At 8:00 AM UTC+8, Bitcoin was priced at $72,344, showing a -0.54% decrease, while Ethereum stood at $2,659, up by +0.77%. The market's 24-hour long/short ratio in the futures market was almost balanced at 49.8% long versus 50.2% short positions. The Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, was at 77 yesterday, indicating a "Extreme Greed" level and has maintained 77 today, increasing the crypto market to Extreme Greed territory. What is Trending in the Crypto Community In October, the U.S. saw an ADP employment increase of 233,000, surpassing expectations and prior figures. The Q3 real GDP annualized growth was 2.8%, falling below forecasts and prior results. Meanwhile, the core PCE price index rose by 2.2%—higher than anticipated but lower than previous levels. Additionally, real personal consumption expenditures climbed by 3.7%, exceeding both prior values and expectations. Microsoft shareholders have begun preliminary voting on whether the company should invest in Bitcoin. MicroStrategy plans to raise $42 billion over the next three years to buy more Bitcoin. U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw a net inflow of $4.73 billion over the past 13 trading days. Vitalik Buterin previously donated 400 ETH from meme coin sales to a Ukrainian charity. The amount bet on the U.S. presidential election on Polymarket has exceeded $2.7 billion. Canadian-listed company Sol Strategies sold $1.71 million worth of Bitcoin and increased its holdings by 12,389 SOL. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change MKR/USDT +8.56% LINK/USDT +4.16% AAVE/USDT +3.73% Trade now on KuCoin Read More: BTC Surpasses $73,000, SUI Surges Amid Strong Ecosystem Performance: Oct 30 Bitcoin Set to Hit $100K by January 2025 — 10x Research 10x Research analysts say Bitcoin could reach $100,000 by January 2025, driven by strong institutional interest and bullish market signals. Despite Bitcoin nearing a new high, retail trader interest remains low. The $100,000 price target is based on their model, which recently triggered two buy signals, the latest on October 14. The model claims an accuracy rate of 86.7% over the last 15 signals. Analysts explained that when Bitcoin hits a six-month high, it typically sees a 40% return over the next three months. At the current price of $73,000, a 40% rise would push Bitcoin past $101,000 by January 27, 2025. Bitcoin buy signal. Source: 10x Research Institutions like BlackRock are treating Bitcoin as a long-term stable asset—digital gold. 10x Research explained, "Gold has always been seen as a safe haven asset, so if Bitcoin is the new digital gold, it makes sense that institutions would be interested." In October alone, spot Bitcoin ETFs brought in $4.1 billion worth of Bitcoin. Spot Bitcoin ETF monthly flows. Source: 10x Research Read More: BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF IBIT Gains $329M Amid Bitcoin Dip Bitcoin Nears All-Time High, Retail Still Unmoved Bitcoin touched $73,562 on October 29, just shy of its all-time high, but later settled around $72,300. Despite this rally, retail interest remains low. Google search data shows “Bitcoin” is at 23 out of 100 compared to May 2021's peak. Search interest in “Bitcoin” since October 2019. Source: Google Trends Crypto analyst Miles Deutscher noted that Bitcoin is close to breaking its all-time high, yet retail traders seem uninterested. Coinbase’s app ranks 308th in the Apple App Store, far below its typical top-50 rank during bull runs. It did, however, jump 167 spots between October 28 and 29, hinting at renewed interest. CryptoQuant analysts said retail investors are slowly returning but are being outpaced by larger investors. Historically, retail activity lags behind rallies, often joining only after big gains are made. GRASS Becomes Biggest Solana Airdrop With 1.5 Million Claims The GRASS token airdrop on Solana set a record, with 1.5 million addresses claiming tokens. This makes it the most claimed airdrop on Solana so far, according to Dune Analytics. GRASS is the governance token for a Solana-based DePin project. Source: https://dune.com/asxn_r/grass-claims The launch was so popular it caused an outage in Phantom, Solana's biggest wallet. Over 2.8 million wallets are eligible for GRASS, with 5 million addresses able to claim eventually, said Andrej Radonjic, CEO of Wynd Labs. It’s important to note that users may have multiple addresses, so GRASS isn't necessarily the most held token in terms of unique users. GRASS is a viral crypto project that scrapes and cleans web data to train AI bots. Users get GRASS tokens for sharing their bandwidth. Andrej Radonjic noted that users are finally receiving ownership for sharing their bandwidth, challenging a decades-long trend of companies exploiting user data for profit. The token is also used to stake on the network and pay for bandwidth. GRASS token price on KuCoin Read More: What Is Grass Network (GRASS) and How to Earn Passive Income from It? Robinhood’s Q3 Crypto Volumes Climb to $14.4 Billion, More Than Double From Last Year Robinhood reported Q3 earnings, showing a strong interest in cryptocurrency trading. Crypto volumes hit $14.4 billion, up 112% from last year. Equity trading also rose, reaching $286.2 billion, a 65% increase. Despite this growth, crypto trading has slowed compared to earlier quarters—down from $21.5 billion in Q2 and $36 billion in Q1. Transaction-based revenue grew by 72% year-over-year to $319 million. Cryptocurrency trading brought in $61 million, up 165% from last year. Assets under custody (AUC) rose 76%, boosted by net deposits and rising stock and crypto values. Robinhood reported $0.17 per share earnings for Q3, compared to a loss of $0.09 per share last year. Revenue was $637 million, just below the expected $650.67 million. CFO Jason Warnick said, “Q3 was another strong quarter, as we drove 36% year-over-year revenue growth.” Robinhood is also expanding support for Bitcoin and Ethereum futures. The company introduced event contracts, letting users bet on outcomes of events like the U.S. presidential election. Conclusion The crypto landscape is buzzing with activity, from Bitcoin’s predicted climb toward $100,000, fueled by institutional interest, to retail investors slowly re-entering the scene. GRASS has set a new record as the most-claimed airdrop on Solana, highlighting strong community engagement in decentralized projects. Meanwhile, Robinhood continues to show growth, with crypto trading volumes more than doubling year-over-year. However, the lackluster interest in Bitcoin on Google Trends paints a complex picture of whether retail investors are sufficiently drawn to "digital gold" during this current bull run.
At 8:00 AM UTC+8, Bitcoin was priced at $72,736, showing a 3.97% increase, while Ethereum stood at $2,638, up by 2.78%. The market's 24-hour long/short ratio in the futures market was almost balanced at 51.8% long versus 48.2% short positions. The Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, was at 72 yesterday, indicating a "Greed" level and has increased to 77 today, increasing the crypto market to Extreme Greed territory. Quick Take Bitcoin briefly hit $73,620 before pulling back, coming just $150 short of its all-time high. Bitcoin reached a new peak against the Mexican Peso. Total trading volume of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs surpassed $4.5 billion, with BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF trading volume reaching $3.3 billion, the highest in six months. The total market cap of Memecoins on Solana surpassed $12 billion, marking a new all-time high. Alphabet's Q3 revenue and earnings per share exceeded expectations. Circle plans to increase the exchange fee for the USDC stablecoin. Besides, Circle will jointly release a privacy ERC-20 framework in collaboration with Inco Network. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change GOAT/USDT +10.77% SUI/USDT +10.24% GRASS/USDT +16.04% Trade now on KuCoin Read More: X Empire Token Launches on KuCoin, Solana Network's Daily Fees Revenue Reaches New Highs: Oct 25 Bitcoin Set for "Perfect Storm" to New All-Time High as it Surpasses $73,000 with a 3.97% Increase in 24 Hours BTC/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin Bitcoin is poised for significant price action which suggests a "perfect storm" which may push it to a new all-time high soon. Several factors are aligning: uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election, market optimism related to Donald Trump's potential victory, and historically bullish Q4 trends. The potential influence of a Trump victory, combined with positive seasonality, could lead to strong gains for Bitcoin. Despite volatility driven by geopolitical unrest in the Middle East and macroeconomic challenges in the U.S., Bitcoin's price has rebounded sharply in recent weeks. Analysts see these conditions as creating a unique window of opportunity for the digital currency. Currently, Bitcoin's price sits at $72,736, marking a 3.97% increase in the past 24 hours. This is the highest level in nearly five months, with many investors feeling confident about continued growth leading into the election. Read more: Bitcoin Soars Past $62,000 Following Trump Assassination Attempt: The Trump Effect Dive Into More Bullish Coins: SUI, DEEP, MOVE SUI experienced a notable surge of 10% today, breaking through the $2 mark, signaling strong momentum in the Sui ecosystem. This bullish movement was accompanied by significant gains across other ecosystem tokens, highlighting broader investor confidence. DEEP led the way with a remarkable 30% increase, while MOVE followed closely with a 36% rise. NAVX also showed positive momentum, climbing 16%, and CETUS gained 10%, reflecting a comprehensive uptrend across the network. The synchronized rally in these tokens suggests growing enthusiasm and adoption within the Sui ecosystem, possibly driven by new developments, partnerships, or market sentiment favoring the project. Read More: Top Sui Memecoins to Watch in 2024-25 NBA Topshot NFT Sales Hit Six-Month High as 2024 Season Begins Source: CryptoSlam The start of the 2024-2025 NBA season has reignited interest in NBA Topshot NFTs, leading to the highest weekly sales in over six months. As the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks tipped off the new season on October 22, excitement spilled over into the NFT market. Weekly sales for NBA Topshot NFTs reached 43,600 as of October 27, representing a significant 94% increase from the previous week. This spike comes after a period of stagnation, where sales dropped to an average of 26,000 NFTs during and after the playoffs. The renewed activity highlights how key events like the start of a new sports season can have a tangible impact on NFT sales. With the current trend, analysts believe that NFT activity related to basketball will continue to rise throughout the season, driving both fan engagement and market activity. Solayer and OpenEden Launch Yield-Based Stablecoin on Solana Solayer’s sUSD minting diagram. Source: X Solayer and OpenEden have launched a new yield-based stablecoin on the Solana blockchain, named sUSD, which is backed by U.S. Treasury bills. This stablecoin marks the first of several tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) that Solayer plans to offer, allowing users to access investment opportunities with as little as $5. The sUSD operates as a request for quote (RFQ) marketplace, where users can deposit USD Coin (USDC) and receive sUSD tokens in return. The stablecoin aims to bring more accessible financial products to a broader audience by leveraging the power of tokenization. Solayer has already facilitated nearly $300 million in restaked total value locked (TVL) on its platform. Experts predict that the market for tokenized RWAs could grow 50 times by 2030, representing a massive opportunity. The sUSD stablecoin seeks to capture early adopters interested in both blockchain technology and secure yield-bearing assets like U.S. Treasury bills. Read more: Restaking on Solana (2024): The Comprehensive Guide Musk's AI Startup xAI Seeks $40 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round xAI is aiming to raise several billion dollars in an upcoming funding round that could push its valuation to $40 billion, representing a $16 billion increase from its $24 billion valuation after a $6 billion raise in the spring, according to the Journal. Though the funding discussions are still in early stages and could change or fall through, the potential growth reflects significant market interest in xAI. The company has yet to comment on the matter, as noted by Forbes. Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is aiming to raise funds at a valuation of around $40 billion. The company recently held discussions with investors to support its next phase of growth. This follows an earlier valuation of $24 billion after a successful $6 billion fundraising round in the spring. xAI tries to keep up with increasingly higher valuations at rival companies such as OpenAI. xAI raised funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Fidelity. The startup, known for its "Grok" chatbot on Musk's social platform X, plans to use the cash to launch its first products and speed up research. xAI is hiring for many roles, as seen on its careers page. Since the funding, xAI has grown rapidly, building a massive data center in Memphis this summer. The center runs 100,000 Nvidia chips at once, giving xAI unmatched computing power to train its AI model, according to Semafor. As part of its growth strategy, xAI plans to double the number of graphics processing units (GPUs) at its Memphis data center—from 100,000 to 200,000. This expansion aims to improve xAI's computational power to support its advanced AI research and development efforts. NVIDIA's CEO has praised xAI for rapidly setting up the data center and scaling its operations in a short amount of time. Read More: Top 15 AI Crypto Coins to Know in 2024 Conclusion Recent market shifts and project updates reveal exciting growth across various sectors of the blockchain and AI landscapes. Bitcoin's surge past $73,000 shows strong investor sentiment amid political uncertainties and seasonal bullish factors. The Sui ecosystem also saw impressive gains, with tokens like DEEP and MOVE leading the charge, showcasing rising enthusiasm. As the U.S. election approaches on November 5, we may expect increased volatility in the crypto market, creating unique opportunities for seasoned traders in options and futures. However, investors should remain vigilant during these volatile times and take necessary steps to mitigate risks.
As of October 29, Bitcoin's market performance remains robust, with the price around $71,299, marking a 5.13% increase in the past day and pushing Bitcoin's market cap to $1.41 trillion. Bitcoin's market dominance is approximately 58.6%, fueled by steady inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs and heightened bullish sentiment ahead of the upcoming U.S. election. The Fear and Greed Index currently reads 72, placing it in the "Greedy" zone—an indicator of market optimism and investor confidence as prices remain strong. In the futures market, the long-short ratio reflects a predominantly bullish outlook, with a majority of traders favoring long positions. This trend aligns with substantial institutional inflows into Bitcoin-focused financial products, collectively reinforcing Bitcoin’s positive momentum as the final U.S. presidential election nears on November 5, 2024. Quick Take Forbes: Central banks worldwide are increasing their research on Bitcoin. Robinhood launches U.S. presidential election derivatives trading. Solana’s market cap surpasses PayPal, Reaches $83.63 Billion. Coinbase report: Solana network activity is mainly concentrated in U.S. time zones, with DEX-related activities accounting for 75%-90% of total successful transaction fees. Swell L2 announces migration to Optimism Superchain. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change MOG/USDT +17.28% DOGE/USDT +16.01% RUNE/USDT +14.61% Trade now on KuCoin Read More: Tether Transparency, Arkham Expands to Solana, and Vitalik's Ethereum Vision of “the Purge”: Oct 28 Bitcoin's Market Dominance Nearing 60% BTC/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin Bitcoin nears 60% market dominance, signaling a shift as investors prioritize its stability over altcoins. With a 10% rise in dominance this month, Bitcoin emerges as a "flight to quality" asset in uncertain markets, while altcoins continue to show lackluster market performance compared to the leading coin. Last year, Bitcoin's market share dropped below 40%. It hit a low during a prolonged bear market with declining values and shaken confidence. Since then, Bitcoin steadily regained strength. Growing institutional interest, regulatory developments, and its reputation as a hedge against economic uncertainty drove this trend. Experts predict more growth in Bitcoin's dominance. Bitcoin's recent surge is driven by a combination of technical momentum and substantial capital inflows, reinforcing its bullish outlook. For the week ending Oct. 25, Bitcoin funds recorded $920 million in inflows, pushing year-to-date inflows to an impressive $25.4 billion, as reported by CoinShares. This momentum followed an even larger wave of inflows into the 11 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which accumulated over $2.1 billion in net inflows just a week earlier, according to Farside Investors. Additionally, Bitcoin's chart saw a significant technical event known as a “golden cross,” where its 50-day moving average surpassed the 200-day moving average. This bullish signal often indicates potential for a sustained price breakthrough, and with robust inflows and positive market sentiment, Bitcoin appears well-positioned for continued growth. Solana's Flips Ethereum in Daily Transaction Fees Solana recently overtook Ethereum in daily transaction fees, generating $2.54 million in 24 hours, surpassing Ethereum’s $2.07 million . This surge places Solana among the top fee-generating blockchains and shows growing market activity. Increased activity on Raydium, a major decentralized exchange on Solana, drove the spike in fees. Raydium's fast transactions and lower costs attracted more traders and liquidity, boosting Solana's volume. Protocols by 24 hour fees. Source: DefiLlama The rise in Solana's fees shows its scalability and ability to handle demand without slowdowns or cost spikes. This makes Solana appealing for DeFi projects, NFTs, and other blockchain applications needing high throughput and efficiency. While Solana's gains impress, Ethereum still leads in overall fee generation. In the past month, Ethereum generated $134.6 million in fees. Its established ecosystem, strong developer community, and wide range of applications keep Ethereum as the leading blockchain. However, Solana's rapid growth suggests it could play a more important role in the future as projects seek alternatives to Ethereum's high fees and scalability issues. Read More: X Empire Token Launches on KuCoin, Solana Network's Daily Fees Revenue Reaches New Highs: Oct 25 Base Leads in Stablecoin Volume Base, an Ethereum layer-2 network, recently led the market in stablecoin volume. On October 26, Base accounted for 30% of all stablecoin transactions, surpassing other major blockchains. This milestone and record transaction count highlight Base's growing influence and potential as a key player in the stablecoin market. Stablecoins are essential to the crypto market. They bridge traditional and decentralized finance and provide a stable medium of exchange. Base's leadership in stablecoin volume shows that layer-2 solutions are crucial for scaling Ethereum's capabilities and solving issues like high fees and congestion. By offering faster and cheaper transactions, Base positions itself as a valuable platform for stablecoin users seeking efficiency. After Base's surge in stablecoin volume, Solana and Ethereum also showed strong activity. Solana captured 25% and Ethereum took 20%. The competition to attract stablecoin transactions shows the growing demand for efficient blockchain solutions. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire suggested that if this trend continues, USDC could reach an annual transaction rate of $6.6 trillion on Base alone, highlighting its growing role in the financial system. Read More: Top Types of Stablecoins You Need to Know in 2024 Conclusion Despite setbacks, such as a dip following news of a Tether investigation, Bitcoin has demonstrated resilience. Meanwhile, networks like Solana and Base highlight continued growth potential for altcoins, particularly in DeFi, NFTs, and stablecoin transactions. With heightened volatility likely as the U.S. election on November 5 approaches, the crypto market may see dynamic shifts in the coming weeks. Read more: Solana vs. Ethereum: Which Is Better in 2024?
At 8:00 AM UTC+8, Bitcoin was priced at $68,021, showing a 1.38% increase, while Ethereum stood at $2,507, up by 1.02%. The market's 24-hour long/short ratio in the futures market was almost balanced at 50.8% long versus 49.2% short positions. The Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, was at 74 yesterday, indicating a "Greed" level, but has slightly decreased to 72 today, keeping the crypto market in Greed territory. Quick Take Vitalik Buterin: Exploring targeted grants as an alternative to staking ETH. Ethereum Foundation sells ETH to fund developer projects within the ecosystem. Tether CEO Breaks Down USDT Reserves Amid Allegations and denounced the Wall Street Journal's report as irresponsible. Solana's on-chain DEX daily trading volume led for 17 consecutive days; Base chain ranked third for 7 consecutive days. FTX reached a $228 million settlement with Bybit, allowing it to withdraw $175 million in digital assets and sell $53 million in BIT tokens to Bybit’s investment arm, Mirana Corp. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change OM/USDT +9.86% DOGE/USDT +4.67% ORDI/USDT +3.73% Trade now on KuCoin This past week, the crypto world has been marked by significant shifts, including Tether’s efforts to boost transparency, Arkham Intelligence’s expansion into Solana data, and Vitalik Buterin's roadmap to reduce Ethereum's complexity. Each of these developments highlights major transformations in the crypto ecosystem, bringing new capabilities and insights. Read More: X Empire Token Launches on KuCoin, Solana Network's Daily Fees Revenue Reaches New Highs: Oct 25 Tether CEO Breaks Down USDT Reserves Amid Allegations Amid claims that Tether was under investigation by U.S. authorities for violating anti-money laundering laws, CEO Paolo Ardoino provided transparency on the company’s reserves at Lugano's PlanB event. Tether holds $100 billion in U.S. treasuries, 82,000 Bitcoin (worth about $5.5 billion), and 48 tons of gold. Ardoino criticized the Wall Street Journal's report, denying any investigation and highlighting Tether's role in helping law enforcement retrieve illicit funds. Since 2014, Tether has assisted in recovering over $109 million linked to cybercrime and sanctions evasion. Ardoino also voiced concerns about the U.S. regulatory environment, citing the lagging policies that push innovative crypto firms to relocate abroad. Despite these issues, Tether remains optimistic, expecting changes in crypto regulations post-2024 U.S. elections. As of October, USDT reached a market cap of $120 billion—seen as a positive sign for the broader crypto market. Tether tokens in circulation. Source: Tether Arkham Adds Solana Data to Its Crypto Intelligence Platform Arkham Intelligence has expanded its crypto tracking capabilities by adding Solana blockchain data to its platform. This update enables users to monitor large fund movements, receive real-time trading alerts, and follow Solana's top traders and investors. Solana, the fifth-largest blockchain by market cap, has become a hub for memecoin trading, particularly popular for its low fees and quick transactions. Arkham’s move aims to bring greater transparency and monitoring capabilities for Solana, providing more detailed data on transactions and market trends. The addition of Solana comes as part of Arkham's mission to broaden its blockchain coverage, giving users more robust tools for tracking and analysis in an increasingly diversified crypto ecosystem. Source: X Read more: Top Crypto Projects in the Solana Ecosystem to Watch in 2024 The Purge - Vitalik Buterin’s Plan to Address Ethereum Bloat Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin presented "The Purge," a proposed roadmap to reduce the blockchain’s "bloat" and complexity. Bloat occurs as Ethereum accumulates new features and stores massive amounts of historical data, which has made running a node challenging due to high storage requirements. Chart depicting the current data required for full sync on the Ethereum network. Source: ycharts Currently, an Ethereum node requires about 1.1 terabytes of storage for execution, adding a burden on individual participants. Buterin's solution involves reducing the necessity for every node to store all historical data while maintaining network redundancy. His plan includes having nodes store only a portion of the blockchain’s history, thereby reducing costs while maintaining the blockchain’s integrity. Buterin also discussed expiring old blockchain state information to reduce storage needs further. This approach would help Ethereum stay scalable, secure, and accessible in the long term. "The Purge" is just one of several updates Buterin has suggested, alongside plans like "The Scourge" to mitigate centralization risks and "The Verge" to simplify computational processes, making Ethereum node management possible even for smaller devices like smartwatches. The Purge roadmap showing the plan to simplify the protocol and eliminate technical debt. Source: vitalik.eth Read more: What Is The Surge Phase in Ethereum 2.0 Upgrade? Conclusion The cryptocurrency ecosystem is transforming, as exemplified by Tether’s transparency efforts amid controversy, Arkham Intelligence’s expansion into Solana, and Vitalik Buterin’s vision for Ethereum’s future. These moves demonstrate a maturing market, seeking better compliance, transparency, and scalability. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, staying informed is vital for those engaged in this dynamic space. Each of these developments, in its own way, points toward a more inclusive, transparent, and efficient digital economy.
At 8:00 AM UTC+8, Bitcoin was priced at $68,200, showing a 2.30% increase, while Ethereum stood at $2,536, up by 0.45%. The market's 24-hour long/short ratio in the futures market was almost balanced at 49.7% long versus 50.3% short positions. The Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, was at 69 yesterday, indicating a "Greed" level, but has slightly increased to 72 today, keeping the crypto market in Greed territory. The US October S&P Global Manufacturing PMI preliminary value came in above expectations, and the same was true for the Services PMI. Quick Take Wall Street is preparing trades that could benefit if Trump wins over Harris, according to the Wall Street Journal. US spot Bitcoin ETFs have collectively surpassed 1 million BTC in total on-chain holdings. Tomarket's user base exceeded 40 million, with its Token Generation Event set for October 31. MicroStrategy's stock price surged above $230 on Thursday, reaching its highest level in nearly 25 years and setting a new peak since the company began its Bitcoin acquisition strategy in 2020. Microsoft added "evaluation of Bitcoin investment" as a voting item for the December shareholder meeting. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change SAFE/USDT +70.47% MEW/USDT +13.31% RAY/USDT +7.11% Trade now on KuCoin Bitcoin's Evolution Toward a Stable Currency by 2030: Analysis from CryptoQuant CEO Over the past three years, Bitcoin mining difficulty has experienced a substantial increase, rising by 378%. This surge has largely been fueled by considerable institutional investments in large-scale mining operations, thereby intensifying entry barriers for individual miners. Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, argues that this trend may ultimately prove advantageous for Bitcoin, suggesting that increased mining difficulty could act as a precursor to Bitcoin's transformation into a stable currency by 2030. Source: CryptoQuant Mining Difficulty Ju argues that the increasing influence of institutional actors within the Bitcoin mining sector will contribute to reduced market volatility. The anticipated influx of major fintech players is expected to catalyze the widespread adoption of stablecoins over the next three years, which may lay the groundwork for Bitcoin's utilization as a common transactional currency following the next halving event in 2028. The centralization of computational resources driven by institutional participation is expected to bolster the stability of the Bitcoin ecosystem—a critical prerequisite for its evolution into a widely adopted currency. X Empire Token Launches on KuCoin The Elon Musk-themed game X Empire recently launched its token on The Open Network (TON). $X is a token based on the TON blockchain, designed to power the X Empire. X Empire combines AI, NFTs, and Web3 technologies and is available for trading on KuCoin starting Oct. 24. X/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin The X Empire (X) token was launched on major exchanges, including KuCoin, on October 24. $X began trading at $0.000096, dropped to $0.00005, and briefly rebounded to $0.00013 before declining again. Market participants had generally expected a price closer to $0.0002. At its current valuation, X Empire's market capitalization sits just below $40 million—significantly lower than Catizen's $106 million, Hamster Kombat's $217 million, and far beneath Notcoin's $786 million. The developers of X Empire have outlined plans to release multiple Telegram applications designed to offer exclusive benefits to token holders, including a news feed and a language learning platform. Additionally, the team teased an upcoming announcement via Telegram, stating, "One month until something big," on Thursday. Solana's Daily Fee Revenue Reached New Highs at $8.7M Solana TVL and fees. Source: DefiLlama Solana continues to build momentum with its recent surge in network revenues capturing the attention of the crypto community. Positioned as a fierce competitor to Ethereum, Solana's recent economic achievements show its growing presence and influence. Let's dive into the key developments. Layer-1 blockchain Solana has once again broken network revenue records. On October 23, it generated approximately $8.7 million in network activity value, up from just under $8 million the previous day, according to Blockworks Research. This includes revenue from base fees, priority fees, and tips, highlighting Solana's growing economic footprint. One key factor driving Solana's rise has been the surge in celebrity coin trading on Solana-based memecoin platforms like Pump.fun and Moonshot. The activity on these platforms has drawn attention and bolstered Solana’s reputation. Furthermore, on October 21 Solana’s decentralized exchange Raydium generated $3.4 million in fee revenue, surpassing Ethereum's $3.35 million in the same period. This is another achievement for Solana, especially as Ethereum struggles to recover from a significant revenue drop following its March Dencun upgrade, which led to a 95% reduction in transaction fees. Read more: Solana vs. Ethereum: Which Is Better in 2024? Conclusion These recent developments underscore the volatility, unpredictability, and complexity that define the cryptocurrency sector. Bitcoin's prospective journey toward increased stability could represent a significant milestone for its mass adoption by 2030. Conversely, initiatives such as the Elon Musk-themed X Empire token highlight the inherent challenges and unpredictability involved in launching new tokens. On top of that, Layer-1 blockchain Solana has once again broken network revenue records. Moreover, the suspected stolen government-linked crypto holdings emphasizes the enduring risks associated with digital asset security. As the landscape continues to evolve, each event holds the potential to significantly shape the trajectory of digital assets. The journey of cryptocurrencies is far from complete, and stakeholders must maintain vigilance as this dynamic environment continues to unfold.
At 8:00 AM UTC+8, Bitcoin was priced at $66,665, showing a 1.12% drop, while Ethereum stood at $2,524, down by 3.73%. The market's 24-hour long/short ratio in the futures market was almost balanced at 49.5% long versus 50.5% short positions. The Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, was at 69 yesterday, indicating a "Greed" level, though slightly down from 71 recorded 24 hours earlier. The crypto market remains in Greed territory today, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index slightly decreasing from 70 to 69. Despite recent fluctuations, the overall market leans towards greed. Quick Take The crypto market saw a dip, with Bitcoin briefly falling to $66,000 and Ethereum dropping 5%, while Solana held steady. Tesla revealed it continues to hold $184 million in Bitcoin, showing its long-term commitment to the asset despite market volatility. Investor sentiment remains cautious due to global uncertainties and the upcoming U.S. election, adding to market hesitancy. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change GOAT/USDT +37.01% POPCAT/USDT +18.05% MEW/USDT +15.49% Trade now on KuCoin Crypto Market Slides: Bitcoin Dips to $66k, Ether Slides 5%, Solana Holds Firm BTC/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin Cryptocurrencies experienced a selloff in parallel with traditional financial markets on Wednesday. Bitcoin saw a decline of 2.3%, falling to $66,000 before recovering above $67,000, while Ethereum took a harder hit, dropping 5.3% to below $2,490. The broader crypto market, represented by the CoinDesk 20 index—tracking the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap—fell by 2.6%. Chainlink suffered the worst losses, slumping 7.6%, while Internet Computer managed to rise 1%, the only token to defy the downtrend. This selloff, occurring alongside traditional market downturns, highlights investor hesitancy amidst current global uncertainties. Solana Outshines Ethereum, Reignites Debate on Blockchain Roadmaps SOL/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin One of the standout performances came from Solana, which held steady amidst the market declines. The SOL/ETH trading pair surged 6.3%, setting a new all-time high, while ETH/BTC hit its lowest point since April 2021. This strong showing from Solana has reignited debates around Ethereum's roadmap. According to Brian Rudick, director of research at GSR, Ethereum's underperformance must be analyzed in the broader context. He pointed out that the recent success of spot Bitcoin ETFs and the revival of Solana following the FTX collapse were unique events that helped BTC and SOL significantly outperform ETH. Rudick emphasized that, discounting the FTX collapse, Ethereum's performance since the 2021 crypto peak has actually been on par with Solana’s, suggesting that the current sentiment might be skewed by recent developments rather than longer-term trends. Political Uncertainty and Upcoming U.S. Election Weigh on Sentiment Adding to the bearish sentiment is the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Joe Edwards, head of research at Enigma Securities, noted that even with crypto-friendly Donald Trump leading in betting markets, and Vice President Kamala Harris displaying a less antagonistic stance towards crypto compared to the current administration, markets are struggling to gain momentum. This lack of direction is likely tied to hesitancy around the political outlook and broader macroeconomic conditions. Investors are unwilling to make bold moves before seeing how the election unfolds, keeping upward momentum in check. With different drivers at play for each major asset, the near future of the crypto landscape appears uncertain, and traders will need to navigate these waters carefully in the weeks ahead. Read More: Polymarket Hits Record $533M in Volume Amid U.S. Election Hype and Potential Token Launch Tesla Holds Its Bitcoin, Reveals Q3 Financials Amid Stock Dip After Cybercab Reveal Tesla Retains Bitcoin Holdings for the Fifth Straight Quarter. Tesla's Q3 2024 earnings report revealed that the company held onto all its digital assets, including $184 million in Bitcoin, for the fifth consecutive quarter. This consistency in Bitcoin holdings highlights Tesla's approach to cryptocurrency as a strategic long-term asset. In Q3, Tesla's revenue was $25.18 billion, slightly down from Q2's $25.5 billion, but net income showed a healthy increase, reaching $2.18 billion, up from $1.5 billion in the previous quarter. The continued holding of Bitcoin by Tesla and other public companies is closely monitored by investors, serving as an indicator of institutional interest in the crypto space and potential market impacts from selling pressures. Source: Tesla Balance Sheet Q3 Arkham Intelligence Reports Wallet Movements, No BTC Sold Speculation about Tesla's Bitcoin wallet activity spiked when Arkham Intelligence reported a transfer from wallets believed to belong to the company. According to Arkham, Tesla still controls around 11,509 BTC, worth roughly $750.7 million. This finding was confirmed by Tesla's recent financial disclosures, confirming no crypto sales since 2022, despite rumors of asset movement. Tesla's firm commitment to Bitcoin reflects their confidence in its value as a digital asset. Despite investor skepticism following the launch of Tesla's self-driving Cybercab, the company's commitment to holding its Bitcoin remains unwavering. The decision by Tesla to retain its Bitcoin holdings is closely observed by investors and the broader market. Public companies holding large amounts of digital assets are often seen as indicators of institutional confidence in the crypto space. Tesla's consistency here reflects continued interest from significant players in the industry, which could impact market sentiment and the broader adoption of Bitcoin. Conclusion Tesla’s ongoing commitment to its Bitcoin holdings, alongside its mixed revenue and profit performance, underscores its strategic perspective on cryptocurrency as a long-term asset. Investors closely watch moves like this from public companies to gauge broader institutional interest in crypto. As Tesla stands firm, it signals confidence in Bitcoin's role in the evolving financial landscape. Cryptocurrencies experienced a selloff in parallel with traditional financial markets on Wednesday. Adding to the bearish sentiment is the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election. With different drivers at play for each major asset, the near future of the crypto landscape appears uncertain, and traders will need to navigate these waters carefully in the weeks ahead. Read More: HBO Spotlights Peter Todd, Avalanche Launches Crypto Visa, Sui Integrates with Google Cloud: Oct 23
Today's crypto highlights: Peter Todd is under scrutiny after HBO’s documentary suggests he might be Satoshi Nakamoto, sparking controversy and fear. Avalanche breaks new ground with its Visa card launch, bringing crypto payments closer to mainstream adoption. Sui Blockchain advances by integrating Google Cloud’s real-time data services, boosting blockchain utility. The crypto market remains in Greed territory today, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index slightly decreasing from 71 to 70. Bitcoin (BTC) has shown some momentum, trading at $67,419 with a slight gain of +0.07%, while Ethereum (ETH) has dropped by -1.66% to $2,622. In the futures market, the 24-hour Long/Short ratio remains balanced at 49.5%/50.5%, reflecting relatively even sentiment among traders. Despite recent fluctuations, the overall market leans towards greed. Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change SCR/USDT 118.7% UNIO/USDT 18.73% POKT/USDT 31.23% Trade now on KuCoin HBO Documentary Brings Peter Todd Into the Spotlight, Sparks Safety Concerns Peter Todd recently found himself in an unexpected spotlight. An HBO documentary, created by filmmaker Cullen Hoback, claimed that Todd is the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. The documentary premiered on October 9, alleging Todd's identity as the man behind the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency. Since then, Todd has voiced fears for his safety, explaining that the sudden association with Nakamoto's wealth has forced him into hiding. Though Todd vehemently denied being the Bitcoin inventor, the exposure has put him at risk. In an interview with Wired, Todd stated, “Obviously, falsely claiming that ordinary people of ordinary wealth are extraordinarily rich exposes them to threats like robbery and kidnapping. Not only is the question dumb, it’s dangerous.” Todd pointed out that Satoshi Nakamoto took great efforts to remain anonymous to avoid precisely such threats, and he criticized those trying to uncover Nakamoto's identity. Despite Todd's rebuttal, Cullen Hoback defended the documentary's purpose, arguing that identifying Nakamoto is important given the potential wealth associated with the Bitcoin creator. Hoback highlighted that an anonymous figure possibly controls one-twentieth of the global supply of Bitcoin, making Nakamoto’s identity significant. While the documentary raises questions, it has also put Todd in a precarious position, showing the potentially harmful impact of high-profile speculation in the cryptocurrency world. Avalanche’s Crypto Visa Card Marks Milestone for Adoption Avalanche has launched its Visa Card, which brings cryptocurrency payments closer to mainstream use. The card enables users to make purchases using cryptocurrencies such as WAVAX, USDC, and sAVAX at any location that accepts Visa payments. Available in both virtual and physical formats, the card provides a seamless way for users to convert their digital assets into transactions across millions of merchants globally. Initially launched in Latin America and the Caribbean, the rollout is expected to expand to additional regions soon. The Avalanche Visa Card represents a significant move in bridging traditional finance and the crypto economy. The card offers self-custody wallets for users, providing secure, unique addresses for each asset, and ensuring easy access to spending while maintaining high security. Features like spending alerts, card freeze options, and PIN customization give users more control over their funds, enhancing security. One standout feature of the Avalanche Card is its non-bank status. This means that the card is not linked to any traditional financial institution, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of privacy without any impact on their credit scores. However, this also means that users need to handle their spending responsibly, as there are no reporting mechanisms to credit bureaus. Avalanche's strategic launch in underbanked regions like Latin America aims to provide financial inclusion through blockchain technology. The card supports the goal of integrating cryptocurrencies into everyday financial transactions, allowing holders to spend crypto as easily as fiat currency. By bringing crypto payments into the physical world, Avalanche is working to drive the adoption of digital currencies, making them a practical alternative to traditional money. Though there are limitations regarding specific countries—such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia, where the card is not accessible—the initial rollout is a step forward in bridging financial gaps with crypto technology. Sui Integrates with Google Cloud to Power Real-Time Blockchain Applications Sui, a decentralized blockchain network, has announced a new integration with Google Cloud, facilitated by blockchain infrastructure provider ZettaBlock. This partnership is a significant development for blockchain data accessibility, allowing developers to access real-time blockchain information through Google Cloud’s Pub/Sub service. By providing seamless data flow, this integration aims to boost the creation of innovative applications, such as AI-powered fraud detection and immersive gaming. Blockchain technology acts as a decentralized digital ledger, making data transparent and secure. By integrating with Google Cloud, Sui’s blockchain data becomes available for applications that rely on real-time responsiveness. This is especially relevant for artificial intelligence models that need immediate access to the latest data, such as those used for monitoring transactions for signs of fraud. The collaboration with Google Cloud means that developers can now build more sophisticated solutions on the Sui network. For example, AI models can detect suspicious transactions as they happen, rather than relying on older, static data. This ability enhances the effectiveness of fraud detection systems. Additionally, real-time blockchain data can enrich online gaming experiences by making games dynamic—altering difficulty levels or character behaviors based on actual blockchain events. ZettaBlock and Sui are looking forward to expanding these capabilities, offering developers advanced tools to make blockchain data more accessible for a wide range of applications. See Also: Top Sui Memecoins to Watch in 2024-25 Source: X Read More: Top Sui Memecoins to Watch in 2024-25 Conclusion The world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies is evolving rapidly, as seen in these latest developments. Peter Todd's forced association with Satoshi Nakamoto has thrown a spotlight on the real dangers of unverified claims in the crypto industry. Meanwhile, Avalanche’s Visa Card launch is a step toward integrating cryptocurrencies into everyday transactions, making digital currencies more accessible. Lastly, Sui's partnership with Google Cloud through ZettaBlock is helping provide innovative solutions with real-time blockchain data, empowering both AI and gaming industries. Stay tuned to KuCoin for up to date crypto news!
The crypto market remains in the greed territory today, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index decreased from 72 to 70. Bitcoin (BTC) has shown some decreasing momentum, trading at $67,375 in the past 24 hours. Despite recent fluctuations, the overall market sentiment leans towards greed. Quick Take Stripe made a major move into the stablecoin sector by acquiring Bridge for $1.1 billion. Pump.fun, a memecoin platform on Solana, launched an advanced trading terminal and hinted at an upcoming token launch and airdrop. Chainlink continues to innovate by integrating AI and oracle technology, enabling near real-time access to corporate financial data on-chain. Quick Market Updates Prices (UTC+8 8:00): BTC: $67,375, -2.40%; ETH: $2,666, -2.93% 24-hour Long/Short: 48.5%/51.5% Yesterday’s Fear and Greed Index: 70 (72 24 hours ago), level: Greed Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change HOOK/USDT -4.21% KLAUS/USDT -9.82% DEEP/USDT -14.41% Trade now on KuCoin Stripe Buys Stablecoin Platform Bridge for $1.1 Billion Stripe has acquired Bridge, a stablecoin platform, for $1.1 billion, more than five times Bridge's $200 million valuation. This deal is a strategic move for Stripe to enter the stablecoin market and enhance global money movement. Bridge provides infrastructure for issuing and transferring tokenized money on various blockchains, serving clients like SpaceX, Coinbase, and Stellar. Stripe processed over $1 trillion in payments in 2023 and now aims to leverage stablecoins to make transactions faster, cheaper, and more efficiently, focusing on solving real-world financial problems. Bridge shares Stripe’s belief that stablecoins can play a crucial role in transforming finance. The acquisition will accelerate their shared vision of creating a more efficient financial system with stablecoins at the center. Stripe plans to expand stablecoin adoption to make transactions easier across borders, improving the user experience for moving, storing, and spending money. The timing is significant, with stablecoins gaining traction. According to a16z’s "State of Crypto 2024" report, stablecoins processed $8.5 trillion in Q2, surpassing Visa’s $3.9 trillion. This shows growing mainstream interest, with companies like Revolut and Visa exploring stablecoin use. Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge positions it to be a leader in this evolving financial landscape. Read more: USDT vs. USDC: Differences and Similarities to Know in 2024 Pump.fun Launches Advanced Trading Terminal and Teases Token Airdrop Pump.fun, a Solana-based memecoin platform, has launched its latest trading tool—Pump Advanced. This new terminal aims to rival established platforms like Photon and Bull X. It includes features like mini charts, top holder stats, and social activity metrics, all in one interface. To attract new users, Pump.fun is offering 0% fees for the first month and secure logins through email with Privy, a non-custodial wallet solution. During the launch event, co-founder Sapijiju hinted at the upcoming launch of a Pump.fun token and a possible airdrop, though no official timeline has been set. He indicated that the airdrop could be "a lot more lucrative" compared to others in the industry, sparking excitement among users. It’s expected that the token will launch on Solana, keeping in line with the platform’s current ecosystem. Pump.fun has seen tremendous success since its January launch. It has generated over $140 million in fees and facilitated the creation of more than 2.5 million Solana-based tokens. The platform’s appeal lies in its simplicity, allowing users to easily create and launch tokens—contributing to popular meme coin trends like celebrity tokens and viral livestream stunts. In the past week, Pump.fun reached a new high, with 31,600 new tokens created in a day, and its trading volume topped $1.1 billion. With the launch of Pump Advanced and its growing popularity, Pump.fun is strengthening its position as a major platform for meme coin enthusiasts, even as competition heats up on other networks. The introduction of its own token and airdrop could further boost its reputation and drive user engagement. Chainlink Leverages AI and Oracles to Bring Real-Time Corporate Data Onchain Chainlink is tapping into artificial intelligence and decentralized oracles to revolutionize the availability of real-time corporate action data on the blockchain. Announced on Oct. 21, Chainlink's pilot project seeks to tackle inefficiencies in data surrounding mergers, dividends, and stock splits—information often stored in fragmented and unstructured formats like PDFs and press releases. By combining oracles and large language AI models, Chainlink converts off-chain data into a standardized digital format that is accessible in near real-time. Source: Chainlink The pilot is supported by major financial institutions like Franklin Templeton, Swift, UBS, and blockchain networks including Avalanche and zkSync. The use of AI and Chainlink oracles aims to reduce costs and manual processes, enhancing efficiency in managing corporate actions that cost financial institutions up to $5 million annually. Mark Garabedian, director of digital assets at Wellington Management, emphasized how this system could dramatically cut manual work and bring cost savings. Decentralized oracles connect blockchains to the broader financial world, and Chainlink has been exploring how they can support institutional finance. Recent partnerships, such as with Taurus for institutional tokenization, aim to improve cross-chain mobility, transparency, and security. Chainlink is positioning itself at the center of blockchain adoption within the traditional finance sector, driving innovation by integrating secure and verified data flows from the external financial ecosystem into the blockchain world. Read More: 94% of Asian Private Wealth Considers Crypto Investing, Vitalik Buterin's Vision for “The Surge”, FBI Arrests SEC’s X Hacker: Oct 18 Conclusion Today highlights some transformative moves in the crypto sector. Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge signals its intent to lead the stablecoin revolution, Pump.fun's advancements push its presence further in the memecoin market, and Chainlink’s use of AI and oracles is setting the stage for bridging traditional finance and blockchain. As mainstream interest grows and more players innovate, the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve at an exciting pace. Keep an eye on these developments as they may reshape the industry's future.
October 21st brings major updates in the crypto market. Yuga Labs launched ApeChain, boosting the Bored Ape ecosystem with new cross-chain tools. Meanwhile, Solana targets $180 as memecoin demand drives network activity. Bitcoin has surged past $69,000, sparking fresh optimism. Tether’s USDT also hit a record $120 billion market cap, hinting at growing investor interest. Let’s dive into these highlights and see what’s fueling the market momentum. The crypto market remains in the greed territory today, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index increasing from 73 to 72. Bitcoin (BTC) has shown some positive momentum, trading above $69,000 in the past 24 hours. Despite recent fluctuations, the overall market sentiment leans towards greed. Quick Market Updates Prices (UTC+8 8:00): BTC: $69,034, +0.96%; ETH: $2,747, +3.74% 24-hour Long/Short: 51.5%/48.5% Yesterday’s Fear and Greed Index: 72 (73 24 hours ago), level: Greed Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change KCS/USDT +2.75% KLAUS/USDT +17.72% DEEP/USDT +52.40% Trade now on KuCoin Quick Take on the Highlights in the Crypto Space for Oct. 21 BlackRock ETF Head: 80% of Bitcoin trading product buyers are direct investors USDT Market Cap exceeded $120 billion, a record high Vitalik Buterin discussed risks and key goals facing Ethereum, believes one of the biggest risks to Ethereum L1 is the centralization of proof of stake due to economic pressure Stripe has acquired stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion Read More: 94% of Asian Private Wealth Considers Crypto Investing, Vitalik Buterin's Vision for “The Surge”, FBI Arrests SEC’s X Hacker: Oct 18 Yuga Labs Unveils ApeChain: A New Ethereum Layer 2 for the Bored Ape Ecosystem Yuga Labs, the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club, has officially launched ApeChain, an Ethereum-based Layer 2 blockchain. They’ve also introduced the ApeChain bridge and Swap portal, enabling smooth cross-chain transactions. This move is part of Yuga’s push to future-proof its ecosystem. Partnering with Wire Network, a Layer 1 blockchain built for the AI agent economy, Yuga aims to use AI agents to boost engagement between creators and their fans. Wire Network’s CEO, Ken DiCross, emphasized the potential for advanced AI interactions through this partnership, combining scalable blockchain with Yuga's cultural impact: Ken DiCross, CEO of Wire Network, stated: “…By combining our scalable, next-generation blockchain infrastructure with Yuga’s creativity and cultural influence, we are opening up new possibilities for AI agent interactions.” ~Ken DiCross APE/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin Yuga also launched Top Trader, the first native product on ApeChain. This on-chain trading simulation allows users to trade with leverage up to 1,000 times without financial risk. Features include the Ape Portal for cross-chain payments and Yuga ID for simple account management. Transaction gas sponsorship and the Restart Protocol for managing tournament rewards also enhance the user experience. ApeChain was built using the Arbitrum Orbit toolkit, focusing on improving security and scalability. ApeCoin DAO had initially considered building an independent blockchain but ultimately opted for a Layer 2 solution connected to Ethereum after extensive community discussion. This decision helps align ApeCoin with a more robust and scalable blockchain infrastructure. Solana Eyes $180 Target as Memecoin Frenzy Fuels Bullish Momentum SOL/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin Solana (SOL) has seen impressive gains recently, trading around $154.59 after hitting a high of $156.43. The crypto market is on a positive trend, with Bitcoin above $68,000 and other altcoins like Ethereum and XRP also rising. Global market cap has climbed to $2.35 trillion, up 0.8%. A surge in memecoin demand has boosted Solana’s network activity and total value locked (TVL). This could push SOL to the $180 mark if momentum continues, supported by strong trading volumes and network growth. Read more: Top Solana Memecoins to Watch in 2024 From October 11 to October 18, SOL rose by 12.1%, partly driven by rising memecoin interest. The hype, such as a viral push for Goatseus Maximus (GOAT), helped Solana’s TVL hit a two-year high of 41 million SOL. Solana also led decentralized exchange volumes, growing by 43% to reach $11.16 billion, outpacing Ethereum’s layer-2 solutions. On the 4-hour chart, Solana rebounded from the 50% Fibonacci retracement level around $147.51, setting up further gains. It surpassed the 23.6% Fibonacci level at $153.88, which now serves as a key support. If SOL breaks above $158.33, it could target the next resistance at $165, paving the way for a broader rally toward $180. Technical indicators back this bullish outlook. The 50-period EMA at $151.33 provides solid support, while the RSI stands at 55, showing steady buying interest. If Solana maintains current support and breaks past resistance, it could continue its upward movement toward new highs. Source: TradingView BTC Hits $69K Amid Big Market Moves: Here’s How Markets Are Moving BTC/USDT price chart | Source: KuCoin On Sunday, Bitcoin surged past $69,000, hitting a high of $69,363. It marked a 9.3% gain for the week, bringing its year-to-date growth to 63% and a 132% increase over the past year. The crypto market saw $71.3 billion in trading volume, with Bitcoin contributing $15.25 billion. This time, Bitcoin climbed steadily back to $69,000, resulting in only $117.7 million in liquidations across derivatives markets. The last time Bitcoin reached these levels was in late July 2024, but it then tumbled to $49,577 in early August. This time, the climb was more gradual, leading to just $117.7 million in liquidations across the crypto derivatives market. Interestingly, BTC had fewer liquidations compared to ApeCoin (APE) and Ethereum (ETH), which saw bigger wipeouts over the past day. Bitcoin’s rise shows renewed confidence after months of uncertainty. The lower liquidation figure suggests traders are handling leverage more cautiously. Ethereum and other altcoins faced more turbulence, showing a varied market reaction. As always, volatility remains a factor, and the key question is whether Bitcoin can maintain its momentum or if we will see a correction like in August. Read More: Trump’s Crypto Platform Raising Only $12 Million (WLFI), Stripe in Talks to Acquire Bridge: Oct 17 Tether's USDT Hits $120B Market Cap: Is 'Uptober' About to Fuel a Bitcoin and Ether Comeback? Tether’s USDT stablecoin reached a record $120 billion market cap, signaling a potential shift in the crypto market on October 20th. This growing supply could provide the liquidity needed to fuel rallies for Bitcoin and Ethereum, potentially ending their seven-month downtrend. With October historically being a positive month for crypto, the increase in USDT could support the “Uptober” narrative, suggesting incoming buying pressure. Recent USDT flows to major exchanges like KuCoin hint at renewed investor interest, possibly driving the next bullish phase for Bitcoin and Ether. Tether Tokens in circulation. Source: Tether.to This milestone signals potential investor interest in upcoming crypto investments, as stablecoins are often used to enter the market. Historically, a growing USDT supply has been linked to Bitcoin rallies. In August, Tether minted $1.3 billion in USDT, which helped Bitcoin recover over 21% from a recent low. Data from Arkham Intelligence shows recent significant USDT flows into major exchanges like KuCoin, suggesting increased buying pressure that could fuel a Bitcoin rally this October. Conversely, a lack of stablecoin inflows can signal a market correction. On August 12, Bitcoin dropped below the $60,000 level, staging a nearly 4% correction as institutional buying of USDT temporarily paused. This highlights the important role stablecoin inflows play in maintaining bullish momentum in the crypto market. When stablecoin liquidity stops flowing in, buying pressure weakens, which can lead to price drops. Monitoring USDT movements can provide insights into upcoming shifts in market sentiment, especially during volatile periods. Tether treasury outflows. Source: Arkham Intelligence Read more: USDT vs. USDC: Differences and Similarities to Know in 2024 Conclusion From ApeChain's launch to Bitcoin breaking $69,000, the crypto space is buzzing with action. Solana’s price rally and Tether’s record market cap signal renewed confidence and investor enthusiasm. As October progresses, "Uptober" is living up to its name. Investors are eager to see if these gains will continue or face resistance. Stay tuned to KuCoin for more as the crypto market unfolds.
On October 18, the crypto world saw significant developments. The FBI arrested a hacker responsible for breaching the SEC's X account in January. Aspen Digital reported that 94% of Asian private wealth is invested or considering crypto, highlighting growing interest. Additionally, Vitalik Buterin unveiled his ambitious plan for Ethereum called "The Surge." Meanwhile, Bitcoin's spot ETFs in the U.S. crossed $20 billion in net flows, demonstrating rising investor confidence. The crypto market remains in the greed territory today, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index increasing from 71 to 73. Bitcoin (BTC) has shown some positive momentum, trading above $67,993.90 in the past 24 hours. Despite recent fluctuations, the overall market sentiment leans towards greed. Quick Market Updates Prices (UTC+8 8:00): BTC: $67,424, -0.29%, ETH: $2,605, -0.22% 24-hour Long/Short: 49.7%/50.3% Yesterday’s Fear and Greed Index: 73 (71 24 hours ago), level: Greed Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me Read More: Trump’s Crypto Platform Raising Only $12 Million (WLFI), Stripe in Talks to Acquire Bridge: Oct 17 Trending Tokens of the Day Top 24-Hour Performers Trading Pair 24H Change AIC/USDT -0.67% BTC/USDT +0.48% HACHI/USDT 728.22% Trade now on KuCoin Quick Take on the Highlights in the Crypto Space for Oct. 18 U.S. retail sales in September grew by 0.4%, surpassing expectations. The European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points. Aspen Digital reported that 76% of surveyed family offices and wealthy individuals in Asia are investing in digital assets; another 18% plan to join soon. Polymarket predicts a 64% chance of Bitcoin reaching $70,000 this month. The FBI arrested a man for posting fake Bitcoin ETF approval on the SEC's X account. FBI Arrests Hacker Behind SEC's X Account Breach On October 17, the FBI arrested Eric Council Jr. for hacking the SEC’s X account in January. He used a SIM swap attack to gain control of the SEC's social media, posting a fake announcement about a spot Bitcoin ETF approval. This event caused chaos which in turn caused Bitcoin’s price to spike, and investors scrambled. It was a stark reminder of how vulnerable even powerful institutions are to cyberattacks like SIM swapping. U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves highlighted the financial and personal damage such attacks can cause. Council now faces identity theft and fraud charges. The SEC acted quickly. Chair Gary Gensler stepped in 15 minutes after the post went live, clarifying that no ETF had been approved. But the next day, the SEC did approve 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs. These funds now hold a combined $63.5 billion, underscoring the growing institutional interest in Bitcoin despite the earlier chaos. Source: X 94% of Asian Private Wealth Investing or Considering Crypto A report from Aspen Digital shows that 94% of private wealth in Asia is either invested in or planning to invest in crypto. Interest has surged, up from 58% in 2022 to 76% already investing, with 18% more planning to. The survey, covering 80 family offices and high-net-worth individuals managing $10 million to $500 million, found most have less than 5% of their portfolios in digital assets. Interest is high in decentralized finance (DeFi), artificial intelligence, and decentralized infrastructure. Change in blockchain interest in Asia. Source: Aspen Digital Spot Bitcoin ETFs are also driving interest. 53% of respondents gain exposure through ETFs. This aligns with a global rise in crypto adoption driven by regulatory clarity and the launch of ETFs in the US and Asia. Bitcoin and Ether ETFs launched in Hong Kong in April, while the US started spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Many surveyed investors remain optimistic. 31% believe Bitcoin will hit $100,000 by year-end, showing strong bullish sentiment among Asia’s private wealth. U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETFs Cross $20 Billion in Net Flows On October 17, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs hit a milestone—crossing $20 billion in total net flows. This happened in just 10 months, which is incredibly fast compared to gold ETFs, which took five years to reach the same level. This rapid growth points to Bitcoin's increasing legitimacy as a store of value, comparable to traditional assets like gold. Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, called the $20 billion mark the hardest metric to grow for ETFs. The past week alone saw $1.5 billion in inflows, signaling strong investor confidence, especially with improving regulatory clarity around these products. Data from Farside Investors showed that on October 16, Bitcoin ETFs added $458 million worth of BTC, showing continued strong demand. Source: Eric Balchunas This growth also reflects a shift in how investors want exposure to Bitcoin. More people want access through regulated financial products, overseen by established institutions. The surge in net flows signals Bitcoin’s growing acceptance among mainstream investors, a positive sign for its long-term prospects. Read more: Best Spot Bitcoin ETFs to Buy in 2024 Vitalik Buterin's Vision for “The Surge” in Ethereum's Roadmap Vitalik Buterin recently laid out an ambitious plan for Ethereum, called "The Surge." The goal? Scale Ethereum to handle over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS). To do that, Buterin wants to improve both Ethereum's main blockchain and its layer 2 solutions, like rollups. It's not just about speed; it’s about making Ethereum more efficient, accessible, and user-friendly. Buterin stressed that Layer 2 networks should feel like a unified part of Ethereum, not separate chains. Right now, different L2 solutions can feel fragmented, which can confuse users. Buterin envisions a seamless experience where using an L2 feels just like using the main Ethereum network. This would make it easier for both new users and developers, helping Ethereum grow into a more cohesive and approachable platform. The other big focus is on cost-cutting. Merging these will optimize computations on Ethereum to ensure a cheaper and highly scalable base layer, enabling the main chain to manage the demand that comes from L2 rollups.This would make the context in which developers have to work much easier, while users will pay lower fees and notice no difference at all. The goal of "The Surge" is to complete Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap while keeping decentralization and security intact. By focusing on scaling, improving user experience, and enhancing interoperability, Buterin wants to make Ethereum a more robust and easy-to-use platform. This is about laying the foundation for Ethereum to continue evolving as a key player in decentralized infrastructure globally. Read more: Ethereum 2.0 Upgrade Conclusion The top headlines today underscore the growing adoption of crypto assets and the steps regulators and industry leaders are taking to secure and scale the ecosystem. The arrest related to the SEC hack reminds us of ongoing cybersecurity challenges, while the increased interest in Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum’s scaling plans reflect the sector's potential. Investors across Asia, coupled with new products like ETFs and technological improvements led by Vitalik Buterin, signal a promising outlook for digital assets in the evolving financial landscape.