Market Signal Briefing

Illuvium and Immutable X launch IPL 1000 tournament to expand blockchain gaming.

Published:
October 3, 2025 │ 9:45 AM GMT

Illuvium, a blockchain-based game developer, has partnered with Web3 company Immutable to host its largest esports competition outside its flagship World Event of the Illuvium Pro League (IPL).

The tournament, called the Immutable Masters IPL 1000, is scheduled for October 3–4 and carries a $20,000 prize pool. It will serve as the launch event for the Illuvium Pro League, marking a first step toward bringing Web3 gaming into the mainstream esports arena.”

Sponsored

The competition begins with open qualifiers on October 3, followed by the main tournament on October 4.

Announcing Immutable Masters Illuvium Pro League (IPL).

A competitive @illuviumio autobattler where players battle it out with their Illuvials in front of spectators.

Immutable Masters IPL 1000 kicks off on October 3rd with a $20k prize pool, and $250k of prizes across the… pic.twitter.com/yXLrpotVXo

— Immutable (@Immutable) September 30, 2025

Matches will take place within Illuvium Arena, the studio’s autobattler game, where players assemble teams of digital creatures known as Illuvials. Gameplay emphasizes strategic positioning, counter-play, and spectator-friendly mechanics.

The IPL 1000 is the highest level in Illuvium’s new three-tier league, which also includes the IPL 250 and IPL 500 to cater to players of varying skill levels. The gameplay focuses on tactical positioning and counter-play, while also being tailored for spectator viewing.

Immutable will provide the blockchain technology that underpins Illuvium Arena and will leverage its marketing network to help the game reach broader audiences in a competitive esports landscape. The IPL 1000 is part of a wider $250,000 seasonal prize pool, supported by a $14 million fund earmarked for future competitive gaming initiatives.

Illuvium CEO Kieran Warwick said the goal is to show that blockchain titles can compete on the same stage as traditional esports.

The tournament will test whether Web3 games can attract both players and spectators beyond the crypto-native audience, potentially influencing the adoption of blockchain gaming in mainstream esports.

Why This Matters
While the $20,000 prize is modest compared with established esports competitions, the event signals a strategic push to integrate Web3 mechanics into competitive gaming, and the league’s design allows for scalability and future expansion.

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People Also Ask:
What is the IPL 1000 tournament?

The Immutable Masters IPL 1000 is an esports competition hosted by Illuvium, featuring a $20,000 prize pool. It is the top tier of the newly structured Illuvium Pro League.

What role does blockchain play in the IPL 1000 tournament?

Immutable supplies the blockchain technology behind Illuvium Arena, ensuring digital ownership of in-game assets and helping expand the audience for Web3-based esports.

What defines an esports tournament?

An esports tournament is a competitive event where players or teams compete in video games for prizes, rankings, and recognition. Tournaments often include live streaming for spectators.

How is Illuvium Arena suited for esports?

Illuvium Arena’s strategic gameplay, spectator-friendly mechanics, and structured leagues make it suitable for competitive play, similar to other top esports titles.

How does strategy in esports differ from casual gaming?

Esports strategy involves advanced planning, counter-play, team coordination, and adapting to opponents, unlike casual play which is often less structured.

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

In brief
BNB reached an all-time high over $1,114, making it the highest gainer among the top 10 cryptos in the last 24 hours.
The rally was fueled by $7.7 million in liquidated short positions, a reduction in BNB Chain transaction fees to $0.005, and speculation around a potential U.S. spot BNB ETF, analysts told Decrypt.
BNB Chain's monthly active users have doubled to over two million in the past year.
BNB surged to a new all-time high of $1,114.67 Friday, as a short squeeze and network fee cuts triggered the most powerful rally among major cryptocurrencies.

At time of publication, BNB is trading at $1,108, up 6.1% on the day according to CoinGecko data, and extending its weekly gains to 17.2%.

BNB is the biggest gainer among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap, with Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP (XRP), and Solana (SOL) advancing 1.5%, 2.5%, 1.8%, and 2.7% respectively over the same period, while Dogecoin (DOGE) slipped 0.6%.

BNB's market capitalization now stands at over $154 billion, maintaining its position as the fourth-largest crypto.

"Over $7.7 million in short positions were liquidated, triggering a short squeeze that accelerated the upward move," Dean Chen, an analyst at crypto exchange Bitunix, told Decrypt.

Chen noted that BNB Chain's reduction of transaction fees to just $0.005 per transfer attracted greater participation from users and developers, while a successful breakout above the $1,084 resistance level "shifted market sentiment bullish, with short-term targets now eyeing $1,200."

“The RSI indicator is approaching overbought territory, signaling potential near-term pullback risks,” he cautioned

BNB Chain's monthly active users have doubled to over two million in the past year, while daily transactions surged tenfold from one million to 10 million and spot DEX activity jumped from 120,000 to more than 200,000, according to an Animoca Brands report shared with Decrypt.

The BNB token’s rally is fueled by a combination of "network upgrades, on-chain momentum, and institutional demand," Illia Otychenko, Lead Analyst at CEX.IO, told Decrypt.

“Additional improvements are expected in the coming months, further supporting the bullish outlook,” Otychenko noted, highlighting the recent cut in minimum gas fees.

The Aster effectProjects such as Aster and PancakeSwap have “driven a wave of new users and capital, boosting stablecoin supply by nearly $2 billion, or 17%, in the past two weeks," Otychenko added.

Aster is a multi-chain perpetual futures exchange backed by Binance co-founder CZ's YZi Labs, while PancakeSwap is BNB Chain's largest decentralized exchange for token swaps and liquidity staking.

Apart from network fundamentals, “speculation around a potential U.S. spot BNB ETF added and fresh demand for BNB as a treasury asset,” added fuel to the rally, the analyst noted, “reinforcing the token's positioning as more than just a utility asset."

Chen said BNB's long-term path depends on whether network upgrades drive "sustained demand" and how "global regulatory developments—particularly the SEC's stance—impact institutional adoption."

He called the overall momentum "upward" but advised that "investors should watch whether the $1,000 to $1,084 support zone holds to confirm the continuation of the bullish trend."

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Key Takeaways
What sparked PancakeSwap’s recent price surge? 
The launch of fee-earning limit orders triggered strong retail and whale accumulation, driving CAKE’s rally.

Can CAKE maintain its bullish momentum? 
If accumulation continues, CAKE could test $4, but profit-taking may lead to a pullback toward $3.

PancakeSwap’s [CAKE] surged 28.55%, reaching a 2025 high of $3.46 before slightly retracing to $3.22, at press time.

Over the same period, its volume surged 528% to $410 million while market cap reached a yearly high of $1.2 billion, signaling steady capital flows.

But what triggered this uptick?

Why is CAKE up today?
AMBCrypto observed that the recent launch of fee-limit earning orders kick-started CAKE’s rally and soaring retail and whale demand. 

Three days ago, PancakeSwap launched fee-earning limit orders, allowing traders to generate fees upon order execution.

This connects trading precision with passive income, thus reinforcing CAKE’s position in DeFi while connecting DEX and CEX functionalities. 

The system offers users a 0.1% trading fee reward per order, delivering earnings directly to users’ wallets. 

Retail demand skyrockets
Significantly, after the launch of the above program, retail buyers flowed into the market to accumulate CAKE. 

In fact, the altcoin recorded a positive Buy Sell Delta for three consecutive days. According to Coinalyze, the altcoin saw 17 million tokens in cumulative Buy Volume compared to 14 million in Sell Volume. 

Source: Coinalyze

As a result, the altcoin recorded a positive delta of 3 million tokens, signaling higher buying activity. 

Historically, buyer dominance has preceded an intense upward pressure on an asset, often a precursor to higher prices. 

Whale activity soars too
Notably, PancakeSwap has recorded massive demand from whales over the past week. 

Average Order Size data from CryptoQuant showed Big Whale Orders dominating the market for seven consecutive days. 

When the market records big whale orders, it signals increased participation from large entities on either demand or supply. 

Source: CryptoQuant

AMBCrypto’s analysis reveals that whales have been actively accumulating CAKE. Nansen data shows net inflows on four of the last five days, indicating consistent buying pressure.

In the past 24 hours alone, large holders boosted their holdings by 5.8% to 2.64 billion tokens, adding 7.6 million CAKE. This led to a sharp balance change of +740k, a notable reversal from the previous day’s -873k outflow.

Source: Nansen

Typically, a higher buying pressure from whales indicates firm conviction with the market, a clear bullish sign. 

Profit takers are not left behind
As expected, as the market rebounded, investors who had been underwater rushed into the market to cash out. 

According to CoinGlass, CAKE recorded a positive Spot Netflow for three consecutive days. At press time, Netflow was $2.89 million, a dip from $3.38 million the previous day. 

Source: CoinGlass

Typically, when netflow is positive, it signals higher inflow, a clear sign of aggressive selling. Increased selling could potentially impact price action negatively, leading to a price decline. 

Can CAKE hold momentum?
According to AMBCrypto’s analysis, Pancakeswap rallied, driven by a fee-earning limit order initiative backed by actual demand from retail and whales. 

As a result, the altcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) surged to 69, as of writing, edging into the bullish zone. At the same time, its Stochastic RSI jumped to 59, confirming the buyer’s presence.

Source: TradingView

Typically, when these momentum indicators reach a bullish zone, it signals strengthening upward momentum and its continuation potential.

That said, if the current market conditions hold, with whales and retail accumulating, CAKE will test $4 resistance level. Conversely, if profiteers overpower the market, we could see a correction to $3.0.

While traditional discussions often focus on trading, speculation, and token economics, he emphasized that crypto is equally about social coordination. Diverse groups of people, often from different countries and skill sets, can self-organize, collaborate, and build together, creating a bottom-up ecological force that drives the ecosystem forward.

TL;DR

ETF inflows: Bitcoin ETFs amassed $2.25 billion in just four days, with BlackRock, Fidelity, and ARK/21Shares leading the surge. BlackRock’s IBIT alone secured $466.55 million in a single session.
Price momentum: Bitcoin broke through the $120,000 mark, settling near $120,400 with bullish indicators like RSI at 64.38 and MACD expansion.
Market outlook: Ethereum ETFs also attracted $1.06 billion, while Bitcoin ETP holdings climbed to 1.47 million BTC, about 7% of the capped supply. With $161.03 billion locked in Bitcoin ETFs, institutional participation is accelerating.

Bitcoin ETFs have been on a 4-day streak, amassing $2.25 2.25billion in inflows, igniting fresh momentum in the crypto market. Led by BlackRock, Fidelity, and ARK/21 Shares, the surge shows continued growing institutional demand as Bitcoin pushes through the $120,000 mark and investors regain confidence.

BlackRock’s IBIT Dominates Inflows
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) emerged as the clear leader, securing $466.55 million in a single session. This pushed its cumulative total to $61.84 billion, with assets under management now at $93.95 billion. IBIT also recorded 62.25 million shares traded, cementing its dominance in the ETF landscape. Analysts note that IBIT’s scale has even surpassed Coinbase’s Deribit platform in open interest, highlighting its growing role as a primary venue for Bitcoin exposure.

Fidelity and ARK Secure Strong Positions
Fidelity’s FBTC followed with $89.62 million in inflows, bringing its net assets to $24.91 billion. ARK and 21Shares’ ARKB added $45.18 million, lifting its managed assets to $5.43 billion. Both funds closed the day with gains near 2.9%, reflecting renewed investor confidence. Together with BlackRock, these three ETFs accounted for most inflows, reinforcing their leadership in the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market.

Bitcoin Price Action Fuels Momentum
Today’s ETF inflows coincided with Bitcoin pushing through the $120,000 mark, gaining nearly 2%, and settling at around $120,400. Technical indicators like the Relative Strength Index (64.38) and the MACD are showing bullish trends. Experts believe sustained trading above $120,000 could eventually push BTC to $123,000, settling the support level at $117,000. The combination of ETF inflows and price action is proof of strong institutional conviction.

Broader Market Impact and Outlook
Beyond Bitcoin, Ethereum ETFs are also reporting impressive inflows, totaling $1.06 billion. Bitcoin ETPs’ holdings surged to 1.47 million BTC, representing 7% of the total supply. Institutional participation continues to accelerate with $161.03 billion locked in Bitcoin ETFs. Market experts are closely monitoring the situation as October unfolds.

By Francisco Rodrigues (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

Is the best for XRP yet to come?

The past week or so has seen the resurgance of countless cryptocurrency assets. Bitcoin went above $120,000 for the first time since mid-August, BNB charted another ATH, while some alts, such as ZEC, posted triple-digit gains.

XRP is also well in the green, trading 10% higher now than it did last Friday. This increase, albeit impressive on its own, has fueled the XRP Army to outline some massive predictions for what’s next for the underlying asset.

XRP literally has the opportunity to go for the most face-melting pump of all time pic.twitter.com/9NXg9DTScT

— Cobb (@Cobb_XRPL) October 3, 2025

It’s worth noting that Cobb is among the most vocal participants of the Ripple community, and their predictions should be taken with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, the popular commentator highlighted a massive target of well within a double-digit price territory for Ripple’s token.

Their graph, which was mocked by some as a simple “straight white line,” shows that the asset could explode to somewhere around $14-$15. This does sound a bit far-fetched at the moment, given the fact that XRP is fighting to reclaim the $3.00 level.

It would require a massive surge of roughly 400% and its market cap would skyrocket to $900 billion, which would make it nearly twice as big as ETH’s current valuation.

While this might sound highly unlikely at the moment, XRP has proven that it’s capable of such increases in a relatively short time. Recall that it struggled well below $0.60 before the US elections nearly a year ago and exploded by over 500% by January 2025 to match its then-ATH of $3.4.

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Nevertheless, such mind-blowing price pumps in just a few months are easier when the underlying asset’s overall valuation is smaller, as it was this time last year.

For now, the XRP Army needs to be content with the fact that the token has bounced above the key $3.00 resistance and has flipped USDT to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

Tags:

The Korean crypto market is proving to be a powerhouse. With over 30% of Koreans investing in digital assets and trading volumes hitting $663B regularly, South Korea has become the 2nd-largest crypto hub after the United States. STORY’s official handle on CoinMarketCap pointed out how this liquidity could flow into tokenized intellectual property, including K-Pop catalogs, gaming IP, and film rights. 

And Story IP with its native token “$IP” is positioning itself at the center of this trend, converting Korea’s $9.85B IP exports into programmable onchain assets. The convergence of crypto liquidity and cultural IP has never looked more promising. All the ongoing buzz has caught the attention of marketers who are keen on knowing why the Story IP price is surging. And where IP price could go next?

What Led to Story IP’s Price Surge?Story IP’s rebound is being fueled by two major drivers. First, its October 1 partnership with Solo Leveling, a Korean megafranchise with 14B+ views, a Netflix series, and 50M+ gamers, brings programmable licensing, fan remixing, and an upcoming memecoin, validating its tokenized IP model. 

Second, the broader altcoin market’s 1.47% daily uptick, led by ETH and BNB, alongside Bitcoin dominance slipping to 57.98%, has redirected liquidity into mid-cap tokens like Story, amplifying its recovery momentum.

Story IP Price Analysis:Over the past week, Story IP has delivered a strong rebound. The token trades at $9.53, up 5.51% in the last 24 hours and 31.61% over the past seven days. Its market cap stands at $2.98B, with $116.81M in 24-hour volume. While still below its ATH of $14.89 set just 12 days ago, the project is gaining renewed traction from both retail traders and IP enthusiasts.

Story IP price reclaimed its 7-day SMA at $8.84 and broke above the $9.13 pivot point, signaling short-term recovery. The RSI-14-day has exited oversold territory, suggesting traders are regaining confidence. Meanwhile, the MACD histogram (-0.36) indicates slowing bearish pressure.

That being said, the immediate upside target lies at the 30-day SMA near $9.77, which doubles as a strong resistance level. If bulls manage to sustain momentum, the next hurdles are at $11.02 and $12.58. While ultimate bullish validation would come with a retest of $14.89. On the downside, support rests at $8.79 and $7.23 if bearish sentiment returns.

FAQsHow much is 1 Story IP price today?

The price of 1 Story IP token at the time of press is $9.53.

What’s driving the current rebound?

The Solo Leveling partnership and altcoin rotation are fueling buying interest.

What levels should traders watch now?

Key support is $8.79, while resistance stands at $9.77. A break above opens $11+.

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This Friday, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid in greater detail.

Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum had an excellent week after its price rallied by 14%. This allowed it to move close to $4,500, which may offer the required support to re-test the key resistance at $5,000. With sellers exhausted, buyers are back in control.

Bitcoin also made sustained gains this week, which primed the market for higher levels. This can boost the momentum of Ethereum, which is turning bullish again. 

Looking ahead, a clear breakout above $5,000 would place ETH in price discovery and allow it to run much higher quickly. Should that happen, key targets are found at $6,000 and $7,300. 

Ripple (XRP)
XRP closed the week 11% higher, which took the price above $3. This is a psychological level that can act as support in the future and provide a base for new highs with key targets at $3.2 and $3.6.  

To capitalize on this momentum, the bulls will have to push this cryptocurrency to make higher highs. That would imply a price level of $3.2 and above. 

Looking ahead, XRP appears to be finishing its consolidation between $2.7 and $3 and is ready for higher levels. If so, the ATH at $3.6 could be a major magnet for buyers in the last quarter of 2025.

Cardano (ADA)
Cardano also had a good week after it managed to hold above the support at $0.77 and closed with an 11% gain. This puts buyers back in charge, but their biggest test awaits at the $0.90 resistance.

The bullish momentum is not quite there yet to break the key resistance, but if the overall market remains bullish, a breakout is only a matter of time. If successful later, then ADA has a real chance to trade above $1 again. 

Looking ahead, October started with a bang as most cryptocurrencies are in green. Cardano also appears poised for new highs if buyers can push it beyond $0.90.

Binance Coin (BNB)
Binance Coin appears unstoppable after it made a new price record at over $1,100. This allowed it to close the week with a 16% gain, making it one of the strongest digital assets in 2025. 

The most important resistance, at this time, is found at $1,200, and the price could easily reach that in the coming days if this bullish momentum is sustained. That’s only an 8% price increase at the time of this post. 

Looking ahead, this cryptocurrency is well-positioned to capitalize on the enthusiasm across the market that appears to be forming in the last quarter of the year. If $1,200 is broken later, look towards $1,500 next. 

Hype (HYPE)
This week, HYPE finally completed its correction and managed to briefly visit $50 after a sustained rally that saw its price increase by 15%. With sellers gone, this cryptocurrency has already recovered most of its recent losses.

To be confident in this rally, HYPE has to claim $50 and defend it as support. If successful, then it has a real shot at revisiting its all-time high at $60.

Looking ahead, despite the volatility, the price continues to show a lot of strength. Even if attention was briefly directed towards other decentralized exchanges, this did not last, and liquidity returned to Hyperliquid, which is now reflected in its token price as well.

BNB has once again captured market attention after reaching a fresh all-time high around $1,111 just a few hours ago. The milestone marks another historic moment for the token, which only recently crossed the $1,000 threshold for the first time in late September. Its rapid ascent has fueled intense speculation about how far BNB’s bullish momentum can carry it as the broader market gains strength.

This surge has also reignited debates about BNB’s position in the crypto hierarchy. With Ethereum still holding its dominance as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, some analysts are beginning to ask whether BNB could eventually challenge ETH’s place. While Ethereum boasts unmatched network effects, smart contract activity, and institutional adoption, BNB’s consistent performance and utility within the Binance ecosystem provide a strong foundation for its growth narrative.

The move above $1,100 cements BNB’s reputation as one of the strongest performers in the current cycle. For investors, the question now is whether this breakout signals a new sustained trend or a moment of overheating that could trigger a correction. Either way, BNB’s rally has placed it firmly in the spotlight as one of the most closely watched assets in the market today.

BNB Leads the Charge as Market Eyes Altseason
The crypto market is heating up once again as major players begin to wake up, setting fresh structural highs across the board. Bitcoin is currently testing its critical resistance just below the all-time high, a level that has historically acted as the springboard for explosive rallies when finally broken. Meanwhile, Ethereum is establishing leadership among altcoins, with its recent strength signaling a shift in momentum that could spill over into the broader market.

Within this backdrop, BNB has emerged as one of the standout performers. This breakout above ATH has sparked conversations among analysts who see BNB’s surge as more than just an isolated move. For many, it represents a potential leading indicator that altseason may be approaching.

BNB Reaches $1,111 all-time high | Source: BNB Chain
Historically, strong breakouts in large-cap altcoins have often preceded broader market rotations, as capital flows down from Bitcoin and Ethereum into other assets. BNB’s decisive performance has fueled speculation that the same dynamic could be unfolding now. Its utility within the Binance ecosystem, combined with strong liquidity and institutional recognition, makes it a natural bellwether for the altcoin sector.

As BTC hovers near record highs and ETH sets the tone, BNB’s surge to fresh highs could be signaling that the next phase of the cycle is beginning. If momentum holds and capital rotates into other large caps, the conditions for a full-fledged altseason may be falling into place. For now, traders are closely watching BNB’s trajectory as it takes center stage in shaping market sentiment.

BNB Hits ATH After Parabolic Surge
BNB is trading around $1,105 on the 4-hour chart after a strong and extended rally that has propelled the coin to fresh all-time highs. The price action over the past week has been almost parabolic, with BNB climbing steadily from under $980 to above $1,100 in just a few sessions. This surge underscores the intensity of current buying pressure as bulls remain firmly in control.

BNB consolidates around ATH | Source: BNBUSDT chart on TradingView
The chart shows clear support from the 50-period (blue) and 100-period (green) moving averages, both trending upward and reinforcing the bullish structure. Each minor dip over the past weeks has been quickly absorbed, suggesting that demand remains strong. The 200-period moving average (red) continues to rise beneath price, providing a long-term foundation and highlighting BNB’s strong uptrend.

At this stage, the immediate resistance sits near $1,120, with traders eyeing the possibility of extending the rally further. However, the speed of the move raises caution, as steep parabolic advances often invite short-term pullbacks or consolidation phases. A healthy retest of the $1,080–$1,090 range could serve as confirmation of new support before another leg higher.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Three wallets suspected to be owned by hackers converted $38 million worth of DAI stablecoins into Ethereum on Wednesday between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM UTC, according to data from Lookonchain and Arkham Intelligence.

The “hacker” wallets executed several transactions in DAI and swapped them for Ethereum at an average price of $4,401 per coin. Lookonchain’s onchain records screenshots show the trades were routed through decentralized exchanges using CoW Protocol and Convex Protocol, platforms that facilitate large swaps fast with reduced slippage and fees.

Hackers make coordinated swaps through CoW and Convex protocols
According to records from Arkham Intelligence, the hackers did not convert all their DAI holdings in one move, but exchanged stablecoins for ETH in increments of up to $12 million. Analysts believe they were trying to reduce slippage and avoid raising suspicion on-chain while repositioning illicit funds.

Hackers are buying $ETH!

3 wallets (likely belonging to hackers) spent 38M $DAI to buy 8,637 $ETH at $4,401 7 hours ago.https://t.co/wSLJN03zPKhttps://t.co/eCQVmuzJ1Zhttps://t.co/Gwz5p6HOuH pic.twitter.com/7GGUebSqXl

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) October 2, 2025

One of the addresses, beginning with 0x4Ee3, was seen liquidating more than $11 million worth of DAI into ETH within the one-hour window. The wallet sent 2,730 ETH valued at $12 million to a separate address while conducting smaller swaps in parallel.

The transactions included two large outflows of 4 million DAI and 5 million DAI, which were swapped for 906 ETH and 1,133 ETH, respectively. Another transfer included 2.5 million DAI exchanged for 567 ETH, before all the accumulated Ether coins were forwarded to new address 0xA0168e…B89faCb6, now currently worth $14 million at current prices.

A second wallet, beginning with 0x1c4, liquidated 521,000 DAI, 4 million DAI, and 5 million DAI, followed by a final conversion of 12.12 million DAI into 2,761 ETH. All of these funds were later consolidated and sent to other addresses, again routed via the CoW Protocol contracts. 

The largest of the three wallets, beginning with 0x272c, handled over $26.6 million in transactions during the same early morning period. 

Lookonchain’s screenshot showed the address swapped its holdings via Convex Protocol and converted 5 million DAI into 1,135 ETH. They later made a 12.12 million DAI swap, yielding 2,761 ETH. In total, the address accumulated 2,761 ETH worth $12.15 million, which was then sent to a wallet linked to the first address, 0x4Ee3.

The timing, size, and routing of the trades strongly suggest the three wallets were acting in tandem, breaking up the $38 million DAI liquidation into pieces to reduce visibility. In total, the wallets converted 8,637 ETH valued at approximately $38 million.

Blockchain analysts monitoring the flows say the activity fits the pattern of actors seeking to obscure the origins of illicit funds by splitting swaps into multiple tranches. But according to one user on X, the hackers could be banking on the Uptober market rally that has shot Ether’s price 13% up from its weekly lows, according to CoinGecko.

Ethereum price rebounds to $4,400 at October’s start
Ethereum was trading at $4,464 early Friday morning, hovering near its recent high of $4,529. Market analysts point to strong inflows into Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a stabilizing factor.

Nine US-listed ETH funds recorded inflows of 14,864 ETH, worth $65.6 million this business week. These institutional purchases may have helped absorb selling or deterred bears pushing for a downward volatility spiral.

Ethereum recently rebounded from a low of $3,900 on September 26, a level some traders are now calling a potential market bottom of the year 2025. Patterns known as the “Power of 3” suggest the possibility of an 80 to 100 percent price increase by the end of the year.

TradingView’s market analysis suggests that Ethereum is in a neutral-to-bullish zone, supported by a level at $4,200 and resistance at $4,600. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 43.1, indicating neutral strength but no signs of being overbought or oversold. 

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Bitcoin option investors are making 'light' call option bets, indicating cautious optimism for a rally.A rise in call options for $300,000 suggests that investors are buying 'cheap convexity.'An analyst predicts an October price range of $122,000-$149,000, based on historical patterns.Bitcoin option investors are taking modest long positions after the asset’s price broke above $120,000, signaling that while there is optimism for an increase, it is not a strong conviction.

Glassnode shared this market sentiment on Friday via a post on X, complete with on-chain data.

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A Bet on ‘Uptober’ in BTC Option MarketAccording to the firm’s post, Bitcoin options flows are clustering between the $100,000 and $120,000 strike prices, with only light call interest observed at $130,000.

This indicates two key developments in the Bitcoin options market. First, there is increased activity in call options within the $100,000–$120,000 range, suggesting that traders are positioning for potential upside beyond $100,000.

A call option gives the holder the right to buy an asset at a specific price, so elevated interest in this range typically reflects bullish sentiment or hedging against a significant price rally.

However, the relatively low volume of call options at $130,000 shows that expectations for a move far beyond $120,000 remain limited, at least for now. In other words, while there is optimism in the market, it comes with measured conviction.

BTC Options Net Premium Strike Heatmap. Source: GlassnodeSponsored

The second phenomenon is an increase in very long-term call options in the $300,000 range. Out-of-the-Money (OTM) options are those with a strike price well above the current price. The $300,000 level Glassnode mentioned is a very high price range compared to Bitcoin’s current price of around $120,000.

This rising investor interest in these ultra-high-priced call options can be interpreted as “cheap convexity bets.” Convexity is a structure where profits increase dramatically as the price rises. In other words, investors are taking a strategic position to gain massive returns with a small investment in the event of a huge Bitcoin price surge.

These moves are not a firm directional bet that Bitcoin’s price will actually rise to $300,000. Instead, they show that a strong sentiment-driven desire to gain exposure to potential upside is driving the market.

Meanwhile, the Ethereum options market shows a completely different pattern. A large number of traders are selling ETH puts set to expire on October 10 and BTC $120,000 calls, preparing for continued consolidation in Ethereum’s price.

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This strategy allows traders to collect premiums by betting that neither asset will see a significant, short-term price increase. With Bitcoin’s dominance growing in the options market, much of the activity is shifting away from Ethereum.

A Historical Look at Bitcoin’s OctoberSo, how high can Bitcoin’s price go? Bitcoin analyst Timothy Peterson addressed this question in a post on X, where he used historical data to forecast a potential price range for BTC in October.

“Bitcoin’s performance in October isn’t “set up” by September, its set up throughout the entire year,” the analyst said.

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He explained that while Bitcoin has historically been strong in October, the strength of its rally is heavily influenced by the momentum of the first nine months of the year. The price increase from January to September determines the intensity of that year’s “Uptober.”

Bitcoin in October. Source: Timothy PetersonA chart comparing the January-to-September returns with October returns since 2015 shows that Bitcoin has historically amplified its preceding momentum. When year-to-date returns are high, October sees a bigger rally; when they are weak, October remains subdued.

In 2025, the January-to-September return was about 20%, marking the weakest bull market year on record. The data suggests October may deliver a weaker performance than in previous years.

Timothy Peterson said that from a historical perspective, the expected price range for this October’s rally is +7% to +31%. This would translate to a price range of $122,000 to $149,000.

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Crypto.com, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has entered into a strategic partnership with SOL Strategies Inc. (CSE: HODL) (Nasdaq: STKE), a publicly traded Canadian company focused on the Solana (SOL) ecosystem. 

The collaboration will see SOL Strategies diversify its custody operations by using Crypto.com Custody for part of its treasury, while also making its validator services available to Crypto.com’s institutional custody clients.

— Crypto.com (@cryptocom) October 2, 2025

Treasury custody solutions and enhanced validator access
As part of the agreement, SOL Strategies will integrate its enterprise-grade validator services into Crypto.com’s custody platform. This gives institutional clients access to Solana validator infrastructure while SOL Strategies strengthens its own treasury management through Crypto.com Custody.

“Public companies building out their digital asset treasury require a safe, secure, and compliant custody solution and reliable staking options,” said Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com. “We are pleased to partner with SOL Strategies not only to provide them with trusted treasury custody solutions, but also to enhance our validator network.”

Michael Hubbard, Interim CEO of SOL Strategies, added: 

“This partnership validates our position as an institutional-grade Solana infrastructure provider. By making our validators available through Crypto.com’s custody platform, we’re expanding access to our proven validator services while prudently diversifying our own treasury custody operations, said Michael Hubbard, Interim CEO of SOL Strategies. “This dual benefit reflects our DAT++ model, we’re simultaneously a significant infrastructure provider and a strategic treasury holder in the Solana ecosystem.”

Featured image via Shuttertsock. 

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Donald Trump Jr. recently took a strong stance against criticisms surrounding potential conflicts of interest related to World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the cryptocurrency venture associated with his family. 

At the Token2049 conference in Singapore, he dismissed concerns that investors in the firm might be trying to curry favor with the Trump administration as “complete nonsense.”

WLFI Leaders Insist Political Connections Are Overstated
During his interview with CNBC at the event, Trump Jr. emphasized the improbability of his father, President Donald Trump, or Zach Witkoff’s father, Steve Witkoff, examining blockchain ledgers to identify investors and determine any preferential treatment. 

“I don’t think anyone actually believes that my father or [Zach’s] father would be looking at ledgers on the blockchain to see who bought what, and that carrying any kind of favor,” he stated, reinforcing his view that such allegations were unfounded.

As a co-founder of World Liberty Financial, Trump Jr. was joined at the event by CEO Zach Witkoff, who has ties to the Trump administration as the son of the former US Special Envoy to the Middle East. 

Witkoff echoed Trump Jr.’s sentiments, asserting that their business mission is significant, but their fathers’ political agendas are far larger. “They’re not focused on stablecoins, nor are they involved in a stablecoin business,” he added, seeking to further distance their venture from political ties.

‘Unprecedented Conflict’ Tied To World Liberty Financial
Despite the firm’s efforts to establish itself in the cryptocurrency market, critics have raised alarms over its connections to the Trump administration, particularly as it seeks international partnerships and expands into areas like debit payments and tokenized assets. 

During their keynote address at the conference, both Trump Jr. and Witkoff sought to downplay any political implications, asserting that their company is “100% not a political organization.”

While World Liberty Financial’s website states that a Trump-affiliated entity, DT Marks DEFI LLC, and members of the Trump family receive a substantial share of the platform’s revenue and hold WLFI tokens, it also clarifies that Donald Trump and his family do not occupy any formal roles within the company or its affiliates.

The ongoing scrutiny of the World Liberty Financial platform comes at a time when President Donald Trump has publicly embraced the cryptocurrency industry during his second term, rebranding himself as a “crypto president.” 

In light of these developments, Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Maxine Waters, have called for investigations into World Liberty Financial, characterizing the company’s connections to the president as an “unprecedented conflict” that could influence crypto policy.

The 1-hour chart shows WLFI’s price recovery. Source: WLFIUSDT on TradingView.com
When writing, WLFI trades at $0.20, recording gains of 7% in the weekly time frame. Yet, the token’s price is still 37% below its $0.33 record reached right after its September 1st debut. 

Featured image from NBC, chart from TradingView.com 

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

The crypto market is showing signs of a major shift toward altcoins, with charts hinting at the start of a possible “altcoin season.” A leading crypto analyst, Trader Tardigrade, highlights the TOTAL3 index, which tracks altcoins excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, forming one of the clearest bullish setups in years. 

If confirmed, it could push the altcoin market cap to $4.37 trillion, a nearly 290% surge.

This Classic Chart Pattern Could Trigger Altcoin SeasonAccording to the Trader Tardigrade, the weekly TOTAL3 chart is showing a textbook “Cup & Handle” pattern, one of the clearest bullish setups in years. This pattern usually shows the market may rise after a pause.

The cup formed over several years, starting from the 2021 highs around $1.13 trillion, dropping to the 2023 bear market low of $0.287 trillion, and then climbing back to the 2024 highs near $1.16 trillion. 

Now, in 2025, the handle is forming just below key resistance, setting up a potential breakout. If the breakout happens, the altcoin market could surge to $4.37 trillion, a nearly 290% increase from current levels. 

Such growth would indicate a strong altcoin season, where altcoins as a group could outperform Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Bitcoin Dominance Drops, Capital Rotates to AltcoinsOne of the clearest signals for the altcoin season is Bitcoin’s dominance falling below 59%, showing that investors are moving capital from Bitcoin into altcoins. While Bitcoin stays strong above $120,000, smaller crypto projects are attracting more attention and liquidity. 

Analysts also note that the altcoin market has been in an unusually long accumulation phase, longer than before the 2017 and 2021 altcoin seasons. 

Top Coins Poised For RallyAccording to Tardigrade, some leading altcoins, including SOL, XRP, ADA, Doge, Shib, etc, are likely to benefit the most from this rally.

6/
So what’s at stake?
TOTAL3 heading to ~4.37T = nearly +290% growth in alts from current levels.
That kind of expansion implies:
•Large caps (SOL, XRP, ADA) → strong rallies
•Meme coins (DOGE, SHIB) → explosive moves
•Mid/small caps → potential 3–5x plays

— Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) October 3, 2025 Meanwhile, Solana (SOL), trading around $231, could lead the major coins, with a potential rise toward $1,000 if momentum and ecosystem growth continue. Dogecoin (DOGE), at $0.253, may trigger retail-driven rallies, possibly reaching $1.50 during a peak altcoin cycle.

On top of it, smaller and mid-cap altcoins could see 3–5x gains, echoing historical patterns where capital shifts from Bitcoin and Ethereum into altcoins during market surges.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

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The daily inflow streak for BlackRock's IBIT surpassed $1 billion on Thursday, contributing to a $2.25 billion run across all Bitcoin ETFs.

Key points:

Bitcoin futures buy volume indicates that traders are becoming increasingly long-term bullish on BTC this month.

The $110,000 “gap” in CME Group’s Bitcoin futures remains unfilled.

Bitcoin ETF options experience a spike in popularity as IBIT open interest nears $40 billion.

Bitcoin (BTC) derivatives traders are flipping “aggressively long” as price squeezes closer to all-time highs.

In a new analysis released on X Friday, J. A. Maartunn, a contributor to the onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant, revealed a significant shift in Bitcoin futures in October.

Bitcoin futures buy volume surges in OctoberBitcoin futures markets are undergoing a transformation in sentiment as October gets underway.

As Maartunn showed, net buy volume has surged, and is now outpacing net sell volume by $1.8 billion.

“Futures buyers are stepping up,” he commented alongside a CryptoQuant chart of net taker volumes on largest crypto exchange Binance.

Bitcoin net taker volume (Binance). Source: Maartunn/XThe post was a response to observations by CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, who noted that Bitcoin’s latest local highs came on the back of sustained buy momentum among derivative-market whales.

“A clear sign of aggressive long positioning,” Maartunn added.

Just days ago, futures markets were hitting the headlines for the opposite reason. 

A weekend “gap” left in CME Group’s Bitcoin futures had become a new short-term BTC price correction target for traders, lying just above $110,000, per data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView.

CME Group Bitcoin futures one-hour chart with gap highlighted. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
Despite gaps being filled within weeks or days in recent months, sellers failed to initiate a deep enough retracement this week.

As Cointelegraph reported, plans are afoot at CME to make Bitcoin futures trade around the clock, removing the “gap” phenomenon.

Bloomberg analyst: Bitcoin ETFs are “no joke”The US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meanwhile, took in more than $600 million during Thursday’s Wall Street trading session.

US spot Bitcoin ETF netflows (screenshot). Source: Farside InvestorsWith the week’s total at $2.25 billion at the time of writing, ETF data continued to surprise.

In an X post Friday, James Check, creator of onchain data resource Checkonchain, flagged surging growth in options on the largest spot ETF, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).

“The growth of IBIT options is the least discussed, but most significant markets structure shift for Bitcoin since the ETFs themselves,” he argued. 

“Not only did IBIT surpass Deribit, but Options are now larger then futures by open interest.”Bitcoin options open interest dominance. Source: James Check/XEric Balchunas, a dedicated ETF analyst for Bloomberg, initially reported on IBIT surpassing Coinbase’s Deribit, with the former’s open interest now at $38 billion.

“I told y’all ETFs are no joke.. Fat crypto margins in trouble,” he concluded.

IBIT vs. Deribit Bitcoin options open interest. Source: Eric Balchunas/XThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

In a wide-ranging interview with Anthony Pompliano published on October 2, Jeff Park, partner and Chief Investing Officer at ProCap BTC, argued that gold’s surging price and shifting global ownership patterns are not a threat to Bitcoin—but potentially the catalyst for its next structural leg higher. Park’s thesis centers on flows, geopolitics, and balance-sheet mechanics: if policymakers and large allocators learn to tap the paper gains embedded in sovereign gold holdings, they could redirect a meaningful slice of that liquidity into Bitcoin and ignite what he repeatedly framed as a supercycle.

Why Gold’s Rally May Trigger A Bitcoin Supercycle
“The math is pretty simple,” Park said. “What if we find a way to unlock the ability to build leverage on the paper gains of gold to take a call option on Bitcoin? There’s something incredible here that could happen.” In his back-of-the-envelope scenario, “a trillion dollars of Bitcoin is actually hugely impactful for the bitcoin market.” He contrasted the magnitude of such an impulse with the size of the US fiscal problem, suggesting that while a trillion dollars is small relative to public debt, it would be outsized in a young asset with finite supply and thin free float.

Park’s remarks were prompted by a simple question: why is gold ripping while Bitcoin has lagged on a relative basis? He did not dispute gold’s leadership—calling it “the story of the year”—but argued the drivers differ. Gold is presently the venue for acute geopolitical expression and central-bank rebalancing, while Bitcoin’s adoption curve hinges on institutional flows that are still ramping. “Ultimately [these markets] are driven by flows,” he said, adding that Bitcoin’s flows are “inevitable” so long as the institutional agenda advances with “focused deliberation.”

A crucial plank of Park’s framework is the changing geography of gold. He pointed to two simultaneous realities: the headline that US gold reserves have reached a large notional value because of price—and the under-discussed fact that the US share of global official gold has sunk over decades. “At one point post-World War II the US had over 50% of the world’s global gold reserve supply as a central bank and now it’s less than 20%. So who’s making up for the compensation on their side? Likely China and many other BRIC countries in the lead.” That shift, Park argued, helps explain the persistence of gold’s bid.

China, in his telling, is exerting influence not only through accumulation but also by building market infrastructure. He highlighted “the launch of the Shanghai Gold Exchange” and the rise of “the Shanghai Futures Exchange,” observing that “physical gold now actually trades in China” at a scale once associated with London. In a symbolic move earlier this year, “for the first time [they] opened up vaults in Hong Kong to allow offshore investors to put their gold in reserves,” a step Park sees as part of a longer-term strategy to enhance the creditworthiness of CNY-settled commodity trade.

Will The US Act First?
Park then connected this gold realignment to Bitcoin’s addressable demand. He referred to the scenario in which the US takes the massive unrealized gains on its gold if marked at market and either revalues or borrows against those gains to purchase Bitcoin for its strategic reserve under President Donald Trump. “Gold has been marked at the Treasury at $42 an ounce and we all know right now it’s trading at [roughly] 3850… There’s a trillion dollars of basically paper gains.” In that context, he argued that leveraging paper gains into a scarce digital reserve asset could be a high-beta upgrade to the sovereign balance sheet.

Pressed on the political feasibility, Park distinguished between executive action and legislation. “The executive path is a great starting point to create a watershed moment,” he said, but “no democratic coalition is truly bought in until a legislative motion.” The former could demonstrate intent; the latter would make a Bitcoin reserve strategy “irreversible” and align it with the broader social mandate he associates with sound-money adoption.

The crux of his “supercycle” framing is compounding. Park walked through return profiles to quantify why a large base allocation, even if financed, could matter over time. “If you own Bitcoin and you assume that it’s going to go up by 12% a year, you’ll make a 30x in 30 years… If you think it’s actually going to go up by 40% per year, which is what the [asset] has been otherwise annualizing, it’s 10 years.” He stressed that the point is not to promise those numbers, but to illustrate how modest annualized returns can cover meaningful fiscal gaps when the base is large enough and the asset is credibly scarce.

Why Is Bitcoin Lagging Gold?
Park also addressed why Bitcoin has not matched gold’s recent pace. Part of the answer, he suggested, is optics: Bitcoin is “living, breathing software” that evolves via open debate, whereas gold’s appeal is its millennia-long immutability. The transparency of Bitcoin’s governance can spook newcomers who only see the noise. “If I were outside and I was a BlackRock ETF buyer and I listened to the conversation that’s happening between the Bitcoin developers, I might say, ‘Hold on a second. This is crazy stuff.’” Even so, he framed current developer disputes—such as arguments over relay policy or spam-filter defaults—as hygiene issues, not existential ones. They matter for performance and propagation, but not for the core monetary assurances: “21 million or bust.”

He invoked the lessons of the block-size war to explain why the system’s checks and balances are a feature, not a bug. “Ultimately, who is running consensus at Bitcoin?… The node clients are very valuable and they are in control versus miners and their self-interests. And that was a huge moment because it showed you decentralization was alive.” The line between hard-coded rules and socially enforced norms will always invite argument, he conceded, but in his view that process “future-proof[s] Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value.”

Throughout, Park returned to flows. Gold’s flows, in his assessment, are being pulled by geopolitics and central-bank behavior—especially in Asia. Bitcoin’s flows will be pulled by institutional adoption and, potentially, by policy innovation that converts dormant balance-sheet strength into active demand. That is why he sees the assets as complements within the same macro problem set rather than rivals fighting for a single inflow.

“Gold’s greatest cultural power is its impermanent fixture in our mindset and its durability for eons,” he said. Bitcoin, by contrast, offers sovereignty, portability, and programmability that younger cohorts find intuitive. “Young people are mentally more able to do things that older people can’t… the trend of young people understanding digital store of wealth… is the big picture.”

I spoke with @dgt10011 on whether we should be worried about bitcoin lagging gold’s performance, durability of bitcoin vs gold, how to think about bitcoin as living software, and a new theme referencing the retardification of society.

Enjoy!

YouTube: https://t.co/kwCRnibemU… pic.twitter.com/0BckI7h7Eb

— Anthony Pompliano 🌪 (@APompliano) October 3, 2025

If that generational shift meets a government-level balance-sheet pivot, Park believes the market structure can change quickly. “A trillion dollars of Bitcoin is hugely impactful,” he repeated, not because it solves everything overnight, but because it reorganizes incentives for issuers, custodians, and policymakers around a credibly scarce digital reserve. In that world, the present period—where gold leads and Bitcoin consolidates—may be remembered not as divergence, but as staging.

“Bitcoin will catch up,” Park said. “These are ultimately driven by flows.” And if those flows are seeded by the very gold rally now commanding headlines, the supercycle label he’s willing to use may not be hyperbole, but simply a description of how compounding works when new liquidity finally meets hard caps.

At press time, BTC traded at $120,313.

BTC rises back above $120,000, 1-day chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Key NotesChainlink's newly launched Reserve program has accumulated a total of 417,461.17 LINK.LINK is now trading at $22.35 with a 1.43% decline over the last 24 hours.At the core of the spike in Chainlink reserve is Payment Abstraction.
Leading blockchain oracle network Chainlink

LINK
$22.35

24h volatility:
0.6%

Market cap:
$15.16 B

Vol. 24h:
$924.21 M

has seen its on-chain reserve surge past 417,000 LINK tokens. This milestone strengthens its long-term growth and sustainability strategy. However, the performance of the token’s price is not commensurate with the positive sentiment in its ecosystem.

LINK Price Fails to Complement Reserve Boost
According to CoinMarketCap data, LINK price is currently pegged at $22.35 with a 1.43% decline over the last 24 hours. Also, the coin is 3.79% down over the last 30 days. However, the coin has registered a 10.17% increase within the past 7 days. This mild drawdown is proof that investors are taking profit after the momentary gains.

Interestingly, the current price action coincides with news of a significant surge in Chainlink’s reserve. Per data from the newly launched Reserve program, it has recorded a total of more than 417,000 LINK in its holdings. In this week alone, it added 46,441 LINK to the reserve.

RESERVE UPDATE

Today, the Chainlink Reserve has accumulated 46,441.67 LINK.

As of October 2nd, the Chainlink Reserve holds a total of 417,461.17 LINK.https://t.co/oxMv5N3Zva

The Chainlink Reserve is designed to support the long-term growth and sustainability of the Chainlink… pic.twitter.com/2X5qy1Us7K

— Chainlink (@chainlink) October 3, 2025

It is worth noting that the reserve initiative is designed to accumulate the native token specifically from offchain enterprises’ revenue and on-chain service usage. In the long run, it will be crucial to boost the growth and financial sustainability of the network.

Payment Abstraction is a core contributor to this reserve. This mechanism allows Chainlink to automatically convert the service fees on different assets to LINK. As it stands, large organizations that have integrated Chainlink services now contribute to the reserve without any disruption to their existing billing infrastructure.

This growth in its reserve is a reflection of the increasing institutional adoption. Analysts and market observers believe that the current price outlook may be a result of intense profit-taking in the market. Meanwhile, Chainlink’s infrastructure has seen increased integration within traditional financial systems in recent times.

In September, Chainlink welcomed DualMint into its BUILD program. This was in a bid to connect street-level businesses with Decentralized Finance (DeFi) through tokenized real-world assets (RWA).

Join Those Making the Gains from Bitcoin Hyper Tech
LINK’s weak performance at this time is not sufficient to stop Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) from making waves. This crypto project currently has a reputation among retail investors in the sector.

Designed as a Layer-2 solution BTC project with strong potential for early investors, Bitcoin Hyper is the right fit for those who are not afraid to take on high risks for high rewards. Its strong presence and potential have found it a position among the best crypto presales of 2025.

Current Presale Stats:

Current Price: $0.013035

Amount Raised So Far: $20.48 million

Ticker: HYPER

HYPER price will see an adjustment in about 1 day, 12 hours, and 1 minute.

Participation in the presale can be done via ETH, BNB, USDT, or credit card directly on the official Bitcoin Hyper website. Want to learn more about HYPER? Read Bitcoin Hyper price prediction on Coinspeaker.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Chainlink (LINK) News, Market News

Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalist who relishes writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desire to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain media and sites.

Godfrey Benjamin on X

TLDR

Arthur Hayes claims ECB will print money to address France’s debt crisis
Bitcoin predicted to benefit from euro devaluation as investors seek safe-haven assets
Hayes’ blog post “Bastille Day” criticizes European monetary leadership
Bitcoin recently trading at $120,515, up 7% over the past week
Hayes forecasts Ethereum will reach $10,000 by the end of 2025

In his latest provocative blog post titled “Bastille Day,” crypto billionaire Arthur Hayes has turned his attention to the European Central Bank (ECB), predicting that its handling of France’s debt crisis will drive Bitcoin prices higher. The former BitMEX CEO, known for his bold cryptocurrency forecasts, argues that excessive money printing by the ECB will boost Bitcoin’s value as investors seek alternatives to a weakening euro.

Hayes focuses on France, the eurozone’s second-largest economy, which he claims has the highest debt burden in the region. According to Hayes, this debt situation will force the ECB into a difficult position.

“The ECB will valiantly print money to forestall the loss of its raison d’être,” Hayes wrote in his blog post. He added bluntly that “France is fucked.”

The crypto entrepreneur presents what he sees as an inevitable scenario: either the ECB prints money now to finance the French welfare state, or it will be forced to do so later when French capital controls threaten to destroy the euro. In both cases, Hayes believes trillions of euros will enter circulation.

Bitcoin has been trading at approximately $120,515 per coin, showing a 7% increase over the past week. Most of these gains occurred following a government shutdown, as many investors turned to Bitcoin as a safe-haven asset.

Money Printing and Cryptocurrency Gains
Hayes has previously made similar claims about the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. Earlier this year, he predicted Bitcoin could reach $1 million by 2028 due to what he expects will be continued money printing by the American central bank.

The current criticism of the ECB follows the same logic. Hayes argues that central bank interventions that devalue fiat currencies will drive investors toward scarce assets like Bitcoin.

“It shall be a glorious day for the faithful as printed euros will combine with printed dollars, yuan, yen, etc. to bid up the price of Bitcoin,” Hayes wrote. He described Bitcoin’s rise as “inexorable” compared to the euro, which he called a “piece of trash.”

While Hayes focuses on monetary policy, social factors may also play a role. Reports indicate that younger generations in France have been protesting against rising debt, stagnant wages, and fears about their economic future.

Broader Market Impact
The cryptocurrency market as a whole has seen gains alongside Bitcoin. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, recently traded at $4,492, representing a nearly 10% increase over the past week.

Hayes has also made predictions about Ethereum, forecasting that its price will reach $10,000 by the end of 2025. This would represent a substantial increase from its current valuation.

Market observers note that investors often turn to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin during periods of economic uncertainty, government shutdowns, or fears of currency debasement. The recent price movements seem to align with this pattern.

Hayes’ critique of the ECB, particularly focusing on ECB President Christine Lagarde, suggests he believes European policymakers have few alternatives to debasing the common currency. This perspective positions Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and monetary policy decisions.

Despite the attention Hayes’ predictions receive, some market analysts caution that his dramatic forecasts often combine sharp rhetoric with selective economic data. Nonetheless, his views continue to influence cryptocurrency market sentiment.

Bitcoin’s current market performance, rising past $120,500 with an 8% increase over seven days, suggests that traders may be responding to these types of analyses and predictions about central bank policies.

Pump.fun’s native token PUMP jumped in price this week, making it one of the strongest performers in the market.

Summary

PUMP price jumped double digits this week, climbing to $0.0069 with daily trading volumes above $640 million and market cap topping $2.44 billion.
Fitell, a Nasdaq-listed firm, recently added 216.8 million PUMP tokens worth $1.5 million to its treasury, marking the first public corporate allocation.
Since July, Pump.fun has repurchased more than $124 million worth of tokens through buybacks, while its recent HTX listing boosted liquidity and its upward momentum.

According to data from crypto.news, PUMP price is trading at $0.0069, up 2.6% in the past 24 hours and more than 32% over the last seven days. The rally caps off a rough September that saw the token slip from earlier highs, but momentum has shifted quickly in October. Daily trading activity has surpassed $640 million, driving its market cap above $2.44 billion.

Buybacks and exchange listings fuel PUMP rally
Pump.fun’s buyback strategy remains the central pillar behind the PUMP (PUMP) price recovery from dips. Since mid-July, the protocol has repurchased over $124 million worth of tokens, including more than $50 million in September alone, using trading fee revenue to fund the execution.

$124 million buybacks boost PUMP price | Source: Dune
The tokens bought back are partly burned and partly redirected into the ecosystem, creating a steady reduction in available supply. With daily repurchases in the $1–2 million range, the program serves as a long-term mechanism tightening supply.

The impact has been magnified by PUMP’s recent listing on HTX, which added liquidity and visibility, giving buybacks greater leverage in driving price appreciation.

Treasury moves boost PUMP price 
Treasury demand for PUMP is also emerging as a key driver behind the rally, with corporations now allocating capital into the token. Fitell, a Nasdaq-listed company, just added 216.8 million PUMP tokens worth about $1.5 million to its treasury on October 1. The company says this is part of a broader pivot toward Solana-backed assets, positioning PUMP as a strategic holding in its digital asset reserves.

While Fitell is the first to make its allocation public, the move signals how corporate treasuries could become an important source of sustained demand for PUMP going forward.

Pump price outlook, token eyes $0.008
Uptober optimism saw PUMP break out of a falling triangle pattern, bouncing sharply from support around $0.005 and reclaiming upward momentum. The successful breakout signals renewed buying strength, with price now consolidating just under the $0.0076 resistance zone.

The RSI has also recovered strongly, climbing out of oversold conditions and now holding above the midline, showing buyers remain in control.

As long as RSI stays elevated without signs of exhaustion, momentum favors further upside. A push through the $0.008 barrier could open the way toward the next major target near $0.010.

PUMP price chart: TradingView

On-chain analysis shows that the Coinbase hacker spent $22.95 million worth of USD Coin and spent it on Solana. This marks the second major SOL purchase made by the hacker.

Summary

The Coinbase hacker recently swapped $22.95 million DAI into USDC and bridged it to Solana to buy over 100,000 SOL.
Since the attack, the hacker has executed at least five major on-chain transactions involving Bitcoin, Ethereum, DAI, and Solana.

According to on-chain analyst Ember CN, the hacker swapped around 22.95 million DAI into USDC only a few hours before bridging the funds. Not long after, the hacker bridged the 22.95 million USDC to the Solana network to purchase 100,913 SOL at an average price of $227.

As of Oct. 3 on 09:24 UTC, the hacker had emptied out most of their holdings on the wallet address, leaving only $0.47 worth of Solana (SOL).

This marks the largest SOL purchase made by the hacker allegedly responsible for draining up to $400 million from a cyberattack that occurred in May 2025. Just a month prior, the hacker also swapped DAI (DAI) for USDC before using the stolen funds to purchase 38,126 Solana.

The Coinbase hacker had spent stolen funds to purchase 100,913 SOL | Source: EmberCN
At press time, Solana is trading at $231 after rising by 3% in the past 24 hours. In the past month, SOL has been on an upward trend, having risen by 10.8%. However, it is still standing below its all-time high at $293 by 21.2%.

Coinbase hacker moves stolen funds from May cyberattack
So far, the Coinbase hacker has made at least five transactions on-chain since robbing the major crypto exchange of at least $400 million in damages. In May 2025, the hacker swapped about $42.5 million from Bitcoin (BTC) into ETH (ETH) via THORChain. Within the same month, the hacker sold 26,347 Ethereum for 68.18 million DAI. The sale was done at a price of $2,588.

Later in July, the hacker repurchased 5,513 ETH by spending 14.86 million DAI at $2,696. After a period of dormancy, the hacker appeared to use more DAI converted into USDC to buy chunks of large Solana purchases, much like the most recent one.

The May 2025 breach on Coinbase reportedly impacted nearly 70,000 users as the hacker deployed coordinated social-engineering on the attack.

To carry out the cyberattack, hackers had bribed overseas customer-support contractors to extract user records between December 2024 and May 2025. The attack compromised personal data, including full names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, masked bank account numbers, and government-issued ID scans.

Strategy Inc., the crypto treasury firm co-founded by Bitcoin bull Michael Saylor, saw its Bitcoin holdings hit a record high above $77 billion as the flagship cryptocurrency returned to the $120,000 level after several weeks of volatile price action.

Summary

Strategy Inc.’s Bitcoin holdings have hit a new all-time high as BTC returned to levels above $120,000.
The company has acquired 11,085 BTC in the past seven weeks.
Strategy’s mNAV recovered from a low of 1.195 in September to over 1.5.

As of Oct. 3, Strategy’s Bitcoin stash, which comprises 640,031 BTC, was valued at approximately $77.4 billion, with Saylor celebrating the development with an X post that recalled the company’s first $250 million investment and the initial unrealized loss that followed.

“Our journey began with $0.25 billion in Bitcoin — and an immediate $0.04 billion unrealized loss. Today, we closed at a new all-time high: $77.4 billion in BTC NAV,” Saylor Said.

Much of this value skyrocketed after Bitcoin price shot past the $120,000 mark, backed by consistent purchases by Strategy even during periods of broader market uncertainty. 

The firm’s continued buying spree has helped it maintain its position as the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin in terms of both value and the number of Bitcoin held. Over the past seven weeks, Strategy has acquired 11,085 BTC, with the most recent purchase of 196 BTC recorded on Monday.

Strategy’s mNAV recovers
Strategy’s valuation has roughly doubled compared to last year’s all-time high of around $41.8 billion, and has helped the firm’s market-based net asset value, or mNAV, rebound sharply. The metric had dropped to a year-to-date low of just 1.195 during the September correction, but has now climbed back above 1.5. However, this is still below the 2.5 threshold that has previously guided the company’s capital raise decisions.

Investors had grown cautious when the mNAV multiple dipped below levels that Michael Saylor once described as a floor for raising capital, so this recovery not only strengthens Strategy’s ability to issue new equity at a premium but also gives the company more headroom for future Bitcoin purchases without prompting any concerns over risks of shareholder dilution.

Likewise, Strategy shareholders welcomed the turnaround, with the MSTR shares rebounding sharply after weeks of pressure tied to falling Bitcoin prices and weakening sentiment around digital asset equities. On Oct. 2, MSTR closed at $352.33, after rallying more than 4% on the day to recapture levels not seen since early September, according to Google Finance data.

While the stock is still trading below its July high near $457, the latest uptrend could be the start of an even bigger move that helps it reach fresh yearly or even all-time highs.

As of this writing, data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET suggests that Strategy accounts for roughly 48% of the 1.32 million BTC held by public and private companies globally.

CAKE has blasted past a key resistance zone that capped action since late December, fuelled by BNB’s new all-time high. What’s next for CAKE price?

Summary

CAKE price has cleared $2.80–$2.90 resistance and the previous swing high at $3.10, now ~24% above its 20-day SMA.
A healthy correction could bring price back to $2.80–$2.90 before resuming upward momentum.

After gaining almost 20% yesterday, PancakeSwap (CAKE) price continues its rally today, having broken through the previous swing high and the psychological resistance at $3 with strong momentum and trading volume. Price reached an intraday high of $3.58, marking its highest level this year.

With this surge, CAKE price has also cleared the horizontal resistance band between $2.80–$2.90, a barrier that has capped the price action since late December — albeit a couple of fakeouts in recent months.

Technically, the breakout move appears to have been set off by a retest of the ascending trendline support near $2.50, which consistently acted as a foundation for higher lows throughout 2025.

Looking ahead, a retest of the breakout level around the previous swing high at $3.10 would be the best-case scenario for bulls after such an extended move. With the current price at $3.38, it’s about 24% overextended above the 20-day SMA at $2.72. A more measured and likely scenario, however, is a deeper pullback into the $2.80–$2.90 zone, which would still be considered a healthy retest for bullish continuation.

Source: TradingView
What’s driving CAKE price?
Binance Coin (BNB) hit a new ATH today, surpassing $1,100. CAKE’s liquidity and trading activity on BNB Chain make it highly correlated with BNB’s price action, meaning BNB’s rally likely boosted sentiment for CAKE.

Additionally, PancakeSwap recently launched “Fee-Earning Limit Orders” on BNB Chain. These orders, when executed, pay a 0.1 % fee to the order placer. This not only incentivizes deeper liquidity, but also creates an additional revenue stream that flows back into the PancakeSwap ecosystem. For long-term CAKE holders, this is meaningful because PancakeSwap channels a portion of its protocol revenue into CAKE buybacks and burns, directly reducing supply while reinforcing the token’s value capture.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sparked debate after taking a swipe at billionaire investor Peter Thiel. In a post on X, Buterin wrote:

“Reminder that Peter Thiel is, to put it mildly, not a cypherpunk.”

The comment wasn’t random. Buterin attached a passage from Thiel’s 2007 essay The Straussian Moment, drawing attention to the sharp contrast between Thiel’s philosophy and the values that built the crypto movement.

Thiel’s Surveillance WorldviewIn the essay, Thiel leans on the ideas of political philosopher Leo Strauss, who believed secrecy and espionage were necessary to protect society.

Thiel wrote: “The most just society cannot survive without ‘intelligence,’ i.e., espionage… Instead of the United Nations… we should consider Echelon, the secret coordination of the world’s intelligence services, as the decisive path to a truly global pax Americana.”

That line alone explains Buterin’s frustration. Crypto was born from cypherpunk ideals that are privacy, decentralization, and protecting individuals from surveillance. Thiel’s vision points in the opposite direction.

A History of Clashing BeliefsThiel’s Straussian leanings go back decades. At Stanford, he studied under Strauss-inspired thinkers and even co-founded The Stanford Review, a conservative student paper influenced by those ideas.

His skepticism of democracy is also well-documented. In 2009, he declared: “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.”

On the business side, his track record fits that worldview. Palantir, the company he co-founded, is a backbone of U.S. government surveillance. 

And in crypto, he’s no small player – Thiel holds a 9.1% stake in BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) and 7.5% in ETHZilla, two of Ethereum’s largest treasury firms.

Cypherpunks vs Power PoliticsThis is where the clash becomes obvious. Cypherpunks – the movement that inspired Bitcoin and later Ethereum – fought for tools that keep people safe from central control. Their philosophy was about openness and individual freedom.

Thiel’s Straussian approach promotes secrecy, elite-driven systems, and surveillance. Buterin’s post made one thing clear: Thiel may invest in Ethereum, but his values don’t align with the foundation crypto was built on.

The Ethereum Debate: Should It “Ossify”?After Buterin’s post, a community member raised concerns about powerful figures gaining influence in Ethereum. They suggested Ethereum should eventually “ossify” like Bitcoin, meaning the protocol would stop evolving to reduce risks of centralization.

Buterin agreed with the principle, writing: “I support gradual ossification and becoming much more cautious about large changes to the protocol once short-term scaling, lean Ethereum and tech debt cleanups are done.”

I actually agree. I support gradual ossification and becoming much more cautious about large changes to the protocol once short-term scaling, lean ethereum and tech debt cleanups are done.

Though the solution isn't surrendering to the existence of a closed circle and being…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 3, 2025 However, he pushed back against narrowing Ethereum’s leadership, saying the solution is to widen and balance core research and development instead of closing ranks.

On one side lies the cypherpunk vision of decentralization and transparency. On the other, the risk of corporate and elite influence. Stay tuned for more if Thiel replies.

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