CoinDesk

**Stablecoins are gaining traction** as a viable savings option for people in economically unstable regions. Traditional banking systems in weak economies often face: - Currency devaluation risks - Limited deposit protection - Restricted access to stable currencies **Digital dollar-pegged tokens** provide an alternative that maintains purchasing power while offering easier access than traditional foreign currency accounts. This trend reflects growing adoption of crypto-based financial tools in regions where local banking infrastructure may be unreliable or where national currencies face significant volatility.

Grayscale has implemented updates across three of its major cryptocurrency investment products. The changes affect: - **Ethereum Trust ETF** - **Ethereum Mini Trust ETF** - **Solana Trust** These three funds collectively manage **$8.25 billion in assets**, representing a significant portion of institutional crypto exposure. The update comes as traditional finance continues integrating digital assets through regulated investment vehicles. Grayscale remains a key player in bridging crypto and traditional markets.

**Ledn's Chief Investment Officer John Glover** has issued a warning about Bitcoin's critical price level. Glover suggests that **failing to break above $125,000** could potentially trigger a bear market for the cryptocurrency. Key points: - Bitcoin faces significant resistance at the $125K level - Breaking through this barrier appears crucial for continued bullish momentum - Failure to surpass could signal a market downturn The warning highlights the importance of this specific price threshold as a **make-or-break moment** for Bitcoin's trajectory.

**BNB Chain** experienced significant growth in user activity and decentralized trading volume. **Aster Protocol** saw remarkable expansion: - Total value locked (TVL) increased **570%** - TVL reached **$2.34 billion** The surge indicates growing adoption of DeFi protocols on the BNB Chain ecosystem. Active addresses climbed alongside the increased trading activity, suggesting broader user engagement across the network. This growth positions Aster Protocol as a major player in the BNB Chain DeFi landscape.

**China Financial** announced a capital raising initiative through a new share subscription. The company will issue **over 69 million new shares** at a fixed price of **HK$1.25 per share**. This move represents a significant equity fundraising effort that will increase the company's share count and provide additional capital for operations. The subscription price of HK$1.25 will determine the total amount raised from this share issuance.

**Bitcoin treasury stocks are underperforming** despite BTC reaching impressive heights above $124,000. This disconnect highlights an interesting market dynamic where: - Direct Bitcoin exposure continues to surge - Corporate treasury holdings aren't translating to stock gains - Traditional equity markets may be pricing in different risk factors The gap between Bitcoin's price performance and related equity valuations suggests investors are favoring direct crypto exposure over corporate proxies. *Monitor how this trend develops as institutional adoption evolves.*

**DefiLlama has removed Asters perpetuals data** from its platform following concerns raised by the protocol's founder about questionable XRP trading patterns. The delisting came after **suspicious correlations were identified** in XRP trading volumes on the Asters platform, prompting questions about data accuracy and market manipulation. **Key concerns include:** - Unusual trading volume patterns in XRP markets - Questions about reporting transparency - Impact on one of crypto's most active trading pairs This move highlights ongoing challenges in **DeFi data verification** and the importance of maintaining accurate market information for traders and analysts.

Prediction markets are weighing in on the potential government shutdown timeline. **Key predictions:** - Bettors expect shutdown to extend beyond October 15 - Duration unlikely to surpass 2018-2019 record from first Trump administration The betting markets suggest a moderate shutdown length - longer than a brief closure but shorter than the historic 35-day shutdown that occurred during the previous Trump presidency. This represents market sentiment on political gridlock and negotiation timelines in Washington.

**BNB stands out** as the week's top performer, climbing over 17% to reach approximately $1,184. This significant price movement indicates that **rotations are actively occurring** within different blockchain ecosystems. The token's outperformance suggests investors are shifting capital between various platforms and protocols, highlighting the dynamic nature of the current market environment.

The Japanese yen declined following statements from Sanae indicating her government would take the lead in setting both fiscal and monetary policy. This announcement signals a potential shift in Japan's economic governance structure, with the government asserting more direct control over policy decisions that traditionally involve central bank independence. **Key Impact:** - Yen weakened against major currencies - Markets reacting to policy centralization signals - Potential changes to Japan's monetary framework The move suggests Japan may be preparing for more coordinated economic policy approaches as global financial conditions continue to evolve.