regain Momentum

Bitcoin is showing renewed strength on the 3-day timeframe, currently trading near $114,485, as it attempts to recover from the sharp sell-off seen earlier in October. The chart shows BTC holding firmly above both the 50-day (blue) and 100-day (green) moving averages — a key structural signal suggesting that the medium-term trend remains intact despite recent volatility.

The next major resistance level sits at $117,500, a zone that has repeatedly capped Bitcoin’s advances over the past two months. A successful breakout and daily close above this level could open the door for a retest of $125,000, marking the potential start of a new bullish impulse. However, rejection here could signal another short-term consolidation, as traders take profits and reassess risk amid macroeconomic uncertainty.

On the downside, immediate support lies near $111,000–$112,000, while the 200-day moving average (red) around $96,000 continues to provide long-term structural backing.

Momentum indicators and on-chain data, including a rebound in sentiment and stable liquidity conditions, suggest that buying interest is gradually returning. If the broader market remains calm following the upcoming Federal Reserve rate decision, Bitcoin could confirm its recovery and aim higher toward the $120,000–$125,000 range.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Gold’s price climbed to new all-time highs in mid-October, breaking above $4,000/oz for the first time in history, before eventually reaching a peak of $4,342/oz. The yellow metal’s rally came at a time when BTC was enduring a flash crash that pulled its price down to $101,000 very briefly.

This contrast between gold’s strong rise and BTC’s pause has caught the attention of crypto commentator Sykodelic, who believes the pattern is about to flip. In his latest analysis, he suggests that gold may have already peaked while Bitcoin is preparing for its next major rally.

Gold’s Blow-Off Top And The Cycle Inversion

Sykodelic pointed to the nearly 18-month inverse correlation between gold and Bitcoin as the foundation of his argument. The analyst’s chart, which overlays both assets, shows a pattern of alternating expansions and corrections. Each time gold surged, BTC entered a cooling phase, and whenever gold stabilized or corrected, Bitcoin followed with a major upward leg. 

The most recent sequence places gold in what looks like a blow-off top structure. This blow-off top structure is a parabolic rally followed by exhaustion, confirmed by the precious metal’s current correction below its all-time high.

This phase has always correlated with the point of transfer between the two assets. During periods when retail enthusiasm peaked in gold, Bitcoin’s price quietly consolidated at support zones. This timing, according to Sykodelic, is “almost down to the day.”

The comparison chart below shows the synchronization. Gold’s breakout phases, shown in green channels, are followed by cooling phases highlighted in red, and Bitcoin’s chart below follows the same rhythm with a slight time delay. The structure implies that Bitcoin’s recent consolidation around the $110,000 to $115,000 range may be mirroring the early stages of gold’s last expansion phase in early September.

What Does This Mean For Bitcoin?

From a technical perspective, this setup means that Bitcoin is now entering the same pattern gold just completed, with momentum building at the lower boundary of its new green channel highlighted in the chart image above. This implies that a breakout could lift Bitcoin well above its current all-time high, setting up what is another crypto rally similar to gold’s move earlier this month. “It’s Bitcoin’s turn to pump very hard,” Sykodelic said.

The channel projection on his chart shows an advance that will see the BTC price breaking above $140,000 by the end of 2026 before the next capital rotation into gold. Of course, this all depends on how market news and events play out in favor of the crypto market.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $114,196, up by 6% in the past seven days. Gold, on the other hand, is trading at $3,930, down by 9.5% in the same timeframe. This divergence might be the first sign that the capital rotation is already underway.

Bitcoin is holding firm above the $113,000 level as bulls attempt to regain control, though market indecision continues to dominate price action. With the Federal Reserve set to announce its next interest rate decision on Wednesday, traders and investors are closely watching for signs of a potential rate cut — a move that could inject fresh optimism into risk assets, including crypto.

The broader market remains cautious yet hopeful. A dovish tone from the Fed could reinforce the narrative of easing financial conditions, potentially paving the way for a stronger Bitcoin rally in the coming weeks. On the other hand, a more neutral or hawkish stance might prolong current consolidation.

Adding to the growing optimism, top analyst Axel Adler highlighted a key market shift: the Bitcoin Bull-Bear Structure Index has moved above zero for the first time since October 12. This index, which measures the balance between bullish and bearish dynamics based on both price action and on-chain data, suggests that momentum may be starting to tilt in favor of buyers.

Market Sentiment Turns Positive as Bitcoin Faces a Pivotal Week

According to Axel Adler, the Bitcoin Unified Sentiment Index — a composite measure based on CoinGecko Up/Down votes and the Fear & Greed Index — has recently moved into positive territory, signaling a notable shift in investor psychology. This alignment between sentiment and on-chain dynamics often marks the beginning of renewed confidence across the market. When both behavioral and structural indicators converge, it typically reflects that investors are starting to position for potential upside after a phase of fear and uncertainty.

This development comes at a critical juncture. The upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision could significantly influence global liquidity conditions. A dovish move, such as maintaining rates or signaling cuts, would likely act as a tailwind for Bitcoin and risk assets, as lower yields generally drive capital toward alternative stores of value. Conversely, a more cautious stance could delay a breakout, keeping Bitcoin range-bound in the short term.

From a macro and technical perspective, Bitcoin’s consolidation around the $113K–$115K zone sets the stage for a decisive move. With sentiment improving, on-chain activity stabilizing, and stablecoin liquidity near cycle highs, conditions appear increasingly supportive for an impulsive leg upward — provided no negative macro surprises emerge.

As markets await the Fed’s tone and broader economic signals, this week could determine whether Bitcoin transitions from consolidation to renewed expansion — or remains trapped in indecision a little longer.

BTC Bulls Attempt to Maintain Momentum

Bitcoin is currently trading around $114,400, showing resilience after a week of consolidation. The chart highlights how BTC has managed to reclaim the 50-day moving average (green line) while finding consistent support near the 200-day moving average (red line) — a technical setup often associated with stabilization before a potential continuation move.

The $117,500 level (marked in yellow) remains the key resistance to watch. This zone has repeatedly acted as both support and resistance in recent months, and a decisive breakout above it could confirm bullish momentum toward the $120,000–$125,000 region. On the downside, short-term support lies near $111,000, where price has previously rebounded, with a deeper floor forming around $107,000.

Traders await the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later this week. A dovish policy tone could trigger renewed buying pressure, while a neutral or hawkish statement may cause another short-term pullback.

Bitcoin’s structure remains constructive as long as it holds above the 200-day MA. Sustained strength above $115,000 could serve as confirmation of renewed bullish intent — signaling that accumulation phases might be giving way to the next upward impulse.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

• BlackRock-Chef Larry Fink sagt, Anleger kaufen Krypto und Gold aus Angst.
• Die US-Schulden steigen auf ein Rekordniveau, das sogar Europa alt aussehen lässt.
• Bitcoin wird zur neuen Absicherung – aber noch traut sich nicht jeder ran.

Finanzmärkte sind sensibel, und zurzeit riecht es dort nach Panik. Wenn der Chef des größten Vermögensverwalters der Welt plötzlich von „Angst-Assets“ spricht, sollte man hinhören. Larry Fink von BlackRock sieht in Bitcoin und Gold nicht nur Trends, sondern Zufluchtsorte für alle, die der Wirtschaft nicht mehr trauen.

Wenn Angst zu Gold wird

Larry Fink, der Chef von BlackRock, hat auf einer Finanzkonferenz in Riad klipp und klar gesagt, was viele nur denken: Menschen kaufen Krypto und Gold, weil sie Angst haben. Angst davor, dass Geld seinen Wert verliert. Angst, dass ihr Erspartes nichts mehr wert ist. Und ein bisschen auch Angst davor, dass die Welt aus den Fugen gerät.

Er nennt sie „Assets of Fear“ – also Vermögenswerte der Angst. Gold glänzt wieder, BTC steigt, und wer es sich leisten kann, stapelt lieber Barren als Aktien. Fink sagt: „Man besitzt diese Dinge, weil man sich fürchtet.“ Das mag ehrlich klingen, aber es zeigt auch, wie tief das Vertrauen in das klassische Finanzsystem gesunken ist.

Die Schuldenuhr tickt lauter

Die USA haben sich verschuldet wie nie zuvor. Der Internationale Währungsfonds rechnet damit, dass die Staatsverschuldung bis 2030 auf 143 Prozent des Bruttoinlandsprodukts steigt. Damit überholen die Vereinigten Staaten sogar Schuldenkönige wie Italien und Griechenland.

Auch das jährliche Haushaltsloch bleibt riesig – über sieben Prozent Defizit jedes Jahr. Für eine Supermacht ist das kein gutes Zeichen. Und wenn die Schulden steigen, sinkt das Vertrauen in die Währung. Genau das treibt Anleger in Sachwerte: lieber ein BTC auf der Festplatte als ein schwankender Dollar auf dem Konto.

BTC – die neue Versicherung

Fabian Dori von der Sygnum Bank sagt, viele Investoren wechseln gerade von Papiergeld zu sogenannten „harten Assets“. Das bedeutet: weg vom Drucken, hin zu Dingen, die nicht beliebig vermehrt werden können – also Gold oder BTC.

Hier kommst du zu unserer detaillierten Prognose für Bitcoin.  

Aber er warnt: Krypto schläft nie. „Der Markt läuft rund um die Uhr“, sagt Dori. „Das ist nichts für schwache Nerven.“ Banken und Fonds müssen sich erst an diese 24/7-Welt gewöhnen. Noch fehlen die passenden Systeme, um die Risiken ständig im Blick zu behalten. Deshalb dauert es, bis traditionelle Finanzriesen wirklich groß einsteigen.

Vom Krypto-Muffel zum Fanboy

Larry Fink war früher kein Freund von Bitcoin – ganz im Gegenteil. 2017 nannte er die Kryptowährung noch ein „Werkzeug für Geldwäscher und Kriminelle“. Heute klingt das ganz anders. Jetzt bezeichnet er sich als „gläubigen Investor“. Er sagt: „Krypto hat seinen Platz – genau wie Gold. Es ist eine Alternative.“

Und wenn einer wie Fink seine Meinung ändert, horchen Märkte auf. Immerhin verwaltet BlackRock über 12,5 Billionen US-Dollar. Der firmeneigene BTC-ETF, der iShares Bitcoin Trust, ist mit rund 93,9 Milliarden Dollar der größte seiner Art. Wenn BlackRock sich bewegt, bewegt sich der Markt gleich mit.

Les hier, wieso einige Experten bei BTC noch dieses Jahr eine Rally bis 250k sehen.

Zwischen Hype, Hoffnung und Herzrasen

Kryptoexperte Nic Puckrin erinnert daran, dass BTC aus einer Krise geboren wurde – der Finanzkrise 2008. Damals suchten Menschen Alternativen zu Banken. Heute ist die Situation ähnlich: Schulden, Inflation, Unsicherheit. Nur diesmal geht es um die ganze Welt.

Viele sehen Bitcoin längst nicht mehr nur als „Angst-Asset“, sondern als Wette auf die Zukunft. Ein offenes, grenzenloses Finanzsystem, das keiner Regierung gehört. Trotzdem bleibt Skepsis: Auf der Vorhersageplattform Myriad glauben viele Nutzer, dass Gold 2025 stärker abschneiden wird als BTC. Und doch bewegt sich etwas – Behörden prüfen Krypto-Reserven, Fonds nutzen Bitcoin als Sicherheit, und selbst die Börsen rüsten für den 24-Stunden-Handel. Die Finanzwelt dreht sich weiter – aber sie schläft nicht mehr.

Bitcoin Hyper: Die nächste Stufe für Bitcoin als Schutz vor Inflation

Bitcoin gilt für viele als das beste Mittel gegen Inflation. Wenn Regierungen mehr Geld drucken und Preise steigen, bleibt Bitcoin unabhängig und begrenzt – das macht ihn zu einem sicheren Hafen für Anleger. Immer mehr Menschen und Institutionen setzen deshalb auf Bitcoin, um ihr Vermögen zu schützen. Doch bisher wird BTC vor allem gehalten, kaum genutzt. Genau das ändert BTC Hyper: Es verbindet die Sicherheit von Bitcoin mit der Schnelligkeit und Effizienz von Solana und macht so Zahlungen und Anwendungen mit Bitcoin endlich praktisch nutzbar.

Lies hier eine langfristige Prognose für Bitcoin Hyper!

$HYPER: Der Antrieb für nutzbaren Bitcoin

$HYPER ist der Token, der Bitcoin Hyper antreibt. Er sorgt dafür, dass Transaktionen schnell und günstig ablaufen und neue Anwendungen entstehen können. Wenn BTC als Schutz vor Inflation weiter an Bedeutung gewinnt, wächst auch das Interesse, ihn wirklich zu verwenden – nicht nur zu speichern. Bitcoin Hyper bietet dafür die Lösung, und $HYPER steht im Zentrum: sicher wie Bitcoin, schnell wie Solana und bereit für die Zukunft.

Jetzt rechtzeitig einsteigen und $HYPER im Presale kaufen.

On-chain data shows the Bitcoin mining Difficulty is set to go through a sharp jump in the coming adjustment and reach a new all-time high (ATH).

Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Will Go Up Over 6% In The Next Adjustment

According to data from CoinWarz, Bitcoin mining Difficulty is heading toward a positive adjustment on Wednesday. The “Difficulty” here refers to a metric built into the BTC blockchain that controls how hard miners find it to mine blocks on the network.

The Difficulty is entirely controlled by the code Satoshi wrote in all those years ago, meaning that no third party has any say in how its value changes. The chain automatically adjusts the metric about every two weeks based on a simple rule that the pseudonymous Bitcoin creator established: block time must stay constant around 10 minutes per block.

Whenever miners mine blocks in an average time faster than this, the network responds with an increase in the Difficulty. The jump is always just enough to slow the miners back down to the standard rate. Similarly, the validators being slower than needed forces the chain to ease things up.

The next Difficulty adjustment is expected to occur on October 29th. Below are the details regarding this event.

As is visible, the average block time since the last Bitcoin Difficulty adjustment has stood at 9.42 minutes, which is 0.58 minutes faster than the standard time. To correct for this, the network will raise its Difficulty by more than 6% on Wednesday. This is quite a significant jump, one that will result in a new record for the indicator at around 155.8 trillion hashes. At present, the metric’s value is 146.7 trillion hashes.

Before the last adjustment, the Bitcoin mining Difficulty had been following a sustained uptrend, rising for seven consecutive adjustments in a row.

The reason behind the uptrend in the metric lay in the aggressive expansion that miners had been participating in. As the chart below shows, the Hashrate, an indicator tracking the total amount of computing power deployed by the chain validators, has shot up recently.

Around the beginning of October, the Bitcoin Hashrate saw a pullback, suggesting some miners disconnected from the network. This drop in computing power is why the validators couldn’t keep pace anymore, and the Difficulty broke its streak of upward adjustments.

As it has turned out, however, the slowdown in the Hashrate was only temporary, as miners have again been aggressive in their upgrades, forcing the network to take the Difficulty to yet another new ATH.

BTC Price

Bitcoin recovered above $116,000 on Monday, but the coin has since faced a retrace as it’s now back at $114,400.

A storm is brewing within the Bitcoin (BTC) developer community, threatening to fracture the ecosystem for the first time in nearly a decade. A technical dispute over the use of Bitcoin’s OP_RETURN function has escalated into a full blown ideological clash that could culminate in a Hard Fork. The conflict challenges the very foundation of BTC’s purpose, pitting those who want to preserve its identity as a pure monetary system against those who see it as a foundation for broader innovation.

The Bitcoin OP_RETURN Controversy

The latest controversy stems from a proposal to modify the OP_RETURN opcode, which allows data to be embedded in Bitcoin transactions. Bitcoin Core v30, a network software update released earlier this year, expanded the OP_RETURN limit from 80 bytes to 100,000 bytes. This change ignited backlash among developers and community members concerned that it could turn the network into a storage layer for arbitrary data, including illegal or harmful content such as Child Sexually Abusive Material (CSAM).

In response, Bitcoin developer Dathon Ohm introduced BIP-444, a hard fork proposal that seeks to temporarily restrict the addition of arbitrary data to the blockchain at the consensus level. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of embedding illicit material while simplifying the code base and preserving its function as a monetary network. 

Ohm emphasized on GitHub that Bitcoin’s growing popularity and the widespread adoption of Bitcoin Core v30 made it necessary to advance the proposal originally discussed by veteran developer Luke Dashjr. He explained that both proactive and reactive deployment models are under development, with testing still underway. 

The fork proposal has created tension within the community. Supporters argue that limiting OP_RETURN is essential to protect node operators from potential legal exposure, noting that some jurisdictions impose severe penalties for hosting illegal content. Critics, however, contend that such restrictions contradict Bitcoin’s ethos of censorship resistance and neutrality. 

A member within the GitHub group insists that Bitcoin should not be a content moderation system and that constraining arbitrary data storage preserves its role as decentralized money. Others warn that focusing on legality could let the government influence it and weaken its core principles. Ohm countered that while the network itself remains permissionless, individuals must still consider the real-world consequences of running nodes that might store prohibited data. 

The Looming Threat Of A Hard Fork

As controversy and internal conflicts surrounding the OP_RETURN intensifies, developers have begun to openly speculate that the BIP-444 proposal could ultimately lead to a hard fork if consensus cannot be reached. 

Prominent Bitcoin developers warn that the stakes are significantly high. Dashjr has called the current OP_RETURN expansion “utter insanity,” warning that it could transform the network into a data dump rather than a financial protocol. Another developer, Jason Hughes, the Vice President of Development and Engineering at Ocean Mining, accused maintainers of pushing Bitcoin toward becoming a “worthless altcoin” and stated that a hard fork change undermines its neutrality and could mark the death of the pioneer cryptocurrency. 

Others like Bitcoin engineer Peter Todd noted earlier this year that if developers want to really curb on-chain spam and preserve efficiency, they could implement a soft fork, requiring every byte string in a transaction to represent a valid hash or public key. Such an approach would make arbitrary data publication costly but maintain backward compatibility. 

The world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, has sparked significant excitement in the crypto space and the XRP community with news that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse will speak at the upcoming Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai. The announcement immediately caught the attention of members of the XRP community, with many excited about Garlinghouse’s participation and potential remarks during the event. 

XRP Community Hyped As Ripple CEO To Speak At Binance Blockchain Week

The upcoming Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, taking place on December 3-4, is already one of the most anticipated DeFi events of the year. According to reports, the blockchain conference will be hosted at the Coca-Cola Arena and feature top industry leaders, including Garlinghouse, MicroStrategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, Real Vision Co-Founder Raoul Pal, and Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao. 

Binance announced the speaker roster in an X post with the caption “One Stage!” immediately sparking excitement across the crypto space, especially within the XRP community. Garlinghouse’s inclusion on the main stage of the Binance Blockchain Week is viewed as a symbolic and strategic milestone for Ripple. 

Over the past few years, Ripple has been intensifying its presence in the Middle East, aligning with the region’s growing interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency for trade and financial infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been particularly proactive in integrating blockchain into remittances and cross-border payment systems—areas where the XRP Ledger (XRPL) thrives and has demonstrated real-world utility. 

XRP community members anticipate that Garlinghouse’s participation in the upcoming conference will highlight Ripple’s growing role in advancing blockchain adoption beyond speculative markets, with XRP playing a key part. His presence alongside Saylor, a staunch BTC advocate, suggests that the discussion may touch on the contrasting philosophies and insights driving different crypto ecosystems. 

The Binance Blockchain Week is expected to focus on global adoption, digital assets, the future of finance, and related topics. This year’s edition provides an ideal platform for Ripple to showcase its progress and ambitions in bridging traditional finance with DeFi solutions. 

CZ Extends Bold Invitation To Bitcoin Critic Peter Schiff

In a surprising twist, Zhao extended a public invitation to renowned Bitcoin critic and Chief Economist Peter Schiff to attend the Binance Blockchain Week. The invitation came as a surprise to the broader crypto community, particularly since it was issued in response to Schiff’s challenge to Zhao for a debate comparing Bitcoin and tokenized gold as a superior form of money. 

Schiff’s X post questioned which assets better fulfill the traditional roles of money, as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. Zhao responded by offering to debate the topic live at the upcoming Binance Blockchain Week. 

The proposed discussion is capturing major interest due to the stark contrast between the two figures. While Zhao has been one of the most influential proponents of crypto adoption, Schiff remains one of the most persistent critics of the industry, often predicting BTC’s downfall, dismissing it as a speculative bubble, and arguing its digital gold status.