Retail News CRM

Tag: bitcoin

  • Deutsche Bank Launches Crypto Custody Service for Paying Clients

    Deutsche Bank Launches Crypto Custody Service for Paying Clients

    Deutsche Bank launched its digital asset custody service for paying corporate and institutional clients on Wednesday, rolling out commercial safekeeping for bitcoin and ether in Europe. The service shifts the German lender from trial deployments to live fee-earning operations in cryptocurrency infrastructure.

    Custody for Bitcoin and Ether

    The platform provides storage and safekeeping for major digital assets, focusing on corporate treasuries, asset managers, and institutional investors. Deutsche Bank runs the service under European regulatory oversight following preparations announced in September.

    Alongside the rollout, the bank signed a memorandum of understanding with Deutsche Asset Management, its majority-owned asset manager formerly known as DWS. The two units will build shared commercial and technical products across digital custody, fund tokenisation, and asset settlement.

    “In the medium term we aim to deliver a fully integrated, regulated ecosystem that supports the custody, tokenisation, and settlement of digital assets,” said Paul Maley, global head of trust and securities services at Deutsche Bank.

    The Path Into Asian Hubs

    Deutsche Bank confirmed plans to introduce the custody service to Asia, where institutional demand for licensed digital asset intermediaries has concentrated. Both jurisdictions enforce formal licensing regimes for digital token custody and exchange services.

    Regional banks in Asia already hold early positions.

    For institutional allocators and corporate treasuries in Asia, bank-grade custody eliminates counterparty risks associated with retail-focused crypto exchanges. Custody fees and balance-sheet ring-fencing will dictate whether European balance sheets win corporate mandates against established regional lenders.

    Execution and Capital Realities

    Custody operations carry operational risks that retail banks usually avoid. Private key management, offline cold-storage redundancy, and insurance liabilities create overhead costs that require significant volume to break even.

    European lenders faced strict capital treatment for unbacked crypto assets under international banking standards, pushing institutional institutions to focus on custody rather than direct balance-sheet trading. The partnership with Deutsche Asset Management provides an immediate captive user base, funneling institutional fund flows directly into the custody infrastructure.

    The Steps Leading to Launch

    Deutsche Bank applied for a digital asset custody licence earlier in its development cycle to support institutional holdings. In September, the lender formalised its timeline for a European corporate rollout, citing regulatory clearances as the remaining hurdle before launch.

    The commercial rollout on Wednesday completes that European preparation. The bank must now secure local regulatory permissions in Asian financial centres before onboarding clients outside Europe.

  • Bitcoin Holds Near $75,600 After 6% Drop

    Bitcoin Holds Near $75,600 After 6% Drop

    Bitcoin held near $75,600 on Nov 6 following a sharp selloff that knocked the token down more than 6% from levels above $80,000. The broader retreat across risk assets followed weak chipmaker earnings and a Democratic sweep of the US Congress.

    Smaller tokens including BNB, Ether and Solana traded broadly flat during the session. Dip buyers emerged as a rebound in semiconductor equities steadied broader financial markets, even as economic figures fueled expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise benchmark interest rates in December.

    Exchange Breach Rattles Market Liquidity

    Digital asset sentiment remains compromised by an October 29 security breach at Binance that saw $6.3 billion impacted. The incident hit confidence across centralized venues, compounding liquidations when macro market volatility accelerated.

    Mining companies that shifted operational capacity toward artificial intelligence data infrastructure over recent years saw equity routs in tech shares feed straight back into digital asset portfolios. Skepticism regarding the timing of returns on substantial artificial intelligence capital spending helped pull speculative funds away from growth assets across Asian and global trading desks.

    “Bitcoin appears to be finding some relief after yesterday’s sharp selloff, although I would be cautious about calling this a reversal just yet,” Dean Chen, an analyst at crypto exchange Bitunix, said in an e-mail. “I would describe the current move as selling pressure easing, rather than fresh accumulation taking hold.”

    Spot ETF Outflows Surpass $1 Billion

    Institutional investment vehicles absorbed heavy redemptions during the downdraft. US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $430 million in net outflows on Nov 5, with the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund shedding roughly $200 million and BlackRock’s IBIT losing about $105 million.

    That withdrawal followed a combined $1.04 billion pulled from US spot funds over the previous Friday and Monday sessions, where BlackRock’s fund alone posted $405 million in exits. Liquidations erased speculative exposure, with approximately $996 million in used positions flushed from trading books during the market drop.

    Capital Allocation and Spillover Risks

    For financial institutions and regional digital asset desks in Asia, the convergence of security failures at large exchanges and political shifts in Washington alters the near-term regulatory baseline. Institutional capital that entered spot wrappers has demonstrated it will pull liquidity quickly when broader equity valuations wobble.

    The selloff also exposes balance sheet strain at mining operations that committed heavy capital expenditures to high-performance computing facilities. As tech valuations recalibrate, these hybrid operators face margin pressure from both softer token prices and cooling equity multiples.

    Earlier Pressure Across Central Venues

    The stabilization follows days of operational containment at Binance, which moved to cover the bulk of stolen assets before resuming token withdrawals. That intervention prevented widespread secondary failures across regional market makers, though custody risks remain front of mind for prime brokers.

    Trading desks now monitor the $77,000 threshold as the immediate technical mark required to establish forward momentum, while equity weakness leaves the $75,000 floor exposed to retesting.

  • FINMA Approves Switzerland’s First Retail Bitcoin ETF

    FINMA Approves Switzerland’s First Retail Bitcoin ETF

    Swiss financial market regulator FINMA has approved the country’s first retail exchange-traded fund that invests directly in Bitcoin. Under Swiss law, the watchdog categorized the product as an “other fund for alternative investments” with a specific risk profile.

    Approval required a formal waiver from standard risk diversification requirements, which FINMA granted because of Bitcoin’s established trading history and high trading volume relative to other digital tokens.

    Managers offering the product must comply with specific operational and custody risk mitigations set out in regulatory guidance published on 12 January 2026. The approval places heavy emphasis on consumer protection mechanisms under the Financial Services Act, known as FinSA.

    Custody Rules and Retail Conduct

    Distributors must enforce strict point-of-sale conduct rules, including rigorous investor suitability assessments. Supervised entities selling the fund must deliver explicit risk warnings covering cryptocurrency volatility and the potential for substantial capital loss directly to end buyers.

    Regulatory Foundations and Prior Filings

    FINMA first authorized a crypto basket fund for qualified investors in 2021, restricting that early product to institutional and high-net-worth accounts. The new decision extends direct spot exposure to everyday consumers while shifting regulatory enforcement toward broker-dealer disclosures and fund documentation transparency.

    Other fund providers have already submitted or announced competing applications for Swiss Bitcoin ETFs, leaving FINMA to review a pipeline of identical retail offerings.

  • Bitcoin Cap at US$100,000 as Yields and Iran Conflict Stall Rally

    Bitcoin Cap at US$100,000 as Yields and Iran Conflict Stall Rally

    Bitcoin will struggle to break above US$100,000 before year-end as climbing bond yields and geopolitical tensions cap capital flows into digital assets.

    The largest cryptocurrency traded at US$81,404 on Saturday after slipping 0.4 per cent over five days, holding well below its peak of US$126,000 recorded in October 2025.

    Trading desks and data platforms expect the token to range between US$75,000 and US$95,000 through the fourth quarter. Digital asset trading firm QCP Capital placed its base case between US$80,000 and US$90,000, while CoinMarketCap projected a final year-end close between US$85,000 and US$92,000. Higher borrowing costs in the United States and energy disruptions linked to the conflict with Iran continue to direct institutional cash toward traditional debt instruments rather than spot crypto markets.

    Yield Pressures Compete for Institutional Capital

    Surging yields on US government paper have changed how regional asset allocators price speculative investments. The 10-year US Treasury yield reached a 24-year high of 5.36 per cent earlier this month, establishing a steep hurdle rate for non-yielding assets.

    Liquid alternatives in sovereign debt now provide fixed returns without digital asset volatility. Digital asset infrastructure firm BitGo notes that elevated risk-free returns have altered portfolio construction across Asian desks.

    Investors can earn attractive yields on lower-risk instruments such as Treasuries, so crypto is competing for capital on harder terms this quarter.

    Retail and family office flows in Singapore and Hong Kong that previously chased crypto beta have shifted toward short-duration dollar paper. That reallocation has drained liquidity from secondary crypto markets, leaving market makers with thinner order books and less capacity to absorb sudden liquidations.

    Macro Headwinds Outweigh Token Catalysts

    Price action has decoupled from internal blockchain milestones and now tracks broader macroeconomic data prints. Oil markets have become a direct counterweight to token values as escalation risks in the Middle East threaten energy supplies.

    CoinMarketCap data shows bitcoin moving inversely to crude prices, selling off on supply threats and rallying only when regional friction cools. A wider confrontation involving Iran that drives oil higher could push the token down below US$70,000, according to trading desk estimates.

    Inflation figures in the United States have reinforced that defensive positioning. September consumer prices rose 0.6 per cent, exceeding consensus forecasts and raising the likelihood of tighter central bank policy through the final quarter.

    The Long Path Down From Peak Valuations

    Current price levels follow a protracted market contraction that erased substantial paper wealth over the past twelve months. A steep downturn after the October 2025 record of US$126,000 wiped US$19 billion from the market, pinning the token under US$70,000 for several months.

    An August rebound above US$80,000 renewed retail buying interest across Asian exchanges, but prices stalled near US$85,000 as buying volumes thinned. Arbitrum Foundation investment strategists observe that while bitcoin has gained roughly 40 per cent from its June low, sustained momentum requires stable macro conditions that current interest rate projections do not support.

    Institutional buyers who entered during earlier exchange-traded product approvals remain cautious about adding exposure above current spot prices. Without steady inflows from multi-asset funds, market liquidity remains concentrated inside narrow range-bound channels.

    What to Watch at the October Fed Meeting

    Monetary policy decisions will determine whether the current trading floor holds through December. The US Federal Reserve meets on October 27 and 28 to decide on interest rates.

    A decision to hold rates steady alongside softer forward guidance could allow bitcoin to test the upper boundary of its US$95,000 forecast range. A benchmark rate increase would likely send the token back down toward US$75,000 before the end of the month.

  • BNY Expands Bitcoin and Ether Custody to European Union Institutions Under MiCA

    BNY Expands Bitcoin and Ether Custody to European Union Institutions Under MiCA

    BNY expanded its digital asset custody platform to select European Union institutions on October 8, 2026. The service provides regulated safekeeping across four major tokens under the bloc’s MiCA framework.

    Globally, the bank oversees 62.6 trillion dollars in assets under custody and administration. Its European license represents one of the largest traditional finance entries into crypto infrastructure to date.

    Institutional clients can store, transfer and administer Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and USDC through The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, the group’s Brussels-based European banking entity. The setup uses multiparty computation, segregated client wallets and cold storage protocols. It also provides bankruptcy stay protection. That isolates client assets from BNY’s balance sheet if the bank faces insolvency.

    The Structure Behind the Custody Rollout

    Engineers built the digital custody infrastructure directly on BNY’s existing asset servicing architecture rather than operating it as an independent unit. The firm originally launched the platform in 2022 to handle tokenized cash and collateral settlement before seeking cross-border licensing.

    Client assets under the MiCA regime remain subject to explicit warnings. BNY notes that digital assets lack FDIC insurance, do not count as traditional bank deposits, and carry direct market exposure risks.

    Four assets form the initial offering: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and USDC. The bank plans to add more tokens and stablecoins over time. However, it has not set a timeline for listing additional assets or confirmed specific rollout dates across individual EU member states.

    How Custody Competition Stacks Up

    Custodians are taking divergent approaches to digital assets across Europe, North America and Asian financial hubs. US regulatory hurdles previously slowed custody rollouts on American balance sheets. In contrast, the EU’s clear MiCA timetable gave BNY a unified single-market rulebook to clear its European banking arm first.

    Rivals are moving in parallel across international hubs. Standard Chartered has expanded digital asset custody across its Dubai operations, including support for institutional stablecoin reserves. For institutional investors, the entry of global systemically important banks narrows the compliance gap between holding conventional equities and holding digital tokens.

    Operational risks remain concentrated around liquidity and software integration. Asset managers require real-time settlement and automated reporting into standard accounting platforms. Traditional custody books provide these tools for bonds, but developers are still adapting them for public blockchains.

    Licensing Steps Leading to the European Launch

    Regulators at the European Securities and Markets Authority registered The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV on the official MiCA registry in July 2026. That authorization permits crypto asset custody, administration and transfer activities across member jurisdictions, setting up the October deployment.

    Jennifer Barker, Head of Europe at BNY, addressed the institutional demand behind the launch: “To support increasingly digital strategies, institutions need solutions with the same resilience, oversight and safeguards they rely on across traditional operations.”

    BNY must now demonstrate institutional client adoption on the ground. The bank has not disclosed initial custody volumes or named launch partners for the four supported tokens, leaving transaction metrics and broader asset approvals as the key milestones ahead.

  • Bitcoin Trades at $83,408 as Crypto Markets Track Asia Trading Moves

    Bitcoin Trades at $83,408 as Crypto Markets Track Asia Trading Moves

    Bitcoin held steady at $83,408.20 on October 13, 2026, gaining $19.57 over the previous morning as trading volumes remained subdued across major digital asset desks.

    The benchmark cryptocurrency is down 27.64 per cent from $115,278.48 a year earlier, representing a value loss of roughly $31,870 per token despite an 7.95 per cent rebound over the past month from $77,261.09.

    Total market capitalisation for Bitcoin stands at $1.33 trillion, maintaining its dominant position over alternative tokens. Second-ranked Ethereum fell 1.97 per cent over twenty-four hours to $2,503.64, extending a 41.02 per cent drop from $4,245.28 recorded twelve months prior and fixing its valuation at approximately $233 billion. Tether followed with a $183 billion market cap at $0.99, while cross-border settlement token XRP traded at $1.35.

    Exchange expansion across North Asian hubs

    Retail and institutional trading activity across Asia-Pacific remains central to digital currency liquidity as platforms seek formal integration with regional equity markets. Binance is weighing plans to offer traditional stock trading access to customers in key Asian jurisdictions, including Hong Kong and South Korea. Connecting digital asset wallets to local equities provides centralized exchanges with a direct route to capture cross-asset retail trading flow.

    Brokerages and consumer finance platforms across Hong Kong and Seoul face renewed competition if major crypto venues succeed in securing regulatory approvals for equity products. Traditional securities brokers have spent years defending their fee structures against zero-commission retail apps. A unified interface combining spot crypto, exchange-traded funds and local equities threatens to erode brokerage commission pools across East Asia.

    Balance sheet purchases and corporate exposure

    Corporate treasury allocations have resumed on a targeted scale following sharp drawdowns from record highs. Strategy completed a $21 million purchase of Bitcoin as corporate buying activity showed signs of renewed momentum. Such transactions provide price support, though treasury adoption outside specialized balance sheet operators remains limited to select consumer brands and technology firms.

    Merchant payment adoption continues among high-ticket retail brands such as Ferrari and Tesla, yet everyday consumer transactions across Asian retail checkouts remain dominated by local fiat digital wallets. Crypto volatility makes inventory pricing difficult for retailers operating on thin margins. For department stores and supermarket operators, processing volatile tokens directly creates currency exposure that standard payment gateway conversions cannot fully eliminate.

    Retracing the October 2025 record peak

    Current price levels reflect a prolonged correction from historic highs set in late 2025. Bitcoin established an all-time record of $126,198.07 on October 6, 2025, before dropping roughly 30 per cent into the close of that calendar year. Ethereum experienced an identical trajectory, peaking near $5,000 in August 2025 before losing half its valuation over the subsequent fourteen months.

    Early stages of the cryptocurrency market saw transactions such as developer Laszlo Hanyecz exchanging 10,000 Bitcoins for two pizzas in 2010, an allocation valued today at more than $668 million. Long-term appreciation exceeds 15,000 per cent over the past decade, yet steep cyclical contractions continue to challenge institutional risk models and consumer holding appetite.

    Regulatory filings and automated order flow

    Trading desks are turning toward automated infrastructure to manage market shifts. Developer teams across the crypto sector are deploying artificial intelligence agents capable of executing autonomous trades, shifting volume away from manual retail orders toward programmatic systems. These tools operate continuously across global venues, tightening spreads during Asian daytime hours.

    Regulatory scrutiny over exchange asset segregation and cross-border token transfers remains the primary hurdle for wider banking integration across Asia. Licensing authorities in Hong Kong continue to review platform permissions, while financial watchdogs in Seoul maintain strict compliance rules on investor identity checks and domestic bank linkages. Market participants are monitoring whether Binance submits formal filing documents for stock trading services in either jurisdiction before the end of the fourth quarter.

  • Ethereum Holds Near $2,700 as Futures Open Interest Hits $33.69 Billion

    Ethereum Holds Near $2,700 as Futures Open Interest Hits $33.69 Billion

    Ethereum held near $2,702 on Oct. 4 as cryptocurrency derivatives open interest reached $33.69 billion across global exchanges.

    The asset gained less than 1 percent over 24 hours, maintaining a narrow range after closing at $2,687 on Oct. 3 and $2,668 on Oct. 2.

    Trading volume in Ethereum futures hit roughly $25.04 billion in a 24-hour window. Market data tracked by CoinGlass showed elevated use across derivatives venues, leaving positioning exposed to sharp liquidation cascades if spot prices break key support or resistance thresholds.

    use Expands While Bearish Bets Surface

    Large proprietary trading desks and individual accounts took opposing positions as volatility compressed. Market trackers recorded a single short position worth approximately $61 million opened against the token, carrying an estimated liquidation price near $3,010.

    Spot pricing gained 7.1 percent over the trailing 30-day period. That month-long recovery established a higher base following late-September turbulence, yet price action stalled below broader technical breakout targets.

    Retail and institutional market participants face conflicting technical indicators. Some chart analysts point to a rising wedge pattern that risks a pullback toward $2,400 if lower support fails, while bullish desks target an initial push toward $3,000 before challenging higher boundaries.

    Exchange Inventories Show Mixed Capital Flows

    On-chain exchange reserves reflect conflicting behavior rather than sustained accumulation. CryptoQuant recorded a daily netflow of 17,492 ETH moving into centralized exchange wallets, adding to available liquid supply.

    Tracked exchange balances stood at roughly 14.66 million ETH across global platforms. That aggregate total follows a volatile September where single-day spikes altered balance totals, including an inflow of 709,400 ETH to Binance on Sept. 17 alongside isolated whale withdrawals exceeding 5,000 ETH from major venues.

    These opposing movements indicate portfolio repositioning and collateral management across venues rather than outright long-term treasury accumulation by Asian institutions.

    Testnet Roadmap Sets Immediate Technical Catalyst

    Protocol developers are shifting focus to core network upgrades rather than short-term market fluctuations. The Ethereum Foundation confirmed that the Glamsterdam upgrade will activate on the Sepolia testnet on Oct. 6 at 13:53:36 UTC.

    The software update integrates enshrined proposer-builder separation, block-level access lists, and revised gas accounting mechanisms. Mainnet deployment dates remain unconfirmed pending the results of the Sepolia trial run.

    For crypto treasury desks and digital asset funds across the Asia-Pacific region, operational stability across testnets takes precedence before allocating fresh spot capital to the ecosystem.

    Support Thresholds Define Immediate Trading Ranges

    Price action over recent weeks shows spot markets consolidating within a tighter band after absorbing initial September selling. Ethereum cleared its late-September lows, yet overall market dominance remained steady near 11 percent while Bitcoin held 57.39 percent of aggregate digital asset market capitalization.

    Traders are watching the $2,400 support level to gauge whether the current recovery holds or unwinds into used liquidations. A sustained break above the $3,000 mark remains necessary to force short liquidations and confirm a broader trend reversal.

  • Bitcoin Spot ETFs Attract $2.4 Billion in Inflows as Daily Momentum Slows

    Bitcoin Spot ETFs Attract $2.4 Billion in Inflows as Daily Momentum Slows

    Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds pulled in $2.4 billion between September 21 and September 25, 2026, recording their highest weekly inflow total of the year. The net purchases brought total assets across the fund group to $108.4 billion, representing about 6 percent of all circulating Bitcoin.

    Daily figures tapered sharply across the five-day run. The week opened on September 21 with $999 million in net share creations and dropped to $715 million on September 22. Capital arrivals slowed further to $347 million on September 23, $191 million on September 24, and reached $134 million on September 25. The initial two sessions generated roughly 72 percent of the aggregate weekly intake, while Friday accounted for just 13 percent of Monday’s volume.

    Daily Allocations Taper After Front-Loaded Start

    Data from SoSoValue shows the deceleration occurred as Bitcoin traded near $84,000 on September 26, up 3.3 percent over the week but down 0.9 percent on the day. The token remains roughly 4 percent lower in 2026 and sits 23 percent below its price from the same period in 2025.

    Authorized participants create and redeem ETF shares by exchanging cash or underlying tokens. Daily totals net these creations against redemptions across all issuers, meaning smaller net numbers can reflect either light aggregate turnover or heavy creations at one issuer cancelled out by withdrawals at another. Hedge fund activity also shapes the volume. Funds running basis trades buy spot ETF shares while simultaneously shorting Bitcoin futures to capture yield spreads, generating share creation without taking directional long exposure on the underlying asset.

    Market Stability and Asset Dominance Shifts

    Macro volatility eased during the same window. The CBOE Volatility Index declined from 17.7 on September 16 to 14.2 on September 22, pointing to reduced hedging pressure across equity and asset markets rather than forced liquidations.

    Digital asset market share also shifted away from the largest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin’s market dominance fell below 60 percent during the period. Capital dispersed into other fund vehicles, with Solana ETFs logging 12 consecutive weeks of positive net inflows while Bitcoin ETF trading recorded quieter periods earlier in the month.

    Recovery Follows Regulatory and Rate Pressures

    The weekly rebound followed heavy redemptions the week prior, when funds shed a combined $746 million across two trading sessions. Outflows reached $450 million on September 15 and $296 million on September 16 after the US Senate blocked the CLARITY Act and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates.

    Those mid-September losses deepened what had been a depressed year for spot funds. Through September 9, spot Bitcoin ETFs registered $1.07 billion in cumulative net outflows for 2026, with redemptions occurring on more than half of all trading sessions. The $2.4 billion inflow streak reversed that negative balance, lifting year-to-date net inflows to approximately $320 million.

    Price Thresholds to Watch in Fourth Quarter

    Sustaining the current recovery requires fund creations to hold above mid-week run rates. A return to single-day inflows exceeding $999 million would signal fresh institutional buying, whereas an outflow day comparable to the $450 million withdrawal on September 15 would snap the current positive streak.

    On the spot market, a climb back above the $87,500 mark where Bitcoin began 2026 would confirm that buyers are absorbing outstanding float. A break below $81,200, the token’s level on September 19, would erase the week’s price gains and put recent ETF buyers below their entry costs.

  • Bitcoin Slides to $75,026 Following Failed Clarity Act Vote in US Senate

    Bitcoin Slides to $75,026 Following Failed Clarity Act Vote in US Senate

    Bitcoin dropped to a four-week low of $75,026 after the US Senate rejected the crypto-friendly Clarity Act ahead of an interest-rate decision by the Federal Reserve.

    Prices fell roughly 4 per cent on Tuesday. The token then recovered slightly to trade at $75,877 during European afternoon dealing.

    Trading desks across Asia and Europe pulled back risk exposure following the vote. Digital asset markets are now searching for support while central bankers prepare their next policy announcement.

    Senate procedural vote fails

    The defeat delivered an immediate blow to institutional sentiment. The Clarity Act fell 11 votes short of clearing a key procedural hurdle in the Senate. That result halts a measure designed to establish the first comprehensive statutory framework for US digital currencies.

    Primary oversight now reverts to regulatory agencies. That structure leaves rules vulnerable to revision whenever administrative leadership changes in Washington.

    Ethics rules stall legislation

    Lawmakers clashed over specific provisions in the bill, preventing a final vote. Disagreements centered on ethics restrictions designed to bar government officials from profiting personally from digital asset holdings.

    Backers had pitched the bill as an essential foundation for corporate adoption and institutional custody services. In the end, unresolved disputes over governance clauses cost the legislation its cross-party support.

    Agency oversight replaces federal law

    Asia-Pacific institutions monitor American policy closely because US frameworks shape cross-border liquidity and settlement standards. Operators in Singapore and Hong Kong run under established local licensing regimes. Even so, regional trading volumes still react directly to legal shifts in Washington.

    Commercial banks and brokers must now continue navigating overlapping agency guidance rather than codified law. This lack of uniform rulemaking prolongs compliance uncertainty for dollar-denominated token products across regional desks.

    Rate decision sets next direction

    Bitcoin had held a steady range before Tuesday as fund managers waited for macroeconomic cues. The 4 per cent drop erased early September gains, returning the market to support levels last tested four weeks ago.

    Market attention now shifts to the Federal Reserve interest-rate announcement scheduled for later today, where policy guidance will determine near-term dollar liquidity.

  • Bitcoin Climbs Past $87,000 as Crypto Short Liquidations Top $878 Million

    Bitcoin Climbs Past $87,000 as Crypto Short Liquidations Top $878 Million

    Bitcoin rallied 7.7 per cent to touch US$87,354 in New York trading on Sept 21, lifted by positive exchange-traded fund flows and an equity advance.

    The move lifted total cryptocurrency market capitalisation to US$2.8 trillion, its highest level since late January 2026.

    Bearish traders absorbed the brunt of the swing as digital asset liquidations crossed US$1 billion over a 24-hour window, according to data from Coinglass. Short positions accounted for roughly US$878 million of that total, forcing forced buy-backs across derivatives exchanges.

    Rival tokens followed the lead. Dogecoin gained up to 14 per cent, XRP climbed 8 per cent, and Ether rose 4.3 per cent to reach US$2,747. Listed digital asset shares also advanced, with Coinbase Global climbing 3.5 per cent, Circle Internet Group rising 3 per cent, and Strategy jumping 9.5 per cent.

    Derivatives Markets Lean Toward Upside Calls

    Options positions on the Deribit platform showed a sharp rotation toward upside wagers. Traders held more than 272,000 call contracts compared with roughly 154,000 put contracts, signaling strong demand for upside exposure.

    People are repositioning from downside protection to wanting to capture the upside.

    Institutional participation through spot exchange-traded funds provided the baseline liquidity needed to clear derivative resistance levels. The shift forced short sellers to unwind use accumulated during the prior week’s market slump.

    Macro Hurdles Temper Retail Participation

    Capital allocators in Asian trading hubs face a different risk backdrop than during previous speculative peaks. While institutional desks can use regulated funds to trade volatility, retail engagement across regional exchanges remains subdued.

    Competition from artificial intelligence equities has diverted speculative capital that once flowed directly into alternative tokens. With Brent crude trading above US$100 a barrel and US Treasury yields lingering at elevated levels, fund managers are treating crypto gains as tactical liquidity rallies rather than secular bull cycles.

    Legislative Gridlock and Regulatory Approvals

    The rebound unfolded after the market digested two policy setbacks: the failure of the Clarity Act in the US Senate and the Federal Reserve’s first benchmark interest-rate increase in more than three years.

    Relief came on Sept 17 when the Securities and Exchange Commission approved digital versions of securities to trade on domestic platforms. That approval offset legislative disappointment and restored institutional confidence in market structure continuity.

    Bitcoin had previously climbed to a 2026 high above US$97,000 in mid-January before sliding into a multi-month consolidation pattern that left it roughly a third below its October 2025 record.

    Policy Signals to Dictate Price Stability

    Momentum now hinges on whether cash inflows can withstand hawkish guidance from upcoming Federal Reserve speaker appearances throughout the week.

    Trading desks are watching the US$88,000 resistance level to determine if ETF inflows can sustain buying volume without triggering a fresh wave of profit-taking.

  • Bitcoin Pushes Past $70,000 as Traders Eye Fed Rate Decision

    Bitcoin Pushes Past $70,000 as Traders Eye Fed Rate Decision

    Bitcoin rebounded past $70,000 in late August as derivative markets turned net bullish for the first time in 12 months, setting up a decisive test against tightening global interest rates.

    The recovery pulled the world’s largest cryptocurrency out of a multi-month trough near $60,000, even as trading desks price in an 85 per cent probability of a US Federal Reserve rate increase.

    Derivatives Flip Bullish on Year-End Targets

    Data from options platform Derive.xyz shows the 25-delta skew, which measures relative pricing between bullish call options and defensive put options, turned positive on August 20. The pricing shift shows traders are paying a distinct premium for upside exposure heading into the fourth quarter.

    Open interest for the December 25 expiry is now heavily concentrated around two key strike levels: $710 million in notional value sits at the $80,000 strike, alongside $530 million positioned at $100,000. Capital rotated back into digital assets after speculative liquidity pulled out of Korean equities and settled following the massive SpaceX initial public offering.

    Spot exchange-traded funds have also reversed a prolonged dry spell. After logging eight consecutive weeks of net redemptions across May and June, funds recorded nearly $2 billion in net inflows during the week of August 17 alone.

    Macro Headwinds and Regional Capital Shifts

    For institutional allocators and private wealth desks in Asia, the renewed momentum presents a sharp divergence from traditional macro models. High bond yields near 5 per cent create fierce competition for liquid funds, yet regional buyers are treating deep drawdowns as accumulation windows rather than structural breaks.

    Asian family offices that trimmed exposure during the mid-year selloff face higher re-entry hurdles if institutional flows consolidate above current ranges. The primary operational risk sits with used derivatives books across regional trading hubs, where sudden rate adjustments can trigger rapid liquidations if the currency fails to clear upper resistance bands.

    “BTC was in oversold territory for some time,” said Matthew Dibb, chief operating officer of Singapore-based crypto investment manager Stack Funds.

    Policy Votes and Price Catalysts

    The current price action marks a steep clawback from the 50 per cent drawdown that followed the October 2025 peak above $126,000. The token rallied strongly after the election of US President Donald Trump before macro pressure and elevated inflation numbers erased those advances through early 2026.

    A critical legislative checkpoint arrives with a scheduled US Senate procedural vote on the Clarity Act, a regulatory package designed to classify tokens as securities or commodities. Traders will immediately turn to the Federal Reserve’s rate announcement on Wednesday, alongside whether Treasury buyback programmes expand to cushion long-term sovereign bond yields.

  • Bitcoin Leads Crypto Recovery with 1.55 Trillion Dollar Market Cap

    Bitcoin Leads Crypto Recovery with 1.55 Trillion Dollar Market Cap

    Bitcoin rebounded to 77,676 dollars following a 22 per cent rally over 14 days, outpacing Ethereum and XRP in market resilience despite prolonged sector-wide corrections throughout 2026.

    The two-week market surge followed an announcement by the US Treasury that it would double long-end bond buybacks, forcing traders to liquidate roughly 3.3 billion dollars in short positions across crypto derivatives. Ethereum climbed 29 per cent to 2,440 dollars during the same window, while XRP advanced 33 per cent to 1.38 dollars.

    Institutional Inflows Support Spot Valuations

    Institutional demand continues to anchor Bitcoin trading volumes. US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded 242.24 million dollars in net inflows on August 27, extending an uninterrupted nine-day buying streak. Corporate buyers including Strategy and sovereign holders such as El Salvador expanded their balance sheet holdings, constraining circulating liquidity across primary exchanges.

    Ethereum relies on structural supply limits rather than spot ETF velocity. Network validators have staked nearly 47 per cent of total circulating Ethereum, locking up volume as institutional asset managers test tokenized bonds and equities on the network.

    XRP recorded 155.98 million dollars in net inflows across spot funds over a three-week period without a single day of net redemptions. The token’s circulating supply stands near 62 billion coins, giving it an 86 billion dollar market cap compared to Ethereum’s 294 billion dollars and Bitcoin’s 1.55 trillion dollars.

    Legislative Filings and Price Resistance

    Regulatory decisions in Washington now dictate secondary market pricing for alternative tokens. The US Senate faces a cloture vote on the CLARITY Act on September 15, which aims to formally classify XRP as a digital commodity under federal law.

    For digital asset treasuries across Asia and global trading desks, Bitcoin remains the primary defensive allocation during macro tightening cycles. While high-beta assets like XRP gain faster during sharp liquidity squeezes, Bitcoin holds nearest to its prior peak, trading 38 per cent below its October 2025 high of 126,198 dollars compared to a 64 per cent deficit for XRP.

    Traders now track the September 15 Senate vote alongside daily US spot ETF subscription data to gauge whether institutional accumulation can sustain current price floors.

  • Bitcoin Tests $80,000 Level as IREN Beats Sales Targets

    Bitcoin Tests $80,000 Level as IREN Beats Sales Targets

    Bitcoin traded near $80,000 on Thursday as institutional demand and momentum buying pushed the cryptocurrency to fresh highs.

    The rally lifted digital asset equities across global markets, led by data center operator IREN, which topped consensus revenue projections in its latest financial reporting.

    Mining revenue and market momentum

    Data center operator IREN reported sales above analyst estimates, driven by expanded power capacity and improved fleet efficiency across its facilities. Higher realized prices per coin lifted margins across commercial mining operations, offsetting rising global network difficulty.

    Trading desks across Singapore and Hong Kong reported steady buy orders from institutional funds throughout the session. Liquidations of short positions accelerated the advance once the asset broke past key resistance levels.

    Institutional demand in Asian trading hours

    Regional crypto exchanges recorded elevated turnover during Asian morning hours, tracking sustained inflows into exchange-traded spot products. The upward momentum created strong tailwinds for hardware suppliers, hosting providers, and infrastructure businesses linked to digital asset networks.

    Trading volume across major regional venues remains concentrated on spot books, with institutional desks watching whether capital sustains above the $80,000 mark through the weekly close.

  • SEC Regulation Proposal Drives Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Gains

    SEC Regulation Proposal Drives Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Gains

    Bitcoin and Ethereum saw price increases following an announcement from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding proposed new regulations for crypto assets. The move, aimed at providing a clearer operational framework for the nascent industry, was positively received by the market.

    As of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Bitcoin opened at $64,681.22, marking a 0.3% increase from the previous day, and climbed to $64,877.66 in early trading. Ethereum also experienced a boost, opening at $1,916.47, up 0.2%, and reaching $1,936.31 during the same period. These gains come as global financial markets, including those in Asia, continue to watch regulatory developments closely for their impact on crypto adoption and stability.

    New Regulatory Framework Unveiled

    The proposed SEC rules outline a framework for crypto companies seeking to raise capital, introducing two exemptions for crypto-related investment contracts. While allowing for flexibility, the regulations mandate certain disclosures from issuers. Larger offerings will be required to provide financial statements and adhere to ongoing reporting standards.

    A key aspect of the proposal is the provision for certain crypto assets to shed their securities classification and related reporting requirements once a project fulfills its core managerial commitments. This could particularly benefit established networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, signalling a potential path to greater regulatory clarity and reduced compliance burdens for mature digital assets.

    Market Performance And Tax Implications

    Despite recent gains, both major cryptocurrencies have faced significant headwinds over the past year. Bitcoin’s current price is down 44.4% year-on-year, while Ethereum has fallen 55.6% over the same period. One week ago, Bitcoin was up 1.8%, and Ethereum rose 1.9%. Over the last month, Bitcoin experienced a slight dip of 0.2%, whereas Ethereum saw a 3% increase.

    The US regulatory body also emphasized that profits from cryptocurrency transactions are subject to taxation. This includes sales of digital assets for more than their purchase price, as well as exchanges between different cryptocurrencies. The tax rate depends on the holding period; assets held for less than a year typically incur higher short-term capital gains rates, while longer holding periods benefit from lower long-term rates. This tax clarity, while not new, continues to shape investor behavior and compliance efforts across financial markets, including Asia where similar tax discussions are ongoing in various jurisdictions.

    The all-time high for Bitcoin was $126,198.07 on October 6, 2025. The all-time high for Ethereum was $4,953.73 on August 24, 2025.

  • Coinbase Survey Reveals: Over 60% Singaporeans Own Cryptocurrency – A Deep Dive into Their Investment Trends

    Coinbase Survey Reveals: Over 60% Singaporeans Own Cryptocurrency – A Deep Dive into Their Investment Trends

    Cryptocurrencies have gained significant traction in Singapore, with the majority of its citizens having some level of interaction with the digital asset, as revealed by a recent survey.

    Singaporean Interest in Cryptocurrencies

    A substantial portion of Singaporeans, amounting to 61 percent, are in possession of some form of cryptocurrency, according to recently published survey data. Unsurprisingly, the predominant demographic among these investors are individuals aged 18 to 34 years, who make up 70 percent of the group. Of these, about 68 percent are male.

    Investment Approach: HODL vs Trading

    The study also revealed the investment habits of cryptocurrency owners. The majority, 58 percent, were found to be long-term investors, a strategy commonly referred to as HODL or “hold on for dear life”. On the other hand, 22 percent were classified as occasional traders, with another 20 percent identified as active traders. Remarkably, 42 percent of the survey participants had been investing in cryptocurrencies for over two years.

    The investment allocation was also explored in the study, with 74 percent of respondents stating that 10 percent or less of their portfolios was invested in digital assets. These portfolios typically contained an average of three different types of cryptocurrency. The median portfolio size ranged within S$3,000 ($2,300) to S$5,000.

    Cryptocurrency Price Predictions

    Looking ahead, 25 percent of the respondents anticipate the price of Bitcoin to reach between $100,000 and $150,000 within the next year. Meanwhile, 15 percent predict a rise above $150,000. However, the majority hold a more conservative prediction, expecting the value to fall within the $50,000 to $100,000 bracket. Only 18 percent of the respondents foresee Bitcoin dropping below $50,000. The price of Bitcoin at the time of the survey’s publication was approximately $86,000.

    The data for this report was collected from a pool of 3,513 active retail investors and other interested individuals in Singapore. The survey was conducted between August 15 and August 19 of the current year.

    Questions & Answers

    What percentage of Singaporeans own cryptocurrency?
    According to a recent survey, 61 percent of Singaporeans own some form of cryptocurrency.

    What is the average investment allocation to cryptocurrencies in Singapore?
    The survey found that 74 percent of investors have allocated 10% or less of their portfolios to cryptocurrency holdings.

    What are the future price expectations for Bitcoin among Singaporean investors?
    Within the next year, 25 percent of the respondents expect Bitcoin’s price to reach $100,000 to $150,000, 15 percent predict a rise above $150,000, and the majority forecast a value between $50,000 and $100,000.