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Top Altcoins to Watch Before 2026: Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), XRP, Cardano & WLFI Lead November’s Market Shift

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November has been an active month in the digital asset space, with major updates, collaborations, and presale progress drawing fresh attention. The market remains uneven, but for those tracking altcoins to watch, the focus is shifting toward projects that combine real technology with consistent utility.

From privacy-based infrastructures powering artificial intelligence to long-standing tokens holding their ground after market swings, these coins represent both innovation and stability. Below are four altcoins to watch that are shaping sentiment and could influence the final stretch of 2025.

1. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP): A Fully Built Privacy-Driven Network

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) has emerged as one of the most discussed altcoins to watch, standing out for its build-first, sell-later strategy. With over $100 million already invested before launch, $20 million is allocated to infrastructure and $17 million to Proof Pods’ physical devices, ready for global delivery once the presale begins.

The project focuses on enabling artificial intelligence through privacy-preserving computation, ensuring that data remains secure while every process is verifiable using advanced cryptography. Its four-layer design covering consensus, execution, proof generation, and storage supports private smart contracts, encrypted storage, and efficient computational proofs.

The ongoing whitelist phase offers early access to its upcoming presale, which hosts daily on-chain auctions at auction.zkp.com. Every 24 hours, 200 million coins are distributed based on user participation, creating a transparent pricing model. Coupled with Proof Pods that generate measurable rewards for verified AI computing, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is set apart by its working infrastructure and proven delivery rather than promises.

2. XRP: Building Momentum Amid Market Shifts

XRP stays on the list of key altcoins to watch this month as Ripple expands its enterprise influence. Recent reports confirm a $500 million strategic funding round, valuing the company at about $40 billion, while Ripple’s new stablecoin RLUSD surpassed $1 billion in circulation. The network also suggested that a spot XRP ETF could emerge in the US by mid-November, fueling new market interest and speculative momentum.

Currently, XRP trades near 2.23 USD, fluctuating between 2.23 and 2.39. Analysts emphasize that holding above 2.00 supports price stability, while breaking 2.75 could trigger short-term gains toward 3.00. However, steady selling pressure continues due to periodic escrow releases, including 1 billion tokens unlocked on November 1. For traders, XRP’s outlook depends on whether institutional demand from ETFs and stablecoin adoption can offset consistent supply flow.

3. Cardano: Advancing Toward Berlin Summit Progress

Cardano (ADA) continues to appear among the altcoins to watch, backed by both technical and community milestones. The network’s “Midnight” privacy protocol has entered its final testing stage, designed to enable selective data sharing for businesses and regulated entities. Alongside this, the Ouroboros Phalanx upgrade improved network efficiency by cutting node sync times by nearly 40%, signaling a performance boost for developers and users alike.

Cardano trades around 0.52 USD, testing a crucial support level. Market forecasts suggest a potential move to 0.80–1.00 under stable conditions, or up to 1.20–1.50 if ETF developments and macro trends turn favorable. Despite modest DeFi activity with roughly 35.7 million USD in stablecoin liquidity, whale accumulation has increased, as wallets holding 1–10 million ADA added 50 million ADA in early November. With the Berlin Summit coming up this month, Cardano could attract greater institutional interest if its privacy protocol proves ready for full-scale deployment.

4. WLFI: Balancing Stablecoin Vision with Market Fluctuations

WLFI (World Liberty Financial) has gained traction through its multi-chain stablecoin USD1 and new partnerships within the Solana ecosystem. The project recently announced collaborations with Bonk and Raydium, aiming to grow USD1 usage across Solana-based DeFi networks and strengthen its liquidity framework. Market engagement has increased, with trading volume reportedly up 38% in early November despite ongoing price corrections.

Currently, WLFI trades between 0.115 and 0.12 USD, down from earlier peaks near 0.46 USD. The project’s market capitalization is around 2–3 billion USD, supported by approximately 24.5 billion circulating coins. While analysts view the Solana integration as a positive move, concerns about token concentration among insiders and limited reserve clarity remain. At this stage, WLFI combines strong ambition with visible risks, making it a dynamic yet cautious pick among altcoins to watch this month.

Final Look

Each project reflects a different direction for blockchain growth, privacy innovation, enterprise expansion, network upgrades, and stablecoin integration. Among these altcoins to watch, Zero Knowledge Proof stands out for its build-first approach, with $100 million invested before launch, $20 million in live infrastructure, and Proof Pods that will help earn through real AI computations. That foundation redefines what readiness means in new blockchain networks.

While XRP, Cardano, and WLFI bring unique developments and catalysts, Zero Knowledge Proof blends proven technology, fairness, and working systems into a model that’s already operational. For those scanning November’s top altcoins to watch, it represents progress that’s visible today, not just planned for tomorrow.

A Look At Polymarket’s US Beta Relaunch and Yahoo Partnership

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Polymarket, the leading crypto-based prediction market platform, quietly relaunched its services in the United States through a closed beta program, allowing select users to place real-money bets on live event contracts for the first time since 2022.

This soft launch follows the company’s acquisition of the regulated derivatives exchange QCEX earlier in the year, which provided the necessary CFTC-compliant infrastructure after a $1.4 million fine forced Polymarket offshore three years prior.

Founder Shayne Coplan confirmed the beta is “live and operational” during a panel at Cantor Fitzgerald’s Crypto & AI Infrastructure Conference in Miami, with a full public rollout slated for early 2026.

Key Partnership with Yahoo Finance

Coinciding with the beta relaunch, Polymarket announced an exclusive partnership with Yahoo Finance, positioning itself as the platform’s sole provider of prediction market data and insights.

This integration will deliver real-time betting odds and crowd-sourced forecasts directly to Yahoo Finance users, enhancing event-based forecasting tools for topics like politics, sports, and finance.

The deal underscores Polymarket’s growing mainstream adoption, building on recent integrations with Google Finance which will display Polymarket data in its AI tools starting with Labs users and X. Polymarket’s US return comes amid surging demand for prediction markets, fueled by high-profile events like the 2024 US election.

The platform, which operates like a decentralized stock exchange for event outcomes using USDC on Polygon, has seen explosive growth—handling over $1 billion in volume during the election cycle.

To strengthen its foothold, especially in sports betting, Polymarket also partnered with fantasy sports giant PrizePicks just days before the Yahoo deal, enabling seamless data sharing for user predictions.

This positions Polymarket to compete directly with licensed rivals like Kalshi and emerging products from FanDuel and even Truth Predict backed by Donald Trump’s media company. Early focus will be on sports markets, with clearing arrangements already in place for DraftKings’ upcoming predictions feature.

Beta access is limited to invited US users via Polymarket’s app or web platform—expect invites to expand soon. Non-US users can continue trading uninterrupted. By leveraging QCEX’s licenses, Polymarket avoids past pitfalls, emphasizing compliance while maintaining its crypto-native speed and low fees.

Prediction markets are evolving from niche betting to “wisdom of the crowd” tools for finance and news, with Polymarket’s partnerships amplifying this shift.

Prediction markets are real-money betting platforms that let people trade contracts on the future outcome of events — elections, sports games, economic data, or even “Will it rain in NYC on Friday?” — and the market prices reveal the crowd’s best guess of the probability.

Core Idea: Price = ProbabilityA contract pays $1 if the event happens, $0 if it doesn’t. If a “Trump wins 2024” contract trades at $0.60, the market says 60% chance he wins. If it drops to $0.35, the crowd now thinks 35% chance.

That’s it. The price is the probability. Event is listed. Example: “Will the Fed cut rates by 50bps on Nov 7?”. Two contracts are created YES (pays $1 if cut happens). NO (pays $1 if it doesn’t). Users buy/sell shares You believe cut is >70% likely ? buy YES at $0.60.

You believe cut is <30% likely ? buy NO at $0.40. You can sell anytime before expiry. Price moves with supply/demand More buyers ? YES price rises ? implied probability ? More sellers ? YES price falls ? probability ? Event resolves Fed cuts 50bps ? YES = $1, NO = $0

Winners get $1 per share, losers get $0. Example Trade (Polymarket-style). Fed holds ? get $100 ? $55 profit. People bet real money ? they research, think hard, and act fast. Incentives align truth-seeking Overconfident? You lose money. Undervalued insight? You profit.

Aggregate wisdom; Thousands of traders ? noise cancels, signal emerges. Faster than polls. Markets react instantly to news (leaks, tweets, data). 2024 Election Example: Polymarket flipped from 60% Trump ? 70% Trump hours before polls caught up — because insiders and sharp bettors moved first.

Prediction markets turn opinions into prices. You bet on outcomes. The price shows the crowd’s probability. At expiry, winners get $1, losers get $0. Truth wins — and so do the sharpest bettors.

Think of it like stock market for events, where shares = probability, and profit = being right when others are wrong.

Visa Launches Pilot for USDC Stablecoin Payouts

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Visa Inc. announced, at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, that it has begun testing a new feature within its Visa Direct platform.

This pilot program enables U.S.-based businesses to fund payouts in traditional fiat currency (USD), while allowing recipients—such as freelancers, gig workers, creators, and influencers—to receive funds directly in USD Coin (USDC), the dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Circle Internet Financial.

The initiative aims to accelerate cross-border payments, reducing settlement times from days to minutes, and targets users in emerging markets where traditional banking can be slow or costly.

Businesses initiate payments via Visa Direct, which operates in 195 countries. The system converts the fiat payout to USDC on the backend and delivers it straight to the recipient’s compatible crypto wallet. Recipients must comply with Visa’s KYC/AML protocols to access funds.

Target Users: Primarily designed for the gig economy, including platform workers on sites like Upwork or content creators on social media. It addresses pain points like high fees, currency conversion delays, and limited banking access in regions like Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Transactions are settled on blockchain for transparency and auditability, leveraging USDC’s reserves backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries and cash. Visa Direct already handles over 8.5 billion push payments annually, and this builds on earlier 2025 tests for stablecoin pre-funding in treasury operations.

Currently limited to select U.S. partners; a broader global rollout is planned for the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and successful testing. No immediate plans for other stablecoins like USDT or PYUSD were mentioned, though the program isn’t explicitly exclusive to USDC.

This move signals Visa’s deepening integration of blockchain into mainstream finance, positioning the company as a bridge between legacy systems and crypto infrastructure. Stablecoins like USDC already process billions in daily volume, but Visa’s involvement could drive mass adoption by embedding them into everyday payouts.

As Mark Nelsen, Visa’s head of commercial and money movement solutions, noted: “This is about enabling truly universal access to money in minutes—not days—for anyone, anywhere.”

It also reflects growing corporate demand for hybrid payment rails, following similar pilots by PayPal and Stripe. Critics in the crypto space argue it’s “fiat clinging to blockchain” rather than true decentralization, but supporters see it as validation.

The world’s largest payment network processing $15 trillion annually is effectively going on-chain. Early reactions on X (formerly Twitter) highlight excitement around faster global liquidity, with posts calling it “history in real time” and a “game-changer for the gig economy.”

By enabling U.S. businesses to fund payments in fiat USD via Visa Direct while allowing recipients—like freelancers, creators, and gig workers—to receive funds directly in USDC, the program addresses longstanding inefficiencies in global payments.

This pilot could democratize access to fast, low-cost payments, particularly in the $1.5 trillion gig economy and $800 billion remittances market. Traditional cross-border transfers often incur 1–3% fees and take 1–5 days, but USDC settlements occur in minutes with near-zero on-chain costs beyond minimal gas fees.

For unbanked or underbanked populations—estimated at over 1 billion globally, concentrated in emerging markets like Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia—this means “universal access to money in minutes,” as Visa’s Chris Newkirk described it.

Gig workers on platforms like Upwork or influencers on social media could see immediate cash flow improvements, potentially boosting economic participation in regions with volatile local currencies.On a macro level, it may accelerate stablecoin adoption, with USDC’s daily volume already exceeding $10 billion.

Visa’s involvement could inject billions more into on-chain liquidity, fostering programmable finance and even stablecoin-based lending in the $40 trillion global credit market. However, it risks exacerbating wealth gaps if crypto wallets and KYC barriers limit uptake to tech-savvy users.

If successful, this could standardize stablecoin payouts, potentially reshaping remittances a $800B+ market and challenging incumbents like Western Union. For now, it’s a controlled test.

Top Performing Cryptos of 2025: Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), Avalanche, Litecoin, & Chainlink Drive the Next Blockchain Surge

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The crypto landscape in 2025 is being shaped by real technology, transparency, and meaningful progress. A new wave of projects is focusing on building practical solutions rather than relying on hype. From privacy-led compute networks to AI-based proof systems, today’s leading assets show that dependability and readiness define the top performing crypto of the year.

This analysis explores four standout projects leading 2025: Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), Avalanche (AVAX), Litecoin (LTC), and Chainlink (LINK). Each brings something valuable to the table, including large-scale infrastructure, active blockchain networks, privacy-enhancing tools, and cross-chain connectivity that strengthens blockchain’s global reach.

1. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP): Building a $100M Ecosystem Before Launch

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) stands out among the top performing cryptos of 2025 because it is already built before launch. The project has invested over $100 million in technology, hardware, and infrastructure before even starting its presale, reversing the usual crypto approach of raising funds first and developing later.

Its goal is to create a decentralized compute network focused on privacy and artificial intelligence. The network operates across four layers: Consensus, Execution, Proof Generation, and Storage, each designed to ensure privacy, scalability, and verified computation. Using zero-knowledge cryptography allows data validation without exposing private details, making it suitable for secure, transparent operations across industries like AI, healthcare, and finance.

Once live, Proof Pods will be available for $249, offering users the ability to earn ZKP through verified compute activity rather than mining or staking. This working ecosystem of software, hardware, and fair participation demonstrates why Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is a leading name among the top performing crypto of 2025. The Zero Knowledge Proof whitelist is now open, offering early participants access to an ecosystem built on functionality, privacy, and readiness.

2. Avalanche: Driving Scalability and Practical Adoption

Avalanche (AVAX) holds a strong position in the market thanks to its focus on high-speed scalability and real-world integration. As of early November 2025, AVAX trades around $15.9, with intraday highs at $16.97 and lows at $15.68. Network data shows over a 350% rise in active daily addresses, fueled by expanding DeFi and NFT activity. With tens of millions of transactions processed daily, the blockchain continues to attract enterprise users and tokenized asset projects.

Current analytics suggest a potential upside toward $45 if user engagement maintains momentum, though short-term stabilization may persist. Avalanche’s emphasis on tokenization, operational efficiency, and decentralized finance keeps it central to discussions about the top performing crypto of late 2025. Its steady growth and proven performance confirm its reputation as one of the most resilient and adaptable platforms in the space.

3. Litecoin: A Classic Network With Renewed Energy

Litecoin (LTC), often called “digital silver,” is entering a period of renewed momentum. Currently valued at about $86.9 and trading between $85.7 and $89.8, market interest in Litecoin is building again. Much of the excitement centers around its privacy upgrade, MimbleWimble Extension Blocks (MWEB), and growing anticipation for potential spot ETF approvals in the U.S. from firms like Canary Capital. If approved, LTC could become one of the first altcoins available through regulated ETFs, boosting accessibility for traditional traders.

The adoption of MWEB continues to expand, with over 260,000 LTC now stored in privacy-enabled wallets. This trend reflects a loyal and growing user base drawn to Litecoin’s combination of speed, dependability, and confidentiality. For market watchers seeking assets with proven history and modern utility, Litecoin stands out among the top performing crypto to monitor closely in 2025.

4. Chainlink: The Bridge Connecting Global Blockchains

Chainlink (LINK) continues to play a critical role in blockchain interoperability and secure data transmission. LINK is currently priced near $14.5, with highs around $15.3 and lows near $14.3. Despite some recent consolidation, institutional adoption remains strong. Collaborations with SBI Digital Markets in Japan, Aave, and initiatives tied to over $10 trillion in tokenized assets highlight Chainlink’s influence on on-chain finance.

Recent upgrades, including the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and the Chainlink Runtime Environment, further strengthen its position as the foundation for blockchain connectivity. Chainlink’s true value lies in its reliability rather than speculation, providing the data consistency necessary for tokenized economies to thrive. Its ongoing role in powering the tokenization sector ensures it remains a staple on any top performing crypto list going into 2026.

Closing Outlook

The future of blockchain growth will be shaped by projects that combine readiness, real-world functionality, and innovation. Zero Knowledge Proof has already proven its commitment with $100 million invested into live infrastructure. Avalanche advances enterprise-grade scalability, Litecoin merges legacy strength with new privacy and ETF developments, and Chainlink continues to connect networks through verified data.

Together, these four illustrate how technology-driven progress defines the top performing crypto of 2025, setting the stage for a more practical and interconnected blockchain era.

The Illusion of Gold and the Defect of Bitcoin

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Question: “Ndubuisi, if a single currency cannot save Africa, what about a currency backed by gold? I understand your advocacy for production as the true cushion of currencies. As you explain, comment on using Bitcoin treasury reserves.”

My Response: Good People, in today’s interconnected global economy, the notion of backing a modern currency with gold is largely a beautiful illusion. Consider this: the United States holds about 8,133 metric tons of gold, roughly $1 trillion in value. If America melts every ounce of that gold, it will still not be worth up to 25% of Apple Inc. Yes, a single innovative company outperforms all the gold in Fort Knox because markets price productivity, not minerals.

Globally, gold in all its forms like bullion, jewelry, derivatives, and reserves adds up to about $13 trillion. Meanwhile, the world economy is about $105 trillion. With every nation tethered to its currency, there is simply not enough gold to credibly back the world’s money supply unless we wish to return to an imperial age where trade is constrained and economies are throttled.

Gold functions best when a nation is cut off from global trade, because it provides a secondary stabilizing layer. That is why Russia, under sanctions, turned to buying physical gold to fortify the ruble. It was a kind of two-factor authentication for their currency, a cushion against frontal attacks. In isolation, gold works. In a globalized marketplace, it is inadequate.

To strengthen any currency, especially one that is not the global reserve like US dollar, the path is simple: produce, innovate, and export massively. The United States earns global trust in its dollar because its economy produces value the world desires. America prints the dollar; the world earns it. That asymmetry is built on productivity, not precious metals.

Africa must understand this truth: gold will not save our currencies; only production will. And on Bitcoin, the challenge is even more fundamental. Bitcoin has no balance sheet, no income statement, no productive capacity, and no earnings to counter market sentiment. Tesla can be hit by fears today and surprise the market tomorrow with higher sales and revenue. Bitcoin cannot. It stands only on the faith of the faithful, and that is not enough to anchor a national currency.

Therefore, piling Bitcoin into national treasuries will not create monetary strength. It will create dependency, complacency, and eventually economic calamity. Just like the dream of a single African currency under heterogeneous economies where the supranational bank will naturally favour large economies like Nigeria and neglect smaller ones like Gabon, Bitcoin reserves will amplify imbalance and accelerate vulnerability with massive welfare losses. Simply: Africa cannot build monetary stability on illusions. It must build on production.