Crypto News Round-Up — October 2025

This week’s top developments span regulatory moves, infrastructure upgrades, security incidents, and institutional adoption in crypto. U.S. and international authorities are increasingly focusing on crypto oversight, even as new blockchain designs and investment vehicles emerge. At the same time, high-profile DeFi exploits underscore persistent risks. Below is a summary of the most important crypto news items.

• Regulators Grapple with Crypto Oversight
• Cardano’s Architecture Eases Mass Airdrops
• Radiant Capital Hack Funds Tracked
• Bunni DEX Shuts Down After $8.4M Hack
• Institutional Crypto Investment Accelerates
• Banks Expand Crypto Services

Regulators Grapple with Crypto Oversight

Global regulators are signaling tighter oversight of crypto markets. U.S. lawmakers are debating stablecoin legislation and crypto exchanges face enhanced auditing requirements (Reuters). In Europe, new rules under the Markets in Crypto-Assets framework (MiCA) are being finalized, and agencies are warning exchanges to bolster compliance. These policy moves reflect growing concern over consumer protection and financial stability as crypto adoption rises (Reuters).

• Tighter rules aim to curb fraud and ensure stablecoin reserves are fully backed, building trust in crypto (Reuters).
• At the same time, compliance costs will rise for crypto firms, potentially driving industry consolidation.
• Global coordination could prevent regulatory arbitrage but may also slow some crypto innovations.

Cardano’s Architecture Eases Mass Airdrops

Blockchain experts note that Cardano’s ledger design inherently avoids the congestion problems seen on networks like Ethereum. On account-based chains, large token airdrops can flood the network with transactions, causing gas spikes and delays. Many projects resort to complex Merkle-claim systems for distribution. By contrast, Cardano’s UTXO model does not require every account to update global state, allowing smoother bulk transfers (CoinDesk) (coinpedia.org).

• Cardano’s approach means projects can distribute tokens at scale without triggering massive transaction fees.
• This advantage may attract major token launches or airdrops to Cardano’s ecosystem in future.
• The comparison highlights how protocol design impacts real-world network performance and costs.

Radiant Capital Hack Funds Tracked

Blockchain investigators report that the attacker behind the Radiant Capital exploit has just transferred roughly $10.8 million in stolen Ether into the Tornado Cash mixer (Cointelegraph) (coinpedia.org). The 2024 breach drained about $53 million from Radiant’s lending pools after hackers compromised its multi-signature wallet. The recent movement of 2,834.6 ETH through Tornado Cash underscores how stolen crypto is often laundered via privacy tools.

• The use of Tornado Cash highlights the challenge of tracing stolen funds across chains.
• Investigations through analytics firms like CertiK are now tracking the flow, demonstrating that criminals’ trails can still be followed.
• This incident underscores the need for strong multi-sig security and faster on-chain tracing to deter thieves.

Bunni DEX Shuts Down After $8.4M Hack

Decentralized exchange Bunni announced it will shut down after suffering an $8.4 million exploit in September (Cointelegraph) (coinpedia.org). The project’s team said it no longer has the funding to cover the extensive audit and relaunch needed to recover. In response, the developers have relicensed Bunni’s smart–contract code under an MIT open-source license so that other teams can reuse or build on it.

• The shutdown highlights how smaller DeFi projects can be devastated by single hacks, losing user trust and liquidity.
• Making the code open source may salvage some community value and lessons, but token holders still face losses.
• The episode underscores that thorough contract audits and insurance funds are vital for future DeFi projects.

Institutional Crypto Investment Accelerates

Major financial institutions continue moving into digital assets. Bloomberg reports that large asset managers such as BlackRock and Fidelity have filed new applications this week to launch spot Ether ETFs (Ether-tracking funds), following the recent roll-out of Bitcoin ETFs. New crypto-focused funds and index products are appearing worldwide, reflecting steady demand from institutional investors. This wave of filings and fund launches indicates that traditional Wall Street is increasingly viewing crypto as a mainstream asset class (Bloomberg).

• The ETF filings signal confidence that crypto markets are maturing, which could bring in trillions in new capital from pensions, endowments, and retail investors.
• Greater institutional participation may reduce volatility over time and expand market liquidity.
• However, it also means crypto markets will face even more regulatory scrutiny and financial controls as they integrate with legacy finance.

Banks Expand Crypto Services

Global banks are deepening their crypto-related services. For example, Standard Chartered announced an expansion of cryptocurrency custody and trading services for institutional clients, aiming to meet rising demand. Payment networks like Visa and Mastercard have also expanded crypto payment programs, and some mass-market brokerages are launching cryptocurrency trading desks (Reuters). These developments confirm that traditional financial institutions are increasingly blending blockchain technology into their offerings as currencies like Bitcoin and stablecoins gain traction.

• By offering custody and settlement services, banks provide more security and trust, which can encourage mainstream adoption of crypto.
• Expanded crypto offerings could bring a larger pool of capital into the market, further integrating digital assets into everyday finance.
• The trend shows that banking and crypto are converging, which may lead to new hybrid financial products but also means banks will lobby for clearer crypto regulations.

Note: Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and speculative. The content here is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Bottom Line

In recent days, the crypto landscape has been shaped by a mix of innovation and caution. On one hand, institutional interest and infrastructure upgrades (like Cardano’s efficient ledger model) point to the sector’s maturing fundamentals. On the other hand, regulatory scrutiny is increasing and recent hacks remind us that security remains a major concern. Investors and users should note that policies and market trends can shift rapidly. Above all, given the volatility of digital assets, it's essential to stay informed and approach crypto investments with careful due diligence.