🟠 Bitcoin clears key cost bases, eyes $96,700 resistance

🔐 State hackers' blockchain dead drop attacks surge 420% Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reports a 420% rise in so-called "dead drop" attacks by state-linked hackers, who are increasingly using public blockchains as covert communication infrastructure. North Korean operators are reportedly leveraging Tron, Aptos and BNB Smart Chain as redundant command-and-control paths, while suspected Iranian actors are encoding routing data directly inside Bitcoin transactions. The technique uses blockchain's immutability and public accessibility to relay instructions to malware — making takedowns far harder than with traditional servers. The sharp increase signals a strategic expansion by nation-state threat actors into crypto infrastructure as an operational tool, not just a financial one. Source

💵 U.K. challenger bank to bring tokenized deposits to retail users JPMorgan and Citi have moved billions in tokenized deposits on blockchain rails — but exclusively between their own institutional branches. Neither has extended the technology to everyday consumers. A U.K. challenger bank is preparing to change that, offering tokenized deposits directly to retail customers — a first among major banks in this space. Tokenized deposits represent bank-held funds recorded on a blockchain ledger, combining the stability of traditional deposits with programmable, near-instant settlement. So far, the technology has remained firmly in the institutional lane, used for interbank transfers and wholesale settlement rather than consumer accounts. The challenger bank's move would mark the first time retail users gain direct access to tokenized deposit infrastructure previously reserved for large financial institutions. Source

🪙 BNB approaches $794 resistance after 44% rally BNB has gained roughly 44% since July 1, rising from a low of $538 to $769 by September 19, and is now testing the $794 resistance level. The broader tokenized stocks market has reached $3.5 billion, a milestone that reflects growing institutional interest in bringing traditional financial assets on-chain — a trend that has benefited Binance's ecosystem activity. Source

🟠 Bitcoin breaks $85K as U.S. spot demand forces short covering Bitcoin has surged past $85,000, driven by renewed U.S. spot buying and forced short liquidations, according to Nansen Senior Research Analyst Nicolai Sondergaard. Nansen has set its next key price targets at $87,000 and $90,000. Despite the rally, large crypto traders remain net short — meaning significant short positions are still open even as the market moves against them. The move reflects growing spot demand rather than purely derivative-driven momentum, a distinction analysts consider more structurally significant for sustained price action. Source

🔐 AI tools are uncovering crypto flaws humans missed for years Artificial intelligence-assisted researchers have begun surfacing long-dormant vulnerabilities across crypto protocols — some with serious consequences. Among the findings: a four-year-old flaw in Zcash capable of enabling counterfeit ZEC creation, and a Coldcard hardware wallet weakness dating to 2021 that preceded an estimated $100 million+ in Bitcoin thefts. On the offensive side, attackers manipulated an AI agent into transferring roughly 3 billion DRB tokens — highlighting that AI can be exploited as well as deployed for defence. Researchers also flagged malicious instructions embedded in smart contracts and codebases that had gone undetected through standard audits. The findings signal a shift in crypto security: AI is now reading old code at scale, catching what manual review missed — but the same capability is being weaponised by bad actors. Source