A Fee Model That Divides the IndustryRobinhood Chain's gas fee structure has become the flashpoint for a broader argument about blockchain economics, drawing in the founding teams of Solana, Arbitrum, and BNB Chain.
The chain launched on July 1, 2026, built on the Arbitrum Orbit framework, and sends 10% of its net protocol revenue to the Arbitrum ecosystem while retaining the rest. During peak activity, the network collected $4.22 million in fees in a single day against roughly 10.4 million transactions, working out to about $0.40 per transaction. At its peak, Robinhood Chain's fee generation annualized at approximately $42 million.
Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko fired the opening shot, publicly criticizing Robinhood Chain's fee model and arguing that the brokerage's decision to earn revenue from network congestion is a flawed business approach. Yakovenko argued that Robinhood's 10% revenue share with Arbitrum could have covered Solana transaction fees four times over, potentially allowing Robinhood to offer gasless transactions.
Goldfeder Defends the Arrangement, BNB Chain Broadens the DebateOffchain Labs co-founder Steven Goldfeder pushed back directly. He argued that Robinhood chose Arbitrum so they could be a landlord and not a tenant, pointing out that on Arbitrum, Robinhood keeps 90% of gas fees, whereas on Solana they would retain zero and any fees they subsidized would come out of pocket. Robinhood Chain routes 10% of net protocol revenue to the broader Arbitrum ecosystem, with eight percentage points going to the Arbitrum DAO and two supporting its developer guild funding program.
BNB Chain's Executive Director of Growth, Nina Rong, used the debate to make a wider point. She argued that sustainable business models should now take priority, shifting attention from the immediate cost of transactions to the financial structures supporting network development, and that doing so for another five years requires a solid commercial structure.
The dispute cuts to a fundamental question for the industry. At stake is a philosophical rift about whether blockchain infrastructure should function as a revenue engine for the app sitting on top, or whether fees should flow to the validators keeping the network secure. Yakovenko's argument is really about which model should become the default for traditional finance firms building on crypto rails. If Robinhood's approach becomes the template, other brokerages entering crypto will likely treat their own Layer 2 as a revenue line first and a public network second.
Key Highlights SOL maintains its position around $103 following a successful recovery above the $98 support threshold Bulls are preparing to challenge the $110 resistance zone as the next critical price target Strong support foundation exists between $90.46 and $94.83 for potential downside protection Solana dominated blockchain networks by capturing $348 million in net RWA inflows during the past month The network’s distributed RWA value climbed to $4.23 billion, serving 398,644 holder addresses Solana currently hovers around the $103 price point after successfully reclaiming ground above the $98 threshold that previously served as a barrier. This bounce has preserved the near-term bullish framework, though market analysts emphasize that current movement remains part of a corrective consolidation rather than a fresh trending impulse.
Solana (SOL) Price Technical analyst More Crypto Online interprets the present price behavior through the lens of Elliott Wave theory as a Wave 4 correction. The formation displays multiple overlapping three-wave sequences, which characteristically indicate consolidation periods instead of decisive directional momentum. SOL maintains the potential to climb beyond its September 3 peak as part of a B-wave rally before eventually completing the corrective pattern with a C-wave downturn.
Multiple Fibonacci retracement support zones are tightly packed below the current trading range at $102.50, $101.51, $100.53, and $99.14. These price points provide traders with well-defined monitoring levels for potential bounces.
Breaking Through $110 Becomes Critical Objective The immediate challenge confronting Solana bulls is the resistance cluster surrounding $110. This zone recently turned back SOL’s advance and represents the barrier that must be definitively breached to establish a more convincing bullish case.
Market analyst TraderSZ has expanded his long exposure to SOL and pinpointed $90 as the invalidation threshold for his position. His outlook anticipates another upward trend leg provided price action sustains levels above $98.39, which corresponds to the previous quarterly peak.
Should buyers successfully drive SOL past $110 with strong momentum, the subsequent resistance band emerges considerably higher within the $146–$152 range.
Trader Don 🐂 (@DonWedge) shared his perspective on X platform, stating that $SOL is targeting $170, expressing optimism rooted in Solana’s expanding presence within real-world asset infrastructure.
Solana Dominates Real-World Asset Network Rankings Solana captured $348 million in net real-world asset capital flows during the most recent 30-day measurement window, surpassing every other monitored blockchain platform. This substantial influx pushed the network’s total distributed RWA value to $4.23 billion.
By comparison, Ethereum registered a modest 0.77% gain during the identical timeframe, while Stellar posted a 5.22% increase. Meanwhile, XRP Ledger experienced a 5.51% decline and Avalanche saw a 14.06% decrease.
The tokenized product ecosystem on Solana encompasses BlackRock’s BUIDL fund, Franklin Templeton’s BENJI token, VanEck’s VBILL, along with products from Ondo Finance and WisdomTree. These offerings primarily consist of Treasury securities and money market instruments accessible to qualified institutional participants.
The reported $4.23 billion figure reflects distributed RWA value across the network rather than direct protocol revenue or assets under Solana Foundation management.
SOL continues trading in the vicinity of $103 with the $98 level serving as the critical support threshold that must be defended.
Fomo generated $1.76 million on Friday, beating Pump.fun’s $1.1 million, though the memecoin launchpad remains ahead over 30 days.
Social trading platform Fomo generated more daily revenue than memecoin launchpad Pump.fun on Friday.
Fomo generated $1.76 million in daily revenue on Friday, compared with Pump.fun’s $1.1 million, according to DefiLlama data.
Pump.fun remains ahead over longer periods. It generated more than $57 million over the past 30 days, compared with $17.6 million for Fomo.
Fomo combines cryptocurrency trading with social features resembling a social media feed. The platform allows users to view other users’ trades.
In June, Fomo closed a $75 million Series B round led by Index Ventures, valuing the social trading app at $550 million.
The company said more than 68,000 users made their first cryptocurrency purchase on the platform using Apple Pay, accounting for about $25 million in transaction volume.
Fomo also expanded its offering beyond spot trading this year. On June 11, it launched perpetual futures contracts powered by Hyperliquid for users outside the US.
The company said on June 2 that it had paid users more than $2 million in referral fees.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Fomo generated $1.76 million on Friday, beating Pump.fun’s $1.1 million, though the memecoin launchpad remains ahead over 30 days.
Social trading platform Fomo generated more daily revenue than memecoin launchpad Pump.fun on Friday.
Fomo generated $1.76 million in daily revenue on Friday, compared with Pump.fun’s $1.1 million, according to DefiLlama data.
Pump.fun remains ahead over longer periods. It generated more than $57 million over the past 30 days, compared with $17.6 million for Fomo.
Fomo combines cryptocurrency trading with social features resembling a social media feed. The platform allows users to view other users’ trades.
In June, Fomo closed a $75 million Series B round led by Index Ventures, valuing the social trading app at $550 million.
The company said more than 68,000 users made their first cryptocurrency purchase on the platform using Apple Pay, accounting for about $25 million in transaction volume.
Fomo also expanded its offering beyond spot trading this year. On June 11, it launched perpetual futures contracts powered by Hyperliquid for users outside the US.
The company said on June 2 that it had paid users more than $2 million in referral fees.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Solana maintained its position near $103 following a recent recovery above the $98 support level, signaling resilience in a period of market consolidation. Analysts suggest that the current trading activity remains within a corrective phase, rather than starting a new upward trend.
Technical overview and key price levelsMore Crypto Online, a technical market analyst, described the present SOL price movement as a Wave 4 correction under Elliott Wave analysis. This scenario typically involves a complex consolidation, featuring several overlapping three-wave structures. According to this perspective, Solana could see a short-term B-wave bounce above its September peak before the correction potentially continues with a C-wave decline.
Key Fibonacci support levels are present at $102.50, $101.51, $100.53, and $99.14. These points serve as prominent markers for market participants tracking possible price rebounds or further downside.
Technical analysts see Solana’s trading activity as a consolidation phase, observing that, “the formation displays multiple overlapping three-wave sequences, characteristically indicating consolidation periods instead of decisive directional momentum.”
Support between $90.46 and $94.83 has established a foundation for bulls, providing a buffer against potential declines in the near term.
On the upside, sustained movement above $98.39—which coincides with the previous quarter’s high—is considered bullish by many traders.
Analyst perspectives: Resistance and future price targetsThe $110 resistance band remains a focal point for bulls as Solana attempts to confirm a new upward trajectory. This area previously halted upward momentum, marking it as a critical obstacle in establishing stronger gains if breached.
TraderSZ, a well-followed analyst, reported increasing his long position in SOL, identifying $90 as the key invalidation mark for his outlook. He expects another upward push if prices remain above $98.39.
TraderSZ indicated confidence in continued upward movement as long as SOL avoids a clean break below $90, stating, “We have added a little more to SOL longs here, system expects another trend leg up soon.”
If SOL manages to close decisively above $110, the next major resistance is projected in the $146 to $152 area.
Another market commentator, Trader Don, has highlighted a longer-term goal, noting that $SOL is eyeing a move to $170, backed by expanding demand for real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure built on Solana.
Solana’s RWA momentum outpaces rivalsSolana attracted $348 million in net real-world asset inflows over the past month, outpacing other leading blockchain networks in this sector. This activity boosted Solana’s total distributed RWA value to $4.23 billion, making it the top-performing network in recent institutional capital flows.
By comparison, Ethereum’s distributed RWA value rose by 0.77%, while Stellar gained 5.22%. XRP Ledger recorded a 5.51% decline, and Avalanche decreased by 14.06% in the same time frame.
Blockchain NetworkNet RWA Inflows (30 days)30-Day Percentage ChangeSolana$348 millionN/AEthereumN/A+0.77%StellarN/A+5.22%XRP LedgerN/A-5.51%AvalancheN/A-14.06%The Solana blockchain currently supports a growing ecosystem of tokenized financial products, including BlackRock’s BUIDL fund, Franklin Templeton’s BENJI token, VanEck’s VBILL, and offerings from Ondo Finance and WisdomTree. These products are focused primarily on institutional investors, providing access to tokenized Treasury securities and money market assets.
Mini dictionary: Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is the process of representing ownership of traditional financial assets, such as bonds or funds, on a blockchain. This allows improved liquidity, transparency, and efficiency for institutional participants.
The reported $4.23 billion refers to the total distributed value of these tokenized assets on Solana, rather than protocol revenue or amounts managed by the Solana Foundation itself.
As the market digests these developments, SOL remains steady around $103, while the $98 level has emerged as a key threshold for short-term traders.
People's Bank of China increases its gold holdings for the 22nd consecutive month.
China's gold reserves stood at 76.73 million ounces (about 2,386.57 tons) at the end of August, up 650,000 ounces (around 20.22 tons) month-on-month. The People's Bank of China has been increasing its gold holdings for 22 consecutive months. (Jin10)
1 seconds ago
Unrealized profit from a smart money address’s ZEC holdings has exceeded $10 million, pushing its cumulative returns to $11.37 million.
According to monitoring by ai_9684xtpa, the smart money address yixie10, which deployed roughly $20 million into long ZEC positions, has expanded its cumulative ZEC trading profits to approximately $11.37 million. On September 4, when ZEC traded at around $985, this address held an unrealized profit of about $8.465 million. ZEC’s price has since risen by roughly 22%; if its position size remains unchanged, the unrealized profit is expected to further expand to around $10.34 million. Adding the previously realized profit of approximately $1.038 million, the address’s total gains from this single ZEC trade are likely to once again exceed $10 million.
1 seconds ago
Hong Kong stocks closed, with the Hang Seng Index down 0.93% and Zhipu dropping 5.3%.
Hong Kong stocks closed lower, with the Hang Seng Index down 0.93% and the Technology Index falling 0.92%; Zhipu (02513.HK) dropped 5.3%.
1 seconds ago
Administrative Measures for the Online Marketing of Financial Products will take effect on September 30: KOLs must hold valid certificates to work.
According to Caixin News, the "Administrative Measures for Online Marketing of Financial Products" jointly issued by the People's Bank of China and seven other government ministries will officially take effect on September 30, 2026. The regulation aims to clarify the boundaries between finance and technology, and does not impose a full ban on online live-stream sales of financial products; instead, it lays out specific guidelines and norms for marketing activities. It specifies that financial products promoted via official accounts, live streams, or short videos must be conducted on either the financial institution’s self-operated platform or accounts legally registered by the institution on third-party internet platforms. Additionally, marketers must be employees of financial institutions, hold relevant business qualifications, and obtain authorization from the financial institution. This means KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders, i.e., influencers and internet celebrities) who wish to promote financial products will need to "hold valid certificates to work".
1 seconds ago
BonkGuy praised MEME in a post, leading to its price surging over 50% in a short period.
Prominent trader BonkGuy lauded the MEME token in a social media post, revealing he had missed the opportunity to buy it when its market capitalization was below $10 million, before it surged to $150 million in just a few hours. He opined that MEME could emerge as one of the most representative meme coins of this cycle, noting the emerging "crypto-stock meme" narrative remains in its early stages, with MEME at the heart of this new narrative. Following his remarks, GMGN market data shows MEME rallied over 50% in a short period, with its current market cap standing at approximately $133 million.
1 seconds ago
Bitcoin drops below $79,000, logging a 0.99% loss in the 24-hour period.
According to HTX market data, Bitcoin has fallen below $79,000, currently trading at $78,999.99, with a 0.99% decline in the past 24 hours.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
THORChain x RAVN Podcast #232 ft. 0xMuninn, KentonC137 & patriotsounds | September 5, 2026 | Watch the full episode on YouTube
By Raynalytics
TL;DRRAVN is live in public beta with an aggregator that compares native-asset routes across THORChain and other execution venues, then ranks results by expected net output after applicable costs.0xMuninn says RAVN does not custody funds or deploy contracts that hold them. Its retail app is intended to remain zero-fee, while its API is designed for wallets and other integrators.RAVN’s MCP interface aims to let AI agents quote and execute the same native-asset routes, including a path from a $BTC treasury to $USDC settlement for x402 payments.$RUNE support, more EVM destination routes through Router v6, and possible $XMR support remain future work. None was presented as live or dated.IntroductionRAVN is an execution aggregator built around a simple question: if someone holds native $BTC and wants an asset on another network, why should the route require wrapped assets, a bridge, or several disconnected interfaces?
0xMuninn said the product grew out of that friction. After working in Web3 infrastructure, he wanted an interface that could compare execution venues while leaving the user with the canonical destination asset. The result is a consumer-facing app in public beta, plus an API for wallets and other products that want to offer cross-chain execution without building the underlying routing themselves.
The podcast focused on where THORChain Swap fits in that model, why RAVN is building for both people and agents, and which parts of the integration are still not ready.
1. One Request, Competing Native RoutesRAVN is not itself a liquidity venue. It sends a requested swap to multiple execution sources, then compares what comes back. During the show, 0xMuninn named THORChain, Chainflip, NEAR Intents and Relay among the integrations, and said the product had more than 13 execution venues in its routing set.
The relevant comparison is not only the displayed exchange rate. RAVN says it ranks routes on the amount expected to reach the user after applicable transaction costs, and can favor speed, gasless RFQ routes or zero-slippage RFQs when they genuinely provide the better result.
"We never touch any fund." (0xMuninn)That model gives a wallet or user one request instead of a separate search through every venue. It does not mean every route is identical. Each provider has its own asset coverage, execution model and operational status, so the selected route remains dependent on the live quotes available at that moment.
0xMuninn repeatedly drew a line around custody. He said RAVN does not hold user funds, route funds through its own contracts or write contracts that receive them. It is building the routing and execution layer around independent venues, not a new bridge or a synthetic-asset system.
2. The Consumer App Is Only One SurfaceRAVN’s public app is the visible entry point, but 0xMuninn described the API as the larger business path. An integrator can check venue health, request a quote and then execute when it chooses. The API accommodates three transaction patterns: an on-chain transaction, a deposit flow and a signature transaction for RFQ or gasless routes.
"We are baking all of these 13 venues into one single API and providing it to other integrators." (0xMuninn)For a wallet, the proposed value is implementation scope. Instead of building Bitcoin transaction handling and maintaining a separate relationship with each execution venue, it could call RAVN’s API and expose a native $BTC route. 0xMuninn estimated that a basic integration could take 20 to 30 minutes, but that is his estimate, not a guarantee for every wallet.
The consumer app currently supports EVM and Solana wallet connections. For a $BTC-originating swap, RAVN intentionally uses a deposit-address flow rather than asking someone to connect a Bitcoin wallet to the site. 0xMuninn framed that as a trust and simplicity choice, especially for holders with meaningful balances in one wallet.
RAVN is live in public beta, not a finished launch. The team is inviting feedback while it fixes issues and refines the product. Its stated retail policy is a zero RAVN fee, with monetization intended to come from B2B and agent-facing products.
3. Agentic Finance Needs Execution and Key BoundariesThe most forward-looking part of the conversation was RAVN’s MCP server. The idea is not to create a separate, worse route for bots. An agent should be able to ask for a quote, execute a selected route and check its status through the same routing engine that serves a person.
"Hold the keys yourself." (0xMuninn)0xMuninn’s example was an agent with $BTC, $ETH or $SOL in treasury that needs to settle an x402 payment in $USDC on Base or Solana. RAVN could provide the conversion path to the settlement asset, while x402 handles the machine-to-machine payment. The protocol does not change the agent’s permission model: RAVN says it never controls the keys.
That distinction matters. An agent can be permitted to execute, advised to prepare a transaction, or kept entirely away from signing authority. 0xMuninn’s recommendation was to keep keys with the user and let an agent advise or act only within the authority the user deliberately grants.
The product thesis is that permissionless native-asset execution reduces friction for agents that otherwise need to navigate exchange accounts, KYC and several different APIs. It is still early infrastructure, not evidence that autonomous trading is safe by default. Denny pointed to a recent case where a user’s own cloud agent mishandled a $30,000 swap, underscoring why route selection and key control need to remain separate decisions.
4. THORChain Integration Is Live, but the Next Routes Are ConditionalRAVN already uses THORChain for the native $BTC routes it can support today. The next requests are broader than that. 0xMuninn said $RUNE was not yet available in RAVN, and that current THORChain capabilities and temporarily unavailable memoless flows limited some of the paths he had expected to offer.
The recent memoless recap explains why those flows were paused while the protocol reviews their defenses. RAVN’s experience also surfaced an implementation detail: a memoless $BTC swap can require a unique inbound amount so the protocol can match the transaction without a memo. 0xMuninn initially found that unexpected, then said the documented design made sense once he understood it.
"I’m waiting for Router v6." (0xMuninn)Router v6 could make more EVM destination addresses available, which is the immediate expansion 0xMuninn emphasized. Kenton and Denny described the work as close or largely complete, but gave no reliable activation date. The honest status is work in progress, not a launch promise.
$XMR is another potential addition, not a committed route. 0xMuninn wants to study the technical dependencies and user demand after THORChain’s Monero integration is established. He also declined to add custody-based privacy hops to RAVN simply to offer a privacy feature, arguing that a route can obscure activity without providing the same properties as an on-chain privacy asset.
What to WatchRAVN beta feedback: whether public testing changes the app’s available routes, wallet support or execution experience.B2B integrations: whether a wallet or application adopts the API for native $BTC execution, beyond RAVN’s own interface.Agent permissions: how RAVN’s MCP users set signing authority and transaction constraints as agentic flows mature.Router v6: whether THORChain activates the expanded destination capability RAVN wants, and which routes it enables in practice.$RUNE and $XMR: whether RAVN adds these assets after its technical and product reviews. Neither was live at the time of the podcast.More THORChain data, check out raynalytics.net
Follow Raynalytics for more Weekly Analytics and Podcast recaps.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Ondo Finance is pulling back USDY issuance from two of its supported networks. Ondo will discontinue minting USDY on Aptos and Noble effective September 8, 2026. The update does not affect USDY on other supported networks.
Why Osmosis and Mantra Holders Are Also AffectedThe change extends beyond Aptos and Noble directly. Because USDY on Osmosis and Mantra is bridged from Noble via IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication), holders on those networks are caught up in the transition as well. Ondo has confirmed that USDY will remain fully backed throughout the process, and that all affected holders will have a clear path to either migrate or exit.
What Holders Need to DoThe options available depend on the size of a holder's position. Holders with at least 1,000 USDY can bridge to another supported network or redeem directly with Ondo at net asset value (NAV). That migration and redemption window stays open until September 8, 2027, giving larger holders a full year to act.
Holders with less than 1,000 USDY have a shorter runway. They can use third-party market liquidity to exit during a transition period that closes on December 7, 2026. Osmosis and Mantra holders have an additional route available: they can bridge their USDY back to Noble first, then follow whichever redemption or exit path applies to their position size.
The key point is that this is a change to where USDY can be issued, not a wind-down of the token itself or its backing. Holders on Ethereum, Solana, Mantle, Sui, and other supported networks are unaffected.
Sources:
Ondo Finance: USDY Product Page
Ondo Finance: USDY Documentation
Eco: Ondo USDY Tokenized Treasuries Explained
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Raydium, a decentralized exchange (DEX) in the Solana ecosystem, announced that its LaunchLab now supports trading for any token pair on the platform. This upgrade brings a flexible trading pair mechanism directly to the Solana ecosystem, delivering deeper liquidity, lower transaction fees, and a more favorable market environment for meme coin trading.
Bittensor (TAO) is trading in the green on Monday, continuing a steady upward trend over the last five days, with a 25% gain. Social chatter surrounding Bittensor is increasing amid a similarly named meme coin launched on Solana and the release of ChatGPT-6 Astra. The technical outlook for TAO is bullish as momentum strengthens and buyers target the $300 breakout.
Solana’s meme coin and ChatGPT-6 Astra boost Bittensor’s social volumeBittensor is gaining retail strength and social volume following its 16% rally last week. A Bittensor-parody meme coin named Buttensor (BUTT) launched on Raydium, a Solana-based Decentralized Exchange (DEX), on Monday, paired against TAO. The parody meme coin follows the official launch of the TAO token on Raydium the previous day.
Meme coin's setup directs transaction fees to automatically buy TAO tokens and distribute them to BUTT meme coin holders. This constant buying pressure is driven by retail demand, and speculation funnels capital inflow into the Bittensor ecosystem through direct purchases and indirectly through the meme coin.
In addition, the release of ChatGPT-6 Astra renews demand for AI tokens in the cryptocurrency market. Santiment data shows the Social Dominance of TAO rose to 0.05% on Thursday upon Astra’s release and has since increased to 0.12%, driven by the emergence of the Buttensor meme coin.
TAO social dominance data. Source: SantimentOn the derivatives side, CoinGlass data shows that TAO Open Interest (OI) stands at a three-month high of $428.57 million, suggesting a steady build in positions.
TAO Open Interest chart. Source: CoinGlassTechnical outlook: Could TAO extend gains above $300?Bittensor edges higher on Monday after a 12% rise the previous day, extending a strong bullish bias as the price trades at a two-month high. The AI-token trades well above the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), which are clustered between roughly $221 and $236.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 70 on the daily chart shows overbought conditions, signaling vulnerability to a cooling phase, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains positive above its signal line, suggesting upside momentum is intact.
The immediate resistance for TAO aligns with the $300 psychological threshold, where a confirmed breakout could open the path toward the September 13, 2025 high at $369.
TAO/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, initial support appears at the 200-day EMA near $236, with additional demand seen around the 100-day EMA at $222 and the 50-day EMA at $220, if a deeper pullback unfolds.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Raydium has expanded LaunchLab to support trading between any token pair, with LaunchOnSF’s StonkFun becoming the first integration to use the new system on Solana.
Summary
Raydium LaunchLab now allows newly launched tokens to be paired with any supported quote token on the platform. StonkFun has become the first integration to use the new model after changes to Raydium programs, aggregators and trading terminals. StonkFun said deployment costs have fallen to 0.03 SOL from 0.29 SOL, while liquidity fees can be directed back into liquidity. The upgrade expands LaunchLab more than a year after Raydium introduced the platform following Pump.fun’s move to its own PumpSwap exchange. According to Raydium’s Sept. 7 announcement on X, LaunchLab can now pair a newly launched token with any quote token supported through Raydium, removing the fixed pairing structure used by many token launch platforms. Raydium said the upgrade brings more flexible token pairing, deeper liquidity and lower fees for memecoin trading.
LaunchLab now supports any token pair on Raydium.
The upgrade brings flexible pairing directly to Solana, with deeper liquidity, lower fees, and stronger meme-native trading.@LaunchOnSF is the first integration partner to bring the model live on LaunchLab. pic.twitter.com/c3NFuYCRWI
— Raydium (@Raydium) September 6, 2026 LaunchOnSF confirmed that its StonkFun platform is the first integration partner to bring the feature live. Its team spent the previous week preparing the integration, which required changes across Raydium’s programs, trading terminals and aggregators before custom quote tokens could be supported.
Raydium LaunchLab now supports custom token pairs Under the new system, creators can select the quote token used for a LaunchLab deployment, allowing communities to build markets around assets other than the standard quote tokens commonly used for new Solana launches.
Raydium described the feature as the ability to launch “any token, paired with any quote token.” LaunchOnSF said Raydium updated its programs to accommodate custom quote and reward tokens, while aggregators and trading terminals needed to support routing for the resulting pairs.
The integration covers permissionless deployments, bonding curves and constant product market maker pools. LaunchOnSF said deployment costs through StonkFun have been reduced to 0.03 SOL from 0.29 SOL, while liquidity provider fees can be directed back into liquidity.
Developers do not have to use the StonkFun API to deploy tokens and can construct transactions themselves. LaunchOnSF said the system was built to reduce problems it had encountered with snipers and launches concentrated in a single wallet.
Ahead of the integration, StonkFun reported more than $392 million in total trading volume, including roughly $219 million routed through Raydium. The platform had generated $1.21 million in revenue and distributed more than $5.35 million in rewards to ecosystem holders.
More than $705,000 had been spent on buybacks and burns of its ecosystem token, while another $68,000 went toward buying and burning tokens from its 10 largest ecosystem projects, according to figures published by LaunchOnSF.
LaunchLab followed Pump.fun’s move away from Raydium Raydium first disclosed LaunchLab in March 2025 after Pump.fun began working on its own automated market maker. The platform offered creators different pricing curves and allowed third party interfaces to build on the underlying infrastructure and set their own transaction fees.
Crypto.news previously reported on Raydium’s LaunchLab plans in March 2025. An anonymous Raydium developer said at the time that the product had been under development for several months but had initially been kept on the sidelines while Pump.fun continued using Raydium for liquidity.
LaunchLab officially went live in April 2025, allowing users to create, customize and trade tokens through Raydium. Projects crossing the original 85 SOL threshold were automatically moved into Raydium’s automated market maker.
Raydium introduced customizable bonding curves, no migration cost and a 1% trading fee under the initial model. The protocol said 25% of trading fees collected through LaunchLab would be used to buy back RAY.
More than 10 projects had passed the 85 SOL threshold shortly after LaunchLab opened, while RAY rose roughly 13% following the launch before giving back part of the move.
LaunchLab arrived after Pump.fun changed a relationship that had directed a steady flow of newly created memecoins toward Raydium.
Tokens launched through Pump.fun had historically moved into Raydium liquidity pools after completing their bonding curves. Pump.fun began testing its own automated market maker in February 2025, opening a path for graduated tokens to remain inside its own trading infrastructure.
PumpSwap ended Pump.fun’s reliance on Raydium Pump.fun formally moved away from the previous setup when it launched the PumpSwap DEX in March 2025.
Built around a constant product automated market maker similar to Raydium v4 and Uniswap v2, PumpSwap allowed tokens completing Pump.fun bonding curves to migrate directly to its own liquidity pools. Users could create pools, provide liquidity and trade tokens without sending graduated launches to Raydium.
PumpSwap introduced instant migrations and removed the six SOL migration fee previously associated with the process. The platform initially charged 0.25% on trades, allocating 0.20% to liquidity providers and 0.05% to the protocol.
Trading activity climbed quickly. PumpSwap captured 21% of Solana DEX trading about a week after launch, with cumulative volume exceeding $1.2 billion. Raydium remained ahead with a 57.4% share at the time.
By March 30, PumpSwap had recorded $2.43 billion in volume, alongside $5.4 million in protocol fees, around 700,000 active wallets and 30.59 million swaps. Raydium accounted for 74% of Solana DEX volume on that date, compared with PumpSwap’s 8%.
Raydium had entered the contest from a strong position in memecoin trading. A CEX.io report showed its memecoin volume share rising from 77% to 83% during the first quarter of 2025.
Pump.fun was responsible for more than half of daily SPL token creation at the time, with tokens previously flowing into Raydium after meeting Pump.fun’s graduation requirements. That pipeline changed once PumpSwap began taking the migrations directly.
Raydium remains a major Solana trading venue Despite heavier competition among Solana exchanges and launchpads, Raydium has remained one of the network’s largest execution venues.
Across 2025, the protocol processed $352.8 billion in execution layer DEX volume. Meteora followed with $113.7 billion, while Orca and SolFi recorded $103.9 billion and $97.9 billion, respectively.
More recent activity has remained spread across several Solana venues. On Aug. 21, 2026, Solana generated approximately $2.8 billion in daily decentralized exchange spot volume. PumpSwap processed roughly $485 million, followed by BisonFi at $466 million, Orca at $307 million, Raydium at $260 million and Manifest at $218 million.
The five platforms together accounted for approximately $1.74 billion of the network’s daily total.
LaunchLab’s latest update changes the type of markets that can be created through Raydium’s launch infrastructure. Instead of requiring creators to launch against a predetermined quote asset, StonkFun deployments can select another supported token and carry that pairing through the bonding curve and subsequent liquidity setup.
Raydium ecosystem contributor Infra said the structure lets a community pair a meme token with another asset its users already follow and use the same asset for rewards. LaunchOnSF became the first partner to put that model into production through StonkFun following the Sept. 7 rollout.
Analysis: Bitcoin has experienced the sharpest deleveraging since 2023, yet new liquidation risks remain.
CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost wrote in a post that Bitcoin has recently experienced the most severe deleveraging cycle since 2023. In a market long dominated by futures trading volume, Binance’s Open Interest (OI) has dropped significantly, once falling below its 180-day moving average, a sign of the intensity and speed of this deleveraging process. Darkfost argues this process is necessary for Bitcoin. As prices corrected, the market forced previously over-sized long and short positions to be closed or liquidated. This cycle also saw one of the largest liquidation events in Bitcoin’s history. However, despite the sharp deleveraging, Binance’s current Open Interest stands at around $9.6 billion, higher than the 180-day average of roughly $8.3 billion, accounting for about 37% of Bitcoin’s total network-wide Open Interest. This level is even higher than during the May market rally, when BTC briefly rebounded to $82,000. Darkfost points out that while this adjustment has dealt a clear blow to traders, leveraged funds have seemingly quickly returned to the market, becoming one of the key drivers of BTC’s recent rebound. That said, current market leverage levels remain elevated, and if leverage accumulates excessively again in the future, it could still trigger another round of sharp deleveraging.
3 minutes ago
Serenity: Samsung and SK Hynix’s memory inventories have dropped below 10 days, with the global storage market set to face its tightest supply-demand balance ever in 2027.
Serenity released a report stating that Samsung and SK Hynix’s memory inventories have fallen to less than 10 days of supply, with a potential severe shortage next year. KB Securities forecasts the memory market could face "the tightest supply conditions in history" in 2027. In this regard, Serenity pointed out that KB Securities projects the proportion of memory costs in AI infrastructure spending will rise from around 40% this year to 57% next year, while TrendForce’s forecast is even higher at 68%. Meanwhile, related storage stocks have dropped roughly 38% from their highs over the past three months, and their price-to-earnings ratio has fallen to around 3 times based on next year’s expected earnings. On the NAND front, market commentary surrounding Phison also points to extremely tight supply in 2027. Serenity noted that the surge in NAND prices has forced some Chinese consumer-grade storage module makers to clear inventories, creating an opportunity for Phison to purchase stock at low prices—illustrating that localized price declines and overall supply shortages can coexist. Serenity said that against the backdrop of growing AI demand and storage’s rising cost share in AI infrastructure, South Korean storage stocks and U.S.-listed related companies including Micron (MU) and SanDisk (SNDK) may benefit from 2027’s supply-demand tightness and growth in infrastructure spending.
3 minutes ago
Analysis: DRAM industry revenue surged 59.5% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026, with AI demand growth still outpacing supply expansion.
TrendForce released its latest memory industry research, showing that in Q2 2026, driven by a sharp rise in contract prices for conventional DRAM, overall DRAM industry revenue rose 59.5% quarter-on-quarter to approximately $154.73 billion. On the demand front, as LLM model training and AI inference continue to fuel demand for AI servers, shipments of HBM3e, LPDDR5X, and high-capacity RDIMM have grown in parallel; agentic AI applications have further driven procurement demand for RDIMMs of various capacity specifications. On the supply side, TrendForce stated that DRAM manufacturers currently hold low inventories, and new production capacity is prioritized for the server market, leading to only a modest increase in overall DRAM bit shipments in the quarter. The pace of supply expansion remains slower than demand growth spurred by AI and other applications.
3 minutes ago
Cozy Finance has suffered a sustained attack on Optimism, with approximately $170,000 in funds stolen.
Per Blockaid's monitoring, DeFi risk management protocol Cozy Finance’s deployment on the Optimism blockchain is facing a sustained attack. Attackers have so far stolen around $170,000 in assets. Blockaid has since released preliminary attack details, flagging the malicious transactions and linked attacker addresses. Multiple attacker addresses have been confirmed, plus one token address suspected to have been exploited in the breach. It remains unclear whether the attack is still ongoing, and users are advised to exercise caution when interacting with Cozy Finance-related smart contracts.
3 minutes ago
South Korea's KOSPI index closed up 4.6%, while SK Hynix rose 8.26% at the close.
According to Bitget market data, South Korea’s KOSPI index closed up 308.19 points on Monday, September 7, with a 4.61% gain to end at 6995.4 points. SK Hynix rose 8.26% in closing, while Samsung Electronics gained 5.68%.
3 minutes ago
Ethereum (ETH) fell below the $2,500 mark, posting an intraday gain of 0.79%.
According to HTX market data, Ethereum (ETH) has fallen below the $2500 threshold, currently trading at $2497.3, with a daily gain of 0.79%.
Analysis: DRAM industry revenue surged 59.5% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026, with AI demand growth still outpacing supply expansion.
TrendForce released its latest memory industry research, showing that in Q2 2026, driven by a sharp rise in contract prices for conventional DRAM, overall DRAM industry revenue rose 59.5% quarter-on-quarter to approximately $154.73 billion. On the demand front, as LLM model training and AI inference continue to fuel demand for AI servers, shipments of HBM3e, LPDDR5X, and high-capacity RDIMM have grown in parallel; agentic AI applications have further driven procurement demand for RDIMMs of various capacity specifications. On the supply side, TrendForce stated that DRAM manufacturers currently hold low inventories, and new production capacity is prioritized for the server market, leading to only a modest increase in overall DRAM bit shipments in the quarter. The pace of supply expansion remains slower than demand growth spurred by AI and other applications.
4 minutes ago
South Korea's KOSPI index closed up 4.6%, while SK Hynix rose 8.26% at the close.
According to Bitget market data, South Korea’s KOSPI index closed up 308.19 points on Monday, September 7, with a 4.61% gain to end at 6995.4 points. SK Hynix rose 8.26% in closing, while Samsung Electronics gained 5.68%.
4 minutes ago
Ethereum (ETH) fell below the $2,500 mark, posting an intraday gain of 0.79%.
According to HTX market data, Ethereum (ETH) has fallen below the $2500 threshold, currently trading at $2497.3, with a daily gain of 0.79%.
4 minutes ago
Jefferies Cuts Zhipu’s Price Target to HK$1,183.79; ARR Guidance Beats Expectations, Though Sustainability Remains In Question
Jefferies released a report noting that Zhipu AI’s 2026 annual recurring revenue (ARR) guidance of $2.4 billion exceeds expectations, though its sustainability is in doubt due to a high August base, uneven growth in computing power supply, high customer concentration, and low switching costs. The report adds that while Zhipu Cloud’s gross margin improved in the first half of 2026, it may decline in the second half amid the launch of new domestic GPU clusters and the resumption of its Coding Plan. Jefferies cut Zhipu’s target price to HK$1,183.79 from HK$1,299.8, maintaining a “Hold” rating. The bank revised Zhipu’s 2026–2029 revenue forecasts upward by 37% to 119%, reflecting accelerated growth in its cloud segment, and lowered net loss projections by 14% to 21%. In its sum-of-the-parts valuation, the cloud segment’s multiple was reduced from 50x its 2026 forecasted ARR to 30x to better align with overseas peers. Jefferies still views China’s large language model (LLM) sector as overcrowded, and favors full-stack cloud service platforms with advantages in computing power, data, and monetization over independent AI labs, such as Alibaba (09988.HK) and ByteDance.
According to official announcements, OKX Wallet has officially launched its DeFi cycle yield product, integrating operations including deposits, swaps, and borrowings into a single transaction, enabling users to build leveraged yield positions with one click on X Layer. The feature is now available on the "DeFi" page of the OKX App. The product integrates Aave lending, Pendle yield markets, and X Layer liquidity, supports custom cycle counts, and allows users to view estimated returns, borrowing costs, and liquidation prices before placing an order. Separately, OKX Wallet’s USDG interest rate hike campaign has been extended: eligible PT-USDG holdings will automatically retain their rewards, and when combined with the cycle yield strategy, the maximum APY reaches 34.6%.
4 minutes ago
Codex reset card allegedly shrunk by 50%? Tibo: It’s the same as the normal limit.
Dongcha Beating AI Flash News: OpenAI recently rolled out GPT-6 Astra in batches, issuing Codex quota reset cards to Plus, Pro, and Business users who received access later. Some users have found their quota depletes significantly faster after using the reset card. A user compared records of 14% of weekly quota consumed before and after the reset: pre-reset, they used around 114 million input tokens and 738 model responses; post-reset, only 63.6 million tokens and 489 responses. Based on this, the user estimated the reset card only provides half of the normal weekly quota. However, the data is not strictly comparable: Astra was used in both periods, but the inference tier and agent usage patterns differed. Codex lead Tibo subsequently denied the claim, stating there is no difference in available quota before and after the reset.
Arbitrum (ARB) has shown a robust bullish trend, climbing significantly as renewed buyer interest and expanding real-world asset (RWA) adoption fuel momentum. Technical indicators increasingly support the outlook for further growth, and analysts are watching closely for confirmation of continued recovery and higher price targets.
Price action and technical signalsARB is currently trading at $0.1928, reflecting a 45.02% surge over the last 24 hours. Trading volumes have reached $1.13 billion, with market capitalization at $1.28 billion. The price recovery comes after the token reclaimed the $0.1113 resistance zone, according to crypto analyst Nehal, signaling renewed control by buyers.
Analysts suggest that if ARB holds above this reclaimed support, the setup for further gains will strengthen. A successful retest between $0.111 and $0.115 could provide additional confirmation for another upward move. Nehal notes that a definitive flip of resistance into support may push ARB toward $0.182, marking a potential 63% upside from the breakout zone.
ARB’s momentum strengthens after regaining the $0.1113 zone, with buyers positioned for further gains pending confirmation of new support.
Technical analysis from TradingView highlights a sharp breakout following a consolidation phase at $0.0800. The price quickly crossed key resistance at $0.1400 and set a new all-time high at $0.2040 before pulling back to $0.1933. Support from upward-sloping 20, 50, 100, and 200 EMAs near $0.1512 underline positive sentiment, though the RSI standing at 80.11 suggests overbought conditions which could prompt consolidation.
MetricCurrent Value24h ChangePrice$0.1928+45.02%Trading Volume$1.13 billionSurgedMarket Cap$1.28 billion–All-Time High$0.2040–RSI80.11OverboughtThe presence of upper shadows above $0.2000 indicates that some traders are taking profits, even as the broader trend remains highly bullish. Analysts anticipate some near-term consolidation before another potential leg upward.
Derivatives growth and ecosystem expansionCoinglass data reveals a substantial uptick in trading activity. Volume has grown by 606.39% to $2.38 billion in 24 hours, and open interest has increased by 55.52% to $299.54 million. This surge in derivatives trading suggests heightened market participation and speculation in ARB.
Alongside increased derivatives activity, the development of the Arbitrum ecosystem are being spotlighted by figures from the RWA Foundation. The value of real-world assets on the network has now surpassed $1 billion, highlighting the growing use of tokenized financial instruments and the trend of bringing traditional asset classes onto blockchain infrastructure.
Mini dictionary: RWA Foundation, an organization that tracks the tokenization and adoption of real-world assets (RWA) on blockchain platforms, supports integration of assets such as stocks, government securities, and commodities onto the Arbitrum network.
By facilitating tokenized versions of physical assets, Arbitrum is attracting greater interest from institutions and investors. This milestone marks growing network value, increased liquidity, and rising demand for Arbitrum’s services as tokenization expands in the sector.
What’s next for ARB?Many investors remain focused on whether the recently reclaimed resistance level can hold as support, particularly as increased market activity and RWA integration continue. A strong bounce at the retest zone may reinforce bullish sentiment and open the door for further recovery, while failure to defend support could signal a period of consolidation or delay further gains.
Market observers note that the surge in trading participation and real-world asset adoption could remain key drivers of Arbitrum’s broader growth in the near term.
Increased tokenization of real-world assets and renewed market participation may shape the next phase of Arbitrum’s ecosystem expansion.
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Arbitrum’s ARB governance token is now tradeable on Solana, courtesy of Sunrise and Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers framework. The listing establishes what Sunrise calls the canonical version of ARB on Solana, meaning it’s designed to be the single, official representation of the token across the network’s ecosystem of wallets and decentralized exchanges.
ARB can now move through Solana’s infrastructure, including Jupiter, Phantom, Backpack, Solflare, Raydium, and Kamino.
How Wormhole NTT makes this work Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers framework is the plumbing behind this integration. Unlike traditional bridges that create wrapped versions of tokens, NTT preserves the core properties of the token being transferred.
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Wrapped tokens have historically created a fragmentation problem. You end up with multiple versions of the same asset floating around a blockchain, each with its own liquidity pool, none of them deep enough to trade efficiently.
NTT sidesteps this by establishing a single canonical representation. For ARB on Solana, that means one mint address: ARBzQTYDCW2KnVEjs1Mc81LekB1ibVFZKbSVmorkoT9d. Every Solana application that wants to support ARB points to this single source of truth, concentrating liquidity rather than scattering it.
Sunrise’s growing cross-chain empire Sunrise launched on November 24, 2025, with Monad’s MON token as its first major listing. Since then, it has expanded to support assets from multiple networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Sui. Tokens like SUI and AAVE have already made the jump to Solana through the platform.
Assets listed via Sunrise have collectively generated over $500 million in trading volume on Solana over a 30-day period as of April 2026.
Sunrise’s approach is built around three pillars: centralized bridging (one canonical version per asset), immediate liquidity from launch day, and streamlined distribution across a chain’s application ecosystem. Rather than listing a token and hoping liquidity materializes organically, the platform coordinates with DEXs and wallets ahead of time so that the asset is usable from the moment it goes live.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
공지사항혜택·이벤트업비트소식거래 이용 안내수수료 안내입출금 이용 안내입출금 현황시장경보 현황Open API 안내정책 및 거래지원 문의1:1 문의하기문의내역이용자 가이드카카오톡 문의(24시간)증명서 발급공시 안내공지사항
안내
NEW
개인지갑 주소 등록 및 입출금 지원 종료 안내 (팬텀 Sui 네트워크 - 09/24 00:00)
안녕하세요. 가장 신뢰받는 디지털 자산 거래소 업비트입니다.
팬텀(Phantom) 개인지갑의 Sui 네트워크 지원 종료에 따라, 업비트에서도 팬텀 개인지갑을 통한 Sui 네트워크 지원을 종료할 예정입니다.
지원 종료 이후 이용에 불편이 없도록 아래 내용을 사전에 반드시 확인해 주시기 바랍니다.
개인지갑 지원 종료 안내
대상 개인지갑 : 팬텀(Phantom)
대상 네트워크 : Sui 네트워크
지원 종료 일시 : 2026-09-24(목) 00:00
지원 종료 범위 : 업비트 내 팬텀 개인지갑 Sui 네트워크 주소 신규 등록, ‘개인지갑 주소 관리’에 등록된 주소를 통한 100만 원 이상 입출금 및 Open API 출금
지원 종료 사유 : 팬텀의 Sui 네트워크 지원 종료
*팬텀 개인지갑을 통한 Solana 네트워크 지원은 기존과 동일하게 제공됩니다.
유의 사항
2026년 9월 24일(목)부터 팬텀 개인지갑의 Sui 네트워크 신규 주소 등록이 불가합니다.
업비트 '개인지갑 주소 관리'에 기존에 등록된 팬텀 Sui 네트워크 주소를 통한 100만 원 이상 입출금은 지원되지 않으며, 해당 주소는 지원 종료 이후 순차적으로 삭제될 예정입니다.
'출금주소 등록'을 통해 등록된 팬텀 Sui 네트워크 주소로의 100만 원 미만 출금은 기존과 동일하게 지원됩니다.
Open API 출금허용주소에 등록된 팬텀 Sui 네트워크 주소는 지원 종료 이후 순차적으로 삭제되며, 삭제 후에는 Open API를 통한 출금이 불가합니다.
개인지갑별로 지원하는 네트워크가 상이하므로, 입출금 진행 전 이용하려는 개인지갑의 네트워크 지원 여부를 반드시 확인해 주시기 바랍니다.
Ledger’s Chief Technology Officer has questioned the white hat label attached to the $320 million taken from Liquid Network.
He stopped short of calling it a theft. Liquid described the parties as purported white hat hackers, and Blockstream is trying to reach them on-chain.
Liquid Network Freezes Its Bridge as Self-Proclaimed White Hats Take 4,000 BTCFor context, Liquid is a Bitcoin (BTC) layer-2 network that operates as a separate blockchain. It uses a two-way peg to connect Bitcoin with its native Liquid Bitcoin (L-BTC) asset.
Users lock Bitcoin on the main network to receive an equivalent amount of L-BTC on Liquid. They can later redeem L-BTC for Bitcoin through the network’s peg-out process.
In an X post, the team stated that roughly 4,000 Bitcoin left the Liquid Federation wallet. Liquid said the transfer used the SideSwap Peg-out Authorization Key, which it insists was not compromised.
SideSwap explained that a customer sent 4,000 LBTC to its peg-out service at 14:05 UTC, and the federation paid out 3,996 BTC 23 minutes later. Blockstream has since traced that LBTC to a bug in the Elements software, according to the company.
The funds were consolidated into the Bitcoin address bc1ql4mfu6aundtkksxklfajs2h3t9nzcd6gyqjlte. It contained an on-chain message claiming the actors were white hats.
The message also asked Liquid to contact them on-chain. Galaxy Research estimated the funds represented about 95% of all Bitcoin pegged to Liquid.
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~4k BTC siphoned from Liquid Network, a Bitcoin sidechain. This was 95% of all BTC that had been pegged on Liquid.
Liquid has been halted since ~9am EST this morning.
The hacker(s) consolidated funds into a holding address with message “we are whitehats. contact us on chain” pic.twitter.com/K3cY0ca9YI
— Galaxy Research (@glxyresearch) September 6, 2026
In response, the network disabled bridge nodes, preventing new transactions from entering the chain.
Liquid also notified exchanges, which have paused or are preparing to pause L-BTC deposits and withdrawals. Other Liquid assets, including USDT, DePix, and real-world assets, remain unaffected by the incident.
“Liquid wallets will be impacted, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience. Federation members are actively working on resolving this so we can restore normal network activity,” the team said.
Ledger CTO Doubts the White Hat LabelCharles Guillemet, chief technology officer at Ledger, questioned that description. He compared the episode to the Ronin hack, in which attackers stole about $625 million after compromising validator keys. He also linked the invitation to talk to Euler.
4,000 BTC just pegged out of the Liquid bridge. The OP_RETURN says "we are whitehats. contact us on chain."
White hats don't drain a bridge and then solicit an "on-chain" contact. This echoes the Ronin hack, where attackers compromised validator keys to steal ~$625M, and the… pic.twitter.com/gPZmM13lXM
— Charles Guillemet (@P3b7_) September 6, 2026
Guillemet later softened his reading. The conduct does not look like usual white hat practice, he wrote, though criminal groups do not usually try to contact their victims either.
“There’s hope. This could be people with good intentions that intensively played with recent LLMs and are not used to responsible disclosures…,” the executive noted.
Where the Coins StandAs of press time, the coins have not left the address that received them. Public records show it still holds about 3,998 BTC, while the federation wallet retains roughly 197 BTC.
Early Monday, the same address signed another message. It asked whether sending most of the funds back to the federation wallet would be acceptable.
Whether Guillemet’s doubts hold depends on what the address does next, not on what it writes.
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LoopX Upgrades to Version 1.0: A Single Page Manages Long-Running Tasks for Agents Like Codex and Claude Code
Insight Beating AI Flash News: Open-source project LoopX has launched version 1.0. Built on top of AI agents including Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor, it centralizes long-term tasks previously scattered across various sessions into a unified workspace. Users can view all LoopX-connected tasks on a single page, with a centralized display of their statuses: in execution, awaiting confirmation, under ongoing monitoring, or scheduled. Accessing individual projects further lets users review to-dos, completion logs, files, and runtime statuses across different agents. The workspace is accessible directly via a web browser, with macOS and Windows desktop versions also available. Both entry points share the same local services and task status data. It does not automatically detect all agents on a user’s device; instead, it only displays agents and tasks that have been registered and connected to LoopX. Multiple agents can collaborate on the same goal, with each able to take on tasks, work in parallel, or hand off work to others. For example, one agent can complete a task and leave follow-up work for another agent to continue. This collaboration relies on shared tasks and statuses, rather than allowing multiple agents to engage in free-form chat within a single chatroom.
9 minutes ago
HyperLabs redeemed 433,000 HYPE tokens and transferred them to 11 addresses, worth approximately $38.14 million.
According to monitoring by The Data Nerd, HyperLabs, the development team behind Hyperliquid, is transferring its HYPE staking rewards. 433,000 HYPE (worth approximately $38.14 million) was redeemed after 7 days of staking and subsequently distributed to 11 addresses. Currently, the team transfers over 400,000 HYPE monthly, an amount roughly equivalent to its monthly staking rewards. Its holdings of 241 million HYPE generate around 14,400 HYPE (valued at ~$1.26 million) in daily staking income.
9 minutes ago
Bonk Guy is soliciting across the entire network for early-stage tokens with a market cap under $1 million that are worth heavy investment.
Prominent trader Bonk Guy announced in a post that he is seeking early-stage low-market-cap tokens with a market cap under $1 million, hoping these projects are currently so niche that "buying them right now would seem almost crazy" yet hold the potential to grow to a multi-billion-dollar market cap. He called on the crypto community to stop recommending tokens with a $50 million market cap, urging focus on truly early-stage "micro-cap projects" instead. The trader added he will continue soliciting recommendations until he finds a token he decides to load up on heavily.
9 minutes ago
Vitalik: AI will not impact the security of the Bitcoin network; the primary concern is completing technical upgrades in a timely manner.
Silicon Valley angel investor Liron Shapira published a post stating he is roughly 50% confident that Bitcoin (BTC) will fall by more than 50% in price over the next two years. He believes the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) may erode some of the market’s prior perceptions of Bitcoin’s security and robustness, thereby undermining BTC’s long-term value support. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin holds an opposing view. He said he is quite optimistic about Bitcoin’s long-term network security, noting the primary challenge lies in completing necessary transitions. Buterin expects Bitcoin can effectively handle at least issues that do not require social consensus to resolve—such as upgrading clients and mining pools to counter network-layer attacks, which fall into this category. He added the probability of a real breakthrough in Bitcoin’s hash algorithm or Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanism is extremely low. Vitalik further revealed he has already bet on this stance via asset allocation, with roughly 90% of his net worth currently held in crypto assets.
9 minutes ago
Nanfang’s double-leveraged long fund on SK Hynix surges over 15%
According to Bitget market data, the Southern 2x Long SK Hynix surged 15.67%, and the Southern 2x Long Samsung Electronics rose 10.52%.
9 minutes ago
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index has hit a fresh two-month-plus high, with tech stocks performing the best.
Emerging market stocks rose on Monday, as optimism over next-generation AI models lifted heavyweight tech stocks, helping offset the drag on sentiment from higher oil prices. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index rallied 1.4% at one point, hitting its highest level since June 26. South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 4%. The MSCI Emerging Markets Currency Index rose 0.1%, having gained in 12 of the previous 13 trading sessions. The tech sector, which followed the rally in U.S. chip stocks last Friday, was the top performer among emerging market equity segments. Meanwhile, mutual attacks on oil tankers by the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher, and strong U.S. non-farm payroll data boosted bets that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates soon, dragging down most other sectoral sub-indices.
Uniswap (UNI) is gaining strong bullish momentum, with buyers actively challenging major resistance zones following a period of steady price recovery. Technical indicators point to a robust upward trend, though analysts caution that near-term conditions may be overheating. Increased activity in tokenized stock trading and significant whale accumulation are further bolstering market sentiment, underpinning UNI’s potential for a breakout should buying interest remain high.
UNI rallies above key levels, market structure improvesUNI is currently priced at $7.11, backed by a 24-hour trading volume of $787.11 million and a total market capitalization of $4.42 billion. The price has remained relatively unchanged over the latest 24-hour period, signaling consolidation after its latest upward move.
Crypto analyst The Boss has observed that the UNI price continued its rebound after forming a solid base within a broad accumulation zone. Buyers have reclaimed a critical intermediate level and established it as new support, further strengthening the token’s market structure.
With its latest push, UNI has entered a key supply area, positioning this region as a decisive test for market bulls. Overcoming this resistance, supported by persistent buying, could open the way for the UNI price to reach technical targets at $8.90 and $11.88.
However, if rejection occurs at these levels, UNI may experience a corrective pullback toward the newly formed support zone. As long as this support holds, analysts believe the larger bullish structure will remain intact and potentially set the stage for further gains.
Technical analysis shows a powerful rally, but short-term overbought signals indicate a possible correction as the 14-day RSI stands at 83.54, well above the 70 threshold.
UNI’s current price of $7.10 stands well above its 20-day exponential moving average, which sits at $5.28, highlighting a dominant upward trend. The recent price surge to $7.48 marks a fresh multi-month high, capping off months of sideways movement.
Tokenized stock trading and DEX concentrationRecent figures from Token Terminal show that Uniswap remains the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) for trading tokenized stocks, with roughly $6.6 billion in trading volume over the last 90 days across its different versions. PancakeSwap ranks second with $5.5 billion, followed by Raydium at $2 billion.
DEXTokenized Stock Volume (90d)Uniswap$6.6 billionPancakeSwap$5.5 billionRaydium$2 billionTogether, these three platforms account for approximately $14.1 billion of tokenized stock trading, making up nearly 89% of the total DEX trading volume for such assets. Analysts suggest that this concentration of activity in just a few DEXs gives them a significant advantage as the tokenized stock market continues to expand.
Mini dictionary: Token Terminal, a blockchain analytics platform, provides data-driven insights into decentralized networks and protocols, reflecting trading volumes, user activity, and protocol revenues within the crypto ecosystem.
Arthur Hayes accumulates UNI, boosts market optimismData from Lookonchain revealed that Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX and a prominent investor, acquired 244,406 UNI tokens in a purchase valued at approximately $1.73 million.
Market participants have focused on Hayes’s significant acquisition, viewing it as a signal of his confidence in UNI’s potential. His move could further strengthen bullish sentiment if similar purchases continue by Hayes or other notable holders.
Despite Uniswap’s status as one of the largest decentralized exchange protocols, analysts advise caution, noting that one large trade may not establish a broad market trend by itself.
Future UNI price direction will be shaped by buyers’ ability to sustain momentum past resistance, with the potential for targets at $8.90 and $11.88 if the breakout holds.
A confirmed move above resistance could reinforce the bulls’ outlook and support further price advances, while a failure at current levels might push UNI into a period of consolidation towards the recently established support.
OpenAI Discloses Progress on Recursive Self-Improvement: AI Agent Working Hours Hit 3.1 Times That of Humans.
Beating AI Express (Insight) – OpenAI set two goals for itself last year: to develop an "AI research intern" by September 2026, and a fully autonomous AI researcher by March 2028. The first goal has now been achieved. New internal data from OpenAI shows that when humans provide clear research questions, Agents can now independently complete tasks that would normally take skilled researchers several days. Researchers are increasingly delegating tasks to Agents. As of mid-August, based on the total workload of the research department, for every 8 hours of human work, multiple Agents collectively ran approximately 24.8 hours, equivalent to 3.1 Agent workdays. Prior to June this year, total Agent runtime was still lower than human work hours. It should be noted that this figure counts runtime, not a direct 3.1x increase in R&D efficiency. Agents are also taking on more demanding tasks: at the start of the year, they mainly handled research and infrastructure coding; now they are undertaking longer, more complex work such as experiment monitoring. In August, the number of experiments run per active experimenter also reached a new high since OpenAI began tracking this metric. However, research directions are still determined by humans. Agents rarely take charge of high-level research planning, and over the past six months, even for successfully completed 4-8 hour tasks, more than half required at least one human intervention. OpenAI’s next target is to upgrade the "intern" to an autonomous AI researcher capable of completing more comprehensive research work by March 2028.
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Solana ecosystem DEX sector tokens rally broadly, with ORCA surging over 14% in 24 hours.
According to HTX market data, Solana ecosystem DEX tokens are seeing broad gains today. Specifically: ORCA has rallied 14.33% in the past 24 hours, trading at $1.572; JUP is up 12.23% over the same period, now priced at $0.2626; RAY has risen 5.95%, currently at $1.202.
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Analyst: On-chain funds may be rotating from Robinhood Chain to Solana
DeFi researcher Ignas posted on X that today’s crypto market shows signs of capital rotation from Robinhood Chain to Solana. Over the past 24 hours, Solana ecosystem tokens have posted strong gains: RAY rose roughly 60%, JUP gained 21%, ORCA climbed 12%, and MET increased 13%. By contrast, AI fell 11.5% while CASHCAT dropped 5.8%. Robinhood Chain’s meme coin sector as a whole declined around 16.5%. Meanwhile, cross-chain fund flow data shows Solana’s bridge recorded a net inflow of approximately $18.8 million over the past day, while Robinhood Chain saw a net outflow of $47.8 million. Though these bridge volumes remain small relative to the total value locked (TVL) of both chains, the capital shift may signal some traders taking profits on Robinhood Chain’s meme coins and shifting to Solana’s trading infrastructure tokens to continue participating in the related market rally. Notably, STONK — the launchpad token that pairs meme coins with tokenized stocks, fiat currencies and other assets — surged roughly 360% at one point today, emerging as a key market focus.
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This Week's Macro Outlook: US stock markets are closed on Monday, August CPI takes center stage, and Oracle will release its earnings report after Thursday's market close.
This week, the Federal Reserve will enter its pre-September policy meeting blackout period, with investors shifting their focus to upcoming PPI and CPI reports. The European Central Bank (ECB) will also announce its interest rate decision. Below are the key market highlights for the coming week (all times Beijing time): Monday, September 7: U.S. and Canadian stock markets will close for one day due to the U.S. Labor Day holiday. Thursday 1:00 a.m.: ECB President Christine Lagarde delivers a speech at the official dinner of the German Bundesbank. Thursday 1:00 a.m.: Apple holds its autumn new product launch event, themed "Shine Bright, Write a New Chapter". Thursday 8:15 p.m.: The ECB releases its interest rate decision. 8:30 p.m.: ECB President Lagarde holds the monetary policy press conference. Same Thursday 8:30 p.m.: U.S. initial jobless claims for the week ended September 5, plus U.S. August PPI year-on-year and month-on-month rates. Friday 8:30 p.m.: U.S. August unadjusted CPI and core CPI year-on-year rates, and U.S. August seasonally adjusted CPI and core CPI month-on-month rates. On the earnings front, Oracle (ORCL.N) will release its results after U.S. stock trading hours on Thursday. This report could have a significant impact on the market’s current AI trading trends. As one of the leading cloud service providers, Oracle is investing heavily in building AI data centers.
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A whale transferred 2.41 million LINK to Coinbase over the past three weeks, worth approximately $26.04 million.
According to Onchain Lens monitoring, a crypto whale has once again deposited 620,420 LINK tokens into Coinbase, worth approximately $7.6 million. Over the past three weeks, the whale has transferred a total of 2.41 million LINK to Coinbase, valued at around $26.04 million. All of these LINK tokens were previously accumulated by the whale from Binance.
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Hong Kong-listed robotics stocks rose amid fluctuations, with Geek+ up nearly 5%.
According to Bitget market data, Hong Kong-listed robotics stocks rose amid volatility. Geek+ gained nearly 5%, UBTECH advanced over 3%, while Hesai-W, Black Sesame Technologies, and Horizon Robotics all climbed more than 1%.
McDonald’s India deleted a run of posts from its verified X (Twitter) account on Sunday. Written in the first person, they claimed an unpaid intern was owed ₹60,000, then promoted a meme coin.
The drama arrived at a low point for the stock. McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) closed Friday at $255.69, its weakest level in a year. However, Wall Street has not followed it down.
Inside the McDonald’s India DramaThe account said the writer interned at McDonald’s India and ran several of the company’s Asian social media handles. It named a manager, Amit Joshi, and said no salary had arrived since December 2025.
A later post revised that date to May, an inconsistency that fueled doubt. Another put the outstanding sum above ₹60,000, roughly $650. One said meme coin trading losses had left the writer starving daily.
Final messages promoted a token and shared crypto wallet addresses, before noting that fees had been claimed. McDonald’s India pulled the thread and answered with a meme of a dog holding a phone.
McDonald’s India Viral Post. Source: McDonald’s on X
McD admin right now: If only our actual posts went this viral…” wrote McDonald’s India, via its official X account.
No name matching Amit Joshi appears in the operator’s public leadership. The company has not said whether the handle was breached.
Comparable takeovers hit Robinhood CEO’s X account in July and the Saudi Law Conference account last year.
Wall Street Targets a 24% MCD Stock RallyMeanwhile, TipRanks counts 24 analyst covering MCD stock over the past three months. That sample holds 14 buys, 10 holds and no sells.
Their average 12-month target stands at $317.18, about 24% above Friday’s close. The high reaches $390. Even the low, $280, sits above where shares trade now.
Analysts Targets and Forecasts for McDonald’s (MCD) Stock. Source: TipRanksThe chart argues the other way. MCD peaked near $340 in March and has printed lower highs every month since April. Friday alone took another 3.5% off the week.
MCD Stock Performance. Source: TradingViewFundamentals sit between the two, seeing as McDonald’s reported diluted earnings of $3.32 per share in the second quarter, up 6%, with global comparable sales rising 1.3%.
The 24% gap between price and target predates the Sunday incident.
Zcash (ZEC) surged approximately 15% in the last 24 hours, reaching $1,170, and became central to the liquidations in the cryptocurrency market. According to CoinGlass data, total crypto liquidations reached approximately $212 million in the last 24 hours. Of this, about $156 million was due to the liquidation of short positions.
ZEC was the cryptocurrency with the most liquidations during this period, with approximately $45.32 million. It was followed by Ethereum (ETH) with $35.16 million, Bitcoin (BTC) with $16.79 million, and Arbitrum (ARB) with $12.94 million. The sharp price movement in ZEC also propelled it into the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
On the other hand, the rise in ZEC significantly increased the losses of a large short position on Hyperliquid. Garrett Bullish, previously known as the “October 10 whale” and who had previously liquidated approximately $230 million, reportedly held a 2x leveraged short position of 32,759.57 ZEC, worth approximately $38.18 million. The average opening price of the position was around $444, and the liquidation level was $2,566, resulting in an unrealized loss of approximately $23.57 million.
It was also noted that the same whale held a long position of 1,331.88 BTC, from which it had earned approximately $3.6 million in unrealized profit.
*This is not investment advice.
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SOL trades near $106.5 after a 3.1% daily rise, while resistance remains close to the recent $110 high. Transaction V1 goes live Sept. 9, lifting Solana’s maximum transaction size from 1,232 to 4,096 bytes. Liquidity clusters around $115-$120, while a larger pool remains near $145-$150 on the current heatmap. Market analysts say $90.46-$94.83 support keeps a later wave 5 advance possible after wave 4 ends. Solana is trading near $106.50 after gaining about 3.1% over the past 24 hours. Price has recovered from the latest pullback and remains close to the recent $110 rejection area. The rebound comes before Solana’s Transaction V1 mainnet launch on September 9.
The upgrade expands transaction capacity and supports larger cryptographic workloads. Solana”s price has also gained about 2.6% over the past seven days. The recent recovery followed a sharp advance from the $75-$80 region during August.
As of press time, technical data shows liquidity building above the current market price. The nearest cluster sits around $115 to $120, while a larger pool remains near $145.
Solana Transaction V1 Arrives as Price Recovers Transaction V1 raises Solana’s maximum serialized transaction size from 1,232 bytes to 4,096 bytes. That change gives developers about 3.3 times more transaction space. The larger format can support ZK proofs, BLS signatures, large multisig setups, and confidential transfers.
Some workloads can therefore fit inside one atomic transaction. Solana Foundation guidance says legacy and v0 transaction formats will remain supported. Developers only need V1 when they require the larger transaction size.
Source: X
Address lookup tables are removed for the V1 format because 64 accounts can fit directly inside a transaction. Existing formats can still use their current structure.
Testnet activation began September 1, giving developers time to test compatibility before the mainnet release. Infrastructure providers also need compatible software to read V1 transactions correctly.
RPC clients, indexers, and data pipelines may otherwise return errors. QuickNode says supported applications must recognize transaction version 1 when reading blocks and transactions. Developers may also need newer SDK versions.
$115-$120 Becomes the First Solana Liquidity Zone The liquidation heatmap shows the nearest major liquidity concentration between roughly $115 and $120. That area sits above Solana’s recent $110 rejection. A continued recovery could bring the price closer to that cluster.
The heatmap does not guarantee a move, but it shows where leveraged positions remain concentrated. Solana recently advanced from the $75-$80 region before reaching the current $106 area.
The move has reduced the distance to the first overhead liquidity band. However, a failure to hold above $100 would weaken the short-term recovery. Price could then return toward recent breakout levels before another attempt higher.
$145-$150 Remains a Larger Upside Liquidity Pool The heatmap also shows a larger liquidity concentration around $145 to $150. That band has remained visible above the current market price. A move toward that area would first require Solana to clear the $115-$120 cluster.
Source: X
Price would also need to hold above nearby resistance after any breakout. The $145 region previously acted as resistance on the displayed chart. That makes the zone relevant beyond the liquidation data alone.
Markets can move toward areas containing concentrated leveraged positions, although liquidation maps do not provide fixed price targets. Other market conditions can change the path.
Wave 4 Structure Keeps $90.46-$94.83 in Focus More Crypto Online says the Solana price remains inside a corrective wave 4 structure after rejection near $110. However, the recent SOL price action has formed overlapping three-wave moves.
$SOL
Solana remains in a corrective wave 4 consolidation, with price continuing to move in overlapping 3-wave structures after the rejection from $110.
The current bounce could extend above the September 3 high as a B-wave before another C-wave decline completes wave 4. Holding… pic.twitter.com/9BM02uhJVP
— More Crypto Online (@Morecryptoonl) September 5, 2026
The analyst said the current bounce could move above the September 3 high as a B-wave. Another C-wave decline could then complete wave 4.
Support between $90.46 and $94.83 remains central to that setup. Holding the zone would keep a later wave 5 advance possible. A break below $90.46 would weaken the displayed bullish structure and point toward a deeper correction.
TLDR: WOO X users reported withdrawals stuck for up to 3 days as ZachXBT amplified complaints on September 6. One WOO X user reported a 3-day pending withdrawal, while another waited over 6 hours for self-custody. WOO X has not disclosed how many users are affected, which networks face delays, or the backlog value. WOO X previously lost $14M from 9 accounts in July 2025, but no evidence links that breach to current delays. WOO X is facing growing scrutiny after users reported withdrawals remaining stuck for hours or days in pending, processing, or submitted status. ZachXBT amplified the complaints on September 6, highlighting users who said transfers had not reached external wallets.
ZachXBT Flags Multiple WOO X Users Reporting Withdrawals Stuck for Days
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT said multiple verified WOO X users have reported withdrawals remaining stuck in pending or processing status over the past three days, with some claiming delays of several… pic.twitter.com/RElTR5HPQ5
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 6, 2026
One verified user said a withdrawal had remained pending for three days, while another reported a self-custody transfer stuck for more than six hours. Other screenshots showed canceled withdrawal requests, although the reports do not establish a platform-wide freeze.
WOO X Withdrawal Delays Leave Users Waiting Up to 3 Days WOO X said September 6 that it was reviewing withdrawal processing reports and checking individual cases alongside its system status. The exchange said some requests could still be under internal review or moving through on-chain processing.
Affected customers were asked for their user ID, withdrawal order ID, request time, asset, network, and transaction-status screenshot. WOO X also warned users about impersonators seeking passwords, seed phrases, private keys, or verification codes.
The exchange pointed customers toward its proof-of-reserves and liabilities dashboard, which it says shows asset backing. However, it did not disclose how many withdrawals were delayed, which networks were affected, or when outstanding transfers would clear.
An earlier exchange response reportedly reserved the right to pursue legal action over fabricated or malicious claims. That wording was missing from a later public notice, and ZachXBT questioned both the edit and the reported delays.
The current evidence does not show that WOO X is insolvent, short of customer assets, or dealing with another confirmed security breach. The total value of affected withdrawals also remains unknown.
FusionX Transition and $14M Breach Add Context The dispute comes during a broader ownership transition involving FusionX Digital. WOO and FusionX announced in October 2025 that FusionX would acquire and operate the centralized exchange.
The companies said the transition would occur gradually over six months, while customer accounts, assets, trading, and support would continue without interruption. The deal also created a Global Strategy Committee that included BitMart founder Sheldon Xia.
Public acquisition materials identify Xia as a committee member but do not establish that he personally owns WOO X. ZachXBT has separately alleged closer links between Xia and FusionX Digital, increasing attention on the connection.
BitMart began an orderly wind-down on July 26, stopping new registrations and deposits before ending spot, futures, and other trading services on August 26. Withdrawals were intended to remain available, although compliance and risk reviews could extend processing times.
BitMart later shifted course on August 21, saying it was considering restructuring and a phased return of operations. It appointed White & Case as restructuring counsel and promised another update by September 9.
WOO X also carries recent security history. On July 24, 2025, attackers made $14 million in unauthorized withdrawals from nine accounts after a social-engineering compromise. The exchange suspended withdrawals temporarily, compensated every affected customer from its treasury, and later strengthened monitoring and withdrawal controls.
There is no evidence connecting that breach to the current withdrawal delays. The immediate issue remains whether pending transfers clear and whether WOO X explains the affected networks, backlog size, root cause, and resolution timeline publicly.
Two of the three meme coins to watch surged more than 370% since Aug. 31, then reversed sharply on Sunday. Bonk (BONK) is the exception, closing higher and near its recent highs.
The three setups now sit at very different distances from their nearest support. That gap, rather than the size of the rally, defines the risk heading into the week ahead.
Bonk Breaks Its DowntrendBonk broke above the descending trendline that had capped it since the May 11 high near $0.00000800. The Aug. 21 breakout came on the heaviest volume of the past five months.
BONK has since confirmed $0.00000273 as support, retesting it in early September. The token trades near $0.0000035, up 5.59% in 24 hours, with a market cap of $308 million.
BONK daily chart. Source: TradingViewImmediate resistance sits at the Aug. 21 swing high around $0.00000375, followed by $0.00000400. Above those, $0.00000485 lines up with the declining 200-day moving average near $0.00000490, roughly 38% higher.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) reads 67 and continues to rise. However, BONK still prints lower highs on the higher timeframe until $0.00000485 gives way.
Useless Coin Rejects Resistance After a 373% RunUseless Coin (USELESS) rallied 373% from its Aug. 31 low near $0.0668 to a Sept. 5 peak of $0.316. That run stalled at the $0.262 to $0.278 resistance zone.
USELESS now trades near $0.2225, down 24.43% in 24 hours, with a market cap of $222 million.
USELESS daily chart. Source: TradingViewThe gap below current levels is the concern. Its 21-day exponential moving average sits at $0.1231, about 45% under spot, while the $0.093 to $0.100 support shelf is roughly 55% lower. Only the $0.20 level stands in between.
That shelf capped USELESS through June and July before the surge reclaimed it. Meanwhile, RSI at 74.2 has started to turn toward its signal line.
MarsCoin Is the Riskiest of These Meme Coins to WatchMarsCoin (MARSCOIN) has the shortest history of the three, with about five weeks of trading since late July. It climbed about 745% from $0.030 on Aug. 21 to a $0.253 high on Sept. 6.
The token then rejected the $0.240-$0.248 zone and closed the session at $0.1832, down 23.76% for the day.
MARSCOIN daily chart. Source: TradingViewMARSCOIN shows the widest gap to support of the three meme setups. Its 21-day EMA sits near $0.092, about 50% below, and the $0.060 to $0.066 zone is roughly 67% lower.
Volume peaked on Sept. 4 and has contracted since. In contrast, RSI has slipped only to 71 from 78, with no bearish divergence yet.
Hyperliquid (HYPE) surged to an all-time high of $89.60 on September 6, supported by heavy trading volumes above $1 billion. The token’s sharp advance places it in price-discovery territory, where traders watch psychological price points, particularly the $90 and $100 levels.
Record High Propels HYPE Toward Top 10 CryptosThe latest rally elevated Hyperliquid to ninth place among cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, according to data from Bybit, with the project’s market cap reaching $19.8 billion. Hyperliquid operates as a decentralized perpetual exchange, and its native token HYPE has grown rapidly in liquidity and prominence within DeFi markets.
Exchange price data highlighted the momentum of HYPE, with the asset climbing from the mid-$80 range to the new high. The move represents a continuation of its multi-week uptrend and brings its price into an area without established historical resistance.
Traders now focus on major psychological goals, notably a sustained break above $90 and potential advances to $95 and $100. The lack of previous benchmarks above the current price means that sentiment around these levels could be decisive.
“The first major psychological hurdle above the current record is $90. A sustained move beyond that level could bring $95 and eventually $100 into focus.”
Whales Accumulate HYPE TokensLarge-wallet traders have increased their exposure to HYPE during the recent rally. Crypto market commentator Ted Pillows flagged a transfer of about 174,800 HYPE worth $14.96 million from a Bybit hot wallet, labeling the move as possible accumulation.
Additional on-chain data showed one wallet acquired around 343,000 HYPE for $29 million, boosting its total to 3.24 million tokens. Another institution, widely believed to be affiliated with the venture capital firm a16z, reportedly added approximately $13.05 million in HYPE, ultimately holding 5.2 million tokens after recent transactions.
While such activity suggests strong interest from major holders, on-chain activity alone cannot confirm whether these tokens will be retained long-term or eventually sold.
Mini dictionary: a16z, also known as Andreessen Horowitz, is a prominent US-based venture capital firm with investments in both traditional tech and blockchain projects.
On-chain tracking found that some large HYPE holders are increasing their holdings even after the rally. However, wallet labeling can be unreliable for identifying ownership or intentions.
Momentum Signals and Technical OutlookTechnical indicators reflect both robust strength and growing caution. The current HYPE price remains above key daily moving averages: the 5-day sits near $88.52, the 20-day at $86.51, while longer-term averages are even lower. This reinforces the $85–$88 area as an important support zone should HYPE face a pullback.
Momentum gauges, however, suggest possible overheating. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) has reached 80.9, firmly in overbought territory, while the Stochastic RSI is at 100. Although these do not guarantee an immediate reversal, they indicate that risk of a short-term correction or price consolidation has increased as the rally becomes extended.
A successful move above $90, followed by sustained trading, could attract additional buyers and propel HYPE toward the next targets at $95 and the $100 mark. If HYPE falls below the current highs, the cluster of moving averages in the $85–$88 region is expected to provide initial support.
Price LevelStatus$89.60New all-time high (current)$90Major resistance/psychological target$95Potential intermediate target$100Key bullish milestone$85–$88Short-term support (major average cluster)Next Steps for HyperliquidThe path toward $100 for HYPE now depends on its ability to maintain market momentum above the $90 zone. Technical analysts caution that high readings on RSI and the distance from longer-term moving averages could prompt a round of profit-taking or temporary consolidation.
For market participants, maintaining levels above $86–$88 would be critical for preserving the current bullish trend. A decisive break above $90 could create room for a fresh wave of buyers, providing the foundation for further gains.
Ultimately, traders continue to watch for both profit-taking by early investors and new demand at current price levels as the broader cryptocurrency market eyes Hyperliquid’s next move.
Longtime Bitcoin figure CobraBitcoin has sounded the alarm over a new security challenge facing the cryptocurrency industry as frontier artificial intelligence models become dramatically better at coding, vulnerability discovery and autonomous cyber operations.
The pseudonymous Bitcoin veteran says he is watching for the next major exploit after the arrival of increasingly capable models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
He has pointed to the fact that much of Bitcoin’s critical infrastructure is open-source and can therefore be analyzed at machine speed.
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His warning comes shortly after OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra and Anthropic rolled out Claude Fable 5.1, two models designed to perform substantially longer and more complicated software-engineering tasks than their predecessors.
Increasingly autonomous systems could scour Bitcoin Core, Lightning implementations, wallets, libraries and other infrastructure for ordinary software bugs that human reviewers have missed.
And there is now growing evidence that AI is becoming unusually effective at probing the latter.
Critical cyber threshold OpenAI says Astra is the first model it has broadly deployed to reach the “Critical” cybersecurity capability level under its Preparedness Framework.
According to the company, this means the model can, with the appropriate tools and access, discover previously unknown security flaws and develop new exploitation techniques against well-protected systems without requiring a human operator to direct every individual step.
Astra achieved a perfect 100% score on ExploitBench, a benchmark measuring whether models can turn known vulnerabilities into working exploits. Its predecessor, GPT-5.6 Sol, scored 78.5%.
On the more difficult ExploitGym benchmark, Astra reached a 42.4% exploit-development success rate .
Anthropic’s newly released Claude Fable 5.1 is specifically designed for long-running agentic coding and complicated work spanning large codebases.
AI warnings
The cryptocurrency industry has already received a demonstration of what AI-assisted vulnerability research can uncover.
On May 29, security researcher Taylor Hornby discovered a critical vulnerability in Zcash’s Orchard shielded pool.
The exploit could have allowed an attacker to create an unlimited quantity of counterfeit ZEC inside Orchard without detection.
Zcash developers launched an emergency coordinated responses
Following a major security scare involving COLDCARD wallets this summer, a group of Bitcoin developers and researchers organized what became known as the Bitcoin Red Team.
The team is AI systems alongside human review to scan large portions of the Bitcoin open-source ecosystem.
Berlin’s state government refused a 30 Bitcoin ransom, and the hackers behind the attack published 5.7 terabytes of stolen data on the dark web.
The Rhysida ransomware group had opened the auction at 30 BTC. Berlin let the deadline pass instead of paying.
Why the Bitcoin Ransom Demand FailedRhysida, a ransomware crew active since 2023, offered the files to the highest bidder. Bidding started at 30 BTC.
Bitcoin (BTC) trades near $79,902 per coin. Therefore, 30 coins come to roughly $2.4 million. Berlin’s Senate Chancellery put the demand at about two million euros.
BTC has added 0.46% today and 24.4% over the past month. That climb raised the dollar value of the demand while the ultimatum ran.
Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: BeInCryptoFlorian Hauer, the city’s chief digital officer, ruled out any payment.
“The State of Berlin will not give in to blackmail. The safety of the State of Berlin’s staff and the people of Berlin is our top priority.”
The Bitcoin ransom deadline ran out on Friday, September 4. Rhysida published the full dataset that afternoon.
Berlin’s refusal tracks a broader shift. On-chain ransomware payments fell about 8% in 2025, even as claimed attacks rose 50%.
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Berlin Counts the Cost of a Dark Web AuctionThe attack surfaced on August 14. Berlin then cut two Senate departments from the state network. One covers urban development and housing; the other covers mobility, transport, and the environment.
Housing benefit payments and family support stalled until both departments returned on August 23. Officials have warned that residents’ personal data could be in the leak.
A central crisis unit now reviews the material Rhysida released once the Bitcoin ransom went unpaid. Forensic specialists comb through the files around the clock.
The State Criminal Police Office and Germany’s federal cybersecurity agency lead the investigation. Officials told residents to report fraud or identity theft to police.
Berliners elect a new state parliament on September 20, two weeks after the Bitcoin ransom expired.
Rhysida collected nothing. Berlin has not put a figure on the damage, and the review of the published files continues.
Bitcoin (BTC) spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are recording their largest daily inflow in nearly eight months.
Analyst TedPillows tells his 314,300 followers on X that the funds bought $730.87 million worth of Bitcoin on September 3rd.
He warns that on the two prior occasions when daily ETF inflows topped $700 million, Bitcoin formed a local top shortly afterward.
“The last two times, Bitcoin ETFs had a $700,000,000+ in daily inflow; BTC shortly formed a top. Yesterday, ETFs bought $730,870,000 in BTC, the largest inflow in almost eight months. Is the local top close for Bitcoin?”
Source: TedPillows/X On-chain analyst Alex Adler Jr. says Bitcoin ETFs account for a large share of the net flows over the last 30 days.
“Of the ~105K BTC equivalent net capital inflow over the past month, US spot ETFs contributed ~42.8K BTC in net flows, equivalent 41% of that amount.”
Meanwhile, the pseudonymous analyst DonAlt, who has a long history of accurately timing Bitcoin moves, believes BTC is in bull territory as the largest crypto asset by market cap refuses to initiate a deep corrective move.
“You just don’t get massive pullbacks when the market is bullish.
Shallow? Yes.
Deep? No.
The only times when you actually get deep pullbacks are when bulls are proven wrong, in which case you can buy, but just for a bounce, not for continuation.”
Source: DonAlt/X DonAlt predicts that Bitcoin will surge to as high as $90,000 before any meaningful pullback.
“I’m not saying there won’t be pullbacks, by the way. I could see $90,000 to $70,000, for example.
It’s just rare that you get an initial impulse like we had and then immediately show weakness.
I’m pretty sure at $90,000, the people upset in my comments would start switching bullish too.”
The International Monetary Fund has confirmed that El Salvador did not use public funds to accumulate bitcoin after the first review of its loan program, saying in a press release that documentation provided by Salvadoran authorities shows the additional holdings came from private donations. The disclosure accompanied a staff-level agreement on the combined second and third reviews of the country’s 40-month Extended Fund Facility, announced on 3 September 2026.
Donations, Not Public Funds The fund said the bitcoin added since the first review came from private donors, and that no further accumulation beyond those documented donations is expected. The finding explains how El Salvador’s holdings have kept rising even though the fund’s earlier review had required the public sector’s bitcoin balance to remain unchanged. The IMF did not identify the donors or say how much each contributed, and it stressed that the documentation was provided by Salvadoran authorities. The disclosure follows months of questions over how the country’s stockpile kept expanding while it remained inside the lending program.
A National Reserve That Keeps Growing El Salvador’s official tracker has climbed to 7,764.37 BTC after the balance jumped by more than 1,000 BTC in November and has continued receiving one bitcoin a day. President Nayib Bukele said in March of last year that the country’s bitcoin purchases would not stop. El Salvador became the first country to make bitcoin legal tender in 2021, though the original IMF agreement later made private-sector acceptance voluntary, required taxes to be paid in U.S. dollars, and limited public-sector purchases. The government has also transferred majority ownership and operational control of its Chivo wallet to a private operator while retaining a minority stake and custody of customer assets.
Oversight and the Road Ahead El Salvador and IMF staff also agreed on steps to strengthen the legal and supervisory framework for crypto assets and improve oversight of bitcoin held by the public sector. The government has already expanded its national bitcoin treasury and kept up its one-bitcoin-a-day strategy, moves that have drawn scrutiny as the fund weighs how the program fits within its safeguards. The staff-level agreement, which still requires approval from the IMF’s executive board, keeps the lending program on track toward its next disbursement and signals continued cooperation between the fund and the government on bitcoin policy.
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The 4-year cycle is back on topic, but Willy Woo believes there's a more apparent pattern in play.
Given the nature of its blockchain, bitcoin was long considered to move around within a broader four-year cycle prompted by the halving, which takes place in general every four years. However, the pattern has been rejected in the past year or so, and popular on-chain analyst Willy Woo took the same approach in his latest opinion on the matter.
He suggested that BTC may be transitioning toward a six-to-eight-year cycle, increasingly influenced by the same debt and liquidity conditions that drive traditional financial markets.
From Halving to Liquidity? Woo’s reasoning begins with the cryptocurrency’s diminishing supply shock. Following the latest halving in April 2024, new BTC issuance dropped to approximately 0.8% of the existing supply per year. The next event, scheduled to take place in early 2028, will reduce that figure to roughly 0.4%.
As newly mined supply becomes increasingly insignificant relative to the existing market, Woo argued that the halving’s ability to dictate BTC’s broader price cycle weakens. Instead, the asset may begin moving more closely with TradFi’s six-to-eight-year short-term debt cycle.
The halving framework worked remarkably well for much of bitcoin’s history. Now, though, the market structure has changed dramatically, perhaps mostly from the US spot Bitcoin ETFs. Current data shows that these financial products hold close to 1.3 million BTC, which is over 6% of the circulating supply. Public companies with at least 1,000 BTC currently own over a million units.
Together, ETFs and those corporate treasuries controlled almost 12% of circulating BTC – vastly more than miners now create annually.
Others who have supported the narrative that the four-year cycle is dead include Arthur Hayes, who claimed in 2025 that traders focus too heavily on it, and Fidelity Digital Assets. In a report from last year, the analysts questioned whether BTC’s maturing market could produce more gradual rallies and corrections rather than the violent boom-and-bust cycles of the past.
You may also like: Bitcoin Holders Just Cashed Out 110,000 BTC in Profits: Is a Bigger Price Drop Coming? Bitcoin’s $3K Drop Comes as Fed Rate Hike Bets Surge, but Analyst Remains Bullish Bitcoin Is Back Above $80,000, But Fidelity Says the Bear Market May Not Be Over Yet Not Everyone Is Convinced Galaxy Research examined the same question in June this year, but concluded something different – BTC’s four-year cycle remains visible in the data. The researchers noted that bitcoin again peaked in October 2025, roughly 18 months after the April 2024 halving – precisely within the historical window.
The difference is that each cycle is becoming less extreme. Bitcoin’s previous bear markets produced drawdowns of approximately 85%, 84%, and 77%, while the decline to the July 1 low was considerably milder at just over 53%.
The bitcoin market pauses after its surge above 82,000 dollars. On September 6, its price moves around 80,000 dollars, in a narrow zone where buyers and sellers neutralize each other. However, the rise observed since late August maintains solid technical foundations. The price remains above the main daily moving averages, while weekend volumes drop sharply. This configuration now places the market facing several key levels before any new sustained acceleration.
In brief The price moves around 80,000 dollars, after failing to sustainably break above 82,000 dollars. The 79,586–80,147 dollar zone is the main short-term support to watch. Moving averages remain favorable, with the price still above the main daily indicators. Oscillators and low volume show a slowdown in momentum after the September 3 peak. Oscillators and low volume show a slowdown in momentum after the September 3 peak. Bitcoin: resistance remains firmly present around 82,000 dollars After a particularly volatile week for Bitcoin, the market now moves into a waiting phase. Around 9:30 am on September 6, the price ranges between 79,750 and 80,100 dollars as shown on the BTC/USD hourly chart—Bitstamp on TradingView below. Hourly candles remain small and overlap since the strong progression observed on Friday. This evolution reflects a temporary balance between buyers and sellers.
Bitcoin moves below 80,000 dollars, with visible resistance around this key threshold. Source: TradingView The decline in volumes reinforces this impression of caution. Trades made on Saturday and Sunday remain well below levels observed on September 3 and 4. This drop corresponds to the usual weekend rhythm but also limits the scope of recorded movements. A significant variation in a low-liquidity market does not necessarily provide a lasting confirmation.
The immediate battle focuses on a range of a few hundred dollars. The intraday zone extends precisely from 79,586 to 80,147 dollars. A confirmed break above 80,147 dollars could push the bitcoin price toward 80,335 dollars, then 80,523 dollars. Conversely, a break below 79,586 dollars would place 78,650 dollars as the next technical target.
This situation explains the importance of volumes in the coming hours. A breakout from the current zone without notable trading volume would remain difficult to interpret. Operators must therefore simultaneously monitor the price and market activity. For now, no camp manages to clearly regain the upper hand.
Bitcoin slows down after the strong rise at the beginning of September The four-hour analysis helps better understand the current slowdown. The market rose sharply on September 3 before reaching a zone between 81,400 and 82,200 dollars. This rise then encountered significant resistance. On September 4, a quick correction brought the price back toward 78,000 dollars.
The following sessions then established a stabilization phase. The price moved between about 79,500 and 80,200 dollars during the next two sessions. At the same time, the range of fluctuations decreased. Volume also declined, confirming the change of pace after the early-week surge.
BTC/USD chart on 4 hours via Bitstamp. Source: TradingView The price currently sits around the middle of this range. The zone from 79,900 to 80,100 dollars has concentrated a large part of recent trades. This position particularly indicates stabilization after the failure to break resistance. It does not yet signal a new upward phase.
The next four-hour close therefore becomes decisive. A close below 79,586 dollars could open a move toward 78,650 to 78,700 dollars. Conversely, buyers must achieve a close above 80,335 dollars, then 81,430 dollars. These levels would confirm a new test of the peak reached on September 3.
The daily trend retains several supports On the daily chart, the general structure remains stronger despite the recent pause. The market had established a consolidation base between 58,000 and 64,000 dollars in mid-summer. Progress then accelerated at the end of August. The price ultimately reached about 82,239 dollars on September 3.
The pullback on September 4 did not cancel this upward trend. The days of September 5 and 6 mostly show reduced volatility. On Sunday, the price opened at 79,830 dollars, reached 80,106 dollars, touched 79,600 dollars, and then displayed 79,910 dollars. These levels show a recovery that maintains structure but that now crosses a pause phase.
Daily BTC/USD chart via Bitstamp September 6, 2026. Source: TradingView
The price also remains above the 10- and 20-day moving averages. These stand respectively at 78,771 and 77,231 dollars. This position maintains a favorable framework on the daily chart. However, the reduced volume limits the interpretation of this short-term analysis.
Trades over 24 hours currently reach 20.21 billion dollars. This amount remains well below the 35 to 40 billion recorded on September 4 and 5. A new test of the resistance between 80,335 and 82,239 dollars remains possible. However, current data show more of a slowdown than a new acceleration of the trend.
Oscillators indicate a cooling of momentum Daily technical indicators present a more mixed situation. According to CoinLore data, the RSI reaches 66.71 at the time of writing, a high level but still below the classic overbuy threshold set at 70. The stochastic is around 62, while the CCI reaches 65.77. The ADX shows 47 Sunday morning, while the Awesome Oscillator reaches 7,714.
These indicators remain considered neutral overall. The ADX confirms, however, that the trend retains some persistence. Despite this element, the overall reading includes two bearish signals, nine undecided signals, and no bullish signals. This distribution shows that indicators do not yet confirm a new acceleration.
Momentum provides an additional caution signal. The momentum oscillator displays -379, while the MACD is at 3,230 with a bearish reading. These two indicators correspond to the pullback observed after the September 3 peak. They thus show that the speed of progress has weakened since the recent peak.
This divergence between price structure and momentum deserves particular attention. The market retains several technical supports, but momentum indicators remain less favorable. A new increase would thus need additional confirmations. Without these, consolidation around 80,000 dollars can continue.
Moving averages maintain a favorable orientation Moving averages present a different reading from oscillators. The exponential moving averages at 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, and 200 periods all show bullish signals. Simple moving averages also follow this orientation. Bitcoin’s price thus remains above each of the main daily moving averages.
The indicator dedicated to moving averages lists 13 positive signals, one neutral signal, and one bearish signal. This configuration thus offers a globally favorable framework. It explains why the daily structure remains stable despite the momentum slowdown. However, it alone is not sufficient to confirm a new peak.
The Hull moving average is the main immediate obstacle. It stands at 80,523 dollars, just above the current price. This average adds extra resistance in an area already marked by several technical levels. Breaking this reference could therefore reinforce the reading of a recovery.
Below the market, several averages form an important support zone. The 20-period SMA is at 77,208 dollars, while the 20-period VWMA reaches 76,714 dollars. The 20-period EMA is at 76,416 dollars. A daily close below this ensemble would change the currently favorable structure.
Key Bitcoin levels to watch In the short term, two zones concentrate most attention. Above the price, the zone from 80,335 to 82,239 dollars groups several important resistances. Below the market, the zone from 79,586 to 78,650 dollars constitutes the first technical area to watch. A confirmed breakout from one of these two zones would better define the next direction.
The more distant support is around 76,200 dollars. The psychological zone of 75,000 dollars then constitutes another marker. These levels allow measuring the potential magnitude of a possible downward movement. They thus complement the structure observed around daily moving averages.
The derivatives market also provides an additional indication. Call options currently represent 61.69% of open positions according to Coinglass data. Put options represent 38.31% of open positions. On Binance, the level of maximum sensitivity is around 70,000 dollars, while the following expirations roughly range from 60,000 to 80,000 dollars.
Calls dominate open positions at 61.65%, while puts represent 50.30% of 24h volume. Source: Coinglass.
This configuration alone does not allow determining the market’s next direction. Derivatives complement price, volume, and technical indicator data. For now, these elements show a still balanced situation in the short term. The next breakout will therefore need to be accompanied by higher volumes to gain reach.
The market thus retains a favorable daily structure, but immediate momentum remains fragile. Breaking 80,335 and then 81,430 dollars would strengthen the possibility of a new test of the September 3 peak. Conversely, a break below 79,586 dollars would put 78,650 dollars back at the center of analysis. Between these levels, consolidation can still continue.
In the short term, BTC‘s trajectory will therefore mainly depend on the next closes and volume evolution. A recovery of trades would ideally accompany any attempt to break resistances. Otherwise, the market could maintain lateral movement around 80,000 dollars. The next direction will thus remain conditioned by the price’s ability to sustainably exit its current range.
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Ghiles A.
Journaliste et rédacteur web passionné par l’univers des cryptomonnaies et des technologies Web3. J’y traite les dernières tendances et actualités afin de proposer un contenu de haute qualité à un large public du secteur.
TLDR: MENA crypto transaction volume reached about $350B by 2025–2026, rising from roughly $100B recorded in 2022. Saudi Arabia led regional crypto growth at 154% YoY, ahead of Qatar’s 120% increase during the period. Turkey led MENA by transaction value, processing nearly $200B in annual crypto activity through mid-2025. The UAE handled more than $56B in 2024–2025 crypto volume, with activity rising 33% from the prior period. Crypto activity across the Middle East and North Africa has expanded sharply, with annual on-chain transaction volume reaching about $350 billion by 2025–2026. The Bitcoin Policy Institute says that figure has climbed from roughly $100 billion in 2022, reflecting stronger investment activity and wider digital-asset use.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as the fastest-growing market in MENA, recording 154% year-over-year growth, while Qatar followed with a 120% increase. Turkey remains the regional leader by transaction value, processing nearly $200 billion annually despite faster growth elsewhere.
Saudi Arabia Leads MENA Crypto Growth as Turkey Tops $200B The growth figures show that crypto expansion across MENA is not concentrated in a single market or driven by one adoption model. Instead, Gulf investment, inflation pressures, regulation, and cross-border activity are shaping different markets.
Saudi Arabia’s 154% growth rate came from Chainalysis data covering July 2023 through June 2024. That expansion coincided with broader investment in fintech, blockchain infrastructure, and digital payments.
Source: Chainalysis
However, higher transaction activity has not translated into unrestricted cryptocurrency regulation. The IMF said in its 2026 consultation that cryptocurrencies remain prohibited in Saudi Arabia.
Authorities are instead developing a digital-asset strategy focused on financial stability, monetary sovereignty, consumer protection, and market integrity. At the infrastructure level, Saudi Arabia joined the BIS-backed mBridge project in 2024.
The project tests wholesale central bank digital currencies for cross-border payments between commercial banks. Qatar has, however, taken a more formal regulatory path. Its Qatar Financial Centre introduced a Digital Assets Framework in 2024 covering tokenization, custody, exchanges, transfers, and smart contracts.
Turkey remains substantially larger by transaction value. Chainalysis placed the country near $200 billion annually through mid-2025, making it MENA’s biggest crypto market. Persistent lira depreciation and inflation have helped support cryptocurrency demand as residents seek alternative investments and ways to preserve purchasing power.
Gulf Regulation and Stablecoins Reshape Regional Crypto Activity The UAE represents another model built around institutional participation and regulated digital-asset businesses. Chainalysis measured more than $56 billion in transactions during 2024–2025, up 33%.
Large institutional transfers accounted for much of that increase. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin Policy Institute estimated the UAE market at approximately $150 billion using a different methodology.
That difference highlights a major limitation when comparing regional totals. Chainalysis previously measured $338.7 billion across MENA between July 2023 and June 2024. It later reported regional volume above $500 billion for the year ending June 2025.
Consequently, the $350 billion estimate should be viewed within its specific methodology. Asset composition also differs across Gulf markets. Bitcoin accounts for an estimated 38% of UAE activity, while Ethereum represents 22%, according to BPI data.
USDT and USDC together account for another 30%, showing the significant role of dollar-linked stablecoins in regional digital-asset activity. Broader geopolitical pressures have also influenced trading behavior.
During the June 2025 Israel-Iran conflict, Bitcoin fell about 2.3% to $105,200. Ether declined 7.5%, while Bitcoin later stabilized between $104,000 and $106,000. Its market dominance increased to 64.8% during the same period.
The data shows a MENA crypto market expanding through several distinct channels. Saudi Arabia leads percentage growth, Turkey dominates transaction value, while Gulf regulation supports institutional participation.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) surged 22% in August while the Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) barely moved 5% and its correlation with gold hit a six-year high, fueling a debate whether BTC is breaking away from its traditional risk-asset behavior.
Why Bitcoin Correlations ShiftProminent key opinion leader Scott Melker pushed back on the idea that Bitcoin needs to permanently track either equities or gold.
He argued on Friday that Bitcoin’s changing correlations show it remains largely uncorrelated over longer periods, potentially helping portfolio diversification.
Bitcoin’s correlation with gold has risen sharply as its link with stocks has weakened.
Melker cautioned that these shifts may not last. Bitcoin can move with stocks at times and gold at others without being tied to either over the long term.
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Bitcoin’s rally came as U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded about $731 million in daily inflows, the strongest since January.
The crypto king is nearing its 50-week moving average.
Melker said a break above $82,800 would mark a higher high and strengthen the bullish structure.
Wall Street Moves On-ChainOffchain co-founder Steven Goldfeder pointed to Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) as an example of traditional finance adopting blockchain infrastructure.
Robinhood Chain, built with Arbitrum technology, processes roughly 12 million to 15 million transactions daily and generates millions of dollars in fees, according to Goldfeder.
He expects other financial firms to follow as tokenized assets, 24/7 trading and near-instant settlement become more common.
Goldfeder sees privacy becoming critical as institutions move on chain.
Financial firms will likely favor systems that protect transaction details while keeping required information available to authorized parties.
Image: Shutterstock
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Liquid Network, a Bitcoin sidechain built and maintained by Blockstream, has temporarily halted its network after purported white-hat hackers took about 4,000 BTC, worth around $320 million, from the Liquid Federation wallet, the project said in a Sept. 6 statement.
We are aware of a security incident on @Liquid_BTC. Purported white-hat hackers have withdrawn ~4,000 BTC (~$320 million) from the Liquid Federation wallet. The @Blockstream team is working on contacting them on-chain with a signed message.
What we know so far is that the funds…
— Liquid Network 🌊 (@Liquid_BTC) September 6, 2026
Blockstream said the withdrawal was carried out through the SideSwap PAK, or Peg-out Authorization Key. Neither the key nor any other keys were compromised, the team added.
Liquid has notified exchanges and paused Liquid Bitcoin (LBTC) deposits and withdrawals. The incident does not affect other Liquid assets such as USDT, DePix and tokenized real-world assets.
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Bridge nodes have also been disabled, effectively pausing the Liquid sidechain and preventing new transactions from being submitted.
Blockstream is working to contact the purported white-hat hackers through an on-chain signed message while federation members work to restore network operations.
Liquid users of Aqua Bitcoin are seeing functionality impacts as teams work to resolve the ongoing security incident, according to Samson Mow, the founder and CEO of JAN3, the company behind the Aqua wallet.
Everyone is actively working to resolve this and we'll share information as the situation develops. As a @Liquid_BTC wallet, Liquid functionality in @AquaBitcoin is impacted, but Bitcoin transactions will still work normally.
These are difficult times but we'll pull through. 🙏 https://t.co/QFqCJuEfaJ
— Samson Mow (@Excellion) September 6, 2026
Mow said Bitcoin transactions on Aqua remain operational and will continue to work normally and that further information will be shared as the situation develops.
Liquid launched in 2018 with the goal of improving liquidity and speeding up Bitcoin transfers between exchanges, brokers and other users. Its early participants included Bitfinex, OKCoin, BitMEX and SIX Digital Exchange.
The network offers several features for faster and more private Bitcoin transactions, including L-BTC, which is backed by a two-way peg to Bitcoin. Liquid also enables Issued Assets with Bitcoin-like functionality for traditional assets and uses Confidential Transactions to improve privacy.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Someone pulled $319 million in Bitcoin (BTC) out of Blockstream’s Liquid network on Sunday. It cost 21 cents in fees. Then they left a note on the blockchain saying they were the good guys.
While the internet calls it a heist, the chain says something stranger. Liquid’s remaining coins are still fully covered, down to the fourth decimal place.
We are aware of a security incident on @Liquid_BTC. Purported white-hat hackers have withdrawn ~4,000 BTC (~$320 million) from the Liquid Federation wallet. The @Blockstream team is working on contacting them on-chain with a signed message.
What we know so far is that the funds…
— Liquid Network 🌊 (@Liquid_BTC) September 6, 2026
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
$320M Crypto Reserve Moves, But the Wallet Left a Strange MessageThe first move cleared at 14:06 UTC, releasing 3,996 coins to an address nobody had ever used before. That was 95% of everything the network held.
Four hours later the money moved again. The sender paid 269 satoshis, about 21 cents, and attached a message anyone can read.
Actors left a message “we are whitehats. contact us on chain”. Source: memepoolThen they sent 0.00001 back to Liquid’s own address. The other 3,998.49 coins have not moved since.
“It looks like ~4,000 BTC just moved from the Liquid Network bridge all at once with an OP Return saying, “we are whitehats. contact us on chain”,” one user noted.
The Part Everyone MissedLiquid runs on one rule: To take coins out, you destroy the matching tokens inside the network first. So when the reserve shrank, the tokens it backs shrank with it. Both landed in nearly the same spot.
Hacker message: "we are whitehats. contact us on chain"
c103de95817b43f2df635ec6f35ff126ca26a7c6d20570c4b01866b2b3e69a19
— ∴FreeSamourai∴ (@ErgoBTC) September 6, 2026
The peg holds, with 0.22 coins to spare. Nobody still holding L-BTC is short a satoshi. That kills the insolvency story. However, it leaves a worse one. Add what left to what remains, and the network held about 4,193 coins on Saturday. Nearly all of them were burned to make this move work.
Blockstream is clear about who can do that. Only a federation member can burn the tokens. Fifteen companies hold the keys, and 11 must sign before coins leave.
Its documentation calls the destination list a safeguard.
Whitelisted addresses are used as a failsafe to ensure that the federation always remains in full control of the BTC held by the Liquid Network,” the team said in its documentation.
The coins went to a brand new address. Blockstream has not explained that, or said anything at all.
Traders have seen this before, particularly with Ronin bridge attackers who gave back $10 million and took a bounty in 2024.
The money sits still, in daylight. Whoever holds it asked to be contacted. Nobody has answered.
Peter Schiff reopened the Bitcoin-backing debate this weekend, arguing that the energy consumed by miners leaves nothing behind to support the asset.
Schiff answered Bitcoin maximalist Jeff Swanson, who had called the asset the future of money. Their exchange revived crypto’s oldest argument about what gives money value.
Peter Schiff Rejects the Bitcoin Backing ArgumentSwanson listed three pillars in his original post. Energy expenditure came first. A fixed issuance schedule and record computing power followed.
Schiff dismissed that premise outright. Energy vanishes the moment miners consume it, he wrote, so nothing survives to support the network. In his framing, mining destroys value rather than storing it.
Energy expenditures are not backing. The energy is gone, the money spent is gone, so there is none left to back Bitcoin.
— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) September 5, 2026
The gold advocate has run this line for years. Gold still exists after miners pull it from the ground, he argues. Electricity does not.
The timing helps him. Hash rate has slipped for months as operators redirected power toward artificial intelligence, and many miners left the network this year.
Schiff never touched the supply cap, though. That leaves the Bitcoin backing case resting on its hardest number rather than on watts.
A $39 Trillion Figure That Already SlippedSwanson pegged US government debt at $39 trillion. Treasury data disagrees. Total public debt outstanding crossed $40 trillion on Aug. 18 and reached $40.10 trillion on Sept. 3, according to the department’s daily figures.
Line chart of US national debt crossing $40 trillion in 2026, Source: BeInCryptoThat gap matters, because the debt comparison carries the rest of his argument. The $40 trillion debt record arrived in August, and borrowing has not slowed since.
Swanson also tied his case to confidence in the institution issuing the dollar. Schiff ignored that half. He targeted only the energy claim.
Meanwhile, price action offers neither man much comfort. Bitcoin (BTC) changed hands near $79,600 on Sunday, down roughly 1.5% over 24 hours.
Schiff has bent slightly before. Last month, he admitted to missing out on Bitcoin gains, while insisting that long-term holders fared worse than they claim.
Neither side conceded anything here. Still, the question of Bitcoin backing returns every time a debt record falls.
BlackRock has found a way to solve one of crypto’s most persistent identity crises: what do you do when you’re sitting on a mountain of Bitcoin but want the comfort of a brokerage account? You swap it, directly, for shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), no sale required.
The firm’s in-kind conversion program has quietly processed over $5 billion in direct Bitcoin-to-IBIT swaps as of August 2026. That figure was sitting at roughly $3 billion back in October 2025, meaning the pipeline has grown by more than 60% in less than a year.
The $1 million door just opened wider The acceleration traces back to a single decision made in July 2026. BlackRock slashed the minimum transaction size for in-kind conversions from $25 million down to $1 million.
At the old threshold, the program was essentially a velvet-rope affair for the ultra-wealthy and institutional holders. A $25 million floor meant you needed to be holding roughly 250 Bitcoin (give or take, depending on price) just to walk through the door. The new $1 million minimum opens the program to a much broader class of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and smaller funds.
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The mechanics work through authorized participants, the intermediaries that create and redeem ETF shares. A Bitcoin holder delivers their coins to the authorized participant, who in turn delivers them to the trust and issues IBIT shares back to the holder. No sale hits the market. No immediate capital gains tax event gets triggered.
Why whales are biting Self-custody at scale is genuinely difficult. Hardware wallets, multisig setups, seed phrase management, inheritance planning: all of these become exponentially more stressful when the number after the dollar sign has seven or eight digits. A single operational error can mean permanent, irreversible loss.
By converting into IBIT shares, holders get their Bitcoin exposure wrapped inside the familiar infrastructure of Wall Street. Custodial risk shifts to Coinbase (IBIT’s custodian) and the broader ETF ecosystem. The shares sit in a standard brokerage account, show up on consolidated wealth statements, and can be margined, lent, or used as collateral just like any other security.
Robbie Mitchnick, BlackRock’s head of digital assets, has pointed to the growth potential of this market segment as the accessibility barriers continue falling.
IBIT’s gravitational pull IBIT remains the largest US spot Bitcoin ETF by both assets under management and flows, and the in-kind conversion program is widening that lead.
Every Bitcoin that flows into the trust through a direct swap adds to IBIT’s asset base without requiring a cash purchase on the open market. Cash creations, where an authorized participant buys Bitcoin on the market and delivers it to the trust, can move prices. In-kind creations simply transfer existing coins from one owner to the trust, which is price-neutral in the immediate term but still grows the fund’s footprint.
Other ETF issuers are exploring similar in-kind conversion options, but BlackRock’s distribution network gives it a structural advantage. The firm manages over $10 trillion in total assets across its platform, which means it already has relationships with the advisors, family offices, and institutions most likely to facilitate these conversions.
Tax strategy meets asset management When a Bitcoin holder sells their coins on an exchange, they realize a capital gain (or loss) at the moment of sale. The in-kind swap structure sidesteps this by treating the transaction as a like-kind exchange rather than a sale, deferring the tax liability into the future.
This isn’t a permanent tax avoidance strategy. The holder’s cost basis in the original Bitcoin carries over to the IBIT shares, so the tax bill comes due eventually, presumably when the shares are sold. But the ability to defer that event indefinitely, or until a more tax-efficient moment arises, is enormously valuable for wealth planning purposes.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
TLDR: Ledger CTO challenges the whitehat claim after Liquid’s 3,996 BTC peg-out was valued at $318.4 million. Liquid says the peg-out used SideSwap’s PAK, while the key itself and other authorization keys stayed secure. The 3,996 BTC transfer represented roughly 95% of Liquid’s Bitcoin reserves, intensifying control scrutiny. Liquid paused bridge activity as most withdrawn BTC remained concentrated and LBTC backing stayed matched. Liquid Network is investigating an unusual peg-out involving roughly 4,000 BTC after actors behind the withdrawal described themselves as “whitehats.” Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet has challenged that description, arguing that legitimate researchers usually disclose vulnerabilities before moving substantial collateral.
Ledger CTO: 4,000 BTC Pegged Out of Liquid Bridge, “Whitehat” Claim Raises Doubts
Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet said about 4,000 BTC were pegged out of the Liquid bridge, with an OP_RETURN message stating, “we are whitehats. contact us on chain.” He argued that white hats do not… pic.twitter.com/o0CHl4gyM4
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 6, 2026
The September 6 transaction moved about 3,996 BTC from federation-controlled reserves while Bitcoin traded near $79,675. The transfer was worth approximately $318.4 million. A later transaction carried an OP_RETURN message stating, “we are whitehats. contact us on chain.”
Guillemet argued that withdrawing hundreds of millions of dollars before opening communication differs sharply from conventional vulnerability disclosure practices. His comments shifted attention from the transfer itself toward the conduct of the actors controlling the funds.
The Ledger CTO compared the situation with major bridge and protocol exploits where attackers later communicated with affected projects. He cited the 2022 Ronin bridge attack and the 2023 Euler Finance exploit.
Ronin lost more than $600 million after stolen validator keys allowed unauthorized withdrawals. Euler Finance later recovered assets following negotiations after an exploit initially drained about $197 million.
However, those historical comparisons do not establish malicious intent in the Liquid Network incident. The roughly 4,000 BTC has not been reported as rapidly dispersed or laundered. Instead, most of the funds remained concentrated following the peg-out.
The actors also explicitly requested contact through the Bitcoin blockchain. Blockstream later responded using an on-chain message and asked the party controlling the funds to contact its security team.
However, no confirmed agreement or asset return has been reported. The central issue therefore remains whether the actors’ whitehat description matches their actions. That claim has not been independently verified.
Liquid Probes How 3,996 BTC Cleared Its Peg-Out Security Controls The Liquid Network later confirmed a security incident and said the withdrawal passed through SideSwap’s Peg-out Authorization Key, known as PAK. Nevertheless, the network said SideSwap’s key itself was not compromised.
Liquid Network confirmed a security incident, saying the funds were withdrawn via SideSwap’s Peg-out Authorization Key (PAK), while the key itself and other keys were not compromised. Exchanges have been notified and have paused or will pause LBTC deposits and withdrawals. Other…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 6, 2026
Other authorization keys were also reported as uncompromised. That finding has intensified scrutiny over how the transaction satisfied Liquid’s normal withdrawal requirements. Liquid uses a federated security model.
Fifteen functionaries operate the network, while an 11-of-15 quorum controls the Bitcoin peg. Normally, LBTC must be destroyed before matching BTC can leave federation-controlled reserves. PAK restrictions provide another layer by limiting peg-outs to authorized Bitcoin addresses.
On-chain analysis indicated that corresponding LBTC was burned during the withdrawal. That meant the remaining LBTC supply continued to retain matching Bitcoin backing. The distinction reduced immediate concerns about uncovered LBTC liabilities. However, the transaction still represented roughly 95% of Liquid’s Bitcoin reserves.
Liquid responded by notifying exchanges, which paused or prepared to pause LBTC deposits and withdrawals. Bridge nodes were also temporarily disabled while federation members continued investigating. Assets including USDT, DePix, and tokenized real-world assets were not affected, according to the network.
The incident now centers on two verified questions. Investigators must establish how the authorization process permitted the peg-out and whether the withdrawn BTC will be returned.
Liquid Network is reviewing a major incident after about 3,996 BTC, valued at $318.4 million, was withdrawn from its reserves in a single transaction. The actors behind the withdrawal described themselves as “whitehats” in an on-chain message, prompting extensive scrutiny from industry leaders and the wider crypto community.
Ledger Chief Technology Officer Charles Guillemet publicly raised doubts about the legitimacy of the “whitehat” claim. He stated that taking control of such a significant amount of BTC without prior disclosure to network operators does not align with standard security research procedures.
Guillemet compared the event with previous high-profile protocol exploits, referencing the 2022 Ronin bridge attack that resulted in losses exceeding $600 million and the 2023 Euler Finance incident in which assets were ultimately returned after negotiations.
Withdrawing hundreds of millions before communication is completely different from disclosing a vulnerability, and this conduct diverges from established whitehat practices, Guillemet argued. The focus has turned to whether these actors’ actions genuinely warrant the label they chose for themselves.
Despite similarities to some previous bridge exploits, the BTC that left the Liquid Network has not been reported as widely dispersed or laundered. In a notable move, the individuals behind the peg-out posted an OP_RETURN message on the blockchain, inviting contact: “we are whitehats. contact us on chain.”
Blockstream responded on the Bitcoin blockchain, urging the party in control of the funds to reach out to its security team. However, there have been no confirmed negotiations or asset returns as of now, and independent verification of the whitehat claim remains outstanding.
Liquid investigates peg-out mechanics and security modelFollowing the withdrawal, Liquid Network confirmed that the peg-out utilized SideSwap’s Peg-out Authorization Key (PAK), an additional security layer. The network stated that neither the PAK nor any other authorization keys appeared to be compromised, intensifying debate over whether existing withdrawal safeguards were adequate.
Liquid employs a federated security structure where 15 functionaries govern the network, and an 11-of-15 quorum is required to unlock Bitcoin from reserves. The system mandates that Liquid Bitcoin (LBTC) must be destroyed before a matching amount of BTC can be released, with peg-out authorized only to approved addresses via the PAK mechanism.
On-chain analysis confirmed that the proper amount of LBTC was burned during the withdrawal process, ensuring the liquid supply of LBTC remained fully backed and minimizing immediate risk of unbacked liabilities.
Nonetheless, the nearly 4,000 BTC peg-out amounts to around 95% of the network’s total BTC reserves. This scale led exchanges to temporarily suspend LBTC-related deposits and withdrawals in order to mitigate further exposure. Liquid paused bridge node activity while its investigation proceeded, but confirmed that USDT, DePix, and tokenized assets held on the platform were unaffected.
Critical market tools and next stepsThe Liquid security incident comes at a time when technical volatility can dramatically shift crypto market dynamics. For traders navigating sudden events—whether triggered by a major Federal Reserve announcement or an unexpected altcoin listing—monitoring all relevant data is crucial. In these environments, switching between multiple apps for charts, news, and portfolio updates has grown costly for investors. As a result, many have turned to privacy-first solutions like CryptoAppsy to bring real-time charts, price alerts, asset-specific news, and macroeconomic data together on a single platform, with no account required.
Investigators continue to focus on two key areas: how this peg-out passed normal authorization checks and whether the withdrawn BTC might ultimately be returned. The answers may shape trust in federated security models going forward.
The Liquid Network said Sunday that purported white-hat hackers withdrew about 4,000 bitcoin, worth about $320 million, from the federation wallet that backs L-BTC. Bridge nodes were disabled, and the sidechain was paused. Other issued assets, including USDT, DePix and RWAs, were unaffected, the official account said on X.
The Liquid Network is a federated sidechain of Bitcoin, founded by Adam Back’s Blockstream. The Liquid chain issues a variety of assets such as LBTC, which it backs with BTC on the Bitcoin main chain, held in a large multisig of 15 corporate and known members. 11 of the 15 members need to sign a valid multi-signature transaction to move coins from the treasury. Before the hack, the treasury held over 4200 BTC; after the hack, Blockstream’s proof of reserves page reports a little over 207 BTC left.
The hackers withdrew 4,019.4 BTC from the reserve address in a peg-out transaction using the SideSwap Peg-out Authorization Key. SideWap is a bridge exchange and a member of the Liquid Federation. While details on the mechanism of the hack are not confirmed yet, it appears an inflation bug on the LBTC side chain was exploited by the hackers to create over 4,000 LBTC that did not exist before, and cash them out for on-chain bitcoin from the federation. Because the transaction appeared as valid, given the consensus bug, the federation members’ HSM security servers signed the BTC withdrawal transaction, worth roughly 320 million at the time.
The hacker moved the funds to an address ending in 6gyqjlte, from which they quickly signed a new transaction with a message on the OP_RETURN arbitrary data field saying “we are whitehats. contact us on chain.” Those coins were still at that address at the time of writing.
A small mainnet transaction to the hacker address followed by an OP_RETURN saying “Please contact [email protected]”, presumably from a Blockstream public address, though that remains unconfirmed. A later OP_RETURN spend from the hacker address carried “Please contact us on Signal @m671aw.70”, however, this may be spam and does not share a link to the address with the stolen funds.
In response to the breach, exchanges were told to pause L-BTC deposits and withdrawals. Bridge nodes on the Liquid Network have been paused, limiting access to the side chain, which continues to produce blocks.
JAN3 CEO Samson Mow said Aqua’s Liquid features were affected and that on-chain bitcoin still worked. Other wallets in the industry that use the Liquid Network are expected to be affected. Users holding LBTC now effectively have their savings at risk, since the underlying BTC is currently not redeemable. Given the private nature of the Liquid chain, user onchain analytics are scarce and not much public information is known about how much LBTC is held by retail users versus corporations of Blockstream itself. Nevertheless, should the funds not be returned, it would be a heavy blow to the Liquid Network’s user base.
Users of LBTC don’t have many options but to wait for conversations with the hackers to resolve. Given the size of the hack, it would be difficult for the hackers to get away with stealing all that bitcoin, though perhaps not impossible. What may happen is that the hackers ask for a finder’s fee and return the majority of the funds.
The Liquid Network reported that hackers withdrew approximately 4,000 BTC, valued at nearly $320 million, from the federation wallet that backs its LBTC sidechain asset on Sunday. Following the incident, Liquid immediately paused its bridge nodes and suspended L-BTC deposits and withdrawals to prevent further unauthorized transactions. Assets such as USDT, DePix, and RWAs issued on the network remained unaffected, according to the official Liquid Network account.
Details of the ExploitThe Liquid Network, a federated Bitcoin sidechain developed by Blockstream, enables fast and confidential transfers by issuing tokens like LBTC, which is backed 1:1 by bitcoin held in a multi-signature wallet. This wallet operates under the control of 15 federation members, requiring the signatures of 11 members for fund movements. Before the security breach, the reserves accounted for over 4,200 BTC; afterwards, Blockstream’s proof of reserves page indicated a steep drop to just over 200 BTC.
Hackers managed to drain 4,019.4 BTC from the reserve via a peg-out transaction, exploiting the SideSwap Peg-out Authorization Key. SideSwap, a bridge exchange and member of the Liquid Federation, appears to have been central to the technical flaw. Preliminary evidence suggests that the attackers took advantage of an inflation bug on the LBTC sidechain, allowing them to mint over 4,000 counterfeit LBTC and redeem this for real bitcoin held in the treasury. As the transaction complied with Liquid’s consensus rules at the time, the system’s security modules, called HSMs, signed off on the withdrawal, permitting the attackers to transfer a sum worth roughly $320 million.
Mini dictionary: Hardware Security Module (HSM): A physical or virtual device designed to safeguard and manage digital keys, perform cryptographic operations, and increase overall security for sensitive blockchain actions and key management.
MetricBefore HackAfter HackBTC in Reserve4,200+207Total BTC Withdrawn–4,019.4LBTC RedeemabilityFully redeemableCurrently haltedWhite-Hat Claims and Ongoing NegotiationsThe hackers moved the stolen bitcoin to an address ending in 6gyqjlte and attached a message in the OP_RETURN data field stating “we are whitehats. contact us on chain.” At the time of publication, the full amount remained at this address. Later, an on-chain message from the suspected Blockstream team requested contact via the provided security email address, although this has not been concretely verified. The attacker responded with a further OP_RETURN message containing instructions to communicate over Signal, an encrypted messaging platform.
Blockstream, a Canadian blockchain technology company founded by Adam Back, is the principal developer behind Liquid Network. Liquid is known for its federated model, in which a select group of entities operates the bridge between Bitcoin and its sidechain assets. The network’s private technical architecture makes external investigation challenging, particularly around retail exposure and address balances.
Mini dictionary: OP_RETURN: A special feature in Bitcoin transactions that allows a small amount of data to be embedded in the blockchain, often used for attaching messages or signals related to a transaction.
User Impact and Industry ResponseLiquid recommended that exchanges and service providers halt all LBTC transactions until further notice. While the sidechain continues to produce blocks, bridges to the Bitcoin mainnet remain suspended.
Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, stated that the hack impacted Aqua, a wallet that relies on the Liquid Network, but clarified that standard bitcoin transactions continue unaffected. Other industry wallets and services integrated with Liquid may be similarly affected.
Users holding LBTC currently face uncertainty over their token backing, as the bitcoin reserves are no longer sufficient for redemption. Public data is limited, so the proportion of retail versus institutional exposure remains unclear, but the incident is considered significant for both corporate and individual users who depend on the security of the Liquid Network.
LBTC holders now risk their savings, as the underlying BTC reserves are unavailable for redemption, leaving few options but to await a resolution with the hackers.
Given the scale of the heist and the public messages left by the attackers, some industry sources believe a finder’s fee or partial return of funds could be negotiated. However, if the bitcoin is not recovered, the breach would mark a substantial setback for the Liquid Network and its community.
The IMF stated that the recent Bitcoin accumulation came from private donations, not public funds
El Salvador has significantly reduced public participation in its Chivo e-wallet as part of changes to the government’s involvement in Bitcoin, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF said efforts are also underway to improve transparency around the country’s BTC holdings across its different wallets.
No Public Funds Bought Bitcoin Majority ownership and operational control of Chivo have been transferred to a private operator, while the government has kept a minority stake and responsibility for holding customer assets. On Bitcoin accumulation, El Salvador provided documentation showing that the BTC acquired since the first review of its IMF program came from private donations, and no public funds were used for the purchases.
The IMF staff and the Salvadoran authorities have reached a staff-level agreement that also includes measures to strengthen the governance and risk management of crypto assets held by the public sector, along with plans to update the country’s digital-asset legal, regulatory and supervisory framework.
The IMF said no additional Bitcoin accumulation beyond the documented donations is expected. The developments come as El Salvador continues implementing reforms under its Extended Fund Facility arrangement with the international financial organization.
Zooming out, the IMF Mission Chief for El Salvador, Mr. Torres, stated that the country’s economy grew more than expected in 2025, and real GDP growth is expected to reach 4.5% this year. The outlook is being supported by investment and consumer spending, as well as remittances, tourism, and capital inflows. The IMF also pointed to improved security and higher investor confidence as factors supporting the economy. It said the government’s economic policies have helped strengthen fiscal and external buffers.
El Salvador Bitcoin’s Stash El Salvador became the first country to make Bitcoin legal tender, but its use and accumulation have faced continued opposition from the International Monetary Fund. As part of negotiations for its $1.4 billion IMF program, the country agreed to limit public-sector involvement in BTC, make private-sector acceptance voluntary, and scale back parts of its crypto framework.
You may also like: Bitcoin’s 4-Year Cycle Could Be Changing: Willy Woo Reveals What Could Replace It Crypto Holders Turn to Loans as Markets Cool in 2026: CQ Bitcoin Holders Just Cashed Out 110,000 BTC in Profits: Is a Bigger Price Drop Coming? The National Bitcoin Office’s reserve tracker currently lists around 7,764 BTC. At the current price of $81,150, the holdings are worth roughly $630 million.
In brief Ripple struck a multi-year deal with the University of Florida to feature the XRP logo on the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, plus digital properties and signage, alongside a commitment to fund financial and technology education for student-athletes. It's Ripple's latest college-sports play, following a deal earlier this year to put the XRP logo on Kansas Jayhawks basketball jerseys. The branding push comes as XRP trades around $1.41—up 34.9% over 30 days but down 49.8% on the year. Ripple is taking its crypto-in-college-sports playbook to the Swamp, striking a multi-year marketing deal with the University of Florida that will splash the XRP logo across the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium starting this football season.
Florida Athletics announced the deal Friday, saying the XRP branding will appear on the field as well as on digital properties and event signage in Gainesville.
Myriad: Where does XRP price go next? Click to make your prediction.Beyond the marketing, Ripple committed to supporting financial and technology education for Florida student-athletes and the broader campus community, spanning both traditional finance and digital assets. Terms weren't disclosed.
"Florida has a long history of embracing innovation and technology to enhance the experience of our fans and advance our programs," University of Florida Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said in a statement. "Ripple has established itself as an innovative leader in financial technology, and we're excited to welcome XRP to Gator Nation."
The Gators deal marks Ripple's latest push into college athletics. The company previously struck a multi-year agreement earlier this year to place the XRP logo on the University of Kansas Jayhawks' basketball jerseys, an unusual foray for a crypto brand into the marketing real estate of major college programs.
The branding blitz comes as XRP's price has held steady without much fireworks. The token traded around $1.41 on Friday, up 0.6% over 24 hours, according to CoinGecko, leaving it up about 34.9% over the past 30 days but still down roughly 49.8% over the past year.
Spot XRP ETF demand, a recent tailwind, has cooled: flows were essentially flat on Sept. 4, and as Decrypt reported, the funds recently ended an inflow streak. Decrypt's XRP ETF tracker now reads XRP sentiment as "neutral," though cumulative net inflows still stand at about $1.6 billion.
The sponsorships arrive as Ripple leans into mainstream visibility, having spent years building out its payments, custody, and treasury business and recently rolling out its RLUSD stablecoin.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
In brief Ripple struck a multi-year deal with the University of Florida to feature the XRP logo on the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, plus digital properties and signage, alongside a commitment to fund financial and technology education for student-athletes. It's Ripple's latest college-sports play, following a deal earlier this year to put the XRP logo on Kansas Jayhawks basketball jerseys. The branding push comes as XRP trades around $1.41—up 34.9% over 30 days but down 49.8% on the year. Ripple is taking its crypto-in-college-sports playbook to the Swamp, striking a multi-year marketing deal with the University of Florida that will splash the XRP logo across the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium starting this football season.
Florida Athletics announced the deal Friday, saying the XRP branding will appear on the field as well as on digital properties and event signage in Gainesville.
Myriad: Where does XRP price go next? Click to make your prediction.Beyond the marketing, Ripple committed to supporting financial and technology education for Florida student-athletes and the broader campus community, spanning both traditional finance and digital assets. Terms weren't disclosed.
"Florida has a long history of embracing innovation and technology to enhance the experience of our fans and advance our programs," University of Florida Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said in a statement. "Ripple has established itself as an innovative leader in financial technology, and we're excited to welcome XRP to Gator Nation."
The Gators deal marks Ripple's latest push into college athletics. The company previously struck a multi-year agreement earlier this year to place the XRP logo on the University of Kansas Jayhawks' basketball jerseys, an unusual foray for a crypto brand into the marketing real estate of major college programs.
The branding blitz comes as XRP's price has held steady without much fireworks. The token traded around $1.41 on Friday, up 0.6% over 24 hours, according to CoinGecko, leaving it up about 34.9% over the past 30 days but still down roughly 49.8% over the past year.
Spot XRP ETF demand, a recent tailwind, has cooled: flows were essentially flat on Sept. 4, and as Decrypt reported, the funds recently ended an inflow streak. Decrypt's XRP ETF tracker now reads XRP sentiment as "neutral," though cumulative net inflows still stand at about $1.6 billion.
The sponsorships arrive as Ripple leans into mainstream visibility, having spent years building out its payments, custody, and treasury business and recently rolling out its RLUSD stablecoin.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
