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Valuation

OpenAI Tops SpaceX as World’s Most Valuable Private Company With $500 Billion Valuation

by admin October 3, 2025

In brief

OpenAI’s $6.6 billion employee share sale valued the firm at $500 billion.
The Sale makes OpenAI the world’s most valuable private company, topping SpaceX.
Secondary deal aids staff retention amid Meta’s nine-figure pay offers.

OpenAI has overtaken SpaceX to become the world’s most valuable private company after a $6.6 billion employee share sale at a $500 billion valuation—the milestone underscoring the investor frenzy fueling the artificial-intelligence boom.

According to a Bloomberg report, the secondary sale lets current and former staff who had held shares for at least two years sell stock to a handful of companies, including Thrive Capital, SoftBank Group, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, and T. Rowe Price.

The deal marks OpenAI’s second major tender offer in under a year, following a $1.5 billion SoftBank transaction last November. In January, the Japanese conglomerate was reportedly in talks to earmark up to $25 billion for OpenAI.

SoftBank’s U.S.-traded shares (SFTBY) rose 1.7% to $66.04 on Thursday after news of the OpenAI share sale, reflecting investor enthusiasm for its AI-linked deals.

The $500 billion figure reflects a steep rise for OpenAI from earlier in the year, when the ChatGPT developer was valued at $300 billion following a $40 billion funding round led by Softbank in March. With this latest move, the company now sits ahead of SpaceX—whose own valuation is estimated near $400 billion—putting OpenAI at the top of the private company universe.

Despite scrutiny around the rollout of GPT-5, investor confidence remains undimmed. In September, OpenAI and Nvidia unveiled a strategic infrastructure partnership: OpenAI plans to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia systems, and Nvidia will invest up to $100 billion progressively as each gigawatt is deployed. Jensen Huang described it as part of “bringing AI infrastructure from the labs into the world.”

It also coincides with the ongoing Stargate partnership between OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle to build out America’s AI infrastructure backed by the Trump Administration.

The sale also gives employees liquidity that could help the company fend off nine-figure pay packages from rivals such as Meta, which is aggressively hiring for its new Superintelligence Labs.

The timing also coincides with structural moves at OpenAI. The company lifted its capped-profit limit in May, all the while facing continued legal pressure from Elon Musk. An OpenAI co-founder, Musk has sued the company on multiple occasions. Musk has accused OpenAI of abandoning its original nonprofit mission and allegedly attempting to steal xAI data and trade secrets.

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October 3, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Tether’s Half-Trillion Valuation Goal Catches Ark Invest’s Attention

by admin September 27, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Tether, the company behind the widely used USDT stablecoin, is said to be in talks for one of the biggest private fundraisings in crypto history.

According to multiple reports, the firm is exploring a $15 billion to $20 billion equity raise that could value the company at about $500 billion if the deal is priced at the levels under discussion.

Funding Targets And Valuation

Based on reports, Tether is looking to sell roughly a 3% stake in the deal, which is how the $500 billion figure is being calculated.

The plan, as reported, would involve new shares rather than existing owners selling down their holdings. The raise size under discussion — $15–$20 billion — would make this one of the largest private placements seen in the crypto sector.

Tether’s Major Funding Round May Include SoftBank Group and Ark Investment Management

According to @Bloomberg, @SoftBank_Group and Ark Investment Management are in talks to participate in a funding round of @Tether_to Holdings SA. The round could value Tether at as much as $500… pic.twitter.com/gSmzdf2RJ0

— ME (@MetaEraHK) September 26, 2025

Tether’s USDT token currently has a market cap roughly in the $170 billion to $175 billion range, highlighting why investors are watching the talks closely.

The company has expanded its activities beyond issuing stablecoins and is said to be moving into areas such as cloud services, telecom and real estate investments.

Potential Backers Join Talks

Reports have disclosed that Ark Investment Management, led by Cathie Wood, and SoftBank are among the parties exploring a stake in the round.

Cantor Fitzgerald is named as an adviser on the process. None of the interested firms, including Tether, has confirmed a final agreement publicly, and those discussions are described as early-stage.

Total crypto market cap currently at $3.72 trillion. Chart: TradingView

Why would big investors consider this? For one, Tether generates revenue from interest on its reserves, largely held in US Treasuries. One report said Tether made about $13.4 billion in profit last year from such returns.

The company also serves roughly 500 million users worldwide, and USDT remains a major on-ramp between fiat currency and crypto assets such as Bitcoin and Ether.

Regulatory And Profit Details

Past scrutiny over reserve disclosures and other controversies means any major investment will draw extra attention from regulators.

Observers note that a lofty private valuation could amplify those concerns, especially as Tether moves toward broader business lines and prepares a US-focused stablecoin product reportedly called USAT.

Cantor Fitzgerald’s role and the involvement of big-name investors would likely intensify the public and regulatory spotlight.

Talks could still fall apart or change shape. Based on reports, the numbers are ambitious and represent the top end of what Tether is said to be seeking. Investors and regulators are watching closely as details emerge.

Featured image from Stake, chart from TradingView

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Kraken In Investment Talks, Targeting $20B Valuation Ahead of IPO: Report

by admin September 27, 2025

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Crypto exchange Kraken is reportedly in talks with a strategic investor to raise capital that pushes its valuation to $20 billion ahead of a potential initial public offering (IPO). This development comes amid the crypto firms’ IPO frenzy in the US under a rather supportive administration of President Donald Trump.

Kraken Stays Focused, Follows $500M Raise With New Funding

On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Kraken has begun advanced negotiations to boost its value to $20 billion as part of fundraising efforts in view of a planned IPO. Impressively, this move follows a recent $500 million raise, which took Kraken’s valuation to $15 billion.

Bloomberg first reported on Kraken’s IPO valuation in March 2025, stating the exchange was targeting a public listing in the first quarter of 2026. Beyond capital raising, the US-based trading platform has displayed other behaviors seen in IPO preparation, such as financial statement disclosure.

Furthermore, Kraken has also expanded its product line beyond digital asset trading to include access to stocks and exchange-traded funds. While the reported funding talks remain in progress. Bloomberg expects a $200 to $300 million commitment according to sources familiar with the matter, allowing Kraken to potentially reach its target $20 billion valuation ahead of 2026.

The media house also reports that the crypto exchange has engaged the advisory services of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in regard to this planned IPO. Kraken is now expected to soon file an S-1 registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, as expected of any entity aiming to launch a public offering.

Crypto IPO Frenzy Continues

Kraken joins a growing list of crypto/blockchain firms seeking public funding. In 2025 alone, four other companies, namely USDC issuer Circle, blockchain lender Figure, and exchanges Bullish and Gemini, have successfully launched IPOs, indicating a significant step-up in wider investors’ interest in digital asset-focused firms.

This public market approach is widely buoyed by the pro-crypto policies of Trump. Notably, the Republican has upheld promises of creating a friendly regulatory environment for digital assets operations, as indicated by strategy changes by regulators, including the SEC and CFTC.

The 47th US President has also popularly established a Federal Bitcoin Reserve, prompting similar actions from state governments. In terms of regulations, Trump also famously signed the GENIUS Act into law, creating a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance, operations, and use.

At press time, the total crypto market cap is valued at $3.73 trillion following the market crash seen in the last week. Notably, there has been a slight recovery of 1.11% in the past 24 hours.

Total crypto market cap valued at $3.73 trillion on the daily chart | Source: TOTAL chart on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Flickr, chart from Tradingview

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Kraken Secures $500 Million In Latest Funding Round, Boosting Valuation To $15B

by admin September 27, 2025

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US-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has successfully closed a $500 million funding round, achieving a valuation of $15 billion, as reported by Fortune. This significant milestone comes as the company gears up for its anticipated initial public offering (IPO), which is expected to take place next year.

Kraken’s Valuation Rises To $15 Billion

In July, The Information reported on Kraken’s intentions to raise this substantial amount, and recent updates confirm that the funding round was finalized this month without a primary investor.

Instead, Kraken set the terms of the deal, including the valuation figure. Among the contributors to this funding round were various investment managers and venture capitalists, notably including the exchange co-CEO Arjun Sethi’s Tribe Capital, as well as Sethi himself in a personal capacity.

This latest valuation marks a notable increase from the $11 billion the exchange reached in 2022, when it raised an undisclosed sum. Kraken has demonstrated strong financial performance in recent years, reporting $1.5 billion in revenue for 2024, with an additional $472 million generated in the first quarter of 2025.

Currently, the exchange handles an impressive daily trading volume of $1.37 billion, making it the second largest in the United States after Coinbase (COIN), which already went public back in April, 2021.

Crypto IPO Boom

The crypto landscape has experienced a notable shift this year, as investor sentiment has evolved from a period of exuberance in 2021 to a more cautious approach.

However, the appetite for public offerings among crypto firms has resurged, driven by favorable regulatory developments. This shift has sparked a wave of IPO activity in the cryptocurrency sector with Circle (CRLC), and Bullish (BLSH), capitalizing on the rising interest toward crypto stocks.

In addition to its funding success, Kraken is aggressively expanding its services beyond traditional cryptocurrencies. The company has ventured into tokenized stocks, positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging market.

Furthermore, it recently acquired the US-regulated retail futures trading platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, with plans to extend its reach into the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Earlier in the year, Kraken also acquired a Cyprus-based company to secure a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license, enabling it to offer derivatives across the European Economic Area (EEA).

On the political front, Kraken has committed to donating $2 million to two pro-crypto political action committees (PACs), reinforcing its dedication to advocating for privacy and innovation rights in the United States.

Co-CEO Arjun Sethi emphasized the ongoing battle for the future of cryptocurrency in the US, noting a significant shift in the political climate from “fear to understanding” throughout 2025.

The daily chart shows the total crypto market capitalization currently at $3.7 trillion. Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com

Featured image from Bloomberg, chart from TradingView.com

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Kraken Raises $500M at $15B Valuation Amid Rising IPO Buzz: Report

by admin September 26, 2025

Kraken has reportedly raised $500 million at a $15 billion valuation, strengthening its financial position amid growing speculation that the cryptocurrency exchange is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO).

The funding was first reported by Fortune, which cited a source close to the negotiations in a profile on co-CEO Arjun Sethi. The source claimed that Kraken closed the round earlier this month.

When contacted by Cointelegraph for confirmation, a Kraken representative declined to comment.

The raise and valuation are broadly in line with Cointelegraph’s reporting in July, which revealed that Kraken was seeking $500 million at a $15 billion valuation — a move widely interpreted as a step toward IPO readiness.

Source: Cointelegraph

While Kraken has not filed any regulatory paperwork for a public listing, several of its actions appear consistent with IPO preparation, including enhancing financial disclosures. However, the company has yet to submit an S-1 registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a necessary step for any US public offering.

Founded in 2011 and launched in 2013, Kraken is one of the industry’s oldest operating exchanges. It processed roughly $1.9 billion in trading volume over the past 24 hours, ranking among the top 15 global crypto exchanges, according to CoinMarketCap.

Related: Ether supply on exchanges hits 9-year low amid ‘Wall Street glow up’

Crypto IPO mania grows

Kraken’s reported interest in a public offering comes amid a wave of crypto firms heading to public markets with remarkable success.

Gemini, the exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, was over 20 times oversubscribed in its Nasdaq debut, raising $425 million. Since going public earlier this month, its market capitalization has swelled to over $2.8 billion.

Source: Cointelegraph

Circle, the issuer of USDC (USDC), completed a billion-dollar IPO in June, with shares surging 167% on opening day. The company now commands a valuation of roughly $31.4 billion.

Figure Technology Solutions, a blockchain-based lender, also staged a blockbuster debut. Its shares jumped over 20% when trading began in September, lifting its market cap above $8.4 billion.

Meanwhile, BitGo, a leading crypto custodian with over $90 billion in assets, has filed S-1 registration documents with the SEC as it seeks to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

The IPO rush comes amid a backdrop of favorable regulatory developments in the United States, including the passage of the GENIUS stablecoin bill and progress on market structure and anti-CBDC legislation, which together have provided greater clarity for the digital asset industry.

Related: US lawmakers challenge SEC on Tron IPO, press for probe into Justin Sun

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September 26, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Kraken secures $500M funding at $15B valuation ahead of IPO

by admin September 26, 2025

Kraken has secured fresh funding at a $15 billion valuation, boosting its war chest as it eyes a 2026 initial public offering.

Summary

Kraken raised $500M at a $15B valuation with Tribe Capital backing.
The exchange reported strong revenue growth in H1 2025, nearly double 2024.
IPO plans have been pushed to 2026 as Kraken expands into tokenized assets.

According to a Sept. 25 Fortune report, the round closed this month without a single lead investor, with Kraken itself setting the terms. Participants included investment managers, venture capitalists, and CEO Arjun Sethi’s Tribe Capital, as well as Sethi in a personal capacity.

The exchange, founded in 2011, has now raised over $527 million in total funding, following its initial $27 million investment.

Kraken’s strong financials amid IPO delay

The funding round comes as Kraken prepares for a public listing, now expected in 2026. Investors were drawn to the company’s steady profitability. It reported $411 million in revenue and nearly $80 million in post-EBITDA earnings in the second quarter.

Kraken’s valuation places it among the industry’s most valuable private exchanges, second only to Coinbase. The firm has been expanding through acquisitions, including the $1.5 billion purchase of NinjaTrader earlier this year, which added two million customers. It has also rolled out new products such as tokenized stocks, or “xStocks,” aimed at bridging crypto with traditional markets.

Leadership and strategy

Since cofounder Jesse Powell left his position as CEO of Kraken in 2022, Sethi has played a key role in leading the company. The co-founder of Tribe Capital and venture capitalist has stressed the importance of establishing Kraken as a center for tokenized assets and institutional trading.

Under his direction, Kraken has entered the retail market and increased the scope of its institutional offerings, such as advanced APIs and derivatives. But the shift has also been accompanied by executive turnover and internal restructuring, which have sparked worries about morale and management style.

Market backdrop

Kraken’s funding comes amid a resurgence of cryptocurrency IPOs, with Circle, Gemini, and Bullish having already listed this year. The company’s choice to hold off until 2026, however, raises questions because a change in the market cycle could reduce investor interest in cryptocurrency stocks.

Analysts note that Kraken’s established reputation and diversified revenue sources put it in a stronger position than many of its rivals to weather volatility. The $500 million round shows that investors remain confident as the exchange prepares for its next phase of growth.

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September 26, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Stablecoin Titan Tether Seeks $500 Billion Valuation on $20 Billion Raise: Report

by admin September 24, 2025

In brief

Tether is seeking to raise up to $20 billion, according to a report.
The private raise could give the stablecoin issuer a valuation of $500 billion.
AI giant OpenAI and Elon Musk’s SpaceX have received similar valuations.

Stablecoin giant Tether Holdings is hoping to raise up to $20 billion in a private placement that could give the company a monetary value of up to $500 billion, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing two unnamed sources.

The valuation would cast the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin, into the ranks of artificial intelligence developer OpenAI and Elon Musk’s space transport company SpaceX, which received similar valuations.

El Salvador-based Tether is aiming to raise $15-$20 billion for an approximate 3% stake, Bloomberg reported, although an additional source said that the range was a goal and could be much lower. The sources said discussions were in the initial stages and that the deal could change.

The announcement is the latest evidence of the rising significance of stablecoins, a result of the friendlier political and regulatory environment in the U.S. under the Trump administration, including the Genius Act greenlighting the issuance and trading of stablecoins.

During a White House visit in July shortly before the passage of the legislation, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, told Decrypt of the firm’s plans to create USAT, a U.S.-specific stablecoin catering to different use cases than USDT, the company’s flagship stablecoin. In September, the company named Bo Hines, former executive director of the White House’s digital assets working group, to serve as USAT’s CEO.

Earlier in the summer, stablecoin rival Circle listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock’s debut outpaced those of tech behemoths Meta, Robinhood, and Airbnb, nearly quadrupling its initial offer price of $31. The company currently has a valuation above $30 billion, according to Yahoo Finance data.

Tether has a market cap of $172 billion, more than double Circle’s $74 billion value, according to crypto data provider CoinGecko.

On Tuesday at a conference in Seoul, Hines said during an interview that Tether has no plans to raise money, Bloomberg reported. The deal would involve new shares, not current investors selling their equity. Investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald is serving as the lead adviser.

In recent weeks, potential investors have received access to a data room as they consider their participation, the publication reported, which added that a deal is expected to close by year’s end.

According to its own attestation in July, Tether issued $20 billion in USDT through the first six months of the year and generated a net profit of $5.7 billion over this period, including $4.9 billion in its second quarter alone. The firm counts Bitcoin and gold among its holdings.

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September 24, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Tether Looking to Raise Upto $20B, Bringing its Valuation to $500B: Bloomberg

by admin September 23, 2025

Stablecoin giant Tether is looking to raise between $15 billion and $20 billion for about a 3% stake in the company through a private placement, Bloomberg reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The massive raise would bring its valuation to around $500 billion, putting it in the same league as OpenAI and SpaceX, Bloomberg reported. Tether would be issuing new equity, and Cantor Fitzgerald is acting as lead adviser.

Tether’s USDT has market cap of around $172.8 billion, making it the largest among stablecoins. Circle, which recently went public in the U.S., is the issuer of USDC, which has the second-largest market cap of $74 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.

The report of the raise comes as Tether recently reported $4.9 billion in net profit in the second quarter and held over $162.5 billion in reserves against $157.1 billion in liabilities. It also holds about $8.9 billion in bitcoin in its reserves.

Bloomberg said that the talks of the deals are in early stages, and the final numbers of the raise could be significantly lower. According to the report, prospective investors have been given access to a data room over the past few weeks to facilitate the deal.

CoinDesk has requested Tether for comments.

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September 23, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) Leads $104M Zerohash Round, Pushing Crypto Firm to $1B Valuation

by admin September 23, 2025

ZeroHash, a crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider, has raised $104 million in a Series D-2 round led by Interactive Brokers (IBKR), valuing the company at $1 billion.

The raise included new participation from Morgan Stanley (MS), Apollo-managed funds, SoFi (SOFI), Jump Crypto, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, FTMO, IMC and Liberty City Ventures, alongside existing backers PEAK6, tastytrade, and Nyca Partners, the company said in a press release Tuesday.

The fresh capital brings ZeroHash’s total funding to $275 million and will fuel product expansion, talent growth, and its ambition to become “the AWS of on-chain infrastructure,” CEO and founder Edward Woodford said in the release.

The raise marks the first crypto and stablecoin investments for several big players, signaling growing demand from financial institutions to build on-chain solutions at scale.

Founded in 2017, Zerohash provides APIs and embeddable developer tools that enable financial institutions and fintechs to offer crypto, stablecoin and tokenization products.

Its platform already powers solutions for Interactive Brokers, Stripe, BlackRock’s BUIDL fund, Franklin Templeton and DraftKings, serving more than 5 million users across 190 countries.

The fundraising comes as demand for enterprise-grade crypto infrastructure grows, with more financial institutions seeking to offer tokenized assets, stablecoins and on-chain settlement at scale.

Read more: Morgan Stanley Crypto Trading Ambitions Drawing Nearer: Bloomberg

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September 23, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Morning Minute: Polymarket Token Speculation Soars Along with $10B Valuation

by admin September 17, 2025

Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. Subscribe to the Morning Minute on Substack.

GM!

Today’s top news:

Crypto majors mostly flat into FOMC, Bitcoin leads +1% to $116,300
Binance in talks with US DOJ to end its compliance monitor
Bank of America says 67% of fund managers hold 0 crypto
Trump suing NY Times for $15M saying they hurt the TRUMP meme
Tether co-founder launches STBL, token soars to $1.7B fdv in debut

🔮 Polymarket Token Incoming?

The world’s biggest prediction market is flirting with a token.

And it’s doing it while eyeing a stratospheric new valuation, rolling out earnings markets with Stocktwits, and prepping a regulated U.S. return.

📌 What Happened

Polymarket’s recent SEC filings hinted at “other warrants” which typically indicate a token.

This has led to broad speculation of a Polymarket token in the works.

And the token speculation comes just days after multiple outlets reported that Polymarket has raised a fresh round that could value the company as high as $9B–$10B.

A massive jump from the ~$1B valuation discussed in June.

That’s a lot of big money news, coming along with major fundamental progress:

Regulated U.S. comeback: After acquiring CFTC-licensed QCEX and receiving staff relief, CEO Shayne Coplan says the platform has the “green light” to go live in the U.S.
New product + distribution: Polymarket launched public-company earnings prediction markets and became the official prediction-markets partner of Stocktwits, bringing live probabilities to Stocktwits’ 10M+ users
Volume check: Volumes are coming in around ~$250M/week and consistently at the $1B/month mark

The $10B raise makes a bit more sense with that backdrop.

🗣️ What They’re Saying

“Polymarket has been given the green light to go live in the USA by the @CFTC. Credit to the Commission and Staff for their impressive work.” – Shayne Coplan, CEO, on X (Sep 3)

“Prediction markets transform uncertainty into clarity by turning big questions-like earnings-into simple, tradable outcomes with transparent pricing.” – Matthew Modabber, CMO, Polymarket, on the Stocktwits partnership.

“Polymarket is the largest prediction market in the world, and the U.S. needs access to this important platform.” – Donald Trump Jr., as Polymarket added him to its advisory board following 1789 Capital’s investment.

🧠 Why It Matters

A token would formalize community upside.

If a Polymarket token launches, it turns users into owners, likely deepens liquidity across markets, and enables new incentive design (e.g., fee shares, staking for dispute resolution, or market-maker rewards).

Timing-wise, it makes sense.

They have more momentum than ever with the combination of regulatory approval, new product verticals (earnings markets), sports markets catching fire (see Kalshi’s latest volume surge) and a general explosion in prediction market interest.

And just the hint of a token is enough to steal market share and attention from their rival Kalshi (which has flipped Polymarket in volume as of late).

All being equal, users will trade on the apps that have the best lines, market and/or best UX.

With token incentives in the mix, the decision of which app to use has a heavily weighted new factor.

So expect Polymarket volumes and attention to boom here in the near future.

As for its token, it’s tough to value. Polymarket is a true unicorn. And without them taking a fee, there is no revenue model to use.

It wouldn’t be crazy at all to think a Polymarket token would fetch $5B-$10B upon its debut.

Maybe we’ll find out this year…

🌎 Macro Crypto and Memes

A few Crypto and Web3 headlines that caught my eye:

Crypto majors are mixed ahead of FOMC, BTC leads; BTC 1% at $116,300, ETH even at $4,500, XRP -1% at $3.01, SOL -1% at $234
MYX (+56%), IP (+10%) and HYPE (+5%) led top movers
The Bitcoin ETFs saw another $292.3M in net inflows, continue 7-day inflow streak
Bank of America reported that 67% of fund managers hold no crypto and only 8% have started structural crypto investments
Binance is in talks with the U.S. DOJ about ending its compliance monitor, per Bloomberg
Trump is suing the New York Times for $15B, claiming that reporting hurt his TRUMP meme coin
The Ethereum exit queue has swollen to ~2.5M ETH with waits >46 days, the longest yet
Santander’s Openbank turned on crypto trading in Germany under MiCA, with Spain up next
UBS, Sygnum and PostFinance pilot what they call the first interbank settlement using deposit tokens on a public chain
Galaxy Digital plans a tokenized money-market fund spanning Ethereum, Solana and Stellar
The UK is expected to announce tighter crypto-oversight coordination with the U.S., according to the Financial Times
Over $3,000,000,000 in USDT was minted onchain in the past 4 days

In Corporate Treasuries / ETFs

Forward Industries (FORD) announced a $4B ATM program to buy more SOL after just buying $1.6B in SOL
SharpLink (SBET) bought just 900 ETH in the past week though it did buy 1M shares back
Bitwise filed for an Avalanche ETF as XRP and Dogecoin ETFs near launch

In Memes

Memecoin leaders are mostly flat; DOGE even, Shiba even, PEPE +1%, PENGU +1%, BONK +2%, TRUMP -1%, SPX +1%, and FARTCOIN +1%
KIND (+33%) and 67 (+350%) lead notable onchain movers

💰 Token, Airdrop & Protocol Tracker

Here’s a rundown of major token, protocol and airdrop news from the day:

Tether co-founder launched STBL as a new stablecoin protocol focused on yield, touted as “stablecoins 2.0”
Pump.fun bonding curves had their highest day of volume in 7 months
Circle bought HYPE and signaled it may run a Hyperliquid validator alongside new USDC tooling on HyperEVM
LimeWire bought the Fyre Festival brand and hinted at token and NFT hooks for a rebooted event
OpenSea clarified that its “final pre-TGE phase” would have multiple seasons

🤖 AI x Crypto

Section dedicated to headlines in the AI sector of crypto:

Overall market cap +1% at $13.75B, leaders were mixed
FARTCOIN (+1%), VIRTUAL (-1%), TIBBIR (+12%), aixbt (even) & ai16z (+1%)
SNAI (+23%), BIOS (+21%) and IRIS (+18%) led top movers
Virtuals announced it’s more than software, plans to fuel “the next wave of robotic agents”
Google debuted an open-source AI payments protocol with stablecoin support, with input from Coinbase and Salesforce

🚚 What is happening in NFTs?

Here is the list of other notable headlines from the day in NFTs:

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September 17, 2025 0 comments