<h2>Adoption Metrics, Governance Models, and Decentralization Push Put OG Projects in the Spotlight</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> is weighing the introduction of a <a href="https://beta.coin360.com/news/coinbase-base-native-token-plans-2025">native token</a> for its Base&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/layer-2">Layer 2</a> network in 2025, with early discussions gaining traction after the chain surpassed major adoption milestones. Daily transactions on Base have consistently topped 2 million, while total value locked has climbed past $2 billion, highlighting its rapid growth against rival scaling solutions. Developers close to the matter have suggested a governance token model mirroring those used by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/optimism-op">Optimism</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a>, with distribution possibilities extending to early adopters, developers, and ecosystem contributors.&nbsp;Any rollout remains contingent on compliance and regulatory structuring acceptable under U.S. securities laws, but internal discussions have pointed to 2025 as the target year. The success of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> and social applications on Base, including&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/friend-tech-friend">Friend.tech</a>, has become a focal point for speculation that early users may be rewarded should a token be issued, reinforcing Coinbase’s ambition to cement Base’s position in the Layer 2 race.Confirmation of a token tied to one of the industry’s most widely used wallets added further momentum to the week. On September 19, 2025, Consensys CEO and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> co-founder Joseph Lubin confirmed that&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/metamask">MetaMask</a>’s&nbsp;<a href="https://beta.coin360.com/news/metamask-mask-token-launch">MASK token</a> is imminent, calling it the clearest signal yet that the long-anticipated project will finally materialize. Lubin framed MASK as part of Consensys’ wider decentralization mission, connecting it to governance and user ownership not only of MetaMask, but also Infura and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/linea-linea/markets">Linea</a>.&nbsp;The idea of a MetaMask token first emerged in 2021, when community ownership through tokenization was initially floated. MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay, who previously described the project as “uncertain,” shifted tone alongside Lubin’s remarks, stressing that any distribution would be promoted directly inside the MetaMask&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> to ensure users discover it organically rather than through external campaigns.The MASK plan also ties into a broader wave of token activity at Consensys. Earlier in September, Linea distributed 9.36 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/linea-linea/markets">LINEA</a> tokens, with Consensys retaining only 15 percent, a move interpreted as a signal of the company’s commitment to broad ecosystem participation. Together, the confirmation that MASK is on the way and speculation around Base’s potential governance token have positioned two OG crypto projects at the center of the week’s most closely watched announcements, setting the stage for 2025 to test how decentralization, governance, and regulatory compliance will converge across the sector.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot crouches with pastel sphere, governance horizon shaping Base

Coinbase Base and MetaMask Announcements Rank Among Week’s Most Anticipated Token Plans

<h2>Joseph Lubin Signals Token Rollout and Addresses SharpLink’s Market Pressures</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/review/metamask">MetaMask</a>’s long-anticipated native cryptocurrency is closer to reality after Consensys CEO and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> co-founder Joseph Lubin confirmed that the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/mask-network-mask">MASK</a> token is on its way, suggesting the launch may arrive sooner than expected. Speaking on The Block’s&nbsp;The Crypto Beat&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1BRJjgOPzzNxw">podcast</a>, Lubin emphasized that the token is directly tied to efforts to decentralize critical elements of the MetaMask platform. He framed the move as part of Consensys’ broader mission to support Ethereum’s progressive decentralization through its suite of products, including MetaMask, Infura, and Linea.The possibility of a MetaMask token has hovered over the crypto community since at least 2021, when an engineer first floated the idea of community ownership via tokenization. While MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay described the project earlier this year as still uncertain, Lubin’s latest comments shift sentiment toward a definitive launch. Finlay previously said that any token release would be promoted directly within the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a>, ensuring users would discover details without external campaigns. Lubin’s statement on Thursday marked the clearest signal yet that the MASK token launch is not just speculative but imminent.The timing aligns with Consensys’ growing activity in token issuance. Earlier this month, its Ethereum&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/layer-2">Layer 2</a> network, Linea, introduced the LINEA token through a distribution of more than 9.36 billion tokens to eligible addresses. Consensys retained a 15% allocation, while the majority was directed toward builders, liquidity provision, and incentives for projects across Linea and Ethereum. Lubin noted that the company’s modest stake underscored its priority of community growth and ecosystem expansion rather than concentrated control.Alongside token plans, Lubin addressed his role as Chairman of SharpLink Gaming, a publicly traded company holding a significant Ethereum treasury. SharpLink’s market net asset value (mNAV) ratio recently dropped to 0.80x, signaling that the market now values its stock at a discount compared to the Ethereum it holds. Comparable declines have been recorded at other crypto treasury companies, raising concerns about investor confidence and the risk of a “death spiral” scenario if valuations continue to fall. Lubin argued that cyclical trends influence this pressure, noting that renewed strength in the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and a rebound in Ethereum’s crypto price would bring market optimism back, as reflected in SharpLink’s equity.SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom called the sub-1 mNAV a “temporary dislocation” and highlighted the underlying yield from staking Ethereum as a factor that could enhance long-term value. He stressed that staking rewards, yielding over 3%, represent recurring revenue for shareholders in a public company context, suggesting that investors should view SharpLink through a lens beyond short-term mNAV. Should the discount persist, Chalom said the company could turn to buybacks or alternative financing methods such as equity-linked or convertible offerings, aiming to raise capital without shareholder dilution.Both Lubin and Chalom urged investors to consider SharpLink’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a> per share metric instead of focusing solely on mNAV. The company’s ETH per share ratio has risen from 2.0 in early June to 3.95, reflecting steady accumulation of Ethereum reserves. According to the latest figures, SharpLink holds approximately 836,710 ETH, ranking it as the second-largest corporate Ethereum holder. Lubin explained that the firm intends to eventually transition from accumulation to active deployment of its holdings, whether through borrowing, staking in strategic protocols, or providing liquidity to new projects. The approach underscores how corporate treasuries are adapting their strategies as crypto markets evolve, where coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> dynamics, crypto price indices, and the growing utility of Ethereum play a critical role in shaping long-term strategies.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot launches toward MASK orb, fox head, Ethereum treasury shift

Robot launches toward MASK orb, fox head, Ethereum treasury shift.webp

MetaMask’s MASK Token Nears Launch Amid Consensys Push for Decentralization

<h2>Decision Cuts Approval Timelines and Expands Pathways for Digital Asset Funds</h2>U.S. regulators have set the stage for a fundamental shift in how cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds come to market. On September 17–18, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/sro/nasdaq/2025/34-103995.pdf">signed off</a> on new generic listing standards that allow exchanges such as Nasdaq, NYSE Arca, and Cboe BZX to adopt a streamlined process for listing spot crypto ETFs and other commodity-based products. The decision trims a process that once stretched to 240 days down to as few as 75 days and clears a regulatory bottleneck that had defined the ETF landscape since the first bitcoin filing was introduced more than a decade ago.The updated standards remove the need for exchanges to submit individual Rule 19b-4 filings for every new product, provided the funds meet specific criteria. Qualifying products must show that their underlying asset trades on a market with Intermarket Surveillance Group agreements, or that the asset has a regulated futures contract trading for at least six months, or that the asset is included in an existing ETF already listed on a national exchange with at least 40 percent exposure.&nbsp;This framework is expected to usher in a rapid expansion of new offerings, with Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin widely seen as likely early candidates. The SEC’s approval of the Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund under these new standards—currently weighted roughly 80 percent toward bitcoin, 11 percent toward ether, and smaller positions in Solana, Cardano, and XRP—illustrates how quickly products can now move forward.The move marks a break from years of case-by-case evaluations that often dragged on for months and left more than 90 crypto ETF applications in limbo earlier this year. Exchanges first submitted proposals for the generic standards at the end of July, prompting the SEC to find “good cause” to accelerate approval rather than waiting for the usual Federal Register timeline to run its course. Chairman Paul Atkins described the policy change as an effort to “maximize investor choice and foster innovation by streamlining the listing process and reducing barriers to access digital asset products within America’s trusted capital markets.” He added that U.S. exchanges must remain “the best place in the world to engage in the cutting-edge innovation of digital assets.”Industry figures quickly underscored the significance. Bitwise President Teddy Fusaro called the change “a watershed moment in America’s regulatory approach to digital assets, overturning more than a decade of precedent since the first bitcoin ETF filing in 2013.” His colleague Matt Hougan, the firm’s chief investment officer, suggested the new standards could “blow the market wide open.” Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart echoed the sentiment, calling the rules “the crypto ETP framework we’ve been waiting for.”&nbsp;Still, not all voices were celebratory. Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw issued a warning that the fast-tracked regime may allow products to launch without adequate investor protections in place, highlighting the trade-offs regulators face between efficiency and caution.By clearing away the long-standing procedural hurdles, the SEC has effectively opened the floodgates for a new generation of digital asset ETFs, reshaping the speed and scope of access to the U.S. capital markets. Analysts expect a wave of filings and product launches in the months ahead, as asset managers seize on the newly standardized pathway to bring crypto funds to mainstream investors.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot balancing ETFs [shift] against fading rules on glass beams

Robot balancing ETFs [shift] against fading rules on glass beams.webp

SEC’s Fast-Track Listing Standards Signal New Era for Crypto ETFs

<h2>Pollak Says Exploration Is Still Early as Base Surpasses Rivals</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a>’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> Layer-2 network Base is openly weighing the possibility of launching a native token after months of speculation, signaling a shift from earlier positions that dismissed the idea. On September 15, 2025, Jesse Pollak, the creator of Base,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/coinbase/status/1967602263297532141">confirmed</a> at the BaseCamp event that the network is “beginning to explore a network token,” but emphasized the move is still in its early stages. “I will be up front with y’all, it’s early,” he said, noting there are no details yet on timing, mechanics, governance, or distribution.&nbsp;The remarks highlight a stark departure from Coinbase management’s stance in 2023, when Brian Armstrong said there were no plans for a Base token. At the time, Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal suggested such a move “could be viable at some point in the future,” leaving the door open.Base currently processes transactions without needing its own token, relying on Ethereum’s security and using&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a> for fees. Pollak pointed out that Coinbase will work closely with regulators and legislators before moving forward, stressing, “As a U.S. company, we’re committed to working with regulators and legislators, and doing this right.” A post from Base’s official account reinforced the uncertainty, explaining, “We’re in the early phases of exploration, and don’t have any specifics to share around timing, design, or governance. We’re committed to bringing the community along with us, and building in the open.” Analysts suggest motivations for considering a token include fueling growth and potentially using incentives such as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/airdrop">airdrops</a> to deepen user engagement.The scale of Base’s growth provides strong context for why Coinbase may now be willing to entertain a native token. Since its launch in 2023, Base has built up roughly $5 billion in total value locked, with $1.7 billion added this year alone. That makes it the largest Ethereum Layer-2 network by capital locked, overtaking&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a>, which holds $3.45 billion. Transaction volumes underscore the gap: Base handled about 13 million transactions in a single day across 864,000 active addresses. Over a 30-day stretch, Base recorded 328 million transactions, far outpacing Arbitrum’s 77 million in the same period. Pollak noted that Base manages seven times the number of user operations per second compared with Arbitrum, illustrating how quickly activity has scaled.Comparisons with other networks highlight the economic potential of such a token.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/mantle-mnt">Mantle</a>, currently the most valuable Layer-2 token by coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>, sits at $5.3 billion despite only $219 million locked on its network. Tokens from&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/polygon-ecosystem-token-pol">Polygon</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/optimism-op">Optimism</a>, and Arbitrum carry valuations between $1.3 billion and $2.7 billion, with locked capital above Mantle’s. The gap between token values and usage metrics indicates Base could become one of the most significant launches yet if Coinbase proceeds. For market observers tracking the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index, the decision could shift sentiment across Ethereum Layer-2 tokens and expand how investors evaluate a network’s economic activity beyond&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-tvl-defi">TVL</a> and transaction counts.The discussion marks a notable evolution for Coinbase, from rejecting the idea of a Base token outright to exploring how it could accelerate the project’s mission. While no timeline has been committed, the combination of explosive growth in user activity, leading position in total value locked, and comparisons with rival L2 tokens has sparked renewed focus on whether Coinbase’s network will introduce its own asset. The outcome could redefine perceptions of Base not only as the largest Ethereum Layer-2 by TVL but also as a new heavyweight in the broader crypto price market.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot balances translucent Ethereum orb and new token crypto price

Coinbase’s Base Network Weighs Launch of Native Token Amid Surging Metrics

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is exploring a plan that could let foreign crypto exchanges serve U.S. traders under American oversight. Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham outlined the idea on September 8 in London, calling it a practical way to bring trading activity back to U.S. markets without waiting years for new laws.<h2>Using an Old Framework for a New Market</h2>The CFTC isn’t inventing something new from scratch. Since the 1990s, it has relied on the foreign board of trade (FBOT) framework to let overseas commodity exchanges provide access to U.S. customers if their home countries have strong and compatible regulations. Pham suggested applying this same model to crypto.If implemented, qualified foreign exchanges would be recognized under USA rules as long as their jurisdictions meet comparable standards. That would allow American traders to use platforms abroad without losing the protections of USA oversight. Pham argued this would help stop the steady flow of trading to offshore venues and keep more of the activity under the United States supervision.&nbsp;Similar thinking could also influence how regulators eventually approach areas like crypto gambling. In the U.S., only a handful of states regulate online casinos and even fewer address crypto casinos directly, which has led many players to seek out resources such as&nbsp;<a href="https://esportsinsider.com/crypto/aviator-casinos">Aviator betting strategies on Esports Insider</a>. Resources like these highlight Aviator crash-style games on credibly licensed offshore casino sites where a digital plane takes off and multipliers climb until it flies away, gaining popularity for its fast pace and simple gameplay. Offshore-regulated Aviator casinos often attract fans with perks like generous bonuses, quick payouts, flexible crypto payment options, and round-the-clock access. However, a U.S. framework modelled on proven foreign standards could bring that same appeal into domestic markets, making them more competitive and giving investors stronger reasons to keep their capital at home.Offshore regulations in the entertainment sector point to a bigger picture. By modelling foreign platforms that already meet strong regulatory standards, the U.S. can ease its own rules in a controlled way and make local markets more attractive. Extending that approach to crypto would give investors more confidence to put their money into regulated U.S. markets instead of moving it offshore.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Bringing Firms Back Onshore</h2>Over the last few years, a growing number of American crypto companies have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/consensus-magazine/2023/03/27/crypto-leaving-us">set up abroad because the U.S. has yet to settle on clear rules</a>. Regulators in Europe, Asia and the Middle East moved faster, and that gave businesses the certainty they needed to keep building.Pham said the U.S. has to move faster if it wants those firms to return. Her comments followed after a study was released by the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. She stated that the industry could only grow if Washington were to update their regulations. She further urged the banks for stronger oversight, as well as clearer trading rules and safety procedures to protect investors<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Recognizing European Standards</h2>In Europe, MiFID and MiCA are now the main benchmarks in this debate. MiFID and MiCA require exchanges to keep enough capital, protect customer funds, and manage risk, while also adding consumer safeguards. In the U.S., lawmakers are chasing the same goals&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/house-passes-crypto-bills-stablecoin-cbdc-regulation">with the GENIUS Act</a>, which sets rules for stablecoin reserves, licensing, and investor protection.Major players like Coinbase, Kraken, KuCoin, OKX, Crypto.com, and Gemini have already secured these approvals as they expand in Europe. If the CFTC treats those frameworks as equivalent, the same licenses could let these firms operate in the U.S.Pham said recognition of foreign standards would help keep markets steady and called on regulators to work together rather than act alone. She noted that other regions with strong rules could also qualify, building a more consistent global framework for crypto.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>SEC and CFTC Step Up Coordination</h2>The CFTC plan comes as it and the SEC move to bring more order to U.S. digital asset markets. Their joint Crypto Sprint aims to resolve questions on definitions, reporting, and capital rules. The&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/sec-liquid-staking-guidance-eth-etf-impact">SEC has launched Project Crypto</a>, while the CFTC has held consultations on trading standards. Earlier this month, they confirmed registered exchanges can list and trade certain spot assets, extending long-standing protections to them.A joint roundtable on September 29 will focus on how DeFi should be regulated. At the same time, Congress is revising the Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2025 to clarify agency roles and add new safeguards for DeFi and other blockchain sectors.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Rising Pressure on Offshore Exchanges</h2>Other regulators around the world are also tightening controls on platforms that operate without approval. In India,&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/bybit-registers-with-india-s-fiu-settles-for-monetary-fine">Bybit was fined a million dollars</a> for anti-money laundering violations before being allowed to restart its trading app. South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit is investigating exchanges such as KuCoin, BitMEX, CoinW, Bitunix and KCEX for targeting local users without authorization.Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission in 2023 required offshore exchanges to register locally, aiming for stronger disclosure, tighter listing rules, and better protection of customer funds. This approach mirrors the CFTC’s push to let foreign platforms with solid rules operate in the U.S., giving traders steadier access while restoring regulatory oversight of offshore activity.

Surreal image of a floating gavel with bitcoin coins and question marks bursting out in a cosmic background

CFTC Considers Extending U.S. Rules to Global Crypto Exchanges

<h2>New P2P System to Integrate Bitcoin, Ethereum, PYUSD, and Global Rollout</h2>PayPal&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2025-09-15-PayPal-Ushers-in-a-New-Era-of-Peer-to-Peer-Payments,-Reimagining-How-Money-Moves-to-Anyone,-Anywhere">unveiled</a> a major expansion of its peer-to-peer payments system on September 15, 2025, introducing direct cryptocurrency transfers and a new product called PayPal Links. The update allows users in the United States to send&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>, PayPal’s own&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/paypal-usd-pyusd">PYUSD</a> stablecoin, and other tokens directly between PayPal, Venmo, and external wallets that support crypto. The announcement marked what executives described as the company’s “next major step” after 25 years of reshaping digital payments, a move expected to influence both traditional finance and the broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>.The PayPal Links feature introduces personalized, one-time payment or request links that can be shared across email, text, and direct messaging apps. Each link is tied to a specific transaction, is private, and cannot be reused. Links that go unclaimed expire after ten days, while senders retain the ability to cancel or issue reminders. When a recipient accepts a link through the PayPal app, the funds appear instantly for those holding a PayPal Balance account. The company emphasized that these payments will not trigger 1099-K tax reporting for personal transfers such as gifts, reimbursements, or shared expenses, even when crypto is involved, aiming to preserve what it calls the principle that “personal payments stay personal.”Executives highlighted the strong growth behind the launch. Consumer P2P and other consumer total payment volume rose 10% year-over-year in the second quarter, with Venmo recording its highest total payment volume growth in three years. PayPal framed these figures as proof that peer-to-peer activity remains a cornerstone of its consumer strategy, helping drive engagement while onboarding new users into its ecosystem. The rollout begins immediately in the U.S., with plans to extend to the U.K., Italy, and other markets later in the month as part of what the company is calling its global “PayPal World” initiative, designed to connect leading digital wallets and payment systems to move money “as easily as sending a text.”PYUSD, PayPal’s dollar-backed stablecoin, will play a central role in the new system. Issued by Paxos Trust Company, a fully chartered limited-purpose trust firm, the token is backed by U.S. dollar deposits, Treasuries, and cash equivalents. Available through PayPal and Venmo at a fixed rate of $1.00 per PYUSD, the stablecoin’s coin market cap has reached nearly $1.3 billion. This expansion reinforces its positioning as a tool for fast, programmable payments within the PayPal network and beyond.Diego Scotti, PayPal’s General Manager of its Consumer Group, described the update as a continuation of the company’s mission to simplify money transfers globally. “For 25 years, PayPal has revolutionized how money moves between people. Now, we’re taking the next major step,” Scotti said, adding that whether users are texting, messaging, or emailing, their “money follows their conversations.” With the expansion, PayPal aims to make peer-to-peer crypto transfers a seamless part of everyday digital finance, setting new benchmarks for how&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index movements and digital currency adoption interact with mainstream platforms.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot connects PYUSD and ETH, bridging stablecoin and coin market cap

Robot connects PYUSD and ETH, bridging stablecoin and coin market cap.webp

PayPal Expands Peer-to-Peer Payments With Direct Crypto Transfers and One-Time Links

Ethereum’s Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) saw $787.6m of net outflows during a four-day period last week, including a $309.9m single-day outflow from Grayscale’s ETHE fund on September 5.Although it represents one of the most severe movements since the products were launched in July 2024, analysts are pointing to the move being a correction of position after massive inflows during August, as well as a repositioning out of Ether and into Bitcoin during uncertain times.<h2>Crypto Investment</h2>Bitcoin was developed as a means of value transfer between users – more akin to digital cash than stocks and shares. While it has become increasingly popular for remittances and borderless payments, cryptocurrency’s most common use is in investment. The evolution of the cryptocurrency market has not only seen more cryptocurrency trading pairs, but it has also seen more diverse investment opportunities.<a href="https://coinfutures.io/">Crypto leverage trading</a>, for example, enables investors to speculate with price predictions, effectively amplifying risk and reward, and it is available with some of the biggest and most popular cryptocurrencies.Another form of crypto investment, which has gained traction in the past couple of years, is that of the ETF. Bitcoin ETFs launched in January 2024, closely followed by Ether ETFs in July of the same year. The move came after the courts ruled against the SEC’s prevention of these products. And the market reacted very positively, buoyed by the likely injection of institutional cash.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>ETF Performance</h2>After early interest in ETFs, Ethereum products had seen a subdued first half of the year. They experienced some recovery in June, but July set records with a monthly intake of $5.4bn, and during July and August, Ethereum products saw net intake of $9.5bn, compared to Bitcoin products’ net intake of just $5.4bn.However, by the end of August, the positions started to flip. August 29 saw a net outflow of $164.6m, and this continued during the early days of September. On September 5, Grayscale’s ETHE shed $309.9m in a single day. The day before, Fidelity’s FETH saw $216.7m of exits. In total, on Thursday, September 4, there was a total outflow of $446.8m leaving Ether products.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Repositioning</h2>At the same time as Ethereum’s outflow, Bitcoin products saw net inflows with a combined $250m of inflow between September 2 and September 5. This suggests that a lot of the outflow from Ethereum was institutional repositioning – funds moving their money from Ethereum products to Bitcoin products, a move akin to a price correction on the open market.Ethereum hit its all-time high towards the end of August, surpassing its&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">previous best set in November 2021</a>, followed by some consolidation. This likely also led to institutions cashing in some of the considerable profits made over the previous months.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Reduction In Risk</h2>Analysts confirm that repositioning was likely the cause of much of Ethereum’s ETF outflow. They also point to the fact that this repositioning is likely a result of institutions looking for less risk amid periods of financial uncertainty.While Bitcoin is still highly volatile compared to other investments and fiat currencies, it is considered more of a safe haven than Ethereum. Therefore, investors, especially institutional investors, are more inclined to sink their dollars into BTC than ETH when the economic situation looks challenging.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Soft Labor Data</h2>At the beginning of September, the&nbsp;<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/business/live-news/us-jobs-report-august-2025">Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report</a> highlighting the state of the labor market under Donald Trump’s stewardship. The figures didn’t make for positive reading and, worse still, they underperformed expectations.In August, only 22,000 jobs were added, which was considerably lower than the 76,500 forecasted new jobs. Furthermore, June saw a decline in positions of 13,000 – the first fall in four years. Unemployment also rose to 4.3%, which is a record level since 2021.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Recession Fears</h2>Although fears have abated somewhat in the past couple of days, early September saw many economists highlighting&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dow-futures-rise-recession-fears-235208788.html">the likelihood of the country entering recession</a>.Recession fears were caused by the soft labor data and exacerbated by the ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve over the Fed’s seeming unwillingness to drop interest rates as quickly as Trump wants.Recession fears and poor labor data likely led to institutions pulling out of Ethereum ETFs. Some of that money may have exited the crypto industry altogether, but at least a decent portion of it seemingly went back into Bitcoin ETFs instead.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Ether Prices</h2>A year ago, Ethereum was trading at less than $1,800. It saw a sharp increase in November, immediately following Trump’s Presidential victory. However, alleged inactivity on the cryptocurrency regulation front saw ETH drop from $3,150 in the middle of December to a 12-month low of $1,100 in April. Since then, ETH has rebounded and posted a new all-time-high price of $4,950 on August 24. Prices are now ranging between $4,250 and $4,400.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>What Next For ETFs And Regulatory Changes?</h2>Since Trump’s inauguration and the replacement of crypto-sceptic SEC-chairman Gary Gensler, there has been a lot of attention paid to which cryptocurrencies are most likely to get the ETF nod next. Solana, which already enjoys&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/institutions-hold-1-77b-solana-staking-data">considerable institutional investment</a>, as well as Ripple, Dogecoin, and Cardano, are among the favourites, with dozens of filings for ETFs based on these currencies already filed, while there are some speculative investors who believe meme coins like TRUMP are also set to enter the fray.

Silver Ethereum coins stacked and scattered on a trading chart with glowing red and green candlestick patterns

U.S. Ethereum ETFs See $788M Withdrawn Over Four Days

A senior adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of preparing to use cryptocurrency markets to eliminate its massive $37.4 trillion national debt burden. Anton Kobyakov, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, outlined allegations that Washington intends to transfer government debt into digital assets before orchestrating a coordinated devaluation.The scale of such an operation would dwarf current cryptocurrency markets. USDT holds $162 billion in market cap while USDC maintains $64 billion, together accounting for roughly 90% of the $252 billion stablecoin ecosystem.&nbsp;These figures represent less than 0.7% of total US debt, highlighting the massive infrastructure requirements for any proposed debt transfer mechanism. Such large-scale operations would require advanced Bitcoin infrastructure, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://bitcoinhyper.com/">Bitcoin Hyper</a>, which provides the fast and low-cost transaction capabilities necessary for treasury-scale cryptocurrency operations while maintaining network security.<h2>Trump Administration Bitcoin Strategy</h2>Kobyakov claimed the US government plans to exploit stablecoins as a mechanism for debt restructuring, despite the current stablecoin market representing just $252 billion in total capitalization. The Russian official described this as a modern version of currency devaluations from the 1930s and 1970s, suggesting that America will solve its financial problems at a global expense by driving debt into the cryptocurrency cloud.The accusations coincide with concrete developments in US cryptocurrency policy under the Trump administration. The president previously suggested paying off national debt with Bitcoin during a Fox Business interview, despite Bitcoin's $1.2 trillion market cap falling far short of debt coverage requirements.Congressional momentum has built around the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve proposal through the bipartisan BITCOIN Act, which aims to acquire 1 million Bitcoin over five years. This represents approximately 5% of the total supply and would require sophisticated transaction infrastructure to execute at treasury scale.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Technical Implementation Challenges</h2>The mechanics of transferring sovereign debt into stablecoin-denominated obligations present unprecedented technical hurdles. Current stablecoin issuers like Tether and Circle operate under strict regulatory frameworks requiring full collateralization with US dollars and Treasury securities, while&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/wyoming-first-state-backed-stablecoin-frnt">government-backed stablecoin projects</a> explore alternative approaches to digital dollar infrastructure.Stablecoin market liquidity reached $1.39 trillion in H1 2025 settlement volumes, but primarily supports trading activities rather than long-term debt holding. Moving trillions in debt obligations would require massive infrastructure upgrades across multiple blockchain networks to handle the transaction volume and settlement requirements.Blockchain scalability remains a critical bottleneck. Ether has a processing capacity of about 15 transactions per second, compared to 7 transactions per second of Bitcoin. Debt tokenization Smart contracts would require the integration of detailed legal systems that regulate sovereign debt, such as payments of interest and creditor claims.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Current Market Realities</h2>US government Bitcoin holdings currently total $21 billion, representing just 0.06% of national debt obligations. Even the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve target would provide less than 0.2% debt coverage at current valuations around $113,000 per Bitcoin.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pgpf.org/article/what-are-interest-costs-on-the-national-debt/">Daily interest payments on the national debt</a> now exceed $1.5 billion, outpacing potential cryptocurrency appreciation rates.The Russian official provided no technical explanation for how debt transfer into stablecoins would enable subsequent devaluation, given that major stablecoins maintain algorithmic pegging mechanisms to underlying dollar reserves.&nbsp;Current frameworks require 100% reserve backing in cash and short-term Treasuries, potentially increasing Treasury demand rather than reducing government obligations. USDT alone holds over $100 billion in Treasury securities as collateral.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Geopolitical Crypto Developments</h2>Russia has simultaneously criticized US cryptocurrency policies while developing domestic digital asset infrastructure. Moscow launched the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elliptic.co/blog/the-rise-of-a7a5-the-ruble-stablecoin-now-transfers-1-billion-per-day">A7A5 ruble-backed stablecoin</a> for Tron blockchain integration and has utilized USDT for oil settlements with China and India despite imposing crypto payment restrictions in 2022.The Eastern Economic Forum serves as Russia's alternative to Western economic summits, providing context for Kobyakov's statements as both criticism of US policy and promotion of a multipolar financial architecture independent of dollar systems.Current US cryptocurrency policy evolution reflects growing institutional acceptance of digital assets as treasury instruments. Executive orders establishing Strategic Bitcoin Reserve frameworks complement congressional legislation requiring secure vault operations managed by the Treasury Department with a minimum 20-year holding period. These developments signal bipartisan support for integrating cryptocurrency into federal financial strategy.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Strategic Reserve Implementation Timeline</h2>The Trump administration's cryptocurrency initiatives continue expanding beyond Bitcoin reserves. The Strategic Digital Asset Stockpile manages government-owned crypto from forfeitures on a long-term basis, while companion legislation codifies governance and disclosure rules for federal cryptocurrency operations.Funding mechanisms proposed for Bitcoin acquisition include Federal Reserve remittances and gold certificate revaluations, designed to maintain budget neutrality while building strategic reserves. The acquisition timeline spans five years with quarterly purchases to minimize market disruption.&nbsp;Bitcoin currently trades at $113,237, meaning the proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve would require approximately $65 billion in total acquisition costs, with Treasury Department oversight ensuring secure custody protocols.

Bitcoin coin scene.webp

Putin Aide Accuses America of Crypto Plot to Cancel $37 Trillion Debt

While it is better known for its dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT, Tether also offers the XAUt coin, which is a gold-backed currency. Because its price is tied to the value of the gold spot price, XAUt has shown strong price increases in the past year, even outperforming BTC since the start of 2025.Its performance has seen Tether, whose CEO Paulo Ardoino is a vocal fan of gold, look to increase its investment in the gold industry, viewing mining, refining, and trading companies for investment.<h2>Tether Crypto Viability</h2>Tether is best known for its USDT coin, which is the largest dollar-backed stablecoin on the market. Because it is tied to the value of the dollar, Tether does not experience the same volatility as Bitcoin and other major cryptos. This has made it popular for remittances, salary payments, and ecommerce payments.It is also a popular currency at online casinos (source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coincasino.com/">https://www.coincasino.com/</a>). Players can deposit and withdraw without having to worry about slippage or dollar cost averaging. The casinos themselves enjoy lower overheads and quicker transactions, which, in turn, enable them to offer bigger jackpots and improved bonuses compared to traditional online casinos.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Stablecoin Adoption And Acceptance</h2>Tether is leading the charge to see stablecoins gain greater acceptance, and for governments and securities commissions to regulate such currencies. The US government has set out the basics of a regulatory framework for stablecoins, as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/house-passes-crypto-bills-stablecoin-cbdc-regulation">its GENIUS Act</a>.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>GENIUS Act Requirements</h2>The Act states that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/07/stablecoin-regulation-genius-act/">issuers must hold a 1:1 reserve</a> of the currency. In the case of Tether, this means that for every USDT issued, it would have to hold 1 dollar in cash, treasury bills, or other related currency products.Tether already meets this criterion. It also holds more than enough gold, which would likely be considered a low-risk investment worthy of backing the XAUt stablecoin. According to reports, Tether holds nearly $9bn in gold bullion, which is ten times greater than the $900m market cap of the coin itself.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>XAUt Stablecoin</h2>XAUt operates on multiple blockchains, including ERC-20 and TRC-20 networks. This means it is compatible with a wide range of wallets, making it easier for investors to hold the currency. However, the stablecoin is not currently available to purchase on major exchanges Binance or Coinbase. However, it can be purchased on Bybit and some other exchanges.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>A Gold Investment Alternative</h2><a href="https://www.royalmint.com/invest/discover/invest-in-gold/an-introduction-to-gold-investment/">Buying physical gold</a> can be difficult for smaller investors. There are charges for the acquisition and storage of bullion, and even gold coins have barriers to purchase. Delivery and vaulting charges mean that small physical investments are not viable. Digital gold services do enable buyers to purchase shares in gold bars, and there are various gold-backed and gold-tracked products available.Gold ETFs are funds that invest in gold and offer shares to investors. Some major investment companies do offer these products. Currencies like XAUt work in a similar manner, but with the benefits that other cryptocurrencies have to offer.Once you find an exchange or wallet that offers trading of the coins, transactions are completed quickly. Buyers are also afforded privacy and a degree of anonymity, and the currency is “stored” in digital wallets, making transactions simpler.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Tether’s Love Of Gold</h2>Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, is a known fan of gold as an investment. He has previously said that it offers a more secure investment than any national currency. He has also described it as being natural Bitcoin.Ardoino’s positive attitude towards gold is likely one of the driving forces behind his company’s hunt for more gold investment opportunities. However, it is also likely a business decision. Tether recently reported $4.9bn in profit for the second quarter of this year, driven at least partially by gold’s value.Two years ago, gold was priced at less than $2,000 per troy ounce. Today, it is valued at just shy of $3,600, representing an increase of around 80% during the period. Tether also likely holds a substantial amount of Bitcoin, which in the same two-year period has increased in value from $26,000 to its current value of $112,000.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Tether’s Global Acceptance</h2>In other Tether news, Kazakhstan has announced that it will now accept licence and supervision fees in Tether, marking a regional first. Kazakhstan is making considerable moves in the cryptocurrency market, launching the stablecoin pilot programme that also involves Bybit exchange.Bybit, one of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/bybit">the most widely recognized exchanges</a>, along with Binance, received full authorization to operate as a Digital Asset Trading Facility in the country in 2024. This enables the two to legitimately offer trading and custodial services in Kazakhstan, and it represents a significant move towards mainstream adoption.

Tether (USDT) coins, green LED lighting, inscriptions, and device placement

Tether (USDT) coins, green LED lighting, inscriptions, and device placement.webp

Tether Gold Reserves Near $9bn – Company Looks For More Investment Opportunities

<h2>How a Massive Breach Unfolded Across Crypto’s Software Backbone</h2>September 8, 2025, began with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/P3b7_/status/1965094840959410230">warning</a> from Ledger’s CTO Charles Guillemet, who took to X to alert developers and crypto users of what he described as a “large-scale supply chain attack in progress.” The breach stemmed from the compromise of the NPM account belonging to veteran developer Josh Junon, widely known by his handle “qix.” Packages under his control—responsible for more than a billion downloads—were republished with malicious code designed to hijack crypto&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> transactions.<figure class="image"><img alt="twittershots-P3b7_-1965094840959410230_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/twittershots_P3b7_1965094840959410230_11zon_67dab06cd5.jpg"></figure>The payload’s behavior was deceptively straightforward but highly dangerous: it scanned for wallet addresses inside&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a> transactions and swapped them with attacker-controlled addresses in real time. Ethereum functions such as&nbsp;approve,&nbsp;transfer, and&nbsp;transferFrom were targeted through hooks inserted into&nbsp;window.ethereum, funneling transactions toward a wallet identified as&nbsp;0xFc4a4858bafef54D1b1d7697bfb5c52F4c166976. Solana transactions, by contrast, were disrupted with invalid recipient strings beginning with “1911,” which forced transfers to fail outright. Beyond direct wallet manipulation, the code also intercepted&nbsp;fetch and&nbsp;XMLHttpRequest calls, combing through JSON data to find wallet substrings and replace them with one of 280 hardcoded variants designed to look authentic.The breach itself started with a phishing campaign. Attackers masqueraded as npm support staff and tricked Junon into providing his credentials, including two-factor authentication codes, through a cloned login page. Once inside, they swiftly republished compromised versions of widely used libraries such as chalk, debug, ansi-styles, and strip-ansi. These dependencies are central to much of modern JavaScript development, particularly in the web3 ecosystem where wallet interfaces and dApps rely heavily on them. The transitive nature of dependencies within the npm registry meant that a single compromised package cascaded into hundreds of downstream projects, exposing potentially billions of downloads across the software supply chain.Despite the scale, financial damage was remarkably limited. Security Alliance analysis&nbsp;<a href="https://www.securityalliance.org/news/2025-09-npm-supply-chain">showed</a> that only about $0.05 in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a> and roughly $20 worth of meme tokens made it to the attacker’s wallets. Researcher @4484 categorized the wallets associated with the incident on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arkham-arkm">Arkham</a> as part of an "NPM attack," which tracked $503.59 stolen in total. No meaningful Ethereum losses occurred. The discrepancy in totals reflects early tracking snapshots, but all assessments converged on the fact that damages were negligible. Ironically, the crude nature of the injected code helped contain the fallout: it broke continuous integration pipelines and caused transaction crashes, which drew immediate developer attention and limited the attack’s reach.<figure class="image"><img alt="download.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/download_bb56c95ce6.png"></figure>Developers and security leaders quickly cautioned users to halt on-chain activity until more was known. Guillemet stressed that hardware wallets still offered protection as long as users verified each transaction on their device screens, which prevented the invisible swapping from going unnoticed. The relatively small damage was characterized by researchers as “lucky,” since a more polished exploit could have siphoned significant funds. The&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> showed no disruption, underlining that markets did not panic even as headlines highlighted a billion-download exposure.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/twittershots_0xngmi_1965125988016087050_11zon_a3c5e417a8.jpg" alt="twittershots-0xngmi-1965125988016087050_11zon.jpg"></figure>Major platforms rushed to reassure their communities. Solana-based services such as Marinade, Solflare, Step Finance,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/jupiter-space-station-jup">Jupiter</a>, Drift,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/phantom">Phantom</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/okx">OKX</a> confirmed no impact on their operations.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a>, which labeled the incident among the largest NPM attacks ever seen, clarified that no customer data or assets were compromised. The exchange emphasized that “security remains our top priority” and reminded users to stay vigilant, while founder Changpeng Zhao remarked, “Even open-source software is not safe these days.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/web3-companies-projects">Web3</a> will redefine security for Web2.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_7_4fefe313d7.png" alt="Screenshot_7.png"></figure>Other wallet providers pointed to safeguards already in place.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/metamask">MetaMask</a> explained that it had avoided exposure thanks to its use of locked code versions, both manual and automated review systems, and layered defenses including LavaMoat, which isolates malicious code, and Blockaid, which quickly flags compromised addresses. These measures prevented the malicious packages from slipping into its environment.What unfolded over the course of 24 hours now stands as both a cautionary tale and a reminder of fragility. A single developer’s compromised credentials, tricked out of him through a phishing site, were enough to ripple across the entire JavaScript ecosystem and into crypto infrastructure. While the dollar losses were almost comically small for such a sweeping breach, the episode underscores how vulnerable the crypto software stack remains. The crypto price landscape may not have registered a dent this time, but security experts warn that a more refined supply chain exploit could carry consequences far greater than what the market just narrowly avoided.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot leaps across broken code bridges, reflecting fragile coin market cap

Robot leaps across broken code bridges, reflecting fragile coin market cap.webp

NPM Supply Chain Attack Exposes Billions of Downloads but Barely $503 Stolen

For all of Solana’s speed and low fees, one problem has cast a long shadow over the ecosystem: congestion. NFT mints, meme coin frenzies, and DeFi spikes have repeatedly pushed the network to its limits. It left traders scratching their heads because of failed transactions and missed opportunities.But a solution may be on the horizon. The&nbsp;Alpenglow upgrade, now live on mainnet, aims to change that.Alpenglow restructures Solana's transaction scheduling and prioritisation system. Simply put, it’s a structural solution rather than a band-aid solution. The network is made to route traffic more effectively, lowering failed orders and evening out throughput during spikes in volume.This is more than just a technical milestone both for developers and active traders. It could reshape how Solana competes in the high-stakes world of crypto execution.<h2>Why Solana Needed Alpenglow</h2>Solana’s rise has been meteoric. The network has established itself as the preferred chain for speed and scale. It powered billion-dollar NFT mints like Degenerate Ape Academy and hosted waves of meme coin trading and DeFi yield strategies. During its heyday in 2021/2022, Solana routinely handled more daily transactions than Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain combined.But that success came with cracks. Congestion became a recurring headline. When demand spiked (hyped mints or sudden market rotations), the network struggled to keep up. Traders were left staring at “failed-to-send” errors while prices moved without them.Those seconds of delay translate into real losses. Even casual users felt it. NFT buyers missed out on whitelist spots. DeFi farmers were locked out of opportunities. Meme coin traders were unable to exit before liquidity dried up.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Network Reliability: The Missing Link in Presale Execution</h2>Finding early-stage projects with high potential is only half the fight for investors. The other is to execute during crucial launch windows. Curated lists of the top<a href="https://bitcoinist.com/best-crypto-presales-to-invest-in/">&nbsp;crypto presales</a> offer a significant edge in this situation. To expedite decision-making, they provide verified analysis on tokenomics, utility, and team credibility. The vital infrastructure that enables these carefully curated presale lists to be used is Solana's dependability.Luckily, the failure point is addressed by the Alpenglow upgrade. The upgrade attempts to provide a dependable throughput by reworking block propagation and transaction scheduling. This implies that execution certainty can finally match the potential of every<a href="https://coin360.com/learn/best-crypto-projects-on-solana">&nbsp;Solana project</a>. The bottleneck is no longer network performance.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Inside the Alpenglow Upgrade</h2>The Alpenglow upgrade targets Solana's core congestion vectors through three structural changes:<ul><li>Transaction Scheduling: Implements a more efficient, deterministic scheduler to prevent validator overload during demand spikes.</li><li>Block Propagation: Optimizes data handling to reduce network chatter and accelerate block finality.</li><li>Fee Prioritization: Introduces mechanisms to better prioritize transactions with real fee incentives, reducing spam and improving user experience.</li></ul>Significant gains have been seen in early testnet performance data for<a href="https://solana.com/news/blog-internet-capital-markets">&nbsp;Solana's core scaling improvements</a>, including those made as part of the Alpenglow initiative. The new Firedancer client's developers, Jump Crypto, have stated that their objective is to process more than one million transactions per second.Alpenglow rearchitects core network components, in contrast to previous patches that addressed symptoms. This certainly seems more like a scalability upgrade, rather than a stopgap.&nbsp;<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Immediate Market Reaction</h2>After the Alpenglow upgrade, the price of SOL remained stable. The market's pricing of the update reflects that this is no longer just speculation. Statistically,<a href="https://www.ainvest.com/news/solana-news-today-solana-surpasses-22-24-million-active-addresses-outpacing-major-rivals-2508/">&nbsp;Solana has more active addresses than any other public blockchain</a>, with 22.244 million, more than Base (6.851M) and BNB Chain (9.76M).However, on-chain activity told a more nuanced story. During times of normal demand, daily transactions were more stable. The percentage of failed transactions significantly decreased. There was a slight increase in NFT mint volume and DeFi activity, especially in high-frequency trading protocols like Jupiter and Drift, which gain from more consistent network performance.Developer sentiment improved, too. With multiple teams announcing new perpetual swap platforms, gaming infrastructure, and socialFi products, commitments to developing high-throughput applications on Solana grew. This indicates a renewed belief in the network's scalability. The response was practical rather than ecstatic. Alpenglow provided the fundamental dependability needed for serious builders to proceed.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Long-Term Implications for the Solana Ecosystem</h2>For DeFi, it means protocols like MarginFi and Phoenix can offer near-CEX execution with minimal failed transactions.<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/non-fungible-tokens">&nbsp;NFT marketplaces</a> benefit from seamless mass mint events and smoother secondary trading, improving user experience significantly.Most notably, high-frequency and arbitrage strategies become far more viable. This positions Solana as a specialized high-performance chain rather than a direct Ethereum replacement. It competes less with Ethereum L1 and more with L2s like Arbitrum and Avalanche for users prioritizing low-cost, high-speed execution.Its edge remains raw throughput for applications like prediction markets, gaming, and perps trading that are impractical on more congested chains.There are still major risks. The need for validators might grow, which could make well-capitalized operators more centralized. Despite congestion fixes, the network is still vulnerable to new bug-related outages. Most importantly, success might turn into a new stress test in and of itself.&nbsp;

solana alpenglow upgrade happening above a robot.webp

Solana’s Alpenglow Upgrade: Can It Finally Fix Network Congestion?

<h2>Regulators Signal New Era for U.S. Crypto Markets</h2>September 2, 2025, marked a decisive moment for U.S. digital asset regulation as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> Trading Commission released a joint staff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/sec-cftc-project-crypto-090225">statement</a> clarifying that existing laws do not prohibit registered trading venues from facilitating spot crypto asset transactions, including products involving leverage, margin, or financing. The announcement arrived through coordinated initiatives known as SEC’s Project Crypto and CFTC’s Crypto Sprint, both launched after the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets published its report, “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” which urged regulators to create clarity and prevent blockchain innovation from moving offshore.SEC Chairman Paul Atkins described the guidance as “a significant step forward in bringing innovation in the crypto asset markets back to America,” emphasizing that “market participants should have the freedom to choose where they trade spot crypto assets.” He added that the SEC would continue working closely with the CFTC to encourage innovation and competition. Acting CFTC Chair Caroline D. Pham reinforced that message, contrasting the new approach with what she called a restrictive period under the previous administration.&nbsp;“Under the prior administration, our agencies sent mixed signals about regulation and compliance in digital asset markets, but the message was clear: innovation was not welcome. That chapter is over,” she said, stressing that today’s collaboration would help position the United States as the crypto capital of the world. Pham added, “By working together, we can empower American innovation in these markets and build on President Trump’s collaborative approach. Today’s joint agency statement is the latest demonstration of our mutual objective of supporting growth and development in these markets, but it will not be the last.”The statement confirmed that SEC-registered national securities exchanges, CFTC-registered designated contract markets, and foreign boards of trade are legally permitted to list spot crypto asset products, even when they feature leverage or margin. This directly opens the door for venues such as Nasdaq, NYSE, CME Group, and Cboe to expand into spot trading while ensuring they meet standards on surveillance, transparency, and investor protection.&nbsp;The regulators also issued guidance to firms preparing filings, outlining expectations around clearing, settlement, and custody, with suggestions to engage custodians for asset protection and consider digital collateral structures. Market operators were urged to detail how they will monitor underlying markets through cross-venue pricing, information-sharing agreements, and safeguards against manipulation. Transparency was underscored with requirements to make trade data, depth-of-book information, and reference rates public and accessible, ideally in real time.Agencies highlighted the importance of fair and orderly markets, urging exchanges to maintain competitive structures and efficient execution standards. Innovation in areas like smart contracts and novel custody models was welcomed, provided firms uphold investor protections. The staff noted that filings would be reviewed promptly, with an open invitation for applicants to engage regulators directly. Observers pointed to this as a sharp pivot away from years of enforcement-driven oversight toward a cooperative stance aimed at strengthening U.S. leadership in digital markets.&nbsp;The joint statement was seen as a watershed moment for aligning traditional finance institutions with the digital asset ecosystem, potentially reshaping the global landscape for crypto trading. By providing certainty that regulated U.S. markets can support spot crypto products, the announcement offers a new framework for growth that may influence everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index benchmarks to broader measures of coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> and trading liquidity across regulated platforms.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot leaping across glass bridges above ivory void [coin market cap]

Robot leaping across glass bridges above ivory void [coin market cap].webp

SEC and CFTC Clear Path for Spot Crypto Trading With Joint Guidance

<h2>Experts Warn of Q-Day as Bitcoin and Ethereum Encryption at Risk</h2>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/about/crypto-task-force/written-submission/cft-written-input-daniel-bruno-corvelo-costa-090325">submission</a> to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Assets Task Force has urged regulators to prepare for the looming threat of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/learn/quantum-computing-crypto-threat">quantum computing</a>, warning that trillions of dollars in digital assets could be exposed if existing cryptographic protections collapse. The proposal, titled the Post-Quantum Financial Infrastructure Framework and authored by Daniel Bruno Corvelo Costa, calls for an urgent transition to quantum-resistant standards and highlights the growing danger posed by adversaries engaged in “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” strategies, where encrypted data is collected today in anticipation of future breakthroughs.The framework recommends immediate safeguards, including automated vulnerability assessments, prioritization of high-risk institutional wallets and exchanges, and a phased migration strategy combining classical and post-quantum cryptographic standards. It anchors its approach in the standards finalized by NIST in 2024, particularly FIPS 203–205, with the HQC algorithm proposed as a fallback. The submission explicitly warns of “Q-Day,” the moment when quantum machines can crack&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>’s encryption, a scenario experts estimate could arrive by 2028. The report states, “Establishing a quantum-resilient digital asset ecosystem is needed to secure investor assets and ensure the long-term integrity of U.S. capital markets.”Developers have already begun responding to these risks. A Bitcoin Improvement Proposal introduced in July outlines a phased approach to transitioning the network’s signature scheme to quantum-resistant alternatives. The plan would block transactions to legacy addresses and, after roughly five years, freeze coins still held in outdated formats, effectively rendering them unspendable. David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, has warned that quantum computing poses the most serious threat to Bitcoin’s security yet and could break its cryptographic protections within five years or less, echoing the urgency behind the regulatory submission.Vitalik Buterin has added further weight to these concerns, stating just six days ago that there is a 20% chance quantum computers could break modern cryptography by the end of 2030. His careful wording suggested cautious realism, noting the risk is not guaranteed but significant enough to warrant immediate attention.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="twittershots-VitalikButerin-1960844208790757894_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/twittershots_Vitalik_Buterin_1960844208790757894_11zon_cff013e82f.jpg"><figcaption>Source: X</figcaption></figure>The combination of these warnings from both the technical and policy fronts underscores a critical juncture for digital assets. Without swift adoption of quantum-resistant standards, the core infrastructure supporting Bitcoin,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>, and the broader market—including elements tracked by every&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and tied to overall coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> valuations—could be undermined within the decade, exposing the entire crypto price ecosystem to systemic vulnerability.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot sprinting on cracked glass plain symbolizing crypto price risk

Robot sprinting on cracked glass plain symbolizing crypto price risk.webp

SEC Faces Pressure to Address Quantum Threats to Digital Assets

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Coin360 weekly crypto news

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | August 24 - August 30, 2025

<h2>Data Highlights Corporate SOL Allocations Amid Expanding Treasury Vehicles</h2>Fresh figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.strategicsolanareserve.org/">Strategic SOL Reserve</a> reveal that 13 entities, including publicly traded firms and corporate treasuries, now control a combined 8.689 million&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>, valued at $1.77 billion at a current&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> of $204 per&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">SOL</a>. This represents 1.51% of the token’s total supply, underscoring the scale of institutional interest in Solana as both an investment and staking asset.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_11_9e5871ef6f.png" alt="Screenshot_11.png"></figure>Among the largest holders, Sharps Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: STSS) leads with 2.14 million SOL worth $436.6 million, while Upexi Inc. (NASDAQ: UPXI) closely follows with 2 million SOL valued at $416.3 million, reflecting a 15.3% gain in USD terms.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> Development Corp. (NASDAQ: DFDV) holds 1.831 million SOL worth $295.6 million after a 5.2% rise, and Mercurity Fintech Holding (NASDAQ: MFH) controls 1.083 million SOL. The concentration of these positions highlights the growing role of public companies in Solana’s adoption.<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/DeFi-Staking">Staking</a> activity has intensified, with 585,059 SOL—equivalent to $104.1 million—locked to generate yields averaging 6.86%. The staked total climbed steadily from 7.7 million SOL on August 20 to nearly 8.7 million SOL by August 29, showing that institutions are not only holding but actively deploying assets into Solana’s ecosystem. The staking pool now represents 0.102% of total supply, strengthening network security while enhancing yield potential for participants.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_10_f807fe0278.png" alt="Screenshot_10.png"></figure>The Strategic SOL Reserve platform details each allocation through live dashboards, offering metrics such as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>, stock price, Solana’s traditional market cap (MNAV), and the percentage of supply attributed to each entity. Sharps Technology holds 0.372174% of circulating supply, while Upexi accounts for 0.369686%. This breakdown illustrates how institutions with backgrounds spanning healthcare, fintech, and biotechnology are converging on Solana exposure, diversifying the coin market cap landscape.Entity performance remains uneven, with Upexi recording notable valuation growth and Sharps Technology maintaining stable positions. Meanwhile, DeFi Development Corp.’s moderate uptick signals steady institutional accumulation. The Strategic SOL Reserve’s gallery and analytics features allow detailed tracking of these shifts, presenting a clearer view of institutional inflows into Solana.The aggregation of $1.77 billion in corporate SOL holdings adds a distinct layer to Solana’s evolving role in the broader crypto price index. It highlights a shift toward institutional allocation strategies, with real-time tracking now underscoring the importance of staking as both a yield generator and a stabilizing mechanism for the network.Institutional momentum for Solana extends beyond the Strategic Reserve’s tracked allocations. Pantera Capital is preparing a U.S.-listed Solana treasury vehicle, tentatively named “Solana Co.”, designed to hold and stake SOL on behalf of institutional investors. The initiative seeks to raise $1.25 billion, including $500 million in equity and $750 million via warrants. The tokens are expected to be staked at yields near 7%, providing institutional-grade exposure while simultaneously reducing supply circulation.At the same time, Galaxy Digital, Multicoin Capital, and Jump Crypto are coordinating efforts to raise $1 billion for another large-scale Solana treasury, with Cantor Fitzgerald as lead banker and backing from the Solana Foundation. The fund would more than double the current scale of the largest existing corporate SOL treasuries. Parallel moves from Bit Mining, which plans to raise $200–$300 million for a SOL reserve, point to accelerating demand from diverse sectors.DeFi Development Corp., already among the largest holders tracked in the reserve, recently expanded its treasury with an additional 407,247 SOL worth approximately $77 million, purchased at an average of $188.98 per token. Earlier, the firm added 17,760 SOL, bringing total holdings to roughly 640,585 SOL valued near $96 million. Beyond accumulation, the company is expanding internationally, launching a UK-based arm of its treasury business with plans for further global branches.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot balances glowing Solana orbs, symbolizing coin market cap strength

Robot balances glowing Solana orbs, symbolizing coin market cap strength.webp

Institutional Solana Holdings Surge Past $1.77B as New Treasury Vehicles Emerge

<h2>Blockchain Becomes the New Home for America’s Economic Truth</h2>The U.S. Department of Commerce has begun&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2025/08/department-commerce-posts-2nd-quarter-gross-domestic-product-blockchain">publishing</a> official economic data, including GDP, inflation, and domestic demand figures, directly on public blockchains through&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/chainlink-link">Chainlink</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/pyth-network-pyth">Pyth</a> Network. The Bureau of Economic Analysis, operating under the department, is now distributing&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.chain.link/united-states-department-of-commerce-macroeconomic-data/">six key indicators</a> across a wide range of networks, with data refreshed monthly or quarterly in line with existing release schedules. This marks the first time official federal economic statistics are being recorded on-chain, offering a new model for transparency and global accessibility.Nine major blockchains are already hosting the data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tron-trx">TRON</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/stellar-lumens-xlm">Stellar</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">Avalanche</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a> One,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/polygon-ecosystem-token-pol">Polygon</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/proof-of-stake">PoS</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/optimism-op">Optimism</a>, with additional support expanding to Base, Botanix, Linea,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/mantle-mnt">Mantle</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/sonic-s">Sonic</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/zksync-zk">ZKsync</a>. Chainlink serves as the main data provider, while Pyth Network has been tasked with handling GDP releases specifically. The project carries major symbolic weight for the administration, tying blockchain’s immutability and global reach to what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called “America’s economic truth.”Following the announcement, Chainlink’s token&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/chainlink-link">LINK</a> traded at $25.1 with a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> of $17.0 billion, while Pyth’s token&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/pyth-network-pyth">PYTH</a> surged to $0.18, reflecting a 53.71% daily gain on a $1.0 billion valuation.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_4.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_4_7546c67cd0.png"></figure>During a White House cabinet meeting on August 26, 2025, Lutnick&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEPqUdelFo">described</a> President Donald Trump as “the Crypto-President,” stating, “The Department of Commerce is going to start issuing its statistics on the blockchain because you are the crypto president … we are just ironing out all the details so we can do it.” He later expanded on that message, declaring that official data was becoming immutable and publicly accessible, aligning America with what he described as a global leadership role in blockchain adoption.Mike Cahill, founder of Douro Labs and a core contributor to Pyth, emphasized the importance of the initiative, saying, “It’s been a privilege for me and the Pyth team to work closely with the Department of Commerce over the past few months to make this happen … Secretary Howard Lutnick and his team are pushing the boundaries of innovation as they modernize and position the United States to be the worldwide blockchain leader. We’ve entered a new era.” His comments reflect how the integration of blockchain into official economic reporting is being viewed as more than just an operational change—it is being positioned as a technological milestone.The integration is timed with existing BEA reporting cycles, which issue three estimates of quarterly GDP roughly 30, 60, and 90 days after the quarter closes. Publishing through Chainlink and Pyth ensures that these updates reach a wider audience in real time across decentralized networks. The data is intended to complement traditional distribution channels rather than replace them, expanding the reach of U.S. economic releases.While blockchain provides transparency, immutability, and global accessibility, questions remain about accuracy, as the technology secures the data once published but cannot verify the correctness of the inputs themselves. Still, advocates argue the move strengthens trust at a time when public confidence in economic reporting faces ongoing scrutiny. The effort also mirrors earlier blockchain-based government projects worldwide, from Estonia’s Guardtime system protecting more than a million health records to California’s Department of Motor Vehicles digitizing 42 million car titles on Avalanche.As part of the broader narrative around digital governance, the launch reflects the Trump administration’s attempt to weave crypto into official policy and infrastructure. For traders and analysts, the arrival of government-backed blockchain data could eventually play into the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and the way markets interpret official metrics alongside the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> and crypto price movements. With Commerce describing the U.S. as taking a leadership role, the effort signals that blockchain is no longer viewed solely as a financial tool but as infrastructure for managing and distributing state-backed information.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot sprints across parchment plain, scattering chains of coin market cap

Robot sprints across parchment plain, scattering chains of coin market cap.webp

U.S. Commerce Department Brings GDP Data On-Chain with Chainlink and Pyth

<h2>Nasdaq Healthcare Firm Targets Flexible Capital Raise for Crypto Strategy</h2>Nasdaq-listed healthcare services company KindlyMD disclosed Tuesday that it has filed a shelf registration&nbsp;<a href="https://feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release.html?newsid=7235050423763671&amp;symbol=KDLY,NAKA">statement</a> with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an at-the-market equity offering program of up to $5 billion. The company said proceeds from the issuance will be allocated toward general corporate purposes, with a key focus on expanding its bitcoin treasury.The offering permits the firm to issue and sell as much as $5 billion in common stock over time through a group of designated sales agents, including TD Securities, Cantor Fitzgerald, and B. Riley Securities. Shares will be sold at prevailing market prices on the Nasdaq or related levels, with the timing and size of each tranche determined by the company. The shelf registration allows the healthcare provider to raise capital flexibly without seeking repeated approvals for every offering round.KindlyMD’s shift into bitcoin follows its recent merger with Nakamoto Holdings, a bitcoin-focused entity that positioned the healthcare group directly into corporate crypto treasury strategies. Shortly after completing the merger, the company purchased 5,744&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a>, marking its first significant step into digital assets. The move places KindlyMD among a growing cohort of publicly traded firms that have adopted bitcoin allocations as part of their balance sheet strategy, echoing the approach of Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which pioneered large-scale corporate bitcoin reserves.Corporate adoption has increasingly become a factor in shaping the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and overall market sentiment. While bitcoin and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> remain the dominant assets in these treasuries, several firms have begun diversifying into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/altcoin">altcoins</a> such as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">BNB</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/xrp-xrp">XRP</a>. The trend highlights a shift in treasury management practices, where exposure to digital assets is considered alongside traditional reserves. As capital flows into corporate bitcoin strategies expand, the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> and broader crypto price dynamics may face heightened sensitivity to institutional decision-making.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot sprints with glowing coins fueling bitcoin treasury, crypto price index

Robot sprints with glowing coins fueling bitcoin treasury, crypto price index.webp

KindlyMD Unveils $5 Billion Equity Program for Bitcoin Treasury Expansion

<h2>New Treasury Entity to Focus on Building the Largest CRO Holdings</h2>Trump Media and Technology Group, owner of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social, has unveiled a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/26/3139279/0/en/Trump-Media-Group-CRO-Strategy-to-Acquire-6-42-Billion-for-CRO-Digital-Asset-Treasury.html">$6.42 billion</a> plan with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/crypto_com">Crypto.com</a> and Yorkville Acquisition to create Trump Media Group&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/cronos-cro">CRO</a> Strategy. The joint venture, backed by a business combination with Yorkville’s SPAC, will focus on acquiring and managing large-scale holdings of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/cronos-cro">Cronos</a>’ native cryptocurrency, CRO. The entity will be majority-owned by Trump Media, Crypto.com, and Yorkville, and is structured as a digital asset treasury company.Funding for the venture includes $1 billion in CRO tokens, $420 million in cash and warrants, and a $5 billion credit line from a Yorkville affiliate. The partners claim this capital structure positions the firm as the first and largest publicly traded CRO treasury company and potentially the largest digital asset treasury-to-coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> ratio ever recorded. Yorkville will apply for its Class A ordinary shares to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol MCGA as part of the transaction.Trump Media Group CRO Strategy intends to allocate most of its cash reserves toward acquiring CRO, emphasizing yield-generating assets over traditional non-productive holdings. The plan includes operating a validator node within the Cronos proof-of-stake blockchain, enabling participation in network governance while generating staking rewards. Those rewards will be reinvested to compound CRO holdings and offset costs. The validator will be maintained by a crypto-native team familiar with the Cronos ecosystem, with the aim of maximizing rewards and attracting additional CRO delegations from third-party holders.Cronos, developed by Crypto.com, launched its mainnet beta in late 2021 as the successor to the original Crypto.com Coin. It was designed to underpin decentralized finance,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/non-fungible-tokens">NFTs</a>, and metaverse projects while emphasizing interoperability. The blockchain has since become central to Trump Media’s expanding ties with Crypto.com, which participated in the White House Crypto Summit earlier this year as one of just 20 invited firms. The companies have also signed a non-binding agreement to explore launching U.S.-based exchange-traded funds focused on digital assets and “Made in America” securities.Despite the ambitious treasury plan, Crypto.com continues to face scrutiny. The exchange has drawn criticism for scrapping a planned 70 billion CRO token burn and has been accused of holding up to 80% of CRO’s total voting power. Prominent blockchain investigator ZachXBT has called CRO “no different from a scam,” alleging manipulation of supply and warning about an undisclosed incident the company reportedly covered up. Still, Trump Media Group CRO Strategy is positioning itself to become the largest CRO-focused treasury, setting a precedent for digital asset holdings by a publicly traded company, while adding a new layer of political and corporate weight to the ongoing debate about Cronos’ governance and long-term viability.This development adds another milestone to the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index as investors assess how Trump Media’s pivot into CRO exposure could affect overall crypto price dynamics and the broader coin market cap landscape.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot walks pastel bridge of cubes, extending coin market cap

Robot walks pastel bridge of cubes, extending coin market cap.webp

Trump Media Plans $6.42B CRO Strategy in Deal With Crypto.com

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | August 17 - August 23, 2025

<h2>Large Institutional Holdings Highlight Growing Role of Ethereum in Digital Asset Treasuries</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> treasuries across 69 entities have surpassed 4.1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a>, valued at approximately $19.97 billion after the token reached a fresh all-time high on August 23. The holdings represent around 3.39% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, underscoring the growing role of ETH in digital asset treasuries as more organizations move to accumulate positions.Data compiled by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.strategicethreserve.xyz/">StrategicETHReserve</a> shows that the collective holdings cover entities with more than 100 ETH each, highlighting the increasing institutional weight in the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> of Ethereum.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_12.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_12_1d979f8f3e.png"><figcaption>Source: StrategicETHReserve</figcaption></figure>Among these, BitMine Immersion Technologies leads by a wide margin, holding roughly 1.5 million ETH valued at $7.42 billion. The company, once primarily focused on bitcoin mining, has shifted its strategy toward ether accumulation, cementing itself as the largest corporate holder.SharpLink Gaming follows as the second-largest ETH holder, with around 740,800 ETH worth about $3.61 billion, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ether</a> Machine maintains 345,400 ETH in its treasury. The Ethereum Foundation itself holds about 231,600 ETH, reinforcing its position as one of the key entities supporting the ecosystem. Public companies alone account for 2.6 million ETH, equivalent to $12.7 billion, indicating that listed firms are playing a significant role in expanding Ethereum’s presence across digital asset treasuries.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_13.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_13_9a032eed00.png"><figcaption>Source: StrategicETHReserve</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, U.S. spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds have further strengthened ETH’s institutional profile, collectively holding around 6.42 million ETH. That figure represents approximately 5.31% of the current supply and adds another layer of structured investment exposure for the asset. Combined with growing interest in the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and broader crypto price movements, these metrics signal Ethereum’s rising prominence as both a treasury reserve asset and a cornerstone of institutional digital finance strategies.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot gathers ETH tokens into chest reflecting rising crypto price

Robot gathers ETH tokens into chest reflecting rising crypto price.webp

Ethereum Treasuries Top 4.1 Million ETH as Entities Accumulate Nearly $20 Billion

<h2>Ether tops $4,885 as BNB briefly hits $900 and OKB peaks at $255</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> led the week’s charge with a record surge to $4,885 on August 22, surpassing its 2021 peak and cementing its position at the forefront of the latest market rally. The move followed dovish <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/business/live-news/fed-powell-jackson-hole">comments</a> from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium, which triggered a 14–15% spike in the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a>.&nbsp;The rally erased more than $259 million in short positions and pushed total Ethereum liquidations above $340 million in a single day, underlining the scale of market activity. Trading volumes soared nearly 95%, briefly overtaking&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>’s turnover, as institutional interest returned with strength. Investors including funds tied to Peter Thiel were reported to be scaling allocations, with analysts noting the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/rsi">Relative Strength Index</a> remained below overheated territory, leaving room for a potential climb toward the $5,000 threshold.<figure class="image"><img alt="chart (3)_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_3_11zon_e843587ac9.jpg"></figure><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">BNB</a> followed closely behind with its own explosive rally, briefly touching the $900 mark before pulling back after setting a high of $882–$883. The surge propelled its coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> beyond $120 billion, reinforcing its status among the top five digital assets on the crypto price index. Institutional allocations provided much of the momentum, with Windtree Therapeutics, Nano Labs, and CEA Industries committing hundreds of millions of dollars, while Nasdaq-listed BNC accumulated 325,000 BNB worth roughly $283 million, making it the largest corporate holder.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="chart (2)_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_2_11zon_87edc59dad.jpg"></figure>On-chain activity mirrored the inflows, with weekly active BNB Chain users climbing to 16.8 million, daily transactions doubling to 13.8 million on Tuesday, and active addresses up 33% to 1.6 million.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> locked value expanded to $7.8 billion, while&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> Pay added to its real-world utility. Analysts highlighted the technical breakout above the $800 support zone, with experts suggesting the path to $1,000 could be a matter of time given the reduced selling pressure from profitable holder cohorts.<figure class="image"><img alt="image.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/image_10e3caffc3.png"></figure><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/okb-okb">OKB</a> rounded out the week’s rally with a record high of $255.5, fueled by a $7.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okx.com/help/announcement-on-the-pp-upgrade-of-x-layer-and-optimisation-of-the-okb-gas?channelid=ACEAP6502255">token burn</a> that removed 65 million coins from circulation and slashed supply by 93% to just 21 million. The sharp contraction in supply, alongside OKB’s designation as the exclusive gas token for the newly launched X Layer blockchain, pushed demand to unprecedented levels.&nbsp;Weekly gains exceeded 115%, with intraday jumps as high as 71% during the rally. Trading volume soared 511% to $1.68 billion before later spiking above $14 billion in 24-hour turnover, while the coin market cap rose past $5.3 billion.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> open interest climbed to $23.21 million, and funding rates turned positive as traders leaned heavily into long positions. Technical indicators painted a picture of overheated momentum, with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/rsi">RSI</a> readings near 90 and analysts cautioning that a retreat toward $200 could precede further upside, with some projecting targets as high as $311 if strength holds.<figure class="image"><img alt="chart (4)_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_4_11zon_e39f60a945.jpg"></figure>Together, Ethereum’s record high, BNB’s flash to $900, and OKB’s surge past $255 underscored a shift in the crypto price index, with exchange and ecosystem tokens driving the narrative of fresh highs while Bitcoin consolidated. The moves highlighted the growing role of institutional capital, token utility, and supply mechanics in shaping price action across the market, reinforcing how quickly sentiment can tilt when macro conditions, network growth, and structural scarcity converge.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot vaults between ETH and BNB during crypto price rally

Ethereum, BNB, and OKB Set Fresh Records Amid Exchange Token Frenzy

<h2>Frontier Stable Token Debuts Amid Expanding $265B Stablecoin Market</h2>Wyoming has officially&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WYGOV/bulletins/3ee734a">rolled out</a> the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT), the first state-backed stablecoin in the United States, marking a milestone in both blockchain regulation and adoption. The launch follows years of research by the Wyoming Stable Token Commission and comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed the first federal stablecoin bill into law, providing a nationwide framework for issuers. FRNT is pegged to the U.S. dollar and designed for use by individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide, positioning Wyoming at the center of digital finance innovation.The token is structured with overcollateralization to safeguard stability, holding at least 102% in cash and short-term U.S. Treasurys under management at Franklin Advisers. This reserve model adds a layer of confidence to a stablecoin sector whose total supply currently stands at roughly $265 billion. FRNT will initially operate on seven blockchains —&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">Avalanche</a>, Base,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/optimism-op">Optimism</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/polygon-ecosystem-token-pol">Polygon</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a> — with interoperability powered by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/layerzero-zro">LayerZero</a> and Fireblocks. Trading will soon begin on Solana through&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/kraken">Kraken</a> and on Avalanche through Rain’s Visa-integrated card platform, while Inca Digital has been tapped to provide surveillance and analytics services.Wyoming has been building toward this launch since passing the Stable Token Act in 2023, which tasked regulators with creating a state-issued stablecoin framework. The initiative adds to the state’s history of pioneering crypto regulation, from recognizing DAOs as legal entities to licensing Special Purpose Depository Institutions known as “crypto-banks.” The commission’s work included testing FRNT on 11 blockchains during a pre-launch phase in July, when&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/aptos-apt">Aptos</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/sei-sei">Sei</a> were also evaluated. Alternative versions such as the Wyoming Electronic Stable Token (WEST) and Wyoming Stable Token (WYST) remain under consideration as potential expansions of the project.The debut of FRNT places Wyoming ahead of other states in merging public policy with blockchain technology, coinciding with a period of heightened institutional interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> under the new federal framework. With&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> shifts continuing to reshape the sector, Wyoming’s entry underscores how state-led initiatives could influence the broader crypto price index and future direction of digital asset regulation in the U.S.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot releases stablecoin lights across pastel bridges, symbolizing crypto price index

Robot releases stablecoin lights across pastel bridges, symbolizing crypto price index.webp

Wyoming Unveils First State-Backed Stablecoin Across Seven Blockchains

<h2>Self-Custodial Wallet Expands Into Stablecoins Under GENIUS Act Framework</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/review/metamask">MetaMask</a> has unveiled its first native stablecoin,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MetaMask/status/1958501352805392885">MetaMask USD (mUSD)</a>, becoming the first self-custodial&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> to launch such an asset. The announcement came on August 21, 2025, with the company highlighting that mUSD will be fully integrated across the MetaMask ecosystem. The stablecoin is designed to provide seamless functionality for users who want to move between crypto and dollar-backed assets, with direct support across&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> and Linea, Consensys’ Layer-2 network. Users will be able to on-ramp, off-ramp, swap, transfer, and bridge mUSD directly through the wallet without relying on external platforms, giving it an immediate edge in terms of accessibility and scale.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_5.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_5_8cf490103f.png"></figure>The token will be issued by Bridge, a Stripe subsidiary, and will be backed one-to-one by dollar-equivalent assets in full compliance with the recently passed GENIUS Act, which provides a clear regulatory framework for&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> in the U.S. Institutional support has also been built into the launch. The stablecoin will rely on M^0, a specialized protocol for stablecoin issuance, while custody and treasury management services will be handled by Blackstone, signaling a move to reinforce stability and credibility in both the retail and institutional markets. Reports of a governance proposal leaking online before being quickly removed had already pointed to the project’s advanced stage of development, with sources indicating that MetaMask intended to make mUSD live before the end of August 2025.Ajay Mittal, MetaMask’s vice president of product strategy, described the rollout as a way to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> fragmented stablecoin experiences by offering users potentially lower costs, greater composability, and smoother transaction flows. The wallet’s built-in user base and its established role in decentralized finance provide a strong launchpad for adoption, positioning mUSD not just as a MetaMask tool but as a liquidity layer that could extend across the wider&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> landscape. The company also confirmed plans to expand functionality by embedding mUSD as a payment option on its Mastercard-powered debit card by the end of 2025, a move that would connect stablecoin utility to real-world spending.The timing of the launch aligns with broader momentum in the stablecoin market, where global adoption has accelerated across payments, trading, and remittances. With the GENIUS Act offering regulatory clarity and MetaMask integrating issuance, compliance, and user-facing tools under one roof, the introduction of mUSD underscores a strategic push to secure a place at the center of stablecoin infrastructure. By combining direct wallet integration with institutional-grade backing and future debit card functionality, MetaMask is positioning its stablecoin to compete not only within the crypto ecosystem but also in bridging the gap between decentralized finance and traditional financial use cases.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot leaps between Ethereum shards, liquidity chains glow, [stablecoin] expansion

Robot leaps between Ethereum shards, liquidity chains glow, [stablecoin] expansion.webp

MetaMask Introduces mUSD Stablecoin With Linea Integration and Debit Card Plans

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | August 10 - August 16, 2025

<h2>Guilty Plea Marks Turning Point in Terra Collapse Fallout</h2>Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/do-kwon-plead-guilty-us-conspiracy-fraud-charges-40-billion-crypto-collapse-2025-08-12/?taid=689b549f8411e700012ef8fe">pleaded guilty</a> to two criminal charges in the United States, bringing a dramatic conclusion to one of the most closely watched legal battles stemming from the collapse of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/terra-luna">Terra</a> USD. Kwon, 33, admitted guilt to conspiracy to defraud and wire fraud, according to court filings reported by Reuters. His decision follows years of litigation and global legal disputes after Terra USD’s implosion in 2022 erased tens of billions of dollars and triggered a domino effect across the digital asset sector.During a hearing, Kwon told the court he would waive his right to trial and acknowledged that his plea could result in a prison sentence of up to 25 years, as reported by Inner City Press. A day earlier, Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York signaled that the defendant might change his plea, setting the stage for the guilty admission.Federal prosecutors first charged Kwon in March 2023 with a wide array of offenses, including conspiracy to commit fraud, commodities fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud, market manipulation, and money laundering. The allegations centered on Terraform’s algorithmic stablecoin Terra USD, which was paired with its sister token Luna through a system of market incentives. The design was intended to maintain price stability, but when Terra USD collapsed in May 2022, the failure destabilized markets and accelerated the downfall of several crypto firms.Kwon’s legal troubles stretched beyond U.S. borders. He was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 for traveling with forged documents while attempting to flee prosecution. Following months of legal wrangling, he was extradited to the U.S. in December, even as both American and South Korean authorities sought to prosecute him. Initially, Kwon pleaded not guilty to U.S. charges earlier this year before ultimately reversing course with his latest plea.The Terraform founder also faced civil charges in the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission sued both Kwon and Terraform in February 2023, accusing them of misleading investors in violation of federal securities laws. Although Kwon was not present, a trial began in March and concluded in April with a jury finding him and Terraform liable for civil fraud. Jurors determined that Kwon and his company deceived investors about the stability of Terra USD and the safety of related investments, a conclusion that reinforced regulators’ claims of systemic misrepresentation.Kwon’s guilty plea now marks a pivotal moment in the broader reckoning for algorithmic&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> and the oversight of the digital asset sector. With sentencing pending, the former crypto executive faces the possibility of decades in prison as the legal fallout from Terra’s collapse continues to reverberate across the industry.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Faceless robot balances justice scale symbolizing fraud sentencing risks

Faceless robot balances justice scale symbolizing fraud sentencing risks_11zon.webp

Terraform Co-Founder Do Kwon Pleads Guilty to Fraud in U.S. Case

thumbnail_DALL·E 2025-09-20 05.07.22 - Surreal pastel gradient illustration in peach and soft ivory. A Cubic-styled humanoid faceless robot with a blocky, geometric build is crouching low,  (1).webp