Trump Crypto Czar David Sacks Steps Down With Key Legislation Still Pending

Bitcoin's Core v30 update in October has reignited a debate over raising the OP_RETURN limit for larger non-payment data in transactions. Supporters argue for cleaner data attachment, while critics fear abuse and deviation from Bitcoin's core purpose.

Starknet has integrated Bitcoin into its ecosystem, allowing users to validate transactions by delegating Bitcoin and earn rewards. The network is also supporting a Bitcoin-denominated yield product and plans to incentivize Bitcoin-related activities with its native token, STRK.

Bloomberg senior analyst Eric Balchunas predicts a U.S. Solana exchange-traded fund approval by the SEC, with the recent shift in approval odds to 100%. The process now relies on S-1 registration statements for ETF green light.

A long-term Bitcoin investor recently made a transaction after 12 years of dormancy, moving over $44 million in digital coins. The oldest cryptocurrency has seen a significant rise in value, from $720 in 2013 to over $114,000 today, sparking market speculation.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Superintendent Adrienne Harris will be leaving the NYDFS in October. Harris, the longest-serving superintendent, played a key role in establishing the state’s Virtual Currency Unit as a leading crypto regulatory body.

Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, pleaded guilty in a UK court to acquiring and possessing 61,000 Bitcoin, valued at nearly $7 billion. The case stemmed from a seven-year investigation into international money laundering and a large-scale fraudulent investment scheme defrauding 128,000 individuals.

Trading of QMMM Holdings' stock was suspended by the SEC due to potential manipulation following a significant price surge caused by the company's plan to invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The SEC is investigating the situation until October 10, citing concerns about artificial inflation.

The SWIFT network, linking over 11,500 financial institutions globally, collaborates with Consenys and 30 firms to develop a prototype for real-time cross-border payments. The ledger will record, sequence, and validate transactions between financial institutions, enforcing rules through smart contracts.

The leaked files from firms linked to Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor reveal a crypto-powered geopolitical machine used by Russia to evade sanctions and influence elections in Moldova. Elliptic's analysis connects A7, allegedly controlled by Shor, to $8 billion in stablecoin transactions, showing crypto as a deliberate channel for power projection.

BlackRock Inc.'s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has become the world's largest venue for Bitcoin options, surpassing Coinbase Global Inc.'s Deribit platform. IBIT reached nearly $38 billion in open interest, while Deribit had long been dominant in Bitcoin derivatives until IBIT's rapid ascent in 2024.