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GM, everyone!
I know the pace of news in crypto, blockchain, and AI never slows down—and that’s exactly why I’m here. If your schedule’s packed, I’ll keep you in the loop. Let’s jump into the biggest stories shaping the space right now.

Latest News 

Vietnam Taps Binance to Help Build Da Nang Digital Asset Hub

Vietnam has invited Binance to set up its headquarters in Da Nang and play an advisory role in shaping the country's International Financial Center. The move includes a signed MoU between Binance and city officials to collaborate on blockchain development and digital asset services. Read more →

On‑Chain Asset Management Surges to $35B in 2025, Led by Yield Protocols

Assets under management (AUM) across on-chain strategies more than doubled in 2025, rising 118% to ~$35 billion, with a dominant share of capital flowing into automated yield vaults. Major contributors include Morpho, Pendle, and Maple (which together represent ~31% of total AUM), and institutional “dolphins” and “whales” now supply the vast majority of capital. Read more →

RockSolid Emerges with $2.8M Pre-Seed Round to Launch Institutional-Grade Liquid Vaults

RockSolid, a liquid staking vault startup, has raised $2.8 million in a pre-seed round led by Castle Island Ventures, with backing from GSR, Rocket Pool, and the Stanford Blockchain Accelerator. Launching the first official rETH vault integrated into Rocket Pool's app, RockSolid aims to simplify access to curated DeFi strategies for institutions and retail users alike. Read more →

AIOZ Stream Debuts Web3 Streaming Platform with Rewards for Users and Creators

AIOZ Stream, built on the AIOZ Network’s decentralized infrastructure, introduces a Web3 streaming model that rewards both viewers and content creators through its native AIOZ token. The platform features a “Watch-to-Earn” system, ad revenue sharing, and direct payment tools, aiming to disrupt traditional streaming monetization. Read more →

ETHZilla Commits $47M in ETH to Puffer’s Liquid Restaking Protocol

ETHZilla Corporation will deploy roughly 10,600 ETH (about $47 million) to Puffer, citing the protocol’s validator insurance and DeFi-native yield as key advantages for managing its Ethereum treasury. The move aligns with ETHZilla’s broader strategy to extract institutional-grade returns from restaking, adding to its nearly $500 million ETH holdings and recent $100 million deployment to EtherFi. Read more →

Smart Home Devices Could Be the Backdoor to Crypto Theft

Hackers are increasingly targeting Internet of Things (IoT) devices—such as robot vacuums, coffee makers, or sensors—to gain a foothold into home networks and capture credentials, seed phrases, or API keys tied to crypto accounts. Read more →

Kraken Survey Reveals Trust Trumps Fees for U.S. Crypto Users

A new Kraken survey of 1,000 U.S. crypto users found that 79% would accept slightly higher fees in exchange for using a trusted platform, underscoring a market preference for long-term confidence over minimal costs. While only 16% ranked fees as the top priority, 26% cited trustworthiness, with users favoring platforms offering reliability, safety, and a user-friendly experience over regulatory compliance or customer support. Read more →

Google Deepens Bitcoin Mining Ties Through $1.4B AI Infrastructure Deal

Google has strengthened its position in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem by backing a $1.4 billion financial guarantee in support of Fluidstack's AI hosting agreement with Cipher Mining. In return, Google gains warrants for a 5.4% equity stake in Cipher, signaling a strategic bet on the convergence of AI infrastructure and crypto mining. Read more →

Cloudflare Launches NET Dollar to Power AI-Native Internet Transactions

Cloudflare has unveiled NET Dollar, a USD-backed stablecoin designed to enable instant, secure payments for AI agents and digital creators in a decentralized, pay-per-use web economy. The new system aims to support microtransactions, automate financial actions across global networks, and establish a sustainable business model for the agent-driven Internet. Read more →

Gate Unveils Gate Layer L2 Built on OP Stack to Expand Web3 Ecosystem

Crypto exchange Gate has launched Gate Layer, a new Layer 2 network built on the OP Stack, aiming to enhance scalability, reduce fees, and serve as the foundation for its transition into a full Web3 ecosystem. The network will support high-throughput transactions, cross-chain transfers, and token launches, while integrating the GateToken (GT) with a deflationary model and staking features to align infrastructure, liquidity, and tokenomics. Read more →

AIQuant Launches Cross-Chain Crypto Trading Bots on Solana, BNB Chain, and Base

AIQuant has introduced a suite of customizable AI trading bots capable of executing automated strategies across major blockchain networks like Solana, BNB Chain, and Base. Users can stake the platform’s AIQ token for governance rights and to access advanced trading features. Read more →

New AI Chatbot Mimics Top Wallet Traders to Offer Crypto Insights

A newly developed AI chatbot launched by Nansen, built using Anthropic’s Claude model, has been trained on transaction data from high-performing wallets to provide market insights and trading signals. While designed to democratize advanced strategies, users are encouraged to independently assess its recommendations. Read more →

Crypto Market Tanks as Liquidations Exceed $1 Billion in a Single Day

The crypto market saw a sharp selloff with over $1.1 billion in leveraged positions wiped out in 24 hours, as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin led the declines. Long traders bore the brunt of the losses, reflecting heightened volatility and fading bullish momentum. Read more →

Brothers Charged in $8M Crypto Kidnapping Involving Armed Hostage Situation

Two brothers, Raymond and Isiah Garcia, have been charged with kidnapping and robbery after allegedly holding a Minnesota family at gunpoint for nine hours and stealing $8 million in cryptocurrency. The case, which disrupted a local school’s homecoming and involved forced travel to retrieve a hardware wallet, is part of a growing trend in crypto-related abductions across the U.S. Read more →

BNB Chain Hits Record 56.4M Users Amid CZ Speculation and Airdrop Frenzy

BNB Chain monthly active users surged to an all-time high of 56.4 million following speculation about CZ’s return and a spike in on-chain engagement driven by new token launches and Aster DEX’s aggressive airdrop campaign. Decentralized exchange volumes soared, with Aster overtaking Hyperliquid in weekly perp trading volume at $67 billion, though it still lags in open interest. Read more →

PrizePicks Becomes First Fantasy Sports Firm Registered as FCM by NFA

PrizePicks has become the first fantasy sports operator to receive Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) registration from the National Futures Association, allowing it to facilitate regulated futures trades on U.S. exchanges. The company says the move reflects its commitment to compliance and innovation in consumer-facing financial products. Read more →

BlackRock Files for Yield-Bearing Bitcoin ETF as Follow-Up to IBIT

BlackRock has filed to launch a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, designed to generate yield by selling covered call options on Bitcoin futures—offering regular income at the cost of upside potential. Positioned as a complement to its $87 billion IBIT spot ETF, the new product underscores BlackRock’s focus on Bitcoin-centric strategies amid growing institutional interest in yield-bearing crypto assets. Read more →

KuCoin Appeals Record $14M AML Fine Imposed by Canadian Regulator

KuCoin is challenging a $14 million USD fine from Canada’s FINTRAC—the largest AML penalty ever issued by the agency—over alleged violations of anti-money laundering laws. The exchange disputes its classification as a foreign money services business and calls the penalty excessive, following a separate $300 million settlement in the U.S. earlier this year. Read more →

AI Protester Enters Fourth Week of Hunger Strike Outside Anthropic HQ

Activist Guido Reichstadter is about 25 days into a hunger strike outside Anthropic’s San Francisco office, demanding the company acknowledge and halt its pursuit of superintelligent AI due to existential safety risks. While similar protests at DeepMind have ended, Reichstadter continues his solo vigil, accusing Anthropic of ignoring public danger in its AI race.

ChatGPT Spurs Rapid Growth in AI-Powered Investing, But Risks Loom

The rise of ChatGPT and similar AI tools has fueled explosive growth in the robo-advisory market, projected to grow nearly 600% by 2029 as retail investors increasingly turn to chatbots for stock-picking advice. While some AI-generated portfolios have outperformed traditional funds, experts warn these tools lack full data access and may encourage risky behavior without proper financial knowledge or risk management. Read more →

SEC Chair Atkins Addresses Crypto Conflicts, Signals Balanced Enforcement Approach

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins responded to concerns about conflicts of interest tied to crypto ventures linked to the Trump family, stating the agency will investigate and enforce laws "where indicated." While distancing the SEC from direct oversight of specific firms like World Liberty Financial, Atkins emphasized a broader push toward clearer crypto guidelines through initiatives like the “innovation exemption” and “Project Crypto.” Read more →

Regulators Probe Suspicious Stock Surges Tied to Corporate Crypto Treasury Plans

U.S. regulators are investigating trading activity that preceded crypto treasury announcements, as firms like Trump Media, GameStop, and MEI Pharma saw stock prices spike days before disclosing plans to invest in digital assets. The SEC and FINRA suspect potential leaks of non-public information amid a $20 billion fundraising wave tied to Bitcoin treasury strategies, prompting a broader crackdown on possible insider activity. Read more →

Bitwise Files S-1 for Hyperliquid ETF Offering Exposure to Emerging Crypto Asset

Bitwise has filed a registration statement with the SEC to launch the Bitwise Hyperliquid ETF, a proposed exchange-traded fund that will offer direct exposure to the digital asset "Hyperliquid" by holding the token and tracking its market value via a designated pricing benchmark. The passively managed ETF, designed for both cash and in-kind creations and redemptions, will provide traditional brokerage access to Hyperliquid without requiring investors to directly handle the asset or its custody, with Coinbase Custody expected to serve as custodian. Read more →

AlphaTON Capital Closes $71M Financing and Acquires $30M in TON to Power Telegram Ecosystem

AlphaTON Capital has secured $71 million through a private placement and a loan from BitGo Prime, using the funds to acquire $30 million in TON tokens, positioning itself as one of the largest holders in the Telegram-linked blockchain ecosystem. The Nasdaq-listed firm plans to scale its treasury to $100 million in TON by year-end, with an integrated strategy focused on staking, validation, and decentralized app development within Telegram’s rapidly expanding mini app ecosystem. Read more →

Sophisticated Phishing Attack Hijacks X Accounts of Crypto Figures

A stealthy phishing campaign is targeting verified X (Twitter) users in the crypto community by exploiting X’s app authorization system to bypass passwords and 2FA. Victims are tricked via deceptive links mimicking Google Calendar, leading to malicious apps gaining full control over their accounts. Read more →

Aster Reimburses Users After XPL Trading Glitch

Aster compensates users impacted by irregular price swings on its XPL perpetual trading pair, issuing the reimbursements in USDT. The move restores user trust following the trading anomaly.

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs See Major Outflows

On September 25, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced $258 million in net outflows, with only BlackRock’s IBIT recording inflows. U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs saw $251 million in outflows, continuing a four-day streak of investor withdrawals.

Kraken Quietly Raises $500M as It Eyes IPO Under Visionary Co‑CEO Sethi

Kraken has completed a $500 million funding round at a $15 billion valuation to accelerate its path toward an expected IPO, continuing its expansion into tokenized assets and institutional services. The co‑CEO Arjun Sethi—blurring boundaries between home and headquarters—drives the firm’s strategy, but his unconventional approach has coincided with notable executive turnover and internal pressures. Read more →

Korean Actor Gets Suspended Sentence in $3M Crypto Embezzlement Case

Hwang Jung-eum received a two-year suspended prison sentence for embezzling $3 million from her own agency to invest in crypto, avoiding jail after fully repaying the amount and being deemed a first-time offender. The scandal devastated her career, with TV shows and advertisers cutting ties amid growing scrutiny of crypto-linked financial misconduct in South Korea. Read more →

China Launches Digital Yuan Operations Hub to Boost CBDC Integration

China has opened a new international operations center for its digital yuan (e-CNY) in Shanghai, aiming to enhance settlement efficiency and lay the groundwork for broader global CBDC integration. PBOC Deputy Governor Lu Lei called the move a "historical inevitability" in payment innovation, as China shifts focus from tokenization to centralized digital currency expansion. Read more →

Avalanche Partners With Mirae Asset to Tokenize Funds and Build On-Chain Infrastructure

Avalanche has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mirae Asset Global Investments—part of South Korea’s $730 billion asset management giant—to tokenize fund products and develop on-chain asset management and settlement systems. The move aligns with Avalanche’s growing DeFi momentum, with its DEX volumes ranking among the top five globally. Read more →

ChatGPT Launches "Pulse" for Personalized Daily AI Updates

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Pulse, a new feature for Pro mobile users that delivers personalized daily updates by proactively researching topics based on chat history, feedback, and connected apps like Gmail and Calendar. Pulse curates actionable insights—such as travel tips, project steps, or meeting reminders—aiming to evolve ChatGPT from a reactive tool into a proactive assistant. Read more →

Elon Musk’s xAI Sues OpenAI Over Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets

Elon Musk’s xAI has filed a federal lawsuit accusing OpenAI of orchestrating a campaign to poach employees and steal proprietary source code, data center strategies, and training methods. The suit cites evidence such as a handwritten confession and encrypted messages, alleging OpenAI used stolen tech to enhance its operations, and seeks damages and the destruction of affected models. Read more →

Falcon Finance (FF) Launches on Binance HODLer Airdrops

Binance is launching Falcon Finance (FF) as its 46th HODLer Airdrops project, rewarding users who subscribed BNB to Simple Earn or On-Chain Yields between Sept. 14–16. FF will begin trading on Sept. 29 at 13:00 UTC, and 150M FF (1.5% of supply) will be airdropped, with more allocated for future campaigns. Read more →

Cipher Mining Prices $1.1B in 0% Convertible Notes to Fund HPC and Data Center Expansion

Cipher Mining has priced an upsized $1.1 billion private offering of 0% convertible senior notes due 2031, up from $800 million. Proceeds will fund its Barber Lake data center build-out, advance its high-performance computing (HPC) strategy, and support general growth, with noteholders able to convert into stock at a premium and capped call transactions in place to reduce dilution. Read more →

EU’s Chat Control Plan Threatens Encryption, Crypto Privacy

The EU's proposed "Chat Control" law would require apps to scan all messages before encryption, sparking fears of mass surveillance and weakened device security. While aimed at combating child abuse, critics warn it undermines encryption that safeguards private keys, crypto wallets, and user privacy, posing global risks to decentralized systems. Read more →

DeFi Protocol Hypervault Disappears Amid $3.6M Rug Pull Allegations

DeFi protocol Hypervault has gone dark after $3.6 million in user funds were suspiciously drained and funneled into Tornado Cash, raising strong rug pull concerns. The project's X account was deleted and its website is inaccessible, with blockchain firm PeckShield highlighting the abnormal outflows.

Mira Network (MIRA) Launches on Upbit and Bithumb with Trading Incentives

Mira Network (MIRA) is now live on both Upbit and Bithumb, trading against KRW, BTC, and USDT with deposits supported exclusively on the Base network. Upbit launched MIRA at a base price of 2,211 KRW, while Bithumb began trading at 2,241 KRW and is offering zero trading fees until September 29.

Swift Tests Onchain Messaging with Ethereum Layer 2 Linea

Global payments giant Swift is piloting an onchain version of its messaging system using Ethereum Layer 2 network Linea, in collaboration with major banks like BNP Paribas and BNY. The project, still in development, marks a potential transformation in interbank payments, leveraging Linea’s zkEVM tech for enhanced privacy and regulatory compliance. Read more →

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Drops in September Amid Price Concerns

The University of Michigan’s final Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 55.1 in September 2025 from 58.2 in August, with 44% of respondents citing high prices as a financial strain. While one-year inflation expectations dipped to 4.7%, long-term expectations edged up to 3.7%.

U.S. Core PCE Inflation Holds Steady in August

The Core PCE Price Index rose 2.9% year-over-year in August 2025, aligning with expectations, while overall PCE increased 2.7% annually and 0.3% from July.

AI Designs Living Viruses That Work in the Lab

Stanford and Arc Institute researchers used AI "genome language models" to design 16 fully synthetic viruses that successfully infected and outcompeted natural E. coli phages—marking the first known instance of AI writing viable genomes from scratch. While the breakthrough opens doors for custom phage therapies and synthetic biology, it also raises urgent concerns about biosafety, misuse, and the ethical limits of generative biology. Read more → 

UK's Digital ID Plan Sparks Security and Privacy Debate

The UK government plans to roll out a mandatory Digital ID system by 2029, requiring anyone working in the country to carry a mobile-based digital ID. While officials tout it as a tool to curb illegal employment and enhance border control, privacy advocates warn it could become a surveillance tool and a major hacking target—especially if biometric data is included. Read more →

Cipher Stock Jumps After Boosting Debt Offering Post-Google Deal

Cipher Mining increased its convertible debt offering to $1.1 billion following the announcement of a $3 billion AI hosting deal backed by Google. The agreement includes Google covering $1.4 billion in lease obligations, granting it warrants for a 5.4% equity stake, while Cipher pivots its Bitcoin mining infrastructure to meet rising AI computing demand. Read more →

SoftBank, Ark Eye Multi-Billion Dollar Investment in Tether’s $500B Valuation Round

SoftBank and Ark Investment are in early talks to invest $15–$20 billion in Tether's new funding round, which could value the stablecoin giant at up to $500 billion. The deal would secure them a 3% stake and position Tether among the world’s most valuable private companies. Backing from these tech investment powerhouses may boost Tether’s push for mainstream financial and political legitimacy. Read more →

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