Catch up on the latest crypto news, price moves, token launches, and market trends with today’s daily recap. | Credit: Veronica Cestari/CCN.com
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Today was a fast-moving day in crypto news, with news on the recent crypto crash and the following developments moving the market.
Below is a breakdown of the major developments you should watch and what they mean.
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How Tariffs, Leverage, and Binance Sparked the Biggest Crash Yet
Markets run on trust and in crypto, that trust can vanish in minutes. On Oct. 10, the digital asset market saw its largest-ever liquidation event, wiping out over $40 billion in 24 hours.
Bitcoin plunged from $126,000 to $102,000, Ethereum fell 16%, and altcoins lost up to 50% of their value. Traditional markets were also shaken, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, recording its worst day of the year.
Crypto leverage traders lost $7 billion in an hour. | Credit: DBNews on X
However, deeper analysis suggests the collapse wasn’t just political panic. Traders spotted anomalies on Binance, where the stablecoin USDe briefly fell to $0.65, triggering forced liquidations through its internal collateral system.
A $60-90 million dump in USDe reportedly cascaded into $40 billion in total losses, while wallets holding $1.1 billion in short positions profited heavily.
Binance denied system failures but later compensated users with $283 million.
The event highlights crypto’s lingering fragility — a mix of high leverage, exchange dependence, and global policy shocks that can turn a tweet into a trillion-dollar tremor.
WazirX Wins Court Approval for $235M Hack Repayment Plan
Over a year after one of Asia’s biggest crypto hacks, WazirX has received approval from Singapore’s High Court to move ahead with its restructuring and victim repayment plan.
The Indian exchange will repay about 55% of lost assets, split between cash and crypto (52%) and recovery tokens (48%) linked to future earnings. Trading and withdrawals, frozen since the $235 million breach, may resume soon.
Most users accepted the plan over a lengthy liquidation process, though critics note repayments are pegged to July 2024 prices, meaning users won’t benefit from recent crypto gains.
WazirX CEO Nischal Shetty said the ruling marks “the next phase” for rebuilding the exchange and restoring trust — a key test for how Asian courts and platforms handle large-scale crypto failures.
Whale Behind $192M Crypto Short Opens New Bet Against Bitcoin
A crypto whale who earned $192 million shorting the market just before Trump’s tariff announcement is back with another massive bearish bet.
The trader, known as 0xb317 on Hyperliquid, has opened a $163 million leveraged short on Bitcoin, currently up about $3.5 million but set for liquidation if BTC hits $125,500.
The timing of their previous trade, minutes before the market crash, sparked accusations of insider trading and manipulation. Observers claim the whale may have helped trigger the cascade that erased billions from crypto markets.
The Wallet ID is 0xb317. The name is Garrett. The trade is massive. This "Hyperliquid Whale," with a history tied to old exchange scams, just executed a 🤯 $4 BILLION shift from $BTC to $ETH. Is he strategically going big on $ETH staking (via his firm XHash) or is the goal to… pic.twitter.com/NbaBxu9hIv
Meanwhile, Binance denied playing any role in the meltdown, insisting its systems remained operational despite reports of failed stop-losses and token depegs. The exchange has offered $283 million in compensation to affected traders.
White House Weighs Pardon for Binance Founder CZ
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a pardon for Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who served four months in prison after pleading guilty to a violation of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act in 2024.
Fox correspondent Charles Gasparino said Trump insiders view the case as “weak” and are “leaning toward a pardon,” which could allow Zhao to return to a leadership role at Binance, where he remains the largest shareholder.
Zhao responded on X, saying, “Great news if true,” while clarifying he faced no fraud charges and was convicted only of a single BSA violation.
Thank you Charles. Great news if true. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Minor correction, there were no "fraud" charges. I believe they (the DOJ under the last administration) looked very hard for it, but didn't find any.
I pleaded to a single violation of Banking Secrecy Act (BSA). 🙏
A decision has not yet been made, and some in the White House reportedly worry about the optics of a pardon given Trump’s crypto business ties. Zhao’s case stemmed from a $4.3 billion settlement between Binance and U.S. authorities following increased scrutiny after the FTX collapse.
Today’s whirlwind of developments underscores just how quickly the crypto landscape can shift, from market-shaking crashes and court rulings to high-stakes trading plays and political moves.
The Oct. 10 meltdown revealed the fragility of leveraged markets and the outsized influence of centralized exchanges, while WazirX’s restructuring shows how recovery efforts are slowly maturing in Asia.
At the same time, traders and policymakers alike continue to test crypto’s boundaries, whether through billion-dollar shorts or potential presidential pardons.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, financial advice. We do not make any warranties regarding the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. All investments involve risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We recommend consulting a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Giuseppe Ciccomascolo began his career as an investigative journalist in Italy, where he contributed to both local and national newspapers, focusing on various financial sectors.
Upon relocating to London, he worked as an analyst for Fitch's CapitalStructure and later as a Senior Reporter for Alliance News. In 2017, Giuseppe transitioned to covering cryptocurrency-related news, producing documentaries and articles on Bitcoin and other emerging digital currencies. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the academy for a cryptocurrency exchange website. Crypto remained his primary area of interest throughout his tenure as a writer for ThirdFloor.