Is Bitcoin Really a “Trump Trade”? Why Crypto Is Moving from Politics to Protocols

Bitcoin’s latest sell-off has sparked claims it’s now a “Trump trade.” ATH.LIVE breaks down how political risk, institutional rotation, and Web3 infrastructure are reshaping where real value flows in crypto.

Uzbekistan to Launch Stablecoin Payments and Tokenized Securities in 2026

Uzbekistan is becoming Central Asia’s most structured crypto hub, approving stablecoin payments and tokenized stocks under strict oversight starting January 1, 2026.

Zcash Emerges as the First Quantum-Ready Crypto — Can ZEC Hit $5,000 in 2026?

Zcash is rapidly becoming a quantum-resistant, privacy-compliant crypto asset. Analysts project a breakout toward $1,750 and potentially $5,000 as the quantum threat narrative accelerates.

U.S. Bank Tests Regulated Stablecoin on Stellar With PwC — A New Challenger to USDT and USDC

U.S. Bank is piloting a fully regulated stablecoin on the Stellar blockchain with PwC oversight. The project could challenge USDT and USDC by combining compliance, reversibility, and bank-grade security.

Chinese Scammer Qian Zhimin Stole 195,000 BTC — Over 120,000 Bitcoins Still Missing After UK Seizure

Chinese scammer Qian Zhimin amassed nearly 195,000 BTC in a massive fraud scheme. UK police seized 61,000 BTC, but over 120,000 BTC remain missing. Victims received only partial compensation, exposing major gaps in global crypto enforcement.

Google Reduces Free Gemini AI Access as Monetization Push Accelerates

Google cut free usage limits for Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro, signaling a shift toward subscription-first AI models. While not affecting crypto, the move highlights key trends in AI scaling and enterprise adoption.

Sony Launches Soneium Layer-2 to Reinvent Fan Engagement Across Asia’s Web3 Entertainment Ecosystem

Sony’s new Soneium Layer-2 blockchain powers fan participation through rewards, voting, and real engagement, starting with Idol Runway Collection. The system reflects Asia’s leadership in Web3 entertainment and aims to scale globally.

Binance Partners with Ho Chi Minh City to Build a Blockchain-Powered International Financial Center

Binance has partnered with Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Finance to support a new International Financial Center, focusing on blockchain, startups, and digital finance growth across Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

UK’s New DeFi Tax Proposal: HMRC Moves Toward “Tax on Realized Profits” for Lending and Liquidity Pools

The UK’s HMRC is proposing a new tax framework for DeFi lending, staking, and liquidity pools, deferring taxes until profits are realized. The move could simplify compliance for Ethereum users and set a global standard for DeFi tax policy.

Nasdaq Asks SEC to Lift IBIT Bitcoin ETF Options Limit to 1 Million Contracts

Nasdaq seeks SEC approval to raise BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF options limit to 1M contracts, aiming to increase liquidity, improve hedging, and enhance transparency in regulated crypto derivatives markets.

Bitcoin Tests Critical Levels as Bearish Divergences Peak — $87K Is the Breakout Line

Bitcoin shows its strongest bearish divergence in years, but early reversal signals and key SMA retests suggest high-probability opportunities for disciplined traders. Daily closes above $87K are critical.

Upbit Halts Withdrawals After $36.8M Solana Hot Wallet Hack — Users to Be Fully Repaid

South Korean exchange Upbit temporarily paused withdrawals after a $36.8M exploit on its Solana hot wallets. Assets were moved to cold storage, part of the funds were frozen, and the exchange promises full user reimbursement.

Alibaba AI Predicts XRP, ADA, DOGE Volatility — Southeast Asia Faces Key Market Shifts

Alibaba’s AI forecasts major risks and long-term upside for XRP, ADA, and DOGE. Southeast Asia’s crypto market, closely tied to China, may see rising volatility and new opportunities in 2025.

S&P Downgrades USDT: How the Hit to Tether’s Rating Threatens Asia’s Crypto Liquidity

S&P cut USDT’s rating to “weak,” citing reserve risks and rising BTC exposure. China and Southeast Asia — where USDT powers P2P trading and remittances — are reassessing reliance on Tether.

Naver’s $10.3B Upbit Deal Could Rewrite Asia’s Crypto Playbook

Naver Financial is buying Upbit for $10.3B and eyeing a Nasdaq IPO, fusing a Korean super-app with a dominant crypto exchange and reshaping Southeast Asia’s digital-asset markets.

Grayscale Files for Zcash ETF as Privacy Coins Enter the Institutional Era

Grayscale moves to convert its Zcash Trust into a U.S. ZEC ETF after a 1,000% price surge, giving institutions regulated exposure to privacy coins and reshaping crypto markets in Southeast Asia.

Japan’s 2025 Crypto Reforms Could Make It a Bitcoin Superpower

Japan’s 2025 crypto reforms tighten exchange rules, protect investors and open the door for institutional Bitcoin demand, positioning Tokyo as a regulated BTC hub.

Binance Sends $200K in Blockchain-Powered Flood Relief to Vietnam

Binance deploys $200,000 in humanitarian aid to Vietnam after severe floods, highlighting how blockchain improves transparency and speed in crisis relief.

Japan FSA Tightens Crypto Exchange Rules with Liability Reserves and Stricter Oversight

Japan's FSA plans new crypto exchange regulations requiring liability reserves, insurance, and stricter compliance to protect users after major security incidents.

Robinhood Plans 2026 Futures & Derivatives Exchange After 9 Billion Prediction Trades

Robinhood is expanding into institutional-grade infrastructure with a 2026 derivatives exchange, MIAXdx acquisition, clearinghouse buildout, and explosive prediction market growth.

Vitalik Buterin Warns X’s Crackdown on Fake MAGA Accounts Creates Privacy Risks

Vitalik Buterin reacts to X exposing foreign-run MAGA accounts, warning that forced location disclosure helps trolls in the short term but undermines long-term user privacy.

Coinbase Ventures Unveils 2026 Crypto Roadmap: RWAs, AI, Solana Prop-AMMs & On-Chain Credit

Coinbase Ventures outlines the next major crypto cycle driven by synthetic RWA perpetuals, Solana Prop-AMMs, identity-backed credit markets, and AI-driven contract automation.

Thailand Suspends Iris-Scan Crypto Project, Orders Deletion of 1.2M Biometric Records

Thailand halts a nationwide iris-scan crypto program over PDPA violations and security risks, ordering the deletion of 1.2M biometric records and highlighting global concerns over consent and privacy in biometric systems.

TON Rallies 8% as Pavel Durov Unveils COCOON AI Network and Expands Tokenized Assets

TON jumps 8% after Pavel Durov launches COCOON, a decentralized AI network inside Telegram. With tokenized stocks, institutional support, and rising DeFi activity, TON emerges as a fast-growing blockchain ecosystem.

Bitcoin Rebounds to $88K as Google’s Gemini 3 Boosts Market Confidence

Bitcoin jumps back above $88K after Google's launch of Gemini 3 restores market confidence. Gemini 3 offers advanced reasoning, multimodal AI, and strong enterprise tools, indirectly stabilizing crypto markets.

Robert Kiyosaki Warns of “Biggest Crash in History,” Predicts Silver at $200 and Pushes Crypto

Robert Kiyosaki warns that AI job losses and collapsing real estate markets will trigger a global crash. He urges investors to buy gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, predicting silver could reach $200 by 2026.

Vitalik Buterin Warns X’s New Country Labels Will Be Gamed and Harm User Privacy

X introduces country labels to boost transparency, but Vitalik Buterin warns the feature can be easily spoofed and endangers user privacy without offering an opt-out.

Offchain Labs Proposes WASM Over RISC-V for Ethereum — Research Challenges Vitalik’s Architecture Vision

Offchain Labs argues that Ethereum should adopt WASM, not RISC-V, as its execution ISA. The team highlights modularity, safety, and cross-hardware efficiency while warning that RISC-V evolves too quickly for L1 enshrinement.

Malaysia Loses $1.1 Billion to Illegal Crypto Mining as Authorities Launch Crackdown

Malaysia’s power grid is under pressure as illegal crypto mining causes over $1.1B in electricity losses. Authorities launch coordinated raids, smart meter deployment, and new monitoring systems.

Analyst Robert “El Profesor” Ruszała Apologizes After Failed Bitcoin Prediction

Robert “El Profesor” Ruszała publicly apologizes after his Bitcoin forecast fails, sparking discussion about transparency, technical analysis errors, and rapid market shifts.

Zcash Surge Sparks Skepticism as Analysts Warn It Could Distract From Bitcoin

Zcash’s recent rise has triggered warnings from analysts like Eric Balchunas, who compare it to a political “third-party candidate” that disrupts Bitcoin without offering long-term value.

Bitcoin Traders Bet on $80K Downside as Deribit Put Open Interest Surges

Bitcoin’s $80K put option has become the most popular trade on Deribit, with over $2B in open interest signaling bearish sentiment and increased downside hedging among investors.

Bitcoin Falls From $126K to $82.5K as Coinbase Premium Turns Negative, ETF Inflows Surge

Bitcoin drops from $126K to $82.5K while the Coinbase Premium Index hits yearly lows, but strong ETF inflows show renewed institutional interest and hint at market stabilization.

Grayscale Launches Dogecoin and XRP Spot ETFs GDOG and GXRP on NYSE Arca

Grayscale will launch the first U.S. spot Dogecoin (GDOG) and XRP (GXRP) ETFs on November 24, 2025, expanding mainstream crypto exposure as derivatives markets surge ahead of launch.

NFT Buyers Surge Despite Declining Transactions as Crypto Market Drops

NFT buyers and sellers surged this week despite a 12% drop in total transactions, as Bitcoin and Ethereum slide during a major crypto market correction. Ethereum leads NFT sales while BNB and Polygon see explosive growth.

Asia’s Rapid Tech Growth Is Reshaping Global Industry, Study Finds

A new international study reveals how Asia’s technological innovation and policy momentum are reshaping global markets, driving corporate strategy shifts, and positioning Asia as the world’s new industrial center.