Coinbase is in late-stage acquisition talks with London-based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK, with the deal valued between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, sources familiar with the discussions said. The transaction remains under due diligence and could finalize late this year or early next year. Terms are not yet finalized and the deal could still change or fall apart.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit rejected Custodia Bank's appeal for direct Federal Reserve payment system access on Friday. The three-judge panel upheld the Fed's authority to deny master account applications, ending the Wyoming crypto bank's multi-year legal effort. The ruling affirms the central bank retains broad discretion over which institutions may access its payment infrastructure.

Coinbase is drawing increased attention from long-term investors as major financial institutions integrate its backend infrastructure to offer cryptocurrency services. The company reported third-quarter revenue of $1.87 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.8 billion and driving a 9% rally in COIN stock. Analysts highlight partnerships with J.P. Morgan, Citi, and PNC as evidence that Coinbase is becoming foundational infrastructure for traditional banks entering crypto markets.

Stablecoin issuers account for 60% to 75% of total daily revenue across major crypto protocol categories. Tether's CEO Paolo Ardoino stated the company is projected to generate $15 billion in profit this year with a 99% margin. Rising competition is prompting some issuers to explore new value-sharing models, with platforms like Coinbase offering 3.85% APY on USDC holdings.

Cryptocurrency exchange MEXC released approximately $3.1 million in frozen assets to trader TheWhiteWhaleV2 on October 31. The move followed intense community scrutiny and public questions about the platform's ownership structure. MEXC's Chief Strategy Officer issued an apology acknowledging procedural failures in the months-long account freeze.

Cryptocurrency traders experience elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and stress compared to non-investors, according to a National Library of Medicine study analyzing 11,177 participants across multiple countries. The research found trading behaviors mirror high-risk gambling patterns, with participants demonstrating compulsive activities that persist despite financial losses. Extreme market volatility creates psychological pressures as prices can swing 20% overnight, leaving traders in constant cycles of anticipation and remorse.

Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, reported profits exceeding $10 billion for the first nine months of 2025, with third-quarter earnings surpassing $4.3 billion. The company issued an additional $17 billion in USDT during Q3. Tether's U.S. Treasury holdings reached $135 billion, while it also holds nearly $13 billion in precious metals and $10 billion in Bitcoin.

Standard Chartered projects the tokenized real-world asset market will grow to $2 trillion by 2028, up from the current $35.5 billion market capitalization. The bank cites stablecoin liquidity and decentralized finance infrastructure as primary drivers for the anticipated 57-fold expansion. Regulatory clarity remains the sector's key risk factor, according to the institution's analysis.