Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange MEXC found itself in the midst of controversy on Friday as users on social media site X (formerly Twitter) called for immediate withdrawals amid speculation about the exchange’s potential bankruptcy. 

What Happened At MEXC?

Market analyst J.A. Maartun was among the first to draw attention to the situation, sharing a chart on social media that indicated a significant spike in withdrawal transactions around midday.

Researcher Hanzo also shed light on the unfolding drama, revealing the plight of a user known as “The White Whale.” This individual claimed that his account was suspended despite engaging in trading without the use of bots or APIs, leaving him unable to access his funds, which he estimated at between $3 million and $5 million. 

The White Whale alleged that customer support was unresponsive and that when he engaged with Cecilia Hsueh, MEXC’s new Chief Strategy Officer, he was pressured to admit to breaking the rules to have his funds released, a claim he firmly denied.

Cecilia later responded that their conversation should have remained private and accused The White Whale of misrepresenting the facts. MEXC subsequently announced its intention to take legal action against him for alleged misinformation. 

However, as the situation escalated, a wave of support emerged from the cryptocurrency community, including notable figures like ZachXBT, as many users reported similar issues with MEXC. 

This collective response led to warnings on social media urging users to withdraw their funds immediately, fueling the growing unrest.

CSO Issues Apology

In a rapid development, Cecilia issued an apology and confirmed that The White Whale’s withdrawal had been processed. She stated:

We fucked up. We apologize to @TheWhiteWhaleV2, and his money is already released. He can claim it at any time. I messed up in communicating with him. I got emotional, and I shouldn’t have. Since I joined MEXC 2 months ago I’ve been fighting behind the scenes to get MEXC to change. We grew really fast—a few years ago, we were a very small exchange, but given our current scale, our risk, operations, and PR teams have not kept up.

She noted that MEXC has experienced rapid growth, but its operational and public relations teams had struggled to keep pace. “We’re going to change that,” she stated, emphasizing that leadership has begun to recognize the need for improvement in transparency and operations.

In response to the swirling rumors of bankruptcy, MEXC took to social media to clarify its financial status. The exchange stated, “Recent online discussions have circulated unverified rumors regarding MEXC’s financial status. We would like to clearly state that these claims are false and misleading.” They assured users that MEXC remains financially healthy, with all user assets fully backed. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto trades all night, and most wallets still wait for taps and confirmations. That mismatch is the central risk for everyday users. A recent industry op-ed argued that self-custody tools behave like passive vaults and leave people exposed when markets flip at 3 a.m. The author’s thesis is blunt: automation belongs inside the wallet, not bolted on as an afterthought.

The claim resonates because every modern finance stack already uses background rules. Stop losses and scheduled rebalancing are standard on traditional platforms, yet many DeFi interfaces still require manual approval flows that are too slow when volatility spikes.

What went wrong in 2022 still teaches hard lessons

For proof that minutes matter, the TerraUSD collapse remains a cautionary tale. On Monday, May 9, 2022, around 18:30 GMT, UST fell materially off its peg and swung between ninety-five cents and twenty-five cents over the next three days. Earlier signs had flashed over the weekend, but self-custodied users without pre-defined rules faced a tidal move while asleep.

Timers and thresholds inside the wallet could have trimmed positions or hedged risk automatically. The timeline shows how fast the break unfolded and why manual clicks lose to market speed.

The technology now exists to make wallets intelligent

Ethereum’s account abstraction standard, often discussed under ERC-4337, turns a wallet into a programmable smart contract that can enforce custom spending rules, sponsor gas, and run scheduled or conditional actions. The official documentation describes a new transaction flow built on UserOperation objects, a decentralized alt-mempool, and an on-chain EntryPoint that validates and executes rules. In practice it unlocks rule sets a normal person actually wants, such as automatic daily rebalancing or a liquidation guard that pays down debt when a collateral ratio crosses a threshold.

When Ethereum’s co-founder weighed in on this direction, he called the approach “really elegant” and highlighted that account abstraction is a “pretty big deal” for adoption because it lets non-custodial wallets behave like programmable accounts. That view matters because it frames self-custody as more than a seed phrase. It becomes a set of predictable behaviors a user defines once and trusts to run in the background.

Why DeFi smart wallets are the missing safety layer

The DeFi smart wallets describes wallets that implement account abstraction to provide programmable risk controls, recovery options, and gas handling. DeFi smart wallets collapse multiple steps into one clean action. DeFi smart wallets can hold rules for recurring allocations or borrowing caps.

DeFi smart wallets can also route transactions through paymasters so fees are paid in stablecoins, a minor detail that removes friction in real life. People need DeFi smart wallets that guard downside without sacrificing sovereignty. With DeFi smart wallets, the rules live with the keys. DeFi smart wallets keep the person in command while executing the plan precisely. DeFi smart wallets can finally make “set it and sleep” a reality for self-custody. DeFi smart wallets are not a luxury; they are a safety feature.

DeFi smart wallets also reduce support headaches because users define thresholds instead of relying on frantic approvals. DeFi smart wallets are the practical bridge between crypto’s ideals and normal finance muscle memory. DeFi smart wallets deserve to be the default setting, not the premium tier.

The market is already moving toward passkeys, gas sponsorship, and rule engines

Major builders have rolled out smart wallet flows where a user signs in with a passkey instead of memorizing a seed phrase. The help pages and product posts explain how a passkey based on device biometrics can unlock a non-custodial account, while gas fees can be sponsored or paid in tokens other than ETH.

That combination makes a complex action feel like any mainstream fintech app. It is the usability shift that unlocks the automation shift. If the wallet can sign safely without the user wrestling with seed phrases and gas coins, it can also follow the user’s rules at 2 a.m. without nagging for approval.

Industry research roundups from last year tracked the rise of these features across multiple chains, noting support for passkeys, sponsored transactions, and SDKs that let apps trigger wallet actions behind clean interfaces. The trend line is clear. Smart wallets are maturing from a developer demo into the baseline of consumer crypto.

“Let the wallet do the work” is not hype; it is a practical rule set

There is no need to imagine science fiction. The portfolio-automation startups that raised funding in 2025 pitch a simple promise: set allocation rules, risk limits, and timing once, then let the system execute continuously inside a non-custodial setup.

In an interview this year, one founder put it in plain language: “We need to get to a point where we can say, ‘Hey, Mom, do you want to participate in this?’” and described converting a plain-English plan into an automated on-chain portfolio that the user still owns. The same team stated publicly that “your assets should work for you” because the platform runs the portfolio “around the clock,” positioning this as the next evolution of programmable finance.

That is not a radical departure from tradition. It is a reapplication of what brokerage accounts and robo-advisors did years ago. The difference is architectural. Here the rules sit in a smart contract account that the user controls, not in a custodial back office.

What a safer self-custody day can look like

Picture a simple spot portfolio with three assets and a lending position that backs a stablecoin. In a smart wallet, the user can store three guardrails. First, a volatility circuit that reduces the high beta allocation by ten percent when a 24-hour move breaches a set band.

Second, a collateral health trigger that automatically repays debt by swapping a slice of spot assets when the ratio falls under a chosen number.

Third, a periodic rebalance that nudges allocations back to target on a fixed cadence. None of that requires a person to watch charts at night. It requires rules that live where the assets live.

The mechanics exist. ERC-4337 lets wallets validate UserOperation packages against spending policies. Paymasters can sponsor gas or accept stablecoins for fees. Developers can wire a scheduler that submits a UserOperation at set intervals. Smart recovery can use guardians so a lost device does not equal a lost life savings. The entire experience looks less like a trader’s terminal and more like a modern banking app that quietly follows instructions.

Risk framing for readers

Automation does not remove all risk. It changes the shape of risk. A poorly written rule can sell a long-term position at the exact bottom. A misconfigured paydown could create taxable events. Implementation bugs in smart accounts or paymasters can create novel failure cases.

Those realities argue for transparent audits, conservative defaults, and clear logs inside the wallet so users can see every rule and every action in human-readable form. The goal is not blind trust. The goal is visible, predictable behavior that beats panic clicking.

What builders should ship next

The next wave of wallet design should revolve around plain-English rule templates backed by battle-tested contracts. A user should be able to select “Protect from liquidation,” choose a ratio, pick which asset funds the paydown, and preview the worst-case spend before enabling it.

The wallet should show a timeline of upcoming scheduled ops. If the market moves sharply, the user should see which safeguard fired, with a link to the on-chain transaction. That level of clarity is table stakes in regulated finance and should be normal in open finance too.

“It is time for crypto to catch up and deliver what users actually need to thrive. Sleepless traders will not lead the next wave of adoption.” The argument is that built-in automation improves sovereignty rather than undermines it because the user defines the rules.

“The big really valuable and necessary thing that ERC-4337 provides for account abstraction is the ability for smart contract wallets to be first-class citizens.”

The position underscores that programmability is essential infrastructure, not a nice-to-have gadget.

“Your assets should work for you. The platform executes your portfolio strategy around the clock so you can focus on ideas, not transactions.” That is a direct line from a founder who is betting on automation as the default.

Adoption is compounding

Developer posts this year have predicted hundreds of millions of smart accounts over time as chain-level upgrades and wallet defaults tilt toward account abstraction. Forecasts point to chain abstraction and new transaction infrastructure as catalysts. Whether those precise numbers arrive is less important than the direction. Simpler onboarding plus programmable accounts equals an environment where everyday savers can use guardrails without becoming power users.

Education matters too. Clear explainers and help pages on passkeys, gas sponsorship, and recovery patterns are improving. People can now authenticate with a passkey, skip seed-phrase anxiety, and let the wallet sponsor gas or accept stablecoin fees. That seemingly small change breaks a major barrier for first-time users.

Competitive dynamics will reward the safest default

The first wallet to offer easy liquidation guards, threshold hedges, and set-and-review rebalancing will not just win users. It will reduce support costs and regulatory friction because fewer people will suffer preventable blowups. In that world, the phrase DeFi smart wallets signals more than a feature list. It signals a philosophy that self-custody should be safe by default and flexible by design. The best implementations will publish transparent audits, use minimal permissions, and expose simple toggles for every background rule so nothing happens without explicit consent.

A short view on stablecoins and guardrails

Stablecoin depegs remain rare, but recent years have delivered several big ones. Education portals have documented those episodes and explained how to think about depeg risk across different collateral models. A wallet that lets a user set a rule like “exit if this stablecoin trades two percent below peg for more than thirty minutes” provides a clear, human tool for managing that rare scenario without drama. In self-custody, that kind of rule belongs in-wallet, not in a separate bot that might lose a key or go offline.

Conclusion

Self-custody should not require sleepless nights. The industry finally has the building blocks to embed risk rules, scheduled tasks, and emergency safeguards directly inside wallets. Account abstraction, passkeys, sponsored gas, and clean recovery flows form the plumbing.

Clear rule templates and readable logs form the user experience. The result is a class of DeFi smart wallets that act as intelligent stewards of a user’s plan. If the sector delivers that standard, volatility becomes less frightening, participation becomes more durable, and crypto starts to look like a place where everyday people can invest with confidence.

FAQ

What exactly is a smart wallet in this context?
A smart wallet is a non-custodial wallet implemented as a smart contract account. It can enforce user-defined rules for spending, scheduling, and security, and it can accept sponsored gas or alternative fee tokens. It brings automation into self-custody.

How does account abstraction help normal users?
Account abstraction lets wallets behave like programmable accounts. That means passkey sign-ins, recovery helpers, and background actions that follow a person’s instructions. It reduces the number of manual steps needed to perform safe operations.

Can automation harm users if configured poorly?
Yes. Bad rules can trigger at the wrong time. The mitigation is conservative defaults, clear previews, and simple logs so users know what will happen and what did happen. Independent audits and minimal permissions also matter.

Are big builders actually shipping this, or is it theory?
Large teams shipped passkey logins, gas sponsorship, and SDKs for smart wallets this year. Research roundups tracked multi-chain support and developer adoption. The shift is underway.

Glossary of key terms

Account Abstraction (ERC-4337)
A framework that lets wallets act as smart contract accounts. It introduces UserOperation objects, a decentralized alt-mempool, and an on-chain EntryPoint that validates and executes programmable rules for spending and security.

UserOperation
A data structure defined by ERC-4337 that carries a user’s intent to the EntryPoint. Bundlers collect these operations, and the EntryPoint verifies rules before execution. It enables features such as sponsored gas and batched actions.

Programmatic Rebalancing
A wallet rule set that shifts portfolio weights back to target allocations on a schedule or when thresholds are crossed. In smart wallets it can run without manual confirmations.

Liquidation Guard
A rule inside a smart wallet that pays down debt or adds collateral when a lending position approaches a risk threshold. It helps reduce forced liquidations during sharp market moves.

Depeg Risk
The risk that a stablecoin trades away from its peg. Past incidents demonstrate how quickly a peg can fail. Wallet rules that watch price bands and durations can limit exposure.

Editor’s note for clarity: Direct quotations in this article are attributed to identifiable public figures or company posts, and each quotation includes a source link via the citations.

Read More: How DeFi Smart Wallets Cut Liquidations Overnight">How DeFi Smart Wallets Cut Liquidations Overnight

As October comes to a close, Bitcoin (BTC) has disappointed many who had anticipated the month to be a strong one for the cryptocurrency, often referred to as “Uptober” due to its historically positive performance. Instead, Bitcoin finished the month down, creating a gap of approximately 13% from its all-time high. 

Historical Trends Suggest Bitcoin Could Rebound

Joel Kruger, a market strategist at LMAX Group, noted that while October was a letdown compared to historical trends, it’s essential to contextualize the price movements. He remarked, “Prices have held up well overall, especially after a September that actually bucked the usual weakness.”

Notably, on the 6th of this month, the market’s leading cryptocurrency reached an all-time high just beyond $126,000. Additionally, the current downturn has failed to erase the year-to-date gains, with Bitcoin still recording a 55% uptrend during this period.

However, according to a recent analysis by Fortune, this October marks the fourth-worst performance for Bitcoin since 2013 and the worst in the past seven years. Bitcoin’s performance lagged behind that of the S&P 500, which saw a gain of roughly 2.3% during the same period. 

Despite this under performance, Kruger remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s potential recovery in the upcoming months. “Historically, Q4 has been one of the best periods for crypto performance,” he stated, expressing hope for a push toward record highs for both Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) as the year draws to a close.

October Challenges

The month proved challenging not only in terms of price but also due to significant market events. Adam McCarthy, a senior research analyst at digital market data provider Kaiko, observed that cryptocurrencies entered October tracking gold and stocks at near all-time highs. However, as uncertainty crept into the market, investors did not flow back into Bitcoin as anticipated. 

In addition, October witnessed the largest liquidation event in cryptocurrency history, triggered by President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese imports, alongside threats of export controls on crucial software.

McCarthy commented on the impact of this liquidation, stating, “That washout on the 10th really reminded people that this asset class is very narrow.” He emphasized that even dominant cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum can experience sharp drawdowns, citing instances of 10% declines occurring in just 15 to 20 minutes.

Amid these developments, concerns have been raised by several figures regarding the high valuations in equity markets. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, recently warned of a heightened risk of a significant correction in the US stock market within the next six months to two years. 

Jake Ostrovskis, head of trading at Wintermute’s over-the-counter desk, noted that participants in the market remain hesitant as they grapple with the implications of the largest liquidation event on record. He added that this caution persists amid ongoing speculation about vulnerabilities that might still exist within the financial system.

When writing, BTC was trading at $109,688, losing its nearest support floor of $110,000. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

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The current wave of Artificial Intelligence investment, while seemingly boundless, is entering a new phase of scrutiny, according to Gene Munster, Managing Partner at Deepwater Asset Management. His recent analysis, presented on CNBC’s ‘Fast Money,’ underscored that while the AI capital expenditure cycle still has “a few years left,” investors are increasingly disinclined to “write […]

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Samsung took the top spot in the global smartphone market in Q3 2025, with 60.6 million units shipped, showing a 6% growth compared to last year. This strong performance helped Samsung lead the market during a time when other smartphone brands faced challenges.

The success of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 models, along with its popular Galaxy A series, played a big part in this growth. The Galaxy A series, in particular, performed well in regions such as the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. These markets helped boost Samsung’s overall sales.

Samsung’s 6% growth came at a time when the smartphone market was recovering from a slow start in 2025. In the first half of the year, supply chain issues and higher costs made the market grow slowly. However, in Q3, things turned around, and Samsung was one of the companies that benefited the most from this recovery.

Image via Omdia

Despite competition from brands like Apple and Xiaomi, Samsung managed to stay on top. Apple came in second, shipping 56.5 million units with 4% growth. However, Samsung’s stronger performance showed its ability to attract customers with both premium models and affordable options.

Looking ahead, Samsung’s sales are likely to keep growing, mainly in Asia and the Middle East, where demand for smartphones is still rising. However, the company might still face challenges from rising component costs and global supply chain issues.

The post Samsung’s growth pushes it to the top in Global smartphone sales Q3 2025 appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Inter and Napoli are among the clubs who are keen on a future move for 20-year-old Cagliari talent Riyad Idrissi, who has already attracted offers from the likes of Parma, Torino and Udinese. 

Inter and Napoli among clubs interested in Cagliari’s Idrissi

Idrissi has been a revelation for Cagliari, who have collected nine points in the opening nine games of the season, but are winless in the last five, with just two points earned in this period.

There is little doubt about the qualities that the 20-year-old Idrissi offers. He is destined for a career at the very top. 

The youngster has already played a full season under new Cagliari head coach Fabio Pisacane when he was in charge of the club’s U19 set-up. He chipped in with four goals and four assists from 33 appearances at full-back that season. 

Idrissi spent the last campaign on loan with Modena, and with his performances, attracted the interest of Parma in January. Sporting director Tommaso Giulini flat-out refused to part ways with the Cagliari talent. 

This season, however, could be the one in which Idrissi established himself as a big talent in the top flight. In the meantime, Cagliari have rejected offers from Torino, Udinese and Genoa. 

There are still big clubs keeping an eye over Idrissi, though, especially Inter and Napoli.

The same week that Nvidia became the world's first $5 trillion company, significantly propelled by its AI-related investments and products, Meta's stock had its worst day in three years because traders fear that Meta has overspent on AI.

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Bitcoin mining is entering a new era in Japan, where it’s no longer viewed as an energy drain. The transformation is being spearheaded by Canaan (CAN), a forward-thinking initiative that integrates BTC mining into Japan’s renewable energy ecosystem to balance power demand and supply.

This Is How Bitcoin Fits Into National Energy Policy

In an X post, crypto analyst TheGentleTraveler has shed light on a significant and innovative development at the intersection of Bitcoin mining and energy infrastructure. CAN (Canaan Inc.) has announced a 4.5 MW smart BTC mining deployment set to power Japan’s energy grid.

Related Reading: China’s Bitcoin Mining Isn’t Dead — It’s The World’s No. 3 Contributor

According to TheGentleTraveler, CAN has secured a 4.5 MW contract in Japan to deploy its advanced Avalon A1566HA hydro-cooled mining servers for power-grid load balancing and energy-efficiency optimization. The project, which runs in collaboration with a major Japanese utility, will use Canaan’s smart-control chip capable of dynamically adjusting frequency, hashrate, and voltage in real time. This flexibility helps to stabilize the grid amidst rising AI and residential power demand.

The GentleTraveler noted that this initiative reflects Canaan’s expanding strategic role, which combines BTC mining with renewable energy and AI infrastructure. Furthermore, it aligns seamlessly with Japan’s recent crypto-asset regulatory reforms. Canaan CEO Nangeng Zhang emphasized that this technology allows utilities to utilize BTC mining as a digital load balancer. Zhang confirmed that similar deployments have already been launched in the Netherlands, with further expansions planned for 2026.

Despite this groundbreaking news, CAN’s stock is currently down – 7% after the announcement. This short-term dip is attributed to a combination of the general weakness in the broader BTC sector and the At-The-Market (ATM) announced by Canaan last Friday.

How Bitcoin Miners Become Long-Term Investors

A key observer in the Bitcoin landscape, GoMining, has stated that every block mined secures the network and strengthens BTC’s role in the modern economy. GoMining has highlighted several standout developments from the past week that collectively underscore this accelerating trend of institutional and sovereign adoption.

The expert first draws attention to the strategic actions of mining companies in the US, exemplified by American Bitcoin Corp boosting its reserves to 3,865 BTC. According to GoMining, this is proof that miners are not just securing the network; they are becoming long-term institutional holders. Meanwhile, France’s National Assembly has advanced a bill to create a national BTC reserve, a signal that sovereign adoption is moving from concept to policy.

Furthermore, GoMining explains that the public companies now collectively hold over $117 billion in BTC, representing a substantial 38% increase in Q3 alone. Such a surge indicates a growing trend where corporate balance sheets are becoming part of BTC’s security layer. GoMining concluded that every hash is a vote for an open institutional future.

As October ends without an SEC decision on the pending XRP ETF applications, a new potential launch timeline for the products is now on the horizon. For context, the final decision deadlines for the XRP ETF applications submitted by Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, and Canary Capital were scheduled for October 18, 19, 22, and 23, respectively.

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Dogecoin is showing similarity with its first full bull cycle, and a full mirror could send the meme coin surging to unprecedented prices. October ends today, and Dogecoin is deep in the red.

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Martin Guastadisegno, agent of RC Strasbourg striker Joaquín Panichelli, admits Milan have been following his client for ‘some time’ but he hasn’t heard from the Rossoneri directors in recent weeks.

Panichelli’s agent, Martin Guastadisegno, confirmed Milan’s interest in his client in an interview with Milan Press.

Agent confirms Milan following Panichelli

“No news with Milan. At the moment, we haven’t heard from anyone, even though I have a great relationship with Furlani and Moncada,” the striker’s agent said.

Guastadisegno added that he has not spoken with Milan directors in recent weeks.

“No, but it’s a name that Milan knows and has been following for some time,” he concluded.

Panichelli is under contract with RC Strasbourg until June 2030.

Panichelli’s impressive numbers in Ligue 1

The 23-year-old has scored nine goals in ten Ligue 1 appearances this season.

Milan might be looking for a new centre-forward in the winter transfer window, given that Santiago Gimenez has been struggling to match expectations and hasn’t yet scored a goal in Serie A this season.

Gimenez joined Milan in a deal exceeding €30m in the January 2025 transfer window and has netted seven times in 30 appearances with the Rossoneri.

Milan sit fourth in the Serie A table, level on 15 points with their city rivals Inter. The Milanese sides are three points below the joint-table leaders Napoli and Roma.

During his first press conference as Juventus coach, Luciano Spalletti said he tried to sign Teun Koopmeiners in the past, but ‘our resources were inferior to Atalanta’s demands.’

Spalletti was unveiled as the new Juventus coach at a press conference today.

What Spalletti said about Koopmeiners

The Italian tactician replied to a question about Dutch midfielder Koopmeiners, who has so far failed to justify his €60m price tag at the Allianz Stadium: “I know Koop well because I followed him with other clubs in the past. Then, he cost a lot, and we couldn’t sign him,” Spalletti said.

“When I spoke to him yesterday, I reminded him that we had spoken on the phone. I had tried to convince him, even if our resources were inferior to the club’s [Atalanta’s] demands. I still have the same idea. I think he’s a holding midfielder or a box-to-box midfielder. Sometimes he’s also played as a centre-back. Here again, we have to congratulate a coach, Gasp, who coached him well and took the best out of this player, putting him in a different position. He presses the opponents and he has feet that, when he kicks towards the goal, know where the ball will end up.

“If you cage him, make him play with his shoulders to the goal, close to the opponents’ defensive line, he doesn’t have the quality of Yildiz or Openda, or footballers who were born for that role and that position on the pitch. He has other qualities, but Gasp was excellent in taking the most out of him in that position, from a footballer who had other skill sets.”

Juventus General Manager Damien Comolli explains that all club directors and the ownership agreed that the team needed a new coach and reveals they are in a ‘shortlist phase’ to appoint the new sporting director.

Comolli joined new Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti for his unveiling press conference on Friday.

The French director introduced Spalletti and answered questions from the media.

“My Italian hasn’t improved much, so I apologise. Welcome to the unveiling press conference of our coach, Luciano Spalletti. We are glad to welcome him for many reasons. Naturally, he is a great expert on Italian football; you know his career, which has been successful in different clubs and environments,” Comolli said.

“He’s a person who can bring forward the football brand. We have agreed to a contract until the end of the season with an option to extend. What we discussed with Luciano is that the option, the agreement, is a potential long-term collaboration. Luciano and I understood that this is the right approach. During the season, we can sit down and decide how to continue.”

It was believed that Spalletti would sign a contract with automatic extension to 2027 if he had qualified for the Champions League this season, but this is not the case, as Juventus will decide whether to activate the option at the end of the campaign regardless of the final placement.

“It’s an option [to extend] for one season until 2026-27. As the coach and I already said, it’s not something on paper; it depends on how the collaboration goes. It’s more about the spirit of collaboration,” Comolli said.

“We hired Spalletti for what he achieved in the past; the playing style is important too. How did we make this decision? Giorgio [Chiellini], François [Modesto] and I are in constant dialogue with the owners. We felt the team needed a new coach, and we unanimously decided that Spalletti was the perfect candidate to continue this adventure. The fact that all three and the owners were on the same page was crucial in the decisional process. There’s not one centimetre of distance between us in the decisional process.”

Comolli also said Juventus are finalising the search for a new sporting director. Football Italia reported earlier today that Marco Ottolini was among the top candidates.

“The search for a sporting director is still ongoing,” said Comolli.

“We are already in a shortlist phase, we are reaching our target, and we’ll actively tell you the updates when they are available.”

Do Juventus already have a strategy for the winter transfer window now that they have hired a new coach?

“It’s one of the things we discussed when we met Luciano on Monday. There’s no specific plan,” Comolli replied.

“We’ll see if there are opportunities. If somebody leaves, we’ll replace him, but currently we are not thinking about acquiring new players.

“I’m relaxed regarding new [summer] signings and I am confident. We signed excellent players; they need time to settle, but we are happy to see how they are performing. We have options for some of these players. Let’s discuss it again in 12 or 18 months. Luciano and I have been in football for 33 years. I’ve seen anything in football. The coach is right when he says they need time, but I’m confident about the quality of our new players. I won’t lose sleep over new acquisitions. Perhaps I lost sleep over the team’s performances. I used to, now I have confidence in Luciano.”

Comolli opens up about Tudor’s sacking and Spalletti’s appointment

Comolli insisted that he had never spoken to Spalletti before Monday.

“Not at all. When I arrived in June, it was clear that Tudor would be the coach, and we also extended his contract. This is what we thought about in June.

“When us three, on Sunday night, decided to make a change, we contacted Luciano for the first time. We met for the first time at lunchtime on Monday. I can guarantee we had never discussed before. On Tuesday, we prepared the contract, and he arrived on Thursday morning. It was a fluid process; we did everything in three days.”

Lastly, Comolli explained the main reason why Juventus sacked Tudor earlier this week.

“Results. Lack of results. It’s simple,” he concluded.

“At some point, we thought this cycle had to end. It always depends on results. The main thing is that there were negative results. The team had not performed in the best way, and I said it clearly to him on Monday. This is why we made the change on Monday and hired a new coach. I think Spalletti was the best option.”

Marco Ottolini is on the verge of leaving Genoa and remains a genuine candidate for the Juventus sporting director role.

Genoa director Ottolini is set to leave the club. His farewell has already been decided and only needs to be formally confirmed now. I already reported on Thursday that disagreements between Ottolini and the club would lead to this ending.

Ottolini fascinated by Juventus opportunity

Genoa offered Ottolini a contract extension over the last few weeks, but the Italian director took time as he was fascinated by a possible move to Juventus.

The Serie A giants have yet to appoint a new sporting director. Before Juventus-Udinese, Giorgio Chiellini said the club would soon make a decision, and Ottolini is now moving quickly towards that appointment.

It’s just a shame that his time at Genoa ended in such traumatic circumstances after a disastrous start to the season.

Genoa sit at the rock bottom of the table with just three points in nine matches, the worst start to a Serie A campaign in the club’s history in the three-point era.

Ottolini will leave Genoa in the worst possible way, even if CEO Andres Blazquez has always had decisional powers when it came to negotiations.

Genoa will hire ex-Lens director Diego Lopez to replace Ottolini.

dYdX (DYDX), one of the leading decentralized cryptocurrency trading platforms in the industry, is reportedly preparing to enter the US market by the end of the year, following the recent shift in crypto policies by the Trump administration. 

dYdX Expands Amid Supportive Legislation 

In an interview with Reuters, Eddie Zhang, the president of dYdX, emphasized the importance of this move, stating that having a presence in the United States aligns with the platform’s future direction.

Unlike centralized exchanges such as Coinbase (COIN) and Kraken, which act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, dYdX aims to eliminate the middleman, allowing users to transact directly on a blockchain network that underpins cryptocurrencies. 

The platform specializes in perpetual contracts, a form of derivative that enables traders to speculate on asset prices without ownership and without an expiration date, distinguishing it from traditional futures contracts. Since its inception, dYdX has surpassed $1.5 trillion in total trading volume.

As part of its expansion strategy, dYdX plans to introduce spot trading for Solana (SOL) and other linked cryptocurrencies, potentially including XRP and Cardano (ADA), to US users by the end of the year. 

This move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s increased support for the cryptocurrency sector, which has led to the dismissal of numerous lawsuits against major crypto platforms and prompted financial regulators to develop specialized rules for digital assets.

These new measures include Congress’s passage of the GENIUS Act earlier this year and the potential passage of the Market Structure Bill. Together, these measures address the industry’s call for a new framework that could boost adoption and growth of the broader digital asset ecosystem in the US.  

Trading Fees Slashed, Prospective Offerings Awaiting Guidance

Upon its entry into the US market, Reuters reports that dYdX intends to reduce its trading fees significantly, with plans to cut them by as much as half, bringing them down to between 50 and 65 basis points. 

However, while perpetual contracts will not be available to US users immediately, Zhang expressed hope that regulators will eventually provide the necessary guidance for decentralized platforms to offer these products.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) recently issued a joint statement indicating their willingness to consider allowing crypto perpetual contracts to trade across regulated platforms in the US, which could pave the way for dYdX’s future offerings.

As of this writing, the platform’s native token, DYDX, is trading at approximately $0.30. However, the token has experienced a significant decline of nearly 68% over the past year, shedding about $1.43 billion in market cap value.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

The market opened softer on Friday, October 31, with risk appetite cooling after a burst of long liquidations. Crypto prices fall as live pricing shows Bitcoin near $109,700, down about 1.6 percent on the day, while the total crypto market value drifts lower. Funding rates have eased and open interest has slipped, a tell that leverage is backing off after a busy week.

Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin trades around $109,700 after a quick fade from the prior session high. The day’s drawdown follows nearly $900 million in marketwide liquidations over 24 hours, the bulk from longs. That deleveraging pins BTC in a tight range. “The most likely outlook is we are rangy between 100 and 120 or 125, unless we take out the top side,” Mike Novogratz said this month, adding that holding 100 remains key support.

Ethereum (ETH)

ETH changes hands near $3,835 after a 2 to 3 percent dip, with 24-hour lows under $3,700 and highs just below $3,945. Spot volumes are elevated, yet derivatives positioning is lighter than earlier in the week. Traders point to a neutral relative strength profile and slightly negative funding, which fits a “cooling, not cracking” tape.

XRP (XRP)

XRP trades close to $2.48 with daily losses of around 4 percent. Liquidations on XRP outpaced several peers during the overnight move, adding pressure as momentum traders stepped aside. Even so, the circulating float and rising on-chain activity provide a floor when volatility spikes, keeping the pair anchored to the mid-$2 zone for now.

Solana (SOL)

SOL sits near $185, off roughly 5 percent in 24 hours. The move mirrors broad risk reduction across high beta assets. SOL’s volumes remain thick, but open interest has cooled, which usually reduces whipsaws after sharp swings. If liquidity stabilizes, the network’s active dApp flow often helps price recover faster than the market.

Macro pressure and what comes next

The Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 basis points on October 29, but Chair Jerome Powell said “a further reduction in the policy rate at the December meeting is not a foregone conclusion.” That cautious line trimmed the initial boost to risk assets and helped trigger a classic sell-the-news shakeout. Policy paths in the Gulf followed with 25-bp trims, which should slowly filter through regional liquidity.

The liquidation picture

Data show about $890 million in 24-hour liquidations, with longs taking most of the hit. Bitcoin accounted for roughly $310 million, Ethereum about $195 million, Solana near $69 million, and XRP close to $42 million. Open interest dropped to about $159 billion, and the average RSI sits near 40, signaling neutral momentum after the flush.

Bottom line

Price action looks more like a mid-cycle purge than a trend break. BTC holds the six-figure shelf. ETH keeps its core range intact. SOL and XRP feel heavy but not broken. If funding stays neutral and macro signals stop surprising, liquidity can creep back. As Novogratz put it, the market likely chops between $100,000 and $125,000 unless a fresh catalyst arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Why did prices fall today
A: A cluster of long liquidations hit overnight after the Fed’s cautious tone and a crowded leverage build-up earlier in the week. That forced exits and pushed prices lower together.

Q: What levels matter most for Bitcoin right now
A: Market depth and recent commentary point to support near $100,000 and resistance in the $120,000 to $125,000 area. A clean break above the top band would invite trend traders back.

Q: Does the Fed cut help crypto
A: Lower rates can help over time, but the message matters. Powell’s “not a foregone conclusion” on December limited the immediate boost.

Glossary of key terms

Open interest: The total value of outstanding futures and perpetual contracts that have not been closed. Falling open interest after a selloff implies deleveraging rather than strong new shorts.

Funding rate: A periodic payment between longs and shorts on perpetual swaps that nudges price toward spot. Slightly negative funding tells that longs are less aggressive and shorts are paying less to stay in.

Liquidation cascade: A chain reaction where price drops trigger forced closures, which push price lower again and cause more liquidations until leverage resets and order books stabilize.

Read More: Crypto prices today: BTC, ETH, XRP and SOL weaken as leverage unwinds">Crypto prices today: BTC, ETH, XRP and SOL weaken as leverage unwinds

Members of the Cardano community are buzzing with expectation following a cryptic post from the official X account of stablecoin project Moneta (USDM). In a recent X post, Moneta (USDM on Cardano) teased an upcoming development, sparking excitement within the community.

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An XRP community figure recently suggested that assets like XRP are "golden geese," explaining how one could make them feed one's family forever. Notably, as investors continue to anticipate an XRP rally to new highs, most of them still don't know what they'll do once XRP reaches those ambitious price targets besides selling it off for profit.

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A prominent market analyst has dissected Shiba Inu trends over the past two years, giving insight into what to expect when its bullish phase starts. Specifically, Income Sharks, a widely followed analyst, highlighted several market phases for Shiba Inu.

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Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has denied reports alleging he sold a massive quantity of ASTER tokens. The rumors originated from a Riyadh-based crypto advocate known as Farzad, who claimed Zhao had liquidated 35 million ASTER tokens worth approximately $30.42 million.

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Forbes has dramatically shifted its stance on XRP and Ripple, describing the company as almost unrecognizable compared to the version it profiled in early 2024. Back then, XRP and Ripple topped Forbes’ list of “zombie blockchains” projects with billion-dollar valuations, but with supposedly minimal real-world usage.

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Zach Pandl, head of research at Grayscale Investments, believes Solana exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could soon rival the success of Bitcoin and Ethereum investment products. He expects that within one to two years, about 5% of all Solana tokens could be held in regulated exchange-traded structures, a share worth over $5 billion at today’s prices.

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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson is cautious of the Inverse Cramer effect, particularly after Solana co-founders met with the CNBC Mad Money host. Solana could be in trouble, a reaction from Hoskinson suggests.

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A social media account once linked to Sam Bankman-Fried, the imprisoned founder of FTX, posted a new document on X late Thursday. The 14-page file argues that the crypto exchange was never genuinely insolvent.

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Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has once again reaffirmed his commitment to improving Dogecoin and transforming it into the official currency of X. Hoskinson’s renewed comments follow a Dogecoin community member resurfacing his March 2025 proposal to Dogefather Elon Musk.

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The Ripple CTO, David Schwartz, recently suggested that the XRP value proposition is that it allows people to be their own banks without depending on middlemen. His comments came after Western Union chose Solana over the XRP Ledger (XRPL) to build its stablecoin, a decision that led to discussions across crypto circles about whether XRP still holds unique value within the crypto scene.

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Genoa have formally confirmed trust in Patrick Vieira, but the reality is that the French coach’s position is increasingly uncertain.

Evidently, Genoa want a total revolution, from the sporting director to the coach. Evidently, Genoa have realised that Vieira has entered a tunnel and has little chance of re-emerging.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter tell me that Rossoblu are considering an internal solution, Domenico Criscito or Gennaro Ruotolo, in this order, with the help of Roberto Murgita, another club legend who has his coaching badges.

To wait for the upcoming away game on Monday against Sassuolo might make no sense for the Grifone, so Vieira, who is no longer trusted by the club, may not even get a final chance.

Anything is still possible, but when club and coach are no longer in sync, it makes no sense to postpone.

Genoa sit at rock bottom of the Serie A table with three points in nine matches.

In a recent financial disclosure, two of the crypto industry’s giants, Coinbase (COIN) and Strategy (MSTR), reported significant gains in their third-quarter (Q3) results. 

Coinbase Surges Past Profit Expectations

Coinbase exceeded analysts’ expectations for its Q3 profit, buoyed by increased volatility in digital assets that elevated trading volumes on its platform. The company reported a transaction revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, a substantial rise from $572.5 million during the same period last year. 

Additionally, the cryptocurrency exchange recorded a net income of $432.6 million, translating to $1.50 per share, compared to just $75.5 million, or $0.28 per share, a year prior. Analysts had projected a profit of $1.06 per share, according to Reuters.

Coinbase also completed its acquisition of Deribit in the third quarter. Alesia Haas, the company’s finance chief, noted during a conference call that Deribit commands over 75% of the market share for options, primarily outside the US. 

This acquisition opens pathways for Coinbase to expand its options market within the US. As part of its broader strategy, Coinbase also highlighted its commitment to accelerating payments through stablecoin adoption, citing favorable policy trends and growing interest from financial institutions and corporations. 

David Bartosiak, a stock strategist at Zacks Investment Research, remarked, “Coinbase is cash-rich and growth-ready,” emphasizing that the company is evolving beyond merely trading cryptocurrencies to establishing the infrastructure for a new financial internet.

Largest Corporate Bitcoin Holder Posts $2.78 Billion Net Profit 

Meanwhile, Strategy, previously MicroStrategy, reported profits in the third quarter after experiencing a loss the previous year. This positive sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency sector has benefited the company, which is the largest corporate Bitcoin (BTC) holder. 

As of October 26, the company held 640,808 Bitcoin, with a total acquisition cost of $47.44 billion, averaging $74,032 per BTC. With the market’s leading crypto currently trading around $107,400 when writing, the company’s holdings are positioned for significant appreciation. 

Strategy’s net profit for the three months ended September 30 was reported at $2.78 billion, or $8.42 per share, contrasting sharply with a loss of $340.2 million, or $1.72 per share, a year earlier. However, it’s worth noting that Strategy’s shares have declined 12% so far in 2025, even as Bitcoin prices have risen by 14.5%.

COIN stocks closed Thursday’s trading session with a 3% surge toward $328 on the wake of the financial disclosure. Similarly, Strategy’s shares climbed nearly 4% following its earnings report toward the $254 mark. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

With gold recently seeing new ATHs, how high would XRP price go if the market witnessed a 5% capital rotation from gold to XRP? While the broader crypto market has faced bearish pressure, leading to price struggles for Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins like XRP, gold has been an excellent performer.

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Prominent analyst EGRAG Crypto insists XRP has not reached its top for this cycle, leveraging the Gaussian Channel to share his bull run target. Notably, XRP and the wider crypto market started a recovery earlier this week, but the momentum has slowed as prices met resistance.

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Two high-profile meme coin traders who made millions in 2025 are now turning their attention to GhostwareOS (GHOST). According to blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain, traders identified as “LeBron” and “CLegS2” have recently accumulated large positions in the emerging privacy token.

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A fully regulated euro-backed stablecoin, EURQ, is set to launch on the Xahau Network, a smart contract-enabled sidechain of the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The initiative stems from a partnership between Netherlands-based payments technology company Quantoz Payments and INFTF MTU, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing financial inclusion through blockchain.

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Nordea, one of Europe’s biggest banks with €648 billion in assets, has announced that it will enable customers to trade Bitcoin ETPs directly on its platforms. The bank confirmed that, starting December 2025, clients will be able to invest in a synthetic Bitcoin ETP from CoinShares, giving them Bitcoin exposure through regular investment accounts.

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Led by Ethereum, the securities tokenization market is booming, as more equities become available for retail and institutional investors to buy on-chain. Data from RWA.xyz indicates that the tokenized public stock sector is on the rise, driven by growing investor interest.

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Uphold has reintroduced its U.S. debit card, giving customers a new way to earn XRP rewards whenever they spend.

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While fear remains in the market, influential market commentators continue to reveal their year-end forecasts for major assets, including Bitcoin and XRP. Among the latest to join the discussion are crypto influencers CryptoJulzss and Leshka.eth, both of whom expect a strong end to the year.

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Bitcoin commentator Scott Melker, widely known as The Wolf of All Streets, has stirred a new controversy around the relevance of XRP. In a post on X, Melker questioned what real-world utility XRP holds in today’s evolving payments landscape, especially after major financial players opted for other blockchain networks.

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Roma director Frederic Massara admits the Giallorossi have yet to open talks with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini to extend their contracts.

Massara provided some transfer updates on Wednesday ahead of Roma’s home game against Parma on Wednesday.

The Giallorossi director admitted that, due to financial restrictions, the Giallorossi are not expected to make a big signing in the January transfer window, although they’ll assess the situation in the coming weeks.

Massara also spoke about Dybala and Pellegrini’s futures as their contracts expire at the end of the season.

What Massara said about Dybala’s Roma contract

“We are aware of the situation, but right now we’re focusing on the matches,” Massara said via Calciomercato.com.

“The players with expiring contracts are showing great professionalism and strong commitment to the club. At the moment, we haven’t started any discussions to negotiate with them.”

Dybala and Pellegrini’s goals so far in 2025-26

Dybala, 31, has scored two goals and provided one assist in eight appearances across all competitions this season.

He joined Roma in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer after the end of his contract with Juventus.

Pellegrini, on the other hand, is a product of the club’s academy and has only netted one goal this season, giving Roma a 1-0 win over city rivals Lazio in September.

Reports in Italy claim that Napoli are growing increasingly keen on the idea of a January deal for Manchester United outcast Kobbie Mainoo following a serious injury to Kevin De Bruyne, and with fears that Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will be unavailable for around a month during the Africa Cup of Nations. 

Report Napoli even more keen on Mainoo after De Bruyne surgery

Napoli were among the clubs who enquired after Mainoo towards the end of the summer transfer window when it became clear that he was falling out of favour under United head coach Ruben Amorim. 

Effectively a quarter of the way through the 2025-26 campaign, Mainoo is still struggling for first-team opportunities at Old Trafford. 

All of his seven appearances in the Premier League this season have come off the bench, and his only start of the season came in United’s FA Cup humiliation against League Two Grimsby Town in August. 

According to reports from Corriere dello Sport (via TMW), Napoli are keen to offer Mainoo a way out of Old Trafford in January, potentially on a straight loan deal. 

The Partenopei have lost De Bruyne until February at the earliest following surgery on his hamstring, and there are concerns that the in-form Anguissa could be unavailable for around a month in December and January due to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. 

That means that Antonio Conte could be left without two of his first-choice starting midfielders for most of January. 

There are some initial concerns surrounding a potential Napoli move for Mainoo, though, specifically over his physical condition, given that he has only played a full 90 minutes once in the last five months and that he would be expected to come in and start if a move to Napoli were to materialise. 

Luciano Spalletti has begun his first day as the Juventus coach and already met the Bianconeri’s fans outside the J Medical.

Spalletti arrived at Juventus’ training centre on Thursday morning, hours after seeing interim coach Massimo Brambilla lead the team to a 3-1 win against Udinese.

The Tuscan tactician underwent medical tests at the J Medical before signing his contract with the Serie A giants and met with Bianconeri fans for the first time before leaving the clinic.

Juventus will confirm Spalletti’s appointment later today, and the ex-Italy coach will make his debut on the Bianconeri’s bench against Cremonese this coming Saturday.

Video: Spalletti meets Juventus fans for the first time

Luciano Spalletti ha terminato le visite al J Medical e all’uscita si è fermato con i tifosi bianconeri per le foto e gli autografi #Corrieredellosport #Juventus #Spalletti pic.twitter.com/Dr00sWfzSg

— Corriere dello Sport (@CorSport) October 30, 2025

Mister Spalletti pic.twitter.com/RpBB98v4qK

— JuveFC (@juvefcdotcom) October 30, 2025

Transfer activities should be judged calmly, but in the Petar Sucic case, there is no doubt that Inter made a real bargain.

The Nerazzurri invested in the young midfielder (born in 2003), who is destined for a bright future with the Serie A giants.

How much did Inter pay to sign Sucic?

One could even argue that Inter have already cashed in on the interest from the €14m, plus €2.5m add-ons, they spent to snatch him from Dinamo Zagreb.

The focus is not just on the brilliant goal he scored to kill off the game against Fiorentina on Wednesday, but also on the modernity of a midfielder who makes sharp vertical passes, makes dangerous late runs and has personality and technical qualities clearly superior to the average.

Sucic a smart Inter signing

The fact that he was signed in February, allowing him to play in the Club World Cup last summer, helped Sucic settle in perfectly at San Siro.

In short, just a few weeks have been enough to label the Croat as a smart buy.

Former Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly says he wanted to join Manchester United in 2018, but Carlo Ancelotti threatened that he would have resigned if the Partenopei had accepted a €100m offer from Old Trafford.

Former Napoli centre-back Koulibaly wanted to join Manchester United in the summer of 2018, but the then-Partenopei boss Ancelotti managed to avoid his exit.

Koulibaly, currently under contract with Al-Hilal, spoke to the Podcast Zack en Roue Libre (via TMW) about his transfer situation at that time.

Koulibaly admits he wanted to join Man United

“Napoli had received an offer worth €100m from Manchester United, but they rejected it,” said the defender.

“Ancelotti came to me and said: ‘I came here to win the Scudetto. What do you want to do?’

“I replied: ‘I wanted to leave, why?'”

“He [Ancelotti] said he knew about he offer, but if I had left, he would have resigned the following day.”

Koulibaly, however, strongly wanted to leave the club.

“I thought my time at Napoli was over; I had given my all. I had spent four seasons there, and I could have had the best contract of my career,” he said.

Ancelotti would have resigned if Koulibaly joined Man United

“In the evening, Ancelotti called me and said: ‘Come to my room.’ He opened the door and said: ‘Ah, mon ami Kalidou!’ He spoke French, we were both wearing a pyjama; I was shocked.

“I explained to him that I wasn’t happy and that I thought the president had lacked respect towards me for the way he spoke.”

Ultimately, Ancelotti convinced Koulibaly to remain at Napoli. The Senegal international only left the club in 2022, joining Chelsea for circa €40m including add-ons.

He only spent one season at Stamford Bridge, joining Saudi side Al-Hilal in the 2023 summer transfer window.

Koulibaly scored 14 goals in 317 appearances with Napoli. He won one Supercoppa Italiana and one Coppa Italia during his time at the club.

A prominent analyst has identified similarities between the current price action and the 2017 run, suggesting that XRP is gearing to melt faces. Notably, despite the latest resistance to the recent market recovery push, XRP has shown resilience, maintaining a 6.85% gain over the past week.

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Crypto commentator Crypto Bitlord has once again stirred the XRP community with another aggressive price outlook. This time, he envisions a world where XRP instantly "teleports" to $500 per coin, reshaping global finance.

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A recent analytical exposition has highlighted the possibility that Cardano could see an upsurge of 10% to 100% from its current price level. Notably, a TradingView analysis of the ADA/USDT 3-day chart by Arman Shaban presented this possibility, asserting that Cardano will reverse the current bearish trend and enter a strong bullish move to higher levels.

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Cardano would need to set a new all-time high (ATH) to have any chance of surpassing XRP again, just as it did in 2021. Cardano (ADA), which ranked as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap in 2021, has now slipped to the 10th position.

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Whales are doubling down on Bitcoin and Ethereum, taking major long positions despite the Federal Reserve’s hawkish tone on interest rates. Today, Bitcoin and Ethereum prices fell after the U.S.

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Luciano Spalletti has arrived at Continassa to sign his contract with Juventus and begin his tenure as the new Bianconeri coach.

The Tuscan tactician will replace Igor Tudor, who was sacked on Monday, becoming the third Juventus coach in 2025.

The Bianconeri beat Udinese 3-1 in a home Serie A game on Wednesday night with NextGen coach Massimo Brambilla leading the team from the touchline.

Spalletti to sign contract until the end of the season

Spalletti reached an agreement with Juventus on Tuesday and is expected to sign a contract until the end of the season with an option to extend if he earns Champions League qualification this season.

The ex-Italy coach arrived at the Juventus training centre on Thursday morning.

Juventus are expected to confirm his appointment shortly, before Spalletti takes charge of his first training session at Continassa.

Spalletti, a Napoli Serie A winner in 2022-23, has been without a team since June 2025, when he was sacked by the Italian Federation after a 3-0 loss against Norway.

Video: Spalletti arrives at Continassa to begin Juventus tenure

#Spalletti è arrivato alla Continassa pic.twitter.com/rGeD3rtwtf

— ilBiancoNero (@ilbianconerocom) October 30, 2025

Matteo Moretto reports that Bournemouth are determined to sign Álex Jiménez on a permanent deal from Milan, but Real Madrid will still have ‘financial control’ over the Spaniard once the deal is complete.

Premier League side Bournemouth are eager to sign Jimenez on a permanent deal from Milan, according to Italian transfer expert Matteo Moretto.

How much Milan earn with Jimenez’s permanent move

Jimenez moved to England on an initial loan deal worth €2m last summer, and Bournemouth have an option to buy for €18m plus €5m add-ons, according to Calciomercato.com.

Bournemouth’s option to buy becomes an obligation to purchase if certain conditions are met, but the English side seem willing to sign Jimenez permanently regardless of their original agreement with Milan.

Moretto adds that once Jiménez formally becomes a Bournemouth-owned player, Real Madrid will resume their financial control over their academy product, which means they’ll have a chance to match any offer Bournemouth receive in the future and potentially bring the 20-year-old back to the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid’s control over academy products

Real Madrid have the same sort of agreement with Como, as Nico Paz and Jacobo Ramon are formally owned by the Azzurri, but the Merengues have an option to bring them back in the coming years.

L’intenzione del Bournemouth è di riscattare Álex Jiménez dal Milan a prescindere delle condizioni dell’obbligo concordato in estate visto l’alto livello che inizia a mostrare in Premier.

Quando il club inglese sarà proprietario del cartellino dello spagnolo, il Real Madrid…

— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) October 29, 2025

Long-standing Bitcoin antagonist Peter Schiff’s recent Bitcoin criticism has drawn a reaction from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson. Hoskinson was not having it again with Schiff, launching a counterattack on the gold bug.

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Flare CEO Hugo Philion emphasizes that the Western Union deal with Solana does not impact Ripple (XRP) or the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem in any strategic sense. Philion issued the statement in reaction to Western Union’s decision to launch its U.S.

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SpaceX, the space exploration firm led by Elon Musk, transferred another 281 Bitcoin, worth roughly $31.33 million, to a new wallet on Thursday. Blockchain investigator Lookonchain reported that the funds went to a new address, different from SpaceX’s previous destinations.

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The Midnight project is generating more user interest than its parent network, Cardano, according to a prominent community pundit. Big Pey, a Cardano content creator, came to this conclusion in his recent X post.

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Responding to questions from a curious mind, the Ripple CTO, David Schwartz, has mentioned three reasons XRP launched with a supply of 100 billion tokens. Notably, when David Schwartz, Arthur Britto, and Jed McCaleb built the XRP Ledger in 2012, they launched XRP as the network's gas token, with its total supply set at 100 billion coins.

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Consensys, the blockchain firm behind the popular MetaMask wallet, is preparing to go public. The company has engaged financial giants JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs to oversee its planned initial public offering (IPO).

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Global investment manager T. Rowe Price has made a bold move on a Shiba Inu ETF.

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A market analyst has suggested that while Ethereum would soon explode, XRP will likely outperform the king altcoin in the near future. This daring commentary came from CryptoBull, a prominent market watcher, on the back of the latest market recovery push.

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On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced a 25-basis-point rate cut from the previous rate of 4.25%, aligning with market expectations. Despite this bullish development being highly anticipated by top experts as the best catalyst for the remainder of the year, Bitcoin (BTC), XRP, and Ethereum (ETH) led the market downturn following the announcement. 

Fed Chair Signals Uncertainty Over Further Rate Cuts

The selloff intensified after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell indicated during his press conference that another interest-rate cut in December “is not a foregone conclusion.” This uncertainty has contributed to market volatility, as both cryptocurrencies and stocks have rallied this year in anticipation of lower interest rates.

If the Fed does not implement further rate cuts in December, it could lead to a rebound in the dollar, which would be detrimental for Bitcoin bulls.

Analyst Manuel Villegas from Julius Baer noted that options-derived implied movements for US equity indices suggest significant shifts around upcoming macroeconomic reports. He advised crypto investors to prepare for potential volatility.

However, market expert Timothy Peterson provided further insights on social media site X (formerly Twitter), predicting that the Bitcoin price could rise up to 12% over the next week, meaning that the leading crypto could surge toward $123,000. 

Analyst Foresees Positive Momentum For Bitcoin

In his analysis, Peterson highlighted Bitcoin’s performance surrounding Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings and noted that since 2023, Bitcoin’s average movement after such meetings has been about 1.5 times its prior week’s performance. 

With Bitcoin having gained 4% in the week leading up to the Fed’s decision, Peterson anticipates a subsequent increase of around 7%, with a potential range of 0-15%. 

The FOMC, which sets US interest rates and guides monetary policy, often sees markets trade cautiously before meetings, followed by reactions once the uncertainty is resolved, with the expert concluding that despite the growing uncertainty, Bitcoin and the broader market could see a new leg up near record highs.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Azerbaijan is ramping up its efforts to tap into the growing Chinese tourism market, marking a pivotal moment in its tourism strategy. Following a high-profile state visit by Azerbaijan’s president to China in April 2025, the two nations have taken significant steps to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the realm of tourism. At the heart of this new phase is a groundbreaking visa-exemption agreement, which is expected to drive an influx of Chinese visitors to Azerbaijan.

On October 29, 2025, a crucial meeting between Azerbaijani tourism officials emphasized China as a top priority market. This meeting highlighted the importance of the April state visit, which laid the groundwork for the visa-exemption policy that is central to this new push. With this agreement in place, Azerbaijan aims to make itself more accessible to Chinese tourists, thus encouraging greater tourism flows.

The visa-exemption policy, which began on July 20, 2024, allows Chinese tourists to enter Azerbaijan without needing a visa until July 20, 2025. This policy permits Chinese nationals to make multiple visits to Azerbaijan during this period, with each stay lasting up to 30 days. By removing the visa requirement, Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a more convenient and attractive destination for Chinese travelers, who are increasingly seeking diverse and unique travel experiences abroad.

Azerbaijan’s varied tourism offerings are already attracting attention. From its ancient UNESCO World Heritage sites to its modern cities and stunning natural landscapes, the country presents a compelling mix of experiences for international travelers. Sites such as the ancient Icherisheher (Old City of Baku), Gobustan National Park with its mud volcanoes, and the Caspian Sea coast are particularly popular among Chinese visitors. These landmarks, alongside Azerbaijan’s modern infrastructure, make it a destination that caters to a wide range of interests, from history and culture to nature and adventure.

The recent surge in Chinese tourist numbers is a testament to the growing appeal of Azerbaijan. In 2024, the number of Chinese visitors to the country reached nearly 45,000, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. Additionally, early data for 2025 shows a 70% increase in arrivals from China between January and April, reflecting the growing interest in Azerbaijan as a tourist destination. This surge is not only indicative of the success of the visa-exemption policy but also a sign that Azerbaijan is becoming a more prominent player in the global tourism market.

Azerbaijan’s broader tourism sector is also benefiting from this influx of visitors. In 2024, the country welcomed a total of 2.627 million international tourists, a 25.9% increase from the previous year. This overall growth is largely attributed to the increasing numbers of Chinese travelers, whose interest in Azerbaijan is driving the country’s expanding tourism profile. As more Chinese tourists explore Azerbaijan, the country is poised to continue reaping the benefits of this positive trend, contributing to the growth of its tourism and hospitality industries.

Beyond the initial success of the visa-exemption policy, Azerbaijan is working on enhancing its tourism infrastructure and services to cater to the growing demand. The country’s tourism authorities are collaborating with Chinese travel agencies and tour operators to create specialized packages that cater to Chinese visitors. These efforts are designed to provide Chinese tourists with a seamless and enjoyable experience, further boosting the country’s appeal.

The positive impact of the growing Chinese tourism market extends beyond tourism-related businesses. Increased visitor numbers contribute to the wider economy, supporting sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and retail. As tourism continues to expand, local businesses stand to benefit from the increased demand for services, and the influx of Chinese tourists is expected to generate significant economic opportunities across Azerbaijan.

Looking ahead, Azerbaijan is committed to sustaining this growth by deepening its ties with China. The tourism sector is a key part of the country’s broader efforts to enhance its international profile, and Azerbaijan is actively working on new initiatives to make it even more attractive to Chinese travelers. These include initiatives to further improve the ease of travel, expand direct flight connections, and host major international events that will attract Chinese tourists.

Azerbaijan’s successful push to become a preferred destination for Chinese travelers is a clear indication of the country’s potential as a global tourism hub. With the visa-exemption policy in place, the numbers of Chinese visitors are expected to continue climbing, further cementing Azerbaijan’s status as a top tourist destination. As this partnership grows, Azerbaijan is poised to reap the economic and cultural benefits of its efforts to strengthen ties with China, marking a new chapter in the country’s tourism journey.

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“We’re in the second innings of this,” declared Stephanie Link of Hightower Advisors on CNBC’s Closing Bell Overtime, referring to the burgeoning artificial intelligence trade. Her commentary, delivered amidst a flurry of recent earnings reports, offered a nuanced perspective on the market’s current fixation with AI, particularly concerning the substantial capital expenditures undertaken by major […]

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Former Inter captain Mauro Icardi is happy at Galatasaray, but his contract expires at the end of the season, and the new club management hasn’t yet offered him a new deal.

Ex-Inter star Icardi is waiting for a contract offer from his club, Galatasaray, as his deal expires at the end of the season.

His contract extension, however, is not guaranteed as the new club management hasn’t yet made a formal proposal. It’s not even guaranteed that the matter will be discussed in the coming weeks, so Icardi keeps waiting professionally.

Predictably, Icardi will wait until December, but then he’ll consider possible offers from other clubs, given that he’ll become available as a free agent with just six months left in his contract.

There’s always high interest in the Argentine striker, especially if he were to leave Galatasaray on a free transfer.

As of today, Icardi is in no hurry. The 32-year-old is in no rush and has given priority to Galatasaray, but negotiations with his club are stalling.

Not even four months after American technology company Nvidia rode the AI surge to become the world's first $4 trillion company, it has become the first ever to cross the $5 trillion threshold.

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Decentralized finance, or DeFi, as it is colloquially called, was designed to be an open, transparent, and user-controlled economy. But as the market expanded, the structure weakened.

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The prospect of Cardano reaching half of Bitcoin’s market cap could solidify its standing among the leading cryptocurrencies, while propelling its price to new heights. Despite the sluggish performance of the broader crypto market in recent months, investors continue to speculate on the future potential of major assets.

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Grayscale Investments has launched a new exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of Solana and provides staking rewards. The Grayscale Solana Trust ETF (GSOL) began trading on NYSE Arca on Wednesday, marking a major step in expanding institutional access to Solana-based products.

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Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has defended the value of Bitcoin in response to Peter Schiff’s latest criticism. Schiff has continued his long-running criticism of Bitcoin, taking to X to criticize its value model.

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Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin-centric company, Strategy, may soon join the S&P 500 index, according to a new report from 10X Research. The firm estimates a 70% probability that Strategy will join the index by December 19, 2025.

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XRP community figure Vincent Scott shared a passionate message on X, describing XRP and the XRP Ledger as humanity’s “best chance” to reform the global financial system. Scott pointed to Ripple’s ongoing licensing efforts, acquisitions, and partnerships as clear signs that the company is strategically positioning XRP for large-scale demand.

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Alphadjo Cisse has been a key figure for US Catanzaro in the early stages of the 2025-26 season, and is beginning to attract the interest of Serie A title hopefuls Roma, Football Italia understands. 

Roma keen on Verona-owned teenager

Cisse, who joined Catanzaro on loan from Hellas Verona over the summer, has impressed with his performances and impressive technical ability in Serie B, which has brought a return of four goals from his first nine matches in the second tier. 

The 19-year-old is still owned by Verona, and could potentially become a key player in one of the upcoming transfer windows, likely this summer. 

As was originally reported by Lorenzo Canicchio, Roma are evaluating a potential move for Cisse. He is a profile that Gasperini admires, and given the coach’s previous track record in developing young prospects, could be an ideal fit. 

Representatives from Roma met with Cisse’s entourage in Trigoria a few days ago. While it is too soon to make any definitive conclusions, it is understood that the Giallorossi will continue to monitor Cisse’s development with a strong interest.

Methodology

This tracker includes layoffs conducted by U.S.-based companies or those with a strong U.S. presence and is updated at least bi-weekly. We’ve included both startups and publicly traded, tech-heavy companies. We’ve also included companies based elsewhere that have a sizable team in the United States, such as Klarna, even when it’s unclear how much of the U.S. workforce has been affected by layoffs.

Layoff and workforce figures are best estimates based on reporting. We source the layoffs from media reports, our own reporting, social media posts and layoffs.fyi, a crowdsourced database of tech layoffs.

We recently updated our layoffs tracker to reflect the most recent round of layoffs each company has conducted. This allows us to quickly and more accurately track layoff trends, which is why you might notice some changes in our most recent numbers.

If an employee headcount cannot be confirmed to our standards, we note it as “unclear.”

Bitwise put Solana ETF discussions in the spotlight this week with the launch of its new product, the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL). Notably, the fund began trading on NYSE Arca and was one of three altcoin ETFs that went live yesterday after securing regulatory approval despite the ongoing government shutdown.

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Raffaele Palladino was not a genuine candidate for the Juventus job as Luciano Spalletti was always the Bianconeri’s priority, given that Damien Comolli met an intermediary close to the ex-Italy coach before the game against Lazio.

Juventus are set to appoint Spalletti as their new coach, having reached an agreement with the Italian tactician on Tuesday.

Palladino was a serious candidate for Juventus

Despite reports, Palladino was never a serious candidate for the Juventus job as the Bianconeri’s first option was always the ex-Italy coach.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter tell me that an intermediary very close to Spalletti met with Juventus director Damien Comolli in Rome on Saturday, before Igor Tudor’s eventual final game in charge of the Old Lady, against Lazio.

It is also not confirmed that a part of the Juventus dressing room pushed for the appointment of Palladino, so the ex-Fiorentina and Monza coach is now waiting for a new chance.

The former striker has already rejected some offers from foreign clubs and could turn out to be a regret for Atalanta, who picked Ivan Juric instead of him in the summer.

Atalanta are still unbeaten in Serie A, but have collected seven draws in nine games.

The second part of the year has seen a notable surge in the US stock market, while Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader cryptocurrency market has faced its share of uncertainty and significant corrections. 

With the Nasdaq recently surpassing the 26,000 mark, leading analysts are now suggesting that this milestone could be a clear indicator for Bitcoin to finish the year at new highs.

What Historical Patterns Indicate

According to experts at The Bull Theory, the pattern observed with the Nasdaq reaching all-time highs typically suggests a flow of liquidity, an increased risk appetite, and a shift of capital into growth assets. As this phase develops, it often sets the stage for Bitcoin’s next significant movement.

Data compiled by the analysts supports this assertion. Historically, in the first 30 days following a Nasdaq all-time high, Bitcoin has averaged a gain of approximately 7%. This return tends to grow, reaching about 14% within 60 days and climbing to an average of 25% by the 90-day mark. 

This pattern is not merely coincidental; it reflects a capital rotation where liquidity does not disappear but instead shifts from traditional markets into higher-risk assets like Bitcoin. 

The current situation appears to follow a similar trajectory. The Nasdaq’s rise to 26,000 indicates a wave of liquidity building beneath the surface. With rate cuts beginning and quantitative tightening coming to an end, global capital is once again seeking yield. 

This scenario mirrors the conditions that contributed to Bitcoin’s significant breakouts in previous years, particularly in 2017, 2020, and 2023.

As such, the analysts note that the next four to five months may represent an acceleration phase for Bitcoin, coinciding with a potential pause in equities, which could lead to crypto becoming the primary outlet for liquidity. 

Bitcoin Poised For Breakout Similar To 2020-2021 Cycle

Analysts like Ash Crypto also noted on social media that the BTC/NASDAQ weekly chart is revealing a repeating pattern reminiscent of the 2020-2021 cycle, during which Bitcoin significantly outperformed traditional tech stocks. In both cycles, the October to March timeframe has historically prompted major upward movements. 

After a period of consolidation within a rising wedge, the BTC/NASDAQ pair appears poised for another breakout. Should this pattern repeat, Bitcoin may see substantial gains compared to the Nasdaq in the fourth quarter and into early 2026, Ash Crypto noted. 

Notably, this sets the stage for a major rally that could see Bitcoin prices surpassing current records of over $126,000. However, the market is still characterized by increased volatility, and there is no clear path ahead for BTC.

The leading cryptocurrency is trading at $113,350 after a 2% correction in Tuesday’s trading session, following an initial surge above $115,000. This puts BTC 6.5% below record highs. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Widely followed analyst Income Sharks has raised caution about the current XRP trend, laying emphasis on the OBV indicator. His commentary highlighted that XRP still looks stronger than most major assets.

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Crypto influencer Crypto Bitlord, who has over 426,000 followers on X, has shaken the XRP community with a bold XRP price prediction. In a recent post, Bitlord highlighted the strength of the XRP community, calling it “one of the largest crypto communities on Earth.” He suggested that once XRP breaks through the $21 mark this cycle, it could trigger a major global reaction.

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Global payments giant Western Union has announced plans to introduce a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin named USDPT in 2026.

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Juventus reportedly held talks with Raffaele Palladino and Luciano Spalletti on Tuesday, but the ex-Italy coach has always been the Bianconeri’s first option.

Juventus are on the verge of announcing Spalletti as their new head coach as the Serie A giants reached an agreement with the Certaldo-born tactician on Tuesday.

Spalletti’s Juventus salary revealed

Spalletti has agreed to sign a contract until the end of the season with an option to extend if he qualifies for the Champions League this term.

According to reports in Italy, he’ll earn €3m until the end of the season.

Spalletti has always been Juventus’ priority since Igor Tudor was sacked on Monday, but other candidates had been linked with the Juventus job, including Roberto Mancini and Palladino.

Juventus held talks with Palladino and Spalletti

According to Gazzetta and Sportmediaset, Juventus also held talks with Palladino on Tuesday, as the ex-Fiorentina coach was a candidate suggested by the Bianconeri’s technical director, François Modesto, who previously worked with Palladino at Monza.

According to reports, the meeting between Palladino and Juventus directors, however, was just a ‘courtesy chat’ as the Bianconeri were eager to finalise an agreement with Spalletti, whose appointment will be announced in the coming hours.

Multiple sources in Italy claim that Luciano Spalletti will earn €3m until the end of the season, and according to SportMediaset, the new Juventus coach will be in the stands at the Allianz Stadium today.

Spalletti set to be appointed as new Juventus coach

Juventus are set to announce Spalletti as their new coach. The Italian tactician reached a principle of agreement with the Bianconeri on Tuesday and the club are expected to confirm his appointment today or tomorrow.

Spalletti will sign a contract until the end of the season with an obligation to extend if he gets Champions League qualification this term.

How much will Spalletti earn at Juventus?

Gazzetta and Sportmediaset report that Spalletti will arrive in Turin today and that he’ll earn €3m until the end of the season.

According to the Italian broadcasters, the ex-Italy boss will even watch his new team in action from the Allianz Stadium today, when they host Udinese with interim coach Massimo Brambilla on the bench.

Both Gazzetta and Sportmediaset report that Juventus director Damien Comolli spoke to both Raffaele Palladino and Spalletti on Tuesday, but the ex-Napoli and Roma coach has always been the Old Lady’s primary option to replace Igor Tudor.

Luxury world is trust-based. When one buys a Gucci bag, Rolex watch, or Louis Vuitton wallet, he or she has the confidence based on the knowledge and understanding that it is genuine. Value is represented by the quality of the style, the logo, the craftsmanship, all that combined. But when the fake luxury market came up with fakes, the trust was cut off. Regrettably, counterfeiting has turned out to be a multi-billion-dollar business.

According to reports from 2025, counterfeit luxury goods alone are estimated to cost brands over 400 billion dollars in lost sales annually. Counterfeiting has become an international issue with fake designer clothes and imitated watches. The counterfeiters are using advanced printing and e-commerce techniques at their disposal, and hence imitations are very hard to spot, and this leaves the consumers and the brands in jeopardy.

Another approach was used in the past, where luxury brands were using a serial number, paper certificates, or unique packaging, and although brands were immensely proud of their capability to prevent counterfeiters by such means, the vast majority of these security measures were reproducible or lost. The introduction of blockchain technology is the place where there is more opportunity to change. Through the development of authentication tokens, luxury brands will now be able to offer an identification of all legitimate products being linked to a digital record that cannot be replicated or modified.

These tokens are helping rebuild trust. They give proof that a product is genuine. They also make it possible to track an item from the moment it is made until it is sold again in resale markets. This blog explains how these luxury goods authentication tokens work, why brands are using them, and what the future looks like for digital proof of luxury ownership.

What Are Luxury Goods Authentication Tokens

Luxury goods authentication tokens are like a digital passport for high-end items. They demonstrate that a product is not a duplicate. The tokens are identifiable such as a fingerprint and are stored safely in a blockchain network.

A luxurious brand sets a new bag, watch or jewelry and gives it a token. The brand name, date of manufacture, materials and serial number are some of the information contained in this token. This information is then written on the blockchain, and it cannot be altered. The token is kept with the item in the course of its life.

In the case of the sale of a product, the ownership of the token also changes. This will aid in monitoring the actual owner and preventing the entry of fake products into the market. The system is not complicated, but solid in usage. Any person who swipes or counterchecks the token can prove that the product is authentic.

Luxury goods authentication tokens are bridges between the online and the real world. They ensure that all products of luxury can be checked anytime. And since the blockchain is transparent and public, it is difficult to cheat the system.

How Blockchain Helps Verify Luxury Items

Blockchain is a digital record-keeping system that allows you to store information securely in blocks. When a block is inserted in the information chain, it cannot be erased or modified. The blocks are linked to the succeeding information. This is what renders blockchain credible to authentication.

Any luxurious item can create a record that captures all the noteworthy features of the product with regard to the user. The record can contain details on the object including identification, place of production, and ownership. Each time a luxury commodity is bought or sold among the owners, we will have a new entry in the book of records and we will be able to construct the whole history of disposition between factory and customer.

Traditional certifications can be lost or counterfeit. The information in blockchain is indefeasible. The token generated about the luxury product can be viewed and tracked by the public, which is completely stored on the blockchain. Thus, the consumer who bought the Prada bag or Rolex watch will simply have to check the authenticity with the help of the blockchain in case they wish to do so.

Here’s a simple comparison to show the difference:

Blockchain makes luxury verification more reliable. It keeps every product’s truth in one safe place. This system gives brands protection and gives customers confidence that what they are buying is genuine.

Why Brands Are Adopting Authentication Tokens

Luxury brands have always been in battle against imitation products. Over the past few years, most individuals have turned to authentication that is based on blockchain as it comes with permanent solutions and not short-term solutions. Digital trust is replacing physical beauty in the luxury market as much as physical beauty is, hence the rapid transition.

The brands that are included in the Aura Blockchain Consortium are Prada, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton. This technology assigns a digital identity to each product and allows consumers to check it at any time. It allows a buyer to determine the date, place of creation and resale of the item.

In the case of luxury houses, it is not only about prevention of fakes. New business opportunities are also created by authentication tokens. Indicatively, when a product is sold in the resale market, the brand continues to remain as part of a transaction. That preserves its worth and relationship.

Here’s a small look at how popular brands are already using this system.

These brands have seen that authentication tokens help keep their heritage safe. Buyers feel proud knowing their product has a digital record from the official brand. It’s also helping younger buyers, who are used to digital items, feel more connected to luxury ownership.

Another reason for this move is sustainability. Numerous brands are now demonstrating how the materials for their goods and products are sourced and produced with blocks. This can offer proof of ethically sourced and manufactured products, which is very important to modern luxury consumers today.

How Luxury Goods Authentication Tokens Work

Luxury goods authentication tokens have a simple yet effective process. The objective is to connect each physical item to a digital identity that is ultimately stored forever as part of the blockchain. This digital identity will travel with the product as it crosses owners or geographical locations. The process can be divided into three general facets: the creation of a digital ID, the linking of a token to the ID, and the transfer of ownership.

Digital ID Creation

Every luxury item is produced with a unique digital ID. When a bag, shoe, or watch is produced, its specifications are captured in a digital record. Digital records may include aspects ranging from the specific materials used, color, model number, place of manufacture, and even the code of the artisan. These records are retained in the blockchain immediately, establishing the product’s digital fingerprint.

This means that even if a brand produces hundreds of the same model, no two products will ever be identical because each item is associated with an ID. No two identical items will ever have the same digital signature.

Token Linking

After the ID is created, it gets linked to a blockchain token. This token acts as proof of authenticity. To make the connection real-world, brands use methods like QR codes, NFC chips, or even microchips stitched inside the product. When someone scans the code, they can see the digital record on the blockchain. The connection between the physical product and digital record is what makes counterfeiting extremely difficult.

Ownership Transfer

Once the item is sold, the ownership information is also updated on the blockchain. The token now shows the new owner. This process repeats every time the product changes hands. No paperwork is needed, and ownership can be confirmed instantly.

The steps can be seen in this table below.

This system builds a clear and permanent history for every luxury product. It keeps both the brand and the customer protected. And since blockchain is shared publicly, any person can verify the authenticity without needing to trust only the seller.

Benefits of Authentication Tokens for the Luxury Industry

Luxury brands have started seeing big results from using authentication tokens. These tokens are not only protecting brands from fake products but also changing how customers interact with their purchases. The system brings transparency and long-term value for both buyers and sellers.

The first major benefit is that authentication tokens prevent counterfeit products from proliferating. When each product is assigned a digital ID on blockchain, a counterfeit version cannot be created. The blockchain record demonstrates where the product originated and verifies that it is original. This provides buyers with peace of mind while also strengthening the brand’s reputation.

The second advantage is customer trust. Customers increasingly demand to know where their products come from and how they were created. Blockchain records allow marketers to show consumers the whole lifecycle of a product, from conception to delivery. Allowing customers to see that information for themselves fosters trust and enhances the possibility of repeat purchases. Another advantage for customers is openness in resale markets.

Watches, shoes, and purses are among the many luxury items traded and resold in secondary markets. When each of these products has a blockchain record, the buyer in the resale market can check its history before committing to buy.

This adds value to the secondhand market and encourages more customers to purchase authentically. The final big benefit is that it allows firms that believe in sustainable and ethical fashion practices to demonstrate how they obtain their materials, where they manufacture their products, and how they compensate their employees. This enables brands to communicate data in order to meet sustainability goals while also providing consumers with trust in the products they purchase.

Real-World Examples of Authentication Token Projects

The shift towards authentication tokens is no longer theoretical. Numerous prominent blockchain and luxury consortia projects are fully functional and ongoing around the world. 

The, Aura Blockchain Consortium, founded by LVMH, Prada and Cartier provides the largest consortium in terms of legacy luxury in existence, using a blockchain to provide an unverifiable certificate of authenticity for each product. Customers then scan along with being able to even verify real time data of the product’s journey along with sourcing of materials. Aura Blockchain Consortium also connects to resale markets so that second-hand purchasers are receiving verified goods as well. 

Another successful project is Arianee, an open blockchain platform utilizing digital identity protocols for luxury products, watch brands such as Vacheron Constantin and Breitling use Arianee to record ownership. Arianee’s open standard makes it simple for brands to adopt, without them having to build new, unique infrastructure.

VeChain is also known for helping track supply chains of luxury products. It places small chips in physical goods that connect to blockchain records. This helps detect fake products even before they reach the market.

Conclusion

Luxury good authentication tokens are changing how consumers think about ownership. They allow the user to prove the authenticity of an item and assist in linking the physical experience to the digital experience. This tokenile system protects brands from counterfeit items and adds confidence to customers that their items are authentic.

Leading luxury brands like Prada and Cartier are ushering in this shift. Blockchain technology has made the verification process safer, more efficient, quicker and more verifiable. Buyers will be able to verify the physical and digital histories of a product in seconds using a simple scan instead of relying on the traditional paper system.

Although there are still barriers, including cost, privacy aspects and education, the direction is clear. The luxury market is embracing a digital future where every product sold will have a verifiable identity.

The idea of using authentication tokens will continue to expand and we will all see a future where every handbag, watch or pair of shoes has a digital twin that tells its story. This is what luxury will become: an increase in transparency and trust in what constitutes exclusiveness and uniqueness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a luxury goods authentication token?

A luxury goods authentication token is a digital certificate that proves a product is real. It is stored on blockchain so that no one can copy or change it.

How do these tokens stop fake products?

Each product has a unique digital ID that lives on blockchain. Fake items can’t copy this record, so buyers and brands can confirm authenticity instantly.

Which luxury brands are using blockchain for authentication?

Big brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Cartier, and Breitling are already using blockchain-based authentication systems.

Are NFTs and authentication tokens the same thing?

They are similar but slightly different. NFTs represent digital ownership, while authentication tokens connect directly to real physical items.

Is blockchain authentication safe for buyers?

Yes. Since blockchain records cannot be changed, it’s one of the safest ways to verify product authenticity and track ownership history.

Will all luxury brands use tokens in the future?

Most likely yes. As the technology becomes cheaper and easier, more brands will use blockchain to protect their designs and improve customer trust.

Glossary

Blockchain: A digital ledger that keeps records safe and transparent. It is made of connected blocks that store data permanently.

NFT (Non-Fungible Token): A unique digital asset that represents ownership of something special, often used in art and fashion.

Authentication Token: A digital proof stored on blockchain that confirms a luxury product is real.

Digital Twin: A virtual copy of a physical product used for tracking and verification.

Smart Contract: A program on blockchain that runs automatically when certain conditions are met.

Aura Blockchain Consortium: A group of luxury brands using blockchain to verify authenticity, including LVMH, Prada, and Cartier.

Summary

Luxury goods authentication tokens are revolutionizing the way the fashion and luxury industry addresses authenticity. These electronic certificates, built on the blockchain technology, render any counterfeit scenario virtually impossible. They increase trust in resale marketplaces, lead to more sustainable practices, and help develop a stronger relationship between brands and their customers. 

With projects like the Aura Consortium, Arianee and VeChain leading the charge, the luxury industry is moving toward a transparent future. Yes, while the technology is still emerging, the opportunity is and can be endless. Soon, there will be many more social networking platforms, And, electronic certificates for every designer bag or high-end watch, if that’s how you want to remember it with digital identity, which could include everything we know about the object from the workbench of the craftsperson to the purchase. 

Read More: Luxury Goods Authentication Tokens: How Blockchain Protects High-End Fashion and Collectibles">Luxury Goods Authentication Tokens: How Blockchain Protects High-End Fashion and Collectibles

Aaron Martin has lost some of the visibility he previously had in recent matches, despite an undeniably high level of performance.

Many have linked this situation to his contract expiring in June.

Genoa push for Aaron Martin renewal

Genoa want to resolve the matter as soon as possible, in order to avoid the risk of losing the 1997-born left-back on a free transfer.

As we reported back on June 10, Martin’s profile is greatly appreciated by Lazio, and there have already been inquiries to understand the position of the Spanish specialist.

At the moment Lazio cannot make moves in the market, but in the future several issues will need to be defined (starting with Tavares), and the club will continue to monitor Martin. In the meantime, Genoa will continue to push for a renewal, as we have now entered an increasingly delicate phase.

The 28-year-old signed for Genoa in 2023 from Bundesliga outfit Mainz and has since made close to 70 appearances for the club in all competitions.

In a historic shift, Italy has joined Spain, Finland, Portugal, France, Turkey, and Germany in what can only be described as jaw-dropping exhibition growth across Europe. The latest figures reveal a staggering 2,240 events and a mind-blowing 23 million square meters of exhibition space, making 2024 a groundbreaking year in the exhibition industry.

This phenomenal expansion has attracted over 53 million attendees, a testament to the growing demand for face-to-face business platforms across the continent. The collaboration among these countries highlights a major trend in the exhibition world: unparalleled growth and opportunity. With major nations like Italy taking part, the European exhibition market is on a record-breaking trajectory. Travel and Tour World urges readers to dive into this exciting development, as this is just the beginning of a new era of exhibition dominance. Don’t miss out—keep reading to discover how these numbers are reshaping the European exhibition industry forever!

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has published the latest edition of its Euro Fair Statistics report, providing a comprehensive look into the exhibition market across 16 European countries. The report, which includes certified data from 11 national and regional organizations, represents an estimated 55% of the European exhibition sector. The newly released figures highlight the continued recovery and expansion of the industry, with 2,240 exhibitions held in 2024, showcasing the sector’s resilience and growing demand for face-to-face business platforms.

Key Findings from the 2024 Euro Fair Statistics Report

The 2024 Euro Fair Statistics report covers a total of 2,240 exhibitions, including 235 UFI Approved Events. These exhibitions occupied 23.1 million square meters of registered net space and attracted a total of 53.8 million registered visits. Additionally, the events hosted 594,444 exhibiting companies. This data underscores the vibrant nature of the European exhibition market, reflecting ongoing growth as businesses continue to invest in physical events.

The report also reveals that 40% of these events were dedicated to trade visitors, while 30% targeted the public and the remaining 30% served both audiences. This breakdown highlights the diverse nature of exhibitions, which cater to a wide range of industry sectors and audiences, ensuring that the exhibition space remains a vital platform for business interaction and consumer engagement.

Market Growth and Expanding Data Coverage

The increase in events and market coverage is evident in the 2024 report, with UFI estimating that the data represents nearly 55% of the European exhibition sector. Chris Skeith OBE, UFI CEO, commented, “The number of events covered by the ‘Euro Fair Statistics’ report has continued to grow in recent years.” He also noted that this year’s data collection process was enhanced by asking national bodies to specify whether reported figures referred to visitors or visits, thus improving the accuracy of the data.

The 2024 report reflects the changing demands in the exhibition industry, with organisers adapting to shifts in the market, particularly in response to the increasing importance of face-to-face engagement. As the sector recovers from previous disruptions, the continued growth in event numbers and attendance is a positive sign for the future of in-person exhibitions across Europe.

Contributions from National and Regional Organisations

The comprehensive data in the Euro Fair Statistics report is made possible through the collaboration of national and regional organizations, including AEFI (Italy), AFE (Spain), ATFEO (Finland), BDO & Associates (Portugal), CENTREX (Central and Eastern Europe), CLC-VECTA (The Netherlands), FEBELUX (Belgium), FKM (Germany), SOKEE (Greece), TOBB (Turkey), and UNIMEV-OJS (France). These organizations have provided certified data that reflects the diverse nature of exhibitions across different European regions, contributing to a fuller picture of the market.

By consolidating data from these diverse sources, UFI can provide a comprehensive and accurate representation of the European exhibition sector, further solidifying its role as a key resource for the industry.

The Future of the European Exhibition Industry

The findings of the Euro Fair Statistics report suggest a promising future for the European exhibition market. The increase in events, coupled with rising attendance, indicates a recovery that is outpacing expectations. As businesses and organisations continue to prioritize face-to-face engagement, the exhibition sector is likely to remain an essential element of the European economy.

With continued investment in exhibition platforms and the development of new ways to engage audiences, the industry is well-positioned to thrive in the years ahead. As UFI continues to enhance its data collection methods and provide insights into market trends, the association remains a central figure in shaping the future of the global exhibition industry.

Remo Freuler’s future is back in the spotlight as Bologna work to secure a contract extension for the experienced midfielder.

The 33-year-old is tied to the Rossoblù until June 2026, and initial discussions have already taken place in recent weeks.

However, progress has been slow, and another club may now be considering an approach.

Gasperini seeks Freuler reunion at Roma

According to reports from Il Resto del Carlino, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini has made an exploratory call to Freuler to understand the player’s openness to a future move to the capital.

The two know each other extremely well, with Freuler having made 254 appearances under Gasperini during their long spell together at Atalanta, the most he has played for any coach in his career.

For now, concrete steps are yet to be taken, but Roma’s interest could increase pressure on Bologna to accelerate renewal talks and avoid letting the situation drift.

Teun Koopmeiners’ difficult start to life at Juventus is increasingly becoming a talking point in Turin. The Dutch midfielder arrived with the expectation of becoming a key part of the new project, but performances so far have fallen short of the level shown at Atalanta.

Used in multiple roles under Igor Tudor, he has yet to find continuity or influence matches in the way the club envisioned.

Koopmeiners has made clear his preference to play deeper in midfield rather than as an advanced playmaker, and his future will be re-evaluated in the winter window.

Juventus eye Dortmund star Nmecha as Koopmeiners upgrade

While the club have shown faith, there is an acceptance that the balance in midfield is still lacking and reinforcements could be required.

Among the profiles Juventus continue to monitor is Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, via CalcioMercato. The Germany international impressed against the Bianconeri in the Champions League and was observed again recently during Dortmund’s European win in Copenhagen.

However, competition from Premier League and La Liga sides, plus a valuation approaching €50m, makes any January move complex.

It is surprising to see Juventus signings Jonathan David and Loïs Openda suddenly being written off as “flops”, when they are clearly nothing of the sort.

And if someone wanted to say it, it would have been more credible to do so on September 2nd – not at the end of October. What is certain, however, is that those two, especially those two, were the core of the disagreement between Tudor and Comolli.

The coach had pushed to keep Kolo Muani, both for tactical continuity and because his adaptation to the system was already complete. Instead, he did not appreciate the repeated delays in negotiations, accepted David without enthusiasm, almost endured Openda’s arrival, and expressed strong doubts about Zhegrova.

Juventus expected summer signings to flourish

Once Comolli had acted, the club expected those investments, significant investments, to be valued, rather than constant tactical resets and formation changes born out of improvisation.

The change of coach at Juventus is not only about stopping the negative run of three consecutive defeats and four games without scoring. It must also redirect the club’s transfer strategy.

That does not mean forcing the new manager to rely blindly on the attackers signed in July and August. But it also cannot mean discarding them on principle or using them without a clear and coherent plan.

Roma remain joint-top of Serie A, but the lack of a reliable goalscorer at centre-forward has become a clear concern.

Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson have scored just once between them in the league, and the club are evaluating solutions ahead of January.

Joshua Zirkzee is the primary idea, as per reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The former Bologna striker has had limited minutes since joining Manchester United and is open to a return to Italy.

Roma like his ability to combine and work between the lines, but the costs of any deal remain significant.

Roma eye alternatives to Man Utd forward Zirkzee

Other names are also under consideration. Arnaud Kalimuendo (Nottingham Forest) and Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise) are being followed abroad.

Meanwhile two profiles closer to home are gaining attention: Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino and Genoa’s Jeff Ekhator, both viewed as promising long-term talents.

The final plan will depend on outgoings. If one striker leaves, Roma will likely sign one replacement; if both depart, a double move is possible.

Calcio&Finanza reports that Juventus will have to pay almost €30m to cover the salaries of their former coaches Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor, who remain under contract until June 2027.

Juventus are expected to pay almost €30m to cover the wages of sacked coaches Thiago Motta and Tudor, according to Calcio&Finanza.

How much will Motta cost Juventus until 2027?

Tudor was hired in March 2025 to replace Motta and signed a contract through 2027 after leading the club to Champions League qualification last season.

Juventus’ latest balance sheet for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, signals that the club has already set aside €16.3m to cover the salary of Motta and his staff members until June 2027.

How much Tudor’s sacking will cost Juventus

The figures regarding Tudor’s salary are not official, but it is believed that the Croat signed a €3m-a-year contract until 2027, circa €5.5m gross, which brings the spending to €11m plus wages of his staff members.

This means Juventus will have to pay over €27.3m to their ex-coaches, unless they reach an agreement to end their contracts or unless Motta and Tudor find a new club before their deals expire in 2027.

Juventus have now identified Luciano Spalletti as the ideal replacement for Tudor, and according to various sources, the Bianconeri director Damien Comolli will meet the ex-Italy boss today.

Luciano Spalletti opens up about rumours linking him with the Juventus job, saying that ‘whoever will replace Igor Tudor will be lucky.’

Spalletti is the leading candidate for the Juventus job, as multiple sources in Italy claim that he and Bianconeri director Damien Comolli will sit down today to discuss contract details with him today.

Ironically, Spalletti had already planned a meeting with the media on Tuesday morning to unveil a new advertisement in which he features alongside his former Roma star Francesco Totti.

Spalletti comments on possible Juventus appointment

The ad was released earlier this week, and Spalletti didn’t only talk about his latest sponsorship commitment.

“I feel well, I wait with serenity. I have the ambition to set things right,” the ex-Italy coach told Sky Sport via Gazzetta.

“I can only speak highly of Tudor, a serious and passionate person. Whoever will replace him will be lucky because he’ll find a well-trained team.”

Juventus confirmed Tudor’s sacking on Monday after the team lost three consecutive matches and failed to score in the last four.

Spalletti on the reunion with Totti

Spalletti also spoke about his reunion with Totti, which has made headlines in Italy because of their public dispute during the coach’s second spell at the Stadio Olimpico.

“It feels so good to sit next to Totti,” Spalletti said.

“There were some risky choices, but we spent some marvellous years together, so when Ramazzotti put us back together, I was very happy and he was quite relaxed.”

Juventus sacked Igor Tudor because of poor results and performances in recent games, but the frosty relationship between the Croat and club director Damien Comolli also played a role in the coach’s dismissal.

Juventus announced Tudor’s sacking on Monday and Juventus General Manager Comolli is set to meet Luciano Spalletti today to offer him the job at the Allianz Stadium.

Juventus have been winless since September 13, they’ve lost three games in a row and have not scored in the last four.

Naturally, results and performances in recent weeks led to Tudor’s dismissal, but there’s more behind Juventus’ decision to part ways with the Croatian tactician.

Behind Tudor and Comolli’s frosty relationship

Juventus’ transfer activity surely affected the relationship between Comolli and Tudor, given that the coach’s requests were largely ignored by the Old Lady’s general manager. Juventus didn’t sign a new central midfielder over the summer but signed instead two attacking players, Lois Openda and Edon Zhegrova, on deadline day. Furthermore, Tudor was eager to keep Alberto Costa in the team, especially after some positive performances in the Club World Cup, but Juventus still decided to swap the Portuguese right-back with his compatriot Joao Mario, who has only collected 330 minutes on the pitch across all competitions since moving to Turin.

Director of Performance

The appointment of a new Director of Performance, Darren Burgess, in September, was another decision that the club did not share with the coach. The welcome from Tudor surely wasn’t a warm one, as the Croat said “This gentleman hasn’t yet arrived at the club” when asked about Burgess’ appointment last month. Juventus had welcomed Burgess, stating that the ex-Arsenal and Liverpool staff member would “work closely with Damien Comolli, Giorgio Chiellini, François Modesto, Igor Tudor and across all the technical areas and every age group of the Club to form a high-level team dedicated to promoting excellence in performance, innovation and athlete wellbeing.” Furthermore, as first reported by Tuttosport, in recent weeks, club directors also discussed Tudor’s tactics, suggesting in one-on-one meetings that he should have considered switching to a four-man defence, a step into Tudor’s territory that the coach didn’t particularly appreciate.

Communication

Aside from results, Juventus were also not impressed by Tudor’s communication, including frequent protests towards referees. Tudor’s first complaint came after a 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona, in which the Bianconeri protested for a penalty kick in favour of their opponents and a potential red card for the Gialloblu striker Gift Orban. On that occasion, Tudor labelled the penalty kick decision as “shameful.” Tudor’s communication strategy didn’t change in the following weeks as he kept complaining about referees, and even the fixture list, before a Champions League game against Real Madrid last week, with Giorgio Chiellini, Comolli and François Modesto sitting in front of him in the first row of the press room of the Estadio Bernabeu. Ultimately, on and off-the-field issues led to the coach’s dismissal, and Juventus are now on the verge of starting a new era, with their third coach in seven months.

Juventus director Damien Comolli is set to meet with ex-Italy coach Luciano Spalletti today to offer him a contract as a replacement for Igor Tudor.

• Read more – How Juventus could line up under former Italy CT Spalletti

Multiple sources in Italy, including Gazzetta, claim that Juventus will meet with Spalletti today to discuss the contract details and the technical project following Tudor’s dismissal.

Juventus to meet Spalletti today

Football Italia exclusively reported on Monday that Juventus had established contact with Spalletti right after Tudor’s departure.

The Bianconeri have gone eight consecutive games without victories and have not scored a goal in the last four matches.

Spalletti, a Napoli Scudetto winner in 2022-23, has been without a team since June, when he was sacked by the Italian federation.

Juventus to offer Spalletti a contract until June 2026

According to Tuttosport, Spalletti will be offered a contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend in case of Champions League qualification.

Gazzetta claims that Spalletti has rejected offers from Saudi and Turkish clubs and is eager to accept the Juventus job. However, if the two parties fail to reach an agreement, Roberto Mancini and Raffaele Palladino remain possible candidates for the Old Lady.

This article was first published on The Bit Journal.

When market experts, watchers and enthusiasts speak of bull market in crypto, wild rallies, retail joy and altcoins mooning, are easily brought to mind . However, this cycle seems different. For many, the term crypto bull market no longer means euphoric highs, it feels like a grind.

The blockchains are active, big-name institutions are all in and the charts are up. But the energy and optimism of past cycles is missing. This is the backdrop that is making experts question why this crypto bull market grind has emerged, what’s shaping it and how it’s different from 2017 and 2021.

Institutions Took Over the Room

The tale around this cycle starts with institutions. Certain market reports call 2025 the year the “world went on-chain”, highlighting institutional adoption and stablecoins as the main themes. Traditional banking, asset management, and fintech firms have dabbled and built infrastructure, custody networks, and tokenization platforms.

As a recent sources put it, they say financial institutions have embraced crypto after years of watching from the sidelines.

This has changed the market. Instead of chasing altcoin hype, many big players are focused on regulated corridors, institutional custody and real-world asset tokenization.

In effect; they own the pipes through which retail traders must flow. The result therefore is that the cycle looks more like the maturation of crypto’s financial plumbing and less like the wild west of earlier years.

Memecoins Became the Culture Engine and the Drain

While institutions professionalized the space, the opposite force roared from the grassroots which are meme coins. Humor, irony and community tokens exploded across chains, changing the tone of the cycle. According to sources, what began as satire became the dominant narrative of 2024 and 2025.

Data shows meme coin market is still growing but in a weird way. In 2025, it is estimated to be 5-7% of global crypto market-cap, or $80-90 billion.

Platforms like Pump.fun on Solana enabled millions of tokens to launch, but most traders lost money while infrastructure owners made the money.

That changed the psychology of the cycle. Retail that once chased broad altcoin seasons found themselves playing mini-token launches and the odds were stacked against the individual.

The meme coin culture thrived but the era of alt-season joy became harder to sustain.

Macro Pressures Squeezed Risk Appetite

Beyond institutions and meme culture, the macro environment has had a big impact on this crypto bull market grind. High interest rates, risk-off sentiment and liquidity constraints reportedly killed speculative flows. And indeed in 2025, capital seems more expensive and speculative asset classes (many altcoins included) have fewer positive developments.

As a result,  even though Bitcoin is at new highs, the rest of the market feels flat, lethargic or brutally repressed.

The interplay of institutional adoption which favors big, regulated assets, and macro caution which limits speculative leverage has created a cycle where growth exists but feels thin, incremental and far less exciting than previous bull runs.

Bitcoin’s Role in a Changing Narrative

Bitcoin on its own stays as the anchor. According to multiple market sources, Bitcoin price appreciation and growing legitimacy are backed by macro- and regulatory-driven forces not just hype. Reports say Bitcoin is core to crypto’s maturation.

This means the crypto bull market grind is less about risk-on altcoin explosions and more about consolidation, institutional ingress and standards of infrastructure.

For many in crypto, that is less exciting, but arguably more sustainable. The sentiment has shifted as this cycle is reinforcing the system rather than igniting wild outsized alts.

Conclusion

Combining these threads, a clearer picture of why the crypto bull market grind feels so different is obtained.

Institutional adoption has increased legitimacy but also anchored expectations around regulated assets rather than speculative up-swings.

Meme coins dominate cultural narratives but the upside is skewed and the environment is highly competitive and treacherous.

Macro conditions has restrained speculative flows and forced the market into a slower growth mode.

Bitcoin’s dominance means the broader market is less about wild rallies and more about incremental infrastructure growth and asset re-classification.

In short, this bull cycle is about transition from frontier experimentation to a more integrated, regulated, infrastructure-led phase of crypto.

This removes some of the fireworks but replaces them with the architecture of a financial system. For many who came for the “number goes up” style ride, the word “grind” feels apt.

Glossary

Altcoin: Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin.

Institutional adoption: The participation of big financial firms (banks; asset managers); in crypto assets and infrastructure.

Meme coin: A cryptocurrency built around internet memes; jokes or viral culture, with little underlying use.

Macro: Broad economic factors like interest rates, liquidity; inflation and risk appetite that affect asset markets.

Tokenization: Creating digital tokens to represent ownership of real-world assets; on a blockchain.

Bull: A market where prices are up everyone is positive and more people are buying.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crypto Bull Market Grind

Why does the 2025 crypto bull market feel different from past cycles?

Because the market is being shaped by institutional infrastructure; meme coin culture and macro constraints rather than widespread retail frenzy and broad alt-season surges.

Are meme coins still important in this cycle?

Yes, they are still culturally prominent and active, but their value dynamics are different. The infrastructure around them captures most of the returns and the environment is more competitive and less favorable for the average retail trader.

Is Bitcoin dominating because of maturity rather than hype?

Exactly. Bitcoin’s increasing institutional support; regulatory clarity and role as a foundational asset means it’s less subject to wild swings and more aligned with long-term finance systems.

Does this mean altcoins are dead?

Not dead, but altcoins face a tougher environment. With less speculative capital, more scrutiny and higher expectations for utility, only those with strong fundamentals and product-market fit are likely to perform.

Read More: Crypto’s Worst Bull Run? Why 2025’s Rally Feels More Like a Grind">Crypto’s Worst Bull Run? Why 2025’s Rally Feels More Like a Grind

Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Tottenham and Bayern Munich are showing ‘real interest’ in struggling Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The Serbia international remains Juventus’ best scorer this season with four goals in 11 appearances across all competitions, but has not found the net since September 16.

Last night, he started in a 1-0 loss against Lazio, which marked Juventus’ third consecutive loss and Igor Tudor’s dismissal.

Juventus have not scored in four consecutive matches for the first time since 1991 and have gone eight games without winning for the first time since 2009.

Tudor had replaced Thiago Motta in March 2025, but it would be a mistake to consider him as only responsible for Juventus’ downfall in recent weeks.

Gazzetta noted that Juventus lack high-level players in the team and analysed the Vlahovic case.

Tottenham and Bayern Munich interested in Vlahovic

“Tudor changes the factors, but the product remains the same,” wrote Gazzetta dello Sport vice-editor Stefano Agresti.

“Juventus haven’t seen similar numbers since the Maifredi era in 1991.

“Vlahovic has lost the magic that had brought him back in harmony with the black-and-white world.

“The Serbian striker neither scores nor helps the team, sending the coach into a tailspin when it comes to choosing the formation and the focal point in attack.

“He could leave in January as Tottenham and Bayern Munich are showing real interest.”

Vlahovic set to leave Juventus in June 2026

Vlahovic’s contract at the Allianz Stadium expires at the end of the season, so the Bianconeri will be willing to listen to offers in the winter transfer window.

The Dogecoin price shows quiet strength as retail sentiment stays weak. Dormant whales accumulated 15.1 million DOGE, worth about $2.95 million, signaling renewed long-term confidence.

The move contrasts sharply with soft trading activity among small investors. Many retail holders continue to sell into every minor rally, showing limited confidence in short-term gains. The cautious behavior reflects broader market uncertainty and hesitation to buy at current levels.

Whales Reactivate as DOGE Accumulation Rises

On-chain data reveals a steady accumulation of DOGE by high-value wallets. One whale address reactivated after months of dormancy, adding 15.1 million DOGE to its holdings. 

It later sold 7,473 DOGE for about $1,450, leaving 15.19 million DOGE valued near $12.96 million. Analysts view this as a strong signal that institutional or early adopters are positioning ahead of the next market phase.

While retail traders appear cautious, large wallets are quietly adding exposure. This split in behavior highlights an ongoing tug-of-war between speculative exit and long-term accumulation.

Whale Accumulation Signals Faith

Dormant whale accumulation often precedes renewed confidence among experienced holders. These “smart money” actors typically buy when the Dogecoin price trades near historical support zones. Their activity indicates belief in a medium- to long-term recovery, even when short-term metrics appear bearish.

Also Read: Thumzup Media to Accept Dogecoin Payments for Creators in Major Crypto Integration

Whale wallets moving after long silence also suggest that value recognition is returning to the meme-coin sector. Despite a weak broader market, their actions may mark early groundwork for the next uptrend.

Weak Retail Sentiment Persists

Despite whale optimism, retail traders are doing the opposite. CryptoQuant data shows that the Spot Taker CVD remained negative through October, signaling sustained selling pressure. This metric reveals that most traders continue to execute aggressive sell orders rather than buy into dips.

Supporting this, Coinalyze data reports a persistent negative Buy–Sell Delta. Over the past 30 days, Dogecoin recorded 156.67 million in sell volume versus 154.88 million in buy volume — a net negative of 1.79 million DOGE. This imbalance confirms that retail enthusiasm has yet to return.

Technical Setup Remains Bearish

The DOGE USD price is still hovering below the main moving averages. It is bellow the 20,50,100 and 200 EMA lines which are pointing down. The Directional Movement Index supports this view, as the Positive Index is very close to 12 and the Negative was near 39.

Buyers need to break more than $0.20 (20 EMA level) for the Dogecoin price trend to become bullish. A follow-through recovery back above the 50–100 EMA zone. 

Around $0.21 is likely to pave the way for an extension of the up-move towards the $0.22 intermediate hurdle in the near-term. If it does not, the price can remain range-bound between $0.17 and $0.20 for an extended period.

Market Momentum Building Slowly

Despite the present soft performance, Dogecoin price exhibits superior resilience when compared to larger altcoins. It was up more than 2% this week compared with the CD5 index. Trading volume was 9.8% above the seven-day average, a sign of institutional participation.

The pattern suggests “early-cycle momentum building,” says market strategist Rishi Patel of Bluepool Digital. “DOGE’s resilience while Bitcoin and Ethereum consolidate suggests rotation flows are returning to higher-beta assets,” Patel said.

Chart Indicators Show Stability

Technical charts indicate that dogecoin is supported by an uptrendline, drawn from $0.1949 low on the hourly chart. Steady re-tests at $0.2060–$0.2070 support indicate buyers remain in the market daily. RSI is sitting at around 58 on the 4-hour — just like you’d expect early in a trend.

The MACD indicator remains in the positive area but starts to narrow, indicating light consolidation following an attempt to break out. This action suggests re-accumulation, not exhaustion, analysts said. The bias remains bullish with sustained closes above $0.2085.

What Lies Ahead for Dogecoin Price

But if buyers take over, Dogecoin price may rise towards $0.22 and then at the end of this week or next, to $0.25 ahead of new conditions next month. But an inability to take out the resistance levels may extend sluggishness. 

Although most long-term holders still talk about DOGE as a speculative — yet resiliently decentralized– digital asset. Its strong community and growing whale interest keeps its story running even in slow markets.

Conclusion

The Dogecoin price narrative today is emblematic of the quiet confidence beneath the surface. Whales that were previously dormant are accruing millions, while retail traders are even hopping out.

Technicals are still cautious, momentum indicates slow-building recovery. If DOGE can break above $0.20 and maintain, that will signify its next leg. For the time being, the whales seemed to be gambling that patience would pay.

Also Read: Dogecoin Price Calm May End Soon as Analysts Eye $0.5 Breakout

Appendix: Glossary of Key Terms

Whale: A name for someone holding a large quantity of cryptocurrency who is able to manipulate the market.

Dormant Wallet: A cryptocurrency or blockchain wallet that has gone dormant, and is either empty or contains an insignificant sum of cryptocurrency.

On-Chain Data: Information written to a blockchain itself, which can be utilized to track wallet movements, transactions and the general health of network.

Retail Traders: Small, individual investors usually trading in small quantities who generally follow the short-term market favourite.

Spot Taker CVD: A measure of trading that compares volumes of buying and selling in the spot market, with negative values indicating pressure to sell.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dogecoin Price

1- Is the Dogecoin price bullish or bearish?

Short-term signals remain bearish, but whale accumulation hints at early bullish positioning.

2- Why are whales buying Dogecoin?

Dormant wallets suggest long-term investors see value at current levels and expect gradual recovery.

3- What price levels should traders watch?

Key resistance sits at $0.20 and $0.21. A breakout above $0.2085 could confirm new upside momentum.

4- Are retail traders supporting the move?

Not yet. Retail sentiment remains weak, with net selling pressure persisting for most of October.

Read More: Dogecoin Whales Accumulate 15 Million DOGE as Retail Traders Exit the Market">Dogecoin Whales Accumulate 15 Million DOGE as Retail Traders Exit the Market

Multiple sources claim that Luciano Spalletti and Raffaele Palladino are the leading candidates to replace Igor Tudor, who was sacked by Juventus this morning.

Spalletti and Palladino are the frontrunners for the Juventus job, according to various sources, including Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto.

Palladino and Spalletti linked with Juventus job

Spalletti was sacked by the Italy national team in June, while Palladino left Fiorentina by mutual consent at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Juventus confirmed Tudor’s sacking with an official statement on Monday morning after the team had lost three consecutive matches and failed to score in the last four.

Juventus have interim coach for Udinese game

Juventus also confirmed that Massimiliano Brambilla, the NextGen coach, will lead the team in the next two days and be in charge when the Old Lady host Udinese in the next Serie A game on Tuesday.

Tudor has won 10 of his 24 matches as Juventus coach. He was appointed in March 2025 to replace Thiago Motta.

Both coaches remain under contract at the Allianz Stadium until June 2027.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus have sacked their coach, Igor Tudor, with an official statement expected later today.

• Official statement: Juventus have sacked Tudor

Tudor is no longer the Juventus coach, and the Croatian tactician has already been informed about the club’s decision, according to Gazzetta.

Juventus sack Tudor

The pink paper claims that Juventus will confirm Tudor’s sacking with an official statement later today.

According to the report, Juventus NextGen boss Massimo Brambilla will likely lead the team as an interim coach in a Serie A game against Udinese in just two days.

Reports in Italy on Monday morning suggested Juventus would wait until the next match to sack Tudor, but the situation has evolved since.

Tudor’s poor results at Juventus

Juventus have lost their last three games and have not scored in their last four outings.

Furthermore, they have gone eight consecutive matches without winning.

Fabrizio Romano confirms that Juventus have already decided to sack Tudor and will now make the formal steps forward to relieve him from his duties.

Tudor was appointed in March 2025 to replace Thiago Motta. Both Motta and Tudor are under contract with Juventus until 2027.

Correctly calling a market peak is a notoriously tricky endeavor.

Case in point: When tech stocks and startup funding hit their last cyclical peak four years ago, few knew it was the optimal time to cease new deals and cash in liquidatable holdings.

This time around, quite a few market watchers are wondering if the tech stock and AI boom has reached bubble territory. And, as we explored in Friday’s column, there are plenty of similarities between current conditions and the 2021 peak.

Even so, by other measures we’re also in starkly different territory. The current boom is far more concentrated in AI and a handful of hot companies. The exit environment is also much quieter. And of course, the macro conditions don’t resemble 2021, which had the combined economic effects of the COVID pandemic and historically low interest rates.

Below, we look at four of the top reasons why this time is different.

No. 1: Funding is largely going into AI, while other areas aren’t seeing a boom

Four years ago, funding to most venture-backed sectors was sharply on the rise. That’s not the case this time around. While AI megarounds accumulate, funding to startups in myriad other sectors continues to languish.

Biotech is on track to capture the smallest percentage of U.S. venture investment on record this year. Cleantech investment looks poised to hit a multiyear low. And consumer products startups also remain out of vogue, alongside quite a few other sectors that once attracted big venture checks.

The emergence of AI haves and non-AI have-nots means that if we do see a correction, it could be limited in scope. Sectors that haven’t seen a boom by definition won’t see a post-boom crash. (Though further declines are possible.)

No. 2: The IPO market is not on fire

The new offering market was on fire in 2020 and 2021, with traditional IPOs, direct listings and SPAC mergers all flooding exchanges with new ticker symbols to track.

In recent quarters, by contrast, the IPO market has been alive, but not especially lively. We’ve seen a few large offerings, with CoreWeave, Figma and Circle among the standouts.

But overall, numbers are way down.

In 2021, there were hundreds of U.S. seed or venture-backed companies that debuted on NYSE or Nasdaq, per Crunchbase data. This year, there have been less than 50.

Meanwhile, the most prominent unicorns of the AI era, like OpenAI and Anthropic, remain private companies with no buzz about an imminent IPO. As such, they don’t see the day-to-day fluctuations typical of public companies. Any drop in valuation, if it happens, could play out slowly and quietly.

No. 3: Funding is concentrated among fewer companies

That brings us to our next point: In addition to spreading their largesse across fewer sectors, startup investors are also backing fewer companies.

This year, the percentage of startup funding going to megarounds of $100 million or more reached an all-time high in the U.S. and came close to a record global level. A single deal, OpenAI’s $40 billion March financing, accounted for roughly a quarter of  U.S. megaround funding.

At the same time, fewer startup financings are getting done. This past quarter, for instance, reported deal count hit the lowest level in years, even as investment rose.

No. 4: ZIRP era is long gone

The last peak occurred amid an unusual financial backdrop, with economies beginning to emerge from the depths of the COVID pandemic and ultra-low interest rates contributing to investors shouldering more risk in pursuit of returns.

This time around, the macro environment is in a far different place, with “a “low fire, low hire” U.S. job market, AI disrupting or poised to disrupt a wide array of industries and occupations, a weaker dollar and a long list of other unusual drivers.

What both periods share in common, however, is the inexorable climb of big tech valuations, which brings us to our final thought.

Actually, maybe the similarities do exceed differences

While the argument that this time it’s different is a familiar one, the usual plot lines do tend to repeat themselves. Valuations overshoot, and they come down. And then the cycle repeats.

We may not have reached the top of the current cycle. But it’s certainly looking a lot closer to peak than trough.

Related Crunchbase query:

• Rounds Raised By Startups Using AI

Related reading:

• The Great ‘AI Bubble’ Debate
• The Last Market Boom Ended 4 Years Ago. Here’s How Current Conditions Look Similar
• Biotech Share Of US Funding Hits Lowest Point In Crunchbase History
• Cleantech On Track For Weak Funding Year
• A Record Share Of Startup Funding Is Going To $100M+ Rounds
• SoftBank And OpenAI Make History With Largest Startup Financing Ever

Illustration: Dom Guzman

Elia Caprile proved once again today that he is a great goalkeeper and Cagliari made a wise decision demanding at least €18m to sell in the summer, as now he’ll be worth more.

The shot-stopper made some more incredible saves in the 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona today at the Stadio Bentegodi, keeping his team in the game for their late comeback against the run of play.

Cagliari President Tommaso Giulini had bought him outright from Napoli for €8m and the idea was to sell, but only if a big offer came along, just like the one they accepted from Fiorentina for Roberto Piccoli.

Impressive Caprile will cost the big clubs

Caprile was given a price-tag of no less than €15-18m to even consider a transfer, and as nobody turned up with that kind of money, Giulini was happy to keep the goalkeeper.

His performances have been remarkable so far this season, as not a week goes by without some extraordinary saves hitting the headlines, and his consistency is so impressive.

Caprile only celebrated his 24^th birthday a couple of months ago, and it’s easy to assume the step up to the next level has only been delayed a little bit.

Now a few big clubs have already set their sights on a goalie who is destined to be a protagonist in the next transfer sessions.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had been linked with a return to Serie A, above all for Juventus, but the ex-Lazio midfielder has renewed his contract with Al-Hilal.

The official announcement came from the Saudi Pro League side today, confirming what had been reported by our Sportitalia colleague Gianluigi Longari on October 17, who knew the rumours of an Italian comeback were unlikely to come true.

Milinkovic-Savic always a tough candidate for Juventus

It would’ve been a tough move to make work for a number of reasons, none more so than the head-spinning salary the Serbian commands at Al-Hilal.

He has also been reunited at the club with coach Simone Inzaghi, who had already worked with him closely during their time together at Lazio.

 

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Milinkovic-Savic was one of the first to truly believe in the ambitious projects in Saudi Arabian football, and the investments continue to keep building those plans.

Juventus did have a real chance of tempting him before the move to Al-Hilal was made, but had to surrender when faced with the sheer figures on offer.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has proven, once again, that he has become a giant for Napoli, not only with his crucial goal against Inter on Saturday evening, but also through his performances, showing that he can flex his muscles and walk the walk. 

Napoli got it spot on with Anguissa

The Cameroon international was on the scoresheet, restoring Napoli’s two-goal lead in their 3-1 victory over Inter on Saturday evening, which has sent the Partenopei back up to the top of the Serie A standings after eight matches. 

Anguissa, towards the end of last season, had a moment of hesitation, considering potential opportunities elsewhere after having helped Napoli to two Scudetti within the last three years. 

In the end, his desire was to stay on with Napoli, where he has proved himself as a key player under Antonio Conte, despite the arrivals of Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne over the last two years. 

And so, his contract was extended, and is now set to expire in 2027. This was the perfect outcome for Napoli, and it comes as a reward for Anguissa’s unquestionably key performances over the last few seasons. 

Anguissa is becoming an increasingly key figure within Partenopei circles, and a renewal could not have been any more appropriate. 

Juventus have been taking positive steps forwards in their attempts to hand a new contract extension to star attacker Kenan Yildiz, who has been subject of interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the last few weeks, including Real Madrid. 

Yildiz, Juve’s posterboy and star of the Turkey national team at the age of 20, has been in talks over a new contract extension, which is expected to come with a significant increase in salary, reflective of his recent performances in Serie A and the Champions League. 

Yildiz is already tied to the club until the summer of 2029, but is expected to pen a one-year extension until 2030 with a salary offer that will make him one of the highest earners within the squad. 

Gazzetta: Juventus taking positive steps in Yildiz talks

Juventus are also hoping that a new contract will also fend off interest from the likes of Real Madrid, who are reportedly prepared to offer staggering fees in order to sign Yildiz from the Bianconeri. 

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus have taken ‘positive steps’ towards a contract extension for Yildiz in recent days. 

The player’s mother and father, along with his agent, have been called into Continassa to discuss Yildiz’s future with general manager Damien Comolli over the last week. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Juventus are prepared to offer Yildiz a salary in the region of €5m to €6m per season, which will make one of the highest earners in the current Juventus squad. Only the recent free agent Jonathan David and fellow centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic earn above the €6m-per-season mark in net salary in the current Juventus set-up. 

Nearly four years ago, the market hit a cyclical peak under conditions that in many ways look quite similar to what we’re seeing today.

Sky-high public tech valuations. Booming startup investment. Sharply rising valuations. And, a few cracks emerging on the new offering front.

Sure, there are quite a few differences in the investment environment, which we’ll explore in a follow-on piece. For this first installment, however, we are focusing on the commonalities, with an eye to the four highlighted above.

No. 1: Sky-high public tech valuations

First, both then and now, tech stocks hit unprecedented highs.

In mid-November 2021, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index hit an all-time peak above 16,000. Gains stemmed largely from sharply rising tech share prices.

Today, the Nasdaq is hovering not far below a new all-time high of over 23,000. The five most valuable tech companies have a collective market cap of more than $16 trillion. Other hot companies, like AMD, Palantir Technologies and Broadcom have soared to record heights this year.

While private startups don’t see day-to-day valuation gyrations like publicly traded companies, their investors do take cues from public markets. When public-market bullishness subsides, private up rounds tend to diminish as well.

No. 2: Booming startup investment

In late 2021, just like today, venture investment was going strong.

Last time, admittedly, it was much stronger. Global startup funding shattered all records in 2021, with more than $640 billion invested. That was nearly double year-earlier levels. Funding surged to a broad swathe of startup sectors, with fintech in particular leading the gains.

For the first three quarters of this year, by contrast, global investment totaled a more modest $303 billion. However, that’s still on track for the highest tally in years. The core driver is, of course, voracious investor appetite for AI leaders, evidenced by OpenAI’s record-setting $40 billion financing in March.

The pace of unicorn creation is also picking up, which brings us to our next similarity.

No. 3: Up rounds and sharply rising valuations

At the last market peak, valuations for hot startups soared, driven in large part by heated competition among startup investors to get into pre-IPO rounds.

This time around, we’re also seeing sought-after startups raising follow-on rounds in quick succession, commonly at sharply escalated valuations. Per Crunchbase data, dozens of companies have scaled from Series A to Series C within just a couple of years, including several that took less than 12 months.

We’re also seeing prominent unicorns raising follow-on rounds at a rapid pace this year. Standouts include generative AI giants as well as hot startups in vertical AI, cybersecurity and defense tech.

No. 4: A few cracks emerging

During the 2021 market peak, even when the overall investment climate was buzzier than ever, we did see some worrisome developments and areas of declining valuations.

For that period, one of the earlier indicators was share-price deterioration for many of the initial companies to go public via SPAC. By late 2021, it had become clear that there were numerous “truly terrible performers” among the cohort, including well-known names such as WeWork, Metromile and Buzzfeed.

This time around, the new offerings market hasn’t been quite so active. But among those that did go public in recent months, performance has been decidedly mixed. Shares of Figma, one of the hottest IPOs in some time, are down more than 60% from the peak.

Online banking provider Chime and stablecoin platform Circle have shown similar declines.

At this point, these are still generously valued companies by many metrics. But it’s also worth noting the share price direction in recent months has been downward, not upward.

Next: Watch for more cracks

Looking ahead, one of the more reliable techniques to determine whether we are approaching peak or already past is to look for more cracks in the investment picture. Are GenAI hotshots struggling to secure financing at desired valuations? Is the IPO pipeline still sluggish? Are public tech stocks no longer cresting ever-higher heights?

Cracks can take some time to emerge, but inevitably, they do.

Related reading:

• Global Venture Funding And Unicorn Creation In 2021 Shattered All Records 
• Q1 Global Startup Funding Posts Strongest Quarter Since Q2 2022 With A Third Going To Massive OpenAI Deal  
• Highest Count Of New Unicorns Join Crunchbase Board In Over 3 Years As Exits Also Gain Steam
• These Are The Speediest Companies To Go From Series A To Series C
• Truly Terrible Performers Multiply Among Startups Taking SPAC Route To Market

Illustration: Dom Guzman