<h2>New system aims to rival stablecoins with real-time settlement and tokenized value transfers</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>SWIFT teams up with over 30 major banks to build a blockchain ledger for 24/7 cross-border payments.</li><li>System will record, validate, and settle tokenized transactions in real time using smart contracts.</li><li>Move seen as a response to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> and crypto-native payment systems reshaping the global market.</li></ul>SWIFT, the backbone of global interbank messaging, has announced a joint effort with more than 30 of the world’s largest financial institutions to develop a blockchain-based ledger designed to transform cross-border payments. The project, unveiled on September 29, 2025, builds on a prototype created by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.swift.com/news-events/press-releases/swift-add-blockchain-based-ledger-its-infrastructure-stack-groundbreaking-move-accelerate-and-scale-benefits-digital-finance">Consensys</a> and reflects the organization’s pivot from purely transmitting financial messages to becoming a direct provider of transaction recording and validation infrastructure.The proposed ledger is intended to operate around the clock, enabling real-time sequencing, validation, and settlement of transactions between banks. Unlike today’s processes constrained by regional banking hours, the new system would run continuously, enforcing operational rules through smart contracts. SWIFT stated the ledger will “extend SWIFT’s financial communication role into a digital environment, facilitating banks’ movement of regulated tokenized value across digital ecosystems.”Financial observers interpret this as a defensive move against the rise of stablecoins and decentralized settlement networks, which already allow instant and low-cost global transfers outside of SWIFT’s traditional framework. By supporting tokenized deposits, stablecoins, and potentially central bank digital currencies, the ledger aims to secure the relevance of established financial institutions while responding to the growing demand for faster, borderless money flows.The initiative also reflects years of experimentation by SWIFT with blockchain and tokenization, including pilot projects with central bank digital currencies and tokenized securities. By shifting from messaging to infrastructure, the network seeks to position itself as a regulated, interoperable alternative that satisfies compliance requirements while keeping pace with technological innovation.Global banks joining the project are expected to leverage the platform as a trusted counterpart to decentralized systems, preserving their role as gatekeepers even as financial markets move toward digital-native settlement rails. Analysts note that the system could eventually support tokenized deposits alongside central bank currencies, anchoring liquidity within regulated channels.The announcement lands at a moment when 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> continue to highlight the growing influence of blockchain-native assets on global finance. SWIFT’s decision to enter the space with a blockchain ledger underscores how the competitive landscape between traditional finance and crypto price ecosystems is tightening, signaling a new era where institutional infrastructure directly collides with decentralized innovation.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot stepping lattice nodes, glowing network mirrors crypto price flows

Robot stepping lattice nodes, glowing network mirrors crypto price flows.webp

SWIFT Partners With 30 Banks to Build Blockchain Ledger for 24/7 Cross-Border Payments

<h2>White-label infrastructure aims to bridge traditional finance with crypto</h2><h3>TL;DR</h3><ul><li><a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> unveiled Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) on Sep 29, 2025, targeting banks, brokerages, and exchanges.</li><li>Service provides trading, liquidity, custody, compliance, and settlement under a white-label framework.</li><li><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">BNB</a> price rose 4.3% after the announcement, following the broader market’s rebound.</li></ul>Binance introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/binance-link-pilots-crypto-as-a-service-a-premium-white-label-infrastructure-solution-empowering-traditional-financial-institutions-to-enter-the-crypto-market-302569550.html">Crypto-as-a-Service</a> (CaaS) on September 29, 2025, presenting it as a premium white-label platform tailored for regulated banks, brokerages, and exchanges looking to integrate digital asset services. The move marks a strategic expansion of the Binance Link program and positions the company as a core financial infrastructure provider rather than just an exchange. The rollout immediately sparked a positive reaction in the market, with BNB price rising by 4.3% on the day.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_11.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_11_bb59404618.png"></figure>The product has been described by Binance executives as a turnkey solution that allows financial institutions to launch crypto trading while maintaining full control of their branding and client relationships. Unlike previous models, CaaS offers internalized trading so institutions can directly match client orders, maximizing revenue and minimizing reliance on external execution venues. Access to Binance’s global Spot and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> liquidity pools ensures depth of market and tight spreads for end-users, while a management dashboard provides real-time oversight of trading volumes, onboarding flows, and distribution, supported by full API connectivity for automation.Custody and asset segregation stand as central features, with institutions able to set up sub-accounts and assign individual deposit addresses for each client. This ensures transparent segregation of assets while reinforcing client trust. Regulatory alignment is built into the service through integrated Know Your Customer (KYC) processes and transaction monitoring APIs, giving institutions the ability to meet compliance obligations across jurisdictions. A comprehensive custody system adds an additional layer of security, further reducing barriers to entry for firms new to digital assets.CaaS will launch in two phases, beginning with an early access program starting September 30, 2025, where selected global institutions will test the system in private demonstrations and engage with Binance’s institutional team. General availability is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, opening the platform to a broader range of licensed banks, brokers, and exchanges. Observers have already noted that this phased approach signals Binance’s intent to carefully align with regulatory structures while scaling adoption among major financial players.Binance stressed that the demand for digital asset access is being driven by client expectations within traditional finance, and institutions are now under pressure to offer crypto services quickly and securely. By enabling institutions to internalize liquidity and use a plug-and-play solution, Binance is cutting down on both cost and time-to-market. The company’s positioning through CaaS resembles cloud infrastructure providers such as AWS in the tech sector, shifting Binance’s role from a consumer-facing exchange toward becoming a backbone for financial institutions entering the digital asset economy.Market analysts have described the launch as a pivotal moment that could reshape how traditional finance interacts with crypto markets. With features designed to merge client trust, institutional branding, and seamless crypto exposure, CaaS is viewed as a critical step in lowering adoption barriers. The market response underscores Binance’s ability to influence both institutional adoption trends and broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> movements across the sector, feeding into ongoing debates about the trajectory of digital asset integration into mainstream finance.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot lifts glowing coin amid pastel mist, reflecting coin market cap

Robot lifts glowing coin amid pastel mist, reflecting coin market cap.webp

Binance Rolls Out Crypto-as-a-Service to Bring Banks Into Digital Asset Trading

Coin360 weekly crypto news, cryptocurrency updates, market movement

Coin360 weekly crypto news

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | September 21 - September 27, 2025

<h2>SoftBank, ARK discussions highlight institutional push as Citi revises stablecoin projections</h2>TL;DR:<ul><li><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">Tether</a> is weighing a $15–20 billion raise at a $500 billion valuation, with SoftBank and ARK reportedly in talks to participate.</li><li>The issuer reported $4.9 billion net income in Q2 2025 and is expanding into energy, infrastructure, and media while preparing a U.S.-compliant token.</li><li>Citi projects stablecoin issuance could reach $1.9 trillion in its base case, $4 trillion in a bull case by 2030, potentially powering $100–200 trillion in annual payments.</li></ul>SoftBank Group and ARK Investment Management are reportedly in talks to participate in Tether’s upcoming funding round, a potential $15–20 billion raise that would value the stablecoin issuer at roughly $500 billion.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-23/crypto-giant-tether-seeks-500-billion-valuation-in-major-raise">Bloomberg</a> first reported the discussions on September 26, citing sources familiar with the matter. Cantor Fitzgerald, whose chief executive Howard Lutnick also serves as U.S. Commerce Secretary, is advising on the raise. While Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed that the company is exploring capital raising with a select group of prominent investors, he did not disclose names or specific targets.The proposed round, which would represent Tether’s largest external fundraising to date, comes as the firm seeks to expand its business model beyond its core stablecoin reserves. Ardoino has outlined plans to channel new capital into sectors including commodities, energy, infrastructure, and media. This diversification strategy builds on the windfall profits generated from U.S. Treasury holdings, as short-term yields remain elevated. Tether’s net income for Q2 2025 reached approximately $4.9 billion, a year-over-year increase of nearly 277%. Cumulative net income for the first half of 2025 totaled $5.7 billion, with circulating supply of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">USDT</a> at about $174–175 billion, commanding 63% of the stablecoin market by late September.The ownership structure is equally striking. Co-founder Giancarlo Devasini remains the largest shareholder, with Bloomberg estimates valuing his stake at $224 billion if the raise proceeds at the expected valuation. Tether has also brought on new political and regulatory expertise, appointing former Trump crypto advisor Bo Hines as Strategic Advisor for Digital Assets and U.S. Strategy. The company is preparing a U.S.-compliant stablecoin, branded USAT, designed to meet the requirements of the GENIUS Act. Analysts have noted this as a potential challenge to Circle, which has long positioned&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a> as the regulated alternative.The company’s footprint extends deep into sovereign debt markets. By Q1 2025, Tether held an estimated $98.5 billion in U.S. Treasury bills, equal to about 1.6% of the entire market, making it one of the largest non-sovereign buyers. Academic research has suggested that such holdings suppress short-term Treasury yields by roughly 24 basis points, translating to an estimated $15 billion in annual interest savings for the U.S. government. This level of influence over sovereign debt markets underscores the scale of Tether’s role, as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> have grown into critical liquidity instruments across both decentralized finance and traditional financial markets.Institutional forecasts are reinforcing the trajectory. Citi’s 2025&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citigroup.com/rcs/citigpa/storage/public/GPS_Report_Stablecoins_2030.pdf">report</a> “Stablecoins 2030” revises its projections upward, estimating issuance could reach $1.9 trillion by 2030 in its base case and $4 trillion in a bull case. With sufficient velocity, Citi projects stablecoins could power between $100 trillion and $200 trillion in annual transaction volume. The report highlights three core growth drivers: partial substitution of bank deposits, accounting for 45% of growth; continued expansion of crypto market issuance at 40%; and substitution for physical banknotes, especially overseas dollar holdings, making up the remaining 15%.Despite the optimistic projections, Citi noted that institutional adoption remains limited. Its “maturity score” for stablecoin adoption by corporates sits at just 0.5 out of 10, underscoring hesitance from large-scale institutions. Yet the bank also framed 2025 as cryptocurrency’s “ChatGPT moment,” suggesting the inflection point for adoption may already be underway. Citi further expects tokenized bank deposits, or “bank tokens,” to potentially surpass stablecoins in transaction turnover by 2030, exceeding $100 trillion, as corporates gravitate toward regulatory comfort and integration with existing financial infrastructure.Other financial institutions have expressed more caution. JPMorgan in July cut its forecast for stablecoin growth, projecting issuance may only reach $500 billion by 2028, citing still modest payments use—estimated at about $15 billion in actual settlement volume, or roughly 6% of overall demand. This divergence of forecasts underscores the uncertainty surrounding how fast the sector can scale from crypto-native adoption to global financial integration.The stakes extend beyond the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> of individual tokens. Tether’s planned raise signals an effort to cement its position not just as the largest stablecoin issuer by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index, but as a financial entity with macroeconomic weight. Citi’s projections, meanwhile, present a vision of a payments landscape where stablecoins, bank tokens, and CBDCs co-exist, each serving distinct functions across consumer, institutional, and cross-border markets. For investors and regulators alike, the question is whether these developments represent an evolutionary step in financial infrastructure or a concentration of systemic risk within a handful of private issuers.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot guides orbiting coins in pastel sky

Robot guides orbiting coins in pastel sky.png

Tether Eyes $20 Billion Funding as Citi Forecasts Stablecoin Surge to $4 Trillion by 2030

<h2>Introduction</h2><a href="https://www.bitunix.com/">Bitcoin trading</a> for beginners is one of the most accessible ways to enter the world of cryptocurrency in 2025. Whether your goal is long-term investing, short-term speculation, or learning the mechanics of digital asset markets, Bitcoin remains the most widely traded cryptocurrency. With global markets running 24/7, understanding the basics of trading is essential before placing your first order.For new traders, structured learning from reliable resources—such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bitunix.com/hub/academy">Bitunix Academy</a> —can help bridge the gap between theory and live trading.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Understanding Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Trading Basics</h2>Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that operates without a central bank or intermediary. In&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.bitunix.com/en/ai-crypto-trading-strategies/">crypto trading</a>, you can either:<ul><li>Own Bitcoin directly by purchasing it on a spot market and holding it in a wallet.</li><li>Trade Bitcoin derivatives like futures or perpetual contracts, which allow speculation on price without owning the underlying asset.</li></ul>Key points for beginners:<ul><li>24/7 Market: Cryptocurrency markets never close, unlike traditional stock exchanges.</li><li>Volatility: Price swings can be much larger than in forex or equities, creating both opportunities and risks.</li><li>Trading Pairs: Bitcoin is typically traded against fiat currencies (BTC/USD, BTC/GBP) or other cryptocurrencies (BTC/ETH).</li></ul><div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>How to Trade Bitcoin in 2025 — Step-by-Step Guide</h2>Choose a Reliable Exchange<ul><li>Look for platforms with strong security, low fees, mobile trading apps, and responsive customer support.</li></ul>Create an Account<ul><li>Complete identity verification (KYC) to meet regulatory requirements.</li></ul>Set Up a Wallet<ul><li>While exchanges provide wallets, many traders prefer separate hardware or software wallets for long-term storage.</li></ul>Fund Your Account<ul><li>Use fiat (via bank transfer or card) or deposit other cryptocurrencies.</li><li>Understand Order Types<ol><li>Market Order: Buys or sells instantly at the best available price.</li><li>Limit Order: Executes at a specified price or better.</li></ol></li></ul>Manage Risk<ul><li>Use stop-loss orders to automatically exit losing positions.</li></ul>Practice First<ul><li>Many exchanges—including Bitunix—offer demo trading so you can test strategies without risking real money.</li></ul><div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Beginner Crypto Trading Tips</h2><ul><li>Start Small — Begin with an amount you can afford to lose.</li><li>Use Position Sizing — Risk only a small percentage of your capital on each trade.</li><li>Avoid Emotional Trading — Stick to a pre-planned strategy.</li><li>Keep a Trading Journal — Record entries, exits, and reasoning to learn from mistakes.</li><li>Review Weekly — Assess what worked and what didn’t to refine your approach.</li></ul><div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Basic Trading Strategies for Beginners</h2>HODL (Buy-and-Hold)<ul><li>Buy Bitcoin and hold for months or years, ignoring short-term volatility.</li></ul>Day Trading<ul><li>Buy and sell within the same day to profit from intraday price swings.</li></ul>Swing Trading<ul><li>Hold positions for several days or weeks to capture medium-term trends.</li></ul>Scalping<ul><li>Make multiple quick trades to profit from small price movements.</li></ul>Tip: Strategies can be combined. For example, you might HODL a portion of your Bitcoin while scalping smaller amounts for extra profit.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Technical and Fundamental Analysis Essentials</h2>Technical Analysis<ul><li>Use candlestick charts to see price patterns.</li><li>Track indicators like Moving Averages, RSI (Relative Strength Index), and MACD to gauge momentum.</li></ul>Fundamental Analysis<ul><li>Monitor Bitcoin adoption trends, institutional investment news, and macroeconomic events.</li><li>Regulatory updates can have immediate market impact.</li></ul><div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Choosing the Right Bitcoin Trading Platform</h2>When selecting a platform, consider:<ul><li>Security: Two-factor authentication, withdrawal whitelists.</li><li>Fees: Maker/taker fee structure and withdrawal costs.</li><li>Assets Supported: Bitcoin plus altcoins for diversification.</li><li>Mobile/Web App Quality: Smooth, fast, and intuitive UI.</li><li>Analytics &amp; Tools: Real-time charts, order book depth, and market data.</li><li>Demo Accounts: To practice without financial risk.</li></ul>Loading Sheets. Please try again after it's finished.For new Bitcoin traders, education is the best investment before risking capital. Bitunix Academy provides structured learning materials, interactive tutorials, and case studies on both basic and advanced crypto trading concepts. Beginners can learn:<ul><li>How to read charts and identify entry/exit points.</li><li>How to set up stop-loss and take-profit orders effectively.</li><li>Risk management techniques tailored for volatile markets.</li><li>Strategy backtesting before trading live.</li></ul>Pairing this learning with demo trading on the same platform allows beginners to transition smoothly into live markets.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Common Mistakes to Avoid in Crypto Trading</h2><ul><li>Overtrading — Placing too many trades without a clear plan.</li><li>Ignoring Stop-Loss Orders — Exposes you to bigger-than-expected losses.</li><li>Overleveraging — Using excessive borrowed funds can wipe out accounts quickly.</li><li>Chasing Pumps — Entering late after a big price surge often leads to losses.</li></ul><div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>FAQs</h2><ul><li>What is the best way to start trading Bitcoin?</li></ul>Begin with education, open an account on a secure exchange, and start with small trades.<ul><li>How do stop-loss orders work?</li></ul>They automatically sell your position if the price drops to a set level, limiting losses.<ul><li>Is demo trading necessary for beginners?</li></ul>Yes, it allows you to learn platform tools and strategies without losing money.<ul><li>How can I manage risks with volatile cryptocurrencies?</li></ul>Use position sizing, stop-losses, and avoid overleveraging.<ul><li>Why choose Bitunix among other platforms?</li></ul>It offers advanced analytics, mobile/web compatibility, automation, and access to Bitunix Academy for guided learning.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Conclusion</h2>Learning how to trade Bitcoin in 2025 starts with mastering the basics—understanding market structure, practicing with demo accounts, and applying disciplined strategies. Avoiding common mistakes and relying on structured education, such as that provided by Bitunix Academy, can dramatically improve a beginner’s chances of success.By choosing secure, feature-rich platforms with low fees and strong trading tools, new traders can focus less on technical limitations and more on improving their skills, strategy, and decision-making.

Bitcoin moves across glowing mint bridges symbolizing trading momentum

Bitcoin moves across glowing mint bridges symbolizing trading momentum.jpg

Bitcoin Trading for Beginners — How to Trade Bitcoin in 2025

<h2>Investigations Expand While Market Data Highlights ETF Pressure and PIPE Gravity</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>SEC and FINRA are examining unusual trading patterns before corporate crypto treasury (DAT) announcements, with over 200 companies contacted.</li><li>Corporate proxy stocks like Strategy, Metaplanet, and others have sharply underperformed compared to the crypto price index of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">SOL</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">BNB</a>.</li><li>Analysts warn PIPE financings and potential ETF competition could pull many DAT equities back to issue prices or worse.</li></ul>Regulatory scrutiny has intensified as the SEC and FINRA reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/sec-crypto-treasury-deal-trading-21d631ae">probe</a> trading activity tied to corporate digital-asset treasury announcements, following sharp stock price spikes ahead of disclosures. More than 200 companies have been contacted since late September after market data revealed consistent patterns of large trades and abrupt rallies shortly before these firms revealed plans to raise billions for&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>, and other holdings. Former SEC enforcement attorney David Chase noted that FINRA’s inquiry letters often mark the first step toward formal investigations, even if not every case advances. The timing of this action, coming alongside a more conciliatory public tone from regulators, underscores that enforcement against selective disclosure remains firmly in play.The surge of digital-asset treasuries has been unprecedented in scale. Roughly 212 companies announced plans to raise close to $102 billion in 2025 to acquire crypto assets, often by gauging investor interest through confidential agreements. However, selective leaks appear to have slipped through these channels, fueling suspicion that insider trading or unfair practices drove early momentum in stock prices. These concerns reflect broader anxiety over market fairness just as the crypto price index shows new highs across major tokens.Performance across corporate crypto proxies paints an even starker picture. Despite Bitcoin climbing more than 10% above its late-November 2024 high and reaching an all-time peak above $123,000 in August, Strategy shares remain 45% below their November top of $543. Japanese firm Metaplanet has lost nearly 78% since May despite Bitcoin being down only 2% from its $111,000 peak that month.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="Bitcoin's candlestick price chart versus Strategy's magenta line.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Bitcoin_s_candlestick_price_chart_versus_Strategy_s_magenta_line_5dd870b460.png"><figcaption>Bitcoin's candlestick price chart versus Strategy's magenta line. Source: TradingView</figcaption></figure>Other proxy names have endured even deeper losses: SharpLink, tied to Ethereum, has collapsed 87% from a May high of $124 even as ETH has more than doubled, while Helius Medical Technologies is down more than 97% this year despite Solana only 33% off its January high of $295. CEA Industries, linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">Binance Coin</a>, has slid 77% since its August peak over $34, even as BNB surged past $1,000 in September. Analysts warn that debt-financed treasuries could be forced to liquidate holdings into downturns, intensifying volatility and distorting the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> of key assets.The financing structure behind many of these companies has added to the pressure. PIPE deals—private investments in public equity—have fueled early surges but often&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/cryptoquant_com/status/1971247382722641928">drag share prices</a> back toward issue levels once lockups expire. Kindly MD, trading under NAKA, briefly soared 18.5 times to nearly $35 before crashing 97% back near its $1.12 PIPE price. Strive Inc. is down 80% from May highs with further risk as its $1.35 PIPE supply unlocks, while Cantor Equity Partners, merging with Twenty One Capital, sits under $20 after falling 70% from peaks, still vulnerable given its $10 PIPE base. Analysts describe this as a gravity effect, pulling valuations back to initial financing levels regardless of broader market enthusiasm.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.11%;"><img alt="Screenshot_15.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_15_773ff0200f.png"></figure>ETF competition looms as another threat to the DAT model. ETF expert Nate Geraci argued that the combination of spot ETF approvals, broad listing standards, and staking features could render many DAT structures obsolete, calling the dynamic “pretty much game over” for proxy equities. He advised investors to stick with ETFs or direct asset exposure rather than DAT firms like Strategy or Metaplanet. Bloomberg’s James Seyffart offered a counterpoint, stressing that ETFs never killed Strategy’s appeal and cannot replicate&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a>-based yield opportunities available to some treasuries, though he agreed that industry consolidation will inevitably cut down weaker entrants.Industry leaders are bracing for that shift.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/blockchain">Blockchain</a>.com CEO Peter Smith, whose firm has invested more than $200 million across a dozen DAT issuers including ProCap Financial, BitMine Immersion, and Ton Strategy, stated that “<a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/372408/capitalism-is-awesome-more-crypto-dats-to-come-but-consolidation-around-the-corner-says-blockchain-com-ceo">capitalism is awesome</a>” and predicted more DAT structures would emerge. Yet he also warned that consolidation is inevitable, as speculative shells and structure-driven plays are tested by market realities. His remarks highlight how quickly the landscape is shifting, where strong players may survive but weaker issuers are already being repriced back to their PIPE roots.As crypto prices hold near record levels on the crypto price index, the divergence between coins and their publicly traded proxies illustrates the fragility of equity-based exposure. The mix of regulatory probes, PIPE gravity, and ETF competition has left investors facing an uncertain terrain where corporate treasuries no longer provide the same leveraged upside they once did, but now carry amplified risks when sentiment turns. This confluence of regulatory action and market data signals a defining period for the future of DAT-driven corporate strategies.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot climbing fragile pastel ladder, symbolizing crypto price struggle

Robot climbing fragile pastel ladder, symbolizing crypto price struggle.webp

SEC and FINRA Probe Crypto Treasury Stock Surges as Corporate Proxies Lag Behind Coins

<h2>A volatile race unfolds across perpetual decentralized exchanges</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Changpeng Zhao declared&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-crypto-perpetual-futures">perpetual</a> decentralized exchanges the next growth phase, as Aster logged $115B in volume and Plasma’s XPL token launch secured $2.5B in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-tvl-defi">TVL</a>.</li><li><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/hyperliquid-hype">Hyperliquid</a> lost nearly 30% of TVL after Aster’s rise, faced fallout from a $3.6M Hypervault rug pull, yet became the basis for a new Spot Hyperliquid ETF filed by Bitwise.</li><li>SunPerp entered the competition by cutting fees to the lowest levels in the market, escalating an already aggressive battle for liquidity and traders.</li></ul>Changpeng “CZ” Zhao signaled what he called the “perp&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/Decentralized-Crypto-Exchange-dex">DEX</a> era,” describing perpetual decentralized exchanges as the next dominant growth engine for digital assets. He argued that the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index will increasingly be shaped by trading on permissionless, transparent markets, marking a structural shift away from centralized platforms. The declaration arrived as trading volumes and liquidity incentives surged, revealing a sector caught between explosive adoption and fragile infrastructure.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.68%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_11_44fa107570.png" alt="Screenshot_11.png"></figure>Data shows daily perp DEX volume reached an all-time high of $104.5 billion on Sept. 26, underscoring how quickly the sector has scaled beyond expectations. Aster has become the most prominent example of this volatility. Aster has become the standout, recording $46.98 billion in trading over a single 24-hour stretch, more than doubling rival platforms. Its cumulative 30-day volume stood at $115.8 billion, with a weekly tally of $101.7 billion, consolidating its lead. The platform’s rise was tied to Plasma’s mainnet and the launch of its XPL token, which secured $2.5 billion in deposits within 24 hours.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_13_1a949715a3.png" alt="Screenshot_13.png"><figcaption>Source: DefiLlama</figcaption></figure>The early momentum was disrupted, however, when the XPL token experienced abnormal price movements from $1 to $4 within seconds. Aster refunded affected traders in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">USDT</a>, stating, “Rest assured, all user funds are SAFU.” Critics noted that Aster’s public transparency was limited, with only the most recent 1,000 trades visible through an API, drawing comparisons to a centralized exchange without KYC.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.15%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_12_39028386ca.png" alt="Screenshot_12.png"></figure>Hyperliquid, previously the sector leader, saw TVL drop from $2.8 billion to $2 billion as Aster’s incentives pulled users away. Its reputation was further hit when PeckShield reported that Hypervault, a yield farm built on Hyperliquid, was drained of $3.6 million. The funds were bridged to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>, swapped for&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a>, and laundered through&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tornado-cash-torn">Tornado Cash</a> before Hypervault’s website and social accounts went offline.&nbsp;Despite these setbacks, Bitwise&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JSeyff/status/1971321112375275707">filed</a> for a Spot Hyperliquid ETF in the United States, aiming to provide institutions with direct exposure to decentralized perpetual markets. If approved, it would represent the first Wall Street product tracking a protocol that has simultaneously been central to both innovation and controversy.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.46%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/0199840f_d85b_783a_a322_b1a54ff31cb5_53131c1e17.webp" alt="0199840f-d85b-783a-a322-b1a54ff31cb5.webp"></figure>New entrants have seized the moment to undercut incumbents. SunPerp, positioning itself as a low-cost alternative, announced it now offers the lowest trading fees in the perp DEX space. The strategy directly challenges both Aster’s incentive-driven growth and Hyperliquid’s remaining liquidity base, accelerating what analysts call a “race to zero” in exchange fee structures. The move has placed additional pressure on rivals at a time when broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> trends reflect heightened volatility, with the crypto price reacting sharply to both protocol incentives and security lapses.The unfolding battle across perpetual decentralized exchanges has become a defining moment for the sector, blending surging adoption, multi-billion-dollar liquidity commitments, institutional products, technical mishaps, and outright fraud. Zhao’s framing of this moment as the “perp DEX era” encapsulates both the promise and fragility of a market that is drawing record participation while still carrying the unpredictability of a casino floor.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot runs across pastel stepping-stone tokens over coin market cap.webp

CZ Declares “Perp DEX Era” as Aster Surges Past Rivals, Hyperliquid ETF Filing, and Record $104.5B Daily Volume

<h2>Token Accumulation Plan and Market Surge Draw Institutional Backing</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>AgriFORCE One rebrands as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">AVAX</a> One, targeting $550M to acquire AVAX tokens.</li><li>Anthony Scaramucci leads advisory board; Matt Zhang named board chair.</li><li>Shares surge 132% while AVAX price dips 3%; major institutional investors back the plan.</li></ul>AgriFORCE Growing Systems, traded under ticker AGRI, is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agriforce-growing-systems-agri-to-launch-as-first-publicly-traded-avalanche-focused-company-on-nasdaq-with-a-550-million-capital-raise-strategy-302562817.html">rebranding</a> as AVAX One with the goal of becoming the first NASDAQ-listed company focused exclusively on acquiring&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">Avalanche</a>’s AVAX token. The company is pursuing a $550 million capital raise to fund its treasury accumulation, a move that could push holdings above $700 million in value. The strategy combines large-scale AVAX purchases with a broader vision to establish itself as a corporate bridge into blockchain finance, capturing momentum from the rapid expansion of tokenization across traditional institutions.The capital raise is structured in two phases: a $300 million PIPE, or private investment in public equity, subject to shareholder approval, and up to $250 million in additional equity-linked offerings. Investors already lined up include major firms such as ParaFi, Galaxy Digital, Digital Currency Group,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/kraken">Kraken</a>, and Cypher Capital. Additional participants span a wide range of crypto-focused funds and institutions, among them Big Brain Holdings, FalconX, Republic Digital, Borderless Capital, Summer Capital, GSR Ventures, Fintech Collective, Bastion Trading, CMCC Global Titan Fund, Hypersphere, Fifth Lane Capital, and HashKey Capital.Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital and former White House communications director, has joined AVAX One as head of the advisory board, where he will work alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a>’s institutional chief Brett Tejpaul. Hivemind Capital’s Matt Zhang is stepping in as chair of the board of directors, providing governance leadership to the newly restructured company. Zhang described the strategy as building the “Berkshire Hathaway of the on-chain financial economy,” emphasizing that disciplined AVAX accumulation, combined with targeted fintech acquisitions, could establish AVAX One as a dominant treasury player.Scaramucci highlighted tokenization as the defining trend of the decade, calling it “the single biggest theme for the next decade of finance,” and stressed that AVAX One provides a rare publicly listed vehicle for mainstream investors to access that market. The firm will also maintain its energy infrastructure business through TerraHash Digital, signaling that the rebrand is an expansion rather than a complete shift.The announcement sparked an immediate market reaction. AgriFORCE shares surged 132% on the news, reflecting investor enthusiasm for the pivot toward digital assets. Meanwhile, AVAX increased around 13.97% over the past 24 hours, becoming the best performing asset among the top 100 biggest cryptocurrencies by market cap. Avalanche itself remains a core player in tokenization initiatives, with over $6.2 billion in assets staked on its network and adoption from global financial heavyweights like JPMorgan and Apollo.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_9.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_9_3990cdc5f3.png"></figure>This development also contributes to shifting dynamics in the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index, where corporate treasuries and institutional commitments are becoming increasingly significant drivers of the broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>. By positioning itself as a publicly traded AVAX treasury, AVAX One could set a precedent for how traditional companies merge balance sheet strategies with on-chain asset accumulation, blurring the line between Wall Street capital and blockchain-native economies.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot directing floating coins on fractured cubes, tied to crypto price

Robot directing floating coins on fractured cubes, tied to crypto price_11zon.jpg

AgriFORCE One Rebrands as AVAX One with $550M Strategy and Scaramucci’s Advisory Role

<h2>Market Reshaping Deal Highlights Premium Valuation and Treasury Consolidation</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Strive agrees to acquire Semler Scientific in all-stock transaction at 210% premium.</li><li>Combined firm’s bitcoin treasury is set to surpass 10,900&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> once finalized, among largest corporate holdings.</li><li>Deal reflects market shift from raising capital to consolidation as premiums compress.</li></ul>Strive, the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> treasury company co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, revealed an all-stock&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.strive.com/news-releases/news-release-details/strive-inc-nasdaq-asst-and-semler-scientific-inc-nasdaq-smlr">agreement</a> to acquire Semler Scientific, creating a combined entity that would control more than 10,900 BTC on its balance sheet. The boards of both firms approved the deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, and the announcement places Strive and Semler among the most prominent corporate bitcoin accumulators in the U.S.Transaction terms show each Semler share converting into 21.05 Strive Class A shares, implying a premium of 210% at roughly $90.52 per Semler share based on September 19 closing prices. Strive described the approach as a “preferred-equity-only” leverage model designed to avoid debt-maturity risk, while projecting that its bitcoin-per-share growth will outpace spot BTC over time.Alongside the merger, Strive disclosed it purchased 5,816 bitcoin for $675 million at an average price of $116,047, raising its own holdings to 5,886 BTC. Semler, which has built one of the fastest-growing corporate treasuries this year through a mix of equity, debt, and operating cash flow, already held over 5,000 BTC as of July. Eric Semler, the company’s executive chairman, will join the combined board, while Strive’s management team and directors retain operational control.The agreement arrives during a year in which more than $20 billion has already flowed into digital asset treasury companies, a trend now tilting toward execution and consolidation rather than capital raising. With premiums over net crypto asset value tightening, treasuries face limited room to finance additional purchases with equity alone, leading to creative structures such as PIPEs, preferred stock, and stock-for-stock mergers. Roughly one-quarter of publicly listed bitcoin treasury firms currently trade below their BTC holdings’ value, underscoring why strategies that boost bitcoin-per-share without excessive dilution are gaining traction.Market reaction reflected the contrasting outlooks for both firms. Strive’s Nasdaq-listed shares (ASST) fell more than 7% on the news, while Semler’s stock (SMLR) surged over 20% the same day, according to Yahoo Finance data. Investors continue to track the combined firm’s coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> impact closely, as the scale of its&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index positioning could influence how other treasuries structure deals in an increasingly competitive landscape.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot controls rising bitcoin tokens, corporate crypto price dominance

Robot controls rising bitcoin tokens, corporate crypto price dominance.webp

Strive’s $675M Bitcoin Purchase and Semler Merger Create 10,900 BTC Treasury Giant

<h2>CEO Denies Allegations Amid Data Exposure Claims and CRO Price Drop</h2>September 22, 2025, brought renewed scrutiny to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/crypto_com">Crypto.com</a> after fresh reports resurfaced about a 2023 security breach that investigators now claim was more severe than originally acknowledged.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/blockchain">Blockchain</a> sleuth ZachXBT alleged that the exchange attempted to downplay the scale of the incident, suggesting undisclosed cyberattacks compromised a broader range of user information than CEO Kris Marszalek admitted at the time. Bloomberg’s earlier reporting had also pointed toward deeper flaws, claiming user data exposure extended well beyond transaction records, a detail that raised fresh concerns about the company’s transparency.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.54%;"><img alt="ZACHXBT tweet" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_1969712380939833447_20250923_025543_via_10015_io_11zon_02a02d80a6.jpg"></figure>Marszalek responded to the allegations with a firm rejection, dismissing them as “misleading” and reiterating that Crypto.com never covered up a hack. He stressed that no customer funds were lost and that the exchange had reinforced its security framework following the 2023 event. Still, Protos highlighted internal findings and external cybersecurity assessments indicating the scale of compromised information went further, with leaked details believed to include user identification, account activity logs, and internal system records, though the full numbers were never made public.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.46%;"><img alt="Screenshot_10.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_10_2ce1a69d54.png"></figure>The fallout extended into markets as Crypto.com’s native&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/cronos-cro">Cronos</a> token slid roughly 10% on the day before partly recovering, signaling shaken investor confidence despite official denials. The decline was particularly notable against the backdrop of the broader&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index, where other leading tokens held relatively stable. Observers noted that the exchange’s coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> valuation faced renewed volatility as trust questions resurfaced, underscoring how security controversies can quickly impact token performance and trading sentiment.<figure class="image"><img alt="chart_11zon.jpg" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/chart_11zon_23ae8bae02.jpg"></figure>Marszalek emphasized that the company remains fully compliant with regulations and continues to work alongside external auditors to ensure the robustness of its cybersecurity measures. Even so, the divide between official statements and independent reports left industry participants questioning whether centralized exchanges can balance the risks of reputational damage with the responsibility to disclose security incidents transparently. For traders tracking crypto price trends, the episode highlighted how confidence in exchanges can influence valuations beyond fundamentals, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/cronos-cro">CRO</a> dip serving as a reminder of how quickly trust can sway the market.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot leaping with shattered shield, highlighting broken crypto price defenses

Robot leaping with shattered shield, highlighting broken crypto price defenses.webp

Crypto.com Faces Renewed Scrutiny as Reports Question Breach Disclosure and Token Declines

<h2>Japanese Firm Accelerates 2025 Bitcoin Target as Strategy Adds Smaller Haul</h2>Metaplanet, a Tokyo Exchange-listed investment firm, has rapidly advanced its&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> accumulation strategy with a $632.53 million&nbsp;<a href="https://contents.xj-storage.jp/xcontents/33500/196a6538/f233/41d3/bc04/0634f13cf7e6/140120250922560689.pdf">purchase</a> of 5,419&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> at an average&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> of $116,724. The acquisition raised the company’s total holdings to 25,555 BTC, worth roughly $2.91 billion, pushing it into fifth place among publicly known corporate Bitcoin holders. The purchase lifted the firm’s progress to 85.2% of its 2025 goal of 30,000 BTC and covered one quarter of the way to its 2026 target of 100,000 BTC.The capital for the purchase stemmed largely from a $1.45 billion international share offering completed earlier this year, highlighting the company’s aggressive fundraising approach to support its treasury strategy. Bitcoin has been positioned as a core business line since December 2024, with the firm’s executives describing it as both a growth engine and a consistent source of revenue and net income. Performance metrics underscored the shift: BTC yield stood at 95.6% in the first quarter, 129.4% in the second, and 10.3% from July 1 to September 22, 2025.To separate trading activity from long-term holdings, Metaplanet set up a Miami-based subsidiary, Metaplanet Income Corp., with $15 million in capital to manage derivatives operations. President Simon Gerovich emphasized that the Bitcoin-focused treasury has become central to revenue growth, while Director of Bitcoin Strategy Dylan LeClair described the $632 million buy as “just the first tranche,” signaling further acquisitions. Alongside the short-term push, the company continues to pursue its “555 Million Plan,” aiming to raise $5.4 billion and acquire 210,000 BTC by 2027.While Metaplanet outpaced competitors with this move, Strategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, added a smaller haul of 850 BTC worth&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Strategy/status/1970097174110167069">$99.7 million</a> during the same week at an average crypto price of $117,344. Strategy’s overall treasury rose to 639,835 BTC acquired at a cumulative cost of $47.3 billion, averaging $73,971 per coin, significantly lower than Metaplanet’s cost basis of $106,065. The comparison highlighted how Metaplanet’s aggressive pace exceeded Strategy’s weekly purchases by more than sixfold, though Strategy remains dominant in overall reserves.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.3%;"><img alt="Screenshot_9.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_9_056fbaa691.png"></figure>Bitcoin’s market backdrop framed the acquisitions. The coin traded with volatility, dropping briefly to $112,000 during the same period, while the broader crypto price index reflected more than 20% gains year-to-date despite staying below the $124,000 high set earlier in 2025.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot_1.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_1_f475d0ab48.png"></figure>Equity performance diverged from the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> trajectory: Metaplanet’s shares have fallen 63% over the past three months, compared to a 10% decline in Strategy’s stock. The contrast underscored the risks tied to corporate exposure, where heavy accumulation strategies may bring long-term upside but weigh heavily on stock valuations in the short term.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot walks across coin stacks reflecting shifting crypto price

Robot walks across coin stacks reflecting shifting crypto price.webp

Metaplanet Pushes Toward Top Corporate Bitcoin Holder With $632M Purchase

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | September 14 - September 20, 2025

<h2>Lawmakers and Executives Outline Next Steps for Bitcoin Act and Industry Oversight</h2>Lawmakers and crypto executives convened this week in Washington for high-level discussions on advancing a Strategic&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> Reserve and reforming U.S. digital asset regulation. The&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DigitalPowerUS/status/1967972937350386143">roundtable</a>, organized by advocacy group Digital Chamber and its affiliates, brought together Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, Alaska Representative Nick Begich, and Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor to examine the proposed BITCOIN Act. The measure seeks to establish a national reserve of up to 1 million Bitcoin, turning into law an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March.Hailey Miller, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Digital Power Network, highlighted that participants saw the reserve as a necessary foundation for the wider crypto ecosystem. Attendees reached consensus that legislation creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is needed to secure the long-term role of Bitcoin in America’s financial system. Many suggested the reserve could be integrated into broader policy frameworks already under consideration, underscoring the momentum behind the idea.On the same day, Republican lawmakers engaged in separate talks with leading crypto executives, including&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> CEO Brian Armstrong. The meeting, attended by House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Speaker Mike Johnson, centered on the market structure bill that cleared the House in July. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis and Senate Banking Committee Republicans continued the conversation the following day, reviewing provisions for the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, a Senate bill modeled on the CLARITY Act. The measure is expected to reach a committee vote by the end of September.Proponents frame the Bitcoin Act as an issue of national security and economic strength rather than partisan politics, though support so far has been limited to Republican lawmakers. Both the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee would need to conduct hearings before the bill can advance, yet neither body has indicated immediate plans to schedule formal debate. Meanwhile, the parallel market structure bill remains in flux as legislators weigh how to define agency oversight and enforcement authority across the crypto industry.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot balances glowing Bitcoin reserve orbs, pastel crypto scene

Robot balances glowing Bitcoin reserve orbs, pastel crypto scene.webp

Congress and Crypto Leaders Weigh Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Market Structure Reform

<h2>Strong Day-One Performance Sets Tone for Expanding ETF Market</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/xrp-xrp">XRP</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dogecoin-doge">Dogecoin</a> exchange-traded funds recorded one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1968794374285725826">strongest debuts</a> of the year, generating $55 million in combined volume on their first day of trading. The REX-Osprey XRP ETF, listed under ticker XRPR, ended the session with $37.7 million in turnover, the largest day-one volume among 710 ETF launches this year, according to Bloomberg. The REX-Osprey&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dogecoin-doge">DOGE</a> ETF, trading under DOJE, saw $17 million in activity, placing it within the top five debuts across all ETF categories.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.71%;"><img alt="Screenshot_3.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_3_f66f0c3917.png"></figure>Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, described the trading as a positive signal for the “onslaught of 33 Act ETFs coming soon.” Issuers of spot&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> ETFs relied on the Securities Act of 1933, but Rex Shares and Osprey structured the new XRP and Dogecoin products under the Investment Company Act of 1940. That framework requires direct token holdings but also provides flexibility to supplement exposure with foreign spot ETFs or comparable instruments if necessary.The XRP fund set the pace early, handling $24 million in transactions within its first 90 minutes, a level of activity five times higher than any XRP&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contracts">futures</a> ETF has managed. Dogecoin’s ETF also started quickly, with nearly $6 million traded in the opening hour. Balchunas called the debut “shockingly solid,” noting that most ETFs fail to reach $1 million in first-day trading volume.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.38%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2_5bf5c31d23.png" alt="Screenshot_2.png"></figure>The launch coincided with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of new exchange listing standards designed to streamline crypto ETF rollouts. Balchunas projected that more than 100 crypto ETFs could reach the market within the next year. Such a wave of launches would reshape the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> landscape, pushing&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index benchmarks to expand their coverage as traditional financial structures adapt to digital assets.While ETF activity was robust, token prices showed minor declines during the trading session. XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a>, fell 1.10% over the past 24 hours, slipping to $3.01. Dogecoin, ranked eighth by market size, retreated 3.52% to $0.266. The moves highlight the gap between investor enthusiasm for ETF products and the day-to-day fluctuations in underlying crypto price performance.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_1_5acea70a28.png" alt="Screenshot_1.png"></figure>This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot vaulting with ETF orb as crypto price landscape shifts

Robot vaulting with ETF orb as crypto price landscape shifts.webp

XRP and Dogecoin ETFs Post Historic Trading Debuts with $55M in Combined Volume

<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