Bitcoin Crash Coming? $4.9 Trillion Options Expiry Sparks Warning

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has urged the Bitcoin community to accelerate its efforts to guard against quantum attacks, arguing that a major breakthrough in quantum computing could come much sooner than expected.

“I feel 50/50 within 5 years, there is a quantum breakthrough,” Yakovenko said at the All-In Summit 2025, which was published to YouTube on Friday. “We should migrate Bitcoin to a quantum-resistant signature scheme,” he added.

Yakovenko based his prediction on the fact that with so many technologies converging, and how fast AI is accelerating from a research paper to an implementation. “It is astounding,” he said. “I would try to encourage folks to speed things up,” he added.

Cybersecurity experts say the threat may emerge quicker

It is commonly forecasted that quantum computers will eventually be able to crack present-day encryption, making security a concern for users in the blockchain industry. Though many Bitcoin (BTC) advocates still think the threat is a long way off.

September 19, 2025 05:59:50 UTC

Polygon Secures $21M Net Flows, Ranks 3rd Among Chains

In the past 24 hours, Polygon attracted $21 million in net flows, ranking third overall. It trailed BNB Chain with $47 million and Hyperliquid at $242 million. Despite new narratives shaping the market, Polygon continues to capture strong inflows. While prediction markets contribute, its growing role as a payments layer is proving to be a key driver, keeping Polygon in focus among leading blockchain networks.

September 19, 2025 05:58:23 UTC

Bitcoin News: Massive Moment for BTC Price , “Change Course of History” Coming Next Week

Dennis Porter has teased something “massive” for Bitcoin coming next week. He claims there’s an opportunity to change the course of Bitcoin’s history in the USA — and it’s that big. Porter says this could be a pivotal moment for Bitcoin policy, adoption, or regulation stateside. What’s unclear is exactly what this “massive” event entails — proposed laws, regulatory shifts, or large institutional movement. All eyes will be watching closely.

September 19, 2025 05:56:35 UTC

XRP’s Path to Decoupling from Bitcoin

XRP is expected to decouple from Bitcoin once institutional adoption and settlement demand begin driving its value independently. The shift will be gradual, fueled by growing usage of XRP in cross-border payments and banking networks. As settlement demand increases, XRP’s price will be anchored more to real-world utility rather than broader crypto market sentiment, signaling a fundamental divergence from Bitcoin’s dominance in the digital asset space.

September 19, 2025 05:35:41 UTC

Ethereum and Bitcoin Spot ETFs See Strong Net Inflows

On September 18 (ET), Ethereum spot ETFs recorded a combined net inflow of $213 million, with all nine funds avoiding outflows. Bitcoin spot ETFs also showed strength, attracting $163 million in net inflows across all twelve products, each reporting zero outflows. The synchronized gains highlight growing institutional demand for both BTC and ETH, reinforcing market confidence amid ongoing momentum in crypto ETFs.

September 19, 2025 05:35:41 UTC

Aster Crypto Records Explosive Growth, Binance Alpha Launches Today

In just 24 hours since its Token Generation Event (TGE), Aster (ASTER) skyrocketed 1,650%, hitting $310M in trading volume and $1.5B in total platform activity. The network saw 330,000 new wallets created, while net inflows boosted TVL by $660M to surpass $1B. Riding this momentum, Binance Alpha is set to go live today, September 18, at 16:00 UTC+8, further energizing market interest in the Aster ecosystem.

Despite Bitcoin showing strength over the last few days, traders and investors should expect some volatility during the early hours of the European session on Friday amid the anticipation of options expiry.

However, the impact could be short-lived, given that markets quickly adjust to new trading environments shortly after.

What Traders Should Know About Today’s Options Expiry

Data on Deribit shows that over $4.3 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum options will expire today. For Bitcoin, the expiring options have a notional value of $3.5 billion and a total open interest of 30,208.

With a Put-to-Call ratio 1.23, the maximum pain level for today’s expiring Bitcoin options is $114,000.

For their Ethereum counterparts, the notional value for today’s expiring ETH options is $806.75 million, with total open interest of 177,398.

Unlike Bitcoin, however, today’s expiring Ethereum options have a Put-to-Call Ratio (PCR) below 1, with Deribit data showing 0.99 as of this writing. Meanwhile, the maximum pain level, or strike price, is $4,500.

The maximum pain point is a crucial metric in crypto options trading. It represents the price level at which most options contracts expire worthless. This scenario inflicts the maximum financial loss, or “pain,” on traders holding these options.

Notably, today’s expiring Bitcoin and Ethereum options are slightly higher than last week’s. On September 12, BeInCrypto reported nearly $4.3 billion expiring options, highlighting 29,651 BTC and 189,700 ETH contracts, with notional values of $3.42 billion and $858.2 million, respectively.

However, the main difference between this week’s expiring options and those seen last week is that this time, Ethereum expiring options have a PCR below 1.

A PCR below 1 indicates that more Call (Purchase) options are traded than Put (Sale) options. Therefore, this suggests a bullish market sentiment for Ethereum, and bearish sentiment for Bitcoin, which has more Puts than Calls.

Nevertheless, Bitcoin’s PCR at 1.23 and Ethereum’s at 0.99 suggest an almost balanced bet among traders between sale and purchase orders.

This balanced outlook comes as investors speculate whether the market will move higher or are hedging their portfolios in case of a sell-off.

Options Market Signals Caution After Fed Cut as Record Expiry Looms

In hindsight, it is worth noting that options had repriced ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision on Wednesday.

With this, implied volatility for options contracts rose while trading volume declined, suggesting market caution.

Glassnode highlights a post-rate-cut patience in the market, with Bitcoin trading above 115,200 and 95% of supply in profit after the FOMC rally.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that next Friday, September 26, the largest weekly Bitcoin options expiry in history will be seen. On that day, over $18 billion in notional value will expire.

At the $118,000 Bitcoin price level, over $2.4 billion is in the money, with a maximum pain of $110,000. The Put open interest is minimal until $110,000.

Therefore, next week could be interesting. The margin usually drives short-term price action, so markets should not be surprised to see a flush despite the sentiment.

In the meantime, however, traders should brace for volatility because the max pain concept often influences market behavior.

According to the Max Pain theory, the asset’s price tends to gravitate toward this level as options near expiration.

As the options near their expiry time, 8:00 UTC on Deribit, the Bitcoin price, trading for $117,147 as of this writing, could pull toward its max pain at $114,000. Meanwhile, Ethereum, which was trading for $4,590, could drop toward $4,500.

Nevertheless, markets usually stabilize soon after traders adapt to the new price environment. With today’s high-volume expiration, traders and investors can expect a similar outcome, potentially influencing market trends into the weekend.

Bitcoin advocates are jumping up and down again after reports that Vietnam has closed 86 million bank accounts that failed to comply with a facial biometric authentication mandate.

Several Vietnamese media outlets — including Vietnam+ — reported in July that over 86 million bank accounts started being closed on Sept. 1, while the remaining 113 million bank accounts were verified under the new biometric laws, the aim being to prevent fraud and money laundering.

A Reddit user known as “Yukzor,” a former foreign contractor in Vietnam, said the new law’s implementation has required him to fly back into the country to prevent his HSBC bank account from closing, with no remote solution.

“Does that sound crazy to anyone else in 2025, you cannot transfer your money and have to fly into a country in person to resolve an issue? On top of it all, they said they will close my account this month if i don't fly in and update the biometrics,” he wrote eariler this month.

Bitcoin advocates have long supported the idea that people should have access to their own funds, free of government or external interference.

“If users don't comply by the 30th [of September] they'll lose their money. This is why we Bitcoin,” Bitcoin industry commentator Marty Bent said on Thursday. Cointelegraph couldn’t verify whether customer funds would be unrecoverable after Sept. 30.

However, punitive capital controls of this nature have taken place in Lebanon, Turkey, Venezuela, Cyprus, Nigeria, India and many other countries since Bitcoin launched, and it would be “naive to think that Vietnam will be the last,” Bent said in a separate article for the TFTC on Thursday.

The strict measure — which Bitcoin environmentalist Daniel Batten said would give Vietnam’s central bank “next-gen financial surveillance ability” — shows why permissionless monetary protocols like Bitcoin are necessary to safeguard against state overreach.

BNB price today is hovering just under the $1,000 milestone, trading around $985 after briefly touching a new all-time high of $1,004. The token climbed 4.5% in the past 24 hours, rising from $956 before stabilizing near $998. With its market cap now close to $140 billion, BNB has overtaken Solana to reclaim its spot as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) weighed in on the rally, explaining the mix of political, technical, and regulatory factors fueling BNB’s surge.

Pro-Crypto Policies Boost Investor Confidence

According to CZ, political shifts have created a supportive backdrop for digital assets. He credited the new U.S. administration for taking a friendlier stance toward crypto — one that other countries are now beginning to follow.

This policy shift has energized the market, creating optimism around BNB’s potential to break past $1,000 and beyond.

BNB Chain Upgrades Slash Costs and Speed Up Transactions

BNB’s rally isn’t just about politics — technical upgrades to BNB Chain have been transformative. Block times were reduced from 3 seconds to just 0.75 seconds, while gas fees fell by 90%.

These improvements made BNB Chain one of the fastest and cheapest blockchains, leading to a surge in activity. Transaction volumes soared, cementing BNB Chain’s position as the highest-volume network.

Ecosystem Growth and Venture Capital Inflows

The BNB ecosystem continues to expand rapidly. Stablecoins like WLF’s USD1 filled the gap left by BUSD, while AI, DeFi, and real-world asset projects are thriving on the network.

Trading platforms like PancakeSwap have seen rising volumes, while lending protocols such as Lista and Venus are competing for dominance. Venture capital firms, including YZiLabs, are pouring funds into BNB-based projects.

Binance’s Token Burn Fuels Scarcity

BNB’s quarterly token burn program is another bullish catalyst. In the last quarter alone, Binance removed $1.6 billion worth of BNB from circulation, tightening supply and boosting price momentum.

Many investors view these burns as a strong long-term value driver, ensuring BNB remains deflationary.

Regulatory Relief Restores Market Confidence

Earlier this year, the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Binance, lifting fears that BNB might be classified as a security. Reports also suggest Binance could soon strike a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to end its court-appointed monitor, a condition tied to its $4.3 billion 2023 settlement.

Such developments significantly reduce regulatory pressure and restore investor confidence in Binance’s stability.

Speculation Over CZ’s Return Sparks Buzz

Adding fuel to the rally is speculation that CZ could return to a leadership role at Binance. Although no official announcement has been made, investors see his potential comeback as a positive sign for Binance’s vision and brand.

BNB Price Today

BNB price action has been explosive. After repeated resistance tests at $995, the token broke $1,000 in a six-minute rally, with trading volumes eight times higher than normal. Analysts now eye resistance at $1,005, with strong support holding just below $1,000.

With political tailwinds, rapid ecosystem expansion, regulatory clarity, and ongoing token burns, BNB’s climb past $1,000 could be the start of its next major chapter.

FAQs

BNB’s surge is driven by pro-crypto political shifts, major technical upgrades to its blockchain, rapid ecosystem growth, and its deflationary token burn mechanism.

Many view BNB as a strong investment due to its real-world utility, expanding ecosystem, deflationary model, and increased regulatory clarity for the Binance exchange.

Long-term BNB valuation depends on overall crypto adoption and Binance’s growth. Its deflationary burn and key utility within a massive ecosystem provide a strong foundation for potential future value growth.

Yes, BNB has already briefly reached $1,004. Strong momentum, technical upgrades, and growing ecosystem demand suggest it could sustainably break and hold above $1,000.

Ethereum co-founder and Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin said that MetaMask will be launching its much-anticipated native token in the near future.

"The MASK token is coming — It may come sooner than you would expect right now," Lubin said during an interview on The Block's "The Crypto Beat" podcast. "And it is significantly related to the decentralization of certain aspects of the MetaMask platform."

Lubin explained that Consensys is actively supporting the Ethereum ecosystem's direction of progressive decentralization, and that it is using MetaMask, Infura and Linea to ensure that "rigorous" decentralization remains at the center of the ecosystem.

For years, the crypto community has been closely watching whether the most popular Ethereum wallet will launch its native cryptocurrency, an idea that dates back to at least 2021, when MetaMask engineer Erik Marks suggested the concept of community ownership of the wallet through a token launch.

In a May interview with The Block, MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay said the token, if launched, would be advertised directly in the wallet. "You'll be able to find a link directly in the wallet," Finlay said.

While Finlay said at the time the token launch is still a "maybe," Lubin's comments on The Crypto Beat on Thursday indicate that the MASK launch plan is concrete and near.

Earlier this month, Consensys' Ethereum Layer 2, Linea, launched its native asset, LINEA, with a token generation event that distributed over 9.36 billion LINEA to eligible addresses.

"With the token launch, we had the opportunity to do some pretty impactful things," Lubin said, pointing out that Consensys took a modest 15% stake in Linea tokens while the remainder was allocated to support builders, liquidity provision, and incentivized usage for both Linea and Ethereum projects, prioritizing community growth.

mNAV concerns

Meanwhile, Lubin, who is also serving as Chairman of publicly-traded Ethereum treasury company SharpLink Gaming, commented on the company's latest performance.

The company's market net asset value (mNAV) ratio recently fell below 1, indicating the market values the company at a discount to the ETH the firm holds. According to The Block's crypto treasuries page, SharpLink's mNAV currently stands at 0.80x. A similar decline in mNAV is spotted among other crypto treasury companies such as Bitmine and MARA.

This trend can erode investor confidence and has raised concerns about a potential "death spiral," where the company's stock price falls dramatically and limits its ability to raise capital, especially for a company heavily reliant on volatile crypto assets.

"There are cyclical things that are happening in the world. There are secular trends," Lubin commented. "When we see the price of ether surge, we see that reflected in SharpLink as we see their price of ether moving back towards all-time highs … We're going to see animal spirits back in the market."

SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom, also present at the podcast interview, added that the mNAV decline below 1 is a "temporary dislocation."

"This is a public company vehicle, you own the underlying ETH, you get to stake it and earn three plus percent yields … That staking yield is revenue, and in a public company context in the mid-term to long-term, that should attract a multiple," explained Chalom.

Future of the ETH treasury

In the case the mNAV stays below 1, the SharpLink CEO said the company will opt for further buybacks, while seeking other ways to raise capital in the market, such as issuing common stock.

"There are equity-linked and convertible offerings that have really significant investor interest, where you can raise that capital without diluting the shareholders," Chalom said.

Instead of focusing on mNAV, the two SharpLink leaders put more emphasis on their own metric — ETH per share. Chalom said the ETH per share ratio has grown from 2.0 in early June to 3.95, which is a "super positive" for investors.

"It's about more and more investors waking up to the idea that we are going to be using our ether," Lubin said. "We may borrow against it at some point in the distant future when it's a giant pile of high-powered money. We'll be staking it in important protocols, we'll bring liquidity to new exciting protocols."

When the company reaches a certain inflection point that poses a limit for further Ether purchases, SharpLink plans to "substantially change" its mode from Ethereum accumulation to making use of ETH.

According to The Block's data dashboard, SharpLink is the second-largest corporate holder of Ethereum, with around 836,710 ETH under its belt. Its stock closed up 0.58% to $17.22 on Thursday, according to The Block's SBET price page.

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