Zcash’s planned Sprout freeze would leave private keys unable to move funds
NU7 would leave legacy funds issued but unspendable, even with intact keys, while the mainnet activation decision remains pending. Read the full story on CryptoSlate Understand the crypto stories that matter and what to watch next. Get The Catalyst in your inbox
By Liam 'Akiba' Wright 10/18/2026, 7:00:34 PM
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash takes the top open model spot in Code Arena
DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash's cost-efficiency and high ranking may drive more developers to adopt open models, influencing AI market dynamics. The post DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash takes the top open model spot in Code Arena appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Diego Almada Lopez 10/18/2026, 7:00:23 PM
Block’s Proto Mining Hardware Gets A Smaller Entry Point With Sazmining
TL;DR: Sazmining is offering individual Proto immersion hashboards at $4,187 each, with financing and managed hosting. The arrangement lowers the upfront hardware purchase but does not remove Bitcoin mining‘s ongoing costs or profitability risk. Buying into industrial Bitcoin mining usually means dealing with noisy equipment, electricity contracts...
By NewsBTC Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 7:00:00 PM
A Missouri Woman Felt Jealous When She Heard About a $228,000 Jackpot. Then She Checked Her Own Ticket
A Missouri Lottery player in Arnold matched all five numbers in the Aug. 10, 2026 Show Me Cash drawing to win a $228,000 jackpot on a ticket bought at the Circle K on Jeffco Blvd. Before realizing it was her, she saw a sign touting a local winner and felt a twinge of jealousy, then […]
By Guest Author 10/18/2026, 6:30:27 PM
The White House's crypto chief departs: State of Crypto
Patrick Witt announced his departure from the White House last week.
By Nikhilesh De 10/18/2026, 6:30:00 PM
Zcash Shielded Pools Draw Fresh Scrutiny After Stolen Crypto Transfers
TL;DR: Investigators have raised new concerns about stolen crypto flowing into Zcash, following earlier tracing of roughly 2,746 ZEC linked to the Bitget breach. Shielded transactions obscure details after entry, but do not prove that the underlying network has been compromised. Privacy is a legitimate feature of cryptocurrency. It is also what...
By Bitcoinist Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 6:30:00 PM
Anthropic sets out equity commitment for public benefit fund
Anthropic says it will commit 5% of its shares to a new public benefit fund, with additional equity tied to future value growth, subject to approval. (Read More)
By N/A 10/18/2026, 6:28:59 PM
Scammer Gets Scammed: Ledger Implant Thieves Steal $4.8M in Bitcoin
The FTC estimated task scams made up nearly 40% of US job fraud reports in 2024 and called crypto their payment of choice.
By Jose Oramas 10/18/2026, 6:13:38 PM
Anthropic ties its giving to its equity, from founder pledges to $200 million research funds
Anthropic's equity-linked philanthropy could reshape corporate responsibility norms, influencing how tech firms balance profit and public good. The post Anthropic ties its giving to its equity, from founder pledges to $200 million research funds appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Diego Almada Lopez 10/18/2026, 6:11:21 PM
Fidelity’s $500,000 crypto settlement leaves IRAs outside wallet-transfer terms
The California agreement requires notice if Fidelity ends its retail transfer feature, while preserving security restrictions and IRA exclusions. Read the full story on CryptoSlate Understand the crypto stories that matter and what to watch next. Get The Catalyst in your inbox
By Liam 'Akiba' Wright 10/18/2026, 6:00:10 PM
Tokenized Stocks Reach $262 Million In DeFi, But The Growth Is Not All On Base
TL;DR: Stock-linked tokens deployed in DeFi reached an estimated $262.4 million across blockchains at the end of September, up nearly 18-fold from the start of 2026. Base accounted for about $16 million, not the entire total. Tokenized stocks are starting to do more than sit in digital wallets. A September 30 snapshot put approximately $262.4...
By NewsBTC Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 6:00:00 PM
TeraWulf secures Google backing for its Lake Mariner data center campus
Google's backing of TeraWulf's data center could accelerate AI infrastructure growth, influencing tech investment and energy strategies. The post TeraWulf secures Google backing for its Lake Mariner data center campus appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Diego Almada Lopez 10/18/2026, 5:53:13 PM
Small and mid-cap crypto outpaces Bitcoin since late August, CryptoQuant analyst says
The shift towards small and mid-cap crypto suggests increased risk appetite, but this trend may reverse quickly due to market volatility. The post Small and mid-cap crypto outpaces Bitcoin since late August, CryptoQuant analyst says appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Vivian Nguyen 10/18/2026, 5:34:17 PM
A $98 Million Bitcoin Long Bet on Hyperliquid Hangs by a Thin Thread
A bitcoin trader is staring down a potential $98 million liquidation after a punishing week wiped nearly $9.8 million from a Hyperliquid account. With 40x leverage and bitcoin’s price slipping toward $81,000, another sharp decline could finish the job. Hyperliquid Trader Risks $98 Million Bitcoin Liquidation A massive bitcoin long position on...
By Jamie Redman 10/18/2026, 5:30:13 PM
Cross River Bank Adds Ripple’s RLUSD To Its Payment Infrastructure
TL;DR: Cross River Bank announced an integration of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin into its Core Operating System on October 15. The bank aims to give fintech customers access to blockchain settlement alongside conventional payment rails. A US bank is adding a stablecoin to the machinery it uses to move money for fintech customers. Cross River Bank […]
By Bitcoinist Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 5:30:00 PM
8 Best Crypto Wallet APIs for Developers (Expert Review)
CoinStats API is the strongest all-round choice for developers who need balances, DeFi positions and profit and loss from a single key. Codex suits real-time trading apps, and GoldRush suits teams that want deep multichain history.
By Crypto Daily 10/18/2026, 5:16:14 PM
Stacks outlines Q4 priorities to grow BTC bonding and ship Epoch 4.1
Stacks' Q4 focus on BTC bonding and network upgrades could enhance Bitcoin's utility, potentially driving broader adoption and innovation. The post Stacks outlines Q4 priorities to grow BTC bonding and ship Epoch 4.1 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Estefano Gomez 10/18/2026, 5:06:12 PM
Crypto doesn’t need your party to win, just its candidates
The crypto industry has finally found a way to participate in America's partisan warfare without committing to either of the (only) two available parties: help elect people who agree with it about crypto, then let them argue about everything else. Fairshake's latest House spending plans cover 32 candidates, with 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats on…...
By Andjela Radmilac 10/18/2026, 5:00:57 PM
Fidelity Sees A Stronger Solana Network, With Concentration Risks Still In View
TL;DR: Fidelity’s technology research team says Solana has operated for more than two years without a major mainnet outage, while maintaining roughly 99.7% vote success. It also warns that validator and infrastructure concentration remain important concerns. Solana’s reputation was once shaped by how often the network stopped. A new assessment...
By NewsBTC Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 5:00:00 PM
BitTorrent Ushers in Next-Gen Web3 Infrastructure with Strategic Rebrand and Inaugural BTT Burn
The first round of BTT repurchased with decentralized service revenue has been completely burned, as BitTorrent leverages its reimagined architecture to pivot toward Web3 and AI infrastructure. BitTorrent, a cornerstone of decentralized infrastructure in the TRON ecosystem, entered a new phase of growth driven by dual engines: the rollout of its...
By BlockmanPR 10/18/2026, 4:53:08 PM
Legal risks mount for AI companies after autonomous agents breach outside systems
The mounting legal challenges for AI firms highlight the urgent need for updated regulations and accountability frameworks in AI governance. The post Legal risks mount for AI companies after autonomous agents breach outside systems appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Diego Almada Lopez 10/18/2026, 4:48:29 PM
Analysts pick the most bullish crypto to watch now
Hyperliquid (HYPE) has emerged as the most bullish cryptocurrency by analyst sentiment, even as the broader market faces renewed selling … Continue reading The post Analysts pick the most bullish crypto to watch now appeared first on Finbold.
By Paul L. 10/18/2026, 4:40:18 PM
Ethereum Price Prediction: Is ETH’s 7% Weekly Drop Just the Start?
Ethereum is testing a critical support confluence below $2.4K as its correction continues. Buyers have defended the area with several sharp reactions, but persistent lower highs suggest that selling pressure has yet to ease. Ethereum Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, ETH has declined into the highlighted $2.36K–$2.44K demand...
By Shayan Markets 10/18/2026, 4:39:35 PM
DSA Joins Nacha Payments Innovation Alliance Fall Meeting to Discuss the Future of Digital Payments
Washington, D.C., October 18, 2026 — The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing clear and ethical public policy, research, and education related to emerging technologies, participated in Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance Fall Meeting, where DSA Senior Policy Advisor Molly Woodman joined industry...
By BlockmanPR 10/18/2026, 4:37:32 PM
Bitcoin’s Quantum Transition Won’t Stop at Bitcoin
HONG KONG, October 18, 2026 – As quantum computing advances, the challenge extends beyond Bitcoin’s cryptography to the financial infrastructure built around it. Quantum computing is emerging as one of Bitcoin’s long-term security challenges. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically compromise the digital signatures protecting...
By BlockmanPR 10/18/2026, 4:35:10 PM
Another Bridge Hack: 10 Million Tokens Minted Without a Single Deposit
A bridge hack let an attacker mint unauthorized CYS tokens on BNB Smart Chain, forcing Cysic to suspend its bridge. Preliminary findings point to a breached database and a flaw in how the bridge processed mint messages. Cysic says its mainnet and assets already held in user wallets were not touched. The attack extends a [...]
By Alexander Stefanov 10/18/2026, 4:34:28 PM
Wall Street freaked out Friday. VIX and bitcoin say the fear may fade Monday.
Wall Street's fear gauge, the VIX index, spiked on Friday as stocks dropped. History says Friday panics usually fade on Monday. Seasonality and calm bitcoin suggest the same.
By Omkar Godbole 10/18/2026, 4:33:00 PM
AI model improvements see diminishing developer engagement: report
Diminished developer engagement despite AI advancements may alter competitive dynamics, affecting market confidence and future innovation strategies. The post AI model improvements see diminishing developer engagement: report appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Estefano Gomez 10/18/2026, 4:32:26 PM
Bitcoin Price Faces 10 Big Tests as 5 Catalysts Keep $100K Alive
Bitcoin’s bulls are still talking six figures while the market struggles to hold $81,000. With ten potential market movers approaching and five catalysts capable of reviving momentum, the coming week could settle some arguments. Bitcoin’s price enters Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in a peculiar predicament. The cryptocurrency has spent another week...
By Jamie Redman 10/18/2026, 4:30:28 PM
Sui’s Hashi Bitcoin Lending Project Prepares For Mainnet With $500 Million Pledged
TL;DR: Sui’s Hashi project is preparing for a phased October mainnet rollout with more than $500 million in partner capital commitments. Anchorage Digital is joining as a launch partner, but pledged funding is not the same as value already deployed on-chain. The next battleground for Bitcoin lending is not necessarily a Bitcoin-native blockchain....
By Bitcoinist Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 4:30:00 PM
Michael Saylor hints at more Bitcoin buys as Strategy holds 848,250 BTC
Michael Saylor hints at more Bitcoin purchases as Strategy holds 848,250 BTC after spending $21.5M on Bitcoin and $192.4M on STRC repurchases.
By Olivia Stephanie 10/18/2026, 4:14:41 PM
Latvia plans a one-time 10% crypto tax declaration window in 2027
Latvia's crypto tax window could boost transparency and compliance, aligning with EU standards and potentially attracting crypto businesses. The post Latvia plans a one-time 10% crypto tax declaration window in 2027 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By John Chen 10/18/2026, 4:04:06 PM
Two Aave stablecoin backstops shrank $12.4 million as reward rates rose
Two tracked Ethereum V3 Umbrella stakes fell 9.7%, while their implied annualized reward run rate stayed near $2 million. Read the full story on CryptoSlate Understand the crypto stories that matter and what to watch next. Get The Catalyst in your inbox
By Liam 'Akiba' Wright 10/18/2026, 4:00:22 PM
Latvia eyes crypto tax payments in 2027 as parliament overhauls crypto taxation
Parliament passed a law taxing crypto withdrawals above deposits rather than individual trades, featuring a one-time declaration mechanism.
By Francisco Rodrigues 10/18/2026, 4:00:00 PM
Aave’s Native Bitcoin Plan Moves Forward, But Governance Has Questions
TL;DR: Babylon Labs has advanced a proposal to bring native Bitcoin collateral to Aave V4 without requiring wrapped BTC or a central custodian. The plan still faces community review, risk analysis and governance votes. Bitcoin could become collateral for Aave loans without first being handed to a custodian or converted into a freely traded wrapped...
By NewsBTC Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 4:00:00 PM
Solana ecosystem growth suggests potential undervaluation at $105
Solana's ecosystem growth could signal a market reevaluation, potentially boosting investor confidence and driving future price increases. The post Solana ecosystem growth suggests potential undervaluation at $105 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Estefano Gomez 10/18/2026, 3:59:04 PM
JUST Completes 5th JST Buyback & Burn: Over 170M Tokens (~$23.53M) Burned Ahead of Major Deflationary Upgrade
On October 17, JUST, the leading DeFi infrastructure in the TRON ecosystem, announced the completion of its fifth buyback and burn of its native token JST as scheduled. Over 170M JST were burned in this round (approx. 1.72% of total supply), backed by nearly $23.53M in capital deployed—all funded directly by JustLend DAO's net operating… Read the...
By News Desk 10/18/2026, 3:45:05 PM
Ledger CEO clashes with ex-Mt. Gox boss over $90M wallet thefts
Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier and Mark Karpelès clash over wallet security warnings after hidden implants were linked to more than $90M in suspected thefts.
By Olivia Stephanie 10/18/2026, 3:36:50 PM
Spot Ripple (XRP) ETFs Reach the End of an Era, Solana (SOL) Funds Can’t Catch a Break
The SOL ETFs have seen a single green day since October started.
By Jordan Lyanchev 10/18/2026, 3:36:20 PM
Four Days Left: XRP Ledger Key Fix Upgrade Eyes October Activation
October continues to be a busy month for the XRP Ledger and the Ripple ecosystem.
By Tomiwabold Olajide 10/18/2026, 3:35:38 PM
Crypto PAC Spending Against Sherrod Brown Passes $52 Million In Ohio
TL;DR: Crypto-aligned political committees have reported more than $52 million in spending against former Senator Sherrod Brown’s bid to return to Congress. The campaign is one of the clearest examples of the industry’s willingness to spend heavily on a single Senate seat. The cryptocurrency industry’s election spending is no longer an abstract...
By Bitcoinist Editorial Team 10/18/2026, 3:30:00 PM
XRP Holders, Beware: Scammers Are Stealing Bank Names
As Ripple tests RLUSD with banks, fraud networks are spoofing brand names to steal XRP.
By Gamza Khanzadaev 10/18/2026, 3:30:00 PM
Qubic halts mainnet after wallet drain empties 1,404 accounts
The incident highlights vulnerabilities in third-party wallet software, impacting user trust and necessitating stronger security measures in decentralized networks. The post Qubic halts mainnet after wallet drain empties 1,404 accounts appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Estefano Gomez 10/18/2026, 3:18:32 PM
Just 659? Shiba Inu L2 Transaction Hits Monthly Low as Activity Drops
Shibarium, the layer-2 network associated with Shiba Inu, sees a slowdown in transaction activity, with daily transactions hitting a monthly low.
By Tomiwabold Olajide 10/18/2026, 3:15:22 PM
TSMC to build base dies for Nvidia’s custom HBM chips
The collaboration centralizes advanced logic production, potentially reshaping AI hardware supply chains and enhancing Nvidia's control over memory performance. The post TSMC to build base dies for Nvidia’s custom HBM chips appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Diego Almada Lopez 10/18/2026, 3:12:13 PM
Ethereum ETFs lose more money than Bitcoin ETFs last week
Ethereum ETFs lost $320M last week, compared with $228M from Bitcoin funds, as BlackRock's ETHA led withdrawals and BTC traded near $81,238.
By Olivia Stephanie 10/18/2026, 3:05:53 PM
Saylor Teases More Bitcoin Purchases to Expand Strategy's 848,250 BTC Hoard
Michaels Saylor teases more Bitcoin buys for Strategy’s $69 billion BTC hoard via a fresh ‘orange’ chart update.
By Gamza Khanzadaev 10/18/2026, 3:04:05 PM
Starknet brings programmable privacy to Zcash-style assets
Starknet's privacy features could attract institutional interest by enabling compliant private transactions, enhancing DeFi's confidentiality. The post Starknet brings programmable privacy to Zcash-style assets appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
By Estefano Gomez 10/18/2026, 3:03:15 PM
Qubic Loses $1.3 Million in Wallet Raid Before Network Halts
An overnight cryptocurrency theft emptied 1,404 Qubic wallets of approximately 2.94 trillion QU, worth $1.3 million, before validators halted the network. The apparent culprit wasn’t a blockchain vulnerability but predictable wallet seeds generated by older Apple devices and browsers. With most stolen tokens trapped on the paused network and...
By Jamie Redman 10/18/2026, 3:00:52 PM
SEC approves Coinbase earnings bets that stay settled when the numbers change
Cboe's rules cover Coinbase trading volume and MARA Bitcoin output, with separate procedures for missing or delayed figures. Read the full story on CryptoSlate Understand the crypto stories that matter and what to watch next. Get The Catalyst in your inbox
By Liam 'Akiba' Wright 10/18/2026, 3:00:36 PM