Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Bank of America (BofA) expects gold below $4,000 over the next three months. The bank forecasts an average of $4,000 per ounce in the fourth quarter.

Gold traded around $4,100 on Wednesday after hotter US inflation data. The metal now sits roughly 27% below its late-January all-time high of $5,598.

Why Bank of America Sees Gold Below $4,000BofA’s demand tracker shows purchases by key buyers fell 16.6% year-over-year. Indian imports dropped 77.8%, while Chinese imports rose 39.3%.

Jewelry demand also weakened in the second quarter. World Gold Council data shows declines of 25% in the US, 15% in India, and 28% in China.

Meanwhile, gold ETFs hold a record 4,256 metric tons. BofA warns these positions could add selling pressure if investors start to liquidate.

Central banks pose another risk. The bank flagged it directly in its October 12 note.

“With the Middle East conflict escalating again, there is a risk that central banks could resume sales.”

Bank of America analysts

Turkey sold a net 82 tons and Russia 56 tons through August, according to WGC. Still, central banks added a net 39 tons in August alone.

The Fed Holds the Key to Gold’s BottomSeptember consumer prices rose 3.7% year-over-year, above the 3.6% forecast. Core inflation reached 2.6%, also beating expectations.

The Federal Reserve raised rates to 3.75%–4% in September. Officials signaled one more hike this year.

BofA says gold may bottom only once the Fed exits its tightening cycle. A pause in the dollar’s rally and easing Iran war concerns would also help.

Renewed currency debasement fears offer a second path higher. Some traders already read the bank’s caution as a contrarian signal.

BofA Still Sees Gold at $5,000 in 2027BofA’s forecast turns higher next year. The bank sees $4,750 in the first quarter of 2027 and $5,000 in the second and third quarters.

Goldman Sachs holds a similar view. It cut its end-2026 target to $4,650 in September but kept $5,400 for 2027.

Gold Price Prediction Points to $3,950 SupportThe daily chart supports BofA’s near-term caution. Gold has traded mostly under a bearish Supertrend since January, apart from a brief August flip.

A head-and-shoulders pattern formed between August and September. Its neckline near $4,330 broke in mid-September, projecting a target near $3,950.

That target aligns with the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement at $3,943. The $3,900 to $4,000 zone already held as support in June and July, despite earlier selloffs.

Resistance sits at $4,300 to $4,400. The 0.382 Fibonacci level at $4,333, the 50-day moving average, and the Supertrend all cluster there.

A break below $3,900 could open a deeper bear trend. BofA earlier flagged a possible fourth-quarter low of $3,750.

XAU daily chart / Source: TradingviewThe Relative Strength Index (RSI) reads 39 and keeps falling. However, a bullish divergence may form if price tests $3,950 while RSI holds higher.

A recovery would first meet the $4,750 to $4,800 zone, near BofA’s first-quarter 2027 forecast. Thursday’s producer price data could decide which way gold breaks.

Disclaimer

This Analysis reflects BeInCrypto's editorial interpretation of information and data available at publication and may become outdated. It is general and non-personalised, does not consider your circumstances, and is not investment research, financial, investment, legal or tax advice, an offer or a recommendation. Forecasts, targets, technical analysis and forward-looking statements are uncertain and may not materialise; past performance and indicators do not predict future results. References to assets, products or providers do not imply endorsement. Crypto-assets and financial products may result in total loss. Verify material information before acting.

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Memecoin launches have made it easier for creators to turn internet trends into digital assets. However, the same simple launch process has also raised questions about how much control developers hold over buyer funds.

Rug pulls remain one of the biggest concerns. These schemes can involve developers withdrawing liquidity, abandoning a project, or using hidden contract powers against token holders.

MemeToro is taking an open-code approach as it builds an AI-powered memecoin launchpad on BNB Chain.

The project has published development code for its AI proposal pipeline and FairLaunchEscrow funding architecture. Its latest update adds a funding interface designed around direct contract access, withdrawals, refunds, and token claims.

MemeToro has also raised more than $163,000 in Stage 8.

Why MemeToro’s Open-Source Code Could Set a Higher Standard for Memecoin Launches
A common problem with new memecoin projects is that buyers may know the token’s story without understanding its contract rules. Important details about funding, liquidity, and developer control can remain unclear.

MemeToro is developing an alternative built around publicly inspectable code.

Its GitHub repository contains the AI proposal pipeline, FairLaunchEscrow development work, tests, and examples of structured launch information.

The project follows a Propose, Verify, Fund, and Launch approach. Its AI agent researches possible memecoin ideas, while public contracts are intended to enforce funding conditions.

This separation gives each part of the system a defined role.

MemeToro’s AI agent can generate concepts and explain its reasoning. The smart contracts are designed to control contribution limits, deadlines, refunds, and finalization.

Publishing this work allows outside developers to examine the intended rules before the full launchpad is deployed.

MemeToro’s FairLaunchEscrow Targets Common Rug Pull Concerns
One major rug pull concern involves what happens to funds after contributors send money into a project. MemeToro’s FairLaunchEscrow design aims to make those movements depend on predefined contract conditions.

The draft contract includes minimum funding targets, hard caps, wallet limits, and refund paths.

MemeToro’s latest exit-window update also gives contributors a defined period to withdraw. A round cannot finalize while that period remains open.

The proposed process includes:

Published terms: Supply, pricing, and funding conditions appear before contributions.
Withdrawal rights: Contributors can exit during the stated window.
Refund conditions: Failed rounds can return funds to eligible contributors.
Liquidity rules: Successful rounds are intended to move funds toward locked liquidity.

MemeToro’s development materials also describe limits on administrative fund withdrawals within the fair-launch escrow.

The FairLaunchEscrow contract remains an undeployed development draft. Its published code provides a basis for technical review, while production deployment and independent security assessment remain separate milestones.

Why MemeToro’s New Funding Interface Strengthens Its Buyer-Focused Design
MemeToro is now building a funding interface that connects users directly with smart-contract functions.

The interface is designed to provide one place to join a round, withdraw before finalization, claim tokens, or request eligible refunds.

Its main advantage is the separation between website access and contract authority.

If MemeToro’s website becomes unavailable after contracts are deployed, contributors could still use another compatible blockchain interface to submit permitted transactions.

This matters because the website would not be the only route to the funding contract.

MemeToro is also developing proposal fingerprints. These digital identifiers help connect the published AI proposal with the parameters used to create its funding round.

The result is a system designed to make both the information and the financial rules easier to inspect.

MemeToro’s $163K Presale Adds Momentum to Its Open-Code Development
MemeToro’s Stage 8 presale has raised more than $163,000, with $MT priced at $0.00528.

The project’s total supply is fixed at 1.2 billion tokens. Public sale accounts for 852 million tokens, while the remaining supply supports exchange reserves, marketing, trading, rewards, and the team.

MemeToro plans to use $MT for platform access, transactions, staking, rewards, and memecoin-related services.

At the Stage 8 price, a $500 purchase represents approximately 94,697 $MT before fees. If the token eventually reached $0.05186, that amount would have a hypothetical market value near $4,911.

The project also plans memecoin trading features that connect its AI discovery system with broader ecosystem activity.

Users can find current participation information through MemeToro’s how to join page.

Final Words: MemeToro Makes Public Code Central to Its Launchpad Story
The discussion around meme coin rug pulls shows why funding rules deserve attention before a token launches. MemeToro’s open-source approach puts those rules into public development materials instead of relying only on promotional descriptions.

Its FairLaunchEscrow design includes contribution limits, exit windows, refund conditions, and proposed liquidity controls.

The new funding interface adds another important feature by making contract access a central part of the user experience.

MemeToro’s AI agent also creates documented proposals that can be checked against published funding parameters.

Together, these developments give the project a clear technical direction as it builds its BNB Chain ecosystem.

The next milestones involve independent review, deployment, and demonstrating how the complete funding process works in production.

FAQs
Why Has MemeToro Made Its Smart-Contract Code Public?
MemeToro publishes its development code so users and developers can examine funding rules, withdrawal conditions, and proposed contract protections.

How Does MemeToro Aim to Address Meme Coin Rug Pulls?
MemeToro is developing public launch terms, wallet caps, refund conditions, and liquidity rules designed to reduce unchecked developer control.

Has MemeToro’s FairLaunchEscrow Contract Been Audited?
Not yet. FairLaunchEscrow remains an undeployed development contract, with independent security review planned before production use.

More Information on MemeToro ($MT) Presale Here:

Website: https://memetoro.com/

X: https://x.com/memetoro_mt

Telegram: https://t.me/memetoro_mt

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY0jgWy_DtA

Follow our Telegram and X account now for exclusive news, analytics and on-chain data!

Bittensor’s TAO lost more than 3% during the day on Wednesday to trade near $269; the loss saw it return to an area that buyers need to defend so that further losses do not register.

CoinCodex predicts that TAO will briefly recover before it then falls toward $215 by October 19. But the current chart shows that some support levels would need to fail for that to happen.

CoinCodex expects TAO to fall below $220
CoinCodex predicts that TAO’s price will rise to as high as $280.46 before coming down every day till $215.10 on October 19.

It also holds a one-month forecast for it, which is also as cautious. The price held to target was the $209.81 price area, which is also about 25% lower than the price on its page.

CoinCodex categorized the outlook as bearish because 15 of its indicators favoured selling, compared with 12 that were in favour of buying.

Additionally, the Relative Strength Index [RSI] clocked 48.38, meaning neither sellers nor buyers pushed TAO to extremes.

The volatility on the platform was also high, which means that the path is much less certain than it is projected, meaning TAO could experience sharp increases or losses.

Can buyers defend the current support?
Looking at the daily chart for TAO, the value sits around the $269.35 price area, after falling from highs in October closer to $340.

The price fell below its short-term average at around $285; it showed that price lost its momentum to some extent. However, TAO stays close to its 50-day average at around $269.

This makes the $265–$269 price area the first important test. If buyers defend it, it could attempt to recover $275 before challenging the stronger $284–$288 resistance zone.

Source: TradingView
The bears could not support an argument once we move past this area, but it might only cause TAO to revisit the $300 price area but buyers would have to trade stronger to support the recovery.

If TAO closes below $265, the downside scenario would be more alarming. There is support between $253 and $255 and then again at $249.

The $215 price CoinCodex was expecting would become a reasonable forecast only if those areas also crash.

Final Summary

TAO must defend the $265–$269 price area to avoid a fall to the $253–$255 support zone.
CoinCodex predicts $215, but several major support levels must break for that to happen.

Ondo Finance says total value locked has passed $4 billion, with $1.3 billion in tokenized stocks and ETFs, a top ranking in tokenized Treasuries and over 1 million cumulative holders.

@Ondo said it has passed $4 billion in total value locked (TVL) on October 14, 2026. Of that total, $1.3 billion is in tokenized stocks and ETFs. Ondo also said it ranks first in tokenized US Treasuries at around $3 billion and has more than 1 million cumulative holders across its products. Its products now span tokenized Treasuries, stocks, ETFs, portfolios and private markets.

Tokenized stocks drive growthOndo Stocks, run by Ondo Global Markets, is the main driver of the recent growth. The business first passed $1 billion in TVL in May 2026, which Ondo announced on May 11. That came less than eight months after its September 3, 2025 launch. The stock lineup has since widened, and Parameter reported that the platform now offers access to more than 450 tokenized stocks and funds.

Treasuries remain the other pillar. RWA.xyz's tokenized US Treasury fund league table lists Ondo first at about $2.9 billion across 11 assets. Franklin Templeton Benji Investments follows at about $2.6 billion, and Circle is third at about $2.4 billion. The figures are slightly below the roughly $3 billion Ondo cites, which may reflect differences in how products are counted. Among single tokens, RWA.xyz data cited by Ondo showed USDY above BlackRock's BUIDL, with Circle's USYC still the largest individual product.

Private markets add a new product lineThe milestone follows the launch of Ondo Private Markets. Ondo's blog post introducing the product is dated October 5, and the company's press release and coverage followed on October 6. The product gives eligible investors tokenized exposure to the economic performance of private companies before they go public.

The first note references an unnamed pre-IPO AI company. Ondo said exposure to robotics, cybersecurity, biotech, infrastructure and other sectors will follow. Secondary trading was scheduled to begin in the week of the launch, with permissionless trading available around the clock.

The notes are not shares. Each token is a note whose payout is linked to the per-share value of the referenced company's common stock at a qualifying liquidity event, typically an IPO, acquisition or secondary sale, according to TheStreet. Parameter reported that the notes carry no equity stake, voting power or dividends, and that a British Virgin Islands special purpose vehicle issues them. Eligibility is limited to qualified non-US investors.

For Ondo, the two product lines point in the same direction: tokenized access to traditional financial assets, from government debt and listed equities to private-company exposure. Whether the private-market notes can reach comparable scale will depend on liquidity and investor participation. Ondo has not published figures for the new product.

Sources

Ondo Finance: Introducing Ondo Private MarketsRWA.xyz: Tokenized U.S. Treasury Funds league tableTheStreet: Ondo brings private markets onchain with 24/7 trading from day one

XRP holders are preparing for a pivotal month ahead as two significant events approach in October 2026. Ripple, a San Francisco-based company known for its global payment solutions and key development role in the XRP Ledger, is set to bring institutional, academic, and developer communities together for its annual Swell conference, while the XRP Ledger readies for a major protocol upgrade.

Ripple’s Swell, Apex, and UBRI Connect converge in New YorkFrom October 27 to 29, Ripple will host the Swell conference in New York, drawing leaders from finance, cryptocurrency, and the broader XRP ecosystem. This year, Ripple will merge Swell with Apex, a specialized summit for developers and innovators building on the XRP Ledger, as well as UBRI Connect, an academic conference connected to its global University Blockchain Research Initiative.

By combining these three flagship summits, Ripple aims to create a diverse platform for in-depth panels, keynote presentations, and cross-disciplinary discussions. The agenda will cover key trends shaping the financial sector, including liquidity and settlement solutions, the tokenization of real-world assets, the growing role of stablecoins in banking applications, and the impact of artificial intelligence on payments infrastructure.

Participants will also hear from influential speakers, including Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz and RippleX Senior Director of Engineering Ayo Akinyele, as they outline upcoming changes and improvements to the XRP Ledger. In addition, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, will contribute insights during a fireside chat on digital asset evolution and lead panels with Bullish CEO Tom Farley and Water.org co-founder Matt Damon, focusing on the intersection of technology, finance, and social impact.

Ripple plans to foster conversations with industry experts on liquidity, tokenization, and the drive for greater financial access through new innovations anchored in the XRP Ledger.

XRPL protocol upgrade: fixCleanup3_4_0 amendmentPrior to the conference, the XRP Ledger is scheduled to receive a crucial protocol amendment on October 23, 2026. Named fixCleanup3_4_0, this update will address technical fixes and enhancements for several functions within the network, such as Single Asset Vaults, the Lending Protocol, Automated Market Makers, the permissioned decentralized exchange (DEX), trust lines, NFTs, MPTs, escrows, sponsorship mechanisms, transaction signing, and advanced permission delegation.

The fixCleanup3_4_0 amendment is particularly important for advancing Permission Delegation, enabling users to assign granular permissions like PaymentBurn, which are necessary for more complex transaction flows. The update will only be activated on the mainnet if validator approval stays above 80 percent throughout the adoption window, with October 23 as the earliest possible activation date.

Mini dictionary: Permission Delegation, a feature on the XRP Ledger, allows users or applications to grant specific transaction rights to other users or smart contracts, increasing security and flexibility within the network’s permission model.

This round of technical improvements is expected to streamline operations for developers and institutions using the XRP Ledger, ensuring the ecosystem meets evolving demands in digital finance.

Validator consensus must reach and maintain at least 80% support for the protocol amendment before activation, marking October 23, 2026, as a potential milestone for the XRPL upgrade.

Hyperliquid is expanding its presence in traditional financial markets as tokenized equities gain traction across the crypto industry.

The decentralized exchange already offers perpetual futures tied to stocks and indexes through Trade[XYZ], allowing traders to speculate on equity prices around the clock without owning the underlying shares. Meanwhile, tokenized stock issuers Ondo Finance and xStocks have expanded into the Hyperliquid ecosystem, bringing traditional equity exposure to its blockchain infrastructure.

Now, EQX Labs has announced plans to launch 11 tokenized US stocks and ETFs directly on Hyperliquid’s HyperCore order book, adding another spot equity offering to the platform.

The initial markets will include tokenized versions of Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Tesla, Micron, and SpaceX, alongside products tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 through ETFs.

The tokens will trade as HIP-1 assets against USDC, giving eligible traders access to the markets 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The company has not announced an exact launch date.

EQX promises share backing and zero issuer fees According to the company’s documentation, each token will be backed on a one to one basis by shares held through custodians connected to the Depository Trust Company.

The custodians include Alpaca, StoneX, and Clear Street. EQX also plans to publish custody information so traders can verify the shares backing the tokens.

The assets will be issued by EQX SPC Ltd., a British Virgin Islands segregated portfolio company. Each ticker will have a separate portfolio holding its underlying shares.

However, the tokens will not represent direct ownership of the underlying securities. Instead, holders will own limited recourse debt instruments backed by those shares, with contractual claims against the issuer.

EQX also plans to pass through certain economic benefits of stock ownership. Dividends will automatically be reinvested into additional shares after applicable withholding, while holders will be able to submit voting instructions through wallet signatures.

In addition, EQX will not charge fees for issuing, redeeming, or holding tokens. Traders will only pay Hyperliquid’s standard spot trading fees.

The company said its business will be funded through a share of those trading fees, reducing its reliance on additional charges or spreads.

Creation and redemption will be available to eligible authorized participants, while other traders will access the tokens through Hyperliquid’s order book. The products will not be offered to US persons.

Tokenized equities expand across blockchain networks The announcement comes as competition intensifies among issuers seeking to bring traditional stocks onto blockchain networks.

In August, xStocks launched tokenized US equities on HyperCore, initially introducing five assets, including Nvidia, Micron, and ETFs tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100.

Meanwhile, Ondo Finance has expanded its tokenized stock infrastructure to Hyperliquid’s HyperEVM, allowing users to transfer assets from Ethereum and BNB Chain into the ecosystem.

EQX aims to compete through its custody structure and fee model while making Hyperliquid a larger venue for equity price discovery.

The company also plans to support additional use cases, including using tokenized stocks as collateral in lending markets, hedging positions with equity perpetuals, and integrating the assets into trading strategies.

Its planned launch adds to the growing overlap between decentralized trading infrastructure and traditional equity markets, as issuers seek to extend stock trading beyond conventional exchange hours.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Sneha Agrawal

With over four years of experience in covering and tracking the financial markets, Sneha Agrawal is a dedicated Crypto Journalist and Editor with passion for researching and writing the crypto pieces. She is currently leading the Block of Fame, here at CoinGape. She likes to keep track of political, legal and financial happenings all around the world - without which she deems her day incomplete. Apart from her Journalistic endeavours, she is a solo traveler, museum goer, and a keen reader of books.

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Apia, Samoa, October 14, 2026 – The crypto market saw a notable rally in the just-concluded third quarter. It was also the quarter in which HTX turned 13. Over the past 13 years, the industry has weathered multiple bull and bear cycles, and HTX has stood alongside users worldwide throughout them. Resilience in navigating market cycles has been a defining characteristic of HTX over the past 13 years.

To mark its anniversary themed “Resilience Reveals the Future”, HTX launched the 13th-Anniversary Carnival and Trading Championship #3, among other celebratory events, in the third quarter, celebrating alongside users worldwide. Meanwhile, the platform continued to invest in TradFi, trending assets, yield products, and global compliance, delivering an outstanding quarterly performance report.

13th-Anniversary Celebrations Conclude, with Participation from Users Worldwide

On August 13, HTX kicked off its 13th-anniversary celebrations with the Anniversary Carnival. Its spot, futures, Earn and lending businesses rolled out exclusive anniversary promotions in succession, launching a celebration that lasted more than a month.

The annual trading competition Trading Championship #3 was the centerpiece of the anniversary celebrations. It attracted 45,000 registrations and generated 6.8 billion USDT in futures trading volume, making it the platform’s largest campaign of the quarter by both participation and trading volume. Meanwhile, HTX futures copy trading volume grew 21% quarter over quarter.

For spot trading, a series of 13th-anniversary campaigns, including the Individual Challenge, Trending Cryptos Margin Trading Carnival, and Points Tasks, played a key role in driving spot trading growth during the quarter. Over the three-month period, HTX launched 14 themed spot trading campaigns, attracting more than 46,000 registrations and generating over 500 million USDT in trading volume across the campaigns.

For 13 years, HTX and users worldwide have navigated one market cycle after another together. The anniversary celebrations were both a gesture of appreciation for users’ long-term support and a reflection of HTX’s determination to carry its resilience into the next 13 years.

TradFi Asset Offerings Expand as Quarterly Trading Volume More Than Doubles

In the third quarter, HTX listed 183 new futures assets, including 154 stocks and index-related assets. As of now, the platform offers 278 tradable stock assets, spanning US stocks, major global indices and ETFs, pre-IPO unicorns, and leading companies in Japan and South Korea, continuing to lead the industry in multi-market stock asset coverage.

HTX’s asset lineup focuses on four key sectors: AI hardware and semiconductor computing power, global e-commerce and internet companies, leading Asia-Pacific companies and major indices, and high-dividend blue-chip stocks. AI and semiconductor computing, leading Asia-Pacific companies, and pre-IPO unicorns were key themes throughout the quarter. Popular assets such as POLYMARKET, OURA and MOONSHOT were also listed. Eligible users can access global market opportunities through HTX without switching between platforms. This service is not available in jurisdictions subject to regulatory restrictions.

The expanded asset lineup drove rapid growth in trading volume. So far the cumulative TradFi trading volume on HTX has approached $6 billion, with $4.1 billion generated in the third quarter alone, more than doubling the cumulative total from the previous quarter.

The trading experience was upgraded alongside these developments. Stock perpetual futures feature a dividend settlement mechanism, allowing position values to adjust more continuously when an underlying stock goes ex-dividend and reducing the impact of non-trading-related price adjustments on users’ positions. TradFi asset detail pages include market data, news updates, and company profile, bringing key information together in one place. Dedicated categories for stocks, commodities and ETFs have also been added to market rankings, making it easier for users to discover assets. HTX has also upgraded its TradFi trading fee structure, bringing its net trading fees into the industry’s top tier.

HTX is also taking a longer-term view of the convergence of traditional finance and crypto markets. As real-world assets (RWAs), particularly tokenized stocks, become an increasingly important area of development in the global digital asset industry, the platform is monitoring regulatory developments and exploring regulatory frameworks and compliance pathways in preparation for future product innovation. All related products and services offered by the platform operate within the framework of applicable laws and regulations, and access restrictions are applied to users in certain jurisdictions as required.

Trending Assets Emerge as Earn and Lending Products Put Funds to Work Efficiently

In the third quarter, HTX listed new projects attracting strong market interest, several of which were first listed on the platform. Niulai was the quarter’s top-performing newly listed token, recording a peak gain of more than 500%. DOS and STONK each recorded peak gains of 240% after listing.

Earn and lending products expanded alongside new asset listings. During the quarter, HTX Earn changed the launch schedule for its new-token products from weekly updates to real-time synchronization with new listings, allowing users to access corresponding Earn products as soon as eligible popular tokens become available. Nearly 500,000 users participated in HTX Earn during the quarter, with subscription amounts totaling nearly 1 billion USDT. SVIP Flexible Earn products added BTC and ETH, expanding the options available to users with large holdings. In addition, SmartEarn introduced a trading-linked APY boost, offering a base APY of 4% upon activation and up to 9% APY for users who meet the required trading volume threshold. This further expands the yield potential for idle assets.

Margin and Convert features added 21 tradable assets, with XAUT becoming the first precious metal asset available through Convert. This further expanded the range of assets available for trading, borrowing and use as collateral. Loan interest rates are adjusted frequently in response to market conditions across more than 50 cryptocurrencies. Interest rates for large loans remain among the lower levels in the industry.

Risk management tools were also upgraded. Trailing stop orders and MMR TP/SL orders were launched successively. Stop-loss levels can automatically track market movements, giving users with large positions and high leverage greater flexibility in managing risk.

Advancing Global Compliance and Making a Major Brand Appearance at TOKEN2049

Compliance is a prerequisite for global expansion. In the third quarter, HTX made further progress on compliance initiatives in several key markets. In Dubai, the establishment of the relevant applicant entity received preliminary approval from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), with subsequent regulatory applications and compliance reviews proceeding as planned. In Pakistan, following the formal publication of virtual asset service regulations and the launch of a licensing application process, HTX continued to advance the establishment of its local entity, its formal license application, and the development of its compliance framework, building on the No Objection Certificate (NoC) already obtained from the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA).

HTX continued to strengthen its presence in regional markets. In August, HTX Ventures participated in Conviction Vietnam, building connections with local users and Web3 ecosystem partners. As the fourth quarter began, HTX appeared at TOKEN2049, a major annual gathering for the global crypto industry. Held in Singapore from October 7–8, the event brought together projects, investment firms, developers, and industry builders from around the world. HTX Ventures exhibited at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, engaging invited guests through brand displays and on-site interactions. Justin Sun, adviser to HTX and a core supporter of HTX DAO, attended related events and delivered a speech. He visited the HTX Ventures booth to meet with the team and other industry participants.

At Future Night, a private, invitation-only event hosted by HTX DAO during the same period, Justin Sun shared his views on industry trends via video. He noted that the crypto industry is becoming more closely connected with traditional finance. AI is changing how wealth is created, while crypto and digital finance are transforming how wealth is held and transferred. He also said that stablecoins could play a greater role in global payments and settlement, while the on-chain adoption of traditional assets such as bonds, funds and gold is likely to continue developing. The free flow of value in the digital world, he said, will be an important trend to watch over the next decade.

During the event, HTX DAO also hosted a private VIP dinner. Justin Sun met face to face with industry representatives, ecosystem contributors, and partners to exchange views on industry developments, market changes, product experiences, and future collaboration.

HTX DAO Ecosystem Expands as Q3 $HTX Burn Approaches

HTX DAO continued to support the long-term value of $HTX in the third quarter by steadily implementing its deflationary mechanism through quarterly token burns, while expanding $HTX use cases and building consensus among developers and the community. These efforts aim to lay a solid foundation for the ecosystem’s long-term development.

On July 15, HTX DAO completed its Q2 2026 $HTX token burn, valued at more than $13.6 million, bringing cumulative burns and donations to 117.79 trillion tokens. In line with its quarterly burn schedule, the Q3 $HTX token burn is scheduled to take place on October 15.

On the ecosystem front, HTX DAO focused on developers and the community. The Genesis Hackathon, co-hosted by HTX DAO and B.AI, attracted more than 200 developer teams exploring $HTX use cases, AI agent finance, on-chain asset management, and DAO tools. At Future Night, HTX DAO ambassador Molly shared that several projects developed by global university teams participating in the hackathon had advanced to further incubation stages and were exploring ways to integrate with use cases across the $HTX ecosystem.

Molly also shared that nearly 200 active volunteers were independently contributing to HTX DAO community development. In the fourth quarter, HTX DAO plans to develop regional community nodes to support members in organizing events and exchanging ideas.  She also noted that HTX, as an ecosystem participant, continues to optimize withdrawal fees, gather user feedback, and improve the app experience.

Navigating Market Cycles with Resilience, Shaping the Future Together with Users Worldwide

Thirteen years ago, HTX began as a digital asset trading platform. Today, it has grown into a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem serving users worldwide. Over the years, markets have experienced both highs and lows, and the industry landscape has evolved. Throughout these changes, HTX has remained committed to putting users first. Regardless of market conditions, improving its products and prioritizing the security of user assets remain among the platform’s top priorities.

Standing at the beginning of its 14th year, HTX will continue to navigate market cycles with resilience and build the future together with users worldwide.

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

Guided by its vision to “Achieve Financial Freedom for 8 Billion People Worldwide,” HTX works to make the digital asset space more accessible to a broader audience. The platform continues to develop its products and services in response to user needs and an evolving industry landscape. 

To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.net.in/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord. For further inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Summarize this article with:

Two weeks ago, I warned that Bitcoin was approaching the $87,000 area, but that there was a high probability of a correction toward $80,000 before another attempt to break through higher resistance levels. For that reason, after the previous bullish move, I decided to position myself in the opposite direction, opening a short position around $86,000 with a clear target at $80,000. The market went on to make precisely that move. Bitcoin corrected to $80,000, approaching the 50-day exponential moving average (EMA 50), an important technical area within the current structure. Once my target was reached, I closed the entire short position, secured the profits, and used that same price level to increase my spot Bitcoin holding.

What Can We Expect From Bitcoin Now? My main scenario remains bullish. Despite the recent correction, Bitcoin continues to show an upward trend structure on the daily timeframe, as the chart illustrates.

I consider it quite possible that Bitcoin will make another attempt to break through resistance between $87,000 and $88,000.

If Bitcoin manages to break that zone and consolidate above it, the next target I am watching is the $92,000–$94,000 area.

The key will be how price behaves when it returns to $86,000–$89,000. This time, I expect to see accumulation and buying demand rather than distribution, allowing a former resistance area to turn into support.

BTC/USD daily chart (TradingView, supplied chart). Bitcoin ETF flows are another factor worth monitoring. Although late September included several sessions of positive inflows, October has also brought significant outflows.

On 7 and 8 October in particular, net outflows were approximately $484.9 million and $244.1 million, respectively.

These moves show that institutional demand has not been consistent and that some selling pressure remains. However, I believe it is important to assess these figures alongside Bitcoin’s technical price structure rather than treating two negative sessions as automatic confirmation of a trend reversal.

Bitcoin ETF flows (US$ millions; supplied data). Conclusion The correction toward $80,000 that I anticipated has now taken place. I used the move both to close my bearish trade and to increase my exposure to Bitcoin.

My focus now turns to $87,000–$88,000. A breakout supported by demand, followed by consolidation above that area, would strengthen my bullish continuation scenario toward $92,000–$94,000.

For now, I continue to view this decline as a correction within an uptrend, not the beginning of a new bear market.

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CryptoCedric

Cedric Cerezo is a professional cryptocurrency trader, market analyst, mentor, and international speaker. Recognized for winning two world cryptocurrency trading competitions, he specializes in Bitcoin market structure, on-chain analysis, institutional capital flows, and trading psychology. His research combines technical analysis with macroeconomic and blockchain data to deliver high-conviction market insights for investors and industry professionals.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Bitcoin fell as much as 2.3% toward the lower end of its recent trading range, caught in a broader retreat from risk assets even as crypto analysts have turned sharply more bullish on the token.

The largest digital asset traded around $81,500. Crypto markets weakened as hotter inflation data and a renewed selloff in chipmakers hit appetite for speculative trades across markets. The Nasdaq 100 dropped as much as 2%, the dollar rose to its highest level since May 2025 and traders lifted bets on further Federal Reserve rate hikes after September consumer prices rose at the fastest pace since April.

The move cut against a sharp shift in crypto sentiment. A CryptoQuant report Wednesday showed Bitcoin’s 30-day analyst consensus index rising from minus 18.3 in July to plus 49.2, with the share of bullish analysts climbing to 84% from 37%.

“Global financial market conditions are pretty tough right now,” said Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management.

A little more than a year after a historic crypto market crash that wiped out a record $19 billion in leveraged bets in a single day, market bellwether Bitcoin remains more than 30% below its record high. Attempts at a sustained rally have repeatedly faltered and traders have been slow to rebuild the leveraged positions that once powered crypto’s biggest booms.

Read more: Crypto’s Leverage Machine Finds New Life Beyond Bitcoin Bets

High inflation, high energy prices “all of those restrict global monetary liquidity. And then you have mounting concerns about hyperscalers and AI, and that raising concerns about risk assets,” Hougan said. “But I think we put in a bottom in June, and we’ll probably end the year higher than where we are today.”

Bitcoin faces growing resistance near $88,000 as exchange traded funds return to net selling and higher US inflation weighs on market sentiment, according to a new report from blockchain analytics firm Glassnode.

In its October 14 report, Glassnode identified the $80,000 to $81,500 range as a critical support zone, while investors who purchased Bitcoin over the past two years continue to create selling pressure above current prices.

The report comes as Bitcoin struggles to recover following September’s hotter than expected inflation data, which strengthened expectations of another Federal Reserve interest rate increase.

Despite these pressures, Glassnode said several onchain indicators suggest the market is entering an early recovery phase, with long term holders reducing their losses and Bitcoin trading above important valuation levels.

Bitcoin faces resistance at $88K as ETF outflows accelerate Glassnode identified two groups of investors holding Bitcoin above current prices.

Investors who purchased BTC between six and twelve months ago have an average cost basis near $88,000. Meanwhile, those who bought between one and two years ago have a cost basis around $100,000.

Both levels have rejected previous rallies this year. Bitcoin approached the first in January before falling more than 33%. It also tested the second in May before declining roughly 25%.

According to Glassnode, Bitcoin must recover $88,000 to overcome selling pressure from investors seeking to exit positions near their original purchase prices.

At the same time, institutional demand has weakened.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted nearly $3 billion in net inflows between September 21 and October 6, marking their strongest buying period since November 2025.

However, that momentum reversed on October 7. The funds subsequently recorded approximately $760 million in net outflows, removing a major source of demand from the market.

Glassnode said a sustained return of ETF inflows would provide stronger confirmation that buyers are absorbing the selling pressure.

Bitcoin holds $80K support as long term holder losses decline Despite weakening ETF demand, Bitcoin continues to hold key support levels. The average cost basis of US spot Bitcoin ETFs stands near $81,500, a level Bitcoin briefly lost on October 8 and 13 before recovering.

Glassnode also identified significant buying orders around $80,000 on Binance, while the True Market Mean sits near $78,000. A break below $80,000 could trigger further liquidations, while a move toward $88,000 could force short sellers to close positions. However, sustained gains would require stronger spot demand.

Meanwhile, selling pressure from long term holders has eased. Their realized losses have fallen 85% since peaking on August 12.

At Bitcoin’s June low, roughly twelve coins were sold at a loss for every coin sold at a profit. That ratio has since reversed, with profitable sales outnumbering loss making sales by four to one.

Glassnode said the shift resembles previous market recoveries. Unlike the 2018 and 2022 bear markets, Bitcoin has also avoided closing below its Realized Price, the average acquisition cost of coins in circulation. Even at its June 30 low, Bitcoin remained about 10% above that level.

Hot inflation data adds pressure ahead of Fed decision The latest Glassnode assessment follows a stronger than expected US inflation report that raised concerns about further monetary tightening.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, September’s Consumer Price Index increased 0.6% from the previous month and 3.7% annually, exceeding market forecasts.

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% monthly and 2.6% annually.

The figures increased expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates again after delivering a 25 basis point increase in September.

The next monetary policy decision is scheduled for October 28, followed by the US midterm elections on November 3.

Meanwhile, Glassnode also identified growing speculative activity across individual altcoins.

Its Altcoin Froth Indicator showed elevated leverage among individual tokens since late September, although marketwide speculative activity remained relatively subdued.

The divergence suggests that pockets of the altcoin market could face concentrated liquidations if Bitcoin loses its $80,000 support.

For Bitcoin, Glassnode identified two levels that could determine the next major move.

A sustained recovery above $88,000, supported by renewed ETF inflows, would suggest that buyers are absorbing overhead selling pressure.

However, a break below $80,000 could expose Bitcoin to further declines toward the True Market Mean near $78,000.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

21h05 ▪
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Ghiles A.

Summarize this article with:

Michael Saylor believes that the cryptocurrency market is entering a new phase of growth, despite recent uncertainties. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, the Strategy executive states that bitcoin has probably reached its bottom below 60,000 dollars. He now anticipates a return above 100,000 dollars, without providing a specific timeline. His forecasts are based notably on the evolution of the regulatory framework, banking adoption, and the development of digital credit.

In brief

Michael Saylor believes that Bitcoin has reached its floor below 60,000 dollars.
The Strategy executive anticipates a return of Bitcoin above 100,000 dollars.
He forecasts an annual growth of 20 to 30% over the next twenty years.
Banking adoption, regulation, and digital credit support his bullish outlook.
Strategy now holds 848,250 BTC, while market uncertainties persist.

Michael Saylor believes that Bitcoin has reached its bottom
During his interview with Bloomberg Television, Michael Saylor said that the market touched a low slightly under 60,000 dollars. According to him, the price can now resume its upward movement.

We reached the low at a level slightly below 60,000 dollars. We will start again from there.

The executive chairman of Strategy describes the situation as the beginning of a new bull market. However, he has not set any deadline for a return above 100,000 dollars.

His vision takes place in a long-term perspective. Saylor forecasts annual growth of 20% to 30% over the next twenty years. He specifies that he is not seeking to profit from short-term price movements. This position reflects his investment strategy, which is based on prolonged holding of the digital asset. He therefore considers temporary fluctuations as part of the market cycle.

The executive attributes the previous weakness of the prices to trade policies, international tensions, and monetary decisions. Nevertheless, he believes that several factors now support a more favorable evolution. Among them are:

A favorable regulatory environment.
Accelerated adoption by banks.
Growth of tokenized securities.
Strengthening of digital credit networks.

These changes could, according to him, strengthen the links between traditional financial markets and digital assets.

Artificial intelligence strengthens its argument
Michael Saylor also relies on the development of artificial intelligence to explain the potential interest of rare digital assets. According to him, investors will increasingly look for resources that robots cannot reproduce at will. He places bitcoin in this category and presents it as the “king of commodities.” This analysis associates the scarcity of the asset with an evolution of investors’ needs in a rapidly transforming technological environment.

The executive also recalls that the price briefly fell below its 200-week moving average before rebounding. He highlights that the price then found a 25% premium relative to this indicator. This development is an important element of his analysis of the current cycle. However, by itself, it is not sufficient to confirm that the market has definitively reached its bottom.

Saylor also downplays the importance of U.S. election deadlines in long-term outlooks. He believes adoption will mainly depend on companies’ ability to offer useful and appreciated products. In his interview message, he describes bitcoin as a form of raw financial energy. He also presents Strategy as a company capable of transforming this resource into digital credit.

Strategy defends its structured finance model
The interview also addressed the bitcoin sales that Strategy made this year. The first sale of 32 BTC had triggered reactions among the company’s supporters. However, Saylor points out that subsequent sales involving several thousand units did not prevent the market from progressing. He thus wants to evolve the perception of Strategy, which he describes as a structured finance company.

According to this approach, the company can shift between stocks, cash, credit, and cryptocurrencies depending on market conditions. Saylor states that recent sales are not the core of his future strategy. He also believes that Strategy has probably purchased more bitcoins than any other company this year. The company intends to continue its acquisitions during the bull phase, notably through the issuance of credit-linked securities.

After a new purchase of 250 BTC announced on October 12, Strategy’s reserves now reach 848,250 BTC. This position confirms the central place of cryptocurrencies in the company’s financial model. Saylor also recalls the performance recorded since the first purchase made in August 2020. During this period, bitcoin has grown by about 38% per year, while the MSTR stock has shown an annual return between 52 and 53%, according to his statements.

Bitcoin’s return toward 100,000 dollars remains uncertain
Despite Michael Saylor’s outlooks, available indicators still show some caution. The bitcoin price was trading near 83,900 dollars early in the day. At the same time, prediction markets assigned only a 27% probability to a price return to 100,000 dollars. This gap between the executive’s expectations and market probabilities highlights the uncertainty surrounding the next step.

Strategy must also face an issue related to its presence in global stock indices. MSCI must announce by October 16 whether new eligibility rules could lead to excluding the company from its indices. Such a decision could affect investment flows associated with its stock. JPMorgan estimates that about 2.8 billion dollars could be concerned by this potential exclusion.

Michael Saylor criticized the position considered by MSCI and hopes that the index provider will reverse its decision. This issue adds extra pressure on Strategy, regardless of the cryptocurrency market’s evolution. The company will therefore have to simultaneously manage its accumulation objectives and the possible consequences of a change in stock rules. The awaited decision could thus influence its financial environment in the short term.

In the medium term, the bullish scenario advocated by Michael Saylor will depend on several factors, including price evolution, institutional adoption, and regulatory conditions. A return above 100,000 dollars remains his goal, but no schedule confirms this trajectory. At the same time, Strategy will have to monitor MSCI’s decisions and maintain its ability to finance acquisitions. Bitcoin will thus move between long-term growth prospects and the uncertainties inherent to the market.

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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.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

BlackRock's Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ether ($ETH) ETFs took in $7.9B in Q3 2026, lifting digital asset AUM 63% to $79.6B as firm-wide AUM reached $15.5T.

@BlackRock's digital asset funds returned to net inflows in the third quarter, reversing the outflows seen earlier in 2026. The asset manager took in $7.9 billion for its Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ether ($ETH) ETFs, after about $2.2 billion left in the first half of the year.

Rising prices did most of the work. Market gains added another $22.9 billion, lifting digital asset assets under management (AUM) 63% to $79.6 billion from $48.8 billion at the end of June, according to CoinDesk.

Crypto rebound still short of the 2025 peakDespite the quarterly jump, BlackRock's crypto holdings remain 23% below year-ago levels. CoinDesk reported that investors added $6.3 billion over the past 12 months, but the decline in asset values outweighed those contributions. The firm's digital asset AUM peaked at around $104 billion in September 2025.

The category is driven mainly by two products: the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), Crypto Briefing reported. The same report said the $7.9 billion was the strongest quarterly inflow figure since the third quarter of 2025, and that Bitcoin rose more than 42% over the quarter.

Firm-wide inflows reach $205 billionAcross the group, BlackRock drew $205 billion in net inflows in the third quarter, with total AUM reaching $15.5 trillion, according to the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings release. The release put iShares ETF net inflows at $135 billion and active net inflows at $66 billion. Revenue rose 19% year over year.

Digital assets remain a small part of the overall business. They contributed about $8 billion of the $135 billion in ETF flows, according to Crypto Briefing. Still, the third-quarter figures show institutional demand for regulated Bitcoin and Ether exposure returning as crypto prices recovered from the first-half slump.

Sources:

CoinDesk: BlackRock's crypto ETF assets surge 63% but remain far below 2025 peak
BlackRock: Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Release
Crypto Briefing: BlackRock's crypto ETF assets jump 63% to roughly $80 billion in Q3

By Joseph Wilkins and Kirk Maltais

Bitcoin fell Wednesday in response to consumer-price inflation remaining stubbornly high, increasing the odds for interest-rate increases and pushing cryptocurrencies lower.

The flagship cryptocurrency accelerated losses throughout the day, falling 2.1%, to $81,624, in Wednesday afternoon trading. Bitcoin started its decline in the morning, after the latest U.S. CPI release showed prices for consumer goods being 3.7% higher in September than the same time last year.

The Labor Department's figures were hotter than August's gain of 3.4%, and exceeded the 3.6% rise expected by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal.

Following the report's release at 8:30 a.m. ET, bitcoin prices fell to below $82,000 from trading at nearly $84,000.

Bitcoin is now trading around the spot cost basis for U.S. ETFs, Glassnode said in a note. Below that is a large block of bids sitting on Binance for bitcoin at $80,000, the firm said, making those prices key support levels for bitcoin.

Should bitcoin slide lower than that, then analysts have projected prices could retreat back to around $70,000, evaporating the sharp gains bitcoin posted last month.

A stronger-than-expected inflation reading tends to pressure bitcoin, increasing expectations for higher U.S. interest rates and weighing on non-yielding assets such as cryptocurrencies.

"Core [inflation] at 0.3%, above consensus, puts an October hike back in play after the market had faded it to one in five," Can-Luca Köymen, investment strategist at Sygnum Bank, said.

"For bitcoin, higher yields and a firmer dollar are the near-term headwind, and that matters more than any single day's ETF flow," Köymen added.

Demand for bitcoin has also been an issue on both the retail and institutional sides, analysts said, exaggerating price movements due to the low volumes being traded but providing little lasting momentum for bitcoin in either direction.

The CME Group's FedWatch assesses a 67% chance that interest rates stay unchanged after the Federal Reserve's Oct. 28 meeting, with a 33% chance of a quarter-point boost. Immediately after the CPI report, odds were seen swinging to 50/50 for a potential increase.

Write to Joseph Wilkins at [email protected] and Kirk Maltais at [email protected]

Riot Platforms has signed a custody agreement with BitGo Bank & Trust, National Association. The deal moves Riot’s digital assets out of NYDIG Trust Company LLC and into BitGo’s vaults.

What the custody agreement covers Under the arrangement, Riot (NASDAQ: RIOT) will transfer assets currently held at NYDIG Trust to BitGo. BitGo will then serve as the custodian for Riot’s digital assets going forward.

Riot has not publicly released the specific terms of the agreement. It also has not said how much Bitcoin is moving or when the transfer becomes effective.

Research compiled on the deal places the custody transition in September 2026. That timing lines up with another balance sheet move Riot made the same month.

In September 2026, Riot repaid a $200 million Coinbase Credit facility. Paying it off released Bitcoin collateral that had been held in custody with Coinbase.

Why BitGo, and why now In December 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved BitGo Bank & Trust to operate as a federally chartered national trust bank.

In August 2026, BitGo Holdings, Inc. acquired NYDIG’s institutional trading business for approximately $42.5 million.

The acquisition is part of a broader push by BitGo into trading, settlement and custody services. Adding Riot as a custody client fits neatly into that expansion.

The NYDIG chapter Since November 2023, Riot had used NYDIG for segregated cold storage of its Bitcoin holdings.

Riot has not publicly explained why it chose to switch providers. The available timeline shows NYDIG selling its institutional trading arm to BitGo just one month before the custody transition.

What this means for Riot and the custody market For Riot shareholders, the practical question is whether the company’s Bitcoin is safe and accessible. Swapping a state-chartered trust company for a federally chartered national trust bank raises the regulatory profile of whoever is holding those coins.

The move fits a broader pattern described in the research: institutions increasingly prefer regulated bank custodians for digital assets, with regulatory clarity becoming a key selling point as custody providers compete for large clients.

BitGo’s purchase of NYDIG’s institutional trading business, followed by a high-profile custody client moving from NYDIG Trust to BitGo, indicates a market where scale and regulatory status are becoming decisive.

With the $200 million facility settled and the collateral released, Riot has fewer of its coins tied up with lenders. Consolidating custody with a single regulated bank could simplify how the company manages and reports its holdings.

Key things to watch next include any SEC filing that spells out the agreement’s terms, the amount of Bitcoin ultimately transferred, and whether Riot uses its freed-up collateral for new financing or holds it outright.

Disclosure: This article was edited by John Chen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

DriveWealth, a global Brokerage-as-a-Service platform, is integrating Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure to modernize funding, settlement and institutional digital assets custody across global financial markets.

The partnership will initially introduce Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin settlement on the XRP Ledger in Europe, with plans to expand into the U.S.

Additionally, the companies are exploring equity financing opportunities through Ripple Prime’s Delta One business.

The integration will allow DriveWealth clients to fund collateral accounts using stablecoins that convert into cash in near real time, reducing reliance on traditional bank wires.

“We’ve already enabled 24/5 trading; now we need the funding to match,” said DriveWealth CEO Naureen Hassan.

Ripple SVP of Stablecoins Jack McDonald said the partnership extends beyond cross-border settlement to modernize trading, custody and financial infrastructure.

Evernorth To Deploy 473 Million XRP TreasuryNasdaq-listed Evernorth Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:XRPN) announced Ripple, Kraken, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and BitGo as its inaugural institutional execution partners.

The company plans to begin deploying its 473 million XRP treasury in Q4 of 2026, shifting from passive holdings toward institutional strategies designed to generate earnings and increase XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) per share.

"We’re putting our treasury to work," said Evernorth founder and CEO Asheesh Birla.

Evernorth will initially deploy capital through established institutional counterparties before expanding into DeFi strategies as XRPL’s native lending and on-chain credit infrastructure matures.

Image: Shutterstock

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On October 14, 2026, DriveWealth and Ripple announced an integration covering stablecoin settlement, cross-border payments, custody and equity financing. DriveWealth will begin the settlement work in Europe with $RLUSD on the $XRP Ledger, using Ripple’s mint and burn capabilities. The companies plan to extend that settlement setup to the United States.

The partnership puts stablecoin funding behind DriveWealth’s brokerage infrastructure rather than launching a separate retail product. DriveWealth supplies brokerage systems to more than 100 partners worldwide, including fintechs, digital wallets and financial institutions that offer access to American markets. Ripple says its regulatory footprint spans more than 85 licenses.

The immediate mismatch is between trading and funding hours. American equities settle on T+1, while international dollar transfers can take longer. DriveWealth already supports trading 24 hours a day on five weekdays. Its chief executive, Naureen Hassan, said, “We’ve already enabled 24/5 trading; now we need the funding to match, so clients can move with the markets instead of waiting for them.”

How the integration is divided
Stablecoin settlement starts in Europe. DriveWealth will use Ripple’s stablecoin infrastructure, $RLUSD and the $XRP Ledger. Ripple’s mint and burn functions will connect token issuance and redemption to the settlement flow. The announcement gives no production date for this European integration and describes American expansion as a later plan.

DriveWealth is taking the same regional order with custody. The companies say the first custody work is in Europe and that additional markets will follow. The release does not tie custody expansion to the American settlement plan, so partners cannot assume both products reach each market together. Each product has its own stated scope: settlement uses $RLUSD and XRPL, payments receive cross-border funds, and custody covers DriveWealth’s digital asset needs.

A separate Ripple Payments integration will accept cross-border funding from DriveWealth’s global partners. This is the inbound route into the brokerage platform. The companies present it as a way to reduce dependence on transfer windows and bank cutoff times when a partner needs to fund activity in another market.

Custody is also starting in Europe. DriveWealth is working with Ripple on digital asset custody there, with more markets planned over time. DriveWealth will move treasury and custody infrastructure onto Ripple’s rails. The stated goal is one real-time view across dollars, stablecoins and crypto, with transfers between those balances.

The equity-financing component is less settled. DriveWealth and Ripple Prime are exploring opportunities through Ripple Prime’s Delta One business, which covers American equities and equity derivatives. The announcement does not describe a product, customer, collateral schedule or start date for that work. Operators should distinguish this exploratory component from the announced settlement, payments and custody integrations.

What changes for brokerage funding
DriveWealth clients will be able to fund and manage collateral accounts with stablecoins that convert to cash in near real time. The operational benefit is narrower than continuous equity settlement. A client can move funding without waiting for a bank wire, but the release does not say that the underlying securities settlement cycle changes from T+1.

That distinction matters for treasury teams. The integration targets the cash leg before and around a trade. It can shorten the time between a partner sending value and DriveWealth recognizing usable cash. It also gives DriveWealth a common system for viewing treasury and custody balances in dollars, stablecoins and crypto. The announcement does not identify supported partner jurisdictions, conversion spreads, transaction fees or service-level commitments.

The integration also separates the funding asset from the cash balance used inside the brokerage account. The release says clients can send stablecoins and convert them to cash in near real time. It does not say that equities will settle in $RLUSD or that customers will hold tokenized shares on XRPL. For a partner integrating the system, the relevant handoff is therefore stablecoin to cash, followed by the existing brokerage process.

DriveWealth’s role is broader than a single trading front end. Its infrastructure lets fintechs, wallets and financial institutions provide access to American markets. A successful deployment could put the same Ripple funding route behind several partner products. The release does not name which of DriveWealth’s more than 100 partners will adopt it first, so the initial distribution cannot yet be measured.

International partners are the clearest initial users. They currently plan funding around cross-border transfer windows and cutoff times. Ripple’s system is meant to let them send stablecoins into DriveWealth and convert those balances to cash near the time the funds are needed. The later American settlement expansion would add a domestic endpoint, although the companies have not provided its timing.

Hassan said the aim is for capital to keep working overnight and on weekends rather than remain idle. The release also says DriveWealth will extend the funding and custody experience its clients already use to stablecoins and digital assets. That framing leaves DriveWealth as the brokerage layer while Ripple provides the stablecoin, payment and custody infrastructure underneath it.

What remains open
The announcement identifies Europe as the first settlement and custody market but does not name a launch date or the European entities and partners that will use the integrations first. It also leaves the American expansion schedule, fees, conversion terms and eligible currencies unspecified. Those details will determine whether partners use $RLUSD for routine brokerage funding or only for transfers that do not fit bank operating hours.

The next dated milestone is October 28, 2026, when the companies are scheduled to discuss the partnership in a fireside chat at Ripple Swell in New York City. The unresolved issue is whether that session will add deployment dates and commercial terms for the European launch and planned American expansion.

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XRP ETFs have already attracted $8 million in net inflows this week, extending their positive streak to 13 weeks, while Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana funds shed a combined $1.25 billion. The gap points to selective demand for XRP exposure as the coin hovers near the $1.37 level, leaving price confirmation to the chart.

XRP products received inflows in only two of the five sessions: $3.14 million on October 6 and $8.17 million on October 8. The other three sessions recorded no net movement, meaning the weekly total came from a concentrated pair of trading days rather than steady daily subscriptions.

XRP ETF net assets stood at $1.57 billion, while cumulative net inflows since launch reached $1.80 billion. Bitcoin ETFs, on the other hand, recorded $681.1 million in outflows, Ethereum funds lost $542.07 million, and Solana products shed $24.81 million. Together, those withdrawals were roughly 110 times the size of XRP’s weekly inflow.

Ethereum funds posted withdrawals in every session from October 5 through October 9, while Solana’s redemptions ended its 14-week positive run. Bitcoin’s negative week followed three consecutive weeks of inflows, a reminder that weekly Bitcoin ETF outflows can reverse quickly rather than establish a lasting demand trend.

The latest split supports a selective-interest reading. Fund-flow data captures subscriptions and redemptions, not the identity or intention of every investor.

Important to note that Bitcoin ETFs had recorded $1.918 billion in net inflows just weeks earlier, illustrating how sharply the weekly picture can change.

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XRP Price Hinges on the $1.30–$1.43 RangeThe October 14 price snapshot put XRP near $1.37, and the token is trading between support at $1.35 and resistance at $1.40. That leaves price action, rather than the flow streak alone, as the key factor in assessing whether the setup strengthens or weakens.

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A move above the $1.38 resistance level would be a price development to monitor, while the cited support level remains below the current price. The range is consistent with the context in a recent XRP price analysis around $1.36–$1.37 and $1.45 support, but the ETF data does not establish which direction XRP will take.

The streak is therefore supportive sentiment context, not a standalone XRP price prediction. A further XRP market analysis focused on support and resistance near $1.37 likewise frames price levels as conditions to monitor rather than a guaranteed direction.

If XRP moves above the $1.40 resistance level, that price action would require confirmation beyond the ETF flow data. If it remains below resistance, the 13-week inflow streak still offers no assurance that buyers will absorb available supply.

The next test is whether XRP can move above the $1.38 resistance area or remain below it; until then, the flow data signals relative interest, not a confirmed breakout.

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Ripple announced two new partnerships targeting global financial institutions. The agreement with DriveWealth, a brokerage infrastructure providing access to US markets, aims to utilize RLUSD in the money flow behind investment transactions.

DriveWealth is integrating Ripple’s stablecoin infrastructure to use RLUSD on the XRP Ledger for settlement transactions in Europe. The service is planned to expand to the US in a later phase. Cross-border funding via Ripple Payments and digital asset custody services in Europe are also included in the collaboration.

DriveWealth’s provision of investment infrastructure to over 100 partners worldwide expands the network that the integration can reach. However, it has not been announced that all partners will start using RLUSD at the same time.

Ripple has also formed a strategic partnership with Meritz Securities, a major South Korean brokerage firm. The parties will explore the use of institutional custody and tokenization infrastructure in capital markets.

Meritz’s areas of evaluation include spot ETFs, security tokens, and won-denominated stablecoins. These are not yet publicly available products. While the two agreements expand Ripple’s institutional reach, their direct and measurable impact on the XRP price has not yet been disclosed.

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The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), a leading post-trade financial services provider processing $4.7 quadrillion in securities transactions in 2025 and holding $114 trillion in custody, is advancing its tokenization initiative. The DTCC is collaborating with a consortium of more than 80 firms to develop a comprehensive tokenization service, aiming to modernize securities settlement at scale.

Key integration points: Ripple Prime, Securrency, Fireblocks, and SecuritizeCrypto researcher SMQKE identified four direct connections linking the XRP Ledger to the DTCC’s infrastructure. Each connection is enabled by a firm that already maintains an active relationship within the DTCC environment, facilitating the potential for XRP utilization across settlement and asset servicing operations.

The first path involves Ripple Prime, the institutional prime brokerage arm formed by Ripple following its acquisition of Hidden Road. Ripple combined Hidden Road with its own licensing framework to launch Ripple Prime, granting institutional clients in the United States the ability to trade XRP and RLUSD directly through the platform.

Ripple Prime stands as an official member of the DTCC’s tokenization working group, further integrating XRP into the industry’s evolving settlement infrastructure.

Secondly, the DTCC acquired Securrency, a blockchain technology specialist, and rebranded it as DTCC Digital Assets. Securrency’s protocol supports multiple distributed ledgers, including Ethereum, Stellar, and Ripple, allowing the DTCC to directly deploy solutions compatible with the XRP Ledger under its full control.

Mini dictionary: DTCC (Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation) is the world’s largest clearing and settlement service for securities, providing infrastructure for US and global financial markets.

The third integration comes from Fireblocks, a digital asset custody network that forms part of the DTCC industry working group. Research from FXC Intelligence shows the Fireblocks platform supports custody and transfer services for assets on the XRP Ledger. Through Fireblocks, institutional movement and storage of XRP-linked assets become more accessible for DTCC group participants.

Securitize, the fourth connection, has played an active role by integrating RLUSD, a Ripple-issued stablecoin, into its platform. In early June, Securitize Fund Services became the official DTCC participant listed under the Securitize name, expanding support for tokenized assets on the XRP Ledger within the DTCC framework.

DTCC’s tokenization strategy and XRP Ledger’s roleThese four avenues highlight the growing interconnectivity between the DTCC and XRP Ledger technology. Ripple Prime enables direct use of XRP for institutional clients within the DTCC working group. DTCC Digital Assets holds a protocol designed to run on XRP Ledger. Fireblocks provides custody solutions compatible with XRP. Securitize offers RLUSD integration and aligns with the XRP Ledger while operating as an official DTCC participant.

This multifaceted integration positions the XRP Ledger as a viable foundation for the DTCC’s tokenization platform, giving XRP multiple entry points for future settlement, asset issuance, and management in the financial market ecosystem.

CompanyRoleXRP Ledger ConnectionDTCC StatusRipple PrimePrime brokerageXRP/RLUSD access, institutional tradingIndustry working group memberDTCC Digital Assets (Securrency)Blockchain divisionDirect support for XRP LedgerInternal DTCC divisionFireblocksCustody networkXRP Ledger compatibleIndustry working group memberSecuritizeTokenization and fund servicesRLUSD, XRP Ledger integrationOfficial DTCC participant The convergence of Ripple Prime, DTCC Digital Assets, Fireblocks, and Securitize inside the DTCC infrastructure establishes four operational pathways for XRP adoption across US financial markets.

As the DTCC continues to advance its tokenization service, each of these firms enhances potential cross-compatibility and strengthens the overall connectivity between the XRP Ledger and the US securities infrastructure.

The XRP Ledger has set a new transaction record after processing 4,416 transactions in a single ledger close on October 10, marking the highest number ever seen for one closure since the network’s launch.

Trust Set transactions drive the milestoneValidator Vet, known as @Vet_X0 in the XRP community, disclosed that ledger #107,569,561 achieved this record. The majority of transactions in this ledger consisted of Trust Set operations, a mechanism that allows accounts to hold and transfer assets beyond native XRP.

Of the 4,416 transactions closed, 4,305 were categorized as Trust Set, accounting for approximately 97.5% of the total. Payments comprised 1.6%, with other types—Offer Creates, Offer Cancels, NFToken Create Offers, and miscellaneous categories—making up the remaining 0.9%.

The ledger closure involved just 75 unique active accounts, during which a total of 3,530.81 XRP was moved. The process resulted in a burned fee of 0.113775 XRP across all transactions.

With a 99% transaction success rate, the ledger recorded 4,374 successful efforts and only 42 failures. The high volume, dominated by trustline creation activity, suggests a significant wave of onboarding and interaction within the ledger’s tokenization system.

Of the 4,416 total transactions in ledger #107,569,561, Trust Set operations reached 4,305, making up 97.5% of the activity in this record-setting block.

Mini dictionary: Trustlines are connections within the XRP Ledger that enable accounts to hold and transact in assets other than XRP, serving as a core element for tokenization and decentralized exchanges on the network.

Network performance and capacityThis record demonstrates the scalability and efficiency of the XRP Ledger, known for its swift settlement and low fees. The network finalized 4,416 transactions in a closure window that typically lasts between three and five seconds, highlighting its ability to handle high transaction throughput without strain.

Despite the surge in activity, the minimal fees burned and the 99% success rate confirm that the ledger maintained stability and efficiency throughout the event. Fee escalation—a system embedded in the ledger to raise transaction costs during periods of heavy demand—did not lead to significant cost increases during this window, keeping user costs low.

MetricLedger #107,569,561Total transactions4,416Trust Set transactions4,305Unique active accounts75Total XRP volume moved3,530.81 XRPFees burned0.113775 XRPSuccess rate99%Community discussion and analysisThe milestone prompted considerable discussion within the XRP community. Several participants highlighted that over 4,300 new trustlines set in a single ledger marked substantial ecosystem engagement and onboarding. Some observers raised questions about the mechanics of fee escalation during periods of heightened activity, speculating that many transactions originated from a limited pool of wallets possibly operated by automated bots sending small-value amounts.

Community members described the event as impressive, noting that the network’s capacity for growth remains robust following this achievement. The efficient handling of this transaction volume with minimal disruption reinforced confidence in the XRP Ledger’s future scalability.

Processing 4,416 transactions in just one ledger close, nearly all trustline creations, illustrates the XRP Ledger’s ongoing ability to accommodate major activity surges with minimal cost and rapid settlement.

Shayne Coplan Renews Speculation About Polymarket Token

Ethereum is holding steady close to $2,500 following recent volatility, with the latest market action marked by a shift in institutional flows and a surge in derivatives positioning. ETH is currently trading at approximately $2,511, reflecting a marginal daily increase of 0.08%. The price has fluctuated in a narrow band between $2,490 and $2,530 during the latest session.

Fractal pattern and potential for upsideTechnical analysts are tracking the similarities between Ethereum’s current structure and the setup that preceded its major rally in 2025. The coin previously consolidated around the mid-$2,000 range before briefly falling below support, only to recover sharply and enter a stronger upward trend.

Crypto analyst Ash Crypto is drawing attention to a comparable sequence forming today, where ETH recently dipped towards the $2,400–$2,300 area. This zone is now seen as a critical support region that could define whether the recent selloff marks a temporary liquidity event rather than a sustained slide.

In the 2025 cycle, Ethereum’s recovery did not move straight to the highs. The price initially cleared $3,000 and then consolidated in the $3,000s before a later move toward $4,800. If ETH can stabilize at current levels, analysts believe a similar trajectory could bring the $4,600–$4,800 zone into focus in the coming months.

The bullish outlook is dependent on Ethereum holding the $2,400–$2,500 support. If this base remains firm and price reclaims $2,600, analysts view $3,000 as the next major target, while a move below support may signal the need for further consolidation.

For now, the fractal comparison remains conditional. A sustainable recovery above $2,500 would add weight to the bullish thesis, whereas further losses below the recent low could undermine this setup and delay a larger move higher.

Bitfinex longs reach multi-year peakData from Bitfinex, a leading cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2012 and known for its large-scale derivatives trading, shows that Ethereum long positions have climbed to their highest level in four years. According to Crypto Rover, these positions have increased sharply as price hovers near $2,500, indicating strong conviction among traders preparing for a significant breakout.

Rather than waiting for a confirmed rally, market participants are building long exposure during the consolidation phase, suggesting confidence in a potential larger move if resistance is cleared.

The acceleration of long positioning stands out compared to previous periods, signaling that traders are willing to commit aggressively to an upside scenario. Sustained support above $2,400–$2,500 could drive further momentum in the next uptrend attempt.

ETF inflows recover after sustained outflowsEthereum ETFs in the United States have returned to positive territory after several sessions of heavy outflows. On October 13, net inflows reached approximately $24.84 million, breaking a streak of 10 consecutive trading sessions of withdrawals.

Of this total, Grayscale’s mini Ethereum ETF contributed about $16.73 million, while Fidelity’s FETH added $8.11 million. This shift is notable, following a previous session with roughly $85.43 million in outflows and a five-day withdrawal sum near $576.9 million.

If institutional demand for Ethereum ETFs continues to recover and ETH remains above $2,500, analysts believe these inflows could provide increased support for a potential rebound.

ETF providerNet inflow (Oct 13)Grayscale mini ETH ETF$16.73 millionFidelity FETH$8.11 millionTotal (all ETH ETFs)$24.84 millionWhale traders show caution despite improvementDespite the positive trends in other data, some large traders remain cautious. Ethereum’s Whale vs Retail Delta, a metric tracking the difference between larger and smaller trader positions, continues to register below zero. This suggests whales still hold more short exposure than retail investors.

CW8900, a crypto market data provider, reports that the imbalance has improved from deeper negative levels seen throughout September. Whale short positions have decreased, although these participants have not fully shifted to a bullish stance.

This cautious posture explains why ETH is still consolidating near $2,500 even as ETF inflows and long positioning improve. A further move upward in the Whale vs Retail Delta, especially with price surging through $2,550–$2,600, would be seen as a signal of growing confidence among larger market players.

Mini dictionary: Whale vs Retail Delta – A metric used to measure the difference in net positions between large traders (“whales”) and retail investors in crypto derivatives markets. A negative value reflects higher short exposure among whales relative to smaller investors.

Key price levels and outlookThe $2,400–$2,500 price area has emerged as Ethereum’s main support. A decisive move above $2,600 could strengthen the bullish case and bring $2,700 back into focus. If this momentum continues, the $3,000 level becomes the next target for traders and analysts tracking historical price patterns.

Bullish traders are watching for a move above $2,600, which could open further upside toward $3,000. Any failure to hold $2,400 support may trigger renewed selling and a deeper reset.

The situation remains fluid, with further gains requiring both increased spot demand and continued flows into ETFs. Conversely, a return of significant short exposure from whales or renewed outflows from ETFs could undermine the recent improvements and delay a full recovery.

The identified transaction took five different tokens, while the affected Ethereum contract still held about $3.25 million in assets.

The identified transaction took five different tokens, while the affected Ethereum contract still held about $3.25 million in assets.

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