KEY TAKEAWAYS A crypto map links IPsec VPN policies, peers, encryption, and ACLs to router interfaces. Manual crypto maps use static keys and fixed settings, ideal for labs or controlled setups. Key prerequisites: configured ACL, transform set, peer IP, and session keys. The transform set defines encryption and authentication algorithms like AES and SHA. ACLs mark which traffic gets encrypted between local and remote networks. Apply the crypto map to the correct outgoing interface to activate the VPN tunnel.   Manually configuring a crypto map is a fundamental skill in managing secure IPsec Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), particularly on Cisco routers and similar network devices. Crypto maps define how traffic is encrypted and secured between two endpoints by associating policies for IPsec tunnels.  This step-by-step guide explains how to manually configure a crypto map to establish and secure site-to-site VPN connections, ensuring protected communication over public or untrusted networks. What Is a Crypto Map? A crypto map is a configuration entity used primarily in IPsec VPN setups on routers and firewalls. It binds together key VPN components, including the peer address, security protocols, encryption algorithms, and the traffic selectors that specify which data should be encrypted. Crypto maps provide a way to apply these settings to a router interface, controlling the flow of secured traffic. Why Configure a Manual Crypto Map? While dynamic crypto maps support automatic key management protocols like IKE (Internet Key Exchange), manual crypto maps require static security keys and explicit policy definitions. Manual configuration is ideal for controlled or test environments where fixed keying is acceptable or necessary. Though less secure in general deployment, understanding manual crypto map configuration aids troubleshooting and foundational VPN knowledge. Key Concepts Before You Begin Before configuring a crypto map, it’s essential to understand the components it depends on. ISAKMP (Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol): ISAKMP defines how VPN peers establish a secure channel for key exchange and authentication (Phase 1 of IPsec negotiation). IPsec Transform Sets: A transform set defines the encryption and hashing algorithms used during IPsec Phase 2 negotiation. Common examples include: esp-aes esp-sha-hmac (AES encryption with SHA hashing) esp-3des esp-md5-hmac Access Lists (ACLs): ACLs identify the traffic that must be protected by IPsec. Only packets matching the ACL are encrypted. Crypto Map Sequence Numbers: A crypto map can contain multiple entries (identified by sequence numbers) to support multiple peers or policies on the same interface. The lower the number, the higher the priority. Prerequisites for Configuring a Crypto Map Before diving into the configuration, ensure these prerequisites are met: Access to the router’s command-line interface (CLI) with appropriate admin privileges. A preconfigured Access Control List (ACL) defining the VPN traffic to encrypt. An existing transform set that specifies encryption and authentication algorithms. The public or reachable IP address of the peer VPN device. Static keys or preshared keys if configuring manual cryptography. Basic knowledge of router interface configuration. Step-by-Step Guide to Manually Configure a Crypto Map Follow these detailed steps to create, apply, and verify a crypto map configuration on your network device. Step 1: Define or Verify Your ACL An ACL identifies the “interesting traffic” that will be assuredly encrypted and sent through the VPN tunnel. This ACL typically permits traffic from your internal subnet to the remote subnet over IPsec. Example (Cisco syntax): text ip access-list extended VPN-TRAFFIC permit ip 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 10.0.0.0 0.0.0.255 This ACL permits traffic from the local subnet 192.168.1.0/24 to the remote subnet 10.0.0.0/24. The ACL name (VPN-TRAFFIC) will be referenced later in the crypto map configuration. Step 2: Create or Confirm a Transform Set A transform set determines the security protocols and algorithms, such as encryption (AES, 3DES), hashing (SHA, MD5), and tunnel mode for the IPsec security associations (SAs). Example: text crypto ipsec transform-set TS esp-aes esp-sha-hmac This transform set, named “TS,” uses AES encryption and SHA for authentication. Step 3: Create the Manual Crypto Map Now, create the crypto map entry binding all the components of the VPN configuration. The basic structure of a Cisco device is: text crypto map CMAP 10 ipsec-manual set peer <peer-ip-address> match address VPN-TRAFFIC set transform-set TS set session-key { inbound | outbound } { ah ah_spi key | esp esp_spi cipher key authenticator } Explanation of key commands: Crypto map CMAP 10 ipsec-manual: Creates or references a crypto map named CMAP, sequence number 10, using manual IPsec. Set peer: Sets the remote peer’s IP address. Match address: Links the crypto map to the ACL for traffic selection. Set transform-set: Points to the transform set created earlier. Set session-key: Specifies static keys used for authentication and encryption (this key must match on both ends). Example with actual values: text crypto map CMAP 10 ipsec-manual set peer 203.0.113.2 match address VPN-TRAFFIC set transform-set TS set session-key inbound esp 0x12345678 0xabcdef1234567890 0xfedcba0987654321 Step 4: Apply the Crypto Map to an Interface You need to apply the crypto map to the outgoing interface through which the VPN traffic exits. Example: text interface GigabitEthernet0/1 crypto map CMAP This binds the crypto map CMAP to the interface GigabitEthernet0/1. Only one crypto map can be applied to an interface. Step 5: Verify the Crypto Map Configuration Once configured, verify the crypto map settings and status with: text show crypto map show crypto session These commands will display the crypto map details, peers, and tunnel statuses, allowing confirmation that the configuration is applied correctly and tunnels are negotiating. Important Notes and Best Practices When configuring a crypto map manually, these are what to consider and practice: Security Keys: Manual crypto maps use static keys that require careful management and matching on both ends. Avoid using manual IPsec in production unless necessary. Sequence Numbers: Use sequence numbers (like 10 in the example) to order policies if multiple entries exist in your crypto map. Transform Sets: Choose cryptographic algorithms compliant with current security standards; AES and SHA2 are recommended. ACL Accuracy: ACLs must precisely identify the interesting traffic; incorrect ACLs can cause VPN traffic not to be encrypted or dropped. Interface Application: Applying the crypto map to the correct interface is crucial, as it controls outbound VPN traffic. Troubleshooting Tips If your crypto map configuration isn’t working as expected, here’s what to do: If tunnels fail to come up, check static keys for exact matches. Verify ACLs allow traffic between specified subnets. Use debug crypto isakmp and debug crypto ipsec commands for deeper insight into negotiation failures. Confirm interface configurations are correct and that no conflicting crypto maps exist. Ensure the peer IP is reachable and not blocked by firewalls. Mastering Manual Crypto Maps: Building the Foundation for Secure IPsec VPNs Manually configuring a crypto map is a multi-step process that binds your VPN’s encryption policies to network traffic. Starting with ACL and transform set definition, it requires creating a crypto map entry, specifying the peer, and defining static keys for authentication and encryption. The final step is applying the crypto map to the correct outgoing interface, ensuring secure communication across the VPN tunnel. This process, while more manual and less common than auto-configured IPsec setups, remains essential for certain controlled environments, troubleshooting, and foundational network security. FAQ What is a crypto map in IPsec VPNs? A crypto map defines how traffic is encrypted, specifying peers, encryption algorithms, and policies for secure communication between VPN endpoints. Why use a manual crypto map instead of a dynamic one? Manual crypto maps use static keys and fixed configurations, ideal for lab setups or tightly controlled environments where automated negotiation isn’t required. What are the main components needed before configuring a crypto map? You need an ACL for VPN traffic, a transform set defining encryption algorithms, peer IP addresses, and static or preshared keys. What does a transform set do in IPsec configuration? It defines the encryption and hashing methods, like AES or SHA, that secure VPN data during Phase 2 negotiation. How do access lists (ACLs) work with crypto maps? ACLs identify “interesting traffic” that should be encrypted and sent through the VPN tunnel between specific subnets. What’s the purpose of crypto map sequence numbers? Sequence numbers prioritize multiple crypto map entries, with lower numbers having higher precedence. How do you apply a crypto map on a router? After configuration, apply the crypto map to the router’s outgoing interface to activate the VPN encryption policies. What are the common troubleshooting steps if the tunnel fails? Check static key matches, ACL accuracy, peer reachability, and use debugging commands like debug crypto isakmp and debug crypto ipsec.

Since October 1, 2025, most federal activities have been on hold because Republicans and Democrats couldn’t agree on a budget. This means that essential government institutions, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is in charge of approving ETFs, are only able to work with a small number of people.  As a result, 16 crypto ETF applications, including ones that follow Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, are still awaiting a decision. There were speculations of how October would be a big month for crypto ETFs, but now another 21 applications filed early in the month are also facing delays that aren’t clear yet. Deadlines pass, and the silence from regulators persists as long as the government budget standoff lasts.​ Long-lasting Political Deadlock Congress is split on a number of important topics, so there may not be a quick answer. Republicans want to cut spending to help lower the national debt, which is currently over $37.8 trillion. They also want to give more money to the border patrol. Democrats, on the other hand, are fighting against proposed cuts to healthcare and are asking for an extension of tax credits that are meant to slash insurance prices.  Both chambers are still on pause for legislative sessions, meaning there is no way for the federal government to start working again unless both houses pass funding bills or a temporary measure called a continuing resolution, which President Donald Trump must then sign into law. Republicans are in charge of both houses of Congress, but they don’t have the supermajority in the Senate that they need to pass budget measures without help from Democrats. This is the 11th shutdown in U.S. history and the first following the record 35-day closure from December 2018 to January 2019.​ The Crypto Industry is Ready For an Aftershock Once the government reopens, analysts agree that the SEC will quickly approve a large number of pending crypto ETFs. This is known as the “floodgates” bursting. Nate Geraci, head of NovaDius Wealth Management, thinks that a lot of people will approve the products. He points out that it’s ironic that fiscal deadlock is holding up products that are appealing because they are not tied to typical political drama and the growing government debt. Bitfinex analysts have previously suggested that approval of these crypto ETFs could initiate a new altcoin season, making it easier for investors to access a broader range of crypto assets with reduced risk. The possibility of a wide range of ETFs being approved is significant, given the ongoing discussion over how to regulate cryptocurrencies and what the future holds for digital asset investment products in the U.S.​ What Happens Next? To end the shutdown, all parties must agree on fresh federal funds, and then the government must act quickly, and the president must sign off. The backlog of crypto ETF applications highlights both the opportunities and the risks that U.S. politics and regulations present for the rapidly evolving digital asset sector.​ 

Crypto.com CEO, Kris Marszalek, has urged global regulators to open investigations into major cryptocurrency exchanges following last week’s sudden $19 billion market crash.  The CEO accused certain platforms of shady practices and possible market manipulation, saying that users deserve accountability and transparency in the aftermath of such massive liquidations. Regulators should look into the exchanges that had most liquidations in the last 24h and conduct a thorough review of fairness of practices. Any of them slowing down to a halt, effectively not allowing people to trade? Were all trades priced correctly and in line with indexes?… pic.twitter.com/UCD6iKuKFQ — Kris | Crypto.com (@kris) October 11, 2025 Kris’ remarks come amid intense scrutiny in the broader crypto community over how exchanges handle margin calls, liquidations, and order execution in volatile market conditions. The statement now shakes the confidence across the crypto market and could spark regulatory attention that would push exchanges into more transparent operations. Investor Takeaway Regulatory scrutiny following Marszalek’s comments may accelerate the push for clearer oversight of crypto trading platforms, potentially impacting exchange operations and investor confidence. What is the Crypto.com CEO Demanding? Following a sudden $19 billion liquidation that erased weeks of gains and left traders stunned in the past week, Crypto.com CEO Kris has released public statements on X, pushing for investigations into how exchanges manage risk, set margin calls, and respond during market volatility.  As reported, the exchange boss stated that users deserve clear and fair markets and probed into how billions vanished in hours.  He further implied that some platforms may be operating with “Chinese-wall” divisions or conflicting interests between their exchange operations and trading desks. This Chinese wall refers to internal barriers meant to prevent conflicts of interest between exchange operations and proprietary trading desks. Critics, such as Kris Marszalek, argue that some platforms blur these lines and capitalize on market swings for profit. He called for greater auditability, public disclosure of liquidation mechanics, and surveillance measures to ensure that liquidation events don’t unfairly penalize retail users. The CEO also suggested regulators examine whether exchanges executed forced liquidations in opaque ways that magnified selling pressure. Kris’ demands have resonated in crypto communities already reeling from heavy losses. Some users report that during the crash, they observed inconsistent pricing across exchanges, extreme slippage, or orders being filled at disadvantageous levels. These behaviors, they suspect, may benefit large counterparties. Investor Takeaway Kris Marszalek’s demand for investigations highlights the urgent need for clearer risk management frameworks and auditability within major crypto trading platforms. Regulatory Pressure and Kris’ Potential Impact By calling the attention of global regulators, Crypto.com CEO is aiming to turn a market breakdown into a governance moment. The $19 billion crash exposed how vulnerable markets remain to cascading liquidations and other risks that highlight the failure in exchange design. If regulatory investigations are launched, exchanges may be forced to implement stronger risk controls, more transparent liquidation systems, and better separation of trading operations. That could improve trust and reduce retail users’ fear of “exchange black boxes.” In the short run, the CEO’s statements may also influence perception and capital flows. Investors may favor platforms with more robust risk architectures and reputational clarity. Exchanges seen as opaque or unfair could suffer liquidity outflows or reputational damage. However, regulation is not guaranteed, and time will tell if the Crypto.com CEO’s scrutiny could catalyze a new push for regulatory intensity in crypto markets.

In September, China’s exports rose by an astonishing 8.3% from the previous year, reaching $328.6 billion. This comeback marks the fastest growth in six months, surpassing the 4.4% rise in August and the 6% increase predicted by experts.  The main reasons for this gain were a recovery in global manufacturing, more demand from markets outside the US, and shipments that were sent early to get ready for China’s big “super golden week” holiday in early October Imports Reached Their Highest Level in 17 Months Imports in September were 7.4% higher than a year earlier, exceeding the 1.5% analysts had expected and marking a significant increase from August’s 1.3%. At $238.1 billion, this was the most significant increase in over a year.  This was due to both higher domestic demand and people buying things faster because they thought trade policy would change, and holidays were coming up. The increased volume of imports suggests that China’s industrial and consumer sectors are continuing to revive.  Growth Despite Trade Issues China had a trade surplus of $90.45 billion in September. The headline surplus was slightly lower than market expectations, but it remains a substantial number, indicating that China’s trade position remains strong.  The surplus with the US grew even though direct trade between the two countries (both exports to the US and imports from the US) fell because of higher tariffs. Shipments to the US fell by 27%, but shipments to the EU, ASEAN, Africa, and Latin America multiplied, making up for the loss in shipments to the US.  Key Drivers of Recent Performance Several factors contributed to the upbeat trade data: Chinese manufacturers have successfully diversified export destinations away from the US, capitalizing particularly on rising demand in the EU and emerging markets.​ Specific product categories, such as ships, semiconductors, and automobiles, posted exceptional year-over-year increases.​ Expansionary policies in China and abroad have buoyed global manufacturing demand.​ Nevertheless, trade officials caution that sustaining this momentum into the year’s final quarter will be challenging, citing a complex external environment, the potential implementation of new US tariffs, and a high comparison base from late last year.​ Market Outlook in Times of Uncertainty China is in a better position to negotiate with Washington in ongoing trade talks because exports and imports are both multiplying. However, the future remains uncertain due to escalating trade war rhetoric, shifting export restrictions (notably on rare earth commodities and technology), and the potential for additional US tariffs. In short, China’s trade performance in September 2025 demonstrates its adaptability and strength, a positive trait in a world economy that is otherwise very unstable.

In the crypto space, profits can multiply within a short time, but so can losses. Many traders hop on leveraged trading with the expectation that it will double or triple their returns. However, one wrong market move can eliminate their entire position. This harsh wake-up call is called liquidation.  The crypto market doesn’t experience this situation alone, as it happens in traditional markets too. However, the difference is speed and volatility. In crypto, your margin can vanish before you have time to react. In this article, we’ll explain what happens when you get liquidated in crypto, and what can be done to prevent it from happening.  Key Takeaways Liquidation occurs when your margin is unable to cover losses, and the exchange closes your trade automatically. Understanding how liquidation works helps traders manage risks and prevent instant account wipeouts.  Disciplined, smart trading is the ideal defense against liquidation and long-term portfolio loss. It’s the platform’s safety system to recover the borrowed funds when the market moves against you.  What Does Liquidation Mean in Crypto? Liquidation happens when a trader’s position is automatically closed by the exchange because they don’t have enough funds to keep it open. It is the platform’s way of ensuring that borrowed money is repaid before losses become too massive.  When you trade with leverage like 10x, you’re borrowing funds from the platform to open a bigger position than your account balance’s capacity. While this can multiply profits, losses can also occur. If the market moves in the opposite direction, a small price change can affect your collateral.  Liquidation usually happens in margin trading, derivatives, and futures. It is a reality check for traders and a safety mechanism for exchanges. It protects the platform from irredeemable losses. For traders, it’s a reminder of how risky leverage can be when not properly managed.  Step-by-Step Process of How Liquidation Works Liquidation might sound complicated, but it’s the process that occurs when your losses become too big and the exchange steps in to protect itself. Here’s a breakdown of how it happens. 1. You use leverage to open a trade Leverage in crypto means borrowing money from the exchange to trade with more than you have. For instance, if you have $50 and you use 10x leverage, you’re now trading with $500. While it can multiply your profits, it also multiplies your losses if the market doesn’t move the right way.  2. You add your margin Your margin or collateral is the money you put up to support your trade. It is similar to a safety deposit. The exchange holds this amount to foot any losses. If your losses are below the margin, your trade stays open. 3. The market moves against your position If you predicted that Bitcoin’s price would rise, but it falls instead, it means the price is moving against you. Every dollar that Bitcoin drops reduces your profit. After some time, your losses begin to eat into your margin. As the market moves against you, your margin balance becomes smaller.  4. Your margin level gets into a danger zone Every exchange has a maintenance margin. This concept is the minimum balance you must keep to hold your position. If your losses push your balance below the maintenance margin, your position becomes unsafe. The exchange gives you a warning or margin call at this point, so that you can add more funds to keep your position open.  5. You reach the liquidation price If you don’t add more money or if the market moves against you very fast, you’ll reach the liquidation price. This point is where the exchange decides to close your trade automatically. The platform does this to ensure it recovers the money you borrowed before your losses exceed your margin. When this happens, you lose control as you can’t reverse or stop it.  6. You lose your collateral The platform uses your margin balance to cover the loss. Once it is gone, the trade ends, and your balance displays a significant drop. If the market moves very fast, the exchange might charge you a liquidation fee for processing the forced sale.  How To Avoid Getting Liquidated in Crypto Liquidation can happen within a very short time, especially in a volatile space like crypto. However, you can prevent this from happening if you manage your risk and trade smartly. Here are some steps to get started. 1. Use lower leverage The higher the leverage, the smaller the price move needed to wipe your balance out. If you’re using 10x, 20x, or 50x, it might be risky for you. Instead, start with lower leverage, such as 2x or 3x, especially if you’re still a beginner.  2. Always set a stop-loss A stop-loss automatically ends your trade when the price gets to a certain point. It helps you control losses before they hit your liquidation price. Also, it is best to exit early and protect your balance. 3. Don’t trade with all your capital Avoid putting your total balance in one leveraged trade. Set aside some funds as a safety buffer. If you go all in and the market doesn’t move in your favor, you’ll have nothing to add when a margin call comes. 4. Don’t ignore market conditions Liquidation usually occurs when traders don’t pay attention to the bigger picture. Always check the trend before you open a position. Avoid high leverage during market crashes, low liquidity, or major news events.  5. Stay calm and don’t overtrade After a loss, some traders are often tempted to jump back into another trade because of frustration. Instead, take a step back, assess your mistake, and return when you have a clear plan.  Conclusion – Learning From Liquidation Before It Happens Liquidation is one of the painful occurrences every trader wants to avoid but can learn from. It’s a reminder that leverage can be powerful and dangerous when used without care. The goal isn’t to fear the crypto market; it’s to stay alert, trade smarter, and protect your capital before emotions take over. Avoiding liquidation isn’t luck; it’s planning, discipline, and respect for risk. Once you master these, the crypton market becomes a pathway for growth and not regret. 

Cyprus’s capital market is standing at a turning point as regulators move to tighten oversight, embrace digital resilience, and revive investor confidence. In an interview with Forbes (Phileleftheros edition), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) chairman Dr. George Theocharides outlined the challenges and ambitions of the island’s financial sector as it adapts to a fast-changing regulatory and technological landscape. “The role of CySEC is to ensure a stable, transparent, and effective environment that protects investors and supports growth,” Theocharides said, describing a market where innovation collides with rising scrutiny. From artificial intelligence to crypto assets and sustainability rules, the range of issues now confronting regulators is broader than ever. Theocharides said the Commission’s work increasingly revolves around managing emerging risks—particularly from AI-driven products, finfluencers, and online scams—while guiding firms through the MiCA and DORA frameworks introduced by the European Union. Under the DORA regulation, which takes effect in early 2025, financial firms will be required to build stronger systems against cyber incidents and operational disruptions. Theocharides said CySEC has issued policy guidance to help supervised entities meet these requirements and will conduct checks to ensure compliance. “Supervised entities must have plans in place for digital resilience, including identifying risks from third-party providers such as cloud services,” he noted. “They must also report serious digital security incidents directly to the authorities.” CySEC’s next step, he added, involves acquiring a specialized monitoring system to strengthen oversight across the sector. The MiCA rulebook and crypto transition The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which sets a harmonized framework for crypto service providers, is being rolled out in Cyprus with what Theocharides called “an orderly transition.” CySEC suspended new license applications for crypto-asset providers under the old national regime in October 2024, giving firms time to adjust to MiCA’s stricter requirements. One firm has already been licensed under the new regime, while 16 more applications are under review. Beyond licensing, the rule brings Cyprus closer to a uniform EU standard that focuses on investor protection and accountability. “MiCA sets a demanding but necessary framework,” Theocharides said. “It gives investors confidence that crypto operations are properly supervised.” Market integrity over quick profits The CySEC chief voiced concern over unlicensed online promoters who target young investors with promises of fast money through high-risk or illegal schemes. “It’s worrying to see individuals on social media promoting financial products without authorization,” he said. “They display a glamorous lifestyle and lure people into believing in quick and unrealistic profits. We keep reminding investors that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.” CySEC launched a digital education portal with articles, videos, and quizzes designed to help retail investors recognize misleading offers and spot fraudulent activity. The Commission also tracks how licensed firms market investment products online, including those using influencers. On the environmental front, Cyprus is still in the early stages of building a market for sustainable finance. But Theocharides said investment firms and fund managers must already integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their decision-making and provide reliable sustainability disclosures. “Sustainability cannot be treated as a box-ticking exercise,” he said. “It must be part of each firm’s strategy and communication.” Reviving the Cyprus Stock Exchange CySEC is also working with stakeholders to revive the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE), long seen as underused compared with other European bourses. The Commission organized a roundtable earlier this year to explore ways of bringing new life to the market. “There’s clear potential to enrich the CSE with new investment products,” Theocharides said, citing possible listings from startups and tech-driven firms that could attract younger investors. He added that completing the CSE’s planned privatization would create the conditions for a more efficient market, enabling local companies to raise capital for expansion and innovation. Theocharides, who also chairs the Risk Standing Committee of ESMA, sees Cyprus’s capital market evolving into a more connected and credible regional hub. He said the Commission’s efforts are guided by three principles: investor protection, transparency, and long-term stability. “Effective supervision is not a barrier to growth,” he said. “It’s the foundation for a healthy and trustworthy market.”

Solana has remained relatively stable, slightly below $200, after bouncing back from a low of $173 following the market crisis on October 10. SOL was up 8% in the last 24 hours, but it’s still down 14% for the week and 19% for the month. That’s a significant 32% drop from its January highs. Spot volume is at $12 billion, and derivatives volume is up to $32.4 billion in the previous 24 hours, which suggests that traders are slowly reopening their positions after the recent sell-off.​ TVL and DEX Volume Keep Going Down Solana’s on-chain data shows that dealers and DeFi customers are being careful. The amount of trading on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) has been steadily going down since the crash, dropping from $8.37 billion on October 10 to $5.84 billion on October 12.  The total value locked (TVL) dropped to roughly $10 billion before rising to over $11 billion, indicating that people remain uncertain about the market’s direction. Solana’s stablecoin market worth rose by 8% to $16.2 billion over the week, which is interesting because it suggests that investors are waiting for better entry indications.​ ETF Approval and Major Network Upgrades Two major factors could change Solana’s short-term prospects. First, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will vote between October 28 and November 15 on whether to approve a spot SOL ETF. The odds are 90% that it will be approved. Any positive ruling could attract substantial institutional capital, similar to what happened with other major cryptocurrencies after ETFs were introduced. Second, the upcoming Alpenglow update, which aims to speed up transaction finality, and the public test of the Firedancer validator client are also examples of network upgrades that promise to make Solana’s network more reliable and efficient. This could bring in fresh DeFi liquidity.​ Levels of Price and Technical Analysis The relative strength index (RSI) is at 43, which means that Solana is still consolidating below the $200 resistance level. The price is currently capped by short-term moving averages between $210 and $220, while longer-term moving averages between $186 and $198 could provide support.  If SOL can stay above $185–$190 and break through the mid-$200 resistance, it might start to rise again. If not, it could test support around $170–$180 again, which could lead to more consolidation in the near future.

Privacy-focused token Zcash (ZEC) spearheads a major altcoin rally, surging over 370% in the last month. The rally is driven by new institutional access via Grayscale’s ZEC Trust and high-profile endorsements highlighting its shielded transaction technology. Zcash Price Prediction optimism is fueled by ZEC breaking multi-year resistance levels and a potent derivatives short squeeze. Trending Zcash The cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant capital rotation, with attention shifting decisively to the privacy sector, driven by Zcash’s (ZEC) spectacular performance. Zcash has emerged as the standout large-cap performer, demonstrating a powerful reversal that has erased three years of downtrend within a single week. At the time of writing, Zcash is trading around $237.79, having recorded over 35% gains in the last 24 hours alone, with its 24-hour trading volume surpassing $1.4 billion. This meteoric rise, which saw the price break above the $260 level and reach a three-year high of $274 before retracing, has put the privacy coin in a class of its own. Why Is Zcash Price Surging? Privacy Coin Mania Grips the Market The Zcash rally is fueled by an intersection of robust, technical and fundamental drivers, ultimately driven by an increasing appreciation for financial privacy in the days of digital communication. It is no longer a fringe topic but an imperative feature set that will redefine the future of digital asset development. Institutional Interest and Access One of the primary drivers is the breakthrough in institutional accessibility. Grayscale, a major digital asset manager, recently launched a dedicated Grayscale Zcash Trust, making it significantly easier for institutional investors to gain exposure to ZEC and fueling confidence in its long-term potential. This move has increased the possibility of a future ZEC ETF filing, making Zcash a more appealing diversification play beyond the traditional Bitcoin and Ethereum portfolio allocations. High-Profile Endorsements and the Privacy Narrative The rally was fueled by high-profile support from prominent figures in the crypto and venture capital community. Venture capitalist and AngelList co-founder Naval Ravikant provided a powerful endorsement that resonated across the community, framing Zcash as a hedge that is required: “Bitcoin is insurance against fiat. ZCash is insurance against Bitcoin.” Bitcoin is insurance against fiat. ZCash is insurance against Bitcoin. https://t.co/rqMrR3bW7O — Naval (@naval) October 1, 2025 This quote reignited the privacy debate, highlighting that Zcash, through its zero-knowledge proofs, offers stronger privacy protections than Bitcoin, which has a public and traceable ledger. The endorsement of this “old coin, new endorsement” narrative has coincided closely with the sharp price rise. Furthermore, the CEO of Helius Labs, Mert Mumtaz, underscored the necessity of privacy: “a world where crypto succeeds but privacy doesn’t is a dystopian nightmare,” and highlighted Zcash’s “stronger privacy and scale design.” Mumtaz, a vocal backer who called for the token to hit $1,000, stated that he “love[s] shilling privacy stuff because it actually ends up making a difference in the privacy properties of these systems.” gorgeous chart The amount of ZEC being shielded on Zcash is going up and to the right over time I love shilling privacy stuff because it actually ends up making a difference in the privacy properties of these systems (see the rightmost vertical bump) $1,000 pic.twitter.com/E3Y5NclR4A — mert | helius.dev (@0xMert_) October 6, 2025 Regulatory and Technological Implications for Zcash Price Prediction The timing of this rally aligns perfectly with increasing global concerns over financial surveillance. The growing discussions about financial censorship and government oversight are pushing investors toward privacy solutions. Former White House advisor and Zcash advisory board member Thor Torrens noted the long-term trend: “Surveillance and censorship is increasing not decreasing. privacy will continue to become more valuable not less. More and more people will become aware of how visible they truly are online.” This sentiment is especially compelling when applied to legislated proposals, such as the EU’s draft legislation “On Chat Control,” which proposes monitoring users’ private messages. Such a context makes privacy tokens such as ZEC a compelling hedge and investment vehicle. Ecosystem Developments Fueling Demand The technical story behind Zcash is also strong. The network’s mobile wallet, Zashi, now supports cross-chain swaps into shielded ZEC, enhancing user utility and privacy. Furthermore, Zcash’s tokenomics are similar to Bitcoin’s, featuring a scarce, mineable token with a 21 million maximum supply, with a halving scheduled for November 2025 expected to further reduce supply and boost scarcity-driven demand. Technical Analysis Reveals Zcash Price Prediction and Potential The recent surge has flipped the technical chart for ZEC decisively bullish, though the speed and magnitude of the move warrant caution. Current Momentum and Overbought Signals The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the weekly chart reads 91, a historically high number that signals the rally is severely overheated and bears the risk of a potential short-term reversal or cooling-off period. Conversely, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) holds a steady upward trend above the zero line, confirming the consistent, rising bullish momentum. Technical Forecast and Zcash Price Prediction This provides a clear Zcash Price Prediction framework: Immediate Resistance: The local peaks around the psychological $300.00 level pose the most immediate resistance. A clean break above $300.00, potentially targeting the previous correction level at $303, would signal a continuation of the rally. Ultimate Resistance/Bull Target: A decisive push past $303 could extend the rally toward ultimate multi-year target at $374. Analysts are already eyeing long-term targets of $471–$522. Key Support Levels (Buy Opportunity): Due to the bearish divergence on the daily RSI, a pullback is healthy and anticipated. The most critical short-term support zone is the psychological $200 level, reinforced by the 0.5 Fibonacci level at $195. If momentum fades and profit-takers dominate, ZEC is likely to retrace to the major support at $177, with the Parabolic SAR at $124 serving as the critical “bearish flip” level that bulls must defend. Source: TradingView.com Overall, the chart suggests that while volatility is extremely high, the structural breakout and institutional support mean that dips are likely to be treated as buying opportunities, strengthening the long-term Zcash Price Prediction outlook. Institutional & Derivatives Activity The Zcash rally is supported heavily by derivatives investors, adding to the volatility. Among the key drivers was the listing of ZEC/USDC perpetual contracts with 5x leverage on decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, which fueled a huge surge in volume in ZEC futures. Long positions are prevalent in futures markets, and the rally is characterized by buyers with control of the futures market, according to data from Nansen. Source: Nansen The notional value of outstanding Zcash futures contracts also increased to $237 million, reflecting renewed retail and leveraged institutional buying of the token. As one would expect in such a steep market rally, also in evidence are profit-takers, and Zcash saw positive Spot Netflow for three consecutive days, reflecting rising inflows as speculators take profit. Broader Crypto Market Performance: ZEC Leads the Altcoin Rotation The ZEC effect has spilled over, boosting other privacy coins. Other assets like Railgun (RAIL) have seen gains of over 117%, and even so-called ‘dinosaur coins’ like Dash (DASH) have rallied, as traders revisit them in the context of the growing privacy narrative. Source: CoinMarketCap.com The fact that privacy tokens are showing multi-day strength means this is not just a one-day pump but a structural shift: the flows of capital are following stories—AI, meme, infrastructure, and now privacy—as new institutional capital continues to flood into altcoin diversification. Zcash Price Prediction FAQ Why did Zcash jump 35% in 24 hours? Zcash price skyrocketed due to a perfect storm of all of the following conditions: new institutional investor access via the Grayscale ZEC Trust, celebrity endorsements (Naval Ravikant), solid revived demand for privacy coins amid global surveillance concerns, and a technical break which triggered a strong derivative short squeeze. What is the Zcash Price Projection in the long term? Will ZEC reach $1000? Reaching $1000 is very speculative but a figure occasionally cited by optimistic analysts like Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz, who anticipates reaching $1,000 in asset price. Based on current technical analysis, ZEC finds nearest resistance of $274–$303, with ultimate medium-term resistance at the $374 level. Reaching $1000 would require sustained institutional flows, the success of halving in 2025, and full market adoption of the privacy narrative. Is Zcash a good buy today? Zcash investment will be based on individual risk appetite as volatility is extremely high. Current technical analysis suggests that ZEC is extremely overbought (RSI of 91), which means there is a very high chance of a short-term pullback. The currency, however, has just registered a big structural breakout. Long-term players will hold on for a retracement to the upper support levels, i.e., $200 or $177, in the hope of buying at lower prices. The positive long-term outlook is driven by its unique value proposition of privacy and rising institutional exposure.

CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, has announced that its metals complex reached a record daily volume of 2,148,990 contracts on October 9, 2025 — a 24% increase over the previous high of 1,728,362 contracts set in April 2024. The surge was led by robust demand for gold and silver futures, signaling a sharp rise in hedging and speculative activity as investors respond to heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility. “As geopolitical and macroeconomic shifts drive uncertainty, clients from around the world are turning to our metals futures and options in record numbers,” said Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group. “Clients are using our precious metal products to manage risk and adjust exposure across all contract sizes, including a record for our newly launched 1-Ounce Gold futures which is designed to increase access for retail participants.” The record underscores the increasing role of CME Group’s metals contracts as a global barometer for inflation expectations, monetary policy, and investor sentiment. The trading surge also highlights the diversification of market participants, with both institutional and retail traders contributing to the heightened activity across contract sizes and maturities. Takeaway CME Group’s 2.1 million-contract milestone marks a historic day for metals trading, underscoring growing investor reliance on gold and silver futures for risk management and diversification. Gold And Silver Lead Record-Breaking Session October 9 delivered a series of single-day records across CME Group’s metals suite. Metals futures alone accounted for 1,877,878 contracts, reflecting strong participation from global funds, dealers, and commercial users. Notably, Micro Gold and Micro Silver futures both reached all-time highs, indicating heightened participation from smaller and retail-focused investors who are increasingly engaging with CME’s micro contract offerings. Among the standout performers: Micro Gold futures: 741,822 contracts traded, an all-time high. Micro Silver futures: 132,584 contracts traded, with open interest climbing to 18,276 contracts. 1-Ounce Gold futures: 77,946 contracts traded, a record for the product introduced to broaden retail access. Gold Weekly options: 70,496 contracts traded, with open interest hitting 100,650 contracts. The data underscores both the breadth and depth of activity across CME Group’s metals products, which provide exposure to underlying precious metals in varying contract sizes. The performance of the newly launched 1-Ounce Gold futures also reflects a growing demand for smaller, more accessible contract formats that appeal to retail traders and smaller institutions. Takeaway Micro and retail-focused metal products are fueling CME Group’s record-breaking volumes, signaling broader participation in precious metals markets. Market Context: Volatility Drives Demand For Safe-Haven Assets The new record comes as investors worldwide navigate a complex macroeconomic environment characterized by volatile interest rates, persistent inflation pressures, and geopolitical tension. These factors have boosted demand for gold and silver as safe-haven assets and hedging instruments. CME Group’s extensive metals offering enables participants to manage exposure across the entire risk spectrum — from short-term volatility to long-term portfolio diversification. Analysts note that as uncertainty persists in global markets, liquidity and risk management tools such as CME’s gold and silver futures are likely to play an even greater role in portfolio strategies. The exchange’s ability to provide deep, regulated markets with transparent pricing continues to attract institutional flows and sophisticated traders seeking stability amid shifting global dynamics. Beyond short-term trading activity, CME Group’s latest milestone reinforces its position as a cornerstone of precious metals price discovery and risk management. As participation broadens, the exchange’s metals complex is evolving to serve both global institutions and retail investors through product innovation and enhanced accessibility. Takeaway Heightened market volatility is driving unprecedented participation in CME’s metals products as gold and silver reaffirm their roles as core safe-haven assets.  

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) and CME Group have announced the completion of the sale of their joint venture, OSTTRA, to KKR, a global investment firm. The transaction values OSTTRA at a total enterprise value of $3.1 billion, with proceeds to be divided evenly between S&P Global and CME Group pursuant to their 50/50 ownership structure. Established in 2021, OSTTRA has become a vital part of the global financial infrastructure, providing mission-critical post-trade processing, connectivity, and optimization services across major asset classes including interest rates, foreign exchange (FX), credit, and equities. Its products and services underpin trade lifecycle management for financial institutions worldwide, serving banks, broker-dealers, and asset managers. The sale to KKR marks a significant step in the evolution of OSTTRA’s growth strategy, as the platform transitions from joint ownership by two major market infrastructure firms to independent backing by one of the world’s largest private equity investors. The transaction reflects the strong market appetite for financial data and workflow technology businesses that play a foundational role in global capital markets. Takeaway The $3.1 billion sale of OSTTRA to KKR underscores the rising value of post-trade infrastructure and workflow technology in the global financial ecosystem. OSTTRA: Powering Global Post-Trade Connectivity OSTTRA was founded as a joint venture between S&P Global and CME Group following the merger of MarkitSERV, Traiana, TriOptima, and Reset — four legacy businesses that collectively shaped the post-trade ecosystem. The company provides end-to-end post-trade solutions encompassing trade processing, lifecycle management, and risk optimization across derivatives and cash markets. Its infrastructure enables counterparties to streamline clearing, confirmation, reconciliation, and collateral workflows in highly regulated environments. By offering centralized post-trade tools, OSTTRA enhances efficiency, transparency, and interoperability for the world’s largest financial institutions. Under KKR’s ownership, OSTTRA is expected to leverage new investment and operational independence to scale its technology and global reach. The acquisition aligns with KKR’s broader strategy to expand its exposure to financial infrastructure and data-driven services — sectors that are increasingly critical in a digitized, compliance-focused trading landscape. Takeaway OSTTRA’s transition to KKR ownership positions it for continued innovation and global expansion in post-trade processing and financial connectivity. Strategic And Advisory Teams Behind The Transaction The divestiture was facilitated by leading global financial and legal advisors. Barclays and Davis Polk acted as financial and legal advisors, respectively, to S&P Global, while Citi and Skadden served as financial and legal advisors to CME Group. These advisory teams helped structure a transaction that ensures continuity for OSTTRA’s clients and employees, while maximizing value for shareholders. Both CME Group and S&P Global reaffirmed their commitment to focusing on their core competencies — trading, market data, analytics, and risk management — while maintaining collaborative relationships with key industry partners like OSTTRA. The companies are expected to continue working closely with OSTTRA under its new ownership as part of the broader financial infrastructure ecosystem. The closing of the sale caps a multi-year journey that began with OSTTRA’s creation following S&P Global’s merger with IHS Markit. The new phase under KKR reflects a strategic realignment as financial market participants adapt to the growing importance of automation, standardization, and capital efficiency in post-trade processes. Takeaway The OSTTRA sale represents a strategic realignment for CME Group and S&P Global while giving KKR a foothold in the critical post-trade services sector.  

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has withdrawn the investment firm licence of VPR Safe Financial Group Ltd, the company behind the Alvexo trading brand, ending more than a decade of the broker’s regulated presence in the European Union. The regulator said in a statement that its board decided on September 29 to revoke the Cyprus Investment Firm (CIF) authorisation No. 236/14 after VPR voluntarily renounced it under Article 8(1)(a) of the 2017 Investment Services and Regulated Markets Law and Directive DI87-05. The move, published on October 13, confirms the company’s decision to quit the EU regime rather than face a regulatory fight. Long-running compliance friction VPR Safe Financial Group, incorporated in 2013 and licensed by CySEC in 2014, marketed Alvexo to retail clients across Europe, offering contracts for difference (CFDs) on forex, commodities and indices. The brand leaned heavily on online advertising and influencer marketing—tactics that have drawn frequent attention from EU watchdogs since leverage limits were tightened in 2018. CySEC already fined VPR twice in recent years. In March 2021, the firm paid €100,000 to settle violations related to client communications and risk disclosures. Three years later, in November 2024, it agreed to a €50,000 settlement over possible breaches of the Investment Services Law and MiFIR trading-reporting rules. In between, CySEC partially suspended VPR’s licence in August 2022, citing concerns over how the company and its French tied agent, France Safe Media, were promoting CFDs to retail investors. France’s AMF separately warned the public that Alvexo was barred from marketing in the country or accepting new French clients. The suspension was lifted in October 2023 after CySEC said the company had fixed the shortcomings. Exit instead of escalation The final withdrawal appears to have been initiated by VPR itself, reflecting a wider exodus of small and mid-tier brokers from CySEC supervision toward lighter offshore regimes. “VPR Safe Financial Group Ltd has decided to renounce its authorisation,” the regulator said, without citing any new violations or enforcement action. Alvexo’s main website now lists HSN Capital Group Ltd, licensed in the Seychelles (FSA SD030), as the operator—signalling that the brand’s remaining clients are likely booked outside the EU. Similar transitions have been seen at other retail brokers such as FIBO Markets and Itrade Global, which also surrendered their CySEC licences earlier this year. For investors, the change removes access to the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), a key safety net for clients of regulated Cypriot firms. Under CySEC rules, companies that renounce their licence must return all client money and close open positions before authorisation is withdrawn. Cyprus has long been Europe’s hub for online-trading brands, hosting dozens of firms that serve the EU under MiFID II “passporting” rights. In recent years, tighter product-governance demands, higher compliance costs and aggressive marketing restrictions have pushed many companies to scale back or relocate. “Since ESMA’s 2018 product-intervention rules, the economics for mass-market CFD providers inside the EU have changed dramatically,” said one Nicosia-based compliance consultant familiar with CySEC’s process. “Renunciation is now a tidy way to exit without formal sanctions.” VPR’s withdrawal notice lists no judicial review or pending case, suggesting the closure was orderly. CySEC is expected to issue a separate statement confirming the firm’s termination from the Investor Compensation Fund, a procedural step that follows all licence surrenders. What comes next For now, Alvexo continues to operate internationally under its Seychelles entity. Its Cypriot arm, however, will disappear from CySEC’s register once the withdrawal takes effect. The development marks the end of an era for one of the retail trading brands to emerge from Cyprus’s early-2010s brokerage boom—an era that is now winding down as regulators tighten oversight and global competition shifts elsewhere. CySEC declined to comment beyond its published notice. VPR Safe Financial Group could not immediately be reached for comment.  

Liquidation is one of the harshest realities of leveraged crypto trading. It happens when a trader’s account balance falls below the required maintenance margin, causing the exchange to close the position automatically. In simple terms, liquidation means losing the money you used to open the trade because the market moved too far against you. Understanding how to avoid liquidation is one of the most valuable lessons for anyone trading with leverage. It is not about avoiding losses completely, but about protecting your capital and staying in the market long enough to grow steadily. Key Takeaways • Keep leverage low and manageable to reduce liquidation risk. • Use stop-loss orders to control unexpected market movements. • Always monitor your liquidation price and maintain a margin buffer. • Manage your risk by sizing trades correctly and staying informed. What Causes Liquidation in Crypto? Liquidation often happens for a few predictable reasons. • Excessive leverage: Many new traders are tempted by the idea of multiplying profits quickly, forgetting that leverage multiplies losses just as fast. When you use 10x or 20x leverage, even a small price movement can erase your margin and trigger liquidation. • High volatility: The crypto market is unpredictable and can move sharply within minutes. A sudden 5% drop might not affect a spot trader much, but for someone using high leverage, it could mean total liquidation. • Poor risk management: Entering a trade without a stop-loss, ignoring your liquidation price, or using all your funds in a single position increases exposure. When the market moves against you, you have no s How to Never Get Liquidated in Crypto 1. Start with Low Leverage Many traders get liquidated because they use too much leverage. Leverage lets you control big positions with small capital, but it also magnifies losses. A 10% move against you on 10x leverage can wipe you out completely. To stay safe, it is advisable to use low leverage like 2x or 3x, as it gives you room when the market moves and helps you stay consistent with smaller and steady profits instead of chasing big wins. 2. Know Your Liquidation Price Before Opening a Trade Every leveraged trade has a liquidation price. This is the point where the exchange closes your position. Many traders ignore it, which is a costly mistake. Always know your liquidation price before entering a trade. If it is too close to the market price, you are likely over-leveraged. Reduce your position size so you have more breathing space. Knowing your liquidation level helps you set better stop-loss and take-profit targets. 3. Use Stop-Loss Orders A stop-loss order is one of the most effective tools for avoiding liquidation. It closes your trade automatically once the price hits a level you have set, preventing further losses. By setting a stop-loss, you take control of your risk and remove emotional decision-making because you already know the maximum you are willing to lose before the trade starts. For more advanced traders, trailing stop-loss orders can be used to lock in profits while still allowing the position to grow if the market moves in their favour. 4. Maintain a Margin Buffer Another effective way to prevent liquidation is by maintaining extra margin in your account. In simple terms, don’t use all your available funds to open trades. Keeping a margin buffer gives your positions room to breathe when the market moves suddenly. For instance, if your exchange requires a set amount of collateral to keep a trade open, add an extra 20–30% above that to stay protected. Traders who commit all their capital to margin often get liquidated just before the market rebounds. 5. Use Isolated Margin Mode In crypto futures trading, there are two common margin modes: isolated and cross. In cross-margin mode, all your funds in the margin wallet are connected. This means if one trade goes wrong, it can drain your entire account. In isolated margin mode, only the funds you assign to a specific position are at risk. Using isolated margin mode gives you more control. It limits potential losses to a single position, preventing a bad trade from wiping out your whole portfolio. Many experienced traders prefer isolated margin because it helps enforce discipline and simplifies risk management. 6. Practice Proper Position Sizing and Risk Management A big part of staying safe in leveraged trading is knowing how much to risk per trade. One of the golden rules is to never risk more than one or two percent of your trading capital on a single position. This ensures that even if several trades go wrong, your account remains healthy. Position sizing means adjusting your trade size based on your account balance and risk tolerance. It also helps to diversify across multiple trades rather than putting all your funds into one coin or position. Spreading risk keeps your overall portfolio stable, even when one market direction surprises you. 7. Stay Aware of Market Conditions Many liquidations occur because traders fail to pay attention to what is happening in the market. Big announcements, global news, or sudden changes in trading volume can lead to rapid price swings. Before entering any trade, take a moment to assess market sentiment. Also, understand that exchanges occasionally adjust their margin requirements or leverage limits during volatile periods. If you are unaware of these changes, you might be caught off guard by forced liquidations. Final Thoughts Avoiding liquidation in crypto trading comes down to sound risk management. Traders who plan their positions carefully, maintain healthy margin buffers, and limit leverage have a far better chance of long-term success. The goal is to stay consistent, protect your capital, and allow discipline to guide every trade you make.  

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and Microsoft have announced a major milestone in their multi-year partnership — transforming access to LSEG’s licensed financial data through Microsoft’s AI ecosystem. The initiative will enable agentic AI workflows built in Microsoft Copilot Studio and deployed via Microsoft 365 Copilot, powered by LSEG’s data through a secure, LSEG-managed Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. This collaboration represents a breakthrough in connecting trusted market data with next-generation AI tools, allowing financial professionals to create, deploy, and manage intelligent agents that integrate seamlessly with their existing enterprise workflows. Through this integration, analysts, traders, and executives can access and act on real-time, AI-ready financial insights directly within the Microsoft 365 environment. “LSEG’s partnership with Microsoft is transforming access to data for financial professionals with cutting-edge, AI-driven innovation at scale,” said David Schwimmer, Group Chief Executive Officer of LSEG. “LSEG customers can build, deploy and scale agentic AI directly into their workflows with secure, seamless connectivity through MCP.” Takeaway LSEG and Microsoft are redefining financial data access by embedding AI-powered agents directly into Microsoft 365 workflows, connecting secure, licensed market data with intelligent automation. Building Custom AI Agents Using LSEG Data At the heart of this innovation is the integration of LSEG’s trusted datasets—spanning more than 33 petabytes of AI-ready content—into Microsoft Copilot Studio. This platform provides a low-code environment for organizations to build and customize AI agents that utilize LSEG’s data, analytics, and financial taxonomies directly within day-to-day applications like Outlook, Excel, and Teams. Copilot Studio enables users to create intelligent agents that combine large language model reasoning with human expertise, licensed data, and enterprise governance. These agents can automate reporting, model portfolio impacts, surface risk insights, or generate decision-ready briefings — all within a secure and compliant framework that adheres to data governance standards. LSEG’s MCP server acts as the secure bridge between its financial datasets and Microsoft’s AI ecosystem, facilitating interoperability across systems and applications. It ensures that users can deploy AI agents that leverage LSEG’s content while maintaining privacy, compliance, and auditability — essential for regulated financial institutions. Takeaway Through Copilot Studio and the MCP server, LSEG data becomes the foundation for creating intelligent, compliant AI agents that automate financial analysis and decision support. Setting The Standard For Secure, Scalable Financial AI LSEG’s adoption of the Model Context Protocol represents a pivotal move toward a unified data and AI framework for the financial industry. MCP enhances interoperability across AI systems, enabling consistent, secure data access for AI models and enterprise applications. For financial institutions, this means faster deployment of AI tools, lower integration costs, and improved governance over sensitive market data. “Our continued partnership with LSEG underscores a shared commitment to redefining the future of financial services through secure, AI-driven innovation,” said Nick Parker, Chief Business Officer and President of Worldwide Sales & Solutions at Microsoft. “By combining LSEG’s trusted market data with Microsoft’s cloud and AI capabilities, we’re empowering customers to unlock deeper insights, accelerate decision-making and streamline complex workflows.” This next phase of collaboration aligns with LSEG’s AI Everywhere strategy — a long-term initiative focused on delivering licensed, high-quality data that scales AI use responsibly across the global financial ecosystem. With MCP integration, institutions can now unify their data, analytics, and decision-making layers to support secure, agentic workflows at every level of operation. Takeaway By combining LSEG’s AI-ready data with Microsoft’s Copilot ecosystem, the partnership sets a new benchmark for secure, interoperable, and intelligent financial workflows.  

BNB recorded a sharp 11% rise in the past day, hitting a new all-time high in the market. The surge came amid lingering uncertainty and ongoing FUD surrounding BNB’s role in last weekend’s market-wide crash, which triggered one of the largest liquidation cascades in crypto history—over $19 billion in positions wiped out. Despite the negative sentiment, BNB has continued to rally, soaring to an all-time high of $1,370—its highest level to date. The rally was supported by a surge in trading activity, with daily volume climbing 75% to $13.22 billion. Market indicators suggest the asset has entered a price discovery phase, facing little resistance to further upside. Previous resistance zones now appear to be acting as support levels that could fuel additional price gains. Investor Takeaway Rising trading volumes and strong technical support hint that BNB may continue its price discovery in the near term. BNB’s Rally Catches Market by Surprise The rebound surprised many market participants, signaling renewed accumulation of the asset despite recent FUD. Binance, the exchange behind BNB, faced criticism for allegedly contributing to the weekend liquidation event after several tokens momentarily crashed to $0 and stablecoin USDe lost its peg. Tokens such as IoTeX, Enjin, and Cosmos were among the affected. Binance later clarified, in an official statement, that the sell-offs were driven by a “lack of buying orders,” which caused sharp market drops. USDe also suffered a major depeg, plunging to $0.65 instead of maintaining its 1:1 parity with the U.S. dollar, triggering a series of forced liquidations across the market. In response, Binance launched a compensation campaign to refund affected users. “Compensation has been distributed in two batches, totaling approximately $283 million,” the exchange announced. This announcement likely restored investor confidence and contributed to the recent rebound. Data from CoinGlass shows an end to the $98 million sell-off observed on October 12. Binance maintained that the liquidation cascade stemmed from broader market factors rather than a platform failure. The exchange attributed the decline to “global macroeconomic events,” noting that President Trump’s recent tariff announcement following China’s export restrictions had caused a noticeable dip in the S&P 500. Investor Takeaway BNB’s price action indicates that investor faith in exchange-linked tokens remains intact despite volatility. CZ’s Possible Return to Binance The latest market developments also coincided with reports of potential clemency for Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ). According to emerging details, discussions are underway that could see CZ’s return to Binance as CEO. Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino reported that “many Trump insiders believe the fraud case against [CZ] was weak and did not warrant a felony conviction or jail time.” CZ has already served four months in prison, and Binance previously paid a $3.4 billion fine. News of possible clemency has fueled optimism among investors who view BNB as undervalued. In a separate development, PayPal recently acquired a 40% stake in Binance Japan—an indication that major institutional players are showing growing interest in the exchange and, by extension, its native token, BNB.

Sławomir Cenckiewicz, Poland’s national security head, has expressed concern that Moscow is utilizing cryptocurrency to finance espionage activities across the EU. After Polish officials found proof in 2023 that Russian intelligence networks were using cryptocurrencies to pay for local operatives, these claims came to light. It has been said that these kinds of activities involve drone invasions, acts of sabotage in European airspace, and other secret efforts to destabilize that get around normal financial monitoring.​ Legislative Crackdown: Closing Crypto Gaps Polish officials are concerned about Russia’s evolving financial tactics, prompting a push for new regulations that would complicate the buying and selling of digital assets within the country. Cenckiewicz emphasized the need for robust legislation to prevent foreign entities from utilizing cryptocurrencies to fund intelligence activities. He said that Polish authorities do not want any gaps in the law that would allow espionage or influence operations to be funded with cryptocurrencies.​ Russia’s Crypto Playbook: Patterns from the Past and Present It is commonly known that Russia uses cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions and conceal money flows. Investigators have alluded to the 2016 U.S. elections as an example of when GRU agents allegedly used Bitcoin to pay for spear-phishing campaigns, servers, and domain infrastructure, and spread false information. More recently, analytics showed that Russian-linked networks were processing billions of dollars in stablecoin transactions, mostly through Tether (USDT) and the ruble-backed A7A5. These networks were doing this to circumvent regulations and exert political influence in western Moldova and Central Asia.​ The Two Sides of Crypto in Modern Espionage Digital currencies like Bitcoin and stablecoins are popular for secret financing since they are pseudonymous and can be used anywhere. Cryptocurrencies enable the movement of money beyond traditional banking regulations, but their use in espionage and destabilization operations poses significant challenges for European regulators and security officials.​ Poland’s renewed effort for strict monitoring shows that an increasing number of politicians are aware of the dangers of decentralized financial technologies falling into the hands of unfriendly nations. As Russia continues to integrate crypto into its economy, EU member states must navigate the tension between fostering innovation and safeguarding their borders against digital-age espionage.​

Bybit Partners with DigiFT and UBS to Bridge TradFi and Web3 Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has announced a strategic collaboration with DigiFT and UBS Asset Management to expand the utility of UBS’s USD Money Market Investment Fund Token (UBS uMINT). The initiative enables holders of UBS’s tokenized money market fund shares — distributed via DigiFT — to use them as collateral for trading on Bybit’s platform. The partnership marks a major step forward in bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and digital assets, enhancing institutional access to tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). UBS uMINT represents the first tokenized investment fund launched by UBS Asset Management, built on the Ethereum public blockchain. Since opening to external investors in November 2024, it has been distributed through authorized partners, with DigiFT currently leading in transaction volume under the regulatory oversight of Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS) and Hong Kong’s SFC. “By working together, we are opening the door for traditional institutions to unlock further utility from their tokenized money market products,” said Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit. “This partnership enables investors to use regulated tokenized holdings as collateral for trading, blending the reliability of TradFi with the efficiency of Web3.” Investor Takeaway The collaboration brings tokenized money market funds into mainstream trading infrastructure — giving institutions new capital efficiency while preserving regulatory assurance. Tokenized Collateral: A Step Toward Real-World Asset Integration The integration of UBS uMINT into Bybit’s trading ecosystem represents one of the first large-scale applications of tokenized traditional financial instruments within a major exchange’s collateral framework. It allows institutional investors to deploy otherwise static fund holdings into active trading positions, improving liquidity management and capital utilization without additional custodial risk. DigiFT’s regulated, smart contract-based infrastructure enables secure and transparent on-chain distribution of RWAs, aligning with growing institutional interest in tokenized money markets and short-duration assets. This collaboration signals the convergence of compliant asset tokenization and exchange-level liquidity access — two pillars critical for institutional adoption. “Our B2B team is focused on strategic initiatives that safely integrate digital assets into institutional operations,” said Yoyee Wang, Head of Bybit’s B2B Business Unit. “Working with DigiFT and UBS provides our clients access to a high-quality, regulated product while leveraging Bybit’s robust liquidity and settlement systems.” Why This Collaboration Matters for Institutional Crypto The partnership highlights a new frontier in institutional DeFi: the use of regulated, tokenized assets as collateral across exchanges and lending protocols. Tokenized money market funds have gained attention since 2023 as stable, yield-bearing instruments offering real-world anchoring to blockchain ecosystems. UBS’s uMINT joins the ranks of early institutional RWA initiatives by major banks exploring blockchain-native settlement mechanisms. For Bybit, the move strengthens its B2B and institutional services portfolio as it continues to attract regulated asset managers and traditional institutions. For DigiFT, it showcases how compliant smart contract systems can deliver capital efficiency and transparency, paving the way for broader adoption of RWAs in financial infrastructure. “As a regulated RWA distributor, our vision is to make high-quality investment products accessible on-chain without compromising compliance,” said Henry Zhang, Founder and Group CEO of DigiFT. “This collaboration exemplifies how tokenized infrastructure can power the financial markets of the future.” Investor Takeaway Bybit’s adoption of UBS’s tokenized fund as collateral shows how exchanges are becoming gateways for compliant institutional DeFi — merging liquidity, compliance, and innovation. Looking Ahead: Expanding Crypto-TradFi Synergies Bybit’s collaboration with UBS and DigiFT strengthens its position as a bridge between the institutional and decentralized financial worlds. As tokenized instruments evolve beyond pilot projects into regulated market offerings, the ability to use RWAs as collateral could transform risk management and liquidity access for institutions globally. The initiative aligns with Bybit’s broader roadmap of building regulated, interoperable infrastructure for the next generation of finance. With the UAE, Singapore, and Hong Kong emerging as major RWA innovation hubs, partnerships like this illustrate how blockchain-native and traditional financial ecosystems are converging — not competing. For institutional investors, the partnership offers a tangible model for integrating tokenized assets into trading operations while maintaining compliance, transparency, and operational security. It sets the stage for a new phase of institutional participation in Web3 markets — one anchored in trust and regulation rather than speculation.

The popular fast food company Steak ‘n Shake sparked a heated controversy in the crypto community when it suggested accepting Ethereum (ETH) payments through a social media vote. Almost 49,000 people voted in the poll on X (previously Twitter), and a small majority voted for Ether. But the company’s experiment with expanding payments was swiftly stopped by a strong outcry from Bitcoin advocates, and the project was put on hold just a few hours after it started.​ Bitcoin Supporters Fight Ether Growth Though the poll favored Ethereum, Steak ‘n Shake stuck with its Bitcoin-only approach. “Poll suspended,” the company announced. “We stand with Bitcoiners.” This showed how committed they are to Bitcoin, which has been accepted at its outlets in the US, France, Monaco, and Spain since May 16. Adam Simecka, the author of the Manna Bitcoin wallet, and developer Carman, both important figures in the Bitcoin industry, said they were disappointed and warned that adding Ether could turn off the brand’s existing customers.​ Tribalism in Crypto: Risks and Brand Loyalty The argument highlighted the deep tribal splits between Bitcoin and Ethereum supporters. Bitcoin maximalists believe BTC is the “purest” form of decentralized money, whereas Ethereum advocates highlight the flexibility of its smart contracts and technologies. Vitalik Buterin, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, spoke out and praised Steak ‘n Shake for being willing to work with only one crypto tribe. This shows that brand loyalty and division are just as strong in digital assets as they are in other industries.​ ​Effect on Business: More Sales and New Products Steak ‘n Shake’s commitment to only accepting Bitcoin has led to measurable company development. For example, same-store sales grew by 15% year over year in Q3, partly thanks to the passionate support from Bitcoiners. The brand is going to release a “Bitcoin Steakburger” on October 16. This will strengthen its Bitcoin-focused marketing and make it even more connected to the crypto community.​ ​Things To Learn About Adopting Crypto and Brand Strategy This episode serves as a timely reminder that businesses seeking to accept crypto payments must be cautious about tribal loyalties and community expectations. Steak ‘n Shake’s story shows that trying to be innovative, like offering flexible payment options, might risk losing key followers in very passionate crypto tribes. Steak ‘n Shake has improved its relationship with committed Bitcoiners by making it clear that it exclusively supports Bitcoin. This also sets an example for other firms considering adding Bitcoin to their payment options in the rapidly evolving world of digital payments.​

TradingView has promoted long-time executive Rauan Khassan to Chief Commercial Officer, capping a ten-year run that saw him play a central role in the platform’s international expansion and broker integration strategy. Khassan, who stepped into the new role in September, previously served as Vice President of International Growth, a position he held since early 2019. During that time, he coordinated TradingView’s expansion across multiple continents, built partnerships with brokers and exchanges, and helped the company evolve from a charting site into a global financial network. From Tech Journalism to Trading Platforms Khassan’s path to the top of one of the world’s largest financial platforms began in Belarus, where he wrote about gadgets and mobile technology for Onliner.by, a leading local media outlet. That early exposure to content production and digital audiences would later inform his approach to community building and user engagement. He later joined FXStreet’s Russian-language division, where he managed a translation and analytics team and helped the site gain traction among regional traders. His next stop was the fast-growing ride-hailing app Taxify, where he oversaw its launch and marketing in Belarus — sharpening his understanding of regional go-to-market strategy. In 2015, Khassan shifted toward financial services, joining Tickmill as a market analyst. There, he focused on short-term currency strategies and trader education — experience that gave him a front-row view of what retail investors wanted from trading platforms. A Key Player in TradingView’s Global Rise Khassan joined TradingView later that year to lead operations in Russia and the CIS, just as the platform was becoming a household name among retail traders. Within months, he had built a local community of 100,000 users with minimal marketing spend. As International Expansion Manager, and later Vice President, he was responsible for entering dozens of new markets, forming partnerships with regional brokers, and overseeing integrations with major exchanges. Under his watch, TradingView grew its network of connected brokers and expanded trading functionality directly from its charts — a key step in turning the platform from a social charting tool into a full-stack trading environment. By 2025, the company had added live trading access through a roster of global partners and was offering localized versions of its service across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Khassan’s team played a major part in those rollouts, often working closely with local exchanges and fintech startups. As Chief Commercial Officer, Khassan will oversee all commercial partnerships, regional growth, and new business initiatives. His task is to deepen TradingView’s relationships with brokers and exchanges, expand data licensing deals, and grow its enterprise user base among professional traders. He has been an active voice for open platform collaboration and has often spoken about the convergence between retail traders across asset classes. He sees overlap between FX, CFD, and crypto users as a long-term opportunity — a view that fits TradingView’s push to connect all major markets under one interface. His appointment also signals continuity for TradingView’s broader strategy. The company, valued at $3 billion after a 2021 funding round, has grown into a multi-channel ecosystem that blends charting, analytics, and social trading. Its revenue increasingly comes from premium subscriptions, data sales, advertising, and broker partnerships — areas that now fall under Khassan’s direct remit.

A crypto investigator claims to have uncovered the identity of the mysterious whale dominating Hyperliquid — and the trail, they say, leads back to a familiar name from one of crypto’s more notorious implosions. According to on-chain researcher Eye, the trader controlling more than 100,000 bitcoin through the decentralized derivatives platform is none other than Garrett Jin, the former chief executive of BitForex, an exchange that collapsed this year after losing millions in customer funds. In a post on X over the weekend, Eye shared screenshots tracing the whale’s main Ethereum Name Service (ENS) address, ereignis.eth, to another handle — garrettjin.eth — which is directly tied to Jin’s verified X account, @GarrettBullish. The word “Ereignis,” meaning “event” in German, has now become a shorthand reference among traders to the whale’s vast holdings. Eye argued that the wallet’s activity lines up with Jin’s previous business links, showing transactions with staking contracts and addresses that received funds from exchanges he’s known to have ties with, including Huobi (now HTX). More intriguingly, the wallet has also interacted with addresses associated with BitForex’s old infrastructure, and even with Binance deposit wallets that Eye says were used to open a $735 million bitcoin short earlier this month. The claim — if true — connects one of crypto’s largest active traders to one of its most controversial past executives. Jin ran BitForex from 2017 to 2020, when the exchange was accused of inflating trading volumes and operating in Japan without a license. In 2024, BitForex lost roughly $57 million from its hot wallets before freezing withdrawals and vanishing. Hong Kong regulators later warned that the platform was suspected of fraud, while reports surfaced that its remaining team had been detained in China. Following BitForex’s implosion, Jin resurfaced with a series of ventures: WaveLabs VC in 2020, TanglePay in 2021, IotaBee in 2022, and GroupFi in 2023. Most have since gone silent. In early 2024, he launched XHash.com, a service targeting institutional Ethereum staking — a project that Eye and others allege may have been used to recycle tainted funds. Jin reportedly scrubbed references to XHash from his social media profiles after the on-chain findings began circulating. But not everyone is convinced by the connection. Crypto analyst Quinten François said the evidence looks “too neat.” In his view, the setup — with an ENS address that openly links to Jin’s verified social media — feels “way too simple to be true.” “Why would someone involved in questionable trading leave a breadcrumb trail from an .eth domain to their public X handle?” François asked, calling the scenario “almost designed to mislead investigators.” Hyperliquid, meanwhile, has become one of the fastest-growing platforms for perpetual futures trading on-chain. Its rise has been fueled by traders looking for deep liquidity without centralized intermediaries — the kind of environment where a whale with access to billions could thrive unnoticed. Eye’s analysis claims the wallet connected to Jin rotated tens of thousands of bitcoin into ether positions and opened billion-dollar directional bets throughout September and early October, often timed around market volatility spikes. These movements, if verified, would place the wallet among the most influential players currently active in decentralized derivatives. The allegations add another twist to the BitForex saga, underscoring how opaque the line can be between old-guard exchange figures and new decentralized power brokers. For now, the identity of the Hyperliquid whale remains a matter of conjecture — a mix of digital fingerprints, wallet graphs, and circumstantial clues. Whether it’s Garrett Jin or an elaborate impersonation, the wallet known as ereignis.eth has once again reminded crypto traders of an old truth: in a market built on transparency, the biggest players still move in shadows.

Sometimes, a single token is all it takes to reignite a blockchain community. BONK did exactly that for Solana and what began as a meme coin soon became a movement. It became one that reminded people that crypto was meant to be fun, fair, and community-driven. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this Crypto,how it started, how it works, what it’s used for, and why it has become one of the tokens that has stood out in the Solana ecosystem. Key Takeaways • BONK is a community-driven meme token built on the Solana blockchain. • It launched through a massive airdrop that gave half of its total supply to users and developers. • It is used across Solana apps, including games, NFTs, and DeFi platforms. • It’s highly volatile and thrives on active community engagement. The Story Behind BONK BONK was created during a period when Solana’s community engagement had declined. By late 2022, faith in the network had dropped after several market challenges. Then came BONK, a fresh start for the Solana community. On Christmas Day 2022, the team launched the project through one of the largest community airdrops in crypto. Half of its total supply was distributed directly to Solana users, developers, and NFT creators. There was no private sale, no venture funding, and no insider allocation. It was built to return value to the people who actively supported the Solana ecosystem. That moment changed BONK’s story and what started as a meme became a movement that revived enthusiasm, renewed participation, and helped restore belief in Solana’s ecosystem. How BONK Works BONK is built as an SPL token, which is Solana’s version of Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard. That means it fits perfectly into the Solana ecosystem and works with almost every Solana wallet and app. Solana’s high speed and low transaction costs make interacting with it seamless and efficient.Transactions settle in seconds and cost less than a fraction of a cent, making it practical for tipping, payments, and even small transactions. BONK has a total supply in the trillions, which keeps the token price very low and accessible. The community occasionally burns small amounts of it to manage supply and add a sense of scarcity over time. What Can BONK Be Used For? Across the ecosystem, you’ll find BONK powering all kinds of activity. On social apps, users send it as small tips to creators which is a quick and fun way to show appreciation. In DeFi, holders can stake it or add it to liquidity pools to earn rewards while helping to keep the network active. It is even showing up in NFTs and gaming, where marketplaces and Solana-based games accept it for purchases, collectibles, and in-game assets. This expanding list of real uses has given it lasting relevance. It is now an utility, driven by the creativity of a community that keeps finding new ways to make it valuable. How to Buy BONK Buying BONK is simple, even for beginners. You can get started in just a few minutes by choosing between using a centralized exchange or a decentralized one. If you prefer centralized exchanges: • BONK is listed on major platforms like Binance and Coinbase. • You can purchase it using fiat currency or stablecoins such as USDT or USDC. • After buying, it’s best to transfer your BONK to a Solana-compatible wallet like Phantom or Solflare to access DeFi apps and other utilities. If you prefer decentralized exchanges (DEXs): • It is available on Solana-based DEXs such as Orca, Raydium, and Jupiter. • Connect your wallet, ensure you have a small amount of SOL to cover transaction fees, and swap for BONK directly. • Always verify the official BONK token address before trading to avoid fake tokens or scams. Conclusion BONK has evolved into one of Solana’s most active community tokens, bridging fun and real utility. Its growth reflects the power of collective participation and how a well-timed project can reignite interest in an entire network. As Solana continues to expand, BONK remains a reminder that the most impactful projects are often those built by the people and for the people.