Crypto Morning News: SEC Approves BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Options Trading, USDT Market Cap Hits Record High

Author: TechFlow

Weekend Market Updates

SEC Approves Options Trading for BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF

According to official news, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved Nasdaq to list and trade options on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). The options will be physically settled using American-style exercise, allowing holders to exercise their rights at any time before expiration. Nasdaq stated that IBIT options will follow the same rules and trading procedures as other ETF options. The listing is subject to the exchange's initial and ongoing listing standards, including requirements that the underlying securities must have substantial public float and active trading.

Hamster Kombat Airdrop Sparks Player Backlash; Only 88.75% of Tokens Claimable on Day One

According to Decrypt, Telegram-based game Hamster Kombat will launch its token on September 26. Per the official announcement, players can claim only 88.75% of their HMSTR tokens on the first day, with the remaining 11.25% locked for 10 months until July 2025. This detail was not previously disclosed to players, becoming one of the main reasons for dissatisfaction. Additionally, players are unhappy with the airdrop allocation weightings, particularly the high emphasis placed on friend referrals and obtaining keys—mechanics introduced later in the game. To maintain player engagement, the development team has launched a simplified "Interlude Season" to fill the gap between Season 1’s end and Season 2’s start.

Harris Voices Support for AI and Crypto Industries for the First Time

According to The Block, U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made her first public remarks on the cryptocurrency industry during a fundraising event on Wall Street in New York. As reported by Bloomberg journalist Jennifer Epstein, Harris outlined her vision for an “economy of opportunity,” stating: “To build this economy of opportunity, I will bring together labor, small businesses, founders, innovators, and large corporations. We will invest together in America’s competitiveness and future. We will encourage the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital assets, while protecting consumer and investor rights. We will create a safe business environment with consistent and transparent rules.”

Crypto VCs Raise Over $2.2 Billion in New Funding This Year, DePIN Emerges as New Focus

According to PitchBook data, as of August 2024, crypto venture capital firms have raised over $2.2 billion in new funding through closed funds. In just the past few weeks, at least six VCs have collectively raised more than $500 million, including ParaFi Capital’s $120 million fund, Borderless Capital’s $100 million fund, Hack VC’s $77 million fund, and Robot Ventures’ $75 million fund. Additionally, Dragonfly Capital is seeking to raise $500 million and has reportedly already achieved half of that target.

VENOM, YGG, AGIX, ENA and Other Tokens Face Major Unlock Events This Week; VENOM Unlock Worth ~$26.1 Million

According to Token Unlocks data, several tokens including VENOM, YGG, AGIX, and ENA are set to undergo major unlock events this week:

• Venom (VENOM): Approximately 235 million tokens will unlock on September 25 at 16:00 Beijing time, representing 12.66% of current circulating supply, valued at around $26.1 million.
• Yield Guild Games (YGG): Around 14.08 million tokens will unlock on September 27 at 22:00 Beijing time, representing 3.65% of current circulating supply, valued at approximately $6.4 million.
• SingularityNET (AGIX): About 8.19 million tokens will unlock on September 28 at 08:00 Beijing time, representing 1.63% of current circulating supply, valued at roughly $5.8 million.

USDT Market Cap Surpasses $119 Billion, Reaching All-Time High

According to CoinGecko data, USDT’s market cap has surpassed $119 billion, reaching $119.13 billion—an all-time high. Meanwhile, the total stablecoin market cap stands at $172.085 billion, up 0.82% over the past seven days, with USDT holding a market share of 69.25%.

Binance Founder CZ Expected to Be Released on September 29, Currently Undergoing Assessment at Reentry Facility

U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons data shows that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is currently undergoing assessment at a Residential Reentry Management (RRM) facility in Long Beach, California. If all goes smoothly, CZ is expected to rejoin society on September 29. RRM, also known as a "halfway house," serves as a bridge between federal prisons and local judicial authorities, providing transitional support for inmates nearing release. During CZ’s incarceration, Bitcoin’s price has fluctuated by over $20,000. When CZ entered prison in April, Bitcoin briefly reached a high of $71,000, then dropped below $50,000, and has now rebounded to $63,192.

Solana Breakpoint 2025 to Be Held in Abu Dhabi from December 11–13 Next Year

According to SolanaFloor, Solana Breakpoint 2025 will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from December 11 to 13 next year.

Pyth Launches Oracle Integrity Staking (OIS), Introducing On-Chain Staking Rewards and Slashing Mechanism

Pyth announced the launch of Oracle Integrity Staking (OIS), an upgraded mechanism designed to enhance data source reliability and strengthen the security of the DeFi ecosystem. OIS introduces on-chain staking rewards and slashing mechanisms to incentivize publishers and PYTH holders to participate in staking and safeguard oracle network integrity. Publishers are rewarded for providing high-quality data and penalized for inaccurate submissions. Additionally, PYTH holders can stake and delegate to publishers to boost returns. Pyth DAO will oversee key updates and parameter adjustments for OIS.

Arthur Hayes: Reducing PENDLE Position to Fund Special Situations, Still Among Top Holdings

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, posted on X that his family office fund is reducing its PENDLE holdings. However, even after the reduction, PENDLE remains one of its largest positions. Hayes stated, “We still fully believe PENDLE will become the leader in crypto interest rate derivatives. We’re trimming our position to fund special situations. Those tracking our wallet will see specifics soon.”

Coinbase Plans to Bring cbBTC to Solana

At Solana Breakpoint 2024 in Singapore, Hassan Ahmed, Coinbase’s Head of Southeast Asia, announced that Coinbase plans to bring its issued cbBTC token to the Solana ecosystem—a move aimed at promoting integration between Bitcoin and high-performance public blockchains. cbBTC is an ERC20 token backed 1:1 by Bitcoin held at Coinbase and is already deployed on the Base chain.

Market Data

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