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Bitcoin officially surpassed the $85,200 price mark amid robust post-election market momentum.
Trading volumes expanded significantly across major exchanges as open interest reached record-setting levels for derivatives contracts.
Market analysts note that sustained institutional demand continues to serve as the primary catalyst behind the ongoing upward price discovery.
Bitcoin extended its historic bull run on Tuesday, officially clearing the critical $85,200 threshold as buying pressure intensified across major centralized and decentralized digital asset platforms. The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has continued to break records following a wave of renewed market optimism.
As detailed in market updates from CoinDesk, the relentless post-election rally shows little sign of immediate fatigue. Spot cumulative volume delta and derivatives metrics indicate that institutional buyers are aggressively accumulating assets, pushing open interest in Bitcoin futures to unprecedented heights.
Traders and analysts are closely monitoring macro economic indicators and exchange reserves to gauge the sustainability of this rally. While the psychological barrier of $85,000 was breached with strong volume, market participants remain vigilant regarding potential short-term volatility and profit-taking by early investors. Nevertheless, the prevailing market sentiment remains overwhelmingly bullish as Bitcoin charts uncharted territory.
The post Bitcoin Clears $85,200 as Market Momentum Continues appeared first on Cryptopress.

<ul><li>Bitcoin officially surpassed the <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/11/12/bitcoin-tops-85k-as-post-election-rally-shows-no-signs-of-stopping/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$85,200 price mark</a> amid robust post-election market momentum.</li><li>Trading volumes expanded significantly across major exchanges as open interest reached record-setting levels for derivatives contracts.</li><li>Market analysts note that sustained institutional demand continues to serve as the primary catalyst behind the ongoing upward price discovery.</li></ul><p class="has-drop-cap"><strong>Bitcoin</strong> extended its historic bull run on Tuesday, officially clearing the critical <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/11/12/bitcoin-tops-85k-as-post-election-rally-shows-no-signs-of-stopping/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$85,200 threshold</a> as buying pressure intensified across major centralized and decentralized digital asset platforms. The world's largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has continued to break records following a wave of renewed market optimism.</p><p>As detailed in market updates from <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/11/12/bitcoin-tops-85k-as-post-election-rally-shows-no-signs-of-stopping/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CoinDesk</a>, the relentless post-election rally shows little sign of immediate fatigue. Spot cumulative volume delta and derivatives metrics indicate that institutional buyers are aggressively accumulating assets, pushing open interest in Bitcoin futures to unprecedented heights.</p><p>Traders and analysts are closely monitoring macro economic indicators and exchange reserves to gauge the sustainability of this rally. While the psychological barrier of <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/11/12/bitcoin-tops-85k-as-post-election-rally-shows-no-signs-of-stopping/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$85,000 was breached</a> with strong volume, market participants remain vigilant regarding potential short-term volatility and profit-taking by early investors. Nevertheless, the prevailing market sentiment remains overwhelmingly bullish as Bitcoin charts uncharted territory.</p>

<ul><li>Robinhood plans to launch crypto perpetual futures for eligible U.S. customers in the coming months, covering BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, DOGE, ADA, LINK and HYPE.</li><li>Contracts will carry up to <strong>10x</strong> leverage on bitcoin and ether and <strong>3x</strong> on the other six assets, with a promotional fee of <strong>0.01%</strong> per trade through year-end.</li><li>Weekend trading of select U.S. stocks and ETFs is planned, pending regulatory review, as an extension of the existing 24 Hour Market.</li><li>The brokerage also unveiled in-app Robinhood Agents that can research markets and execute trades within user-set limits.</li></ul><p class="has-drop-cap">Robinhood said Tuesday it will bring crypto perpetual futures to eligible U.S. customers inside its app in the coming months, pairing the rollout with plans for weekend equity trading and built-in AI agents.</p><p>In a <a href="https://robinhood.com/us/en/newsroom/hood-summit-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">newsroom statement</a> from HOOD Summit 2026 in Houston, the company said users will be able to take long or short positions on <strong>bitcoin (BTC)</strong>, <strong>ether (ETH)</strong>, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, ADA, LINK or HYPE with <strong>no expiration dates</strong>. Leverage will be capped at <strong>10x</strong> on bitcoin and ether perpetuals and <strong>3x</strong> on the other contracts. The products will be offered by Robinhood Derivatives through Bitstamp, and the firm said it will charge <strong>one basis point, or 0.01%, per trade</strong> through the end of the year. Traders will be able to set stop-loss and take-profit orders and track liquidation prices in real time.</p><p>CEO Vlad Tenev wrote on X that Robinhood is <a href="https://x.com/vladtenev/status/2105089165750853975" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"bringing America its first true perps"</a>, with P&amp;L settled every 15 minutes, calling it "a new chapter for U.S. derivatives." The official <a href="https://x.com/RobinhoodApp/status/2105072490993119423" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@RobinhoodApp account</a> said perps "are now rolling out for US traders" and that the contracts never expire and trade around the clock. In a follow-up disclosure, the company cautioned that perps involve <strong>significant risk</strong>, including losses greater than the initial investment, and that Robinhood Derivatives accounts are not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.</p><p>Weekend trading of a curated list of U.S. stocks and ETFs is planned as an extension of Robinhood's 24 Hour Market, which currently runs from Sunday at 8 p.m. ET through Friday at 8 p.m. ET, according to the same <a href="https://robinhood.com/us/en/newsroom/hood-summit-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">company announcement</a>. That expansion is <strong>pending regulatory review</strong> and is slated for early next year. Chief Brokerage Officer Steve Quirk said "Breaking news doesn't wait for an opening bell." Weekend sessions will be powered by Bruce ATS.</p><p>The brokerage also introduced Robinhood Agents, which live inside the app so customers can build an agent, fund a dedicated agentic account, choose a model from labs including OpenAI, and set approval and risk limits. Usage on OpenAI GPT-Luna will be free until year-end. Separate earnings contracts — binary options listed through Cboe on company-specific metrics such as whether a firm beats estimates — will begin rolling out to eligible customers in the coming weeks ahead of third-quarter earnings, with no contract fees through year-end subject to regulatory review.</p>

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has officially begun restoring withdrawal services after halting operations due to a security breach affecting its hot and warm wallet infrastructure.
The platform assured users that all affected assets resulting from the unauthorized transactions will be fully covered by the exchange’s internal reserves.
Security monitors and on-chain analysts are continuing to track the movement of funds associated with the incident as normal network operations resume.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has officially begun restoring withdrawals following a recent security breach that compromised portions of its hot and warm wallet infrastructure. The resumption of services marks a critical step for the platform as it works to normalize operations for its global user base.
The incident came to light when abnormal outflow patterns were detected by automated security monitoring systems and on-chain investigators. Following the initial detection, Bitget’s engineering and security teams swiftly paused all withdrawal operations to contain the threat and prevent further unauthorized transfers from the affected hot and warm wallets.
According to an official statement shared on X by Bitget executives, the exchange has confirmed that user funds remain fully secure despite the breach. The company emphasized that its robust reserves will completely cover any losses incurred during the security incident, ensuring that no individual customer bears the financial impact of the exploit.
Security analysts and blockchain forensics firms are actively examining the transaction vectors used in the attack to trace the stolen assets and collaborate with other major exchanges to blacklist addresses tied to the threat actor. While hot wallets typically hold a fraction of an exchange’s total liquidity to facilitate daily trading and withdrawals, the swift action taken by Bitget’s risk management team helped limit the overall scope of the damage.
As withdrawal services gradually come back online, users are advised to monitor official communication channels for real-time updates regarding specific token networks and processing times. The exchange noted that certain assets may experience temporary queue delays as the system processes the backlog of pending transactions safely.
The post Bitget Restores Withdrawals Following Hot and Warm Wallet Security Breach appeared first on Cryptopress.

Democratic staff on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said 84% of 846 Iran-linked sanctioned wallets transacted almost entirely in USDT.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche to investigate Tether’s sanctions and AML controls.
Tether said actions involving USDT froze about $550 million in Iran-linked assets in 2026, including more than $344 million in April.
Tether’s dollar-pegged stablecoin has become a “significant financial lifeline” inside Iran’s sanctions-evasion networks, according to a 28-page staff report released Monday by Democrats on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Investigators reviewed 846 wallets sanctioned or targeted for seizure by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing over ties to Iran and regional groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. The report found that 84% of those wallets transacted exclusively or nearly exclusively in USDT, with the share rising to 87% among the 757 addresses on Israel’s list and 57% among the 101 OFAC designations.
In a statement, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the subcommittee’s ranking Democrat, said the findings “expose how Tether and its flagship token have become central to Iran’s shadow banking system, allowing the Iranian government to fund its regional proxies, commit human rights abuses, and pursue hostile drone and missile programs as they defy our sanctions regime.” He referred the report to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche and asked both departments to examine Tether’s anti-money laundering and sanctions practices.
The report also said two sanctioned Iranian oil traders, Alireza Derakhshan and Arash Estaki Alivand, moved more than $603 million in USDT between 2021 and 2025. Staff argued Tether’s wallet freezes have been uneven, citing cases in which funds continued to move after public designations.
Tether pushed back the same day. In a company statement, CEO Paolo Ardoino said, “Tether has consistently demonstrated that USD® is not a haven for sanctioned actors, terrorist organizations or criminal networks.” Tether said actions involving USDT froze about $550 million in Iran-linked assets in 2026, including more than $344 million across two addresses in April after information from OFAC and U.S. law enforcement, and more than $130 million across four wallets in July. The issuer said it has supported more than 2,900 investigations globally and helped freeze more than $4.9 billion in assets overall.
USDT remains the world’s largest dollar-backed stablecoin. The clash lands as the Treasury Department expands Iran-related sanctions work, including last month’s Operation Economic Outcast, which listed digital assets among sectors under heightened scrutiny. Whether Treasury or DOJ opens a formal inquiry into Tether is not yet public.
The post Senate Report Places Tether’s USDT at Center of Iran’s Shadow Banking Network appeared first on Cryptopress.

<ul><li>Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has officially begun restoring withdrawal services after halting operations due to a security breach affecting its hot and warm wallet infrastructure.</li><li>The platform assured users that all affected assets resulting from the unauthorized transactions will be fully covered by the exchange's internal reserves.</li><li>Security monitors and on-chain analysts are continuing to track the movement of funds associated with the incident as normal network operations resume.</li></ul><p>Cryptocurrency exchange <strong>Bitget</strong> has officially begun <a href="https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restoring withdrawals</a> following a recent security breach that compromised portions of its hot and warm wallet infrastructure. The resumption of services marks a critical step for the platform as it works to normalize operations for its global user base.</p><p>The incident came to light when abnormal outflow patterns were detected by automated security monitoring systems and on-chain investigators. Following the initial detection, Bitget's engineering and security teams swiftly paused all withdrawal operations to contain the threat and prevent further unauthorized transfers from the affected hot and warm wallets.</p><p>According to an official <a href="https://x.com/bitgetglobal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement shared on X</a> by Bitget executives, the exchange has confirmed that <strong>user funds remain fully secure</strong> despite the breach. The company emphasized that its robust reserves will completely cover any losses incurred during the security incident, ensuring that no individual customer bears the financial impact of the exploit.</p><p>Security analysts and blockchain forensics firms are actively examining the transaction vectors used in the attack to trace the stolen assets and collaborate with other major exchanges to blacklist addresses tied to the threat actor. While hot wallets typically hold a fraction of an exchange's total liquidity to facilitate daily trading and withdrawals, the swift action taken by Bitget's risk management team helped limit the overall scope of the damage.</p><p>As withdrawal services gradually come back online, users are advised to monitor official communication channels for real-time updates regarding specific token networks and processing times. The exchange noted that certain assets may experience temporary queue delays as the system processes the backlog of pending transactions safely.</p>

Stablecoin issuer Tether blacklisted multiple addresses holding over $29 million in USDT linked to recent exploits targeting crypto exchange Bitget.
The freeze comes shortly after on-chain investigators flagged suspicious outflows and unauthorized asset movements originating from affected user accounts.
Bitget management assured users that the platform’s core funds remain secure and that affected individuals will be fully compensated following the security incident.
Stablecoin giant Tether has moved swiftly to contain the fallout from a security breach affecting cryptocurrency exchange Bitget, blacklisting addresses holding more than $29 million in USDT. The coordinated action was highlighted by on-chain security firm PeckShield, which detected the sudden freezing of funds associated with the perpetrator’s wallet addresses.
The intervention follows a series of unauthorized withdrawals that drained user funds from the platform. According to reports from The Block, the stablecoin issuer placed the suspicious addresses on its designated blacklist shortly after receiving intelligence regarding the exploit, effectively blocking the hacker from moving or liquidating the stolen digital assets.
Bitget executives moved quickly to reassure the broader trading community, issuing statements confirming that the exchange’s operational reserves and institutional funds were not compromised in the attack. Representatives stated that the vulnerability was localized and that the platform is actively cooperating with blockchain forensics teams and law enforcement agencies to trace the remaining stolen funds across various decentralized protocols and bridging networks.
In response to community concerns regarding user restitution, Bitget pledged to implement a full reimbursement plan for all retail traders and investors impacted by the security breach. Industry analysts note that centralized exchanges and stablecoin issuers are increasingly utilizing rapid-freeze mechanisms to mitigate damages during exploits, significantly reducing the profitability of large-scale crypto thefts.
The post Tether Freezes Over $29 Million in USDT Following Major Bitget Exploits appeared first on Cryptopress.

Citigroup is allegedly preparing to roll out a stablecoin-powered merchant checkout solution in collaboration with crypto exchange Coinbase, according to industry reports.
The initiative marks a significant step for a major traditional financial institution integrating blockchain-based payments directly into global commerce.
Banking heavyweight Citigroup is reportedly developing a new stablecoin checkout infrastructure for its global merchants, with cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase slated to run the backend operations, according to a recent CoinDesk report. The move highlights the accelerating convergence of traditional banking and decentralized finance (DeFi) rails.
While official announcements from both institutions remain pending, the proposed service aims to allow merchants to accept stablecoin payments seamlessly, bypassing traditional legacy payment rails that often involve high interchange fees and multi-day settlement times. By leveraging Coinbase’s robust digital asset infrastructure, Citi could position itself at the forefront of institutional crypto adoption for cross-border settlements.
The integration of stablecoins into merchant checkout flows has gained considerable traction over the past year. Major payment processors and fintech giants, including Stripe and Shopify, have increasingly embraced dollar-pegged assets like USDC and USDT to offer merchants near-instant settlement finality. For Citi, incorporating a stablecoin settlement layer could drastically reduce operational friction for corporate clients operating in high-volume e-commerce sectors.
Coinbase, through its institutional arm Coinbase Prime and merchant services, continues to capture significant market share by partnering with legacy financial institutions looking to safely navigate the digital asset ecosystem. Market participants will be closely watching for an official rollout date and further technical details regarding which stablecoins will be supported at launch.
The post Citi Reportedly Eyes Stablecoin Checkout Services for Merchants via Coinbase appeared first on Cryptopress.

<ul><li>Citigroup is allegedly preparing to roll out a stablecoin-powered merchant checkout solution in collaboration with crypto exchange Coinbase, according to industry reports.</li><li>The initiative marks a significant step for a major traditional financial institution integrating blockchain-based payments directly into global commerce.</li></ul><p>Banking heavyweight <strong>Citigroup</strong> is reportedly developing a new stablecoin checkout infrastructure for its global merchants, with cryptocurrency exchange platform <strong>Coinbase</strong> slated to run the backend operations, according to a recent <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CoinDesk report</a>. The move highlights the accelerating convergence of traditional banking and decentralized finance (DeFi) rails.</p><p>While official announcements from both institutions remain pending, the proposed service aims to allow merchants to accept <strong>stablecoin payments</strong> seamlessly, bypassing traditional legacy payment rails that often involve high interchange fees and multi-day settlement times. By leveraging Coinbase's robust digital asset infrastructure, Citi could position itself at the forefront of institutional crypto adoption for cross-border settlements.</p><p>The integration of stablecoins into merchant checkout flows has gained considerable traction over the past year. Major payment processors and fintech giants, including Stripe and Shopify, have increasingly embraced dollar-pegged assets like USDC and USDT to offer merchants near-instant settlement finality. For Citi, incorporating a stablecoin settlement layer could drastically reduce operational friction for corporate clients operating in high-volume e-commerce sectors.</p><p>Coinbase, through its institutional arm Coinbase Prime and merchant services, continues to capture significant market share by partnering with legacy financial institutions looking to safely navigate the digital asset ecosystem. Market participants will be closely watching for an official rollout date and further technical details regarding which stablecoins will be supported at launch.</p>

<ul><li>Stablecoin issuer Tether blacklisted multiple addresses holding over <strong>$29 million in USDT</strong> linked to recent exploits targeting crypto exchange Bitget.</li><li>The freeze comes shortly after on-chain investigators flagged suspicious outflows and unauthorized asset movements originating from affected user accounts.</li><li>Bitget management assured users that the platform's core funds remain secure and that affected individuals will be fully compensated following the security incident.</li></ul><p>Stablecoin giant <strong>Tether</strong> has moved swiftly to contain the fallout from a security breach affecting cryptocurrency exchange <strong>Bitget</strong>, blacklisting addresses holding more than <strong>$29 million in USDT</strong>. The coordinated action was <a href="https://x.com/PeckShieldAlert/status/1892837482938472910" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted by on-chain security firm PeckShield</a>, which detected the sudden freezing of funds associated with the perpetrator's wallet addresses.</p><p>The intervention follows a series of unauthorized withdrawals that drained user funds from the platform. According to <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/342183/tether-freezes-usdt-bitget-hacker-wallet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports from The Block</a>, the stablecoin issuer placed the suspicious addresses on its designated blacklist shortly after receiving intelligence regarding the exploit, effectively blocking the hacker from moving or liquidating the stolen digital assets.</p><p>Bitget executives moved quickly to reassure the broader trading community, issuing statements confirming that the exchange's operational reserves and institutional funds were not compromised in the attack. Representatives stated that the vulnerability was localized and that the platform is actively cooperating with blockchain forensics teams and law enforcement agencies to trace the remaining stolen funds across various decentralized protocols and bridging networks.</p><p>In response to community concerns regarding user restitution, Bitget pledged to implement a full reimbursement plan for all retail traders and investors impacted by the security breach. Industry analysts note that centralized exchanges and stablecoin issuers are increasingly utilizing rapid-freeze mechanisms to mitigate damages during exploits, significantly reducing the profitability of large-scale crypto thefts.</p>

<ul><li>Democratic staff on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said <strong>84%</strong> of <strong>846</strong> Iran-linked sanctioned wallets transacted almost entirely in USDT.</li><li>Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche to investigate Tether's sanctions and AML controls.</li><li>Tether said actions involving USDT froze about <strong>$550 million</strong> in Iran-linked assets in 2026, including more than <strong>$344 million</strong> in April.</li></ul><p class="has-drop-cap">Tether's dollar-pegged stablecoin has become a "significant financial lifeline" inside Iran's sanctions-evasion networks, according to a <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-09-28-Crypto-and-Irans-Shadow-Banking-Network.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">28-page staff report</a> released Monday by Democrats on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.</p><p>Investigators reviewed <strong>846</strong> wallets sanctioned or targeted for seizure by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control and Israel's National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing over ties to Iran and regional groups including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. The report found that <strong>84%</strong> of those wallets transacted exclusively or nearly exclusively in USDT, with the share rising to <strong>87%</strong> among the 757 addresses on Israel's list and <strong>57%</strong> among the 101 OFAC designations.</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-releases-psi-report-detailing-how-lutnick-linked-crypto-firm-tether-props-up-irans-shadow-banking-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, said the findings "expose how Tether and its flagship token have become central to Iran's shadow banking system, allowing the Iranian government to fund its regional proxies, commit human rights abuses, and pursue hostile drone and missile programs as they defy our sanctions regime." He referred the report to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche and asked both departments to examine Tether's anti-money laundering and sanctions practices.</p><p>The report also said two sanctioned Iranian oil traders, Alireza Derakhshan and Arash Estaki Alivand, moved more than <strong>$603 million</strong> in USDT between 2021 and 2025. Staff argued Tether's wallet freezes have been uneven, citing cases in which funds continued to move after public designations.</p><p>Tether pushed back the same day. In a <a href="https://tether.io/news/tether-has-supported-nearly-550-million-in-iran-linked-usdt-freezes-as-u-s-expands-sanctions-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">company statement</a>, CEO Paolo Ardoino said, "Tether has consistently demonstrated that USD® is not a haven for sanctioned actors, terrorist organizations or criminal networks." Tether said actions involving USDT froze about <strong>$550 million</strong> in Iran-linked assets in 2026, including more than <strong>$344 million</strong> across two addresses in April after information from OFAC and U.S. law enforcement, and more than <strong>$130 million</strong> across four wallets in July. The issuer said it has supported more than <strong>2,900</strong> investigations globally and helped freeze more than <strong>$4.9 billion</strong> in assets overall.</p><p>USDT remains the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/tether-usdt-aids-iran-funding-senate-report-says-2026-09-28/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world's largest dollar-backed stablecoin</a>. The clash lands as the Treasury Department expands Iran-related sanctions work, including last month's <a href="https://tether.io/news/tether-has-supported-nearly-550-million-in-iran-linked-usdt-freezes-as-u-s-expands-sanctions-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Operation Economic Outcast</a>, which listed digital assets among sectors under heightened scrutiny. Whether Treasury or DOJ opens a formal inquiry into Tether is not yet public.</p>

A high-ranking official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has publicly stated that token buyback programs do not inherently constitute securities transactions under federal law. The clarification provides much-needed regulatory nuance for decentralized finance protocols and token-based projects seeking to implement buyback mechanisms without triggering strict compliance mandates. Market participants and legal experts have increasingly debated how traditional corporate financial strategies translate into the digital asset ecosystem.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has provided fresh regulatory perspective on digital asset mechanics, with a key official noting that token buybacks are not automatically securities under federal law. The remarks delivered significant relief to digital asset developers and market participants who have navigated years of regulatory ambiguity regarding corporate-style maneuvers in Web3.
Speaking at a recent industry gathering, the regulatory representative addressed the application of the Howey test to decentralized networks and token economies. The official emphasized that the legal status of a buyback mechanism depends heavily on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding its implementation, rather than the mere existence of the buyback itself. This nuanced approach separates routine protocol maintenance and value-accrual mechanisms from the direct offering of investment contracts.
In the traditional financial markets, corporate share buybacks are standard tools utilized by companies to return excess capital to shareholders, thereby reducing the circulating supply and theoretically boosting per-share value. Within the cryptocurrency sector, however, protocols frequently implement token buy-and-burn or buy-and-distribute models to align stakeholder incentives and manage native asset liquidity. Until now, legal counsel frequently advised extreme caution, warning that such activities could attract intense regulatory scrutiny regarding market manipulation or unregistered securities offerings.
Legal analysts quickly weighed in on the implications of the statement. While the clarification does not constitute formal rulemaking or a safe harbor, it signals a more sophisticated understanding of blockchain economics within the regulatory agency. Industry advocates point out that distinguishing between centralized investment schemes and decentralized utility tokens remains a critical hurdle for fostering domestic innovation.
Despite the positive reception, compliance professionals urge caution, noting that projects executing buybacks must still ensure their underlying tokens do not satisfy the traditional criteria of an investment contract. Factors such as managerial efforts, centralization of control, and investor expectations of profit derived primarily from the efforts of others remain central to the SEC’s ongoing evaluation of digital assets.
The post SEC Official Clarifies Token Buybacks Do Not Automatically Constitute Securities Transactions appeared first on Cryptopress.

Solana spot exchange-traded funds recorded their highest single-day net inflows to date, signaling a strong acceleration in institutional interest.
The milestone comes as broader digital asset markets experience heightened volatility and renewed capital allocation into alternative layer-1 networks.
Market analysts attribute the surge to increasing product maturity, improved liquidity, and favorable macroeconomic conditions for crypto investment vehicles.
Spot exchange-traded funds tracking Solana achieved a major milestone by posting their highest single-day net inflows since inception. The influx of capital underscores a robust shift in investor sentiment toward high-throughput alternative layer-1 networks, even as traditional cryptocurrency benchmarks navigate choppy trading ranges.
According to data compiled across major financial tracking platforms, the collective net inflows for Solana-based investment products shattered previous daily volume records. Market participants noted that the surge was driven by a combination of institutional block purchases and steady retail inflows through regulated brokerage accounts. This record-breaking activity highlights how structured financial products continue to bridge traditional capital markets with decentralized blockchain ecosystems.
The latest capital surge places Solana among the top-performing assets in terms of relative net inflows relative to assets under management (AUM). Financial analysts suggest that the growing adoption of these exchange-traded products reduces friction for institutional allocators who require regulated custody and compliance frameworks before gaining direct exposure to digital assets. As network activity remains strong and developer ecosystems continue to expand, institutional validation via spot ETFs could provide a sustained price floor during broader market corrections.
Despite the bullish momentum, industry participants maintain a balanced outlook, emphasizing that regulatory scrutiny and macroeconomic shifts remain key variables for future inflows. Nonetheless, the record-setting session demonstrates that investor appetite for diversified crypto exposure extends well beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, cementing Solana’s position as a core institutional asset class.
The post Solana Spot ETFs Set Record Single-Day Net Inflows Amid Market Rally appeared first on Cryptopress.

<p>A high-ranking official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has publicly stated that token buyback programs do not inherently constitute securities transactions under federal law. The clarification provides much-needed regulatory nuance for decentralized finance protocols and token-based projects seeking to implement buyback mechanisms without triggering strict compliance mandates. Market participants and legal experts have increasingly debated how traditional corporate financial strategies translate into the digital asset ecosystem.</p><p class="has-drop-cap">The <strong>U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)</strong> has provided fresh regulatory perspective on digital asset mechanics, with a key official noting that <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/11/14/sec-official-says-token-buybacks-not-necessarily-securities-transactions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">token buybacks are not automatically securities</a> under federal law. The remarks delivered significant relief to digital asset developers and market participants who have navigated years of regulatory ambiguity regarding corporate-style maneuvers in Web3.</p><p>Speaking at a recent industry gathering, the regulatory representative addressed the application of the Howey test to decentralized networks and token economies. The official emphasized that the legal status of a buyback mechanism depends heavily on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding its implementation, rather than the mere existence of the buyback itself. This nuanced approach separates routine protocol maintenance and value-accrual mechanisms from the direct offering of investment contracts.</p><p>In the traditional financial markets, corporate share buybacks are standard tools utilized by companies to return excess capital to shareholders, thereby reducing the circulating supply and theoretically boosting per-share value. Within the cryptocurrency sector, however, protocols frequently implement token buy-and-burn or buy-and-distribute models to align stakeholder incentives and manage native asset liquidity. Until now, legal counsel frequently advised extreme caution, warning that such activities could attract intense regulatory scrutiny regarding market manipulation or unregistered securities offerings.</p><p>Legal analysts quickly weighed in on the implications of the statement. While the clarification does not constitute formal rulemaking or a safe harbor, it signals a more sophisticated understanding of blockchain economics within the regulatory agency. Industry advocates point out that distinguishing between centralized investment schemes and decentralized utility tokens remains a critical hurdle for fostering domestic innovation.</p><p>Despite the positive reception, compliance professionals urge caution, noting that projects executing buybacks must still ensure their underlying tokens do not satisfy the traditional criteria of an investment contract. Factors such as managerial efforts, centralization of control, and investor expectations of profit derived primarily from the efforts of others remain central to the SEC's ongoing evaluation of digital assets.</p>

<ul>
<li>Solana spot exchange-traded funds recorded their highest single-day net inflows to date, signaling a strong acceleration in institutional interest.</li>
<li>The milestone comes as broader digital asset markets experience heightened volatility and renewed capital allocation into alternative layer-1 networks.</li>
<li>Market analysts attribute the surge to increasing product maturity, improved liquidity, and favorable macroeconomic conditions for crypto investment vehicles.</li>
</ul>
<p class="has-drop-cap">Spot exchange-traded funds tracking <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/11/04/solana-leads-altcoin-inflows-as-institutional-products-gain-traction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Solana</a> achieved a major milestone by posting their <strong>highest single-day net inflows</strong> since inception. The influx of capital underscores a robust shift in investor sentiment toward high-throughput alternative layer-1 networks, even as traditional cryptocurrency benchmarks navigate choppy trading ranges.</p>
<p>According to data compiled across major financial tracking platforms, the collective net inflows for Solana-based investment products shattered previous daily volume records. Market participants noted that the surge was driven by a combination of institutional block purchases and steady retail inflows through regulated brokerage accounts. This record-breaking activity highlights how structured financial products continue to bridge traditional capital markets with decentralized blockchain ecosystems.</p>
<p>The latest capital surge places Solana among the top-performing assets in terms of relative net inflows relative to assets under management (AUM). Financial analysts suggest that the growing adoption of these exchange-traded products reduces friction for institutional allocators who require regulated custody and compliance frameworks before gaining direct exposure to digital assets. As network activity remains strong and developer ecosystems continue to expand, institutional validation via spot ETFs could provide a sustained price floor during broader market corrections.</p>
<p>Despite the bullish momentum, industry participants maintain a balanced outlook, emphasizing that regulatory scrutiny and macroeconomic shifts remain key variables for future inflows. Nonetheless, the record-setting session demonstrates that investor appetite for diversified crypto exposure extends well beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, cementing Solana's position as a core institutional asset class.</p>

Bitcoin is trading near $83,200–$83,500 on 28 September after rejecting an eight-month high above $87,000 last week. The pullback is orderly, not a breakdown: US spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed about $2.39 billion in the week ended 25 September — the largest weekly haul since October 2025 — and 2026 year-to-date flows flipped positive after a $1.96 billion deficit. Ether ETFs added roughly $690 million. Strategy bought another 1,665 BTC for about $143 million, lifting its stack to a record 847,666 coins.
That bid is colliding with a harder macro tape. Stronger US PMI data lifted the 10-year yield toward 5.17%, and crude jumped back above $100 after President Trump declined Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Gold and equity futures sold with crypto on Monday. Support sits near $82,000–$83,300; resistance remains $85,000–$87,000. Institutional demand is the floor; yields and geopolitics are the ceiling until this week’s PCE and jobs prints.
Other news:
Positive
Strategy purchased 1,665 BTC (~$143M); holdings hit a record 847,666 BTC.
Quant (QNT) surged ~300% after The Clearing House (JPMorgan, Citi, BofA, Wells Fargo among 25 banks) selected Quant for its On-Chain Money tokenized-deposit network (H1 2027) and UK banks completed live tokenized-sterling pilots.
SUI advanced on the DeepBook App launch and Linux Foundation LF Decentralized Trust membership.
Bitcoin Cash rallied on CME plans for BCH futures and Grayscale’s spot BCH ETF filing.
Binance invested $100 million in Circle and extended a five-year USDC partnership.
Franklin Templeton listed its $687M tokenized money-market fund (Benji) as Bybit collateral.
Neutral
The Federal Reserve published proposed GENIUS Act stablecoin rules requiring full reserves in T-bills and other high-quality liquid assets plus capital and risk controls.
The UK FCA crypto-authorisation gateway opens 30 September (applications through 28 February 2027).
The Graph (GRT) jumped after Subgraph Studio queries began routing on-chain, lifting indexer demand.
Negative
Bitget lost about $387.5 million from hot/warm wallets on 24 September (largest reported theft of 2026 so far); withdrawals restart in phases from 28 September (BTC first). North Korea-linked actors are the leading suspect; stolen XRP continues to move.
Rising oil and Treasury yields plus Iran-related risk triggered a Monday risk-off session and large liquidations.
Several large token unlocks this week add supply overhang for selected alts.
Coins moving the most
Weekly leaders: Quant (QNT) ~+300% on the bank tokenization mandates, then a Monday fade from overbought levels; RHEA on Confidential Swap 2.0; SUI ~+36–52%; BCH ~+29–36%; GRT ~+16–45%; NEAR and HBAR also led the large-cap rotation. Bitcoin lagged (~+3–5.5% into Sunday, then −1.5% Monday) as capital rotated into higher-beta names.
Buying opportunities (not advice): BTC holding $82k–$83.3k with ETF creations still positive is the cleanest large-cap dip if PCE does not reprice yields higher. QNT is the narrative winner but printed extreme overbought after a ~4x move; any deeper retrace toward prior breakout zones is more interesting than chasing the Sunday high. SUI and BCH have identifiable catalysts (DeFi/institutional rails; CME/ETF path), but SUI faces an unlock test. Avoid thin names that only moved on unlocks or one-day volume spikes.
Bitcoin 7-day price evolution (approx. USD closes)
Date Close Day change Note 21 Sep ~86,600 +6.7% Break, high ~$87,370 22 Sep ~86,200 −0.5% Hold below high 23 Sep ~84,400 −2.1% Rejection as yields rise 24 Sep ~84,400 flat Bitget hack; Fed stablecoin draft 25 Sep ~84,100 −0.3% ETF week close ~$2.39B 26 Sep ~84,400 +0.4% Weekend range 27 Sep ~84,450 +0.1% Best weekly close since January 28 Sep ~83,400 −1.3% to −1.8% Oil >$100, Asia selloff
Week range: high ~$87,370 (21 Sep), post-spike low ~$82,600 (28 Sep). Market cap sits near $2.86 trillion, off last Wednesday’s peak but still up on the week. Next catalysts: US PCE (30 Sep) and labour data; Bitget ETH/USDT reopenings; UK licensing window.
QNT path this week: ~$60–70 into the 24 Sep bank announcements, a parabolic run toward $250–$370, then a Monday fade toward the low $220s as traders booked the 4x. The Clearing House mandate is real and multi-year (go-live targeted H1 2027); the token’s claim on bank volume is still unproven.
The post Bitcoin Holds Near $83K as $2.4B ETF Inflows Offset Iran Risk appeared first on Cryptopress.

Bitget began restoring Bitcoin withdrawals at 8:00 UTC on Sept. 28 after a Sept. 24 exploit that drained about $388 million.
The exchange said attackers compromised a backend wallet system and spoofed transaction data; private keys were not stolen.
A User Protection Fund of more than $464 million is covering the loss, and customer balances were not written down.
Ether, USDT and remaining assets are scheduled to return in stages through Oct. 2.
Bitget began a phased resumption of withdrawals on Monday, starting with bitcoin at 8:00 UTC, four days after an exploit drained about $388 million from hot and warm wallets. The exchange said in an official support notice that the vulnerability has been patched and that each chain must pass extra security checks before withdrawals reopen.
Unauthorized transfers were detected at 18:31 UTC on Sept. 24. Bitget first put the affected amount at about $351.6 million, then raised the figure to roughly $387.5 million after on-chain tracing added assets on Zcash and TRON, according to a fund-tracing update. That total makes the incident the largest reported crypto theft of 2026 so far. Cold wallets were not compromised, and deposits and trading stayed open throughout the pause.
In a follow-up on X, CEO Gracy Chen said the attacker “compromised a critical backend system within our wallet infrastructure, used it to spoof transaction data, and triggered our authorization process to move funds out.” She added that private-key compromise has been ruled out and that no further unauthorized transfers are possible. Chen later said IP and VPN patterns made a North Korea-linked group “very likely”, an attribution that remains under investigation with Mandiant and SlowMist.
Stolen assets included XRP, ether, USDT, USDC, BNB, AVAX, ZEC and TRX across several networks. Circle and Tether later froze about $318,000 in related stablecoins, a small slice of the haul. Bitget is offering a 5% bounty for help freezing or recovering funds.
Chen told users in her initial security notice that “the full amount of this loss falls within the coverage of Bitget’s User Protection Fund, which currently holds over $464 million.” The firm later said the reserve holds 5,500 BTC and that it will replenish the fund after covering the incident. Covering the full revised loss would consume most of that backstop, leaving the reserve well below the exchange’s stated $300 million floor unless recoveries or a top-up arrive quickly.
Under the published timetable, ETH withdrawals on Ethereum, BSC, Arbitrum, Base and Optimism open at 8:00 UTC on Sept. 29, USDT on Ethereum, BSC, Solana and Tron on Sept. 30, and remaining tokens, fiat and P2P on Oct. 2. Chen hosted a live AMA at 7:30 UTC Monday, 30 minutes before bitcoin withdrawals restarted, and said Bitget was taking a slower, chain-by-chain approach than Bybit did after its 2025 breach in order to reduce risk.
The post Bitget starts phased withdrawals after $388 million exploit, 2026’s largest crypto theft appeared first on Cryptopress.

<ul><li>Bitget began restoring Bitcoin withdrawals at 8:00 UTC on Sept. 28 after a Sept. 24 exploit that drained about <strong>$388 million</strong>.</li><li>The exchange said attackers compromised a backend wallet system and spoofed transaction data; <strong>private keys were not stolen</strong>.</li><li>A <strong>User Protection Fund of more than $464 million</strong> is covering the loss, and customer balances were not written down.</li><li>Ether, USDT and remaining assets are scheduled to return in stages through <strong>Oct. 2</strong>.</li></ul><p class="has-drop-cap">Bitget began a <a href="https://www.theblock.co/news/business/2026-09-28-bitget-starts-phased-withdrawal-resumption-416965" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phased resumption of withdrawals</a> on Monday, starting with bitcoin at <strong>8:00 UTC</strong>, four days after an exploit drained about <strong>$388 million</strong> from hot and warm wallets. The exchange said in an <a href="https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/12560603896110" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official support notice</a> that the vulnerability has been patched and that each chain must pass extra security checks before withdrawals reopen.</p><p>Unauthorized transfers were detected at <strong>18:31 UTC on Sept. 24</strong>. Bitget first put the affected amount at about <strong>$351.6 million</strong>, then raised the figure to roughly <strong>$387.5 million</strong> after on-chain tracing added assets on Zcash and TRON, according to a <a href="https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/12560603896108" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fund-tracing update</a>. That total makes the incident the <strong>largest reported crypto theft of 2026</strong> so far. Cold wallets were not compromised, and deposits and trading stayed open throughout the pause.</p><p>In a <a href="https://x.com/GracyBitget/status/2103284265563902056" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follow-up on X</a>, CEO Gracy Chen said the attacker "compromised a critical backend system within our wallet infrastructure, used it to spoof transaction data, and triggered our authorization process to move funds out." She added that <strong>private-key compromise has been ruled out</strong> and that no further unauthorized transfers are possible. Chen later said IP and VPN patterns made a <strong>North Korea-linked group "very likely"</strong>, an attribution that remains under investigation with Mandiant and SlowMist.</p><p>Stolen assets included XRP, ether, USDT, USDC, BNB, AVAX, ZEC and TRX across several networks. Circle and Tether later froze about <strong>$318,000</strong> in related stablecoins, a small slice of the haul. Bitget is offering a <strong>5% bounty</strong> for help freezing or recovering funds.</p><p>Chen told users in her <a href="https://x.com/GracyBitget/status/2103235655879074084" target="_blank" rel="noopener">initial security notice</a> that "the full amount of this loss falls within the coverage of Bitget's User Protection Fund, which currently holds over <strong>$464 million</strong>." The firm later said the reserve holds <strong>5,500 BTC</strong> and that it will replenish the fund after covering the incident. Covering the full revised loss would consume most of that backstop, leaving the reserve well below the exchange's stated <strong>$300 million</strong> floor unless recoveries or a top-up arrive quickly.</p><p>Under the published timetable, ETH withdrawals on Ethereum, BSC, Arbitrum, Base and Optimism open at 8:00 UTC on <strong>Sept. 29</strong>, USDT on Ethereum, BSC, Solana and Tron on <strong>Sept. 30</strong>, and remaining tokens, fiat and P2P on <strong>Oct. 2</strong>. Chen hosted a live AMA at 7:30 UTC Monday, 30 minutes before bitcoin withdrawals restarted, and said Bitget was taking a slower, chain-by-chain approach than Bybit did after its 2025 breach in order to reduce risk.</p>

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff published a series of new frequently asked questions regarding crypto assets.
The guidance specifically addresses compliance parameters surrounding token buybacks and liquid staking protocols.
Market participants and legal experts are actively analyzing the potential impact of these clarifications on decentralized finance operations.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has expanded its regulatory footprint regarding digital assets by issuing a fresh set of frequently asked questions. According to the SEC official website, the new guidance focuses heavily on complex financial mechanisms native to the blockchain industry, including token buyback programs and liquid staking derivatives.
As detailed in the guidance released by the SEC press disclosures, the regulatory body aims to provide clearer boundaries for how decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and centralized entities manage protocol revenues and yield-bearing assets. Market analysts note that these FAQs arrive at a critical time when regulatory clarity remains a top priority for institutional investors and crypto founders alike.
Under the updated framework, the staff outlined specific scenarios where programmatic token buybacks could potentially trigger federal securities laws, depending on how the mechanisms are structured and marketed to holders. Furthermore, the documents address the legal classification of liquid staking tokens, highlighting the regulatory scrutiny facing assets that offer automated staking rewards in exchange for locked native tokens.
Industry stakeholders have been responding to the developments across various platforms. Prominent legal commentators, such as crypto legal experts on X, have pointed out that while FAQs do not carry the formal weight of new rules or commissioner-voted guidance, they offer vital insight into how the agency’s division of corporation finance views ongoing compliance matters.
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, market participants are expected to adjust their operational models to align with these supervisory expectations. Observers suggest that protocols engaging in automated revenue distribution and liquid staking will face increased pressure to perform rigorous legal reviews of their tokenomics.
The post SEC Staff Clarifies Stance on Token Buybacks and Liquid Staking in New FAQs appeared first on Cryptopress.

<ul><li>The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff published a series of new frequently asked questions regarding crypto assets.</li><li>The guidance specifically addresses compliance parameters surrounding token buybacks and liquid staking protocols.</li><li>Market participants and legal experts are actively analyzing the potential impact of these clarifications on decentralized finance operations.</li></ul><p>The <strong>U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</strong> has expanded its regulatory footprint regarding digital assets by issuing a fresh set of frequently asked questions. According to the <a href="https://www.sec.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEC official website</a>, the new guidance focuses heavily on complex financial mechanisms native to the blockchain industry, including <strong>token buyback programs</strong> and <strong>liquid staking derivatives</strong>.</p><p>As detailed in the guidance released by the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEC press disclosures</a>, the regulatory body aims to provide clearer boundaries for how decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and centralized entities manage protocol revenues and yield-bearing assets. Market analysts note that these FAQs arrive at a critical time when regulatory clarity remains a top priority for institutional investors and crypto founders alike.</p><p>Under the updated framework, the staff outlined specific scenarios where programmatic token buybacks could potentially trigger federal securities laws, depending on how the mechanisms are structured and marketed to holders. Furthermore, the documents address the legal classification of liquid staking tokens, highlighting the regulatory scrutiny facing assets that offer automated staking rewards in exchange for locked native tokens.</p><p>Industry stakeholders have been responding to the developments across various platforms. Prominent legal commentators, such as <a href="https://x.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crypto legal experts on X</a>, have pointed out that while FAQs do not carry the formal weight of new rules or commissioner-voted guidance, they offer vital insight into how the agency's division of corporation finance views ongoing compliance matters.</p><p>As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, market participants are expected to adjust their operational models to align with these supervisory expectations. Observers suggest that protocols engaging in automated revenue distribution and liquid staking will face increased pressure to perform rigorous legal reviews of their tokenomics.</p>