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Mastercard in Late-Stage Talks to Acquire Crypto Startup Zerohash for Up to $2 Billion

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

Mastercard is advancing toward one of its largest investments in the cryptocurrency space by negotiating the acquisition of Zerohash, a Chicago-based blockchain infrastructure provider.

The deal is valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, positioning Mastercard to deepen its stablecoin and tokenization capabilities amid growing mainstream adoption of digital assets.

Late-stage talks are underway, with the price potentially reaching $2 billion. No final agreement has been announced, and representatives from both companies declined to comment.

Zerohash Overview

Founded in 2017, Zerohash specializes in API-driven infrastructure for stablecoins, blockchain payments, crypto trading, custody, and staking. It recently raised $104 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation from investors like Interactive Brokers, Apollo, Point72 Ventures, and Nyca Partners.

This move builds on Mastercard’s existing crypto efforts, including partnerships with platforms like Crypto.com, OKX, and Kraken, as well as its 2021 acquisition of CipherTrace a blockchain analytics firm. It aims to integrate stablecoin tech directly into traditional finance, enabling faster, lower-cost cross-border payments and competing with rivals like Visa and Stripe.

The deal reflects intensifying competition in stablecoin infrastructure, a hot sector as crypto rebounds. Mastercard reportedly competed with Coinbase for BVNK but shifted focus to Zerohash after being outbid.

Stablecoins like USDC and USDT are increasingly seen as bridges between fiat and crypto, potentially disrupting traditional interchange fees—but incumbents like Mastercard are adapting by building in-house tools.

If finalized, this could accelerate Mastercard’s push into tokenized assets and everyday crypto transactions. Watch for an official announcement in the coming weeks, as the crypto market’s momentum with Bitcoin trading steadily above $100K recently fuels such consolidations.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged 1:1 to a fiat currency like the US dollar (USD), euro (EUR), or a basket of assets. Unlike volatile assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum, stablecoins aim for price stability while living on blockchains, enabling fast, low-cost, programmable digital money.

Over-collateralized with volatile crypto (e.g., 150% ETH for $100 stablecoin). Smart contracts auto-liquidate if collateral drops. No collateral. Uses algorithms + incentives to expand/contract supply to maintain peg. Fiat-Collateralized (Most Common)Issuer (e.g., Circle for USDC) holds $1 in reserves for every 1 USDC in circulation.

Reserves are audited monthly (USDC) or quarterly (USDT). Users can burn USDC ? get real USD wired to their bank. Trust model: Rely on issuer transparency and regulatory compliance.

You send 100 USDC to Circle ? they burn the tokens and wire $100 to your bank. Over-collateralization: Must deposit $150+ of ETH to mint $100 DAI. If ETH price drops ? system auto-liquidates collateral to repay debt and protect peg.

If UST < $1 ? burn UST, mint LUNA ? reduce supply. If UST > $1 ? burn LUNA, mint UST. Death spiral: Panic selling breaks arbitrage ? peg collapses ? $40B wiped out. Pure algorithmic stablecoins are fragile without hard collateral.

Send $1M from US ? Argentina in 10 seconds for <$1 (vs. SWIFT: days + 6% fees). Lend, borrow, earn yield using USDC/DAI as base currency. Pay global workers in USDC instantly, no FX fees. Accept crypto without volatility risk

Tokenized Real-World Assets; Represent bonds, real estate, invoices on-chain using stable value. Zerohash provides B2B infrastructure to: Issue custom stablecoins (e.g., “JPM Coin” style)

Enable stablecoin payouts pay freelancers in USDC. Support crypto on/off ramps (fiat stablecoin). Offer custody, staking, compliance. Mastercard can now let any bank or fintech launch a USD stablecoin on its network, bypassing Visa or SWIFT.

USDC briefly hit $0.87 during SVB collapse. Tether fined $41M for misleading reserve claims. Circle holds reserves at BlackRock & BNY Mellon — still centralized risk. Stablecoins are programmable digital dollars living on blockchains — backed by fiat, crypto, or algorithms — enabling instant, borderless, 24/7 money with near-zero fees.

They’re the rails for the next generation of payments, DeFi, and tokenized finance — and why giants like Mastercard are paying $2 billion to control the infrastructure.

Market Implications of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Decision

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has delivered a 25 basis point (bps) rate cut, bringing the federal funds rate to a target range of 4.75%–5.00% assuming prior range was 5.00%–5.25%.

Simultaneously, the Committee has signaled the start of quantitative easing (QE) in December while maintaining that monetary policy remains restrictive. This combination creates a nuanced, multi-layered message with significant implications for asset prices, inflation expectations, and the yield curve.

Rate Cut (25 bps): Dovish but measured signal reinforces the Fed’s pivot toward easing but avoids aggressive front-loading. Equities mildly positive; supports risk assets but lacks the punch of a 50 bps cut.

Bonds: 2-year yields likely dip modestly ~5–10 bps, reflecting the cut but tempered by the “still restrictive” language. USD: Slight softening, though limited by the cautious pace.

The Fed will resume balance sheet expansion via asset purchases likely Treasuries and MBS starting in December. This is earlier and more aggressive than consensus expectations, which anticipated QT tapering at best.

Sharp compression 10-year could fall 15–25 bps intraday. Yield curve: Steepening as short rates are anchored by cuts, while long rates drop on QE. Strong bullish impulse—equities, gold, crypto likely rally.

Inflation breakevens: Rise as QE is classically inflationary. The Hawkish anchor purpose prevents markets from pricing in unrestrained easing or a return to ZIRP. Markets may now price one more 25 bps cut in 2026, not a full easing cycle.

Real rates remain positive fed funds ~4.75% vs. core PCE ~2.7% ? real rate ~2.05%, justifying the “restrictive” claim. Verbal tightening to counter QE’s dovish tilt. Equity Rotation: Favor rate-sensitive sectors tech, REITs, small-caps over defensives.

Inflation Hedge: Overweight TIPS, gold, commodities—QE reflation trade. USD Shorts: QE + “restrictive” cap = moderate dollar weakness, not collapse. VIX likely drops below 15 as QE provides a put.

The Fed is easing aggressively via QE while talking tough on rates to manage expectations. This is bullish for risk assets, bearish for the dollar, and steepening for the curve. The “still restrictive” caveat is rhetorical discipline, not a policy barrier—QE is the dominant signal.

Long equities especially Nasdaq, long gold, short 10-year yields, steepener trades. A steepening yield curve means the spread between long-term and short-term yields is widening.

25 bps rate cut lowers short rates. QE in December crushes long rates even more. Banks profit from borrow short (low), lend long (higher) ? NIM expansion. Tech/growth stocks benefit from lower long-term borrowing costs.

Bond Prices; Rise (yields fall) ? duration-sensitive bonds rally. Yield curve steepening = long-term rates fall faster than short-term rates. In this case: QE crushes the 10-year, rate cut anchors the 2-year ? spread widens ? bull steepener.

Bullish for banks, growth stocks, gold; bearish for USD and cash. Rate cuts generally favor risk assets like cryptocurrencies by reducing borrowing costs, boosting liquidity, and encouraging capital rotation from low-yield safe havens (e.g., Treasuries) into higher-volatility plays.

Historical patterns show Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) often rally post-FOMC easing, with a 0.25% tightening shock linked to a ~0.25% BTC price drop on announcement day—implying the reverse for cuts.

Ending QT and lower rates could add $100B+ in monthly reserves, historically correlating with BTC gains like in 2021 bull run post-easing. Cheaper credit spurs speculative flows into DeFi, NFTs, and altcoins. Analysts like Michael van de Poppe predict a BTC pullback to $109K–$110K before pushing toward new highs above $112K if dovish signals hold.

Despite pre-meeting dips, spot BTC/ETH ETFs saw strong Q3 inflows ($22B+), underscoring institutional resilience. Pre-FOMC caution led to a 1.5% market cap drop to $3.93T on Oct 28, with BTC at ~$113K (-1.4%) and ETH at $4.09K (-3.7%). A “wait-and-see” Powell tone could trigger short-term selling.

Government shutdown limits data, while AI-driven job shifts and tariffs add uncertainty. XRP and BNB dipped 1–1.6%, reflecting broader altcoin pressure. TOTALCAP remains in a corrective ascending channel, suggesting potential reversals even post-cut.

The 1000x Future Is Live: You Can Now Get Free Testnet BDAG, Mint NFTs, and Use Live dApps on the “Awakening” Testnet

By
TI Partners
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0

Forget everything you thought you knew about crypto presales. Usually, you invest in a promise, a whitepaper and a prayer. This is different. The massive hype surrounding the potential 1000x return isn’t built on theory; it’s built on a functioning, live ecosystem.

Blockdag’s “Awakening” Testnet is now open to the public, offering everyone a chance to interact with the technology before the mainnet launch. This isn’t just a preview; it’s a hands-on demonstration of the future. You can literally “try before you buy” and see for yourself why the market is buzzing. This is your chance to touch the tech that’s already raised nearly $435 million.

Get Your Hands on the Future

The “Awakening” Testnet moves BlockDAG from a concept to a reality you can access right now. The first stop for any new user is the Testnet Faucet. This is a public tool that gives you free testnet BDAG coins. These aren’t real assets, but they are the fuel you need to interact with the entire ecosystem. This is the ultimate “proof-of-life” for a project. You can send these coins between wallets, test transaction speeds, and experience the BlockDAG network’s performance firsthand. It costs you nothing. This simple action, claiming free testnet coins, is more than most projects offer before their official launch. It shows the core infrastructure is stable, operational, and ready for public testing. It’s the first step in seeing the 1000x potential in action.

Become a Builder in Minutes

The testnet isn’t just for passive observation; it’s a creative sandbox. The platform includes a live Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that is fully EVM-compatible. What does this mean for you? It means you can deploy your own smart contracts right now. You can create and mint your own collection of NFTs or launch your own ERC20-standard token on the testnet in minutes. This is a massive demonstration of power.

While other projects are still finalising their code, this network is already welcoming builders. This EVM compatibility is crucial, as it invites thousands of developers from the Ethereum ecosystem to migrate their dApps easily. For the average user, it’s a chance to play developer and see just how flexible and fast the BlockDAG technology truly is.

Use Live dApps Today

Beyond building, you can use decentralised applications that are already running on the “Awakening” Testnet. This ecosystem is not empty; it’s already populated. This is your chance to see how real utility will feel on the mainnet. These dApps prove the network can handle complex smart contract interactions smoothly and securely. The BlockDAG team has made several applications available for immediate use:

  • The Reflection DApp: This is a powerful tool. You can use it to see your tokens reflected on-chain, a key function for many DeFi protocols.
  • The Lottery DApp: A fun and simple way to test your luck and see the smart contract execution in action.

This isn’t a simulation. These are real dApps executing on a live test network, showing the system is ready for the high-demand applications that will drive value for BDAG coins.

The Final Step Before Launch

The “Awakening” Testnet is the final phase of public testing, and the next step is a big one: the Vesting Contract. This contract will be deployed soon. When it does, all holders who purchased BDAG coins during the presale will receive testnet BDAG tokens equivalent to their allocations. This is the ultimate “dress rehearsal” before the mainnet goes live. It allows every single investor to test their holdings, practice the claiming process, and ensure their wallets are configured correctly. This move shows incredible transparency and planning.

BlockDAG has entered Batch 32, with coins priced at $0.005. The upcoming listing on February 10, 2026, at $0.05 ensures major gains for early buyers.

The BlockDAG project isn’t leaving anything to chance. It’s allowing its 312,000+ holders to verify everything in a safe environment first. This is the final checkpoint before the 1000x journey begins in earnest.

The “Try Before You Buy” 1000x

The 1000x potential is no longer a distant forecast. It’s a live, functioning, and accessible ecosystem. The “Awakening” Testnet is your final opportunity to see the future before it arrives. You can get free testnet coins, mint your own NFTs, and use live dApps today. This is the ultimate “try before you buy.”

The historic $435 million presale was built on the promise of this technology, and now BlockDAG is delivering the proof. While others sell whitepapers, BlockDAG invites you to use the product. The mainnet launch is imminent. The question is: have you already seen what it can do? This is your chance to find out.

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

Testnet FAQ

  1. What is the “Awakening” Testnet?

The “Awakening” Testnet is a live, public testing environment for the BlockDAG network. It allows users and developers to interact with the technology, test dApps, and find bugs before the official mainnet launch.

  1. How do I get the free testnet BDAG?

You can get free testnet BDAG coins by visiting the official “Testnet Faucet” on the BlockDAG website. You simply enter your wallet address, and the faucet will send you test coins to use.

  1. Are the testnet coins I get from the Faucet valuable?

No. Testnet coins have no real-world monetary value. They are used exclusively for testing purposes within the “Awakening” Testnet, such as paying for gas fees to mint NFTs or use dApps.

  1. What is an “EVM-compatible IDE”?

It stands for “Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible Integrated Development Environment.” It’s a code editor that allows developers to write and deploy smart contracts using familiar languages (like Solidity) directly onto the testnet, just as they would on Ethereum.

  1. What is the purpose of the upcoming Vesting Contract test?

The Vesting Contract test is a “dress rehearsal” for all presale holders. It will airdrop testnet tokens (matching their purchased amounts) so they can practice the process of claiming their tokens, ensuring everyone is ready for the real mainnet launch.

  1. Why is a live testnet important for the 1000x potential?

A live testnet proves the technology is real, functional, and ready for deployment. It moves the project from a “whitepaper promise” to a tangible product, building confidence that the network can handle the applications and user load needed to grow.

Top Crypto Coins in 2025: Why BlockDAG, Avalanche, Hyperliquid & SUI Leading Blockchain’s Next Growth Era

By
TI Partners
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0

The year 2025 is unfolding as a transformative period for blockchain growth, led by a new class of top crypto coins 2025, driving innovation beyond traditional networks. While Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to anchor the market, emerging Layer-1 and Layer-2 ecosystems are stealing attention through efficiency, adoption, and design evolution.

Among the front-runners, BlockDAG, Avalanche, Hyperliquid, and SUI stand out for combining real-world performance with measurable community growth. Each represents a different strength, from BlockDAG’s record presale momentum and Avalanche’s institutional traction to Hyperliquid’s on-chain trading evolution and SUI’s developer-first architecture. Together, they’re redefining how blockchain scales, performs, and reaches the next billion users. 

1. BlockDAG: Almost $435M Presale Boasts Next-Gen Scalability

Among the top crypto coins in 2025, BlockDAG (BDAG) continues to dominate discussions as one of the most remarkable early-stage projects in the industry. BlockDAG is now in Batch 32, priced at $0.005, with its official listing set for February 10, 2026. With only 4.5 billion coins left in the presale, this marks the final stretch before BlockDAG’s highly anticipated market debut. BlockDAG has already secured nearly $435 million in presale funding, sold 27.2B+ coins, and attracted a global base of 312,000 holders.

Beyond its impressive fundraising, BlockDAG has achieved rare pre-launch adoption with 20,000 hardware miners distributed worldwide and an X1 mobile mining app boasting 3.5 million daily users, turning smartphones into mining hubs. This level of engagement demonstrates that BDAG isn’t just growing, it’s building an ecosystem before listing. The project’s hybrid Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) framework delivers 1,400 TPS on its live Awakening Testnet, with scalability projections reaching 15,000 TPS post-mainnet.

This approach fuses Bitcoin’s renowned security with the parallel efficiency of DAG technology. With EVM compatibility, successful audits by CertiK and Halborn, and global recognition through partnerships like the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team, BlockDAG is already performing at a level typical of established Layer-1 blockchains. This tested technology firmly establishes it as the most influential contender among the top crypto coins in 2025.

2. Avalanche: Institutional Confidence Meets Developer Growth

Avalanche (AVAX) continues to strengthen its presence among the top crypto coins in 2025, appealing to enterprises and developers alike. Its subnet technology and ultra-fast transaction finality enable scalable custom blockchains that integrate smoothly across industries, from DeFi to enterprise finance.

Currently trading between $20 and $25, Avalanche has seen rising transaction volume, higher burn rates, and renewed market participation. Its balance of interoperability and private subnet functionality has made it a trusted choice for organizations seeking blockchain utility without sacrificing control.

Avalanche’s stability and speed make it a standout example of long-term reliability. By aligning institutional trust with decentralized design, it continues to lead as one of the top crypto coins in 2025 for those prioritizing both performance and practical use.

3. Hyperliquid: The High-Speed Engine of On-Chain Trading

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is emerging as the go-to network for on-chain trading efficiency and liquidity depth. Built as a Layer-1 for perpetual futures, it eliminates gas fees and offers on-chain order books for instant, transparent trade execution, a structure that has made it one of the most respected top crypto coins in 2025 among active traders.

What differentiates Hyperliquid is its commitment to long-term value. Its $1.29 billion buyback program is a bold statement of confidence that underlines its commitment to maintaining liquidity and price integrity during market corrections. By focusing on function over speculation, HYPE bridges professional-grade trading with decentralized infrastructure. As volume rebounds and infrastructure expands, it’s setting the standard for efficiency and speed across decentralized exchanges, making it a core mention in every list of the top crypto coins in 2025.

4. SUI: The Developer’s Layer-1 for Web3 Innovation

Despite recent market challenges, SUI (SUI) remains a vital name in the conversation around the top crypto coins in 2025. Its foundation is built on the Move programming language and object-based architecture, allowing developers to create complex, interactive assets natively on-chain, a game-changer for DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 applications.

Trading near $2.63, SUI has seen short-term volatility, but on-chain metrics reveal steady engagement and sustained developer activity. Its combination of scalability, high throughput, and flexible smart contract design gives it a technical edge that few other networks can match.

Although prices have dropped around 40% in the past quarter, its long-term fundamentals remain intact. SUI’s resilience, strong developer base, and expanding ecosystem ensure it continues to rank among the most promising top crypto coins in 2025 as Web3 applications move from concept to mass deployment.

Why These Four Projects Define 2025’s Crypto Momentum

The next phase of blockchain growth will be built on utility, adoption, and performance, and BlockDAG, Avalanche, Hyperliquid, and SUI exemplify those traits.

BlockDAG leads with a scalable, user-driven network powered by global miners and verifiable infrastructure. Avalanche continues bridging institutions and developers with real-time finality. Hyperliquid transforms trading with unmatched precision, while SUI provides a flexible foundation for future decentralized apps.

Together, they show how the top crypto coins in 2025 are redefining what progress looks like in blockchain. These projects are not chasing market cycles; they’re building systems ready to thrive beyond them. As 2025 unfolds, these four names represent the evolution from speculative tokens to self-sustaining digital economies.

Dow Jones Hits New All-Time High

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) surged to a fresh all-time high, peaking intraday at approximately 48,040 points before pulling back to close slightly lower amid mixed signals from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

This marks a continuation of the index’s strong momentum in late October, driven by a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Fed, cooler-than-expected inflation data, and optimism around corporate earnings and U.S.-China trade developments.

The Dow has now risen nearly 5% since mid-September, reflecting broader market resilience despite global uncertainties. Intraday ATH at 48,040; dipped on Powell’s cautious comments. Data sourced from FRED/St. Louis Fed and market reports; estimates based on session recaps as of Oct 30 morning.

The Federal Reserve’s 0.25% cut to 4.50%-4.75% boosted sentiment, though Powell noted December cuts are “not a foregone conclusion” due to persistent inflation risks. Strong reports from Dow components like Caterpillar (+13%), Coca-Cola, 3M, and UnitedHealth Group propelled gains

U.S.-China talks eased trade tensions, benefiting industrials, while AI hype lifted tech-adjacent names. Early Oct 30 trading: “Der Dow Jones $DJI pushing higher toward yesterday’s ATH of 48,040.”

The S&P 500 (SPX) opened higher amid ongoing earnings digestion and tempered Fed expectations, trading around 6,908 points midday +0.25% from prior close, building on its fresh all-time high (ATH) of over 6,900 hit on October 29.

The index has surged nearly 3% in the past month and 21% year-over-year, fueled by the Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut to 4.50%-4.75%, robust Q3 earnings 9.2% blended growth, 84% beat rate, and AI-driven optimism in tech giants like Nvidia now at $5T market cap.

As of early October 30, 2025, futures suggest the Dow could test 48,000 again today, but volatility lingers with upcoming economic data. If you’re trading or investing, keep an eye on Powell’s full remarks and Q3 GDP releases.

However, concentration risks loom: the “Magnificent 7” drove +12.5% weekly gains, while the other 493 stocks eked out just +0.8%, signaling fragility in the rally. Data aggregated from FRED, Yahoo Finance, and market recaps; estimates for non-final sessions.

The 0.25% cut boosted initial gains, but Chair Powell’s remarks lowered December cut odds to ~68% from 90%, sparking a “sell-the-news” pullback in megacaps. Q3 saw 87% EPS beats above 5-year avg of 78%, with revenue +7.0% YoY—highest since Q3 2022.

Standouts: Alphabet > $100B revenue, Microsoft; laggards: Meta (hit by $16B AI charge). Tech +12.5% Nvidia’s milestone, Financials mixed amid rate uncertainty; Energy the lone decliner.

Broader tailwinds: U.S.-China tariff relief 57% to 47% and QT end in December. XTraders highlighted the rally’s “air-built” momentum and concentration risks, with calls for rotation to small-caps:”

Markets at ATHs, but watch the warning signs… S&P 500 at fresh ATH at$6890 but only Mag 7 flying +12.5% weekly. The other 493 stocks? +0.8%. Extreme concentration = fragility.” “$SPY hit my wave (v) target yesterday…

Sharp pace of the recent rally… ‘sell-the-FOMC’ reaction was largely expected. This is a classic setup where momentum meets event risk.” “$SPY dropped 30 pts overnight. The last week’s rally was built on air – light volume, shallow conviction – ahead of the FOMC.”

As of midday October 30, 2025, the S&P 500 eyes 6,920 if earnings beats continue, but VIX at 16 signals complacency—watch for rotation or volatility on upcoming GDP data. Forward P/E at 22.7 suggests stretched valuations, with analysts eyeing 11% CY 2025 EPS growth.

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