Financial news

Short news on the events that move markets, each with its date, its public sources and a note on why it matters. General information, not investment advice.

• Exchange hacks and crypto thefts: the largest cases, from Mt. Gox to Bitget, and what they teach

  From Mt. Gox in 2014 to Bybit's 1.5 billion dollar loss in 2025 and Bitget's 387.5 million in September 2026, the largest thefts share a pattern. Dates, amounts, sources and lessons for custody.

• Bitcoin today: about 80,800 dollars, a 1.6 trillion dollar market value and what has changed since the last halving

  On 27 October 2026 bitcoin traded near 80,800 dollars, about 36% below its record. Price, market value, supply, mining and demand two and a half years after the April 2024 halving.

• The companies that hold bitcoin on their balance sheets: the largest holders in October 2026

  Public companies held about 1.30 million bitcoin on 27 October 2026 and private companies about 285,000. Strategy leads with 848,517. The ranking, the outliers and what it means.

• Crypto companies and the stock market: who has listed, who is still private, and at what valuation

  Circle, Bullish, Gemini and BitGo went public between June 2025 and January 2026. Kraken, Ripple, Consensys, Chainalysis and Fireblocks remain private. Dates, prices and valuations, with sources.

• Ethereum after Fusaka: what the latest upgrades and layer 2 networks mean for ETH users

  Fusaka expanded data capacity in December 2025, Glamsterdam is in testing with no mainnet date and layer 2 networks secure about 39 billion dollars. Where Ethereum stands on 27 October 2026.

• MiCA after the deadline: which crypto exchanges hold a licence in Europe, and what changes for buyers

  Since 1 July 2026 only authorised providers may serve clients in the EU. On 26 October 17 of the 100 largest exchanges held a MiCA licence, Binance did not. What the rules change for people who buy crypto.

• Tokenization of real-world assets: Treasury bills, funds and private company shares on the blockchain

  Tokenized real-world assets reached 39.1 billion dollars on 27 October 2026, led by US Treasury funds. Who issues them, which rules apply in the US and Europe, and why a token of a private company is not always a share.

• Solana and the other large blockchains after Ethereum: usage, fees, market value and ETFs

  On 25 October 2026 BNB, XRP and Solana were each worth between 59 and 97 billion dollars, far behind Ethereum. What each network is used for, what a transaction costs, and how ETFs have changed access.

• Spot bitcoin and ether ETFs in October 2026: flows, assets and who is buying

  US spot bitcoin ETFs held about 103 billion dollars on 26 October 2026, while ether funds held about 14 billion and lost more than 1 billion dollars in October. The numbers and the buyers.

• Stablecoins under new rules: the GENIUS Act, MiCA and the slowdown of USDT and USDC

  The US bank regulator issued its final rule under the GENIUS Act on 21 October 2026, Europe's MiCA transition ended on 1 July and stablecoin supply has slipped from its May peak. What it means for USDT and USDC.

• Unicorn Private opens Unicorn Club, a members-only club for accredited investors in pre-IPO club deals

  Unicorn Club gives accredited investors access to club deals in the 30 largest pre-IPO companies, through SPVs, with investments in crypto or by wire. How it works and what it costs.

• The Fed raises rates for the first time since 2023, to 3.75%-4%

  On 16 September 2026 the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by a quarter point, to 3.75%-4%, with a unanimous vote. What it said, and what comes next on 27-28 October.

• US inflation rises to 3.7% in September as gasoline jumps 9.1%

  US consumer prices rose 3.7% in the year to September 2026, above the 3.6% expected, driven by energy. Core inflation reached 2.6%. What it means for the Fed's October meeting.

• Nasdaq falls 4.5% in a week as AI stocks slide and yields top 5%

  On 16 October 2026 the Nasdaq fell 2.1% to 26,140 and lost 4.5% on the week, while the Dow posted a second weekly gain. Chips, AI software and CoreWeave led the decline.

• Anthropic's IPO reportedly slips from October to November

  Anthropic's listing, expected in October 2026, has reportedly moved to November. Its last private valuation is 965 billion dollars; talk of about 2 trillion at IPO is unconfirmed.

• OpenAI in talks to raise 30 billion dollars at about 1.4 trillion

  OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise at least 30 billion dollars at a valuation of about 1.4 trillion, up from 852 billion in March 2026. Its IPO has been pushed to 2027 at the earliest.

• Jio Platforms opens India's biggest IPO on 21 October

  Reliance's Jio Platforms seeks up to 30,213 crore rupees, about 3.2 billion dollars, at 1,065-1,119 rupees a share. Subscription runs 21-23 October, with listing expected on 28 October.

• Charles Schwab opens bitcoin and ether trading to eligible retail clients

  Schwab says all eligible clients can now trade spot bitcoin and ether, at a 0.75% fee, in 48 US states. Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink are planned by year-end.

• Bitcoin briefly drops below 80,000 dollars after hot US inflation data

  Bitcoin fell to 79,694 dollars on 15 October 2026 after the US CPI surprise, then rebounded above 82,000. Over 929 million dollars of leveraged positions were liquidated.

• ECB raises rates by a quarter point; deposit rate at 2.50% before the 29 October meeting

  The European Central Bank raised its three key rates by 25 basis points on 10 September 2026, bringing the deposit facility rate to 2.50%. The next decision is due on 29 October.

• Gold near 4,170 dollars, down 4% in a month and below its January record

  Gold traded at 4,168 dollars an ounce on 16 October 2026, down about 4% from a month earlier and 2% from a year earlier, despite higher inflation, as real yields climbed.