EtherX

South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange  Upbit , has officially confirmed a major security breach involving digital assets on the Solana (SOL) blockchain network. The incident, discovered in the early hours of November 27, resulted in an estimated loss of ₩54 billion (approximately $36-38 million), making it one of the biggest crypto security incidents reported this year in Asia. According to the exchange, unauthorized activity was detected in its Solana hot wallet when abnormal transactions transferred large amounts of tokens to unidentified external addresses. The affected assets included a wide range of Solana-based tokens such as SOL, USDC, and several popular DeFi and ecosystem assets. Immediate Action Taken by Upbit Upon detecting the breach, Upbit acted swiftly to contain the damage. All Solana-related deposits and withdrawals were immediately suspended to prevent any further unauthorized movement of funds. The exchange also transferred remaining digital assets int...

The European Central Bank (ECB) has issued a renewed warning about the rapid expansion of stablecoins , cautioning that their accelerating growth could create significant financial stability risks. According to the latest assessment, the increasing use of these digital assets designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to a currency or asset may disrupt traditional banking structures and potentially trigger a run on the tokens. Stablecoins have grown into a major segment of the digital-asset ecosystem, with global market values climbing sharply in recent years. Although their presence within the euro area remains relatively small, the ECB emphasizes that the speed of global adoption and their interconnectedness with mainstream financial markets present mounting vulnerabilities. Risk of Bank Deposit Outflows One of the central concerns raised by the ECB is the possibility that widespread stablecoin adoption could divert consumer and business deposits away from traditional banks...

The institutional landscape surrounding digital assets is showing its first signs of recovery as both Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) register fresh inflows after a painful six-week stretch dominated by continuous outflows. This reversal in fund movement is being closely watched across the financial sector, as ETF flows are widely considered one of the clearest indicators of institutional confidence in crypto assets. ETF Inflows Mark a Possible Sentiment Shift After more than a month of steady withdrawals, recent data now shows that spot Bitcoin ETFs have posted meaningful net inflows. Ethereum ETFs have also experienced renewed investor interest, including one of their strongest single-day inflow performances in recent weeks. Collectively, this shift hints that institutional investors may be re-entering the market after maintaining a defensive stance throughout the previous correction phase. This renewed demand is particularly noteworthy given that the outflow s...

The United States banking sector has taken a major step toward deeper blockchain integration after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirmed that national banks are now permitted to hold cryptocurrencies for the purpose of paying blockchain network fees , widely known as gas fees. This marks one of the most significant regulatory shifts in America’s evolving approach to digital-asset operations. According to the OCC’s newly issued Interpretive Letter 1186 , banks may maintain limited amounts of native blockchain tokens such as ETH for Ethereum or other network-specific assets when these tokens are necessary to facilitate transactions or operate blockchain-based services. The regulator emphasized that banks regularly encounter situations where blockchain fees are required to execute or validate transactions, test internal platforms, or build out distributed-ledger-based products. Holding the required tokens directly, the OCC explained, is both operationally practi...

After what can only be described as a national endurance test, the United States House of Representatives has passed a bill to reopen the federal government, officially bringing the longest shutdown in U.S. history to an end. The measure, approved Wednesday night, now awaits signature from Donald Trump and will restore funding and carrot-stick hope to hundreds of thousands of federal employees, stranded services and harried travellers.  The Heroic Vote That Ended the Hamster Wheel Late on November 12, 2025, the House voted 222-209 in favour of the funding bill, with six Democrats flipping to avoid the additional political blame for keeping parks closed, airports staffed at 10 % and mail-service morale at zero.record-breaking government shutdown ends after House vote 222-209 November 2025 The bill covers full-year funding for selected agencies (like the United States Department of Agriculture and military construction) and extends the rest of government funding through January 3...

Visa Inc. (Visa) announced on November 12, 2025, that it has launched a pioneering U.S. pilot programme through its Visa Direct platform enabling businesses and platforms to send USD-backed stablecoin payouts directly to recipients’ crypto wallets even though the funding is done in fiat currency.  In practical terms, a company using Visa Direct can initiate a payout from its bank-funded account in U.S. dollars. The recipient such as a freelance creator, gig worker or marketplace user can then receive those funds in a stablecoin like USD Coin (USDC) directly to their crypto wallet, rather than waiting days for a bank transfer or settlement. “Launching stablecoin payouts is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes not days for anyone, anywhere in the world,” stated Chris Newkirk, President of Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa.  Why this pilot matters This move by Visa signals a strong leap into real-world blockchain-based payments. First, it ...

SoFi Technologies, Inc. (SOFI) has announced the launch of its new service, SoFi Crypto , making it the first U.S. nationally chartered, FDIC-insured consumer bank that enables customers to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies directly in their banking app.  What the Launch Involves The rollout, announced on November 11, 2025, begins with a phased rollout of SoFi Crypto to eligible members. The service offers trading in dozens of cryptocurrencies including staples like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL).  According to CEO Anthony Noto: “Today marks a pivotal moment when banking meets crypto in one app, on a trusted platform… As the first and only nationally chartered bank to launch crypto trading to consumers, we are uniquely positioned to drive this innovation.”  Regulatory milestone: Many banks have been restricted from offering crypto trading due to regulatory uncertainty. SoFi’s national charter and FDIC-insurance status give it a unique standi...

In an extraordinary move that underscores the potency of macro-driven flows into bullion, global estimates suggest that the total market capitalization of gold jumped by about $750 billion in a single day . While precise numbers remain fragmented due to the scale and nature of the gold market, the magnitude of the gain aligns with stated estimates of a sudden spike in valuations tied to surging safe-haven demand, weaker dollar dynamics and renewed inflation concerns. The latest data place the overall global gold market valuation somewhere between $24 trillion and $28 trillion , depending on spot price and above-ground stock assumptions. Given this backdrop, a one-day rise of three-quarters of a trillion dollars represents a meaningful shift in investor sentiment rather than just a footnote. In practical terms, such a gain could reflect a combination of higher spot gold prices, central bank buying, and renewed private-sector interest in gold as a hedge against monetary risk. The long-...

In a dramatic turnaround Monday, U.S. equity markets rallied with major indexes posting strong gains after fresh signs of progress in ending the extended U.S. government shutdown. Investors cheered a bipartisan funding deal in the Senate, which catalysed risk-on sentiment and added roughly $1 trillion or more in market capitalisation. What triggered the surge Sentiment shifted sharply when the United States Senate advanced a procedural measure to drive forward a compromise package to reopen the government. That step came after a 41-day shutdown and bolstered investor confidence that economic data flow would soon resume.  With the impasse easing, markets interpreted the move as reducing near-term policy and economic risks. Technology stocks led the rebound, as the Nasdaq Composite surged about 2.3 % and the S&P 500 gained 1.5 %.  Why the “$1 trillion added” figure matters While exact numbers vary, data-feed sites show that the total U.S. stock-market value moved shar...

Washington, D.C., Nov. 9, 2025  In a significant step toward ending the longest federal government shutdown in United States history, the United States Senate has reached a bipartisan deal to fund the government, according to multiple sources including POLITICO. The measure would reopen key agencies and secure funding through late January, while paving the way for further policy debates on health-care subsidies and other budget issues.  Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) endorsed the compromise, saying lawmakers had achieved “a path forward” to reopen government operations. The agreement, brokered by a coalition of moderate Democrats and Republicans, will now move to the House of Representatives for approval before it can be signed into law.  What the Deal Covers Under the terms of the agreement: Federal agencies would be funded through January 2026 , ending the shutdown that began October 1.  Furloughed federal workers would receive back pay , and ...

In a recent interview, Donald Trump revealed that his administration is considering sending Americans a “dividend to the people of America” of up to $1,000 to $2,000 , funded by revenues from his expanded tariff strategy. He described it as part rebate, part debt reduction plan though key details such as eligibility, duration and legislative backing remain uncertain. What Trump Said Speaking to the media, Trump stated: “We’re thinking maybe $1,000 to $2,000 – it would be great.”  He linked the concept to his sweeping tariff measures, noting the U.S. has already collected more than $214 billion in tariffs this year and could reach as high as $300 billion by year-end.  According to his remarks, the primary objective would be to reduce the federal debt first, with part of the remaining funds potentially flowing directly into households. “Number one, we’re paying down debt With that being said, we’ll pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the peop...

Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan is actively considering the introduction of a rupee-backed stablecoin , as well as a central bank digital currency (CBDC) , in a concerted effort to widen financial inclusion, particularly among the country’s more than 100 million unbanked adults. According to recent reports, officials from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Pakistan Banks' Association (PBA) cited the initiative as part of the nation’s strategy to tap into up to $20-25 billion in economic opportunity through digital assets.  During the November 2025 conference of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), PBA President Zafar Masud declared that Pakistan must act quickly to shape regulations around stablecoins and digital assets to avoid “losing the window” of growth. He emphasised that a rupee-pegged stablecoin could serve as a foundational step toward the broader digital-currency ecosystem.  Meanwhile, the SBP’s Deputy Director of Payments, Faisal Mazhar, revea...