THORChain launches ZEC liquidity pool, with native Zcash transactions entering the next phase.

According to Forbes, Citigroup analysts have raised their 12-month Bitcoin price target from the prior $82,000 to $113,000, and projected Ethereum prices will surpass $3,000. The analysts pointed out that increasing allocations to crypto assets among investment advisors and brokerages will drive more capital into Bitcoin ETFs, forecasting that roughly $5 billion in inflows could come to Bitcoin ETFs in the near term. Currently, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs hold around $110 billion in assets under management (AUM) and approximately 1.3 million Bitcoin, with BlackRock’s IBIT holding over 800,000 of those coins. Citi noted that as institutional allocation capital continues to flow in, inflows to Bitcoin ETFs are expected to rise further.

NFT project Pudgy Penguins has announced that its limited collaboration collection with creative studio LINE FRIENDS is now officially on sale. The line includes plush toys, blind boxes, and collectible merchandise, with a focus on availability at LINE FRIENDS stores in Asian cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul. It is also sold online via Pudgy Penguins’ official store, LINE FRIENDS’ Douyin and Tmall flagship stores, and official mini-programs.

On October 2, BNB Plus Corp issued an announcement stating it is adjusting its strategic direction, shifting from a pure digital asset treasury model to an operational infrastructure business that provides technical support for digital assets and artificial intelligence applications. The company also noted it plans to unlock the asset value of its LineaRx business unit. It will formulate an asset monetization plan, though the announcement did not disclose specific monetization methods, timelines, or related amounts.

Cboe is seeking to revamp the trading of the VIX, Wall Street’s fear gauge, shifting it from traditional term-based products to a sustainable trading model by exploring trading mechanisms similar to those in crypto markets. This move indicates that traditional financial markets may further adopt the continuous trading model used in crypto markets.

Aave founder Stani Kulechov has released a statement expressing disappointment with the European Central Bank (ECB) and European Banking Authority (EBA)’s responses to the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) consultation. He noted that the two authorities not only advocate banning yields on stablecoin payments, but also propose restricting crypto asset service providers (CASPs) from granting users access to decentralized finance (DeFi) channels—including yield protocols involving stablecoins not authorized under MiCA—without clarifying a concrete implementation framework. Kulechov added that the proposals suggest limiting DeFi user access via so-called "appropriateness tests" and are considering introducing a certification system for DeFi lending protocols. He argued that if regulators decide which protocols are suitable for European users, it could lead to more closed DeFi ecosystems, eroding the open finance network’s liquidity and network effects. Stated Kulechov, excessive restrictions could increase barriers to innovation and slow the development of open, transparent, and auditable financial infrastructure. He believes stablecoins, DeFi, and tokenized securities have the potential to reduce frictions in financial services, enhance transparency, and expand users’ access to financial opportunities, calling on European regulators to place users and their interests at the core of the regulatory framework. Finally, he concluded: “DeFi will ultimately prevail.”

Trust Wallet announced via an official post that it has become the inaugural partner of Ondo’s Incentive Program (OIP). Users who swapped or held Ondo RWA assets through Trust Wallet this year can check their eligibility for rewards; qualified users may claim BLKH tokens on BNB Chain. Full eligibility criteria and claim details are available on Trust Wallet’s official page.