News linked to both this project and an event.
According to CoinDesk, prediction market platform Polymarket launched five-minute cryptocurrency price prediction contracts on Oct. 28 on a platform regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Users can wager on whether the cryptocurrency’s price at the end of the five-minute cycle will be higher or lower than the starting price; correct predictions pay out $1 per contract, while incorrect ones receive no payout.
According to CoinDesk, Utah has filed criminal charges against prediction market platform Kalshi (KalshiEX LLC) and co-founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara for illegally promoting gambling in the state. Prosecutors have filed a total of 14 counts, including one felony for alleged ongoing unlawful activity, 12 counts promoting online gambling, and one misdemeanor count for gambling. The prosecution is based on testimony from an undercover investigator with the Utah Attorney General's Office.
According to CoinDesk, Toronto-based Canadian lending institution APX Lending announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch Bitcoin-secured mortgages in the first quarter of 2027, enabling homebuyers to secure down payments or full purchase prices without selling their Bitcoin. The company has opened its waitlist and claims it will become Canada’s first regulated provider of Bitcoin-secured mortgages, though it has yet to disclose interest rates, repayment terms, maximum loan-to-value caps, and the triggers for additional collateral calls or liquidation.
XRP Ledger developers are testing a new feature that would allow the creation of blockchain accounts with a zero initial balance, with existing accounts covering the reserve requirement for new accounts, in order to lower the funding barrier for payment applications and automated software to create wallets at scale.The proposal was submitted on October 15 as the SponsoredAccountCreate transaction proposal. Under current XRP Ledger rules, each account must hold at least 1 XRP as a reserve, meaning that creating 100,000 separate accounts would require locking up 100,000 XRP. The new proposal would have a sponsoring account cover this reserve requirement, and a broader fee-sponsorship mechanism in the future could also allow applications to pay transaction fees on behalf of users, though the network's overall reserve requirement would not be eliminated as a result.The feature is expected to lower the barrier to use for scenarios such as embedded wallets, RLUSD stablecoin payments, and automated payments by AI agents. However, the relevant code is still under review, and the sponsorship mechanism it relies on has not yet launched on mainnet. As of October 19, the mechanism had received only 11 of the 35 required validator votes, still short of the 29 votes needed for approval. (CoinDesk)
Odaily reports: South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has stated that its internal mobile system used by employees for work and communications was breached by external parties, with some personal information stolen. The exchange is currently investigating the specific scope of impact, including whether customer information was involved.Bithumb discovered the breach on October 27 and has reported it to the Korea Internet & Security Agency and the Personal Information Protection Commission. The exchange emphasized that the compromised internal system operates independently from its trading platform, and that attackers cannot access customer crypto assets through this breach.As of now, no crypto asset losses have been reported, and the specific number of affected individuals and whether deposit and withdrawal services were impacted have not yet been disclosed. (CoinDesk)
Odaily reports: CF Benchmarks, the index provider under Kraken's parent company Payward, has launched CFB Oracle, bringing pricing benchmarks for BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF and CME Group cryptocurrency futures into blockchain applications. The service provides benchmark data across cryptocurrency, equities, bonds, commodities, and forex markets, enabling developers to build products such as on-chain index funds, tokenized portfolios, and derivatives.CF Benchmarks states that its indices currently serve products representing over $120 billion in assets. CFB Oracle now supports Ethereum, HyperEVM, and Robinhood Chain, with plans to expand to other compatible networks in the future. Payward also plans to use the service to provide pricing data for its upcoming U.S. perpetual contract product, which is still awaiting regulatory approval. The service will compete with oracle providers such as Chainlink and Pyth. (CoinDesk)
According to CoinDesk citing the Financial Times (FT), CalPERS, the California Public Employees' Retirement System and the world's fifth-largest pension fund managing over $600 billion in assets, will cut its combined direct shareholdings of the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks by 26% in the first half of 2026 (as calculated by FT from regulatory filings). CalPERS Deputy Chief Investment Officer Anton Orlich stated that public market valuations are high, tech giants may underperform compared to other investments, and the fund is increasing its private equity allocation to diversify investments and reduce reliance on a few market leaders.
Odaily reports: According to a report by cryptocurrency advocacy group Stand With Crypto (SWC), between May and August of this year, UK consumers submitted 10,092 complaints through its online tool regarding banks restricting cryptocurrency purchases, involving 9,800 users and covering all 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK. Among them, Lloyds Banking Group (including Halifax and Bank of Scotland) received 2,297 complaints, accounting for approximately 23% of the total; Barclays and NatWest Group received 1,569 and 1,278 complaints respectively.The report notes that although the UK government is committed to establishing a comprehensive crypto asset regulatory framework to attract relevant businesses, bank transfer restrictions may still hinder consumers from using compliant trading platforms. Citing research from the UK Crypto Asset Business Council, SWC stated that over the past 12 months, approximately 40% of transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) were blocked or delayed. (CoinDesk)
Odaily reports: Bitcoin Core developers have merged a security policy adjustment. For vulnerabilities that can be easily discovered or rediscovered through simple large language model (LLM) prompts, the previous long-term confidential disclosure mechanism will no longer be used. The new rules allow developers to mark such issues as "easy to find" during vulnerability classification, then backport fixes to all still-supported versions and release them as soon as possible through minor version updates, along with a security advisory and some vulnerability details.Previously, Bitcoin Core scheduled disclosure based on vulnerability severity, with medium- and high-risk vulnerabilities usually only made public after the affected versions stopped being maintained. This adjustment stems from AI tools lowering the threshold for vulnerability discovery: in July this year, a Bitcoin Red Team composed of 16 developers used AI models to scan about 390 Bitcoin-related projects and recorded 4,962 findings in one day, of which 85 were listed as critical issues. Developers noted that continuing to extend the confidentiality period for such vulnerabilities can no longer effectively prevent attacks and instead delays the release of fixed versions; however, the new rules also mean that fixes may lack longer testing time. Currently, no vulnerability has been officially marked as falling into the "easy to find" category under the new rules. (CoinDesk)
Odaily reports: Bitcoin's market dominance rose to 60% on Wednesday, reaching its highest level since May of this year and holding near that level, reflecting investors' preference for holding Bitcoin over altcoins. Meanwhile, Bitcoin fell below $82,000 on Thursday, giving back gains from the previous day's brief break above $84,000. Small-cap tokens saw more pronounced declines, with the CoinDesk Memecoin Index dropping over 5%, the Computing Select Index falling 3.5%, and the DeFi Select Index down 2.5%.Joel Kruger, market strategist at LMAX Group, said that the crypto market's prior outperformance relative to other assets has shifted to trading more closely in line with equity markets, with investors awaiting new industry catalysts. Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Indian exchange Giottus, noted that Bitcoin ETF inflows have yet to form a sustained trend, and investors should avoid chasing rallies while monitoring ETF fund flows and Federal Reserve policy signals. (CoinDesk)
Odaily reports: Crypto wallet backup company Vault12 submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, stating that the SEC's proposed token safe harbor framework fails to adequately address centralized exchanges' listing concerns, and trading platforms still worry they may face retroactive challenges from the SEC regarding the legal status of tokens in the future.Vault12 raised $17.45 million from 38 investors in 2018 through a future token agreement. Its issued Vault Guardian Token (VGT) has not yet been listed on any centralized exchange. The project has fulfilled or formally abandoned all commitments in its white paper, but exchanges it previously approached still require confirmation that the SEC will not determine in the future that VGT remains subject to the original investment contract.The SEC's "Regulation Crypto Assets" proposal introduced in August this year aims to provide exemptions for token fundraising and allow eligible projects to terminate the association between tokens and original investment contracts through a safe harbor mechanism. Vault12 recommends adding a 60-day objection period; if the SEC does not raise objections within the deadline, qualifying filings should have final effect on the agency, except in cases of fraud or material misrepresentation. (CoinDesk)
According to CoinDesk, Ripple’s brokerage Ripple Prime (formerly Hidden Road) has enabled institutional clients to trade swap contracts linked to over 100 stocks, commodities, and money markets around the clock, with the option to use its US dollar-backed stablecoin RLUSD as collateral. These swap contracts track the perpetual contracts listed on the Trade.xyz platform on Hyperliquid, are currently provided under Ripple Prime’s British Virgin Islands license, with plans to expand into additional jurisdictions in the future, while trading firm Virtu has already joined as an early client. In a client report, Daragh Maher, Head of Digital Assets Research at HSBC, characterized the offering as a “gradual rather than revolutionary” upgrade, noting that its current market size remains modest compared to traditional finance, with initial activity likely concentrated among market makers, proprietary trading firms, and hedge funds executing basis trades.
According to CoinDesk, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed documents in court last Friday rebutting the legal challenge brought by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME) against its new perpetual futures policy, arguing that CME lacks standing. The CFTC stated that CME raised only claims of heightened competition without demonstrating credible and imminent financial loss, noting that CME’s crypto futures trading volume has risen rather than fallen since the policy adjustment. In context, the CFTC approved Kalshi’s first Bitcoin perpetual contract this May and indicated it would regulate such products on a case-by-case basis under the futures category. CME, however, argues that perpetual contracts lack an expiration date, do not qualify as futures, and should instead be classified as swaps subject to a different regulatory framework. The CFTC also noted that CME previously told investors during an earnings call that there was no market demand for perpetual contracts and that they were not a substitute for CME’s existing futures products, asserting that CME cannot maintain contradictory positions in court and before investors.
According to CoinDesk, total deposits in crypto lending vaults have exceeded $10 billion, representing a significant increase from $4 billion at the beginning of last year. These vaults are typically managed by "Curators" responsible for selecting lending strategies, setting risk limits, and charging fees. Annualized yields generally range from 3% to 10%, with high-risk strategies reaching 20% or higher.
According to CoinDesk, Didzis Dejus, the Prime Minister's Advisor for Strategic Planning and New Economy, stated at the UN:BLOCK Fintech conference in Riga that Latvia could allow residents to pay personal taxes in cryptocurrency as early as next year. The Ministry of Finance has approved the plan, but technical integration with payment providers is still underway, and neither the names of the payment providers nor the specific cryptocurrencies available for tax payments have been disclosed. This initiative continues the cryptocurrency tax payment and asset tokenization scheme for real estate and other assets announced in May 2025. Additionally, the Latvian Parliament passed a cryptocurrency tax reform bill on October 15. Taxation will now apply only when the withdrawal amount from a cryptocurrency investment account exceeds the deposit amount, replacing individual transaction taxes, and introducing a one-time declaration mechanism. Holders may submit declarations between April 1 and May 31, 2027, to settle past tax obligations at 10% of the declared market value of their assets as of the end of 2026, with taxes due by July 23. Dejus stated that this measure assists investors who acquired cryptocurrencies years ago but lack proof of their cost basis.
market analysts are divided on whether Bitcoin can return to $100,000 before the end of 2026.Ryan Rasmussen, Head of Research at crypto asset management firm Bitwise, believes that factors such as institutional demand through ETFs and corporate Bitcoin purchases, concerns over inflation and government debt, and an improving regulatory environment are expected to push Bitcoin to higher levels by year-end, potentially even breaking through $100,000.Adam Morgan McCarthy, Head of Research at London-based crypto trading and market data firm LO:TECH, expects Bitcoin to trade mainly in the $85,000 to $95,000 range through year-end. He noted that inflation pressures and the possibility of further rate hikes by the Federal Reserve will continue to weigh on Bitcoin's performance. U.S. consumer prices rose 0.6% month-over-month in September, with core CPI up 0.3% month-over-month, complicating the outlook for monetary policy.Luca Invernizzi, Senior Derivatives Trader at Nomura's crypto unit Laser Digital, said Bitcoin will remain primarily driven by macroeconomic factors and U.S. long-term Treasury yields in the near term. However, market leverage has been largely flushed out, and if Bitcoin effectively breaks above $90,000, it could trigger a new round of short-covering. James Butterfill, Head of Research at CoinShares, also believes that the contradiction between inflation and a weakening job market will influence the Fed's subsequent policy decisions and Bitcoin's trajectory. (CoinDesk)
Odaily report: According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement, law enforcement authorities in Ghana and Nigeria arrested 28 people in a joint operation targeting West African fraud networks, involving criminal activities such as cryptocurrency investment fraud. The operation was led by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), with participation from Binance, Coinbase, and blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis, Elliptic, and TRM Labs. Private-sector partners collectively identified more than $11 million in funds that could potentially be frozen, though the amount has not yet been confirmed as recovered assets.Coinbase stated that it assisted in tracking illicit funds, supporting asset freezes, and providing intelligence to investigators, identifying more than 65 victims still being defrauded and helping prevent over $415,000 in potential losses. During the operation, Ghanaian police arrested 19 people and seized 303 electronic devices, while another 9 people were arrested in Nigeria. Additionally, 117 human trafficking victims in Ghana are awaiting repatriation to Nigeria, and participants also provided law enforcement with leads on more than 30 suspected fraud centers. The U.S. Department of Justice said this was the first joint operation of its kind specifically targeting the West African region. (CoinDesk)
According to a Reuters report cited by CoinDesk, Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, the issuer of the stablecoin USDC, stated in an interview that the company plans to enter approximately 50 emerging and developing markets. The reason is that businesses and individuals in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are increasingly using stablecoins for payments and other financial services. Allaire believes that blockchain technology is transitioning from the early adoption phase to mainstream expansion. Allaire also noted that clearer regulatory frameworks, such as the U.S. GENIUS Act, are driving stablecoin adoption. He welcomed banks developing their own digital currencies and pointed out an increasing trend of AI agents using USDC for micropayments.
stablecoin issuer Circle plans to expand into approximately 50 emerging and developing markets to meet growing demand for digital dollar payments in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.USDC circulation stands at about $73.3 billion, accounting for roughly one-quarter of the stablecoin market; USDT's market share is close to 60%, higher than that of USDC.Circle's $400 million acquisition of Tazapay, the newly launched Arc blockchain, and its approval for a federal trust bank charter are expected to support its market expansion; a clearer regulatory environment is driving stablecoin adoption. (CoinDesk)
Tarek Mansour, CEO of prediction market company Kalshi, said that if U.S. courts side with states claiming gambling regulatory authority over such businesses, Kalshi would be forced to move overseas.Despite two federal courts having ruled against its position, Tarek Mansour said he remains "quite confident" about Kalshi's legal standing in the United States. (CoinDesk)