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Roger Ver, the early Bitcoin evangelist famously known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reached a $48 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in a high-profile tax fraud case. The development comes after a public plea for presidential intervention in his lawsuit earlier this year. $48 Million DOJ Deal The New York Times reported on Thursday that the cryptocurrency investor has entered into a tentative deferred-prosecution agreement with federal authorities to resolve criminal charges filed against him last year. This follows him being accused of fraud and tax evasion in 2024 for allegedly failing to pay $48 million in taxes on his digital currency holdings. Under the terms of the agreement, the accused is required to pay the same amount to the government. The deal, which has yet to be filed in court and remains subject to change, says that the accusations will be dropped if he complies with all conditions set by the DOJ. Ver has, however, remained silent on the matter. “I’d LOVE to say more, but I will follow my tax lawyer’s advice like I’ve been doing for decades,” he wrote to NY Times reporters. “Unfortunately, that means ‘no comment,’” he added. The former California resident renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 and was arrested in Spain last year following the Justice Department’s announcement of plans to extradite him. Prosecutors accused him of concealing the true value of his Bitcoin holdings to avoid paying exit taxes owed when relinquishing his citizenship. Roger Ver Enlisted Trump Allies in Fraud Case During the legal proceedings, the 46-year-old reportedly hired several people with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. The media outlet revealed that he had paid $600,000 to Roger Stone to help challenge the tax charges. He also engaged lawyers David Schoen and Christopher M. Kise, and worked with a lobbying firm run by Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard. In January this year, Ver had asked for assistance from the president, claiming in a social media video that he was being targeted for his political beliefs and advocacy for cryptocurrency. The Bitcoin proponent also shared that he was facing a potential sentence of over 100 years for his activism. Since Trump began his second term, the U.S. government’s stance on cryptocurrency has changed a lot. The SEC has dropped several lawsuits, including cases against Coinbase and other major firms, reversing the strict enforcement seen under Joe Biden’s administration. Early in his term, the president also pardoned Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road marketplace, and later the BitMEX founders convicted of anti–money laundering violations. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is also seeking clemency for his money-laundering charges. The post ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Reaches $48M Settlement With US DOJ in Tax Fraud Case appeared first on CryptoPotato .

Trump’s 100% China tariffs sent crypto into chaos, wiping out $16B in longs. Bitcoin plunged, traders panicked, and speculation rose over who saw it coming.

BlockDAG Flies Past Little Pepe & Bitcoin Hyper in the Best Crypto Presale Race With BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team Deal Little Pepe has gathered excitement with its meme-powered concept, while Bitcoin Hyper focuses on merging speed with Bitcoin’s ecosystem. Yet, both remain in early stages, relying on promises more than results. BlockDAG, on the other hand, has already reached major achievements that others only talk about. With a partnership with the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team, an active testnet, and over $420 million raised, BlockDAG (BDAG) now leads conversations as the best crypto presale 2025. It’s not just another name in the presale list; it’s a project proving that progress, visibility, and credibility can happen at once. BlockDAG Hits the Track With F1® Partnership and $420M Raise When a blockchain project joins hands with a global sports brand, it instantly reaches a new level of awareness. BlockDAG’s collaboration with the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team makes that leap real. The project now appears on race cars, simulators, and interactive fan events, reaching millions who might never have heard of blockchain before. This partnership means more than logo exposure. Fans are introduced to blockchain directly through Grand Prix weekends, hackathons, and Web3-powered activities. By connecting its tech to exciting real-life experiences, BlockDAG turns digital systems into something people can actually use and enjoy. Few projects achieve that kind of real-world link, and it’s a major reason why many call it the best crypto presale 2025. BlockDAG’s financial performance also tells a clear story. The presale has already crossed $420 million, making it one of the largest fundraising rounds of 2025. Batch 31 coins are now offered at $0.0018 by using the ‘TGE’ code, a limited-time rate before the regular $0.0304 price returns. The TGE code offers buyers priority access at launch based on their leaderboard ranking. With 27 billion coins sold, over 20,000 miners distributed, and 312,000 holders, confidence in the project is obvious. Adding to that is the live Awakening Testnet, showing that BlockDAG’s roadmap is already moving beyond theory. It’s visible, functional, and tied to a brand recognized worldwide. These factors combine to make BlockDAG the top mention whenever people talk about the best crypto presale 2025. Little Pepe Builds Meme Buzz With $25M Raised Little Pepe has quickly climbed through its presale rounds, becoming one of the most talked-about meme coins in late 2025. The project reached $25.48 million by the end of Stage 12, selling 15.7 billion coins so far. Stage 13 now lists each coin at $0.0022, with a confirmed launch value of $0.0030. The team highlights its CertiK audit and a $777,000 giveaway, both meant to attract confidence and attention. These features have made Little Pepe one of the more popular meme projects this year. Many compare it with Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, but the difference lies in its smaller base, which offers more room for potential growth. Some predictions even hint at multi-thousand-percent increases if market momentum keeps rising. For many meme fans, the combination of presale perks, meme energy, and growing buzz makes Little Pepe a fun and active project to watch through 2025. Bitcoin Hyper Pushes Layer-2 Vision With $19M Raised Bitcoin Hyper presents itself as a Layer-2 project aiming to boost Bitcoin’s transaction speed while introducing smart contracts and decentralized apps. The network plans to use ZK-rollup technology with Solana compatibility, offering both scalability and programmability to users. Its setup depends on a canonical bridge, where BTC is locked on the base network and reflected as a wrapped version within the Hyper ecosystem. The native coin, HYPER, fuels staking, governance, and gas payments. Though its framework sounds promising, the network still needs live proof to show it can perform beyond presale expectations. So far, Bitcoin Hyper has raised over $19 million, with several large buys reported. The presale offers staking rewards and early pricing that encourage quick participation. Many current discussions list it among top 2025 launches for its Layer-2 focus, but real adoption will decide its success. For now, it remains one of the most followed new entries with big technical goals. Why BlockDAG Tops 2025’s Crypto Race Little Pepe continues progressing, with Stage 13 priced at $0.0022 and more than $25 million raised. Features like zero tax, anti-sniper measures, and a completed CertiK audit strengthen its position. Bitcoin Hyper’s $19 million achievement and Layer-2 plan also caught attention, though its live results are still awaited. BlockDAG, however, separates itself from the pack. With over $420 million raised, the Formula 1® partnership and its Awakening Testnet are already online, the project delivers results while others build promises. The $0.0018 presale price and ‘TGE’ code in Batch 31 adds urgency for those looking to join. Because it connects real progress, mainstream visibility, and solid numbers, BlockDAG remains the best crypto presale 2025, setting an example of what successful delivery in the crypto world can look like. Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here .

Bitcoin’s latest plunge might not spell disaster after all – in fact, if history rhymes, it could be the setup […] The post Tariff Shock May Spark Bitcoin Comeback Toward $124K, Analysts Say appeared first on Coindoo.

Another $19B in #Bitcoin shorts added after a $19B liquidation! Traders are still betting big against $BTC #CryptoNews #BTC The post $19B in Bitcoin Shorts Surge After Record Liquidation appeared first on CoinoMedia.

Hargreaves Lansdown, one of the UK’s largest retail investment platforms, has warned that bitcoin should not be treated as a core part of investment portfolios — even as it prepares to offer crypto products to clients for the first time. In a statement published on its website, the Bristol-based firm said bitcoin, despite its long-term price gains, “is not an asset class” and lacks the intrinsic characteristics that would justify including it in a portfolio for growth or income. Hargreaves Lansdown argued that the cryptocurrency’s price history shows periods of “extreme losses,” adding that performance assumptions are impossible to analyze and that the asset “shouldn’t be relied upon” to help clients meet financial goals. The company’s remarks come shortly after the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ended its nearly four-year ban on crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for retail investors. Hargreaves Lansdown said it plans to take several months to develop what it calls a “balanced client journey,” ensuring customers receive detailed risk warnings and pass an appropriateness assessment before being allowed to invest. Clients who qualify will typically face a 10% portfolio cap on crypto exposure under FCA rules. The firm also highlighted new regulatory conditions for the UK market. The FCA will only allow crypto ETNs that are physically backed by bitcoin or ether — meaning they are supported by reserves of the underlying assets — and that are listed on a Recognised Investment Exchange (RIE) such as the London Stock Exchange. These restrictions are intended to bring crypto products under the same disclosure, transparency, and investor-protection standards that apply to traditional securities. While bitcoin’s inclusion in conventional portfolios remains a step too far for Hargreaves Lansdown, it acknowledged that some clients will still want speculative exposure. The firm said it expects to launch access to crypto ETNs in early 2026, with offerings likely to include pound-denominated, physically backed products from issuers such as 21Shares, CoinShares and WisdomTree.

Key takeaways: Our Avalanche price prediction anticipates a high of $33.36 in 2025. In 2027, the price range is expected to be between $59.93 and $71.39, with an average price of $61.59. In 2031, the range is expected to be between $267.69 and $326.17, with an average price of $277.23. AVAX exhibited wild price swings this year. This record came as the crypto market valuation peaked. It later reversed, shedding some of the profits later in the year. While the Avalanche ecosystem has been making strides, the AVAX price has left investors particularly questioning its trajectory. Will AVAX go up? Is AVAX a good investment? Let’s explore these and more in our Cryptopolitan price prediction from 2025 to 2031. Overview Cryptocurrency Avalanche Symbol AVAX Current price $22.74 Market cap $9.6B Trading volume $3.04B Circulating supply 422.27M All-time high $146.22 on Nov 21, 2021 All-time low $2.79 on Dec 31, 2020 24-hour high $28.44 24-hour low $10.64 Avalanche price prediction: Technical analysis Metric Value Volatility (30-day variation) 6.20% 50-day SMA $27.96 200-day SMA $22.90 Sentiment Bearish Green days 15/30 (50%) Fear and Greed Index 64 (Greed) Avalanche price analysis As of October 11, AVAX’s price dropped by 18.94% in 24 hours, underperforming the broader crypto market (-9.07%) and aligning with the broader altcoin momentum. Its trading volume rose (339.63%), showing trader conviction in the market trend. AVAX/USD 1-day chart analysis AVAXUSD chart by TradingView Earlier this month, AVAX attempted a recovery, which saw it rise from a low of $24.31 to a high of $36.16. It faced strong resistance at its 30-day macro supply zone ($34.00-$39.38). The coin is now reversing from the high and has made a sharp drop in the last 24 hours. The William Alligator trendlines show that its volatility is rising. The histograms (-1.08) show rising negative momentum. AVAX/USD 4-hour chart analysis AVAXUSD chart by TradingView The 4-hour chart highlights AVAX’s run, which broke support at the 5-day SMA ($28.29), falling from $27.80 to $8.52. It corrected in the next hours and now trades at $2270 mark. The RSI indicator (27.62) shows it trades in oversold territory. The latest candle formation, consisting of three white soldiers, indicates a reversing market. Avalanche technical analysis: Levels and action Daily simple moving average (SMA) Period Value ($) Action SMA 3 26.82 SELL SMA 5 28.29 SELL SMA 10 29.67 SELL SMA 21 30.32 SELL SM 50 27.96 SELL SMA 100 25.31 BUY SMA 200 22.90 BUY Daily exponential moving average (EMA) Period Value ($) Action EMA 3 29.41 SELL EMA 5 28.47 SELL EMA 10 26.95 SELL EMA 21 25.60 BUY EMA 50 24.12 BUY EMA 100 23.15 BUY EMA 200 23.70 BUY What to expect from the AVAX price analysis next? Technical analysis suggests that Avalanche is bearish, as is consistent with the MACD histograms which show negative price momentum. The coin however trades in oversold territory, a sharp reversal is plausible. Recent news Filecoin Foundation and Avalanche have partnered to launch a new cross-chain data bridge. The bridge will allow developers to build on Avalanche’s C-Chain to store data on Filecoin’s decentralized network. Why is AVAX down? AVAX’s decline reflects profit-taking after a macro rally, technical resistance, and cooling altcoin demand. Will AVAX reach $50? According to the Cryptopolitan price prediction, AVAX crossed the $50 mark in 2027. Will AVAX reach $100? According to the Cryptopolitan price prediction, AVAX will reach $100 in 2028, with a maximum price of $106.00 for the year. Can Avalanche reach $1,000? It remains highly unlikely that AVAX will cross the $1,000 mark before 2031. At that market capitalization, it could be more valuable than Ethereum. Can Avalanche reach $10,000? It remains highly unlikely that AVAX will cross the $10,000 mark before 2031. How much will Avalanche be worth in 2025? As the second half of 2025 unfolds, we anticipate it will trade between $19.06 and $33.36, with an average price of $29.46. Does Avalanche have a good long-term future? According to Cryptopolitan price predictions, AVAX will trade higher in the coming years. However, factors like market crashes or negative regulations could invalidate this bullish theory. Is Avalanche a good crypto to buy? Chart analysis suggests that Avalanche is recovering and currently gearing up for a closer move to $27 despite the overall bearish momentum. AVAX price prediction October 2025 For October, AVAX will trade between $18.56 and $33.10, with an average price of $23.08. Month Potential low ($) Potential average ($) Potential high ($) October 18.56 23.08 33.10 Avalanche price prediction 2025 As 2025 unfolds, its future price movements suggest it will trade between $14.56 and $33.36, with an average price of $23.46. Year Potential low ($) Potential average ($) Potential high ($) 2025 14.56 23.46 33.36 Avalanche price prediction 2026 – 2031 Year Potential low ($) Potential average ($) Potential high ($) 2026 40.10 41.57 48.79 2027 59.93 61.59 71.39 2028 84.70 87.78 106.00 2029 129.49 133.88 148.78 2030 185.44 190.79 222.81 2031 267.69 277.23 326.17 Avalanche price prediction 2026 The Avalanche price forecast shows it will range between $40.10 and $48.79, with an expected average trading price of $41.57. AVAX price prediction 2027 Avalanche price prediction climbs even higher into 2027. According to the predictions, it will range between $59.93 and $71.39, with an average trading price of $61.59. Avalanche crypto price prediction 2028 Our Avalanche price prediction indicates a further acceleration in the price. It will trade between $84.70 and $106.00 and have an average of $87.78. Avalanche price prediction 2029 According to the AVAX coin price prediction for 2029, the price of AVAX will range from a minimum price of $129.49 to a maximum price of $148.78. The average price will be $133.88. Avalanche prediction 2030 According to the Avalanche price prediction for 2030, we expect Avalanche to range from $185.44 to $222.81, with an average price of $190.79. Avalanche price prediction 2031 The Avalanche price forecast indicates a range of $267.69 to $326.17, with an average price of $277.23. Avalanche price prediction 2025 – 2031 Avalanche market price prediction: Analysts’ AVAX price forecast Platform 2025 2026 2027 Digitalcoinprice $39.99 $48.82 $66.86 Coincodex $22.62 $20.08 $14.63 Gate.io $19.80 $22.86 $27.21 Cryptopolitan Avalanche price prediction Our predictions show that Avalanche will achieve a high level of $33.36 in 2025. In 2027, it will range between $59.93 and $71.39, with an average price of $61.59. In 2031, it will range between $267.69 and $326.17, with an average of $277.23. Note that the predictions are not investment advice. Seek independent consultation or do your research. Avalanche historic price sentiment Avalanche price history by CoinGecko In July 2020, Avalanche completed its public sale, raising $42 million in less than $4.5 hours. The tokens were distributed after the mainnet launch in September. On Dec 31, 2020, it fell to an all-time low of $2.788. In September 2021, the Ava Labs Foundation received a $230 million investment from Polychain and Three Arrows Capital Group by purchasing the AVAX cryptocurrency. In November 2021, following an agreement with Deloitte to improve US disaster relief funding, AVAX moved to the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. At that time, AVAX moved to its all-time high at $146.22. In Aug 2022, a whistleblower, ‘crypto leaks’, published a report accusing Ava Labs of secret deals with a law firm to destabilize its competitors. Ava Labs CEO Emin Gün Sirer denied any involvement in a shady deal with the Roche Freedman law firm. In 2023, AVAX maintained a bullish trend from January to May, after which bears took control of the market. It resumed the positive momentum in October, rising to $49.96 In 2024, it crossed the $60 mark in March. The rise coincided with a record high in AVAX inscriptions, with over 100 million ASC-20 minted since their introduction in June 2023. The uptrend reversed in April 2024; by July, it had fallen to $24.40. In August, it was at $21, and in September and October, it was at $27. It turned bullish in November 2024, rising from as low as $23 to as high as $55 in December. It later corrected and traded at $42 into 2025. The drop continued into January; by June, it had fallen below $20. In July, it traded at the $18 level and $23 in September. In October, it rose above $30.

Bitcoin took a nosedive on Friday, falling below $110,000 and wiping out a jaw-dropping $19 billion from the crypto market. The culprit? US President Trump’s surprise announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting November 1, plus some new rules on critical software exports. Investors freaked out, worried a full-blown trade war was back on, and all those leveraged crypto positions started getting liquidated left and right. And it wasn’t just Bitcoin as Ethereum, Solana, and other big altcoins got dragged down too as traders scrambled to get out of risky bets. Bitcoin crash: Crypto meltdown follows Trump’s tariff shock After Trump dropped the tariff bombshell, Bitcoin went into freefall. It had been cruising above $120,000 earlier in October but slid all the way down to around $102,000 on major exchanges like Binance, its lowest point since mid-2025. In just 24 hours, more than $19 billion in leveraged crypto positions got wiped out, taking down about 1.6 million traders in one of the biggest single-day liquidation events the crypto world has ever seen. According to data from Coinglass, a whopping $16.8 billion of that came from long positions, a clear sign that overleveraged investors were completely blindsided. Ethereum tanked over 16%, Solana slipped under $190, and some smaller tokens lost nearly half their value. The entire crypto market shed close to $500 billion, dropping from $4.27 trillion to around $3.84 trillion as panic selling kicked in. Social media and trading platforms lit up with chaos as automated liquidation systems kicked into overdrive, triggering even more forced sales and pushing prices down even further. Even stablecoins weren’t spared as USDe briefly lost its dollar peg during the chaos, adding to the panic. The whole episode was a harsh reminder of just how sensitive the crypto market still is to big macro and geopolitical shocks, especially with so much money tied up in leveraged trades. What analysts say According to market experts, Trump’s tariff shock was really just the spark that set off a much bigger wave of risk-off sentiment across global markets. As per Cryptopolitan , a Blockscope Research analyst said the 100% China tariff “instantly priced in global recession fears,” pushing investors to dump risky assets, Bitcoin included. Several analysts even compared the crash to past black swan events, calling it one of the most brutal shakeouts in recent years. Still, not everyone’s panicking. An analyst from BitMEX pointed out that while Bitcoin’s drop was steep, its long-term fundamentals haven’t changed, and the crash had created rare buying opportunities. EconSphere Advisors economist added another layer of concern, he warned that the new tariffs and export controls could seriously mess with global supply chains, especially in areas like semiconductors and AI. That, he said, could put even more pressure on already fragile risk markets if the trade fight keeps escalating. The post Bitcoin crashes below $110K as Trump's 100% tariff on China triggers $19B sell-off appeared first on Invezz

After kicking off the week on a strong note with a fresh all-time high of $126,080, Bitcoin slipped into a phase of consolidation as market uncertainty returned. The total crypto market capitalisation also hit a record high, swelling to $4.37 trillion earlier in the week. However, by Friday, those gains had been erased, with the market cap falling back to around $4.24 trillion. Risk appetite weakened as the week drew to a close, with the crypto fear and greed index retreating to 64, hovering near the lower end of the greed zone. Most top altcoins gave up nearly all of their weekly gains, while only a handful managed to hold on to double-digit profits during late Asian trading hours on Friday. Why is Bitcoin price down? Bitcoin price hit a new all-time high earlier this week, fuelled by surging institutional demand for spot Bitcoin ETFs, which attracted over $2.7 billion in inflows. But just as the rally appeared to be gaining steam, sentiment began to shift. A mix of macro headwinds, profit-taking, and mounting regulatory uncertainty dragged prices lower, triggering a broad market pullback. One of the main pressure points came from renewed caution around the Federal Reserve’s stance on inflation. Comments from Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr signalled that the central bank remains hesitant to pivot toward rate cuts, suggesting policymakers are not yet convinced that inflation is under control. Adding to the uncertainty, the ongoing US government shutdown has stalled several regulatory processes, particularly those involving new ETF products. Optimism had been building around the possibility of spot ETFs for other major tokens like XRP and Solana, but with federal agencies now working at limited capacity, the timeline for approval has become less clear. This has taken the wind out of one of the more bullish narratives that had been supporting the broader market in recent weeks. As liquidity thinned, a wave of profit-taking swept through the market. After pushing to new highs, Bitcoin holders began locking in gains, triggering a cascade of selling that added to the downward pressure. Selling pressure accelerated on Thursday as more than $600 million in leveraged positions were wiped out, with the momentum carrying into Friday, where it deepened the pullback and pushed Bitcoin down to repeatedly test the $120,000 support zone. Will Bitcoin price go up? As of late Asian trading hours, bulls were vigorously defending the $120,000 support level, which remains crucial if the rally is to continue. A pullback after hitting a fresh all-time high is quite common and often seen as healthy when it comes to sustaining long-term rallies, but only as long as key support levels hold firm. With the current macro environment clouded by uncertainty, the next few trading sessions are likely to prove vital in determining the direction of the rally, and all of it primarily hinges on Bitcoin’s capacity to hold above $120k. According to the weekly liquidation heatmap, Bitcoin appears to be trapped within a tightly contested range, with heavy liquidation clusters visible just above the $126,000 mark and dense support zones forming slightly below $120,000. Bitcoin weekly liquidation heatmap. Source: Coinglass. The concentration of liquidation levels between $124,000 and $126,000 suggests this region could act as a major upside resistance if bulls manage to regain control. Several failed attempts to break through this zone earlier in the week have already triggered minor pullbacks, and any fresh rally would likely need strong volume to force short liquidations and clear the overhanging sell order. On the downside, the heatmap shows consistent liquidation interest just under $120,000, with bright yellow bands indicating stop-loss zones and leveraged long positions at risk. This confirms the importance of the $120,000 level as a short-term support floor. Repeated tests of this area have so far held firm, but a decisive breakdown below it could open the door toward deeper retracements, especially with limited liquidation density showing between $117,000 and $119,000. For the rally to move upside, bulls need to decisively reclaim the $123,000–$124,000 support area, which could pave the way for another push toward the highs, but failure to hold above $120,000 may tilt momentum further in favour of sellers. Lark Davis @TheCryptoLark · Follow $BTC faked out the market twice at $120KTrapped the breakout chasers and sent it back down.Now, that level has finally flipped.Price broke above $120K and is consolidating on top of it (a classic support retest)If the floor holds, momentum stays bullish.Eyes on the 6:00 pm · 10 Oct 2025 608 Reply Copy link Read 167 replies Some analysts, however, believe Bitcoin could drop toward $118,000-$120,000 before resuming its uptrend. According to crypto analyst Ted Pillow, strong bids are clustered around this level on major exchanges, and buyers are expected to step in once the price dips into that range. See below. Ted @TedPillows · Follow It seems like $BTC wants to retest $118,000-$120,000 support level.Some strong bids are there on Binance around this level, so maybe Bitcoin could dump towards this level.After that, a rally is expected if buyers step in. 2:36 pm · 10 Oct 2025 502 Reply Copy link Read 152 replies However, MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe offered a more optimistic take, arguing that Bitcoin may have already completed its correction after briefly falling to $119,700 during late New York trading hours on Thursday. BTC/USDT 24-hour price chart. Source: Michael van de Poppe on X. “Bitcoin has had its correction. It’s ready to continue towards new all-time highs,” Poppe wrote in a Friday X post. Coming in with a more grim outlook was fellow analyst and trader Ali Martinez, who expects a return to levels below $100,000 if sentiment turns sour in the coming weeks and Bitcoin fails to break past $124,000. BTC/USDT Perpetual contract 2-Week. Source: Ali Martinez on X. At press time, Bitcoin had dipped slightly below the $120k support level after dropping 1.5% in the past 7 days. Top altcoin gainers this week The total market cap of all altcoins combined initially rose from $1.89 trillion to touch a new all-time high of $1.99 trillion earlier this week before dropping to $1.84 trillion. At the same time, the Altcoin Season Index, which tracks how well altcoins are performing relative to Bitcoin, fell from 63 on Oct. 6 to 50 at press time, suggesting that momentum in the altcoin market may be starting to fade once again. Ethereum (ETH), the leading altcoin by market share, jumped 6.6% from $4,450 to notch a weekly high of $4,747. However, the rally lost steam as profit-taking took hold, pulling the price back down 4.5% to $4,270 by the end of the week. Other heavyweights like XRP, Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), Tron (TRX), and Cardano (ADA) saw moderate gains of 3% to 8% during the same period. BNB (BNB) defied the broader bearish market trend, posting an 8.5% gain. Zcash (ZEC) led the pack among the top 99 altcoins by market cap, surging nearly 61% over the week while Bittensor (TAO) and Starknet (STRK) followed behind with more modest gains of around 22% and 12%, respectively. Source: CoinMarketCap Zcash : ZEC rallied to a 4-year high of $264 this week, marking one of its strongest performances in recent years. The surge is part of a broader resurgence in privacy-focused coins, fueled by growing concerns over blockchain surveillance and regulatory overreach. High-profile endorsements such as Venture capitalist Naval Ravikant calling Zcash “insurance against Bitcoin,” while Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz publicly expressed support for the project, have also helped lift market sentiment for ZEC. Institutional demand has also played a major factor, with asset manager Grayscale opening its private Zcash Trust to eligible investors earlier in October after months of dormancy. The fund has already accumulated around $84.7 million in ZEC as of press time. Grayscale’s increased activity has also led to speculation of a potential Zcash ETF in the future, further fueling investor demand for the token. Bittensor : The main catalyst driving TAO’s gains this week is the launch of two flagship funds by Yuma Asset Management, a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (DCG). The funds are designed to give accredited and institutional investors streamlined exposure to Bittensor’s ecosystem of AI-powered subnet tokens. Such a development provides a fresh on-ramp for capital inflows into the network, with DCG backing the initiative through a $10 million initial investment, which serves as a strong vote of confidence from one of crypto’s most influential firms. Another major tailwind for TAO has been the renewed momentum across the broader AI token sector, which picked up after news broke that AMD is partnering with OpenAI. As part of the deal, AMD will supply chips to OpenAI, while OpenAI will reportedly take an equity stake in the chipmaker. For Bittensor, the partnership between the two AI powerhouses serves as validation of the intelligent compute narrative, precisely the niche that TAO is building for. Starknet : Retail demand for the Starknet token picked up after the network rolled out its new Bitcoin staking integration near the end of September. The feature allows users to stake tokenized versions of Bitcoin, such as WBTC, and earn STRK rewards directly on Starknet. So far, more than $63 million in BTC has been staked, accounting for roughly 25% of the network’s total consensus power. Starknet also launched a 100 million STRK reward pool as part of its “BTCFi Season” program, via which the network expects to draw in more Bitcoin liquidity into the ecosystem. STRK’s gains were further supported by recent protocol upgrades that enhanced both the efficiency and decentralization of the network. The post Bitcoin price struggles to hold $120K, ZEC, TAO lead altcoins with double-digit gains appeared first on Invezz