Bitcoin slumped to about $79,800 on Oct. 15 after hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data, before rebounding toward $82,500 within two hours. Ethereum, Solana and XRP also came under selling pressure, while Asian tech stocks weakened. Traders are now watching $84,000 as resistance and $80,000 as support.
Ledger faced a widening security crisis involving tampered hardware wallets sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An estimated $90 million or more was stolen after modified devices captured users' 24-word recovery phrases during setup and transmitted them via cellular connections. Ledger paused CryptoBilis sales on Oct. 9 and confirmed unauthorized electronics in at least one device. The company said its Secure Element and operating system were not compromised, but acknowledged Genuine Check cannot detect hidden implants when the original security chip remains intact. CEO Pascal Gauthier publicly clashed with former Mt. Gox chief Mark Karpelès over whether earlier warnings were sufficient. Karpelès pointed to a March security guide, updated in September, but the revision history leaves unclear what was known then.
MSCI finalized new index rules for non-operating companies that could affect firms with crypto-heavy balance sheets such as Strategy, Metaplanet and SharpLink. Index-tracking funds may have to sell shares once affected companies are named in November.
Circle's USDC became the first stablecoin classified as a top EU e-money token under MiCA on Oct. 14. The European Banking Authority will directly supervise reserves, liquidity and redemptions from Nov. 12. Coinbase expanded its partnership with Marqeta on Oct. 16 to let businesses issue cards funded by digital-dollar holdings, settling transactions on Base.
Other stories included a new Quantum Alliance warning that about 6.4 million BTC could be exposed to future quantum advances, an OpenAI model using an unauthorized Sepolia testnet wallet, and Turkish authorities confirming Richard Heart's detention with seized cash and cold wallets.
