Market Signal Briefing

Aerospace-Defense Equipment stocks are poised to gain from strategic mergers and acquisitions that enhance operational scale, diversify product offerings and expand market presence. However, persistent supply-chain challenges continue to constrain aircraft deliveries and parts availability, which may pressure production volumes and weigh on profitability. Despite these headwinds, strong global air passenger traffic trends signal solid growth potential for stocks in the Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry. Some key players from this industry that investors may add to their portfolio are Curtiss-Wright Corp. (CW - Free Report) , BWX Technologies (BWXT - Free Report) and Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS - Free Report) .

About the Industry
The Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry comprises firms that manufacture various vital components for the aerospace-defense space, ranging from aerostructures, space shuttles, propulsion systems, aircraft engines, defense electronics, missile and radar systems, to flight test equipment, structural adhesives, instrumentation and control systems, communication products and many more. Some of these companies also offer integrated simulation and training services to the U.S. defense force. While most revenues are generated from the production of the aforementioned accompaniments, industry players also generate revenues by providing notable aftermarket support and services like maintenance, repair and overhaul activities to aerospace and defense players.

3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Aerospace-Defense Equipment Industry
New Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) Instill Hope: Historically, industrial majors have expanded their product portfolios through profitable M&As in response to growing competition. In line with this strategy, TransDigm Group completed its acquisition of the Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. Business from RTX Corporation for nearly $765 million in October 2025. This buyout should bolster TransDigm’s footprint in aerospace and defense end markets. In September 2025, AAR Corp. completed the acquisition of American Distributors Holding Company for $146 million. This acquisition expands AAR’s parts distribution business by adding new product lines and strengthening relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Such consolidations should improve economies of scale for the industry as a whole, as the participants will have access to a variety of business models. This should support both their market reach and revenue growth.

Air Traffic View Boosts Opportunities: According to the latest monthly analysis report by the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”), global air passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), surged a solid 4.6% year over year in August 2025. This reflected the continued growth momentum in air travel. IATA projects passenger traffic to grow 5.8% year over year in 2025. This steady growth outlook is expected to benefit aerospace and defense equipment companies, particularly those serving the commercial aviation market.

Supply-Chain Disruption Poses Risks: Ongoing supply-chain challenges continue to disrupt global trade and business operations. Airlines, in particular, are impacted by such supply-chain issues, including unexpected maintenance problems with certain aircraft and engine models, as well as delays in receiving aircraft parts and new planes, limiting their ability to expand capacity and renew fleets. According to IATA, these supply-chain constraints will hinder airlines from reaching their full growth potential and slow progress toward reducing CO2 emissions. IATA’s June 2025 outlook notes that aircraft deliveries are currently about 30% below their previous peak, pushing the global aircraft backlog to a record 17,000 units. If this backlog is primarily due to delivery delays, it suggests airlines are short by roughly 5,400 aircraft — about 18% of the active fleet. With annual production averaging around 2,000 planes, clearing this backlog could take three to five years. The reduced pace of jet deliveries and limited availability of materials for aircraft manufacturing may compel OEMs to cut production, potentially weighing on near-term earnings and cash flow across the aerospace and defense equipment industry.

Zacks Industry Rank Reflects Bright Outlook
The Zacks Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry is housed within the broader Zacks Aerospace sector. It currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #58, which places it in the top 24% of more than 243 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates robust near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Before we present a few aerospace-defense equipment stocks that you may want to add to your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Beats S&P 500 & Sector
The Aerospace-Defense Equipment industry has outperformed both the Zacks S&P 500 composite and its sector in the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively surged 37.3% in the past year, while the Aerospace sector has soared 25.7%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 18.1% in the same time frame.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation
On the basis of trailing 12-month EV/Sales, which is used for valuing capital-intensive stocks like aerospace-defense equipment, the industry is currently trading at 11.49X compared with the S&P 500’s 5.73X and the sector’s 3.43X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 11.49X, as low as 3.71X and at the median of 7.25X.

EV-Sales Ratio TTM

3 Aerospace-Defense Equipment Stocks to Buy
CurtissWright: This North Carolina-based company provides highly engineered products and services for high-performance platforms, and critical applications in key areas such as commercial aerospace and defense electronics, reactor coolant pumps for next-generation nuclear reactors, as well as advanced surface treatment technologies. In September 2025, CurtissWright announced a $200 million expansion of its 2025 share repurchase program, which is now expected to result in record annual share repurchases of more than $450 million in 2025. This share repurchase announcement highlights the company’s financial strength.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CW’s 2025 sales indicates a 9.7% improvement from the previous year’s reported number. The estimate for 2025 earnings implies 18.4% growth from last year’s reported figure. CW currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

Price & Consensus:  CW

Leonardo DRS: Based in Arlington, VA, this company develops advanced defense technologies for the U.S. military, intelligence agencies and allied forces, specializing in sensing, network computing, force protection, and power and propulsion systems. In September 2025, Leonardo DRS announced the launch of its new product line of high-performance AI-enabled Ground Vehicle Architecture Smart Display systems called Rugged Smart Displays – Ground. This launch should further strengthen Leonardo DRS’ position as a provider of advanced combat smart display technology.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DRS’ 2025 sales indicates a 10.9% increase from the previous year’s reported number. The estimate for 2025 earnings implies 19.4% growth from last year’s reported figure. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Price & Consensus:  DRS

BWX Technologies: Based in Lynchburg, VA, this company provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. In September, BWXT clinched a $1.6 billion deal from the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration to support the national security mission of establishing a supply of high-purity depleted uranium. This contract should bolster the company’s backlog and revenue generation prospects.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BWXT’s 2025 sales calls for a 15.1% improvement from the previous year’s reported number. The estimate for 2025 earnings implies an 11.7% rise from last year’s reported figure. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.

Price & Consensus:  BWXT

 

XRP is trading at $2.82, down just over 1% as investors react to the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes. The report shows most Fed members favor further monetary easing this year. Inflation remains the main risk. The federal funds target range is currently 4.00% to 4.

Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Sellers' pressure remains relevant in the second part of the week, according to CoinMarketCap.

Top coins by CoinMarketCapXRP/USDThe rate of XRP has declined by 1.54% over the last 24 hours.

Image by TradingViewOn the hourly chart, the price of XRP is in the middle of the local channel, between the support of $2.7860 and the resistance of $2.8674. As most of the daily ATR has passed, there are low chances of seeing sharp moves by tomorrow.

Image by TradingViewOn the longer time frame, the situation is similar. The volume keeps going down, which means traders might not witness increased volatility. 

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In this case, sideways trading in the range of $2.80-$2.90 is the most likely scenario until the end of the week.

Image by TradingViewFrom the midterm point of view, one should focus on the candle's closure in terms of the previous bar's low. If it happens below $2.80, one can expect a test of the support of $2.6975 soon.

XRP is trading at $2.8239 at press time.

A firmer U.S. dollar and fading risk appetite weighed on bitcoin Thursday, while Binance’s new Meme Rush platform targets surging Chinese-language memecoin speculation.Updated Oct 9, 2025, 1:24 p.m. Published Oct 9, 2025, 1:24 p.m.

BTC reversed the Wednesday bounce with a drop to $121,500 early Thursday alongside flat-to-negative action in the European equity markets and persistemt strength in the U.S. dollar.

Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JP Morgan, warned of a major stock market correction in the coming months.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Meanwhile, Arhur Hayes, chief investment officer at Maelstrom Fund said that bitcoin's four-year halving cycles are dead and the impending fiat liquidity deluge across the advanced world will continue to grease the crypto bull market.

"The global liquidity cycle is clearly turning. Central banks are quietly transitioning from tightening to easing, with rate markets now pricing 90% odds of a Fed cut in October and another in December. In Europe, the ECB’s balance sheet has expanded for the first time in eight months, and China’s PBoC injected a record 1.2 trillion yuan in liquidity last week to support credit markets," Timothy Misir, head of research at BRN said in an email.

This type of macro environment has historically fueled risk-asset outperformance and bitcoin bull cycles, Misir added.

Derivatives PositioningBy Omkar Godbole

AVAX, ASTER, PUMP and XPL lead the decline in futures open interest in the past 24 hours. OI in BTC and ETH has dropped by 1% and 3%, respectively. These capital outflows likely stem from profit taking on longs. OI in USDT and USD-denominated BNB perpetuals listed on major exchanges continues to hover below its September peak, diverging bearishly from the rising spot price. Annualized perpetual funding rates continue to hover at or below 10% for most major tokens, a sign that the market remains healthy without any signs of froth. On the CME, positioning remains elevated in ether futures relative to bitcoin. OI in SOL futures hovers at a record high above 9 million SOL, with premiums falling to 13%, the lowest since early September. On Deribit, the story remains the same: BTC, ETH puts continue to trade at a premium to calls out to the December end expiry. Block flows over Paradigm featured risk reversals. Token TalkBy Oliver Knight

Crypto exchange Binance has introduced Meme Rush, a platform designed for users to capitalize on a wave of Chinese-language memecoins.The platform taps directly into the memecoin craze by embedding early-stage meme token curation and trading inside its Wallet.It sources listings via community launch hubs (for example Four.Meme on BNB Chain), ranking by both on-chain volume and social traction, letting Binance capture speculative interest pre-DEX listing.Its built-in reward mechanics (4× Binance Alpha points) align user activity with monetization. The boom in Chinese-language memecoin projects on BNB Chain is amplifying hype and driving attention across the ecosystem.On PancakeSwap v2, daily trading volume recently hit $15.55 billion, according to CoinMarketCap, underscoring how active DEX memecoin markets remain.The majority of volume has taken place on lesser known memecoins like 币安Holder, which racked up around $1 billion in volume across 163,000 transactions.More For You

Total Crypto Trading Volume Hits Yearly High of $9.72T

Sep 9, 2025

Combined spot and derivatives trading on centralized exchanges surged 7.58% to $9.72 trillion in August, marking the highest monthly volume of 2025

What to know:

Combined spot and derivatives trading on centralized exchanges surged 7.58% to $9.72 trillion in August, marking the highest monthly volume of 2025Gate exchange emerged as major player with 98.9% volume surge to $746 billion, overtaking Bitget to become fourth-largest platformOpen interest across centralized derivatives exchanges rose 4.92% to $187 billionView Full Report

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Bitcoin ETF Inflows Poised to Smash Records in Q4, Says Crypto Asset Manager Bitwise

14 minutes ago

Institutional access, a surging debasement trade, and bitcoin’s rally above $125,000 are setting the stage for the strongest quarter ever for ETF flows.

What to know:

Bitwise expects Q4 bitcoin ETF inflows to surpass the $36 billion record set in year one.Major wealth managers like Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo have opened access to crypto allocations, unlocking new demand, the report noted.Bitcoin’s surge above $125,000 and the rise of the debasement trade are fueling strong momentum into year-end, the crypto asset manager said.Read full story

The Ethereum Foundation has published a roadmap for Kohaku, a new privacy-focused wallet feature that improves security and confidentiality in Ethereum decentralized applications (dApps). According to notes shared on Thursday by Nicolas Consigny, protocol supporter and coordinator at the Foundation, Kohaku is a “set of primitives that provides wallets with security and privacy.

Summary

Regaining its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, BNB price has surpassed that of XRP.
BNB reached fresh all-time highs throughout the rally, which was fueled by institutional and retail interest in the Binance ecosystem.
With robust on-chain activity, token burns, and DeFi expansion bolstering its power, the price of BNB is consolidating between $1,200 and $1,350.
Analysts anticipate that a significant move in either direction may be preceded by the current consolidation.
A decline below $1,300 might cause a return to $1,240 or less, while a breakout above $1,350 might create targets around $1,420–1,570.

This week’s rise solidified the change, which saw a major reorganization at the top of the cryptocurrency market as Binance Coin surpassed XRP to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

The surge reinforces ongoing debates about the next phase of the Binance Coin price prediction cycle and whether Binance Coin can sustain its dominance through Q4 2025.

The recent spike in value of the coin, which was caused by a surge in institutional and retail interest in the Binance ecosystem, sent BNB to all-time highs and raised questions about how sustainable the increase is in comparison to competing narratives like XRP’s legal and regulatory advancements.  

Overall, the BNB price forecast hinges on maintaining technical strength and network activity as the broader crypto market seeks a new equilibrium.

Current BNB price scenario
BNB 1d chart, Source: crypto.news
After breaking previous all-time highs on high volume, BNB is currently trading in a tight consolidation area somewhere between $1,200 and $1,350 following a multi-day rally, outpacing XRP price.

In addition to increased trade in native memecoins and DeFi projects that employ BNB as gas or collateral, on-chain data demonstrate significantly higher activity on the BNB Chain, which increases fee revenue and makes network utilization more visible.  

Together with significant token burning and recurrent buyback mechanisms, these consumption increases have drawn in both long-term holders and speculators and lessened the pressure on the circulating supply.  

Although the overall trend appears bullish, short-term volatility is still high since price activity has shown the usual rally characteristics of sharp intraday advances followed by multi-session pullbacks.

Analysts’ expectation is that price consolidation near current levels could set the stage for the next decisive move in either direction.

Upside outlook for BNB price
Technical models and extension studies suggest an opening toward $1,420–$1,570 as the next significant targets if Binance Coin (BNB) clears and holds above the $1,350–$1,360 range. Analysts and some price-modeling articles even predict eventual tests of the $1,800–$2,000 zone if ecosystem growth and macro liquidity continue to be supportive.  

Further on-chain adoption, ongoing quarterly burns that constrain supply, significant developer incentives and funding programs from Binance that encourage product releases, and fresh capital flows into altcoins as Bitcoin consolidates or rises are among catalysts that could push those goals.  Nevertheless, those optimistic projections depend on persistent network demand as opposed to a transient memecoin rotation.

The broader Binance Coin outlook remains positive if these structural drivers persist through the next quarter.

Downside risks for BNB
The immediate downward pivot point is located close to the $1,200–$1,300 range; if that base is not held, there is a chance that the market will retrace further, either back to previous consolidation zones or toward $1,260–$1,240, particularly if risk-off movements in stocks resume or Bitcoin has a significant correction.  

A sharp decline in exchange volume or regulatory headlines that specifically blame Binance would also derail the rise and may lead to a quick reallocation of funds back into XRP, ETH, or BTC.  Furthermore, the rally pattern driven by memecoins that contributed to BNB’s recent gains is intrinsically brittle; if liquidity thins, sentiment might quickly shift, intensifying drawdowns.

BNB price prediction based on current levels
BNB support level, Source: Tradingview
The key range to keep an eye on from the perspective of the current consolidation zone is $1,300–$1,350. A significant breakout above that level would indicate a continuation toward $1,420–$1,570, while a significant breakdown below $1,300 would significantly raise the likelihood of a retracement to the low-$1,200s and possibly lower.  

The medium-term bias is cautiously bullish due to the combination of tighter supply dynamics from burns and increased on-chain activity; nevertheless, since the rally has been concentrated and sentiment-driven, risk management is crucial.  For the most obvious indications of regime change, traders should keep an eye on volume profiles, burn announcements, and any regulatory news unique to Binance.

Market projection suggests that sustained demand across the BNB Chain and DeFi segments could keep the token competitive against XRP through the rest of 2025.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

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Bitwise Asset Management has updated its proposed Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF) to explicitly include “Staking” in the fund’s name and disclosed a 0.20% unitary sponsor fee—one of the lowest headline fees yet seen for a US crypto ETF. Bloomberg’s James Seyffart flagged the amendment late Wednesday, writing: “NEW: Bitwise files an update to their Solana ETF filing to include Staking in the name and provides the fee. Fee will be 0.20%.”

In follow-up posts, Seyffart added that “no fee for the first 3 months and for the first $1 billion in AUM [assets under management]” would apply—an aggressive launch incentive mirroring the fee-war playbook that helped turbocharge spot bitcoin ETFs at the start of the year. Eric Balchunas, his colleague at Bloomberg, underscored the move’s competitiveness: “Bitwise not playing around, plans to charge just 0.20% for their spot Solana ETF.”

Solana Staking ETF Launch Date Remains Unclear
The amendment signals that issuers and the Securities and Exchange Commission have narrowed outstanding issues on the structure of spot Solana products that incorporate staking, a feature unique to proof-of-stake assets. Earlier in the year, the SEC asked prospective Solana ETF sponsors to submit updated S-1 registration statements—widely interpreted as a pre-launch step once substantive policy questions are settled.

Timing remains the key variable. The US government shutdown that began on October 1 has forced the SEC onto skeleton staffing, slowing most non-urgent reviews and stalling a broad slate of securities registrations. With more than 90% of the SEC’s staff furloughed, routine offering and listing processes are largely paused—an overhang that could push back crypto ETF effective dates even as the paperwork advances. As Seyffart put it when asked whether a shutdown would delay approval: “Yes. I believe so.”

Even with that backdrop, Bitwise’s pricing telegraphs a confident, bare-knuckle approach to market share. A 20-basis-point fee places the proposed Solana Staking ETF at or below the lower end of the fee spectrum that helped bitcoin ETFs achieve mass adoption, and it lands amid a broader “fee-first” arms race that has repeatedly proven decisive in ETFs’ opening months. Balchunas has long argued that “low fees have an almost perfect record in attracting investors,” a pattern that crypto ETPs have closely followed.

What happens next will hinge on two tracks. Procedurally, the SEC must allow updated S-1s to go effective before trading can begin; practically, the shutdown will dictate when staff can finalize those reviews. Strategically, Bitwise’s decision to enshrine staking in the fund’s name and to lead with an ultra-low fee sets the competitive tone for rival Solana filings, and—once Washington reopens—positions the product to capitalize on pent-up demand the moment the window clears.

In parallel to Bitwise, other spot SOL issuers on the SEC’s docket include VanEck, 21Shares, and Canary—each facing final 240-day decision dates on October 16, 2025—alongside Grayscale’s proposed conversion of its Solana trust, which carries an earlier October 10, 2025 deadline. Franklin Templeton’s final date is November 14, 2025, Fidelity’s is December 5, 2025, and an Invesco Galaxy product runs to April 16, 2026. These dates reflect the SEC’s 19b-4 clock that began when Cboe first filed to list the SOL ETFs; S-1 effectiveness would still be required for trading to commence.

At press time, SOL traded at $227.

SOL remains above the 0.786 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: SOLUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Jake Simmons has been a Bitcoin enthusiast since 2016. Ever since he heard about Bitcoin, he has been studying the topic every day and trying to share his knowledge with others. His goal is to contribute to Bitcoin's financial revolution, which will replace the fiat money system. Besides BTC and crypto, Jake studied Business Informatics at a university. After graduation in 2017, he has been working in the blockchain and crypto sector. You can follow Jake on Twitter at @realJakeSimmons.

Ethereum doubles down on privacy with new ‘Kohaku’ wallet ahead of Devcon Oluwapelumi Adejumo · 7 seconds ago · 3 min read

As governments tighten surveillance and AI reshapes data risk, Ethereum is rolling out Kohaku, a privacy-first wallet, alongside a 47-member research cluster aiming to make confidentiality a native property of the blockchain.

Oct. 9, 2025 at 2:31 pm UTC

3 min read

Updated: Oct. 9, 2025 at 2:31 pm UTC

Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

Ethereum is putting privacy back at the center of its roadmap.

This November, during the Devcon conference in Argentina, the Ethereum Foundation will unveil Kohaku, a new wallet framework designed to let users transact without exposing unnecessary personal or transactional details.

The project was introduced on Oct. 9 by Foundation developer Nicolas Consigny, who said the Kohaku demo and software development kit (SDK) will be ready for public testing at Devcon. The wallet is being built as both a browser extension and a reference implementation for developers who want to integrate privacy primitives directly into their applications.

These tools are designed to let users complete transactions while revealing only the minimum information necessary for each party involved.

He explained:

“Kohaku aims to ensure that each party to a transaction have knowledge only of that which is directly necessary for that transaction, and is exposed to the absolute minimum set of risks needed for that transaction to happen.”

Kohaku is only one piece of a larger Ethereum Foundation initiative to make privacy “a first-class property” of the blockchain.

On Oct. 8, the Foundation announced a new Privacy Cluster, a team of 47 engineers, researchers, and cryptographers dedicated to integrating privacy at every layer of the Ethereum stack.

According to the Foundation, this effort is necessary for the growth of the blockchain because “privacy is normal and necessary to ensure that this infrastructure remains usable, credible, and aligned with human freedom.”

As a result, the new cluster would collaborate closely with the Privacy and Scaling Explorations (PSE) initiative to advance protocol-level confidentiality, from private payments to decentralized identity solutions.

Ethereum’s focus on privacyThe privacy cluster work will cover several key areas that together form the foundation of Ethereum’s evolving privacy architecture.

At the research frontier, the PSE teams are pioneering advanced cryptographic techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs, which enable greater scalability and confidentiality without compromising security.

Insights from this research directly inform the protocol layer, where developers integrate these breakthroughs into Ethereum’s core infrastructure to ensure that privacy features are built into the network’s design rather than added as external patches.

Moving up to the application layer, projects like Semaphore, MACI, and stealth addresses illustrate how privacy can enhance practical use cases, from decentralized governance to everyday payments.

Privacy at scale isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a regulatory one.

To that end, the Foundation has launched an Institutional Privacy Task Force to explore how privacy-preserving technologies can coexist with compliance requirements. The group is expected to publish guidelines mapping privacy tools to real-world frameworks used by businesses, financial entities, and auditors.

This approach echoes Vitalik Buterin’s long-held view that privacy should be a “human right baked into protocol design,” not an optional feature reserved for advanced users.

The market appears to be validating the privacy narrative.

According to data cited by Crypto Rand, privacy-focused tokens have outperformed the broader crypto market by 65.3% over the past 30 days, reflecting growing interest in tools that offer transaction-level confidentiality.

Chart comparing the 30-day performance of various crypto sectors on Oct. 9, 2025 (Source: Crypto Rand)Ethereum’s renewed focus on privacy marks a philosophical shift: from reactive compliance to proactive design. As artificial intelligence expands data extraction and governments ramp up on-chain surveillance, Ethereum is betting that a privacy-preserving base layer will be essential for mainstream adoption.

If Kohaku and the Privacy Cluster succeed, the next iteration of Ethereum could make “private by default” not just a slogan, but a protocol standard.

Mentioned in this articleLatest Ethereum Stories

homenewsBusinessThe collaboration expands Ripple’s Middle East footprint, supporting Bahrain’s blockchain adoption and future rollout of Ripple USD

by

Blockworks /

October 9, 2025 09:34 am

Miles Astray/Shutterstock and Adobe modified by Blockworks

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Ripple has entered a strategic partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay, the Kingdom’s leading fintech hub, marking a significant expansion of its Middle East presence.

Announced Thursday, the collaboration will focus on strengthening Bahrain’s digital asset and blockchain ecosystem through pilot projects, educational initiatives, and ecosystem events. 

Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Reece Merrick, said the company aims to help Bahrain advance its blockchain infrastructure while preparing to offer Ripple’s digital asset custody solution and Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin to local institutions once approved.

Bahrain Fintech Bay Chief Operating Officer Suzy Al Zeerah emphasized the Kingdom’s growing role as a digital finance hub, noting that the partnership aligns with Bahrain’s long-standing position as a regional financial center.

Ripple’s involvement includes showcasing blockchain use cases such as cross-border payments, stablecoins, and tokenization, underscoring its focus on institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure.

Ripple’s renewed momentum comes on the heels of major regulatory and strategic wins — notably securing a DFSA licence in Dubai to offer regulated crypto payments from the DIFC, the acquisition of prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, and fresh institutional tie-ups tied to its RLUSD stablecoin, such as the DBS / Franklin Templeton integration.

This is a developing story.

This article was generated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by editor Jeffrey Albus before publication.

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DOGE meme coin founder nails crypto market mood amid brutal $536 million liquidation tsunami

Cover image via U.Today

Whoever thought that the crypto market’s roller coaster behavior only irritates retail traders and casual speculators has been proven wrong once again, as Dogecoin creator Billy Markus, better known as "Shibetoshi Nakamoto," demonstrated in his latest post.

In his signature tongue-in-cheek manner, Markus declared that “crypto should only go up and not down.” The line, a half-joke and half-truth, echoes the long-running meme that “numbers only go up” and, at the same time, captures what so many traders secretly want from this market — a one-way elevator to riches.

imo crypto should only go up and not down

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— Shibetoshi Nakamoto (@BillyM2k) October 9, 2025 Reality, however, keeps reminding everyone that the elevator often goes in both directions at full speed. In just the last 24 hours, $563.51 million worth of positions were liquidated across crypto derivatives. Out of that figure, $363.53 million were long positions, showing how brutal the downside can be for traders who pile in too aggressively. 

Source: CoinGlassThe trigger was Bitcoin’s failed attempt to smash through the $126,000 level toward a new all-time high. Bulls loaded up, markets got overcrowded and the inevitable flush came as a liquidity sweep that punished optimism in the most direct way possible.

Endless upsideThe irony in Markus's comment lies in its timing — traders had just watched their numbers-only-go-up dream collapse in a cascade of red candles.

Yet that is why his verdict resonates. It captures the essence of crypto’s contradictory charm: everyone knows volatility will cut both ways, but most still cling to the fantasy of endless upside.

In a market where humor often carries more truth than technical analysis, the DOGE creator has once again nailed the mood of millions with a single offhand remark.

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The Stellar price today remains in a tight consolidation phase between $0.38 and $0.40, as the market enters the early days of Q4 with cautious optimism. Currently trading around $0.38 with a $12.17 billion market cap, XLM continues to exhibit resilience following its breakout from a falling wedge pattern in the second half of the year. This consolidation near a key resistance area reflects strong market conviction that the XLM price USD could be preparing for its next upward leg.

Institutional Activity Reinforces Market ConfidenceThe latest Stellar price chart structure indicates that institutional involvement, especially in the RWA category, might be playing a crucial role in maintaining the asset’s stability at higher levels.

Since the breakout seen in Q3, large-volume buying patterns have surfaced, suggesting sustained accumulation. Many traders view this as a positive sign that big players are taking advantage of temporary pullbacks to strengthen long-term positions in XLM crypto.

Furthermore, the rising trading volumes point toward renewed enthusiasm surrounding Stellar’s cross-border payment network. As more financial entities explore blockchain-based settlement systems, Stellar’s technology remains well-positioned to benefit from institutional adoption trends.

Sustained Accumulation or Pre-Rally Pause?While the Stellar price forecast appears constructive, the ongoing consolidation could also represent a pre-rally pause a period of accumulation before a breakout.

The tight price band between $0.38 and $0.40 implies that market participants are building positions in anticipation of a larger upward move.

Such phases often lead to sharp directional expansions once resistance levels are breached, which makes this zone a critical watch area for traders.

Potential Retracement Before the Next Leg UpMarket discussions suggest that XLM might briefly retrace toward the $0.31 level before resuming its climb. This potential dip could act as an inducement zone, shaking out weak hands and providing liquidity for stronger buyers to re-enter.

If such a scenario unfolds, analysts believe that XLM could target higher milestones, with long-term projections pointing toward $3, and an extended stretch possibly reaching $8.

While these targets may seem ambitious, they align with the broader sentiment that the Stellar price recovery is more structural than speculative. The combination of technical strength, institutional activity, and growing ecosystem adoption creates a supportive foundation for sustained long-term growth.

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Estonia-based Bringin has rolled out its full Bitcoin financial services platform for eurozone users, following an 18-month beta testing period. During testing, roughly 1,000 early adopters transacted over €6 million, highlighting strong interest in a streamlined Bitcoin-to-euro solution.

Luxembourg's sovereign wealth fund has become the first in the Eurozone to invest directly in bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), signaling a cautious but historic shift in state-level adoption of digital assets.

Published
15 minutes ago on
October 09, 2025

After reaching a local top and price level of $4,760 on Tuesday, an overvalued $ETH price began to fall. More attractive buy levels await below. What’s next for the $ETH price?

$ETH price heads for $4,300 and strong horizontal support

Source: TradingView

Major resistance was retested on Tuesday, which led to an immediate and sharp rejection for the $ETH price. Since that time, $ETH has fallen as much as 9%, with perhaps more to go before buyers start to come in. The signs are that the 0.5 Fibonacci level at $4,300 could be the first place for a potential bounce, but this will likely depend on how the $BTC price is performing. Given that Bitcoin might still fall a bit further, the same could be true for $ETH. The 0.618 golden retracement level may be favourite, although there is even the possibility of a continued dip down to the major horizontal support, which coincides with the 0.786 Fibonacci level.

$ETH bounce soon?

Source: TradingView

The daily chart for the $ETH price illustrates how it is at an important juncture right now. The price is just dipping below the 50-day SMA, but appears to be holding the $4,300 horizontal level as support. 

The small upward trendline has broken, and today’s candle looks to have confirmed the breakdown. Either the price will bounce from here, or there could be further downside towards the major support. 

At the bottom of the chart, the RSI indicator is shown to have rejected from the main downtrend line, and has come back to test a shorter descending trendline. Given that this coincides with the 50.00 level and the yellow moving average line, a bounce could be quite likely.

$ETH bull flag forms on higher time frame

Source: TradingView

Zooming out into the weekly time frame a pleasant surprise awaits in the form of a bull flag. It can be seen that the $ETH price has tried to escape the flag both to the upside and to the downside - each time so far proving to be a fakeout, with the price then rejected back inside the flag.

At the bottom of the chart, the Stochastic RSI indicators look to be rapidly descending to the base of the range. It could take at least another couple of weeks or so for them to fully descend. Once they turn back up and pass the 20.00 level, this will signal strong upside price momentum. 

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

With XRP ETF approvals looming—though potentially delayed by the government shutdown—all eyes are on XRP price. Here are the key catalysts that could drive XRP higher very soon.

Summary

XRP holdings by public companies have surpassed $11.5 billion, increasing demand and reducing circulating supply.
Ripple is actively expanding its ecosystem through strategic partnerships, including recent deals with Bahrain Fintech Bay and Thunes, further enhancing XRP’s real-world utility.
XRP price technicals suggest a potential rally of up to 37% toward the $3.90–$4.00 range.

October was shaping up to be a landmark month for Ripple (XRP), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission scheduled to decide on multiple XRP ETF applications between October 18 and 25. Major issuers, including Grayscale, Bitwise, and 21Shares, have filings pending for both spot and futures-based XRP funds.

However, the U.S. government shutdown, which began on October 1, has put these plans on hold. With the SEC operating with minimal staff, non-essential reviews and approvals—including those for crypto ETFs—are effectively frozen. Since these ETFs are filed under the Securities Act of 1933, they require direct SEC approval to launch. Unlike products under the 1940 Act, which can proceed if the review period lapses, spot ETFs cannot move forward without an explicit green light.

No official update has come from the SEC on the ETF filings, and with the agency still stalled, the late late-October deadlines now look symbolic at best. Issuers may be ready to act quickly post-shutdown, but until then, uncertainty continues to fuel XRP price volatility.

Why XRP price could surge once SEC resumes ETF decisions
Despite the temporary regulatory freeze, the potential approval of a spot XRP ETF still represents a seismic catalyst for XRP price. Here are three reasons why XRP could surge once the SEC resumes activity and ETF decisions are back on the table:

1) Expanding corporate treasuries – $11.5B and growing
Public companies are increasingly adopting XRP as part of their treasury strategies. XRP’s corporate treasury holdings have recently surged past $11.5 billion, fueled by major firms like SBI Holdings, Reliance Global Group, Gumi Inc., and Trident Digital expanding their reserves. As more companies add XRP to their treasuries, the resulting supply absorption and heightened demand could serve as a powerful catalyst for sustained XRP price appreciation.

2) Strengthening global partnerships and institutional reach
Ripple continues to expand its footprint through high-impact partnerships that reinforce XRP’s real-world utility. The company has recently announced a strategic partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay, aimed at advancing blockchain innovation, tokenization pilots, and the RLUSD stablecoin integration across the Middle East. Prior to that, Ripple partnered with Thunes, a top fintech company that offers cross-border payment solutions globally.

3) Technicals signal a potential bullish reversal
Despite recent market turbulence, XRP price chart is flashing signs of a potential bullish reversal. As reported by crypto.news on October 8, XRP price is forming a descending triangle pattern—a setup that, if broken to the upside, could trigger a rally of up to 37%, targeting the $3.90–$4.00 zone. Momentum indicators MACD and RSI are stabilizing near neutral territory, which suggests that selling pressure is waning.

Solana's price may be soaring, but its network activity tells a different story. On-chain data shows that daily transactions on the Solana blockchain have collapsed by nearly 50%.

Journalist

Posted: October 9, 2025

Key Takeaways 
Why has Ethereum’s activity slowed recently?
Internal Contract Calls slipped from 9.5 million, while Transaction Count and Network Growth declined sharply.

Does this cooldown weaken Ethereum’s outlook?
Not yet, as long as daily transactions stay above 1 million, Ethereum may hold structural strength before another upswing.

Ethereum’s [ETH] on-chain momentum has slowed after months of elevated activity, with Internal Contract Calls falling from a sustained 9.5 million daily average. 

The metric, which measures complex DeFi and RWA interactions, had reached new highs in September but now signals moderation.

Despite continued optimism around ETF inflows and corporate accumulation, transactional depth has weakened, hinting that investors shifted from active accumulation to cautious observation as prior gains settled.

Network growth and transactions retreat
Santiment data highlighted a clear pullback in Ethereum’s Transaction Count, which dropped from around 1.6 million to 412K at press time.

Likewise, Network Growth slipped from 150K to 37K, showing fewer new addresses joining the ecosystem. 

The slowdown suggested lighter user onboarding after months of heavy engagement. Even so, such pullbacks often precede stabilization phases if core utility metrics remain steady.

If sustained above 1 million daily transactions, Ethereum could maintain its structural strength despite current short-term fatigue among users.

Source: Santiment

Muted sentiment hints at quiet accumulation 
At the time of writing, Ethereum’s Weighted Sentiment turned negative at –0.35 as Social Dominance hovered near 6.6%.

The muted crowd response reflected cautious investor behavior following weeks of lower on-chain engagement. 

Historically, negative sentiment often aligns with consolidation periods, allowing smart money to reposition during uncertainty. 

However, the absence of a positive rebound suggests investors remain watchful, waiting for stronger fundamental or price catalysts before reentering the market with conviction.

Source: Santiment

Volatility clusters around key liquidation zones
CoinGlass data revealed dense liquidation bands between $4,400 and $4,600 on the ETH/USDT pair.

These zones suggest high liquidation density, where sudden volatility could trigger chain reactions on either side. 

If bulls reclaim upper levels, a short squeeze could ignite upward momentum, while downside liquidations may push Ethereum closer to $4,200. 

However, these zones also reflect indecision, indicating traders are tightening exposure until a clearer direction emerges. The next decisive break from this range could define Ethereum’s short-term trajectory.

Source: CoinGlass

A temporary cooldown or structural shift ahead?
Ethereum’s dip in activity, sentiment, and network expansion points to a cooldown rather than weakness.

While volatility remains elevated, the network’s broader fundamentals—spanning ETF inflows and growing institutional use—still support long-term optimism.

The data suggests Ethereum may be recalibrating before its next significant breakout.

TL;DR

Bitcoin traded around $122,800 after the Fed minutes hinted at more rate cuts later this year, sparking fresh volatility concerns.
Despite slight losses in Ethereum and other major altcoins, institutional inflows into Bitcoin ETFs remain strong, helping to stabilize the market.
Analysts view the current correction as part of a healthy consolidation phase supported by improving liquidity conditions and macro easing signals.

Bitcoin hovered just below $123,000 on Thursday as traders digested the latest minutes from the Federal Reserve, which suggested that officials may introduce two additional rate cuts before the end of 2025. The leading cryptocurrency slipped by 0.08% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap, holding firm within a narrow $121,000–$124,000 range as broader markets braced for renewed volatility.

Ethereum dropped 2.47% to $4,378, while BNB and XRP followed with 2.51% and 1.8% losses respectively. Solana, however, stood out with a 1.11% increase to $223.56, driven by strong demand across DeFi and NFT platforms.

Institutional Inflows Offset Market Weakness
Despite the mild pullback, sentiment remains constructive among institutional investors. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw inflows exceeding $1.1 billion earlier this week, led by BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC products. Data shows that total Bitcoin ETF assets now exceed $63 billion, underscoring the steady appetite for regulated crypto exposure.

Thomas Chen, CEO of crypto infrastructure firm Function, stated that

“ETF inflows continue to reflect real capital allocation rather than speculative rotation.”

He added that while short-term volatility is rising,

“the structural demand base supporting Bitcoin is stronger than ever, fueled by institutional liquidity and macro easing expectations.”

Analysts also point to the Fed’s shift toward looser monetary conditions as a key tailwind. Rate markets now price in a 90% probability of a cut in October and another in December, signaling a global pivot toward policy easing that typically benefits risk assets and digital currencies alike.

Fed Signals Shape Short-Term Path For Bitcoin
Glassnode’s latest data notes that while on-chain activity and spot demand remain robust, rising leverage and crowded call positioning could magnify near-term swings. The firm’s report described the setup as “fragile yet supported,” emphasizing that BTC’s path toward $130,000 depends on whether current ETF momentum persists.

At present, Bitcoin’s seven-day range sits between $118,600 and $126,000, with spot volumes reaching multi-month highs as Q4 trading intensifies. Market analysts expect that a decisive move above $124,500 could trigger a retest of $126,300, while a breakdown below $117,400 might invite deeper corrections toward $115,000.

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Crypto analyst RLinda had previously predicted that the Dogecoin price was headed for a correction. This comes after the meme coin rallied alongside Bitcoin, moving more than 10% to cross the $0.27 target in good time. However, there was a significant amount of resistance that was being mounted at this level, triggering the first wave of corrections. This correction is what the analyst predicted, and with the price nearing the support level, we take a look at the rest of the forecast.

The Reason For The Pullback
In the analysis, which was shared on the TradingView website, RLinda highlighted the fact that the initial Dogecoin price rally was the result of a breakout from downward resistance. The resulting rally had pushed the altcoin upward, ultimately landing on its local maximum price of $0.27. The next phase was simply correction and consolidation as bulls struggled to find firm ground.

The Dogecoin price retracement was further fueled by the Bitcoin price slowdown after hitting a new all-time high. Bitcoin had encountered resistance just above $126,000, and the result was a beatdown back into the $121,000 territory. Naturally, the performance of altcoins in comparison to Bitcoin is always heightened. Hence, altcoins suffered more losses than the leading cryptocurrency.

There has always been a lot of profit-taking in the market, as investors are now more inclined to pull out profits quickly due to the market performance over the last year. Given this, there is now increased bearish pressure at the local maximum price level, making it the target to beat if the Dogecoin rally is to continue.

With the sell-offs mounted at $0.2653-$0.2694, which the analyst predicted, the Dogecoin price has been beaten back down toward $0.2466, known as the first support level. There is demand around this area, meaning there is the possibility that a bounce will form from here.

However, there are still other support levels that bears could test to show dominance in the market. The other two targets outlined in the analysis are $0.2431 and $0.2376. Both of these lie at demand levels and carry very high chances of a reversal. If this level holds, then there is a possibility that the price bounces back to $0.28.

Source: TradingView
“The support zone that is of interest to the market is 0.2466, and this zone is quite capable of stopping the decline,” the analyst explained. “A false breakdown and holding the price above 0.246 – 0.243 may renew interest in growth.”

DOGE bears push back against rally | Source: DOGEUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Scott Matherson is a leading crypto writer at Bitcoinist, who possesses a sharp analytical mind and a deep understanding of the digital currency landscape. Scott has earned a reputation for delivering thought-provoking and well-researched articles that resonate with both newcomers and seasoned crypto enthusiasts.
Outside of his writing, Scott is passionate about promoting crypto literacy and often works to educate the public on the potential of blockchain.

Over the last hour, bitcoin traded between $122,762 to $123,092 on Oct. 9, with a market capitalization of $2.44 trillion and a 24-hour trading volume of $56.77 billion. Intraday, bitcoin ranged between $121,235 and $124,072, reflecting a period of tight consolidation near recent highs after an extended upward move.

The bank expects solana exchange-traded funds to attract only a fraction of ether’s inflows. Oct 9, 2025, 12:46 p.m.

Spot solana SOL$225.69 exchange-traded funds (ETFS) are unlikely to draw major investor inflows even if approved this week, according to a Wednesday report from Wall Street bank JPMorgan (JPM).

Solana ETFs could see about $1.5 billion in first-year inflows, roughly one-seventh of ether’s ETH$4,401.57, analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

But the analysts warned that figure could be lower due to waning on-chain activity, heavy memecoin trading, investor fatigue from multiple launches, and competition from diversified crypto index products such as those tied to the S&P Dow Jones Indices Digital Markets 50. Corporate treasuries could also divert demand away from spot ETFs.

JPMorgan also noted weak demand signals in Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) solana futures positioning.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to decide on roughly sixteen spot crypto ETF applications in October, including solana.

Markets widely expect approval, helped by an existing CME futures contract and the July launch of the first Solana ETF from REX Osprey, the bank said.

JPMorgan noted that expectations are already visible in pricing. The premium to net asset value (NAV) on the Grayscale Solana Trust (GSOL) has collapsed from around 750% last year to near zero, echoing bitcoin BTC$123,450.28 and ether trends ahead of ETF launches.

Read more: ‘Solana Is the New Wall Street,’ Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan Explains

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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BNB's meme coin craze minted dozens of millionaires overnight, but some whales lost millions in FOMO-fueled trades.

BNB Chain is dominating new token activity, according to fresh data from Bubblemaps. Over the past 24 hours, the network has seen nearly 35,000 new tokens launched, and far surpassed other blockchains. The surge was accompanied by an on-chain trading volume of roughly $10 billion.

To put this into perspective, Solana followed with around 16,000 new tokens and $2.3 billion in volume, while Coinbase’s Layer 2 Base recorded about 30,000 tokens but with a far smaller $27 million in trading.

BNB Meme Coin Season Is Here
In its latest post on X, Bubblemaps attributed the on-chain activity to a renewed wave of speculative capital on small-cap meme coins on BNB Chain. The frenzy has drawn over 100,000 traders into newly launched tokens, and nearly 70% are currently in profit. The scale of gains is striking. Data shows that one trader netted over $10 million, 40 made $1 million or more, and thousands earned five- to six-figure profits.

Tokens such as PALU briefly exploded after what appeared to be a subtle nod from Binance founder and former CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, minting over 100 new six-figure earners. Other breakout tokens like 币安人生, PUP, and 4 also generated massive windfalls and produced dozens of millionaires and tens of thousands of smaller winners.

The meme coin frenzy has caught the eye of industry observers, including CZ, who described the trend as “BNB meme szn” and admitted that he didn’t expect it at all.

Lookonchain, however, issued a cautionary note to the traders against FOMO-driven moves after tracking a whale’s costly meme coin spree on BNB Chain. The wallet, identified as 0x2fcf, withdrew 5,090 BNB ($6.65 million) from Binance to buy several trending meme coins, but the bet has backfired. Within 24 hours, the whale spent 3,475 BNB ($4.54 million) on several tokens, all now sitting at massive losses.

Network Undeterred
Individual missteps aside, BNB Chain continued to benefit from a wave of new participants. The network has recently surpassed its long-term rival Solana in active addresses for the first time since last year. This surge was fueled by the hype surrounding decentralized exchange Aster, which has driven massive user engagement and boosted on-chain activity across the ecosystem. The growing demand for the network has also lifted its native token.

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As a result, BNB has emerged as one of the best-performing assets over the past week, climbing nearly 26%. It now trades close to its all-time high of over $1,300, pushing its market capitalization above $181 billion and overtaking Ripple’s XRP to become the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency.

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Quick Facts:

1️⃣ The latest FOMC published minutes indicate general support for more rate cuts.
2️⃣ The ‘dual mandate’ remains in play, forcing the Fed to balance lowering inflation and increasing employment
3️⃣ The Fed’s move sets up the best crypto to buy now to build on the market’s momentum, with the potential for two more cuts this year.

The much-anticipated minutes from the Fed’s September 16-17 meeting finally became public, and they’ve sparked renewed optimism across markets.

Since the quarter-point cut on September 17, Bitcoin has risen by approximately 6.5%. The FOMC minutes suggest that additional rate cuts could be ahead, potentially boosting Bitcoin – and the broader crypto market – even further. That macro shift could make these tokens – $HYPER, $PEPENODE, and $MNT – among the best crypto to buy now.

The minutes suggest a Fed increasingly open to further easing. Several officials indicated willingness to consider additional rate cuts this year, and a notable number of participants expect around two more quarter-point reductions.

That’s a modestly dovish tilt when compared to earlier stances.

But the minutes also reveal the Fed’s perpetual dilemma: balancing employment and interest rates. The Fed has only one tool to impact the market – and that’s interest rates. But lowering or raising interest rates has more or less the opposite effect on each.

Raise interest rates, and you reduce consumer spending by prompting people to save more, in the hope of eventually cooling inflation. With inflation well above the Fed’s target of 2%, this helps explain why the Fed has kept interest rates high.

But unemployment is a thornier problem. Keep interest rates too high for too long and economic vibrancy falls, with fewer new jobs and less growth. That causes unemployment to climb back up.

With a nine-month streak of no rate cuts, the Fed clearly thought for a while that inflation was the greater concern. But that has changed as unemployment has slowly, steadily ticked upwards:

The so-called ‘dual mandate’ is nothing new, but eventually dovish heads prevailed, causing the Fed to issue its first rate cut in nine months in September. The minutes reveal that some governors argued for more drastic reductions – one even favored a half-point cut rather than the standard quarter-point cut.

Bitcoin Responds Bullishly
Crypto markets, always sensitive to monetary policy shifts, reacted positively. Bitcoin recorded a bounce as traders clearly hoped that looser policy would flow liquidity into risk assets. The reasoning is straightforward: lower interest rates ease the burden on growth and raise the appeal of alternative assets.

In this light, the minutes seem to support a positive backdrop for crypto.

At the same time, the release makes clear that future moves will depend heavily on economic data. The dual mandate remains in effect, and inflation and employment figures will be crucial. If inflation persists or job markets remain robust, the Fed may hold back on future rate cuts.

The market currently expects another rate cut; if that expectation isn’t met, there could be even more recoil.

The FOMC minutes nudged markets toward an expectation of a more accommodative Fed that invigorates crypto momentum. But with the road ahead still uncertain, it’s more important than ever to find the best crypto to buy now to take advantage of the volatility.

Here are three you can’t miss – a utility token, a meme coin with mega-ambitions, and an altcoin on the rise.

1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – Bitcoin Layer 2 for Faster, Cheaper Bitcoin Transactions
Bitcoin is reliable, secure, and slow. That makes it fantastic as a store of value, but less than ideal for everyday transactions.

Bitcoin needs to speed up dramatically in order to really break through as an ‘everyday’ crypto. Fortunately, there’s a blockchain out there with speeds a lot higher than Bitcoin’s average of 7 TPS.

That’s Solana – and by extension, the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) – which regularly executes thousands of transactions per second.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) leverages a Canonical Bridge to move $BTC to the Hyper Layer 2, creating wrapped Bitcoin that can be swapped and traded with minimal fees and at lightning-quick speeds.

What is Bitcoin Hyper? It’s a hybrid Layer 2 solution that opens up the full range of everyday transactions for Bitcoin.

🧠 Learn how to buy $HYPER and see why our price prediction shows the token could reach $0.32 by the end of the year, up 2345% from its current $0.013085.

Check out the Hyper presale page for the latest info.

2. PepeNode ($PEPENODE) – Gamified Meme Coin Mining
You don’t mine memes; they make them. At least, that’s until now. With PepeNode ($PEPENODE), investors stake $PEPENODE to upgrade their own virtual mining rig and earn rewards in meme coins.

How it works: You buy and stake your PEPENODE in the presale stage. Not only do you get 731% rewards APY during the presale, but once it ends, you can also mine to earn $PEPENODE and in other popular meme coins like $FARTCOIN and $PEPE.

🪙 Learn how to buy PepeNode with our guide.

Investors can upgrade their rigs, adding more nodes to mine memes faster. You get different kinds of nodes, and can combine them to supercharge your mining capabilities and $PEPENODE yield.

Gamifying meme coin earning could boost the prospects for this little green frog meme.

The presale has raised $1.7M from early backers. If momentum continues to grow, this price prediction indicates that $PEPENODE could reach $0.0023 by the end of the year, up from its current value of $0.0010918.

That’s a potential return of over 110% and puts PepeNode firmly on our list of the best cheap crypto to buy.

Try your hand at meme coining mining at the PepeNode website.

Mantle ($MNT) – Ethereum Layer 2 for the Future of DeFi
DeFi provides ample opportunities for yield farming and staking, but the ecosystem is fractured, with a few big players (like Hyperliquid) and numerous up-and-comers.

Mantle ($MNT) is one of the latter. The $MNT token is up over 300% since last year, with over $255M in TVL on the protocol.

Source: CoinMarketCap
The network provides a blockchain for building more apps, and a liquid staking protocol for yield farming. There are also tools – such as the Mantle Index Four – focused on building out institutional DeFi adoption.

The surge in $MNT reflects rising confidence in the protocol and the token’s upside potential. With more rate cuts on the horizon, appetite for risk assets like crypto is heating up, with $MNT clearly in the spotlight.

Looking ahead, further cuts – perhaps one in October, another in December – require the data to cooperate. Surprises in inflation or employment could force a market reset.

Either way, $HYPER, $PEPENODE, and $MNT could turn out to be some of the best cryptos to buy in the months to come.

As always, do your own research. This isn’t financial advice.

Authored by Bogdan Patru for Bitcoinist — https://bitcoinist.com/fomc-minutes-signal-more-possible-rate-cuts-as-bitcoin-continues-to-climb

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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