Ethereum Foundation launches zkAPI for private payments to AI models
The Ethereum Foundation launched zkAPI on Thursday, letting users pay for AI models and other metered APIs without revealing their identity, according to its blog post. The Foundation built the system with the Open Anonymity Project, and said it is live on Ethereum mainnet. Users deposit tokens and generate zero-knowledge proofs to obtain temporary API keys with spending caps. The Foundation said zkAPI does not provide network anonymity, and prompt content can also link a user's sessions.
CertiK tracks nearly $2.7 billion in 2026 crypto security losses
CertiK recorded about $2.68 billion in gross crypto security losses across 658 incidents through September 2026. The firm counted $420.4 million in stolen assets as frozen or returned, leaving adjusted losses of roughly $2.26 billion. September was the costliest month of the year, with about $766.5 million in losses, largely from incidents at Bitget and Liquid Network. Elliptic said suspected North Korean hackers stole more than $1 billion in crypto this year across more than 51 suspected incidents.
Analysis: XRP gains over 43% as every third-quarter month closes higher
XRP gained more than 43% in the third quarter, with July, August and September all closing higher for the first time, according to CryptoRank data. U.S. spot XRP ETF demand, a September short squeeze and sustained exchange outflows fueled the rise. XRP now trades near $1.50. Analysts expect volatility before any larger move higher, while October has historically been XRP's weakest month.
Roundup: China flags crypto espionage risks; Singapore activity rises 55.4%
This roundup covers China's warning about cryptocurrency use in espionage and growth in Singapore's crypto activity. China's Ministry of State Security said cryptocurrencies can facilitate espionage and warned that transactions are not truly anonymous. Singapore's crypto activity rose 55.4% to $284 billion in the year ended June 2026, according to Chainalysis. Singapore regained its position as the largest crypto economy in Central and Southeast Asia and Oceania, while activity across that region contracted 6.8%, Chainalysis said.
The International Monetary Fund approved a $139 million disbursement to El Salvador after granting a waiver for the government's breach of a condition limiting further Bitcoin accumulation. The IMF board completed its second and third reviews.
Analysis: US factory costs could threaten Bitcoin's rally above $85,000
US manufacturers reported more widespread input-price increases in September, creating a potential risk for Bitcoin's rally above $85,000 if investors expect higher interest rates. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing prices index rose 6.8 points to 77.9 from 71.1 in August. Friday's US jobs report will test the rate outlook; the manufacturing employment reading alone cannot establish national payroll growth. A February 2023 New York Fed staff study found no systematic Bitcoin response to monetary and macroeconomic news in its historical intraday sample.
Trump plans November dinner for 185 top investors in his meme coin
President Donald Trump plans to meet 185 top investors in his $TRUMP meme coin at a dinner on Nov. 22, according to the coin's website. The event would be his third such gathering since returning to office. The website says the top 29 investors will be invited to a VIP reception. Critics call the events pay-for-play schemes and accuse Trump of profiting from his position. Trump and the White House have repeatedly denied that his private business interests create a conflict of interest.
SEC proposes new crypto custody rules as Atkins says regulations have lagged
The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed new custody rules for crypto assets held by registered investment advisers and regulated funds. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said existing rules have not kept pace with the growth of crypto since Bitcoin launched in 2008. The proposal would allow advisers to let clients self-custody crypto assets under specific conditions and would allow state-chartered trust companies to qualify as custodians. A 60-day public comment period will begin when the proposal appears in the Federal Register.
Analysis: China and Russia curb fuel exports, raising Bitcoin inflation risks
China told refiners to stop fuel exports in October, while Russia extended its diesel export ban by 30 days. Four people briefed on the matter reportedly told Reuters that Chinese refiners lack approval to ship fuel beyond Hong Kong and Macau. The fuel restrictions could raise prices and give the Federal Reserve more reason to increase interest rates on October 28. CME FedWatch data shows traders assign a 26% chance to a rate increase, down from 68.6% a week ago. Higher rates could strengthen the dollar and weigh on Bitcoin.
Analysis: Zcash drops 21% from September peak, but rally may continue
Zcash traded at $1,333.50 on Thursday, about 21% below its late-September peak of $1,698.00. ZEC was down 7.29% on the day, with about three hours remaining before the daily close. Grayscale’s Zcash ETF recorded a $30.25 million net outflow on Wednesday. The recent price decline points to a steep correction, but longer-term trend indicators remain bullish. A daily close below $1,233.00 would bring a further pullback into focus, while a return above $1,410.72 would put the rally back on track.
NEAR falls about 10% after $3.8 million exploit tests new Bitwise ETF
NEAR fell about 10% to $4.86 after NEAR Intents disclosed an exploit with a preliminary loss of about $3.8 million. The decline came less than two days after Bitwise launched its NEAR ETF, ticker NRR, on NYSE Arca. The fund drew $35.5 million in net inflows on its first day. NEAR Protocol said the exploit did not affect the blockchain or native token, while NEAR Intents said it would fully compensate affected users. The ETF's next flow data will show whether investors continue buying after the breach.
SEC proposes crypto custody rules allowing limited self-custody by advisers and funds
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposed new rules on Thursday for how investment advisers and regulated funds hold assets, with a focus on crypto. Advisers and funds acting through their advisers could hold client crypto themselves only if no permitted custodian is available. The proposal would also allow blockchain records to count toward compliance and state trust companies to serve as crypto custodians, both subject to conditions. The proposal follows a procedural vote last month that blocked the Clarity Act.
Armada II shareholders approve merger to take Evernorth public as XRP treasury
Armada Acquisition Corp. II shareholders approved a merger that would take Evernorth public as an XRP treasury company. The deal is expected to close on Oct. 7, with the combined company expected to begin Nasdaq trading under XRPN the following day, subject to remaining closing conditions. Evernorth expects to hold about 473 million XRP at closing, worth roughly $710 million at the price reported at publication. The transaction is expected to raise about $300 million in gross cash proceeds.
Ammous says only Saylor can safely use Strategy's Bitcoin borrowing model
Economist Saifedean Ammous said only Michael Saylor can safely use Strategy's model of borrowing against Bitcoin holdings to buy more Bitcoin. Ammous said holding cash-flow-positive earnings in Bitcoin is a sound long-term treasury strategy for other companies. He estimated that Bitcoin's 2030 price could be between $200,000 and $1.6 million, but expects it nearer the lower end.
Trump plans third memecoin holder event for top 185 holders
The group behind President Donald Trump's memecoin announced that he will attend a Nov. 22 dinner for the top 185 TRUMP holders at his Washington, DC, golf club. Holders will be ranked between Sept. 30 and Nov. 12, according to the GetTrumpMemes website. Public Citizen estimated in August that investors in the Trump family's crypto ventures had lost $4.7 billion since 2022, including $3.2 billion attributed to the memecoin. Critics have accused Trump of selling access to the presidency through earlier holder events.
SEC proposes limited self-custody of client and fund crypto by advisers
The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a framework on Thursday that would let investment advisers custody client and regulated fund crypto assets under limited circumstances. Advisers could do so when they determine that no permitted custodian is available. The proposal would also allow state trust companies to serve as custodians for those assets. The public comment period will remain open for 60 days.
Opinion: Bitcoin’s recent bounce could signal a larger rally
Frank Cappelleri argues that bitcoin’s recent bounce could be the start of a larger rally. He points to a bullish pattern that produced gains in August, a weekly chart resembling the start of the 2023 advance, and improving long-term momentum. Bitcoin gained roughly 20% in August after an extended period without a monthly gain of that size.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission proposed rules on Thursday to govern investment funds' custody of crypto assets under federal securities laws. SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the rules would give investment advisers and funds a compliant pathway for crypto asset custody.
SEC proposes crypto custody rules for advisers and funds
The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed rules on Wednesday for how registered investment advisers and regulated funds can hold crypto assets. The proposal would allow self-custody under certain conditions and permit state trust companies to serve as custodians for client and fund crypto. It would also update audit rules for advisers and broker-dealer custodial rules for funds. The proposal is not final; a 60-day public comment period will begin after its publication in the Federal Register.
$TRUMP coin club promises top 185 investors dinner with Trump
The $TRUMP Coin Club promises dinner invitations to its top 185 investors when a contest ends on Nov. 12. The dinner is scheduled for Nov. 22 at Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia and promises an appearance by President Donald Trump. The top 29 purchasers will also receive access to a VIP reception. It could take up to $1 million worth of $TRUMP coin to guarantee an invitation, judging by Chainalysis data. The contest has intensified ethics concerns about Trump's cryptocurrency earnings during his second term.