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The article explores the shifting sentiment on the Myriad prediction market regarding key crypto assets and trends. Notably, predictors on the platform now believe that XRP is more likely to reach a new all-time high of $4 before it dips back to $2. This change in odds is attributed to recent favourable news for XRP, including the launch of a new ETF that offers exposure to the asset and speculation about more ETF approvals on the horizon. The sentiment has completely flipped from just a month ago, when a bearish retrace was considered more probable.
Furthermore, the market's outlook on Bitcoin's dominance is also changing. Predictors are now favouring a decrease in Bitcoin's share of the total crypto market, suggesting a potential "alt season" is on the way. This shift is possibly linked to the news that the SEC has created new generic listing requirements for crypto ETFs, which could pave the way for more altcoins, beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum, to have their own exchange-traded products. Finally, a new market on the platform shows predictors believe that the NFT marketplace OpenSea will launch its native token before December, with odds currently sitting at 63%. Source
Ethereum's core developers have set a tentative date of December 3rd for the Fusaka hard fork, which aims to enhance the network's scalability, security, and efficiency through the implementation of 12 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). A key component of this upgrade is the significant increase in blob capacity, which will be more than doubled in two separate hard forks, with the first expected two weeks after the main upgrade and the second in January 2026. This increased capacity is designed to make Layer 2 networks more efficient and reduce transaction costs, building upon the initial introduction of blobs in the Dencun upgrade. Before the mainnet launch, three public testnets are scheduled to run from early October to mid-November to ensure a smooth deployment.
The introduction of blobs allows for the storage of large datasets off-chain, which has seen an increase in usage since the Dencun upgrade. The upcoming Fusaka upgrade will further expand this capacity to safely scale the network. In preparation for the upgrade, the Ethereum Foundation has announced a bug bounty program with a $2 million reward for developers who find and report vulnerabilities in the Fusaka codebase. The Fusaka upgrade follows the Pectra upgrade from May, which also focused on improving network efficiency and features. Simultaneously, the amount of unstaked ETH from validators has reached an all-time high, creating a lengthy exit queue, which Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has stated exists to maintain the network's trustworthiness. Source
A new paper argues that settling prediction market contracts in Bitcoin, instead of the current standard of stablecoins, could offer superior economic advantages for users. The author, computer scientist Fedor Shabashev, highlights the "opportunity cost" for Bitcoin holders who must convert their appreciating asset into a non-yielding stablecoin to participate in these markets. By denominating markets in BTC, users can maintain their exposure to Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation while engaging in betting on various events, such as long-dated political outcomes or macroeconomic indicators, which aligns with the incentives of crypto-native communities.
While the paper presents a compelling theoretical case for BTC-denominated markets, it acknowledges significant hurdles to practical implementation. The high volatility of Bitcoin poses a major risk, as a price crash could severely diminish a user’s stake in fiat terms, and liquidity providers face heightened risks like "permanent loss." The paper analyses three methods for bootstrapping liquidity—cross-market making, DeFi trade redirection, and automated market makers—and concludes that each has distinct trade-offs regarding risk, capital efficiency, and user experience. Ultimately, the feasibility of these markets depends on careful design to mitigate risks and address issues like hedging costs and regulatory complexity. Source
Nubank, the largest digital bank in Latin America, is planning to test stablecoin payments for credit card transactions, as announced by its vice-chairman, Roberto Campos Neto. The initiative is part of a broader effort to connect digital assets with the traditional banking system. Campos Neto also stated that banks need to find a way to accept deposits in tokenized form and use these assets to issue credit. This move builds on Nubank's existing involvement in the crypto space, which began in 2022 with a Bitcoin allocation and the rollout of crypto trading for its customers.
The decision to integrate stablecoins comes amidst a surge in stablecoin adoption across Latin America. Countries like Brazil and Argentina have seen stablecoins, particularly those pegged to the U.S. dollar, become a significant part of the cryptocurrency market, with some regions even seeing them replace local fiat currency for daily commerce due to high inflation. This trend indicates a growing demand for stable, dollar-pegged digital assets in the region, which Nubank is aiming to capitalize on by offering new payment options to its customers. Source
The European Union is preparing a new legislative package aimed at boosting pension savings and strengthening market oversight, with potential implications for the crypto industry. Financial Services Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque announced the initiative, known as the "Savings and Investments Union," which will include measures like pension auto-enrolment and tax incentives to encourage household investment. As part of this push, the EU is considering giving the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) a more centralized role in supervising certain market infrastructures and "new and rapidly evolving areas," specifically mentioning Crypto Asset Service Providers.
This planned reform is a response to recent warnings from figures like former ECB President Mario Draghi about the EU's slow pace of financial change. The goal is to better integrate fragmented capital markets and mobilize private savings to support the European economy. While the new framework would not fully sideline national authorities, it aims to create a joint oversight model for cross-border risks and consistent enforcement. Although the proposal is largely theoretical at this stage, it signals a growing commitment to more comprehensive crypto regulation within the EU. Source
Markethive's ecosystem integrates cryptocurrency and social networking to empower entrepreneurs and challenge traditional business models. The platform is built around a "coin chain" that clarifies the purpose and role of each token. The core of this system is the Markethive Credit (MHC), a stablecoin pegged to $1, which serves as the primary currency for transactions within the platform, including subscriptions and purchases. The ecosystem incentivizes user engagement through staking, where users who hold more MHC tokens are rewarded with greater daily interest, fostering a sense of community and long-term commitment.
The second key component is Hivecoin (HVC), a transactional cryptocurrency traded on major exchanges. Hivecoin is a utility token used for various premium features, payments, and to access exclusive content and advertising on the platform. Its value comes from its utility and adoption, rather than speculation. Markethive strategically offers a significant discount for products and services when purchased with Hivecoin, which boosts its demand and exchange activity. Additionally, the platform allows for alternative payment methods, including Bitcoin, which is automatically converted to MHC, and traditional credit/debit cards, ensuring accessibility for a diverse, global user base. Source
Valour, a subsidiary of DeFi Technologies, has launched a new Bitcoin staking ETP on the London Stock Exchange, making it possible for institutional and professional investors to earn a 1.4% annual yield on their Bitcoin holdings. While Bitcoin itself doesn't have a native staking mechanism like Proof-of-Stake blockchains, the yield is generated through alternative methods, with a similar ETP from Valour in France delegating coins on the Core Chain, an EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain. The ETP is physically backed by Bitcoin held in cold storage, using multiparty computation (MCP) for security.
This new listing comes as the UK's regulatory environment for digital assets is shifting. The country is lifting a ban on retail investors buying crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) on October 8, a ban that had been in place since 2021. The move signals a broader change in the UK's approach to cryptocurrencies, with the government reportedly seeking to increase cooperation with the United States on digital assets and trade groups pushing for the inclusion of blockchain technology in a tech collaboration with the US. Source
Michigan's House Bill 4087 has been moved to the Government Operations Committee, marking its first significant progress after seven months of delay. The proposed legislation would give the state treasurer the authority to invest up to 10% of Michigan's general and stabilization funds into cryptocurrency, with strict security measures required. This bill is part of a growing trend of state-level Bitcoin adoption, with Michigan joining Texas, New Hampshire, and Arizona, which have already passed similar laws. Proponents believe this move could protect taxpayer money from dollar devaluation and position Michigan as a leader in financial innovation.
Industry observers say that the detailed security provisions in Michigan's bill, such as exclusive control over private keys and regular audits, address potential weaknesses seen in other states' attempts. They also believe that if the bill is successful, it could pressure neighboring states to follow suit to avoid being left behind in the "hyperbitcoinization" movement. The broader push for state-level Bitcoin reserves is happening alongside a similar effort at the federal level, where the U.S. House has advanced an appropriations bill to study the feasibility of a national Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Source
Coinbase has launched a new offering that allows users to earn higher yields on their USDC stablecoin holdings by integrating directly with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. The new feature, which is a significant move for the centralized exchange, leverages the Morpho lending protocol. Instead of the typical 4.5% APY offered on its standard USDC rewards program, this new onchain lending option gives users access to potentially much higher returns, with yields reported as high as 10.8%. This integration allows users to participate in DeFi lending without having to navigate third-party platforms or manage complex self-custody wallets.
The move comes as stablecoin adoption accelerates and as institutional interest in DeFi lending grows. However, it also faces scrutiny from traditional financial institutions. The Bank Policy Institute (BPI) has raised concerns about the practice, urging regulators to close what it calls a "loophole" that allows exchanges to offer yield through third-party partners. Despite this pushback, Coinbase has defended its position, stating that stablecoins do not threaten traditional lending and provide a competitive alternative to banks' high transaction fees. The company's integration with Morpho is a major step toward connecting its mainstream user base to the onchain economy. Source
PayPal's stablecoin, PYUSD, has expanded to nine additional blockchains, reaching a new milestone with a market capitalization of $1.3 billion. The expansion was made possible through an integration with LayerZero, an interoperability protocol that recently acquired the cross-chain bridge, Stargate. This allows the stablecoin to be used on chains like Tron, Avalanche, and Aptos, among others. The bridged version of the token, known as PYUSD0, is designed to be fully fungible with the original PYUSD, enabling seamless transfers across different networks.
Despite its recent growth, PYUSD's market capitalization is still significantly smaller than that of leading stablecoins like Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC. However, a recent survey by EY-Parthenon found that PYUSD has a high corporate adoption rate, making it a popular choice among business users. The expansion is part of a broader strategy by PayPal to integrate its financial services with the crypto ecosystem, as the company also recently announced a new tool for peer-to-peer payments using cryptocurrencies. Source
The decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) sector is projected to grow to a $3.5 trillion market by 2028, with emerging markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America leading its adoption. Unlike Silicon Valley, these regions are favorable to DePIN because of their existing infrastructure gaps and more progressive Web3 regulations. Governments in places like Dubai, Singapore, and Vietnam are actively creating clear regulatory frameworks and "sandboxes" for blockchain projects, which provides the certainty and support that builders and investors need to innovate and scale.
The flow of capital is also shifting, with countries like the UAE ranking highly for crypto adoption and sovereign wealth funds in Singapore strategically investing in blockchain infrastructure. These markets are driven by a need to solve real-world problems, such as providing affordable mobile connectivity in underserved areas, rather than treating DePIN as a luxury. This focus on practical applications and strong regulatory backing positions these emerging markets to become long-term leaders in the DePIN space, similar to how Asian companies dominated the mobile revolution. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
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