🟠 Bitcoin surges 5.88% in a single session, short squeeze underway
Bitcoin climbed 5.88% in one session, pushing back toward its 2026 highs above $80,000 as a short squeeze added momentum to the move.
The rapid advance liquidated overleveraged short positions, amplifying the rally. Technical indicators suggest the move has extended into overbought territory in the near term.
🔐 UAE and Sweden bust $7.1M crypto laundering network
Police in the UAE and Sweden have arrested seven people after investigators traced cryptocurrency transactions through an international money laundering network allegedly handling 70 million Swedish krona ($7.1 million).
The network had financial links to organized crime and murder-for-hire operations. Crypto transaction tracing was central to the investigation, allowing authorities to map the flow of funds across borders and identify suspects in both countries.
KuCoin is giving away 233,333 MCAT through a new Learn & Earn campaign.
🎁 Reward: 5–21 MCAT
💰 Current value: ~$2–$8.50
⏰ Ends: September 24, 08:00 UTC
⚡️ First come, first served
💸 No trading requirement for the Learn & Earn activity
How to participate:
• Read the MarsCat learning content
• Complete the quiz
• Complete the required task
• Claim your MCAT reward
MCAT is already listed on KuCoin and withdrawals are open.
🔐 Malware uses signed Microsoft tools to hijack crypto wallet extensions
A malware campaign dubbed "Needle Stealer" is targeting browser-based crypto wallets by secretly replacing legitimate extensions with malicious versions, using signed Microsoft software to evade detection.
The attack vector involves fake AI-themed crypto software that, once installed, deploys the malware against seven browser wallet extensions. Coinbase and MetaMask were not among the wallets breached in the reported incidents.
By leveraging legitimately signed Microsoft binaries, the malware bypasses standard security checks — a technique known as living-off-the-land — making it harder for antivirus tools to flag the threat. Browser wallet users are among the most exposed, as the attack silently swaps extensions without triggering visible alerts.
🪙 Robinhood CEO Hails SEC Ruling on Tokenized Stock Trading
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has declared "Tokenization is coming to America" following a landmark SEC ruling that greenlights 24/7 blockchain-based stock trading.
The decision marks a significant regulatory shift, opening the door for traditional equities to be traded around the clock on blockchain infrastructure — a model that crypto-native platforms have long advocated for. Robinhood, which has been expanding its crypto and Web3 offerings, is among the firms positioned to benefit from the new framework.
The SEC ruling represents one of the most consequential intersections of traditional finance and blockchain technology to date, potentially reshaping how retail and institutional investors access equity markets.
🧩 Kraken Parent to Launch Regulated Onchain Perpetuals in the US
Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, announced on September 16 plans to deploy the first regulated onchain perpetual futures markets for U.S. clients, using the decentralized trading protocol Hyperliquid.
The initiative would mark a notable step toward bringing regulated derivatives infrastructure onchain in the U.S. market. The launch remains subject to regulatory approval.
Bitcoin developers are moving to address the threat posed by advancing quantum computing, which could undermine the asymmetric cryptography securing the network after 2030.
According to data shared by Bitcoin developer Christine Kim, quantum computers are progressing rapidly enough to potentially break current cryptographic protections within the decade. The development is pushing digital networks to accelerate security upgrades.
Developers have unveiled a quantum-resistant roadmap aimed at hardening Bitcoin's cryptographic infrastructure ahead of the projected threat window, as the broader crypto industry weighs the timeline for transitioning to post-quantum security standards.