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  • Cross River Bank links $2.4B RLUSD to core banking system

    Cross River Bank links $2.4B RLUSD to core banking system

    Dollar and stablecoin payments through one connection

    Cross River says fintechs can use its proprietary Core Operating System (COS) to move between US dollars and $RLUSD, settle cross-border payments and treasury transfers around the clock, and access $ACH, wires and real-time payments.

    The API is the software connection between a fintech and the bank’s services. Cross River handles the integration with the blockchain payment network, allowing customers to access $RLUSD alongside conventional payment options through that connection.

    Adam Goller, Cross River’s head of fintech banking, said:

    “Businesses shouldn’t have to rely on several different providers to move money across the globe.”

    He added that the $RLUSD integration expands capabilities the bank was already developing, bringing stablecoin transfers and traditional rails into its existing platform.

    The companies also pitch the integration as another settlement option for payment networks. Issuers and acquirers, the institutions that issue payment cards and handle merchants’ card transactions, could gain more flexibility to settle within the day and reduce settlement delays.

    Cross River cites $XRP Ledger settlement times of three to five seconds. $ACH, wires and other conventional rails remain separate options reached through COS.

    $RLUSD is distinct from $XRP, the $XRP Ledger’s native asset. The announcement identifies $RLUSD as the dollar-backed payment asset and XRPL as the blockchain supporting it. Any role for $XRP as the principal transferred between customers remains unspecified.

    Markus Infanger, senior vice president of RippleX at Ripple, described the partnership as a way to make stablecoins part of the banking infrastructure businesses already use. The proposition is access through an established banking relationship, with the bank providing the connection to on-chain settlement.

    On Nov. 24, 2025, Cross River announced a COS-integrated stablecoin-payments offering for approved fintech, enterprise and crypto partners, also with limited-state availability. The new announcement adds $RLUSD and $XRP Ledger support to that broader platform.

    In a March 24 explanation, Luca Cosentino, Cross River’s head of crypto, described accounts that could send and receive stablecoins directly from dollar balances. He cited issuer integrations, automated liquidity, and standardized APIs as features of the bank’s approach.

    The deal follows other efforts to distribute $RLUSD through established banks. On Oct. 12, Standard Chartered launched $RLUSD custody for eligible institutional clients holding XRPL-issued $RLUSD through its Dubai International Financial Centre branch, with a separate LMAX collateral integration still planned.

    Cross River’s partnership extends that banking presence into payments and settlement.

    $RLUSD had a market capitalization of about $2.4 billion as of Oct. 16, while Cross River’s Oct. 15 release separately put issuance on the $XRP Ledger above $1 billion.

  • OpenAnonProject Collaborates with Ethereum Foundation

    OpenAnonProject Collaborates with Ethereum Foundation

    The Ethereum Foundation has highlighted the critical importance of privacy primitives in the age of artificial intelligence. According to a recent tweet by the Foundation, as reliance on AI technology increases, safeguarding personal data becomes essential to prevent censorship and surveillance. This collaboration with OpenAnonProject aims to further their commitment to privacy, ensuring that users’ digital footprints remain protected against misuse. More details can be found in their tweet.

    What Happened

    As discussions around privacy intensify, the Ethereum Foundation’s emphasis on privacy primitives resonates strongly within the crypto community. While other projects are navigating mixed signals, the focus on privacy could set a new standard for how AI technologies are integrated into daily life. The Foundation’s collaboration with OpenAnonProject signals a proactive approach to addressing privacy concerns ahead of potential regulatory scrutiny, reflecting a growing awareness of the challenges posed by data security in an increasingly digital landscape.

    Price Action Breakdown

    The current crypto market shows a mix of momentum, with various assets reflecting differing levels of activity. Notably, the OpenAnonProject, while currently without trading volume, stands at the forefront of discussions on privacy, aiming to reshape how user data is protected. This strategic collaboration with the Ethereum Foundation could lead to new innovations in privacy technology, which may influence broader market trends as adoption increases.

  • Three Canadian Armed Forces Members Charged in Kidnapping of Crypto Exchange Owner

    Three Canadian Armed Forces Members Charged in Kidnapping of Crypto Exchange Owner

    In brief

    • Toronto police have laid 82 charges against seven men, including three Canadian Armed Forces members, over the July abduction of a crypto exchange owner.
    • Police allege the victim was abducted at gunpoint, handcuffed and assaulted while the suspects tried to gain access to his crypto and business security systems.
    • Searches turned up guns with 3D-printed parts, two silencers, drugs and more than 2,700 rounds of ammunition, about 2,500 of them stolen from the military.

    Toronto police have arrested seven men, three of them members of the Canadian Armed Forces, over the abduction of the owner of a cryptocurrency exchange, the Toronto Police Service announced on Wednesday.

    Investigators have laid 82 charges, including kidnapping for ransom and numerous firearms offenses. Police did not name the victim or the exchange.

    Police allege the victim was targeted as he approached his vehicle near Finch Avenue East and Bayview Avenue on July 25, 2026, then abducted at gunpoint, handcuffed and assaulted while the suspects tried to gain access to cryptocurrency assets and business-related security systems. He was later released after being threatened and warned not to contact police.

    “The victim was allegedly targeted because of his access to cryptocurrency assets,” Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews told reporters, CityNews reported.

    Police arrested Saiefeddine Adem, 22, and Raheem Bishop-Jackson, 24, on July 26. Talarambage Fernando, 22, James Moreau, 29, and Christian Darbandi, 39, were arrested on August 11, followed by Jack Miley, 24, and Suhaib Alekozai, 39, on September 24.

    Fernando, Moreau and Miley have been confirmed as Canadian Armed Forces members, police said. Fernando and Moreau are reservists with the 7th Toronto Regiment who were removed from military duties after their arrests, the Department of National Defence said earlier this month.

    Myriad: How high will Bitcoin go? Click to make your prediction.
    Myriad: How high will Bitcoin go? Click to make your prediction.

    Searches of homes and vehicles turned up a shotgun, two 9mm firearms with 3D-printed receivers, two silencers, GPS tracking devices, handcuffs and large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, along with more than 2,700 rounds of ammunition. About 2,500 of those rounds had been stolen from the Canadian Armed Forces, investigators determined.

    “Criminals continue to adapt their methods and seek new opportunities for financial gain,” Matthews said in the release, describing the investigation as a reflection of increasingly sophisticated and targeted crimes involving digital assets.

    “Whether you are a member of the military or a member of a police service or a public official, no one is above the law,” Police Chief Myron Demkiw told reporters.

    Police say there are no outstanding suspects and no further arrests are expected, though the investigation is ongoing.

    “We’re still trying to determine how all of [the suspects] fit together in this puzzle,” Matthews said.

    Crypto kidnappings in Canada

    The case follows other kidnappings in Canada linked to crypto. WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was released after a $720,000 ransom was paid in 2024, while a man who kidnapped a victim for a $1 million Bitcoin ransom was sentenced to 13 years in prison in September 2025.

    A month later, one of the men who abducted self-styled “Crypto King” Aiden Pleterski in December 2022 pleaded guilty to to nine charges, including kidnapping, assault, and firearms offenses.

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  • SpaceX Wallets Surge to 140,174, Driven by Tokenized Assets

    SpaceX Wallets Surge to 140,174, Driven by Tokenized Assets

    Tokenized assets for SpaceX and Tesla have gained traction, now held in 140,174 wallets. This figure represents a remarkable increase, up 7.9 times since January. This growth reflects a rising interest in blockchain-based investments and trading, especially amid speculation around SpaceX’s potential public listing. The data surfaced through a tweet from influencer @tokenterminal, signaling a noteworthy trend in the crypto space.

    Inside the Move

    The broader crypto market remains mixed, yet interest in tokenized assets is surging. With 140,174 wallets now holding tokenized SpaceX and Tesla assets via xStocks, traders are keenly observing this development. This marked increase indicates that more investors are looking towards blockchain offerings as a viable investment vehicle. The excitement around a possible SpaceX IPO adds another layer of interest, particularly in the crypto community. As traditional and crypto markets intersect, this trend may gain further momentum.

  • ZCash Expands Payment Options with NEAR Intents Integration

    ZCash Expands Payment Options with NEAR Intents Integration

    Market Snapshot

    The integration is expected to drive increased adoption of ZCash for everyday transactions, particularly as users prefer utilizing popular payment platforms. Market interest in ZCash has notably risen following the $NEAR Intents integration, suggesting that traders are optimistic about the potential growth in user base and transaction volume as a result of this collaboration.

    $NEAR Protocol is a blockchain platform that enables developers to build decentralized applications efficiently. ZCash, known for its privacy features, aims to enhance its usability through this partnership, making it accessible via prominent payment platforms, thereby appealing to a wider audience. This collaboration underscores the importance of interoperability in the evolving crypto landscape.

    Key Levels to Watch

    Traders are closely watching ZCash for any further developments in this integration, particularly how it may influence transaction volumes and market positioning. As more partnerships are forged with other payment platforms, ZCash could solidify its place in the crypto payment ecosystem, potentially leading to increased liquidity and trading activity.

    This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should conduct their own research before making any investment decisions.

  • Binance Founder CZ Voices Support for XRP, ZEC and SOL Amid China Crypto Controversy

    Binance Founder CZ Voices Support for XRP, ZEC and SOL Amid China Crypto Controversy

    He listed Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), BNB, $XRP, $SOL, HYPE, $ZEC, SIGN, and stablecoins as the digital assets that he’s bullish on.

    The comments came as Solana’s ambitious move to expand in Shanghai hit an unforeseen roadblock, with speculation that CZ’s previous public statements may have led to the current controversy.

    CZ reacts to Solana controversy in China

    Solana became a topic of interest early this week after it made public its new office in Shanghai, in addition to its massive advertising campaign in the city.

    CZ at first showed excitement over the development. He implied that Solana’s advertisement and physical presence in Shanghai could be a gateway for other blockchain projects.

    Furthermore, CZ pointed out that developments like this might be a sign that China could be loosening its crypto restrictions.

    However, things didn’t quite go as planned, as Solana’s planned event at Shanghai’s Shangri-La Hotel was postponed on October 16.

    It was reported that people at the event found themselves facing law enforcement authorities. The organizers, on the other hand, said that the event was postponed due to logistical reasons. Solana Foundation’s President, Lily Liu, later shared that there was a sudden 4x spike in registrations, which exceeded the number of people they had filed with local authorities to attend.

    The event led some people on social media to speculate that CZ’s previous comments on Solana’s expansion may have caught the attention of the Chinese authorities.

    CZ, however, denied those claims. He pointed out that in Shanghai, the Solana advertisement on a building was taken down reportedly within 10 minutes.

    He reiterated that his post on X couldn’t have led to the advertisement being pulled down, as he became aware of the advertisement only 12 to 24 hours after it was already out there.

  • Sacked bus driver ‘farted so badly’ colleague ‘washed uniform and needed shower’

    Sacked bus driver ‘farted so badly’ colleague ‘washed uniform and needed shower’

    A bus driver who was sacked has lost her disability discrimination and harassment claim against her employer over a farting incident.

    Stephanie Bryan from Bristol had been working for bus company the Big Lemon when she experienced flatulence so bad a colleague suspected she had soiled herself, a tribunal heard.

    The employment tribunal heard that Ms Bryan had allegedly produced ‘significant flatulence’ before her co-worker noticed the lingering odour.

    Fellow employee Samantha Bingham, who had smelt the alleged stench when she started her shift and sat in the same seat, had concluded that Ms Bryan had soiled herself.

    The tribunal heard of an incident in January 2025, in which Ms Bingham ‘became aware of a significant odour whilst working in proximity’ of Ms Bryan, and ‘genuinely believed the odour emanated’ from her.

    Stephanie Bryan worked for the Big Lemon bus company (The Big Lemon)

    Stephanie Bryan worked for the Big Lemon bus company (The Big Lemon)

    “She had sat in the driver’s seat of the bus shortly before she commenced her duties on the bus,” Judge Jonathan Walters said. “The Tribunal accepts the evidence that the odour was consistent with faecal matter potentially caused by significant flatulence which had led to soiling and was not associated with urine or urinary incontinence.”

    After retuning home, Ms Bingham’s partner also sensed the smell and asked if she had defected, meaning she had to wash her clothes and ‘immediately’ take a shower, the tribunal was told.

    “The episode had been so significant that when the second respondent returned home that evening her partner asked her whether she had in fact soiled herself” the judge said.

    “She was obliged to remove all her clothing and place them in the washing machine and she then immediately took a shower.”

    As per the tribunal, When Ms Bingham confronted Bryan over the incident, she allegedly said in her defence: “Everyone needs to fart and let out gases.”

    The bus driver tried to sue her employer (Getty Stock)

    The bus driver tried to sue her employer (Getty Stock)

    However the tribunal heard that Ms Bryan reacted ‘negatively’ to the accusations, despite Ms Bingham being ‘genuinely and reasonably concerned by the situation she found herself in’.

    “The Tribunal is satisfied that the second respondent was raising a genuine workplace concern with the claimant,” the document read.

    “The concerns about hygiene were also raised sensitively and appropriately in private.”

    Ms Bryan was let go from her job with The Big Lemon following the incident following a probation review. The tribal said she had been on a three-month probation period from September 2024, which was extended to January 2025 due to ‘concerns regarding her performance’.

    However the bus driver went on to sue the company for disability discrimination and harassment, alleging that she was treated unfairly.

    The tribunal heard that issues were also brought up to Ms Bryan about personal hygiene, and found the concerns ‘related not to bladder weakness but to body odour and had arisen from complaints made by colleagues’, finding that the probation meeting was ‘conducted appropriately’.

    Stephanie Bryan was behind the wheel when she allegedly produced ‘significant flatulence’ (Getty Stock)

    Stephanie Bryan was behind the wheel when she allegedly produced ‘significant flatulence’ (Getty Stock)

    The hearing also found that Ms Bryan did not inform the bus company bosses of her depression or existing bladder weakness and that therefore management did not know whether these could contribute to hygiene problems.

    The Bristol Employment Tribunal later rejected her claims, ruling that Ms Bryan’s complaints were not related to her health.

    It was instead ruled that Ms Bingham had raised ‘a genuine workplace concern’, and there was ‘absolutely no evidence before the tribunal that[she had any knowledge of the claimed disabilities nor ought she reasonably to have known about them’.

    The hearing dismissed both the discrimination and harassment claims

    “The Tribunal is not satisfied that any unfavourable treatment was because of something arising in consequence of her disabilities,” the judge said.

    “The dismissal occurred because management genuinely and reasonably concluded that [Ms Bryan] had failed satisfactorily to complete her probationary period.”

  • Morning Minute: Google Clears a Major Quantum Hurdle, Bitcoin Still Safe

    Morning Minute: Google Clears a Major Quantum Hurdle, Bitcoin Still Safe

    Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. And check out our daily news show ‘FOMO HOUR’ covering all of the top stories and market action.

    GM!

    Today’s top news:

    • Crypto majors rebound despite hot PPI; BTC at $82.7k
    • MSCI finalized index rules putting Strategy at risk of removal (MSTR -3%)
    • White House has no crypto lead after Patrick Witt announces departure
    • Binance US tries to raise $100M at $1B valuation
    • Jupiter rolls out Papertrade-like perps product, does $1B volume first day

    BitcoinBTC · USD

    $81,658−1.04%

    Oct 9Oct 11Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16

    $84.2k$82.9k$81.5k$80.2k

    24h HighHigh$82,816

    24h LowLow$80,761

    VolVol$1.3B

    Market projectionsOdds by Myriad

    →

    ⚗️Google Clears a Major Quantum Hurdle, Bitcoin Still Safe

    Eight days ago an Ethereum researcher told large holders to move their coins. Today Google published a result that makes him look less paranoid and more early.

    Google Quantum AI cut a critical class of quantum errors roughly 40-fold on its Willow chip, per a new paper in Science. The technique attacks what may be quantum computing’s single biggest tax – producing the clean, single-use resources certain operations need, which by some estimates eats up to 95% of a machine’s capacity. Instead of building dedicated qubit factories to purify them, Google filters: inject a rough state, run it through a gauntlet of checks, throw out the 92% that fail. What survives hits 99.99% fidelity.

    Nobody is draining wallets with this. Breaking an RSA-2048 key needs errors around one in 10 billion – about a million times cleaner than what Google just showed.

    But researchers are moving closely. In 2019, cracking RSA-2048 was estimated to need 20 million noisy qubits. By 2025 that was under one million. A March 2026 Google whitepaper put Bitcoin’s elliptic curve cryptography at under 500,000 physical qubits. Willow has 105.

    The irony this week is that Justin Drake’s actual fear wasn’t quantum at all. He thinks AI-driven mathematics breaks elliptic curves first, on ordinary hardware, in “months not years.” His advice: big holders should move funds to fresh addresses that have never signed a transaction, because signing exposes your public key. So crypto is being “attacked” on two fronts: quantum advancement and AI advancement.

    With that said, key players are making moves and starting serious preparations. Coinbase spent this week arguing the migration has to start now. Sui is already running quantum-safe transactions on a test network. Ethereum, Zcash and Near all have plans to be quantum-resistant.

    Crypto leaders will be prepared. But this was a reminder from Google that the tock is indeed ticking…

    🌎 Macro Crypto and Markets

    • Mastercard launched its Global Money Platform built on BVNK, the crypto firm it bought for roughly $1.8 billion in August, giving banks and fintechs a single account that holds fiat and stablecoins with API conversion between them
    • Ledger unveiled the Atom, a touchscreen Android device it calls a “signer” rather than a wallet, running Ledger OS on a secure chip isolated from Android with a hardware switch that physically cuts the camera and mic
    • Binance US is trying to raise up to $100 million at a $1 billion valuation, down 78% from the $4.5 billion it commanded in 2022 before its parent’s settlement with U.S. authorities gutted its market share

    Corporate Treasuries & ETFs

    Meme Coin Tracker

    • Meme leaders were green up 2-5%; DOGE +3%, SHIB +4%, PEPE +4%, PENGU +4%, TRUMP +4%, SPX -1%, BONK +4%
    • Robinhood chain leaders were green up 10-20%; PONS +9% to $226M; AI +20% at $107M; Cashcat +15% at $115M; HOOKR +30%, Orbio +25% and MEME +30% led top movers
    • Solana top movers included FTR +2000%, 1 +3000%, Dacity +1200% and Bubble +1800%

    💰 Token, Airdrop & Protocol Tracker

    🚚 What is happening in NFTs?

    • NFT leaders were mostly flat; Punks even at 31 ETH, BAYC -1% at 5.4 ETH, Pudgy even at 2.42 ETH
    • Yield Field Deeds (+14%), Argonauts (+12%) and OTC Desks (+75%) led top movers

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  • Scammer Lost $4.8M in Bitcoin to Tampered Ledger Wallets: Chainalysis

    Scammer Lost $4.8M in Bitcoin to Tampered Ledger Wallets: Chainalysis

    In brief

    • Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said one of the biggest victims of the Ledger wallet drain was a scammer who lost more than 60 BTC, about $4.8 million.
    • The scammer moved the proceeds into three Ledger addresses on September 22, and thieves emptied all three into a single wallet on October 9.
    • Ledger has tied all confirmed losses to devices sold by reseller CryptoBilis, though Chainalysis did not say where the scammer bought the devices.

    Recent revelations of thefts from tampered Ledger hardware wallets sparked some schadenfreude, after it was revealed that one of the biggest victims was a scammer who lost more than 60 BTC.

    Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis revealed the transactions behind the theft, which saw some $4.8 million worth of Bitcoin stolen, in a tweet on Thursday.

    The Bitcoin came from a task scam, according to Chainalysis. People were paid to fake sales and reviews of real items, until a “negative balance” appeared in their accounts and they were told to add their own money in order to get paid.

    On September 22, the person behind the scam moved the proceeds into three separate Ledger addresses. On October 9, thieves emptied all three, with one transfer from each into the same wallet, which has been reported as holding stolen funds.

    A chart shared by Chainalysis shows the scam proceeds passing through a consolidation wallet before reaching the three Ledger addresses, each of which was drained of about $1.64 million.

    Ledger disclosed the incident on October 9.

    Myriad: How high will Bitcoin go? Click to make your prediction.
    Myriad: How high will Bitcoin go? Click to make your prediction.

    Ledger’s tampered devices

    Ledger’s Donjon security team disclosed that it had found an implant in wallets sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis, which reads the 24-word recovery phrase from the screen during setup and sends it out over LTE. The company has said that all confirmed losses involve devices sold through CryptoBilis.

    Chainalysis did not say where the scammer bought the devices.

    Onchain investigator Specter has traced more than $86 million in suspected thefts, a figure Ledger says it has not verified. On Tuesday, Ledger asked resellers and distributors in six Southeast Asian countries and Hong Kong to suspend sales of its devices.

    Ledger has not confirmed the total number of affected users or the value lost, and its investigation is ongoing.

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  • Plasma partners with Stripe as XPL surges by 10% — Can the rally continue?

    Plasma partners with Stripe as XPL surges by 10% — Can the rally continue?

    The proposed cards would reportedly support six currencies including USD, EUR, BRL, MXN, COP, and PEN. The collaboration is aimed at simplifying international payments, while at the same time reducing foreign exchange costs as well as unnecessary conversions.

    The initiative will additionally provide multi-currency balance management, allowing users to manage funds across various currencies. Automatic currency selection, which could simplify payments for consumers and businesses operating on a global scale, is also a part of this programme.

    Here, it’s worth pointing out that the payment infrastructure already covers more than 30 countries. The expansion plans to target over 100 markets by 2027.

    $XPL Futures traders ramp up bullish bets

    Thanks to the partnership announcement, $XPL’s derivatives market recorded significant gains in trading activity and outstanding positions.

    According to CoinGlass, the derivatives trading volume jumped by 99.79% to $250.73 million. $XPL’s Open Interest also surged by 17.62% to $213.62 million at press time.

    Additionally, the 24-hour Long/Short Ratio reached 1.0807, hinting at a slight preference for bullish positions.

    Binance’s top traders highlighted a stronger long exposure, with their account-based Long/Short Ratio recording a reading of 1.3607. In fact, their position-based ratio expanded to 2.6971, alluding to a substantially larger concentration of long positions.

    The liquidations, however, highlighted the risks accompanying greater leverage. In particular, total liquidations reached $292.74K, including $218.32K in longs and $74.44K in shorts.

    Consequently, the long traders accounted for roughly 75% of the liquidations, despite the broader exposure in bullish positioning.

    Source: $XPL Derivatives Data on CoinGlass

    A look at the daily charts

    Plasma’s [$XPL] price recovery followed a reversal from the $0.07514-support zone, with the bulls pushing the price towards $0.08512. The altcoin, however, still faced an immediate resistance at $0.08996. This level will be important for confirming further upside.

    A successful price breakout above that zone could open the path towards the psychological $0.10-region.

    Meanwhile, the RSI indicator stood at 45.36, below the neutral-50 threshold. Even though the indicator exceeded its moving average of 44.67, the positioning still implied that buying pressure was relatively weak.

    Ultimately, failure to break above $0.08996 resistance could trigger another price pullback towards the $0.07514 support.

    Source: $XPL/USDT Daily Chart on TradingView

    Final Summary

    • Plasma’s Stripe partnership coincided with a 65.51% surge in $XPL’s trading volume.
    • $XPL now faces $0.08996 resistance, with the RSI below 50 hinting at weak buying pressure.