James Walker
24 articles on Bitcoin World News
Articles by James Walker
Bitcoin Holds September Loss to 1.5% amid Headwinds
Bitcoin (BTC) is holding a contained 1.5% decline in September, a month that has averaged a roughly 3% drop since 2013, as policy and macro headwinds test sentiment. After a 25% August rally to around $81,000, BTC remains up about 32% this quarter, trading near $78,000.
Bitcoin tests 2022 parallels as Fed hikes 25 bps
Bitcoin (BTC) is confronting 2022-style macro conditions after the Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, lifting the benchmark range to 3.75%–4.00%. With markets pricing a further 75 basis points over six months, investors face a rare setup where a single hike historically gives way to broader tightening.
Diesel Hits $6.29 as Bitcoin Slips 12% and Gold Stalls
U.S. diesel prices set a record this week at $6.29 per gallon, up nearly 80% year to date, intensifying inflation concerns as transport and supply-chain costs rise. Bitcoin stands at $76,400, down almost 12% for the year, while gold is little changed after pulling back from a $5,600 peak earlier in 2026.
FCA Finalizes Crypto Rules, Authorization From Oct. 25, 2027
The Financial Conduct Authority published final cryptoasset perimeter guidance on Sept. 16, setting out when UK digital-asset businesses need authorization. From Oct. 25, 2027, covered activities generally require FCA approval. One unresolved issue remains: domestic banks can still restrict transfers to crypto platforms, leaving consumer access and on-ramps uncertain.
Tether Deal Triggers $230M Venezuelan Oil Loss at Orlen
Tether (USDT) payments tied to discounted Venezuelan crude left Poland’s state-controlled Orlen facing losses of up to $424 million in late 2023, after a covert crypto-based procurement plan unraveled. The episode matters for energy traders and crypto risk controls as $230 million allegedly vanished via USB drives.
Goldman Sachs pivots, forecasts Fed hike in October
Goldman Sachs now expects the Federal Reserve to raise rates again in October, pivoting after Wednesday’s 25 basis point hike to a 3.75%-4.00% target range. Policymakers’ projections point to at least one more increase this year, and traders are pricing just over a 50% chance of another 25 basis point move.
CLARITY Act Push Continues as 7 Democratic Senators Pledge
CLARITY Act momentum continued on Sept. 16 as seven Democratic senators vowed to keep working on a federal framework for cryptocurrency markets after a failed Senate vote. The pledge signals bipartisan talks will continue, keeping the future of U.S. digital asset market structure in play for investors and companies.
Zcash Jumps 6% as Bitcoin Slips Before Fed Decision
Zcash (ZEC) climbed nearly 6% to just above $1,200 on Wednesday morning in Europe, bucking a broad crypto pullback. Bitcoin (BTC) traded just under $76,000 as majors fell ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate decision later today, a meeting where a quarter-point hike is already priced in.
UK Funds AML Drive With $676M, 500 New Officers
UK money laundering crackdown will add 500 officers backed by £500 million ($676 million) over three years, the Home Office said Tuesday. The funding launches a new Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Strategy as authorities target illicit finance increasingly routed through fintech, crypto and AI tools.
Bitcoin Slips to $75,800 as Fed Eyes 25 bp Hike
Bitcoin traded at $75,800 on Wednesday, down nearly 3% ahead of a 2:00 PM ET Federal Reserve decision that markets have largely priced as a 25-basis-point hike to 3.75%-4%. With the Clarity Act defeated in the Senate, traders are focused on Chair Kevin Warsh’s 2:30 PM press conference for policy signals.
XRP Falls 10% as Bitcoin Nears $76K; Clarity Act Fails
XRP fell nearly 10% to $1.30 on Wednesday as Bitcoin slipped almost 3% to just above $76,000, extending declines across major cryptocurrencies after the Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act on a 49-50 cloture vote that required 60 to proceed. The setback hit altcoins hardest.
US Seeks Forfeiture of $61M USDT Tied to Iran Oil
USDT worth roughly $61 million is the target of a U.S. civil forfeiture action filed Sept. 14, after prosecutors traced the cryptocurrency to sanctioned Iranian oil and petroleum sales. The case centers on 10 addresses and funds allegedly tied to a network that moved more than $1.5 billion.
Bitget Wallet Lists 1,700+ Reality rTokens on Sept. 15
Bitget Wallet will list Reality’s tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs on Sept. 15, expanding access to more than 1,700 assets for its 100 million-plus users. The rTokens launch on Arbitrum and Morph, adding Reality as the wallet’s third tokenized-equity issuer alongside Ondo and xStocks. The move broadens retail distribution for tokenized equities.
Bitcoin Slips 1.7% as Clarity Act Odds Halve on Polymarket
Bitcoin fell 1.7% since midnight UTC to $76,862, reversing a late Monday rally as prediction market odds on the Clarity Act becoming law this year halved overnight. The move underscores how policy probabilities are feeding directly into price action across cryptocurrency markets.
XRP $206M Move Empties Uphold Wallet in Ledger 106,983,928
XRP moved 145,634,500 tokens worth $206,551,114 on Sept. 14, emptying a labeled Uphold wallet in a single payment recorded in ledger 106,983,928 at 16:53:50 UTC. On-chain patterns indicate an internal custody reshuffle rather than a whale exit, a notable flow in a week when XRP touched $1.49.
Crypto Exchanges Are Disappearing—Could Lovely Legends Be Building at the Perfect Time?
As crypto exchanges shut down or reduce services, Lovely Legends is expanding its Telegram-based ecosystem with trading, staking, mining and community features.
Coinex to Shut Down Dec. 22; Spot Ends Sept. 29
Coinex will cease spot trading on September 29 and shut down on December 22 after nine years in operation, citing a prolonged market slump and rising compliance costs. The exchange says reserves exceed 100% and all user balances are withdrawable. Founder Haipo Yang ruled out a sale. USDT left unclaimed faces a 5% monthly fee.
US Crypto Tax Bill Exempts Sub-$10 Fees, 114 Pages Filed
A 114-page crypto tax bill from House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith would exempt network and transaction fees under $10, with a committee markup set for Wednesday, Sept. 16. The measure matters for everyday users who pay small on-chain fees on swaps, bridges and transfers, and could reset several compliance rules.
DOJ Seeks $61M Tied to Iran’s Crypto-Laundered Oil Sales
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking $61 million tied to crypto-laundered Iranian oil proceeds used to fund its military. The action targets what prosecutors describe as illegal revenue routed through cryptocurrency, underscoring heightened U.S. scrutiny of cross-border illicit finance using digital assets.
Balancer Proposes Wind-Down After Revenue Fails to Recover
Balancer has proposed an orderly wind-down after its restructuring failed to restore revenue, with more than $9 million in treasury assets potentially distributed to BAL holders.
U.S. House Advances Major Crypto Tax Bill
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee has released a 114-page digital asset tax bill covering Bitcoin transactions, mining, staking, wash sales and broker rules.
ByteDance Secures $29.6B Loan as AI Infrastructure Race Accelerates
ByteDance has secured a $29.6 billion loan from nearly 30 banks as it expands its AI infrastructure, highlighting the enormous capital requirements behind the global AI race.
TD Cowen Raises Smarter Web Target as Bitcoin Treasury Strategy Expands
TD Cowen raised its price target for Smarter Web to £0.73, citing its proposed MORE preferred-share offering and expanding financing options for its Bitcoin treasury strategy.
Symbiosis Recovers 15 BTC After Bitcoin Bridge Exploit
Symbiosis recovered about 15 BTC after an attacker exploited its Bitcoin Bridge and minted billions of unbacked syBTC, highlighting ongoing risks in cross-chain infrastructure.
