Topic
Markets
European Issuers Push for USD Stablecoins Under MiCA Framework
European cryptocurrency issuers are pressing EU regulators to permit USD-backed stablecoins under the Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, arguing that euro-denominated tokens alone cannot satisfy the dollar liquidity requirements of businesses operating in international markets.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·14h agoBlast Ethereum Layer-2 Shuts Down After TVL Drops 98% From Peak of $2.3 Billion
Blast, the Ethereum Layer-2 network launched in early 2024 by Blur founder Tieshun Roquer, is shutting down after operating costs exceeded revenue. The network's TVL has collapsed 98% from a peak of $2.3 billion, with $63.5 million remaining in the canonical bridge.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·14h agoBNY Mellon in Advanced Talks With Kraken Parent Payward on Crypto Infrastructure Partnership
BNY Mellon, the world's largest custodian bank, is in active discussions with Payward, the parent company of Kraken, over a crypto infrastructure partnership. The talks signal another step in Wall Street's deepening entanglement with digital asset infrastructure.
Markets·Ibrahim Rajab·16h agoFlashLoopAdapter Exploit Drains $305K From Two Ethereum Safe Wallets
A vulnerability in the FlashLoopAdapter module enabled attackers to drain approximately $305,000 from two Safe wallets on Ethereum using leveraged Aave V3 positions. Aave's core contracts remained secure.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·YesterdayFiserv Launches Roughrider Coin Stablecoin on Solana With 90 North Dakota Banks
Fiserv's digital asset platform went live in production today, with Roughrider Coin, a dollar-backed stablecoin issued by VersaBank USA, as its first deployment on the Solana blockchain. More than 90 North Dakota banks and credit unions are participating in the initial rollout.
Markets·Hadi Ghadban·YesterdayCrypto Security Losses Hit $1.26B in Q3 as Bitget Theft Tops 2026
The crypto industry lost $1.26 billion to hacks and exploits in Q3 2026 across 247 incidents. The Bitget hack at $387-388 million became the year's largest theft, while Liquid Network suffered a $320 million breach. Together, these two incidents drove September's losses to $766-769 million, a...
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·YesterdayLATAM Stablecoin Liquidity Rests on 16 Firms, Verda Report Warns
A Verda report identifies critical concentration risk in Latin America's stablecoin ecosystem, where just 16 of 494 active companies control wholesale liquidity, treasury, and credit operations. The finding raises concerns about systemic vulnerability across the region's financial infrastructure.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·YesterdayBitcoin ETFs Pull $6.3B in Q3 as BTC Posts Best Third-Quarter Gain Since 2017
Bitcoin closed Q3 2026 with a 42.71% price gain, its strongest third-quarter performance in nine years, while US spot ETFs absorbed $6.34 billion in net inflows. The figures confirm Bitcoin has crossed a threshold from speculative asset to portfolio allocation target.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·YesterdaySan Francisco Fed: Stablecoin Issuers Absorbed $200B in Treasuries, Filling 40% of China's Gap
$200 billion in U.S. Treasury debt held by stablecoin issuers now offsets over 40% of China's decline in holdings, according to a San Francisco Federal Reserve study. The finding highlights how crypto infrastructure is becoming load-bearing in traditional finance.
Markets·Ibrahim Rajab·YesterdayOpenZeppelin and T-REX Network Build Compliance Framework for Regulated Tokens
OpenZeppelin and T-REX Network have announced a joint framework for regulated tokens featuring OnChainID v3, which introduces modular smart accounts to standardize eligibility checks and compliance logic across blockchain networks.
Markets·Hadi Ghadban·YesterdayPress Release: Blockchain Academics Launches Office Hours Weekly Interview Show
Blockchain Academics has announced the launch of Office Hours, a weekly interview show premiering on its YouTube channel in October 2026.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·YesterdayBitMart Seeks Court Approval for $319.5M Hack Repayment Plan
Nearly five years after one of the larger exchange breaches of the 2021 cycle, BitMart is asking a court to sign off on a structured repayment plan that would give affected users a choice: take a cash payout or accept tokens tied to the winding-down exchange.
Markets·Hadi Ghadban·YesterdayEvernorth Wins 94% Shareholder Vote for 473M XRP Treasury Merger, Targets Nasdaq
Evernorth cleared its most significant hurdle on September 30, when shareholders voted 94% in favor of its proposed merger with Armada Acquisition Corp. II. The deal will position Evernorth on Nasdaq with approximately 473 million XRP held in reserve.
Markets·Ibrahim Rajab·YesterdayNEAR Intents Loses $3.8M in Exploit, Suspends Services Across 11 Networks
A security exploit drained $3.8 million from NEAR Intents, forcing the cross-chain protocol to halt deposits and withdrawals across 11 networks. NEAR token fell 8.6% on the news, though the protocol's commitment to full compensation distinguishes this incident from exploits where losses are...
Markets·Alejandro Silva Ramírez·YesterdayRobinhood Wallet Adds Arcus RFQ Routing for 190+ Stock Tokens
Robinhood Wallet integrated Arcus as a routing provider for stock token swaps, enabling eligible users to trade 190+ tokenized equities through an RFQ system that solicits competing quotes from liquidity providers in real time.
Markets·Alejandro Silva Ramírez·YesterdayMetaMask Exits Lido Validators After Infrastructure Compromise
MetaMask has exited its Lido validators following an infrastructure-level security compromise, with the liquid staking protocol estimating a 45-day cycle for the full exit, withdrawal, and re-entry process. Aave's founder confirmed markets are operating normally despite the incident.
Markets·Alejandro Silva Ramírez·Oct 1, 2026Uniswap Labs Plans OUSD Rewards Hook to Pull More Liquidity Into Protocol
Uniswap Labs is designing a rewards hook that would pipe OUSD yield incentives directly to liquidity providers through the protocol's native infrastructure, a move that could sharpen the DEX's edge in an increasingly competitive market for LP capital.
Markets·Julie "Mooncat" Wolf·Sep 30, 2026DogeOS Launches Public Testnet for Zero-Knowledge Rollup on Dogecoin
DogeOS activated its public testnet today, introducing a zero-knowledge rollup that gives Dogecoin full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility and positions DOGE as the network's native gas token.
Markets·Blockchain Academics Newsroom·Sep 30, 2026Base Cobalt Upgrade Brings Conditional Transactions and B20 Changes
Base shipped the Cobalt upgrade today, introducing conditional transactions and modifications to the B20 token standard for tokenized stocks. The upgrade marks Base's third major protocol upgrade in 2026.
Markets·Hadi Ghadban·Sep 30, 2026Lloyds and Visa Settle $750K in USDC Across Borders in Under One Hour
Lloyds Bank and Visa have completed a seven-day cross-border settlement pilot using USDC, moving $750,000 from Jersey to the United States in under an hour, including over the weekend when traditional banking infrastructure is offline.
Markets·Julie "Mooncat" Wolf·Sep 30, 2026Stripe Sets Open USD as Default Stablecoin for Business Payments
Stripe has designated Open USD (OUSD) as its default stablecoin for business payments, positioning it against Tether and Circle. The move signals institutional appetite for stablecoin alternatives, but OUSD faces entrenched competition and unproven economics.
Markets·Julie "Mooncat" Wolf·Sep 30, 2026LIT Drops 17% as Robinhood Picks Bitstamp Over Lighter for U.S. Perpetuals
Lighter (LIT) shed 17% on Wednesday after Robinhood announced it had selected Bitstamp as its partner for U.S. perpetuals trading, bypassing the Layer 1 protocol that markets had priced in as a likely integration candidate.
Markets·Ibrahim Rajab·Sep 30, 2026Bitcoin Holds Firm Against Rising Dollar, Traders Rethink Why
The US Dollar Index climbed on September 30, and Bitcoin didn't flinch. That quiet defiance is forcing a real conversation about whether the most-cited macro headwind for crypto still carries the weight traders have long assigned it.
Markets·Julie "Mooncat" Wolf·Sep 30, 2026Altcoin Exchange Deposits Jump 160% in Two Weeks, Hitting 11-Month High
Altcoin exchange deposits have surged 160% over two weeks ending September 30, hitting their highest levels since October 2025. The spike signals potential selling pressure, but the data leaves room for interpretation.
Markets·Julie "Mooncat" Wolf·Sep 30, 2026