Whales Sell, Regulators Pivot, Tether Shoots for $500B

Bitcoin's stuck while whales cash out, the CFTC wants to let stablecoins power Wall Street's derivatives, and Tether is eyeing a $500 billion valuation.

If you want to see where the pressure points—and the opportunities—really are, this is the week to pay attention.

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Market-Moving News

This isn't about price ticks—it's about power plays. Whales, regulators, and stablecoin giants are each pulling different levers, and together they could rewrite the rules of the market.

If you want to know where the next breakout or breakdown starts, these are the sparks to watch.

Markets

Bitcoin Stalls Around $112K as Whales Lead Wave of Selling

Bitcoin is stuck in the $110,000–$120,000 range as whales dump coins into the market.

Glassnode data shows every wallet cohort, from small holders to 10,000+ BTC giants, is in distribution mode.

The biggest whales are leading the selling spree, offloading aggressively after a year of accumulation.

Long-term holders are also easing their grip, with 1+ year supply falling from 70% to 60%.

Two-year holders are cashing in too, their share sliding from 57% to 52% as profit-taking ramps up.

The three-year group has dropped to 43%, reflecting steady selling since late 2024.

These groups include investors who loaded up in the 2022 bear market at $15,500, now realizing gains at much higher prices.

Their exits are adding a consistent supply to the market.

Five-year-plus holders remain steady, signaling that the most committed investors aren't budging.

This suggests that only newer cycle holders are contributing to the sell pressure.

The sell-off comes as gold and US equities hover near record highs, leaving Bitcoin out of sync with traditional assets.

Traders face a market where profit-taking outweighs fresh accumulation.

Take: Profit-taking is natural, but seeing every cohort selling adds weight to the current ceiling.

For you, it's a reminder that whales still move the market, and their exits can cap rallies even when momentum feels strong.

Regulation

CFTC Pushes to Allow Stablecoins as Derivatives Collateral

The CFTC is moving to let stablecoins and tokenized assets serve as collateral in derivatives markets.

Acting chair Caroline Pham said the plan reflects that "tokenized markets are here, and they are the future."

Stablecoins like USDC and USDT could soon be treated like cash or US Treasurys in regulated trading.

The public has until October 20 to provide feedback on the proposal.

Industry leaders are lining up in support. Executives from Circle, Tether, Ripple, Coinbase, and Crypto.com all praised the initiative as a game-changer.

Circle president Heath Tarbert called stablecoins the "killer app" for collateral management.

He said using USDC could lower costs, reduce risk, and unlock global liquidity 24/7.

Ripple's Jack McDonald said the plan would put stablecoins at the "heart of regulated financial markets."

Clear valuation, custody, and settlement rules could give institutions confidence to dive in.

The effort follows the GENIUS Act, signed by President Trump in July, which set the stage for regulated payment stablecoins.

The SEC is also exploring innovation exemptions to ease compliance for crypto firms.

Take: If stablecoins become collateral in derivatives, it would lock them deeper into global finance.

For you, it signals stablecoins aren't just trading chips anymore—they're evolving into critical financial infrastructure.

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Stablecoins

Tether Seeks $20B Raise at $500B Valuation

Tether is exploring a raise of $15–$20 billion for a 3% stake, valuing the company near $500 billion. That would place it alongside giants like OpenAI and SpaceX in market value.

Cantor Fitzgerald is advising on the private placement, still in early stages.

Prospective investors have been given access to a data room over the past few weeks.

Tether's growth has been staggering, with USDT's market cap at $172.8 billion. By comparison, Circle's USDC sits at $74 billion, the next largest stablecoin.

The company reported a $4.9 billion profit in Q2 and holds $162.5 billion in reserves against $157.1 billion in liabilities. It also owns about $8.9 billion in Bitcoin.

Bloomberg noted the final raise amount could end up smaller, but the valuation target is significant. Tether hasn't commented publicly on the report.

The push for funding comes as stablecoins face greater scrutiny but also rising mainstream demand.

A half-trillion-dollar valuation would cement Tether's dominance in digital dollars.

Take: Tether chasing a $500B valuation highlights just how central stablecoins have become.

For you, it's a signal that whether you trust them or not, stablecoins are now competing in the same league as tech titans.

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Future Forward

The market's biggest wins don't come with sirens and confetti—they creep in while everyone's staring at the loudest headlines.

By the time the crowd catches on, the sharpest traders are already counting their chips.

Momentum isn't magic—it's about spotting the quiet buildup before it flips the chart.

If you can see where the current is flowing early, you're not just riding waves—you're steering the ship.

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Crypto Know-How: What Is Chainalysis?

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It's the same tech regulators and law enforcement use to fight scams and crime in crypto.

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Every cycle leaves a trail of clues—tiny shifts in flow, whispers of demand, sudden jolts of liquidity.

Everything Else

• Aster shocked the market with a 33,500% surge in open interest to $1.25 billion, briefly topping Hyperliquid in daily perpetual volumes.

• Vitalik Buterin warned that closed digital systems in health, finance, and governance breed monopolies, pushing instead for open-source, verifiable infrastructure.

• Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin is now integrated into BlackRock and VanEck tokenized funds, giving investors a 24/7 stablecoin off-ramp for treasuries.

• Chainalysis says Japan doubled its crypto adoption over the past year, thanks to favorable tax and policy shifts, with stablecoins leading the charge across APAC.

• The ECB's digital euro won't likely launch before 2029, as political delays push Europe's CBDC project further behind global rivals.