Vision Chain marks Bitpanda’s entry into blockchain infrastructure as it prepares for a potential stock market debut in 2026. The network is aimed at banks, asset managers, fintech companies, and developers. It’s designed to help tokenize real-world assets across Europe. Vision Chain is a Layer-2 blockchain built on Ethereum. Bitpanda developed it with the Vision Web3 Foundation and blockchain provider Optimism. The network gives financial institutions a place to issue and settle tokenized assets while meeting regulatory requirements.

Bitpanda launches its Vision Chain for tokenization

The development follows European Union financial rules, including the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, and the Digital Operational Resilience Act. All fees on the network are paid using euro-backed stablecoins that meet regulations. For Vision Chain, transactions don’t settle directly on Ethereum. They get bundled on the Layer-2 level first, then sent to Ethereum in batches through what’s called a rollup.

This makes transactions much faster and cheaper than on Ethereum itself while keeping the security of the main chain. Existing Ethereum applications and smart contracts still work because Vision Chain uses the same technical standard. Vision Chain uses Ethereum-standard smart contracts and has identity verification built into the blockchain. Issuers can control how their tokens get transferred and used.

The network has the Vision Token, issued by the Vision Web3 Foundation, which runs the ecosystem. Part of the network’s revenue buys back Vision tokens and takes them out of circulation. The idea is that more network activity helps the ecosystem’s value. “Today we still talk about digital assets, but in the future, virtually all assets will probably be digital. Tokenization will fundamentally transform capital markets,” said Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Bitpanda’s CEO.

The launch comes as Bitpanda grows its institutional business. Earlier this month, the company introduced Bitpanda Enterprise, which combines institutional custody, trading liquidity, payment solutions, and asset tokenization tools for banks and financial firms. Bitpanda reported €371 million in adjusted revenue for 2025, up 16% from the year before. Users grew 25% to 7.4 million registered accounts. The company has over 700 employees.

As reported by Cryptopolitan previously, Bitpanda is preparing for a possible IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the first half of 2026. The company is looking at a valuation between €4 billion and €5 billion. Peter Thiel, the venture capitalist behind Facebook and PayPal, is among its investors.

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The platform’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, took to X to highlight Polymarket’s near-perfect predictions at the awards. He said, “The single most mainstream prediction market integration to date. Polymarket called 26/28 winners right.” The milestone comes as Polymarket expands beyond entertainment into real-world economic forecasting.

Polymarket makes its entrance at the Golden Globes

According to reports, Polymarket partnered with Parcl, a data firm that tracks daily home values. The partnership will allow users to wager on whether housing prices in major US cities will rise or fall. The two firms recently announced that they will collaborate to enable users to bet on their predictions for median prices in cities such as Miami and Los Angeles.

These markets will close on February 1, with winners determined using Parcl’s daily price index. However, according to Polymarket, new housing prediction markets will be introduced every month, allowing people to continue trading based on fresh data. In his post, Coplan noted that there’s still plenty of work to do in helping people understand why market-based forecasts matter.

Nonetheless, Koplan described the Golden Globes’ partnership as “a surreal moment and a highlight for all our team members’ moms.” Some X users were genuinely surprised at how accurate the prediction platform was, with others encouraging more mainstream adoption. However, the integration also drew in a flurry of critical posts.

One user, Josh Billinson, remarked, “The Golden Globes Best Podcast odds presented by Polymarket are a new low for this humiliating awards show.” Another commenter urged the public to resist the prediction platforms, referring to them as “pocket casinos,” while others even questioned the legitimacy of the award show.

Prediction markets platforms face criticisms

The criticism builds on recent concerns surrounding Polymarket and other prediction markets, after the controversial Venezuela-related bet. An anonymous bettor correctly called the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s downfall just hours ahead of his capture and pocketed more than $400,000. His earnings triggered concerns about insider trading.

New York Democrat Ritchie Torres even proposed a 2026 bill that would ban government officials and staff from trading on prediction markets using insider information. The bill, the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026, would prevent officials from using nonpublic government information to place bets on prediction markets.

In addition, the platforms have also faced resistance from U.S. states. For starters, Tennessee regulators issued cease-and-desist letters last week to Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com, targeting their allegedly unlicensed sports betting operations. The mandates require the firms to discontinue sports contract offerings, cancel pending contracts, and return all funds to customers by January 31.

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While PwC Italy has used blockchain solutions in many instances, SKChain Advisors has a strong record for guiding and advising projects in the Web3 industry. Both firms have already moved forward with their plans to implement the SSI system for the European market. The next step is to move forward with a product that will provide access to traditional services and Web3 platforms.

The EU wants to use SSI as the standard for digital identity

Governments across the world are exploring SSI, with major companies and Web3 projects also looking at it. According to PwC, it is the next stage of digital identity. In the future, there will be a space for blockchain identity solutions after the EU released its MiCA regulations, which includes the EU digital identity wallet.

SKChain and PwC are also betting on SSI becoming the default identity standard for Web2 and Web3 applications. This will allow enhanced data privacy in the decentralized digital world. Marco Folcia, the financial services transformation leader hailed the new technology.

“Digital Identity will be pivotal in revolutionizing how we secure and authenticate personal information,” she said. Folcia added that as digital identity systems like the EUDI Wallet are developed, they need to be built in a way that protects privacy, offers a great user experience, and provides transparency using blockchain technology.

Moreover, the eIDAS 2.0 regulation and EUDI Wallet will change how businesses interact with customers “while leaving users able to control their data and seamlessly access their preferred online and offline services.”

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The acquisition on February 4 increased the national Bitcoin supply to 6,067 BTC, with a current market value of over $616 million. This acquisition comes amid a shift in the country’s Bitcoin policies following an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

El Salvador expands Bitcoin holdings despite IMF agreement.

The Central American nation has been steadily accumulating Bitcoin, initially following a policy of purchasing one BTC daily. The company demonstrates increased Bitcoin investment tendencies by purchasing more than twenty bitcoins weekly. El Salvador purchased Bitcoin only one day after completing a $1.4 billion agreement with the IMF, while the IMF demanded Bitcoin policy modifications.

The transaction binds Bitcoin to non-status as a national currency while making Bitcoin exchange use optional for all citizens. The agreement states that Bitcoin transactions become voluntary and requires the state to reduce its Bitcoin oversight while also making the Chivo wallet system privately owned. El Salvador has expanded its Bitcoin investment, although the nation has altered specific aspects of its crypto strategy.

Mixed reactions to El Salvador’s Bitcoin strategy

The country’s bitcoin investment has prompted ongoing discussions between financial institutions, economic experts, and crypto analysts. Bitcoin adoption through financial inclusion helps El Salvador become a leader in digital asset integration because it creates economic diversification. Several participants expressed concerns about the uncertainties of market fluctuations and regulatory conditions.

Financial stability issues caused concern at the IMF, while various worldwide financial institutions worried about Bitcoin’s effects on stability. Despite international concerns, El Salvador accumulates Bitcoin assets because the government believes in its future advantages. The government continues to invest funds because it understands Bitcoin represents an essential piece of its financial approach, even with outside opposition.

Bitcoin is no longer legal tender but remains an accepted payment option

Following the IMF agreement, El Salvador’s congress passed a reformed Bitcoin Act that removes BTC’s status as legal tender. The new law clarifies that Bitcoin is not considered a national currency, but transactions in BTC remain permissible if both parties agree. Businesses are no longer required to accept Bitcoin, and the cryptocurrency cannot be used for tax payments.

Although Bitcoin no longer holds legal tender status, the government’s recent purchases indicate that it remains an integral part of El Salvador’s financial framework. While the long-term effects of this strategy remain uncertain, the country’s commitment to Bitcoin continues despite policy changes.

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This event is anticipated to strain the blockchain’s infrastructure considerably, as Hamster Kombat boasts a monthly active user base of 100 million. The TON community has been alerted to prepare for potential operational challenges during this high-traffic period.

Urgent preparations for validators

In anticipation of the increased load from the Hamster Kombat token mint, TON has advised its validators to remain on standby from September 26 through September 29. Validators are encouraged to follow the TonStatus channel on Telegram for prompt communication regarding network conditions and necessary responses. The announcement emphasizes the urgency of this situation, advising validators to act quickly in response to any requests during this critical time.

The TON team has indicated that emergency measures may arise, and validators are expected to closely monitor their hardware and overall validator status throughout the token mint period. The anticipation surrounding the Hamster Kombat airdrop is unprecedented, with projections of it being the largest in cryptocurrency history. Hamster Kombat has amassed over 300 million accounts, contributing to its substantial active user base, which includes approximately 32 million daily users.

Concerns over network capacity

The scale of the Hamster Kombat project raises significant questions about TON’s capacity to handle the impending influx of transactions. The mini-game currently features 55 million bound wallets, prompting concerns regarding the blockchain’s ability to support many simultaneous users. Previous experiences indicate potential vulnerabilities; the network faced significant downtime in August due to traffic from the DOGS memecoin launch. This incident resulted in operational disruptions lasting approximately seven hours.

During that period, major exchanges such as Binance and ByBit temporarily suspended withdrawals and deposits involving the TON network due to transaction surges. The DOGS launch led to over 20 million transactions in just two days, illustrating the network’s susceptibility to sudden increases in activity. The upcoming Hamster Kombat token mint is expected to generate even more transactions, raising the stakes for the TON blockchain.

Future network improvements

In response to the challenges faced during the DOGS memecoin frenzy, TON developers announced plans to enhance the network’s decentralized penalty system. These improvements aim to identify underperforming validators better and promote overall stability within the TON ecosystem. With the impending Hamster Kombat token mint, these updates will be crucial in managing the anticipated surge in network activity.

As the launch date approaches, the TON community remains vigilant. The stakes are high, with millions of users potentially interacting with the blockchain concurrently. The success of the Hamster Kombat token mint could determine the future stability and scalability of the TON network, underscoring the importance of effective preparedness and robust infrastructure. In the coming days, users and developers will closely monitor the blockchain’s ability to withstand this increased load.

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ETH saw a 16% increase over the last week, returning from a prolonged sell-off. Despite this rebound, the cryptocurrency remains 22% lower over the past 90 days. For large holders of Ethereum, this price surge may represent a timely exit strategy.

Dormant whale moves 3.5K ETH

According to on-chain data from Spot On Chain, two major Ethereum whales transferred 8,510 ETH, valued at approximately $21.9 million, to multiple centralized exchanges in the past 24 hours. One of the key players is an Ethereum ICO participant who moved 3,510 ETH, worth around $9.04 million, after three months of dormancy. 

Despite this large transfer, the whale still holds a significant amount, with approximately 136,000 ETH, worth $358 million, spread across eight wallets. This particular whale initially acquired 150,000 ETH during Ethereum’s ICO, buying the cryptocurrency at $0.31 per token. In June, the same whale deposited 10,000 ETH to Kraken, which resulted in a drop in Ethereum’s price.

Genesis trading moves Its holdings

Another significant Ethereum holder identified in the recent transactions is linked to Genesis Trading. The wallet associated with Genesis moved 5,000 ETH, valued at approximately $12.9 million, to centralized exchanges. This move follows a series of large transfers by the crypto lender in August, when it shifted 16,000 BTC and 166,000 ETH, worth $1.1 billion and $521 million, respectively.

Genesis Trading’s transfers appear related to its efforts to repay creditors. The company faced financial strain after lending to the now-defunct Three Arrows Capital, a loan that led to claims exceeding $3 billion from creditors, including Gemini and Cumberland. Genesis Trading still holds 162,000 ETH despite these repayments, valued at $423 million.

ETH trading volume spikes

In the last 24 hours, Ethereum’s price has risen by 2.5%, with its trading volume surging by 52%. At the time of writing, ETH is trading at an average price of $2,654. As market participants watch closely, large Ethereum holders’ movements drive significant activity, potentially influencing the short-term outlook for the cryptocurrency.

This increased whale activity raises questions about the sustainability of Ethereum’s recent price surge as large holders continue to move their assets to exchanges, possibly preparing for further selling.

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Since its launch in 2014, The Sims 4 has grown through 16 expansion packs and over 60 smaller downloadable content (DLC) packs. With the upcoming “Life and Death” expansion set to release on October 31, EA actively seeks input on what themes and gameplay elements players want to see next. The survey’s results may shape the direction of future expansions as the company continues to invest in enhancing the player experience.

Cyberpunk theme among potential expansions

One of the standout themes from the EA survey is a potential Cyberpunk-inspired expansion. This futuristic concept would immerse players in advanced technology, cybernetics, and high-tech environments. Players could explore new careers and hobbies, such as robot battles or customizing cybernetic features for their Sims. This theme could take inspiration from popular sci-fi works like Blade Runner, emphasizing the complex interactions between humans and machines.

The Cyberpunk concept is one of 12 potential themes EA is considering, showcasing the company’s intent to push the boundaries of gameplay by introducing futuristic and innovative ideas to The Sims 4.

Life stage expansions considered for future content

In addition to the Cyberpunk theme, EA’s survey hints at expansions focusing on different life stages within the game. These themes may center around childhood, teenage, and elderly experiences, broadening the game’s exploration of human life. While The Sims 4 has already introduced expansions such as Growing Together in 2023 and the High School Years expansion in 2022, there has yet to be content dedicated exclusively to elderly Sims. This survey suggests that EA may address this gap shortly.

The player community has long requested more diverse life stage content, and this survey indicates that EA is seriously considering expanding on these ideas, potentially bringing more depth to different phases of life within the game.

Other expansion concepts on the horizon

Beyond life stages and futuristic worlds, the survey also includes a range of other potential DLC concepts. Among them is a retro-themed world set in the late 20th century and expansions focusing on modern monarchy, ocean landscapes, and travel vans. Additionally, EA is considering a post-apocalyptic fantasy world and a noir-inspired underground expansion that delves into organized crime and darker storylines.

While these ideas are still in the early stages and may not all make it to production, they reveal EA’s ambition to introduce new and unique content continually. The survey provides a glimpse into the types of expansions that could further enrich The Sims 4, catering to a wide variety of player interests. As EA continues prioritizing player feedback, the company has indicated no plans for a fifth Sims game. These potential expansions are crucial to the future of The Sims 4 as the game continues to evolve and expand.

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The available USDT supply on Toncoin expanded above 1B tokens. | Source: Tokenterminal

TON’s stablecoin supply crosses the major threshold

The TON blockchain now holds over $1 billion worth of USDT, making it a key platform for stablecoin transactions. Reports indicate the maximum authorized USDT supply on TON ranges between $668 million and $729 million, with daily transfer volumes between $100 million and $300 million. The demand for TON as a stablecoin platform surged throughout September, with USDT supply growing from 579 million to over 1 billion tokens.

Since its launch as a native asset in April, USDT’s liquidity on TON has expanded rapidly, primarily driven by micropayments, decentralized trading, and other use cases. Despite concerns about illegal activity on the platform, TON continues to attract users and liquidity providers.

DeFi ecosystem growth boosted by USDT

USDT is playing a vital role in expanding TON’s decentralized finance ecosystem. The network’s total value locked (TVL) previously approached $1 billion, though it has since adjusted to $402.96 million as of September 2024. The most significant activity comes from decentralized exchanges (DEX) like Ston. Fi and DeDust, which manage about $320 million in liquidity.

To further stimulate activity, the TON team has allocated 5 million USDT to incentivize liquidity providers. This incentive primarily focuses on key trading pairs, including Toncoin (TON) and its staked forms against USDT. The staking process, facilitated through platforms like Tonstakers and Bemo, offers an additional boost to the ecosystem’s growth. Plans are also in place to expand DeFi offerings, including lending and yield farming.

Toncoin Shows Resilience After Market Fluctuations

Toncoin (TON) has been experiencing some recovery after recent price fluctuations, with the asset trading above $5.60. The blockchain has faced challenges in recent months but managed to maintain stability, especially after gaining liquidity through USDT. Although TON has struggled to reach the $6 level in the past month, it has retained much of its value over the past year.

Toncoin’s open interest declined to $255 million, down from $280 million the previous week. Long positions remain dominant, but long liquidations have exceeded $321,000 on Binance, compared to $169,000 in short liquidations. Despite the volatility, the TON network draws significant attention, especially after the Binance listing in August. With the DeFi space growing, TON’s expanding role in stablecoin usage and decentralized trading shows its potential for long-term sustainability in the market.

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SG Forge’s decision to integrate EURCV on Solana marks a strategic move. The stablecoin will offer ultra-low transaction fees and rapid processing times, enhancing the user experience for institutional and retail participants. Thanks to the network’s proven scalability and low costs, the deployment on Solana is expected to support wider adoption.

Benefits of EURCV on Solana

The introduction of EURCV on the Solana network highlights the various benefits the stablecoin will bring to its users. According to SG Forge, Solana’s infrastructure will provide significantly faster transaction times and lower fees than other networks. This aligns with Solana’s reputation for offering high-speed performance and scalability in the blockchain industry.

With EURCV now accessible on Solana, the stablecoin aims to attract institutional users who seek a reliable Euro-backed asset within the DeFi ecosystem. Additionally, SG Forge noted that the integration would expand the use cases of the stablecoin, unlocking new opportunities for DeFi users.

Nick Ducoff, Head of Institutional Growth at the Solana Foundation, expressed optimism about the partnership. He described the launch of a MiCA-compliant stablecoin on Solana as a significant development for users prioritizing speed, efficiency, and stability in their digital transactions.

Solana’s expanding stablecoin ecosystem

The deployment of EURCV contributes to the growing stablecoin market on Solana. Despite a slight decrease in the overall stablecoin market cap on the network in recent days, the supply of significant stablecoins, including USDT and others like Ondo USDY and Ethena USDe, has seen an increase. As more stablecoins migrate to Solana, issuers often highlight the platform’s cost-effectiveness and speed.

Solana has gained recognition for its ability to offer faster and cheaper transactions, a feature that has attracted various stablecoin projects, including PayPal’s PYUSD. While Ethereum remains the leading blockchain for stablecoin integrations, Solana is emerging as a viable alternative, with more institutions expressing interest in deploying on the network.

Sky, a prominent decentralized finance protocol, announced at the Solana Conference in Singapore that it plans to integrate with Solana. This further signals Solana’s growing presence in the DeFi sector.

Challenges and opportunities for Euro stablecoins

The EURCV stablecoin’s expansion onto Solana offers renewed hope for adopting Euro-pegged stablecoins. EURCV has struggled to gain traction on Ethereum, with a supply of just 33 million and limited usage. This trend is consistent with other Euro-backed stablecoins, which have generally experienced lower adoption rates than their US-dollar counterparts.

Circle’s EURC and Stasis EURS are currently the two largest Euro stablecoins by market cap, with EURC having a supply of 52.61 million and EURS close behind at 43.68 million. However, recent regulatory developments, such as the introduction of the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation, could pave the way for the rapid adoption of regulated stablecoins like EURCV.

Experts, including Circle EU policy director Patrick Hansen, suggest that MiCA’s regulatory framework will create more opportunities for Euro stablecoins by providing a clear structure for their use in the region. The regulation could help stablecoin issuers gain more trust and utility among institutional and retail users.

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José Fernández da Ponte, PayPal’s Vice President for Blockchain, Crypto, and Digital Currencies, confirmed this decision, emphasizing that Solana’s network outperforms Ethereum in key transaction speed and cost efficiency.

PayPal’s decision to use Solana over Ethereum

Fernández da Ponte highlighted the shortcomings of the Ethereum network, explaining that it lacks the scalability and speed required for effective payment processing. Solana, in contrast, can handle up to 1,000 transactions per second and boasts lower transaction costs, making it an ideal platform for PayPal’s payment services. The choice to use Solana for the launch of PYUSD demonstrates the payment giant’s focus on delivering fast and affordable services to its users.

PYUSD launch and hackathon announcement

On May 29, PayPal announced the launch of PYUSD on the Solana blockchain. The press release underscored Solana’s ability to process high volumes of transactions quickly and with low fees. This advantage over Ethereum was a key factor in PayPal’s decision. Additionally, in collaboration with Portal, PayPal initiated the Global PYUSD Portal Hackathon on June 30. The hackathon aims to distribute $40,000 in prizes to six winners, with the grand champion receiving $15,000 in PYUSD. The winners will be recognized at the Solana Hacker House event in Hong Kong, scheduled for October 24-26, 2024.

TrueX exchange chooses PYUSD over USDC

Adding to PYUSD’s growing adoption, the TrueX exchange, founded by former Coinbase employees Vishal Gupta and Patrick McCreary, announced it would use PYUSD instead of USDC. This decision further boosts Solana’s prominence in the blockchain ecosystem, particularly as Gupta was involved in developing USDC during his time at Coinbase. According to DeFiLlama data, PYUSD’s supply on Solana now surpasses its supply on Ethereum, with Solana holding 50.2% of the stablecoin’s total supply.

PYUSD’s market presence

PYUSD is a stablecoin backed by US dollar deposits, cash equivalents, and U.S. Treasury Bonds, ensuring a 1:1 peg with the US dollar. Staticcoin is available for transactions on both the PayPal and Venmo platforms. As of this writing, PYUSD ranks fifth in market capitalization among stablecoins, with a market cap of $732 million and a 24-hour trading volume of over $32 million, according to Coinmarketcap. This strategic shift by PayPal underscores the growing importance of scalability and low transaction costs in blockchain payment solutions, with Solana emerging as a preferred platform for companies aiming to meet these demands.

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