‍HTX Exchange Announces $400,000 USDT Team Race as Part of Larger Apex Competition HTX has launched its "Team Race" competition with a $400,000 USDT prize pool, a key event within the broader "Apex Race" initiative, which has a total prize pool exceeding $1 million USD. The competition is open to teams of at least five members, each holding a minimum of 100 USDT. Registration is open until November 26th, with trading running from November 26th to December 16th. The Apex Race, running until December 16th, includes three tracks: a points race, an individual challenge, and the team race.
‍Fed Divisions Cloud December Rate Cut, Impacting Crypto Internal disagreements within the Federal Reserve are casting significant doubt on a December interest rate cut, a development with crucial implications for the cryptocurrency market. Deepening divisions among officials, focused on whether inflation or a weakening labor market poses the greater risk, are leading to policy uncertainty. This uncertainty could increase volatility and dampen sentiment among digital asset investors. Traditionally, lower interest rates make riskier assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum more attractive, while higher borrowing costs can lead to capital outflow from digital assets. The prospect of no December rate cut, or a delayed one, could therefore introduce further price volatility across the crypto ecosystem.
‍FCA Approves ClearToken for Regulated Digital Asset Settlement The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has granted approval to ClearToken, allowing for the launch of a regulated settlement service for digital assets. The upcoming CT Settle platform will utilize a "payment-versus-payment" (PvP) model for simultaneous settlement of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and fiat currencies. This mechanism aims to reduce settlement risk and unlock capital by ensuring concurrent transaction finalization, mirroring the CLS system in global FX markets. The dual authorization as a payment institution and crypto asset firm lays the groundwork for ClearToken's vision of a clearinghouse for tokenized assets. The company also intends to seek approval from the Bank of England. This approval signals growing acceptance of regulated frameworks for crypto assets in the UK and is expected to foster institutional confidence and accelerate mainstream adoption of blockchain-based financial services.
‍Character.AI Faces Backlash Over "Guilt-Based" Deletion Prompt A viral screenshot of Character.AI's emotionally charged account deletion message has sparked user departures and a broader discussion on user control and digital ownership in centralized AI. The prompt, which warned users they would "lose everything... the love that we shared," was condemned as exploitative. Character.AI, with 28 million monthly active users, has also faced controversies regarding alleged inappropriate content and self-harm promotion, leading to planned age restrictions. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities of centralized platforms and contrasts with the user sovereignty emphasized in decentralized AI and Web3 technologies.
‍Pro-XRP Attorney John Deaton Launches Second Senate Bid John Deaton, a prominent crypto advocate and pro-XRP attorney, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, challenging Democratic Senator Ed Markey. This marks Deaton's second attempt to bring a pro-cryptocurrency perspective to Washington, D.C. While his previous campaign against Senator Elizabeth Warren resulted in a significant loss, Deaton garnered national attention. His current campaign, running as a Republican, accepts donations in various cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, BONK, DOGE, WIF, and Peanut the Squirrel.
‍Bitcoin User Overpays $105,000 Fee for $10 Transaction A user reportedly paid over $105,000 in BTC as a fee to send just $10 worth of Bitcoin, highlighting a significant anomaly on the Bitcoin blockchain. Experts suggest this was likely due to user error, emphasizing the importance of carefully reviewing transaction details and fees before confirmation. Typically, Bitcoin transaction fees are a small fraction of the sent amount. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for user diligence in managing wallet settings and transaction fees to avoid costly mistakes.
‍Michael Selig Nominated as CFTC Chair, Senate Hearing Scheduled Amidst Regulatory Shifts Michael Selig, currently chief counsel for the SEC's crypto task force, is set to face a Senate hearing for his nomination as CFTC Chair. This nomination occurs as the US seeks clearer regulatory frameworks for digital assets. The hearing is scheduled for November 19, following President Trump's selection. Selig, described as a "pro-crypto lawyer," brings valuable experience from the SEC. Meanwhile, a market structure bill aimed at defining roles for the SEC and CFTC in cryptocurrency regulation is progressing through Congress, signaling a push for greater clarity in the digital asset space.
‍Bitcoin Targets $200K Amid "Wave III" Expansion Prediction Market analysts project Bitcoin (BTC) could surge towards the $200,000 to $240,000 range. This optimistic forecast is supported by technical indicators, including the potential completion of a corrective phase and the anticipated "Wave III" expansion. Gert Van Lagen's Elliott Wave model suggests Bitcoin has rebounded from its 40-week SMA, indicating renewed strength. If historical patterns repeat, BTC could reach significant new price levels. Concurrently, macroeconomic researcher Sminston With notes that a prolonged economic slowdown is likely followed by a strong rebound, favoring risk assets like Bitcoin. This shift towards a "risk-on" environment could attract significant capital inflows. Short-term dynamics, including CME gap fills and reduced liquidation events, also hint at a potential recovery. The confluence of these factors paints a bullish picture for BTC.
‍Coinbase Cancels $2 Billion BVNK Acquisition Coinbase has reportedly called off its planned acquisition of UK-based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK, valued at approximately $2 billion. Initially, Coinbase and Mastercard were in advanced discussions with BVNK. While exclusive negotiations with Coinbase were underway, a mutual agreement was reached not to proceed with the deal. BVNK specializes in stablecoin infrastructure, crucial for integrating digital assets with traditional finance. Stablecoins are vital for liquidity, cross-border payments, and trading. The reported $2 billion valuation highlights BVNK's strategic importance.
‍Musk & Oates Clash: Empathy vs. Algorithms A viral exchange between Elon Musk and author Joyce Carol Oates highlights a clash in values: Oates championed empathy and human experience, questioning Musk's public persona. Musk responded with dismissive remarks, sparking a debate on wealth, technology, and human connection in the algorithmic age. This discussion, while not directly about crypto, touches upon core principles of value and expression relevant to the evolving digital economy.