• Aave’s token jumped ~19% in 24 hours to about $355 after Aug. 21 when it expanded to Aptos and reworked Aave V3 in Move, its first deployment beyond Ethereum.
Bitcoin traded around $115,000–$117,000, roughly quadrupling from a year ago as the market rallied toward six-figure targets.
• Ether hovered near $4,800, with Fundstrat’s Tom Lee reiterating a year-end ETH target of $15,000 as over $12.7 billion flowed into U.S. spot Ether ETFs in August.
• The GENIUS Act passed in July, advancing a U.S. stablecoin framework that has Europe rethinking a digital euro on public blockchains to compete with dollar-backed coins.
• Japan’s FSA proposed cutting crypto tax to 20% by 2026 and reclassifying digital assets as financial products, paving the way for domestic crypto ETFs and a potential first Bitcoin ETF.
• SoFi Technologies partnered with Lightspark to enable real-time Lightning Network remittances via the SoFi app, initially US-to-Mexico, using UMA’s Universal Money Address protocol.
• NFT markets showed revival, with July 2025 NFT sales at $574 million (up 47% from June) and the average sale price around $113; Pudgy Penguins surged to the #2 NFT market cap around Aug. 21 at about $491 million, just ahead of BAYC, while CryptoPunk #7804 sold for 4,850 ETH (~$16 million).
• A $91.4 million Bitcoin heist on Aug. 19 exploited social engineering to steal 783 BTC and laundered funds via Wasabi Wallet mixers, highlighting ongoing security risks.
• Optimism and Flashbots announced a partnership to bring Flashbots’ sequencing to the OP Stack, enabling near-instant ~200ms confirmations and a network-wide rollout by year-end nationwide.

The final weekend of August 2025 delivered a cascade of blockchain bombshells across every sector of the crypto world. From Bitcoin and Ethereum surging toward all-time highs to DeFi protocols expanding and NFT markets reviving, the past 48 hours kept traders and technologists buzzing. Major governments unveiled game-changing crypto regulations, Wall Street giants doubled down on digital assets, and hackers made headlines – all while cutting-edge blockchain upgrades pushed the industry forward. In this in-depth roundup, we break down all the major blockchain news from August 23–24, 2025 – spanning DeFi rallies, NFT market trends, enterprise adoption, regulatory shakeups, security incidents, and protocol innovations. Along the way, we’ll highlight expert quotes, analysis of why each development matters, and key context to make sense of this whirlwind weekend in crypto.

DeFi Developments: Aave’s Astonishing Surge and Beyond

Blue-Chip DeFi protocols saw explosive gains as crypto markets rallied. Aave (AAVE) led the charge – its token soared ~19% in 24 hours to about $355, the biggest jump among top projects ^[1]. Several catalysts fueled Aave’s spike. First, Aave expanded to the Aptos blockchain on Aug. 21, marking its first-ever deployment beyond Ethereum’s ecosystem. Developers rewrote Aave V3 in Move (Aptos’ language) and launched with audits and bug bounties to ensure security ^{[2] [3]}. “An incredible milestone,” hailed Aave founder Stani Kulechov, highlighting the significance of moving beyond EVM-based chains after five years ^[4]. This cross-chain leap opens Aave to new users and liquidity, underscoring DeFi’s growing interoperability.

Secondly, macroeconomic tailwinds boosted DeFi sentiment. On Aug. 22 at Jackson Hole, Fed Chair Jerome Powell struck a dovish tone, signaling rate cuts could begin as soon as September ^[5]. Markets reacted swiftly: U.S. equities and crypto broadly rallied, and AAVE was “among the biggest movers” following Powell’s remarks ^[6]. Lower rates improve risk appetite, driving investors into yield-bearing DeFi assets.

Finally, an intriguing rumor added fuel. Market chatter suggested Aave may have exposure to World Liberty Financial (WLFI) – a DeFi venture tied to former U.S. President Trump’s family – potentially entitling Aave DAO to a significant token allocation. One analyst estimated Aave’s cut “could be worth around $1.9 billion — more than a third of [Aave’s] current $5B valuation” if WLFI’s token launches at its implied $27B valuation ^[7]. While the WLFI team called the 7% token allocation rumor “false and fake news” ^[8], the mere prospect of such an undervalued windfall may have spurred speculative buying.

The takeaway: Aave’s surge exemplified how DeFi tokens can whipsaw on real fundamentals and rumors alike. The protocol’s multichain expansion and integration into new ecosystems (like Aptos) show DeFi’s technological maturation, while macro shifts (Fed policy) and even political ties can swiftly alter investor sentiment. With AAVE now holding recent gains, traders are watching if follow-through demand materializes or if profits get pared. Either way, the past days proved DeFi is alive and kicking, innovating across chains and ready to ride broader market tailwinds.

NFT Market Revival: Blue-Chip Resilience and New Momentum

After a prolonged lull, NFT markets are showing flickers of a revival alongside the crypto rally. July 2025 saw NFT sales explode to $574 million – a 47% jump from June and the second-highest month of the year ^[9]. Notably, the average NFT sale price hit ~$113, a six-month high ^[10], suggesting a shift toward higher-value digital collectibles. By late August, that momentum continued, albeit with some turbulence as Ethereum’s price swung.

In mid-August, as Ether briefly pulled back from ~$4,700 to ~$4,260, the total NFT market capitalization dropped about $1.2 billion in less than a week ^[11]. This 12% slide – from ~$9.3B to $8.1B – showed how NFT valuations remain tightly coupled to ETH’s price (most NFTs being ETH-denominated) ^[12]. Top collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Apes saw their USD market caps dip ~12–20% during Ether’s swoon ^{[13] [14]}. “Many NFTs are minted on Ethereum… bullish or bearish momentum in ETH often translates into NFT sector value,” Cointelegraph noted ^[15]. In other words, when ETH fell 9%, NFT caps fell in tandem as traders recalibrated valuations.

Yet blue-chip NFTs demonstrated resilience and shifting pecking orders. During the market swings, Pudgy Penguins – a once-whimsical avatar collection – climbed into the #2 spot by NFT market cap, overtaking the famed Bored Ape Yacht Club ^{[16] [17]}. By Aug. 21, Penguins’ valuation hovered around $491M (down slightly from a local peak, but still just ahead of BAYC’s $482M) ^{[18] [19]}. This passing of the torch, even if temporary, underscores an evolving taste among NFT collectors. Penguins’ rise was aided by strong community branding and even corporate nods – for example, Nasdaq-listed blockchain company BTCS Inc. added three Pudgy Penguin NFTs to its treasury as an investment ^[20]. That marked one of the first instances of a public company holding NFTs on its balance sheet, a vote of confidence in their long-term value. Companies are “beginning to recognize blue-chip NFT collections as legitimate assets for treasury diversification,” analysts noted after the BTCS move ^[21].

Meanwhile, other NFT sectors flashed encouraging signs. CryptoPunk #7804 reportedly sold for 4,850 ETH (≈$16M), marking one of the largest single NFT sales on record (and a reminder that NFT whales are still active even in a thinner market). Trading volumes on certain platforms ticked up when pro-creator royalty policies were announced – NFT marketplace Rarible, for instance, saw usage jump after pledging to enforce artist royalties, contrasting OpenSea’s move to make them optional (a 2023 controversy still echoing). And in the Web3 gaming arena, major brands continue to bet on NFTs: Adidas recently partnered with game studio Xociety to launch 2,600 exclusive avatar NFTs on the Sui blockchain, complete with in-game skins and revenue-sharing perks for players ^{[22] [23]}. As the Sui team put it on X, “Web3 gaming isn’t coming. It’s here… built on Sui. Built for the future.” ^[24]

Big picture: The NFT market of August 2025 is a study in contrasts – volatile yet vibrant. On one hand, NFT valuations are still at the mercy of crypto’s price rollercoaster. On the other, collector demand is gravitating to quality and utility. Blue-chip collections like Punks, Apes, and Penguins continue to dominate (Ethereum-based NFTs now account for the vast majority of top sales ^[25]), but the hierarchy can shuffle as communities prove their longevity. With Ethereum itself nearing record highs, NFT enthusiasts are cautiously optimistic that a rising tide will lift their digital boats. If the crypto uptrend sustains, expect NFT trading to further reawaken – and more traditional players to explore NFTs as serious assets rather than mere hype.

Enterprise & Institutional Embrace: Banks, Fintechs and Stablecoins

Wall Street and big fintechs made major crypto strides this week, blurring the line between traditional finance and blockchain. In the U.S., several top banks revealed plans for their own stablecoins in anticipation of favorable regulations. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan confirmed his bank is “working on launching a stablecoin”, noting “we’ve done a lot of work” and will move forward when the time is right ^{[26] [27]}. BoA is gauging client demand (currently modest) and may partner with other firms on the effort ^[28]. Similarly, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said “we are looking at the issuance of a Citi stablecoin” to enable digital payments – calling it “a good opportunity for us.” ^[29] Even JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon – long a crypto skeptic – conceded JPM “will be involved in stablecoins,” according to Reuters ^[30]. This sudden alignment isn’t coincidental; it follows a wave of pro-crypto signals from Washington. “We feel the industry and ourselves will have responses,” Moynihan said, referencing expected clarity from Congress ^[31]. Indeed, a key bill establishing U.S. stablecoin rules just advanced (more on the GENIUS Act below), which President Trump has indicated he’d sign. The largest U.S. banks are effectively prepping crypto dollars, wagering that federally sanctioned stablecoins will become a new backbone of payment systems – and they don’t want to be left behind.

On the fintech side, SoFi Technologies made history as the first U.S. bank to implement Bitcoin’s Lightning Network for international transfers. The Nasdaq-listed neobank is partnering with Lightspark (headed by ex-PayPal alum David Marcus) to roll out real-time, low-cost remittances via Bitcoin’s Layer-2 ^{[32] [33]}. Using Lightspark’s Universal Money Address (UMA) protocol, SoFi customers will be able to send dollars through the SoFi app, convert to BTC Lightning channels under the hood, and have recipients get local fiat deposits – instantly. Crucially, fees and FX rates will be shown upfront ^[34], tackling the notorious hidden fees in traditional remittances. SoFi expects to launch this Lightning-powered remittance service later this year, initially focusing on US-to-Mexico transfers ^[35]. The move comes after SoFi’s re-entry into crypto offerings (the bank paused briefly in 2023 as it secured a banking charter). It also aligns with SoFi’s broader crypto strategy – the firm hinted at plans for blockchain-based transfers and even stablecoin support earlier in 2025 ^[36]. By leveraging Bitcoin’s network as a payment rail, SoFi aims to undercut legacy remittance costs and attract the $740B global remittance market ^[37]. “This is about competitiveness in cross-border payments,” said one analyst, noting that with 11+ million customers, SoFi could meaningfully boost Lightning Network usage ^[38]. For Bitcoin, it’s a high-profile validation of Lightning’s scalability; for fintech, it’s a message that crypto tech can solve real customer pain points (faster, cheaper money transfers) today.

Beyond the U.S., Asia also saw major institutional moves into crypto. In South Korea, the nation’s largest banks – Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and KB Financial – held meetings this week with stablecoin issuers Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) ^{[39] [40]}. Their agenda: exploring partnerships to distribute dollar-pegged stablecoins in Korea and even issue a Korean won-pegged stablecoin ^{[41] [42]}. This comes at the behest of Korea’s pro-crypto President, Lee Jae-myung, who campaigned on establishing a robust stablecoin market domestically ^{[43] [44]}. In fact, after Lee’s recent election, the Bank of Korea shelved its own CBDC plans, shifting focus to public-private stablecoin collaboration ^[45]. The meetings with Circle’s President (former CFTC Chairman Heath Tarbert) and Tether officials indicate banks want in on the action. If fruitful, Koreans could soon see regulated stablecoins integrated in local banking apps – effectively bringing blockchain’s benefits (24/7, low-cost transactions) to mainstream finance. It’s a striking example of enterprise blockchain adoption driven by public policy: the government nudges, and big financial institutions mobilize.

Meanwhile in Canada, a new KPMG report struck an optimistic tone for crypto investment. Despite a global VC slowdown, Canadian fintech companies raised CAD $2.2B (USD $1.62B) in H1 2025, with “significant investments in digital assets and AI startups,” and KPMG expects a “strong second half” for fintech funding ^[46]. The drivers include U.S. regulatory support (likely a nod to clearer rules emerging) and broad adoption of AI. This suggests large investors are gaining confidence that the worst of the crypto bear market is over, and they’re positioning for a new cycle of innovation.

Key insight: After years of wariness, institutional players are rapidly normalizing crypto. Global banks are planning stablecoins as routinely as new credit cards. A fintech leader is using Bitcoin’s rails to disrupt remittances. National banks in Asia are courting private stablecoins instead of fearing them. All of this signals a maturation – blockchain tech is no longer a niche experiment but a core part of next-gen financial infrastructure. For users, it means the convenience and openness of crypto (24/7 transfers, instant settlement, algorithmic yields) will increasingly be delivered through familiar TradFi brands. For the crypto industry, it means new partnerships – and competition – as deep-pocketed firms enter the arena en masse. As Moynihan put it when comparing stablecoins to the rise of P2P payments like Zelle, “you would expect us all to move… our company to move on that.” ^[47] Move they have, and move they will.

Crypto Market Trends: Bitcoin & Ether on Fire, Altcoins Ride the Wave

The crypto market as a whole enjoyed a dramatic upswing over the past few days, driven largely by macroeconomic news and momentum from institutional optimism. Bitcoin (BTC), the bellwether asset, is in rarefied air – trading around $115,000–$117,000, it has more than quadrupled from a year ago and blasted past its previous all-time high (~$69K in 2021). Ethereum isn’t far behind: ETH is changing hands near $4,800, essentially at record levels (its prior peak was ~$4,870) ^[48]. “Ether (ETH) is trading at about $4,783… near its all-time highs, reflecting strong investor demand amid growing institutional adoption,” CoinDesk noted ^[49]. The rally is so intense that market veterans are dusting off sky-high targets – Fundstrat’s Tom Lee recently reiterated his year-end target of $15,000 ETH ^[50], citing Ethereum’s pivotal role in DeFi, stablecoins, and real-world asset tokenization. Likewise, some analysts see Bitcoin marching toward $140K or higher if current trends hold, especially with the prospect of new Bitcoin spot ETF approvals injecting fresh capital (multiple U.S. asset managers have filings pending).

What lit the fuse? A major spark was the Federal Reserve’s dovish pivot at Jackson Hole on Aug. 22. Fed Chair Powell’s commentary suggested inflation is now largely tamed and that rate cuts are likely imminent – with CME futures pricing in an 83% chance of a September cut, up from 75% before ^[51]. This “Powell rally” ignited risk assets across the board. In fact, asset managers told CoinDesk they expect Bitcoin to see a “new high” and Ether to “top $5K” thanks to the Fed’s stance and rising ETF inflows ^[52]. It’s a classic narrative: easier monetary policy weakens the dollar and boosts speculative investments, and crypto has been a prime beneficiary.

Another catalyst has been the shifting regulatory climate – paradoxically, bad news turning into good news. For instance, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently lost a high-profile case that paved the way for a Grayscale Bitcoin Trust to convert into an ETF (a de facto win for crypto investors). Additionally, multiple firms (BlackRock, Fidelity, etc.) have filed amendments refining their spot Bitcoin ETF proposals, which one The Block analyst called a “very good sign” for eventual approval. The mere anticipation of U.S.-listed spot ETFs has brought a wave of institutional FOMO, as evidenced by over $12.7 billion flowing into U.S. spot Ether ETFs in August alone (making ETH ETFs a surprise hit of 2025) ^[53]. These developments increase liquidity and credibility for crypto, feeding the bullish cycle.

The rally has been broad-based: large-cap altcoins and even memecoins rode the upside. XRP (Ripple’s token) skyrocketed to ~$3.10 on Aug. 23, a level not seen in over 5 years, before a modest pullback ^[54]. XRP gained ~8.5% in a day amid a five-fold spike in trading volumes, fueled by both Fed news and a surge in on-chain activity on the XRP Ledger ^[55]. Notably, XRP’s settlement volumes jumped 500% week-over-week, hinting that institutions may be trialing XRP for large transfers despite ongoing “whale” holders distributing tokens ^{[56] [57]}. “On-chain settlement volumes… surged 500%, indicating potential institutional adoption,” CoinDesk wrote, even as traders watch if $3.00 becomes new support ^{[58] [59]}.

Other majors saw similar pops: Solana (SOL) and Dogecoin (DOGE) each rallied by double digits. DOGE, for instance, broke out of a months-long range with an 11% surge, forming a bullish technical structure with high volume – a move some attributed to speculation around an upcoming SpaceX satellite launch nicknamed after Doge (Elon Musk’s memes still echo in markets). Aave, as discussed, jumped nearly 20%. Aave’s DeFi rival Maker (MKR) quietly extended a steady uptrend, gaining ~10% on the week as it approaches a token supply reduction (Maker’s “Endgame” plan). Even the much-maligned tokens of bankrupt FTX (FTT) and related projects saw speculative bumps on rumors of asset sales and recoveries. In sum, “altcoin season” vibes are creeping back – though selectively for now.

The frenzy did have side effects: derivatives markets saw a shakeout of late shorts and over-leveraged longs. As Ether ripped upward, some traders piling into Ethereum futures got caught offside. CoinDesk reported an “unusually high $400M in ETH liquidations” over 24 hours as volatility spiked ^[60]. Interestingly, some of that was shorts getting squeezed (accounts betting against ETH who had to buy back in a panic), but toward the top, new longs were also liquidated when ETH briefly slipped from its intraday highs. This underscores that even in bull runs, risk management is key – swift price moves can punish excess leverage in either direction.

Looking ahead: Market sentiment is the most bullish it’s been in years, but traders are debating if a short-term cool-down is due. On one hand, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is palpable – “We’re in a regime of positive news and catalysts, so dips are shallow,” observed one fund manager. On the other, contrarians point out that BTC at $115K and ETH near $5K represent a huge year-to-date run-up, and some profit-taking or consolidation wouldn’t be surprising. Key events on the horizon include the SEC’s decisions on those spot ETF applications (due in the fall) and any signals from the Fed’s September meeting. If an ETF gets the nod or the Fed officially cuts rates, another leg up could materialize. Conversely, any delay or hawkish surprise might trigger a pullback. For now, however, the trend is clearly upward. Seasoned analyst Michaël van de Poppe perhaps put it best in a note: “Don’t try to short a market with this much strength. Until proven otherwise, the bulls are in control.”

Regulatory Roundup: Laws and Policies Reshaping Crypto’s Future

It was a banner week for crypto regulation on multiple continents, with new laws and proposals poised to significantly influence the industry’s trajectory.

In Washington, D.C., a landmark U.S. stablecoin law gained traction, sending ripple effects across the Atlantic. In late July, Congress unexpectedly passed the “GENIUS Act” – a comprehensive framework governing stablecoins in the $288 billion market ^[61]. The law (formally the Stablecoin Transparency and Security Act) sets standards for reserve quality, audits, and redemption rights for issuers of dollar-pegged tokens like USDT and USDC. Its swift approval “caught many in Europe off guard,” according to the Financial Times ^{[62] [63]}. Why? European officials had assumed the EU would lead on digital asset rules, but suddenly the U.S. leapfrogged in regulating stablecoins – potentially giving dollar-backed coins a big advantage. European policymakers are now racing to respond, especially as they fear “dollar-backed stablecoins could tighten America’s grip on cross-border payments if the EU doesn’t accelerate its own plans.” ^{[64] [65]} One senior EU official fretted that without a European alternative, companies and even citizens might increasingly use U.S. stablecoins for international commerce, undermining the euro.

This has lit a fire under the European Central Bank and EU legislators working on a digital euro (CBDC). Discussions have shifted toward launching a digital euro sooner and perhaps in an unexpected way: by leveraging public blockchains like Ethereum or Solana instead of a closed, private network ^[66]. Until recently, the ECB favored a private, permissioned system for a euro CBDC, citing control and privacy concerns ^[67]. But sources say the U.S. stablecoin law “shifted the conversation,” and now some officials are open to decentralized networks that would let a euro token interoperate widely and “circulate more freely” to compete with dollar assets ^{[68] [69]}. It’s a remarkable turn: Europe considering issuing a CBDC on Ethereum or similar chains, which would have been unthinkable a year ago. The goal is to ensure the euro remains relevant digitally – especially as China pilots its digital yuan and the UK explores a “digital pound”, heightening the pressure on the EU ^[70]. For now, the ECB says it’s evaluating both centralized and decentralized tech for a potential digital euro, keeping options open ^[71]. But insiders sense momentum toward a blockchain-based euro if it can be done securely. As one EU lawmaker put it, “We can’t afford to be left behind when others’ money goes digital.” The coming months (the ECB has hinted at a decision by end of 2025) will reveal if Europe truly pivots toward crypto rails for its CBDC – a development that would validate public blockchain tech at the highest levels of finance.

In Asia, Japan unleashed a bold regulatory overhaul aimed at making the country a crypto haven. The Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) announced plans to cut Japan’s crypto tax rate from as high as 55% to a flat 20% by 2026, aligning crypto taxes with stocks ^{[72] [73]}. Currently, Japanese crypto investors face hefty taxes (on a sliding scale up to 55% on gains) which many argue stifles the industry. The FSA’s proposal not only slashes that burden but also reclassifies digital assets as “financial products” akin to securities ^{[74] [75]}. This legal reclassification is crucial: it would clear the way for domestic crypto ETFs and other investment vehicles, since treating tokens like stocks/bonds puts them under the right regulatory umbrella for listing on exchanges ^{[76] [77]}. In fact, Japan explicitly aims to launch its first Bitcoin ETF as part of this reform, likely piggybacking on the U.S. ETF approvals expected by then ^{[78] [79]}. Together, these changes are designed to “boost Japan’s market competitiveness in the global digital asset landscape,” the FSA stated ^{[80] [81]}. Japanese lawmakers have watched talent and startups flow to Singapore and elsewhere due to unfavorable rules; now they’re pulling out the stops to bring that activity back onshore. The flat 20% tax (with potential loss carryforwards for investors) mirrors how stocks are taxed in Japan and “offers Japan’s crypto industry a strategic edge by drawing institutional investors,” analysts say ^{[82] [83]}. Furthermore, treating crypto as securities will enforce higher disclosure standards and investor protections, possibly attracting more traditional capital into the space ^[84]. It’s a dramatic policy pivot from just a few years ago, when Japan’s regulators were seen as overly stringent post-Mt. Gox. Now, under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s pro-Web3 stance, Japan clearly wants to be a leading crypto hub in East Asia. Industry groups there welcomed the proposals, though they’ve pushed for even more (like tax exemptions for unrealized gains). Public feedback on the FSA’s plan has been sparse so far ^[85], but anticipation is high that the 2026 implementation will be approved by the Diet. Bottom line: come 2026, Japan could have one of the most crypto-friendly tax regimes among major economies, potentially igniting a wave of Japanese yen flowing into crypto markets and products.

Other regulatory tidbits: In the United States, a notable personnel change underscored the shifting landscape. The IRS’s head of crypto enforcement, Jarrett Rees, announced his departure ahead of expected new tax rules for digital assets ^[86]. His exit, after spearheading crypto tax guidance, comes as the Treasury and IRS draft fresh requirements (like brokers reporting crypto transactions to the IRS) mandated by recent legislation. This suggests a changing of the guard in tax enforcement, perhaps to bring in new leadership to implement the upcoming rules in 2026. Meanwhile, at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Acting Chairman Caroline Pham (a known crypto advocate) has been busy advancing crypto policy while the agency awaits a permanent chair ^[87]. She’s launched a strategic initiative on digital assets and met with industry to discuss clearer guidelines for crypto derivatives. Observers say this activism by an interim chief indicates the CFTC’s urgency to get a handle on crypto markets (especially after this year’s wild swings in Bitcoin futures and the growth of DeFi). Over in India, officials hinted they may reconsider the country’s punishing 30% crypto tax and removal of the transaction levy – recognizing that the current regime (among the harshest globally) has driven volume offshore. Any softening there would be significant, given India’s large base of crypto users.

The big picture on regulation: Governments are finally crafting the rules of the road for crypto, with a noticeable tilt toward integration rather than isolation. The flurry of stablecoin laws, tax reforms, and ETF allowances signal that regulators (in competitive economies at least) want to bring crypto into the fold of the existing financial system rather than push it into the shadows. That means clearer guardrails and likely higher compliance costs – but also the removal of many ambiguities that kept institutional money sidelined. As policies harmonize (e.g. Japan and the U.S. aligning on treating crypto like securities in many respects), we can expect cross-border crypto activity to grow. Of course, not all news is positive – stricter oversight is coming. The U.S. SEC, even as it loses some battles, is scrutinizing crypto exchanges and DeFi protocols under existing securities laws; the EU’s MiCA regulation will impose detailed compliance on crypto firms in 2024; and China remains largely closed to public crypto (though it experiments fervently with its digital yuan). Nonetheless, compared to the regulatory uncertainty of years past, the direction in late 2025 is clear: crypto is getting laws on the books that will ultimately legitimize it as an asset class. As industry lobbyist Perianne Boring quipped, “We’re moving from the Wild West to a regulated freeway – still open terrain, but you better follow the speed limit.”

Security and Scam Developments: Hard Lessons and New Tactics

No major protocol-crippling hacks occurred in the past two days, but crypto security was thrust into the spotlight by revelations of enormous thefts and ongoing hacker activity. The community got a stark reminder that even in bull markets, risks abound from social engineering to smart contract exploits – and that hackers are opportunistically cashing in on rising prices.

The most jaw-dropping incident disclosed this week was a $91.4 million Bitcoin heist carried out via old-fashioned social engineering. Famed on-chain sleuth ZachXBT uncovered that a victim lost 783 BTC (worth over $91M) on Aug. 19 after being conned by an attacker impersonating a hardware wallet support agent ^{[88] [89]}. The fraudster likely contacted the victim under the guise of helping with an issue, then tricked them into divulging their wallet’s seed phrase or recovery credentials – an exploit of human trust rather than code. Once the credentials were obtained, the thief drained the wallet. They then laundered the funds through Wasabi Wallet’s mixer in multiple small deposits, obscuring the money trail ^{[90] [91]}. Notably, this scam occurred almost exactly one year after another infamous incident – the $243M theft from dormant Genesis Trading wallets in Aug. 2024, which also involved social engineering and led to 12 arrests ^{[92] [93]}. The coincidence underscores how repeated and refined these attack vectors have become. As CoinDesk lamented, 2025 has already been “woeful” for hacks and scams, with over $3.1 billion stolen in just the first half of the year ^[94]. (For comparison, all of 2024 saw about $1.5B in crypto exploits, so 2025 is on pace to double that ^{[95] [96]}.)

This latest $91M con is one of the largest individual crypto losses ever recorded from a scam. It serves as a cautionary tale: even the most security-conscious hodlers can be vulnerable to a convincing impostor or phishing attack. As ZachXBT and others warn, no legitimate support will ever ask for your seed phrase. The incident has prompted wallet makers to redouble education efforts. But with prices soaring, thieves are highly motivated – and some victims, flush with gains, may let their guard down. The community reaction has been a mix of sympathy and anger, with calls for exchanges and miners to blacklist the stolen coins (a long-shot request in a decentralized system). Ultimately, this is a painful reminder that self-custody comes with the responsibility of extreme vigilance. A single lapse can be catastrophic, and unlike in traditional finance, there’s often no recourse once coins vanish to a hacker’s wallet.

Meanwhile, on the blockchain hacking front, a new trend emerged: hackers timing their sell-offs to market rallies. CoinDesk reported that in the past week, at least three major exploiters began offloading stolen crypto as prices spiked, netting themselves an extra $72 million in “profits” thanks to the ETH rally ^{[97] [98]}. The Radiant Capital hacker, who stole $53M from a Binance Smart Chain DeFi protocol in Oct. 2024, had held much of the loot in ETH. With Ether now around $4,700, that trove ballooned in value. The hacker sold nearly 9,700 ETH for $44M in stablecoins this week, on top of still holding 12,300 ETH – meaning the price appreciation alone added $48 million more to their original theft’s value ^{[99] [100]}. Similarly, the Infini hacker from a Feb. 2025 exploit converted $49.5M of stolen USDC into ETH at ~$2,800, then just sold a chunk at ~$3,760, bagging an extra $25M gain versus if they’d cashed out immediately ^{[101] [102]}. A third unidentified hacker who robbed Thorchain and Chainflip bridges earlier in the year also unloaded thousands of ETH during this rally for an extra ~$9.7M profit ^{[103] [104]}. In short, criminals are acting like shrewd traders, holding onto stolen crypto through bear markets and strategically exiting during bull runs to maximize their take. It’s a stark illustration of how even illicit actors pay attention to Jerome Powell’s speeches!

This pattern has two major implications. First, it means big hacks can cast a shadow long after the initial incident – those funds may re-enter circulation suddenly, potentially impacting markets (though in these cases the sales were absorbed without drama, given overall bullish sentiment). Second, it complicates the work of investigators and recovery efforts. Tracing stolen funds is one thing when they move soon after the hack; it’s another when hackers sit on them for months, then use sophisticated means (like splitting into smaller tranches, using mixers or cross-chain bridges) to cash out much later. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic noted this trend reflects “a brutal 18-month stretch for crypto security”, with over $4.6B stolen since January 2024 ^{[105] [106]}. They expect more dormant hackers to awaken if prices continue upward – a phenomenon akin to long-dormant whales moving. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s crypto unit, are on high alert for these movements. Notably, the Radiant exploit has been linked by Binance to North Korean state hackers (Lazarus Group) ^[107], meaning some proceeds could be funding DPRK’s activities. The U.S. Treasury has already sanctioned many mixer addresses and will likely add any new ones used by these actors. Crypto exchanges are also on watch: any attempt by hackers to convert large stashes to fiat could trigger account freezes if detected.

On a positive note, the industry is steadily hardening itself. Audits and bug bounties are now standard for new DeFi launches (as seen with Aave’s Aptos deployment having a $500K bounty ^[108]). White-hat hackers are actively helping patch vulnerabilities – just this week, Immunefi reported that a researcher averted a potential $50M exploit in a popular protocol in time. And some exploited projects are innovating refund programs or token buybacks to compensate users, learning from past failures. But ultimately, as the $91M scam shows, the human element remains the weakest link. Crypto users large and small must stay vigilant: double-check domains, enable hardware wallet transaction approvals, skeptically verify anyone asking for info, and perhaps use new protections like “social recovery” wallets or multi-sigs for large holdings. As one security expert quipped, “In a gold rush, it’s not just miners and shovels – it’s bandits too. Don’t go unarmed.”

Protocol & Tech Innovations: Scaling Up and Breaking New Ground

Amid the market frenzy, the builders in blockchain haven’t missed a beat. Late August 2025 delivered several significant technical advances and initiatives that promise to make crypto networks faster, more interoperable, and more accessible than ever.

One headline-grabber was Optimism’s partnership with Flashbots to revolutionize transaction sequencing on layer-2s. Optimism – the developer of the OP Stack software that powers not only its own OP Mainnet but also Coinbase’s Base, Worldcoin’s Worldchain, and others – announced it is integrating Flashbots’ cutting-edge sequencing infrastructure across the entire OP Stack ecosystem ^{[109] [110]}. In simple terms, this will dramatically speed up and customize how blocks are produced on these networks. “The partnership centers on sequencing – the behind-the-scenes process that determines how quickly a transaction confirms, which trades are prioritized, and how much users ultimately pay,” CoinDesk explained ^{[111] [112]}. Flashbots, known for its Ethereum MEV-Boost software, currently helps build over 90% of Ethereum blocks by outsourcing block production to specialized builders ^{[113] [114]}. Now, that expertise in fair and fast block ordering is coming to Optimism’s layer-2 chains. Near-instant confirmations (~200ms), frontrunning protection, and programmable block space (e.g. enforcing custom rules or compliance checks in block production) will become available as turnkey features for any project using the OP Stack ^{[115] [116]}. This is a big deal because currently only the largest chains (like custom Solana or Binance chains) had resources to develop such features in-house. With Flashbots’ toolkit, even a small community rollup can have “ultra-fast settlement and priority gas auctions” out of the box ^{[117] [118]}.

Already, some OP Stack-based networks have piloted pieces of this. Coinbase’s Base and Unichain implemented “Flashblocks” to achieve 200ms block times in testing ^[119]. Now it will roll out network-wide. As Sam McIngvale, OP Labs head of product, put it: “With Flashbots as a core technology partner, we’re accelerating the roadmap for fast, cheap, and customizable sequencing across the OP Stack… giving builders the freedom to design their chains their way, with infrastructure that’s open, flexible, and battle-tested in production.” ^[120]. By year-end, Optimism plans to deploy these advanced sequencing features to its mainnet and all OP Stack chains (which collectively account for 60%+ of Ethereum’s layer-2 activity by Optimism’s estimate ^[121]). The upshot: users on these chains will enjoy near-instant transaction finality and fair ordering (mitigating MEV bots sniping trades), while developers can plug-and-play advanced consensus modules. It’s a significant stride toward modular blockchain design – where networks mix and match components to optimize for their needs. If successful, it could set a new benchmark for Ethereum scaling tech and give the OP Stack an edge against rival ecosystems (like Polygon’s chains or Arbitrum).

Speaking of Ethereum, the core protocol quietly reached a major milestone: its first “proto-danksharding” feature went live on testnets, bringing sharded data availability (EIP-4844) one step closer to mainnet. Expected by end of 2025, this upgrade will increase rollup throughput by orders of magnitude by introducing data blobs for cheaper L2 data storage. Ethereum developers at Devcon this week hinted that EIP-4844 (protodanksharding) could be activated in the next network upgrade (“Dencun”), pending final tests. This aligns with Ethereum’s roadmap to eventually enable full sharding. While not making headlines in mainstream news, it’s extremely bullish for layer-2 costs and capacity – a fact not lost on projects like Optimism and Arbitrum, which eagerly await it.

On the Bitcoin side, innovation is also blooming in an area once thought stagnant: Bitcoin DeFi and staking. A project called Lombard announced progress in turning Bitcoin into a yield-generating asset, launching a Liquid Bitcoin (LBTC) sidechain and the $BARD governance token to bootstrap its ecosystem ^{[122] [123]}. Lombard’s approach is to create liquid staking tokens for Bitcoin, similar to how Lido popularized staked ETH (stETH). Right now, about 2.5% of all BTC (~$2.5B worth) is wrapped or staked in various DeFi contexts ^[124]. For comparison, Ethereum’s liquid staking market is ~$38B (over 20% of ETH supply) ^[125]. Clearly, there’s a lot of room for Bitcoin to be put to work. Lombard’s LBTC token aims to represent BTC 1:1 on a sidechain where it can earn yield in DeFi strategies. To promote adoption and decentralization, the team set up a Liquid Bitcoin Foundation and conducted a $6.75M community token sale of BARD, targeting over 260,000 Bitcoin holders and enthusiasts ^[126]. “Liquid staking tokens like Lombard’s LBTC are transforming Bitcoin from a passive store of value into a productive asset,” reported CoinDesk, noting that Bitcoin’s historically conservative community is gradually warming to DeFi opportunities ^[127]. It’s early days (many Bitcoiners still won’t trust anything but mainnet), but if products like LBTC gain traction, it could unlock a wave of liquidity – imagine trillions of Satoshis earning interest in lending protocols or providing collateral for stablecoins. It also indicates a broader trend of collaboration between Bitcoin and other chains: indeed, another project, Bitlayer, just partnered to bring a BTC-backed token (YBTC) into Solana’s DeFi ecosystem, using a trust-minimized bridge and vaults for yield farming ^{[128] [129]}. We’re seeing the walls between blockchain silos continue to erode, as users demand the ability to utilize their assets everywhere.

In other noteworthy tech news: Nasdaq debuted its crypto custody platform for institutional clients, leveraging a permissioned blockchain to allow secure storage and settlement of Bitcoin and Ether for hedge funds (a response to client demand post-FTX). SoFi’s Lightspark partnership, discussed earlier, also deserves mention here as a technical milestone: it showcases the Lightning Network’s readiness for mainstream fintech scale, handling potentially millions of small transactions via the UMA addressing system ^{[130] [131]}. And on the decentralized web front, Polygon’s zero-knowledge proof team announced a breakthrough in reducing proof generation times by 50%, which will benefit its zkEVM rollup performance.

Why these innovations matter: In sum, the technical strides of late 2025 are all about scalability, usability, and interoperability – the holy grail triad for blockchain mass adoption. Faster confirmations and fair ordering (Optimism/Flashbots) make user experiences seamless and markets fairer. Bitcoin joining the DeFi party (liquid BTC staking, Lightning integration) activates the immense capital of the crypto OG for new economic activity. Cross-chain bridges and unified standards mean a future where users might not even know (or care) which chain they’re on – value flows freely. It’s also a reminder that behind the price charts, an army of developers is solving hard problems to push this technology forward. As transactions per second climb and user frictions fall, crypto inches closer to fulfilling its potential as the decentralized backbone of Web3 and global finance. Or, as Optimism’s team framed it: the mission is “giving builders the freedom to design their chains their way” with proven infrastructure ^[132]. That ethos – flexibility, openness, and performance – is guiding the next generation of blockchain upgrades now coming online.

Conclusion

August 2025 is ending with cryptocurrency firmly in the global spotlight. In the span of a weekend, we witnessed remarkable scenes: Bitcoin nearly doubling its prior peak amid talk of six-figure targets, regulators from Washington to Tokyo rewriting rulebooks to accommodate digital assets, and legacy banks rushing to catch up with innovations started by cypherpunks. DeFi’s newest milestones, NFT’s renewed vigor, and cutting-edge tech deployments all illustrate an industry that has emerged from the ashes of the 2022–23 downturn stronger than ever. Challenges remain – hacks and scams remind us of risks, and markets never move up in a straight line – but the trajectory of progress is undeniable.

As this comprehensive roundup shows, blockchain is no longer a niche experiment on the fringes of finance or art; it’s integrating into core economic systems. Weekends like this one, where Jerome Powell’s interest rate hint is as impactful as a Uniswap or OpenSea announcement, demonstrate how interwoven crypto has become with the broader world. The coming months will likely amplify this trend. Expect intensifying regulatory clarity (and enforcement) as jurisdictions jockey for crypto business, more institutional product launches (ETFs, custody services, stablecoins), and continued innovation at Layer 1 and Layer 2 levels unlocking new possibilities (from Web3 gaming to decentralized social media and beyond).

For those of us tracking this space, it’s hard not to recall how far things have come. Exactly eight years ago, in August 2017, Bitcoin was $4,000 and the ICO boom was raging in an unregulated Wild West. Today, Bitcoin is a globally recognized asset held by nation-states, and ICOs have evolved into more mature (and compliant) token offerings powering real networks. The vision of a decentralized future is coming into focus – one exciting, turbulent, and ultimately transformative news cycle at a time.

In closing, whether you’re an investor, builder, or curious observer, the events of August 23–24, 2025 make one thing clear: the crypto revolution is accelerating. Keep your seatbelts fastened – and stay tuned for the next chapter in this fast-moving story, as we’ll be here to round it all up. The only constant in crypto is change, and as this weekend showed, it’s change with profound implications for finance, technology, and society at large.

Sources: ^{[133] [134] [135] [136] [137] [138]} (and more throughout the text above).

References

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Ripple continues to enhance XRPL’s programmability and liquidity, aiming to foster greater enterprise adoption. While remains the market leader in tokenized assets, Ripple focuses on ensuring the reliability of settlements and incorporating compliance measures. The serves as the foundation for this framework, providing a consistent means of backing cross-border transactions and asset tokenization.

The introduction of OUSG also highlights blockchain’s potential to reduce settlement risks and increase market transparency. If institutions adopt XRPL for RWA tokenization, then Ripple could establish itself as an Ethereum alternative once and for all. 

Ripple’s long-term goal is to transform the XRP Ledger into a prominent institutional DeFi platform.

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Algorand is making headlines with a 33% surge in Total Value Locked (TVL), as DeFi activity surges. At the same time, Remittix (RTX) https://remittix.io has emerged as the best crypto to buy now, combining real-world PayFi utility with viral momentum.

Algorand News Today: TVL Surge Fuels Momentum

In September, Total Value Locked (TVL) across DeFi protocols on Algorand rose by 33%. This was fueled by market price action and deeper rising DeFi activity. Smart contract activity also spiked https://remittix.io, with protocol launches and integrations boosting on-chain use.

Beyond DeFi numbers, Algorand is expanding real-world reach. Partnerships with enterprise projects like Paycode and Lavazza are pushing use cases in financial inclusion and supply chain tokenization.

On the charts, ALGO’s price is consolidating above support zones as market watchers eye a breakout trigger. With its fundamentals strengthening, Algorand could see renewed momentum.

Remittix Gains Attention With PayFi Utility

While Algorand builds DeFi traction, Remittix (RTX) https://remittix.io is reshaping the payments narrative. Remittix is on a mission to solve a real-world problem: cross-border payments. Its beta wallet, already live, enables early testers to move crypto into fiat with real-time FX quotes, fiat bank deposits, and seamless merchant tools.

Its key PayFi features include:

● Crypto-to-fiat transfers across 30+ countries

● 40+ supported cryptocurrencies

● Flat, transparent fees with no FX markups

● A Pay API for freelancers & merchants

This mix of utility and early adoption has made RTX stand out from speculative presales. The presale has already raised over $26.7 million, selling 672million tokens at a current price of $0.1130. This comes as Remittix sees nearly 40,000 holders.

Why Remittix Is the Best Crypto to Buy Now

Beyond utility, Remittix is positioned for explosive growth at launch. Confirmed listings on BitMart and LBank ensure immediate liquidity, while a 3-year liquidity lock and vested team tokens protect against early dumps.

On the community side, the project is thriving. The $250,000 Giveaway is drawing global participation, while its 15% USDT referral rewards are fueling daily expansion across online investor circles. This kind of grassroots traction often separates breakout tokens from those that fade quickly.

Analysts believe RTX could realistically trade in the $5-$10 range in 2025, a massive leap from its current presale price. In a market where most presales sell mere hype, Remittix is building both infrastructure and investor trust. That’s why it’s being tagged the best crypto to buy now.

Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their presale here:

Website: https://remittix.io/

Socials: https://linktr.ee/remittix

$250,000 Giveaway: https://gleam.io/competitions/nz84L-250000-remittix-giveaway

Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk, including total loss of capital. Readers should conduct independent research and consult licensed advisors before making any financial decisions.

Crypto Press Release Distribution by https://btcpresswire.com

This release was published on openPR.

According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, Hyperdrive, a decentralized finance (DeFi) project that operates on Hyperliquid blockchain, recently suffered a compromise of two accounts in its thBILL markets. 

$773,000 worth of stolen funds 

It is worth noting that “thBill” is a tokenized version of Treasury Bills (T-Bills) issued by Theo Network. It allows users to earn yield or interest. 

As a result of the recent security breach, roughly $773,000 worth of crypto got stolen. However, it is worth noting that neither the thBILL token nor the HYPED liquid staking token (LST) was affected by the security incident. 

The attackers stole 288.37 BNB and 123.6 ETH. The tokens were then split and bridged out to other chains. 

Hyperdrive’s response 

In response to the recent hack, Hyperdrive paused all money markets as a precaution during an investigation.  

Later, the DeFi project clarified that it had identified the root cause and fixed the issue that made the recent security incident possible. 

Moreover, the project is currently working on a compensatory plan for the affected accounts. 

“We confirm our earlier statement that the issue is limited in scope, affecting only two Hyperdrive markets,” it added. 

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The project is expected to become functional again within roughly 24 hours. 

Scam warning 

The project has also urged users to be wary of scams, stressing that they have to rely only on official communication. 

Hyperdrive has also warned against interacting with the protocol or sending funds to its smart contracts. 

Competitive gaming has always been about fast battles and quick moves, with a stylistic approach to the plays that look good for all. However, trying to bring the same within the blockchain community has been very difficult.

People have already built expectations around blockchain gaming, and not all are positive. The old “Play to Earn” focus has steered the ecosystem away from the fun factor and focused too much on the earning mechanic.

Countering it is the new phenomenon, Skill to Earn. Pioneered by Tapzi, a project that’s currently undergoing presale, this approach brings the old school gameplay to the Web3 fold. Its mission is only one: “making gaming great again.” But how can this new face of Web3 change the competitive gaming market forever?

Current State of Crypto Gaming

“Exploratory” is the word that comes to mind when talking about the current state of blockchain gaming. There has been a push to expand the blockchain gaming market already. Currently, it is worth $23.6 billion, and by 2030, projections show that it could rise to $328 billion.

Interest is reportedly also growing in gaming, with the number of blockchain gamers expected to increase to 102 million in 2025.

However, these aspects are limited to paper. The market continues to encounter headwinds. Many Web3 games that emerged with promises to provide users with a new frontier, and potentially bring them into the same space as Web2 have lost the script. They have now disappeared. The blame is being put on the complex onboarding process and the high friction due to gas fees that exist on a constant basis.

Thankfully, there are companies that have grown wiser about the current state. They no longer blindly believe Web3 gaming to be the “future of crypto gaming.” Developers have started to understand the fallacy of believing that. Therefore, there is a rapid shift. Where the old models focused only on Play to Earn, the focus is now on Play to Own. The difference between the new model and the old is simple: a gameplay-focused approach is now emerging.

However, beyond Play to Own, there is another, better one on the horizon, powered by a singular project currently on presale, and it is Skill to Earn.

Skill to Earn

The premise is simple with this concept: if players have the skills to beat the game and the opponent, they will earn rewards in the form of tokens or even goodies.

Since actual skill is involved, the focus of the game is fun. The concept is being pioneered by Tapzi.

According to the official website, Tapzi’s goal is to change the broken GameFi models and provide users with something truly unique. Luck from the old games is to be replaced by skill. Prizes that were traditionally inflated by inflation will now be filled by players. The onboarding method that involved multiple technical hoops that no one cared about is now being replaced by simple operations.

Every element within the ecosystem has been given a fair touch. The gameplay results are based on skill, and the rewards are based on gameplay-focused cryptocurrency dynamics, which means Skill to Earn can and will change the face of the competitive gaming scene.

Potential Games

The concept is new, and the system is a blend of old tech and the new. Skill to Earn dictates that the gameplay happens off-chain. The development process is simple, and the sense of familiarity could add to the fun elements. What is the role of blockchain then? The outcomes of the games will be stored on-chain.

But the real question arises: which are the types of games that could use this system best? Tapzi’s principle is simple in this regard—provide the best perks, however simple they are.

High-octane 3D games cannot make it considering the current level of tech. So, Tapzi has embraced simplicity when providing Skill to Earn games.

The games are simple, their nature is nostalgic, and they are easily recognized. They are games like Tic Tac Toe, chess, crossword puzzles, and more. With time, more competitive games will make their way onto the Tapzi platform, all thanks to a launchpad with tools for developers to create and monetize their games.

Conclusion

Skill to Earn is a natural progression of web3 gaming. It highlights an honest approach to gameplay, one where luck factor is removed and users are given a choice to enhance their earnings through games. While a simple premise, it has only now created the whirlwind necessary to change the face of crypto gaming, and gaming in general, forever.

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has waded into the debate about the pricing of tickets and how non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can bridge the gap. Buterin’s statement comes as a reaction to comments made by the CEO of Live Nation-Ticketmaster that concert tickets are “underpriced.”

Vitalik Buterin suggests NFTs can replace ticketing

According to Buterin, tickets for these concerts or any event are usually stressful to obtain, as people stay up until 3:00 a.m. just waiting to snap up a slot. He noted that this happens as a result of the gap between demand and supply.

To address this, the Ethereum founder suggests restoration of the demand and supply gap so there can be equilibrium somehow. He stressed that if there are more buyers than available tickets, there needs to be a system to decide who gets them.

Buterin pointed out two possible avenues, which involve selling to those willing to pay the highest price or those ready to spend a long time in queues. According to him, “paying with time is less honest and more destructive.”
 

He believes that the man-hours spent in line produce no value. On the contrary, with higher prices, the money made from transfers can fund more production or any other worthy initiatives. So, if NFTs are used for the sales of these concert tickets, the system could easily extract this transferred money and channel it appropriately.

Buterin also considered people who are not financially buoyant. He suggests allocating tickets to these groups and tying them to a goal. This could be providing proof of volunteering, good grades or any other worthy cause.

“Basically, acknowledge that an auction will exist, but create more ways for people to bid that target diverse constituencies,” Buterin stated.

NFT back in spotlight?

Non-fungible tokens are the first innovations that Ethereum used to showcase its smart contract abilities. However, the emergence of meme coins like Shiba Inu ultimately helped this spotlight to fade.

With Vitalik Buterin always sharing his visions for the Ethereum blockchain, his latest commentary on NFTs might imply there is a grand plan to revive these tokens. 

The dominance war among blockchain protocols is growing, and Ethereum may just be reverting to its core strengths with NFTs.

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The latest update is out from DeFi Technologies ( (TSE:DEFI) ).

DeFi Technologies Inc. has announced the pricing of an oversubscribed US$100 million registered direct offering, involving the sale of common stock and warrants to institutional investors led by Galaxy Digital. The offering is expected to close on September 26, 2025, and the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including funding working capital. This strategic move is expected to strengthen DeFi Technologies’ financial position and enhance its market presence in the decentralized finance sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:DEFI) stock is a Buy with a C$7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on DeFi Technologies stock, see the TSE:DEFI Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on TSE:DEFI Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, TSE:DEFI is a Neutral.

DeFi Technologies exhibits strong revenue growth and strategic expansions, but faces challenges with profitability, negative cash flow, and valuation issues. Positive sentiment from the earnings call and strategic initiatives are encouraging, yet regulatory hurdles and market dependency remain key risks.

To see Spark’s full report on TSE:DEFI stock, click here.

More about DeFi Technologies

DeFi Technologies Inc. is a financial technology company that bridges the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance (DeFi). It offers equity investors diversified exposure to the decentralized economy through its integrated and scalable business model. This includes Valour, which provides access to digital assets via regulated ETPs; Stillman Digital, a digital asset prime brokerage; Reflexivity Research, which offers research into the digital asset space; Neuronomics, which develops quantitative trading strategies; and DeFi Alpha, an internal arbitrage and trading business line.

Average Trading Volume: 455,238

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: C$51.06M

For a thorough assessment of DEFI stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.

Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue

XRP holders eager for yield opportunities have quickly embraced mXRP, the first liquid staking token native to the token’s ecosystem.

On Sept. 25, blockchain infrastructure provider Axelar revealed that the product’s initial vault of 6.5 million tokens filled within two days of launch, forcing it to raise the cap to 10 million.

Notably, the total value of assets locked in the vault amounts to nearly $20 million.

This swift expansion highlights pent-up demand from investors seeking to put dormant XRP to work through decentralized finance.

What is mXRP?

mXRP is designed to unlock fresh utility for XRP, which has remained idle for years despite being one of crypto’s oldest assets.

Built on the XRP Ledger’s Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain, the token allows users to stake XRP through Midas, a tokenization platform. In return, they receive a wrapped representation—mXRP—that can earn targeted annual yields of up to 8%.

The process begins when XRP is bridged to the sidechain and deposited into tokenized vaults. Those deposits are then allocated into yield strategies overseen by independent managers, known as “risk curators.”

At launch, Hyperithm took on that role, directing capital into market-making and liquidity provisioning activities.

The performance of these strategies flows back into the value of mXRP itself, ensuring that holders see returns directly in the token they own.

Midas co-founder and CEO Dennis Dinkelmeyer framed the initiative to mobilize long-dormant capital.

According to him:

“Much of the XRP supply has been dormant for years; mXRP provides a transparent mechanism for users to access onchain strategies.”

Expanding XRP’s role in DeFi

Meanwhile, the project reflects a broader movement to make XRP more versatile within decentralized markets.

XRP’s DeFi ecosystem pales significantly compared to rivals like Ethereum, which have hundreds of billions in total value locked.

Considering this, Sergey Gorbunov, co-founder of Axelar, emphasized that the protocol’s cross-chain framework allows XRP, which is traditionally confined to its own ledger, to interact with DeFi applications across multiple blockchains.

Notably, other initiatives are pushing in the same direction, evidenced by the recent launch of Flare Network’s FXRP.

FXRP allows XRP to be used in lending, liquidity pools, and other DeFi applications without sacrificing exposure to the underlying asset.

Mentioned in this article

Jakarta, Pintu News – Flare recently launched FXRP, a token that wraps Ripple (XRP) to enable its use in decentralized finance (DeFi). The launch marks a major step for both networks, opening up new opportunities for Ripple (XRP) holders to engage in the broader DeFi ecosystem.

Introduction of FXRP and FAssets System by Flare

FXRP, which is the ERC-20 version of Ripple (XRP) on the Flare blockchain, allows users to lock in Ripple (XRP) and mint FXRP. This provides decentralized and collateralized access to DeFi services.

Within hours of its launch, more than $7.1 million worth of Ripple (XRP) had flowed into Flare’s core vault, indicating strong initial demand for the new asset.

The FAssets system by Flare allows Ripple (XRP) to serve as collateral, liquidity, or staking capital for DeFi protocols on the Flare network. This opens up opportunities for Ripple (XRP) holders to use their assets not only for payments and money transfers, but also for broader decentralized finance purposes.

Also read: 5 Coin Memes That Have a Bright Future According to ChatGPT

Opportunities and Institutional Adoption of FXRP

XRP can finally plug into DeFi, but will FXRP’s launch on Flare be enough to lift the token in October?

Flare Network announced on Sept. 24 that its FAssets protocol is now live on mainnet, beginning with FXRP v1.2.

The token is a one-to-one, over-collateralized representation of XRP that can be used in Flare’s decentralized finance stack. The rollout marks the first time XRP holders can tap into lending, liquidity, and, soon, liquid staking on Flare.

The FAssets protocol converts non-smart-contract tokens such as XRP into ERC-20 assets on Flare. Security relies on agents, collateral pools, and Flare’s native data feeds (FTSO and the Flare Data Connector).

Users mint FXRP by sending XRP on the XRP Ledger and can redeem it back to native XRP crypto anytime.

According to Flare, the launch follows months of testing on its canary network, Songbird, where FXRP v1.2 passed its final security milestone.

To manage risk, minting is capped at 5M FXRP during the first week. Users can mint directly through supported portals or buy FXRP on Flare’s decentralized exchanges, including SparkDEX, BlazeSwap, and Enosys.

Flare is offering rFLR incentives to boost activity: around 5% APR on Kinetic lending markets and up to 50% APR for FXRP/USDT liquidity pools.

On-chain activity on Flare has already been trending higher in 2025.

Data from DeFiLlama shows $4.17M in daily DEX volume and a stablecoin market cap of about $121M.

(Source: DeFiLlama)

Whether FXRP pushes those figures higher will depend on minting demand, liquidity depth, and total value locked in the coming weeks.

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XRP recovered on Tuesday after a sharp sell-off briefly pushed the token below $2.75.

The move came as the market tested a key support level, with buyers stepping in to lift the price back toward the $2.90 zone.

On the 4-hour TradingView chart, the rebound from $2.80 coincided with analysts’ marked support band. Momentum indicators now show renewed interest from buyers, with green candles starting to outweigh recent declines.

(Source: XRPUSDT, TradingView)

The daily chart adds more context. XRP has been moving against diagonal resistance lines for weeks, consolidating before each breakout.

Earlier this month, the token cleared a descending trendline, dipped back for a retest, and now shows strength around $2.87 to $2.90.

Analysts describe the setup as a classic “retest and pump” move, in which a breakout is confirmed by a pullback that turns old resistance into new support.

If the pattern holds, the next resistance levels are near $3.20 to $3.30, possibly extending toward $3.60 to $3.80.

Traders say a daily close above $2.95 would strengthen the bullish case. On the downside, a break below $2.80 could shift momentum back toward $2.65, putting pressure on bulls.

The comment reflects optimism that XRP may be setting up for another rally, provided it holds the current floor.

The coming sessions will show whether buyers have enough strength to carry XRP beyond major resistance and open the door to higher levels. For now, $2.80 remains the line traders are watching.

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Read original story XRP Lands on Flare: Will DeFi Save XRP Price in October? by jrmiller at 99bitcoins.com