According to the on-chain monitor validatorqueue, the Ethereum PoS network currently shows an exit queue of approximately 2.656 million ETH (roughly $11.95 billion) with a reported wait time near 46
Crypto protocols’ funding dropped 30% in August to $1.9 billion from July’s $2.67 billion, according to data from DeFiLlama. Despite this decline, venture capital raises were consistent with July’s levels, supported by the $600 million generated from PUMP’s public sale. DeFi projects especially attracted investments across infrastructure and trading platforms in August, bringing third-quarter totals to $4.57 billion, already edging past Q2’s $4.54 billion in just two months. Daan Crypto says lower valuations on new launches have led to stable price performance In a Thursday X post , market analyst Daan Crypto Trades argued that investor interest has pivoted from continuous new-chain launches to treasury firms developing on existing projects. He noted that capital is now concentrated in liquid markets, reducing the amount of raises for new chains and similar ventures. Still, he argued that this trend is healthy for the market. Source: DefiLlama He explained that lower valuations on new launches have contributed to more stable price action following listings. “I’d say this is a good change for the market and the projects themselves,” he wrote, adding that it leaves room for potential upside for all participants. According to DeFiLlama’s analysis, at the beginning of 2022, monthly raises reached $7 billion , although they’ve declined significantly to much lower levels, while 2025 has had some big spikes. Experts say it still lays the foundation for a healthier ecosystem for both builders and investors despite any pullback. Outside of DeFi, AI protocols also gained significant inflows in August. Everlyn raised more than $15 million and several other seed-stage rounds in AI. Cybersecurity was another highlight category, led by IVIX’s $60 million Series B, the month’s largest traditional VC round. Stablecoin infrastructure followed closely behind, with Rain’s $58 million raise. Additionally, payment infrastructure grabbed headlines after OrangeX raised a $20 million Series B and later rounds for cross-border and merchant payment solutions, some of which benefit from a higher penetration of crypto in commerce. Gaming projects were not excluded, with Overtake coming in with an investment of $7 million, and other protocols supported through ongoing development. South Korea is lifting the VC funding ban on crypto firms Crypto firms are expected to start receiving more financing, especially in South Korea. Following the State Council and cabinet’s approval, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said it officially lifted the long-standing VC funding ban on September 16. As earlier reported by Cryptopolitan , the amendment to the Enforcement Decree will revoke the designation of crypto exchanges and brokerages as “restricted venture businesses,” effectively opening them up to VC participation. The measure dates back to October 2018, when the Moon administration introduced it to rein in an overheated and speculative crypto environment. Much has changed since then. South Korea has taken strong steps to bring order to its crypto market, starting with the introduction in 2021 of a licensing system for virtual asset service providers. Following this, the passage of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act in July 2025 added deposit protection, mandatory record-keeping, and bans on unfair trading, all key measures that helped professionalize the industry and address past concerns. Now the ministry stated the amendment mirrors the shifting global status of the cryptoasset sector. It pointed out that new legal frameworks will protect local crypto exchange users extensively and support growth in the digital asset ecosystem, particularly focusing on blockchain and cryptography-focused companies. According to the government, the reform will also make it possible for crypto companies with proven technological capabilities and potential to access VC investment. The ministry emphasized that this will give them equal opportunities alongside other IT innovators. Minister Han Seong-sook remarked, “We will foster a transparent and responsible ecosystem. We will help facilitate the flow of venture capital and the growth of new industries.” KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast
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Bankrupt crypto firms FTX and Alameda have withdrawn approximately 192,000 Solana (SOL) tokens, worth around $44.9 million, from staking, according to blockchain analytics provider EmberCN . Key Takeaways: FTX and Alameda redeemed $44.9 million in Solana, continuing a $1.2 billion unstaking trend. Despite redemptions, the estate still holds 4.18 million SOL worth nearly $1 billion. FTX has returned $6.2 billion to creditors and plans a third payout on September 30. The move follows a consistent pattern observed over the past year, with the estate redeeming Solana assets on a near-monthly basis. Since November 2023, FTX and Alameda have unstaked and transferred nearly 9 million SOL, valued at $1.2 billion, averaging $134 per token. FTX Estate Still Holds Nearly $1B in Solana Despite Ongoing Redemptions Despite the ongoing redemptions, the estate still holds a significant Solana position. Data from Solscan shows that roughly 4.18 million SOL, worth an estimated $977 million, remains staked as of Thursday. Solana’s market response was muted but positive. The token traded at $234.27 late Thursday night, reflecting a 4.3% daily gain and a 14.4% increase over the past week, according to The Block. 又到 FTX/Alameda 每月十来号的 SOL 固定转出时间了。 他们在 7 小时前从质押里赎回了 19.2 万枚 $SOL ($4356 万)，应该会和以前一样在今天晚些时间分发转移给多个地址。然后这些收到 SOL 的多数地址后续会把 SOL 转进 Coinbase 或 Binance。 FTX/Alameda 质押地址从 2023 年 11… pic.twitter.com/TjALHssMsA — 余烬 (@EmberCN) September 12, 2025 Meanwhile, FTX is gearing up for its third round of creditor repayments scheduled for September 30. The estate has so far returned $6.2 billion to former users, $1.2 billion in February and another $5 billion in May, as part of its restructuring efforts. The payments will be processed through FTX’s designated distribution partners, including BitGo, Kraken, and Payoneer. As reported, a Chinese creditor representing over 300 users is opposing FTX’s proposal to restrict payouts in 49 jurisdictions, including China, arguing it is legally unfounded and unfair. Earlier this year, FTX began repaying creditors after securing court approval for its redistribution plan, and to date, has returned approximately $6.2 billion. FTX, once a dominant player in the crypto space, collapsed in November 2022 following a liquidity crisis triggered by revelations about its balance sheet. The fallout led to criminal charges against founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced in 2023 to 25 years in prison for defrauding customers and investors of more than $11 billion. However, he is now projected to be released from federal prison on December 14, 2044 , after serving less than 21 years of his 25-year sentence for fraud tied to the FTX collapse for good behavior. He was also fined over $11 billion. Federal records confirm that Bankman-Fried has been moved from New York to a transfer facility in Oklahoma following nearly two years behind bars. 3AC Targets FTX Execs Over $1.5B Liquidation in New Subpoenas The liquidators of collapsed hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC) have subpoenaed former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried , ex-Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, and FTX executive Ryne Salame. The move follows allegations that over $1.5 billion in 3AC assets were liquidated unlawfully by FTX-linked entities. Bankman-Fried’s deposition is scheduled for October 14, 2025, at Terminal Island prison, where he is currently serving time. 3AC co-founder Zhu Su claims Bankman-Fried executed unauthorized liquidations that contributed to 3AC’s downfall. He also accuses Salame of using insider knowledge to front-run trades and pocket over $1 billion in profits before FTX’s collapse. Ellison is expected to be questioned regarding Alameda’s trading strategies that may have played a role in the alleged misconduct. The post FTX, Alameda Redeem $45 Million in Solana From Staking appeared first on Cryptonews .
Concerns about a potential crypto bubble have intensified over the past few days, with industry leaders like Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of crypto exchange Kraken, voicing alarm over the current state of the digital asset landscape. Sethi Warns Of Short-Term Crypto Bubbles In a recent interview with Fortune at the Brainstorm Tech conference in Park City, Utah, Sethi acknowledged the presence of a bubble when examining short-term market trends. During the panel discussion, Sethi noted, “If you look at it quarter by quarter, the answer is yes, we get into those bubbles all the time.” Related Reading: SEC Chair Declares ‘Crypto’s Time Has Come’ In Latest Statement – Get The Full Scoop Since the beginning of the year, the market’s leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), has achieved multiple all-time highs, contributing to a total market capitalization exceeding $4 trillion for the first time. This surge has been fueled by pro-crypto regulations stemming from President Donald Trump’s administration and crypto-focused initial public offerings (IPOs) in the United States from firms like Circle (CRLC) and the crypto exchange Bullish (BLSH). The current enthusiasm in the crypto market can be partially attributed to its correlation with the stock market, particularly following record highs in the S&P 500 since President Donald Trump took office. Some argue that these developments provide investors with exposure to cryptocurrencies that may not be accessible through traditional brokerage accounts. However, skeptics caution that many of these firms are merely capitalizing on the hype, leading to unsustainable valuations that could result in a market crash. Silbert Predicts Most Digital Assets Will Crash Recent data indicates that there may already be signs of a downturn. According to Architect Partners, a crypto advisory and financing firm, the average stock price of 15 digital asset treasuries dropped by 15% last week, raising red flags about the stability of the market. Conversely, Barry Silbert, founder of Digital Currency Group (DCG), expressed a more optimistic outlook during the same panel. He acknowledged the presence of “overvalued assets” within the crypto space, stating, “There’s a whole lot of crap in crypto right now, which is overvalued. I think 99% of crypto is absolutely going to zero.” Related Reading: XRP Price Completes Wave 3 Move, Why $3.13 Must Be Broken Further complicating the landscape, Elliott Management, an activist investment firm, has also raised alarms about the cryptocurrency market. In a recent investor letter, the firm pointed to the rapid inflation of the so-called crypto bubble, attributing it in part to perceived endorsements from the White House during Trump’s administration. Elliott Management warned that the dramatic rise in crypto prices poses risks not only to individual investors but also to the overall economy. They caution that an impending collapse of this bubble could have unforeseen consequences, potentially destabilizing financial markets at large. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Will SEC's leaner regulation drive on-chain capital markets and adoption?
Earlier today, Ethereum (ETH) treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) added to its ETH holdings, as on-chain data reveals that the firm purchased another 46,225 tokens, increasing its total ETH holdings to over 2.1 million ETH. BitMine’s Total Ethereum Holdings Surge Past 2.1 Million ETH According to an X post by on-chain analytics account Lookonchain, BitMine seems to have further increased its total ETH holdings. Notably, the firm’s wallet added another 46,225 ETH to its total holdings, worth slightly more than $200 million. It should be recalled that on September 8, BitMine had bought 202,500 ETH, helping it boost its total ETH holdings to more than two million for the first time ever. Eventually, the firm aims to hold 5% of the total ETH supply. The New York Stock Exchange-listed (NYSE) firm has been on an ETH buying spree all summer. Following today’s purchase, its total ETH holdings have now surged above 2.1 million, worth approximately $9.27 billion at the time of writing. It is worth highlighting that BitMine currently holds the largest amount of ETH among all public companies. According to data from Coingecko, SharpLink is a distant second on the list, with 837,230 ETH on its balance sheet. Other firms like Coinbase (136,782 ETH), Bit Digital (120,306 ETH), and ETHZilla (102,246 ETH), round up the top five holders of ETH. Notably, nine out of the top ten firms holding the most amount of ETH are US-based. Following today’s purchase, BitMine’s stock BMNR is trading at $47.85, up 4.93% on the day. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has jumped a whopping 559%, making it one of the best performing crypto-related stocks this year. ETH Giving Bitcoin A Run For Its Money As an increasing number of firms embrace ETH as the digital asset of choice, attention has been steadily moving away from the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, Bitcoin (BTC). However, this does not mean that ETH has completely displaced BTC. That said, the trend of companies choosing to add ETH to their balance sheets gained significant momentum in 2025. Yesterday, Cyprus-based firm Robin Energy announced it had bought ETH worth $5 million. Similarly, in August, SharpLink bought another 56,533 ETH to increase its total ETH reserves. In the same vein, Jack Ma-linked Yunfeng Financial invested close to $44 million into ETH earlier this week. ETH could see further price appreciation as staking activity on the network continues to grow at an exponential rate. At press time, ETH trades at $4,435, up 1.5% in the past 24 hours.
Cardano (ADA) is one of the most closely watched crypto projects as it heads into 2025, a year that could define its long-term position among leading blockchains. With its deliberate, peer-reviewed approach, Cardano has historically been more about building sustainable foundations than chasing short-term hype. But now that scaling solutions and governance upgrades are on the horizon, investors want to hear how that might impact ADA’s market value in the months ahead. While ADA’s trajectory depends on its execution of the roadmap, investors are also moving towards emerging opportunities like MAGACOIN FINANCE. Its early rounds of presale have sold out at record speed, and some analysts predict up to 20,000% ROI if you enter before wider listings. This concurrent momentum illustrates the divide in the market between incumbent blockchains such as Cardano and new, high-growth challengers. Cardano’s 2025 Roadmap Cardano’s development has been divided into five eras, with the current focus on Basho (scaling) and Voltaire (governance). These phases aim to make Cardano more competitive with top networks while giving the community direct control over the future of the ecosystem. Scaling Goals (Basho Era) In the Basho-era, the emphasis is on performance and throughput. Key here is a Layer-2 approach called Hydra , which relies on off-chain state channels. Each Hydra “head” can possibly perform up to 1,000 transactions per second (TPS). And with different heads running in parallel, in theory the network could reach 1 million TPS – which would place Cardano for use in DeFi, gaming, and beyond. Other scaling enhancements are zero-knowledge rollups to pack transactions and next-gen consensus protocols such as Leios and Peras , which aim to enable faster parallel block creation. Governance Goals (Voltaire Era) The Voltaire phase is all about self-sustainability. Cardano is introducing a treasury system where ADA holders vote on proposals, funding ecosystem projects directly from the blockchain. Project Catalyst — this pillar will keep funding hundreds of startups and applications in 2025, extending Cardano’s footprint across DeFi, NFTs, and Web3. A New Altcoin’s Rapid Rise As Cardano is forging ahead with its research-driven roadmap, MAGACOIN FINANCE is making headlines for radically different reasons. Its presale has turned into one of the fastest-selling in recent memory, with rounds closing nearly instantly amid overwhelming demand. Such early momentum could establish a platform for explosive growth once it hits major exchanges, analysts say. Comparisons with the early days of Shiba Inu and Dogecoin have been made, with the possibility of 20,000% returns for early backers, in a much more focused way on long-term ecosystem development. ADA Price Predictions for 2025 Projections for ADA are subject to a large range of forecasts based on how efficiently the network can execute its roadmap and the state of the crypto market at large. Bullish Scenario : If Hydra reaches mass adoption and DeFi activity grows, ADA might go towards $2.00–$3.00. Moderate Scenario: Analysts hopeful of steady growth point to ADA likely hovering at around $0.80 to $1.60 suggesting progress, with some movement, without a huge surge. Bearish Scenario: If development is slow, or if crypto markets decline, ADA could try to make lows of below $0.60 , but community and institutional support could prevent it from breaking down further. Key Drivers of ADA’s Performance Cardano’s 2025 journey is reliant on several key elements: Scaling Success: Hydra will be the major test case for whether Cardano is able to scale globally. Ecosystem Expansion: More DeFi and NFT projects building on Cardano will expand the use cases of ADA. Institutional Interest: Franklin Templeton running nodes, for example, provide evidence of increasing legitimacy. Regulatory Shifts: Cardano’s academic and compliance-driven strategic framework could benefit from a stricter environment Conclusion Cardano’s cautious, research-intensive approach is now under examination in real-world conditions. As Hydra grows, Voltaire governance gets upgraded, and the ecosystem goes further, 2025 should be the year of breakthrough. And, at the same time, MAGACOIN FINANCE’s record-breaking presale and 20,000% ROI potential show how investors are balancing attention toward the giants that are already there and also looking for new, explosive opportunities. Both stories highlight the diversity of crypto’s future — one rooted in careful evolution, the other based on rapid momentum. To learn more about MAGACOIN FINANCE, visit: Website: https://magacoinfinance.com Access: https://magacoinfinance.com/access Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance Telegram: https://t.me/magacoinfinance
Bitcoin briefly rose above $116,000 on Friday after fresh US inflation data fueled expectations of a Fed Reserve interest rate cut, lifting risk assets across the board. Ether rose 2.5% to $4,519, while the overall crypto market added 1.5% to $4.1 trillion. The gains followed a week of closely watched economic releases that reinforced a shift in market sentiment. Producer price index data earlier this week showed wholesale inflation unexpectedly declined 0.1%, against forecasts for a 0.3% increase. That was followed by consumer price index figures, which confirmed headline inflation had quickened but not enough to derail bets on imminent monetary easing. JUST IN: $116,000 Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/kqCBWGaGGq — Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) September 12, 2025 Sharp Job Revisions Add Weight To Fed Rate-Cut Bets At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised down employment data for the 12 months through March 2025, erasing about 900,000 jobs. The adjustment, nearly halving the previous count, signaled that the labour market is weaker than previously thought. Greg Magadini, director of derivatives at Amberdata, said the combination of steady inflation numbers and large downward revisions to employment was pushing the Fed away from a focus on price stability toward supporting growth. “This is greatly helping shift the narrative of the Fed away from inflation towards cutting rates to support the labor market,” he said. He added that this tilt increased the likelihood of a 50-basis-point rate cut either next week or at the October policy meeting. Bitcoin Gains Momentum As Investors Brace For Fed Action Risk assets from Bitcoin to gold rallied in response, front-loading the impact of the expected easing. Investors interpreted the shift as an opportunity to position ahead of a decisive Fed move. Gadi Chait, investment manager at Xapo Bank, noted that Bitcoin had already shown resilience, climbing to $114,000 earlier in the week. “This divergence between sticky inflation and weakening employment creates an almost ideal backdrop for Bitcoin, as investors seek protection against both currency debasement risks and macroeconomic uncertainty,” he said. Weekly jobless claims rising to 263,000 reinforced that view, keeping a September cut firmly in play. Markets now anticipate the Fed will act quickly, balancing stubborn inflation with signs of softening growth. Institutional appetite showed through once again on Sept. 11, when spot Bitcoin ETFs drew $553m in net inflows, the fourth straight day of gains. Ethereum spot ETFs added another $113m, extending their own streak to three days. Whether the Fed opts for a quarter- or half-point cut, Bitcoin continues to attract capital. Its role in portfolios is expanding, with allocators seeing it as a unique asset that offers protection across multiple scenarios. The post Bitcoin Tops $116K, Ether Gains as Fed Rate Cut Bets Firm Up appeared first on Cryptonews .
The US Treasury Department is preparing to impose a comprehensive ban on tools that provide privacy for cryptocurrency transactions. Andrea Gacki, Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), announced this week in Congress that the “mixer rule” has reached its final stages. The regulation, which uses PATRIOT Act powers to ban privacy-enhancing software and methods for cryptocurrency transactions, is now in its final stages. The PATRIOT Act, enacted in 2001 after the September 11 attacks, gave the government broad oversight and investigative powers. Over the years, the law has tightened “know your customer” (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks in the financial system. Now, these powers are being extended to digital assets. The “mixer rule” the Treasury is working on classifies not just cryptocurrency mixers but also numerous on-chain transactions that can provide privacy as a “primary money laundering concern.” These include: Combine or split funds from multiple wallets or accounts Splitting transactions into parts and transferring them on the chain Creating disposable wallets or addresses Swapping between cryptocurrencies Applying user-induced delays to transactions Related News: Whales Are Hoarding Bitcoin, Small Investors Are Selling: What Does This Mean? Experts point out that these definitions are quite broad and could even lead to legitimate users being suspected of committing crimes. Citing the federal crime of breaking transactions into smaller pieces, known as “smurfing” in traditional finance, they suggest similar criminal liability could be extended to cryptocurrency. Concurrent with FinCEN's work, the Special Measures to Fight Modern Threats Act, previously considered dead in Congress, has been revived. Representative Zach Nunn confirmed that the bill is still being debated. This regulation could give the Treasury Department the authority to ban all crypto transactions verified through foreign countries, exchanges, or even miners abroad, without requiring any public due process. Critics argue that such authority could lead to a complete withdrawal of US banks and crypto exchanges from global transactions, which is an “authoritarian approach.” Cryptocurrency industry representatives believe that a complete ban on privacy software would disadvantage not only criminals but also individuals seeking protection from oppressive regimes. The direction the US will take on the final regulations will become clear in the coming weeks. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Most People Are Unaware, But a Major Threat to Cryptocurrencies May Be Looming in the US