⚠️ Hidden Risks

**October 2025 marked a milestone for Web3 funding**, reaching $3.88B - the second-highest month ever after November 2021's $7B peak. **Three major deals dominated the landscape:** - Polymarket: $2B - Tempo: $500M - Kalshi: $300M These three projects alone captured over 70% of monthly funding, signaling **renewed VC confidence** in Web3 infrastructure. **New altcoin spot ETFs launched with impressive debuts:** - **SOL ETFs**: $199M inflows (matching ETH's 2024 launch performance) - **HBAR ETFs**: $44.4M inflows - **LTC ETFs**: $0.7M inflows Meanwhile, BTC and ETH ETFs experienced outflows as investors rotated into newly available altcoin options following recent rate cuts. **Tragic news from Turkey:** Former Thodex CEO Faruk Fatih Ozer was found dead in prison, suspected suicide. He was serving an 11,196-year sentence for the 2021 exchange collapse that cost $2.6B and affected 400,000 victims. **Binance added Chinese language support** for token searches, with CZ sharing the update on X. The announcement sparked a 36% surge in meme coin BinanceLife within 24 hours.

**ECB President Christine Lagarde confirms the Digital Euro has entered its final preparation phase.** Key timeline: - **2026**: Parliamentary approval required - **2027**: Pilot programs begin - **2029**: Full launch target Lagarde describes the digital currency as **"a symbol of trust in Europe's common destiny."** This marks a significant step forward for Europe's central bank digital currency (CBDC) project, which has been in development since the ECB announced its progression to the preparation phase in October 2023. The Digital Euro would provide Europeans with a digital form of central bank money, complementing physical cash and private digital payment solutions.

**Bridgers positions itself as the gold standard in crypto bridging** The cross-chain routing protocol continues its marketing push with sports metaphors, claiming championship status in the bridging space. **Key points:** - Maintains its core value proposition: "You authorize. We route" - Builds on previous messaging about supporting 400+ crypto assets - Emphasizes user control and non-custodial execution This follows consistent messaging from Bridgers about being a **non-custodial routing protocol** rather than a traditional exchange or DEX. The platform aggregates liquidity across multiple chains while keeping user funds in their wallets. **Recent context shows** Bridgers has been expanding token support and chain integrations, including recent additions like Morph Layer 2 and various stablecoins. Try the platform at [dapp.bridgers.xyz](http://dapp.bridgers.xyz)

**Major banks enter crypto derivatives** DBS Bank and Goldman Sachs have officially launched Bitcoin and Ethereum options trading, marking a significant step for traditional finance into digital assets. The partnership builds on their recent completion of the first interbank over-the-counter cryptocurrency options transaction. **China pushes back** Meanwhile, China's central bank governor has voiced strong opposition to stablecoins, highlighting the ongoing regulatory divide. **Global implications** This development underscores the growing institutional adoption of crypto derivatives while regulatory tensions persist across different jurisdictions. The contrast between Western banks embracing crypto trading and China's continued resistance illustrates the complex global landscape for digital assets.