September 16, 2025

Crypto

Bitcoin's price has fluctuated below $115,000 due to its inherent volatility as the Federal Reserve prepares to announce a rate cut. Institutional interest in digital assets grows, with significant inflows into US Bitcoin ETFs and Standard Chartered's capital raise. The Fed decision's impact on monetary policy is closely monitored by stakeholders and investors.

Bitcoin's total on-chain capital inflow from 2024 to 2025 has surpassed a 15-year record, reaching nearly $200 billion. Institutional investors are driving this surge through spot ETFs and corporate treasury allocations, as well as macro factors like softer inflation and looming Fed cuts, leading to a 93.3% price increase over the past year.

American Express is introducing blockchain-based passport stamps, called Blockchain Passport Stamps, allowing cardholders to collect and share digital travel memories as secure, permanent NFTs. The move comes as physical passport stamps are set to disappear in Europe this October, prompting travelers to seek alternative ways to preserve memories, citing market demand.

The EIP-7910 `eth_config` method enables clients to request configuration data from the Ethereum network, preventing consistency issues like the "Holešky incident". Testing frameworks compare client configurations using prior-knowledge and majority mode tests, allowing for quick notification of misconfigurations. The framework has been successfully used on fusaka-devnet-5 and will prevent future incidents.

A comprehensive analysis of Post-Quantum Cryptography's transition has been conducted, highlighting technical and operational challenges posed by Quantum Relevant Computers. The research explores performance overheads, signature aggregation efficiency, and complexities within Layer 2 protocols and smart contracts, aiming to establish a quantum-secure future for blockchain networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Fidelity's research predicts nearly 28% of Bitcoin's total supply will be locked up by 2025, driven by long-term holders and public companies. By 2032, this illiquid supply is expected to reach nearly 42% of circulating Bitcoins, with growth potentially fueled by nation-state adoption and evolving regulatory environments driving demand for more scarcity.

Governments' power is rooted in their control over money, not just institutions, as printing currency without constraint grants infinite power, leading to unchecked growth, perpetual warfare, and erosion of individual freedoms. A shift to a decentralized monetary system like Bitcoin offers an alternative, enabling individuals to defund government systems of control.

PayPal has launched PayPal Links, a feature allowing users to send and receive money globally with personalized, one-time payment links shared via text, email, or messaging platforms. This eliminates profile verification for recipients, speeding up peer payments. The launch is part of PayPal World's strategy, connecting with major digital wallets worldwide.

Bitget has partnered with ESN Luzern to expand its web3 educational efforts among students in Switzerland. The partnership offers hands-on workshops, simulated trading experiences, and industry professional access, aiming to increase awareness and knowledge of Web3 technologies. A "Game Night" event was launched last month, introducing over 100 students to blockchain basics.

Base, a blockchain platform, is exploring issuing a network token to accelerate its decentralization and expand opportunities for builders and creators. The company is introducing a bridge for seamless asset transfer between its network and Solana, while launching initiatives like Base Batches and the Base App to support new projects and connect users across chains.

Strategy, a company co-founded by Michael Saylor, has announced another significant Bitcoin purchase worth around $60 million at an average price of $114,562 per coin, bringing its total holdings to approximately 638,985 BTC acquired for about $47.23 billion. This move solidifies Strategy's commitment to accumulating Bitcoin and estimated profits north of $25 billion on paper.

The Ethereum network has witnessed a historic surge in validator exits, resulting in a massive withdrawal queue of over 2.64 million ETH worth $12.3 billion. This exodus, primarily driven by Kiln, has created an imbalance due to high exit volume and low entry demand, leading validators to wait up to 45 days for unstaking completion.