An apparent exploit on the Liquid network may have let actors create additional LBTC and redeem it for real BTC. Purported "whitehats" are believed to have abused Liquid's confidential transaction system to inflate the LBTC balance under their control, then peg out nearly 4,000 LBTC at a 1:1 rate for BTC. The pegout reportedly appeared valid to Liquid operators. Federation HSMs signed the withdrawal and there is currently no indication that signing keys were compromised. If verified, the incident would suggest a flaw in Liquid's process for validating the amount of LBTC being redeemed, rather than a conventional theft of federation keys. Liquid is effectively paused as federation members investigate. Other assets on Liquid, including USDT, DePix, and RWAs, are said to be unaffected. The actors behind the transactions claim they are whitehats, and Blockstream says it is trying to reach them via onchain messages. This story is developing.

An apparent exploit involving roughly 4,000 BTC on Blockstream's Liquid Network has surfaced just weeks after the company introduced Blockstream Swaps, an in-house service designed to move Bitcoin between the mainchain, Liquid and Lightning. Blockstream accelerated the rollout after Boltz disabled swaps in August, pointing to a surge in automated, AI-assisted attacks and multiple exploits targeting its infrastructure. Two days ago, Blockstream said testing was "going well" and expanded beta access to more users. Blockstream is now responding on-chain to alleged "whitehats" after what appears to be the largest incident involving the Liquid Network to date.

Liquid Network's dashboard has confirmed an unauthorized withdrawal of roughly 4,000 BTC. According to @btcinsider__, attackers appear to have deceived Liquid's functionaries into approving a transaction that looked legitimate to internal systems, but effectively authorized a peg-out of about 3,998 BTC to the Bitcoin network. The transaction reportedly cleared Liquid's validation checks, prompting the functionaries' security hardware to sign the withdrawal. The attackers say they are white hats.

Blockstream issued an on-chain response after a group describing itself as "white hats" said it wanted to establish contact following the exploitation of 4,000 BTC from the Liquid Network. In its message, Blockstream asked the parties involved to reach out via email: "Please contact security@blockstream.com". This story is developing.

U.S. bond markets are heading into a potentially volatile stretch as investors juggle shifting Federal Reserve expectations, heavy Treasury issuance and a packed economic calendar that could drive large moves across the yield curve, from the front end to the 30-year. The long bond has become a focal point. The 30-year Treasury yield has held above 5% for 55 days so far in 2026, marking its longest run at those levels since 2006. As of early September 2026, the 10-year yield is around 4.78% and the 2-year near 4.37%. The 30-year sits at roughly 5.24%. The 2s10s spread is about 41 basis points, while the 3-month to 10-year spread is wider at 87 basis points. A major driver of the turbulence is the Fed's leadership shift under Chair Kevin Warsh, who took over in late May 2026. Warsh has moved the central bank toward a more strictly data-dependent approach and provided less forward guidance than markets had grown used to, pushing implied volatility higher in short-dated rate options. Warsh added to the uncertainty on Aug. 28, when comments from the chair rattled markets and revived the possibility of a rate hike at the September FOMC meeting. The 10-year yield briefly moved above 4.8%, and pricing in rate markets lifted hike odds to roughly 50% or more. Next week's labor-market reports are pivotal. Strong jobs data could tilt expectations toward a September hike, while weaker readings could remove it from the conversation. Supply dynamics are also intensifying. Corporate debt issuance reached $1.68 trillion through August 2026, up 27% from the same period a year earlier. A significant portion is linked to AI-related capital spending as companies build data centers, buy chips and fund the infrastructure needed to compete. That wave of corporate issuance is layering on top of heavy Treasury supply as the U.S. government continues to finance large fiscal deficits. At times, the market has seen bear-flattening moves, with long-end yields rising but short-end yields climbing faster. The curve has also periodically steepened, depending on which data release or Fed signal is dominating trading. The coming weeks carry added stakes because several catalysts are landing in a tight window: the September FOMC meeting, key labor data and a busy corporate issuance calendar.

Russian gold shipments into Hong Kong are accelerating, pushing imports to a record high this year and bringing total inflows close to 100 tonnes. The surge highlights shifting trade routes in the bullion market as regional demand patterns and logistics continue to adjust.

Nearly 4,000 BTC out of roughly 4,200 BTC tied to a Liquid Network pegout transaction appears to have moved in a single wave. A follow-up transaction included an OP_RETURN message stating: "we are whitehats. contact us on chain" TXID: c103de95817b43f2df635ec6f35ff126ca26a7c6d20570c4b01866b2b3e69a19 It remains unclear what triggered the movement and whether the funds were relocated as part of an exploit. The activity has raised concerns.

Nine ASX-listed mining names are set to go ex-dividend this week. BHP has declared a FY26 final dividend of 99 cents per share, implying a 72% payout ratio. The payment is 65% higher than its FY25 final dividend and marks BHP's largest final dividend in four years. In the broader sector, Sandfire Resources has been supported by an 18% rise in copper prices. Mineral Resources has benefited from a 278% surge in spodumene prices alongside a 7% lift in iron ore. Gold miners including Genesis Minerals have also gained from an 18% increase in the gold price.