Crypto funding dropped 30%, but Bitcoin pumped to $116K.
Meme coins on Charlie Kirk’s death stirred a huge ethics debate.
A Bitcoin whale moved $16M after 13 years, while gold hit ATH.
Kraken Perps launched ahead of its $15B IPO push.
Nepalese protests made Bitchat (Jack Dorsey’s app) explode in downloads.
Russia opens crypto derivatives for investment funds in 2026.
Funding in crypto fell 30% in August to $1.9B, with DeFi and AI projects leading the pack. Lower valuations? Honestly, it might mean a healthier market reset.
Big regulatory shift: South Korea just lifted its ban on VCs backing crypto startups. That’s a green light for fresh capital inflows.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin flexed, touching $116K thanks to cooling U.S. inflation data and record ETF inflows. Futures traders are loading up on Ethereum while altcoins like DOGE (+25%) and Hyperliquid (+23%) are flashing altseason vibes.
Here’s where it gets messy. After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, meme coins flooded Solana—one hit $36M market cap, and top traders + creators walked away with $2M in profit.
The catch? It’s sparked a heated debate: are these “death coins” just free-market chaos, or straight-up dystopian?
Trading launchpad Pump.fun hit record volumes ($533M) during the frenzy. But critics say profiting off death takes degen culture too far. With past Biden-death rumors and Nazi-themed tokens, it’s clear meme coin culture is pushing boundaries—and forcing Web3 to confront its ethical line.
After 13 years, a dormant Bitcoin whale moved $16M worth of BTC—reminding everyone that OGs are still around. Analysts think it may connect to digital asset treasuries repositioning.
Bitcoin is chilling near $115K (down from its $124K ATH), but here’s the twist: Gold just hit an all-time inflation-adjusted high of $3,683/oz. The BTC-to-gold ratio is shifting, and traders are watching whether Bitcoin can keep up.
Between institutional inflows and whale activity, Q4 market dynamics could be spicy.
Kraken just dropped Kraken Perps, letting retail traders bet long or short on crypto 24/7—no need to own the underlying assets.
Built-in safety nets like stop-loss orders aim to protect traders from nukes. The timing? Perfect—Kraken is gearing up for a $15B IPO in 2026.
With derivatives volumes hitting records, plus tokenized stocks and even an Ethereum L2 in its pipeline, Kraken is positioning itself as a full-stack crypto hub.
Protests erupted in Nepal after the government banned 26 major social media platforms. In response, Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat app blew up, hitting 48,000+ downloads.
The app runs on Nostr + Bluetooth mesh, meaning it doesn’t need internet, servers, or even phone numbers. Basically, censorship-resistant comms for when governments pull the plug.
Developers plan to integrate Bitcoin + Ecash (via Cashu protocol)—turning Bitchat into both a messenger and a freedom-tech payment tool.
Starting in 2026, the Bank of Russia will let investment funds buy crypto derivatives, a market already accessible to brokers.
But—only “highly qualified investors” (read: millionaires) will get access. This move signals Russia’s cautious but steady expansion into institutional crypto adoption.
With futures and ETF-based products already live, funds entering could mark a big step for institutional participation in Eastern markets.
Alright, that’s a wrap for this week's edition of The Web3 Watch! 🚀
See you all next week!
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