Mantle price surges 17% to near all-time high

  • Mantle price jumps to near all-time high as volume spikes 50%
  • This comes amid integration of HyperEVM via LayerZero, enhancing MNT’s utility across blockchains.
  • MNT is only 4% away from its ATH reached in April 2024.

Mantle (MNT), the native token of the Mantle Network, has skyrocketed by 17% in just 24 hours to hit $1.50 as bulls target a new all-time high. MNT also popped to a new all-time high in terms of market cap, gaining amid major Bybit announcement.

This has caught the attention of crypto investors as Mantle volume surges 50% to signal  growing interest in Mantle’s ecosystem.MNT’s price gain is largely fueled by recent technological advancements and strategic partnerships.

What catalysed the MNT price surge?

Mantle’s latest price spike came alongside gains for other cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin surged to above $114k. However, MNT’s spike can be attributed to a series of developments within the Mantle ecosystem.

A key driver is the integration of MNT with HyperEVM via LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token standard, enabling seamless cross-chain mobility. 

This move expanded MNT’s utility, allowing it to operate across multiple blockchain networks, enhancing its appeal to developers and users. Also, Mantle’s focus on low-cost, high-speed transactions has attracted decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, boosting on-chain activity.

The broader cryptocurrency market has shown bullish signals, but Mantle’s performance stands out with its 17% surge pushing the MNT market cap to an all-time high of $4.8 billion. 

Mantle’s trading volume also increased as investors looked to capitalize on Bybit’s listing of 21 new MNT trading pairs.

Bybit also announced a reward program for Mantle holders. The market’s positive response to Mantle’s technological advancements and partnerships signals strong investor interest. As well as price action, Mantle’s total value locked has surpassed $1.8 billion, signaling traction across DeFi.

What’s next for Mantle price?

Mantle’s trajectory depends on its ability to sustain ecosystem growth and navigate market dynamics. This includes its partnership with LayerZero and potential new integrations which could further enhance MNT’s interoperability, attracting more DeFi and NFT projects.

Upcoming developments may also indirectly boost Mantle’s visibility in the layer-2 space,despite analysts warning that macroeconomic factors, such as regulatory shifts or broader market corrections, could impact MNT’s price.

With its robust infrastructure and growing adoption, Mantle price could hit a new ATH and target $2.00 or higher.

As the ecosystem evolves, MNT’s price movements will likely reflect its ability to deliver on technological promises and maintain investor confidence. Currently, the technical setup supports MNT price surge.

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Binance US slashes fees as trading volumes remain depressed

  • Binance.US slashes fees to 0% maker, 0.01% taker on 20+ crypto pairs, including ETH and ADA.
  • Exchange volume share fell to 0.20% after the SEC lawsuit, down from around 10% last year.
  • Fee cuts aim to win back traders in a US market now led by Coinbase and Kraken.

Binance.US, the American affiliate of global crypto exchange Binance, has cut fees on more than 20 trading pairs as it struggles to revive activity on its platform.

The exchange announced it will now offer 0% maker fees and 0.01% taker fees across the pairs, including Ethereum, Solana, BNB, and Cardano.

The updated fee schedule does not require any subscription or minimum trading volumes.

Maker fees apply to orders that provide liquidity by resting on the order book, while taker fees apply to orders that immediately match against existing orders.

As part of the change, Binance.US also expanded its “Tier 0” pricing model to include more than 20 additional pairs.

All Tier 0 pairs, including BTC/USD — which replaces BTC/USDC — now carry a 0.01% taker fee while maintaining 0% maker fees.

The Tier 0 structure was first introduced in 2022 with bitcoin trading pairs, a move that temporarily boosted trading volumes at the time.

Binance.US is aiming for a similar effect with its latest effort to reset pricing in a market where it has lost significant share.

Market share plunge since SEC case

Trading activity on Binance.US has declined sharply since mid-2023, when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Binance, Binance.US, and co-founder Changpeng Zhao.

In June 2023, the exchange suspended US dollar deposits and withdrawals, leaving it to operate solely as a crypto-to-crypto venue.

The absence of fiat rails contributed to a steep decline in volumes.

According to The Block’s Data Dashboard, Binance.US’s share of US dollar–supporting exchange volume has fallen to just 0.20% as of August, compared with roughly 10% prior to the SEC’s action.

Although the SEC dropped its case against Binance and related entities in May, trading activity has remained subdued.

Earlier this year, Binance.US restored dollar deposits and withdrawals for the first time in nearly two years.

However, the move has yet to translate into meaningful increases in trading volume.

Chris Blodgett, chief operating officer of Binance.US, declined to provide reasons for the continued low activity but reaffirmed the company’s broader strategy.

“We look forward to continuing our mission of building the best and safest digital asset trading experience in the US with high liquidity and tight spreads for even better price discovery and the best possible value,” he said.

Fee cuts aim to regain competitive edge

The latest pricing changes represent another attempt by Binance.US to regain relevance in a US crypto market now dominated by Coinbase and Kraken.

By lowering fees to near-zero levels, the exchange is seeking to re-establish itself as the country’s lowest-cost trading venue.

Whether that strategy alone will succeed remains uncertain.

The broader US regulatory environment has become more accommodating to crypto, with several high-profile cases against major crypto firms — including Coinbase, Uniswap, and OpenSea — recently dismissed.

Binance and Zhao, meanwhile, agreed to pay more than $4 billion last year to resolve a Justice Department probe into Bank Secrecy Act violations.

For Binance.US, the new fee cuts highlight an effort to stabilize operations and rebuild trust with users after a challenging period.

While low-cost trading may attract some participants back to the platform, sustaining growth will depend on broader market dynamics and the company’s ability to navigate the shifting US regulatory landscape.

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Why the crypto market is bracing for a violent move

  • Bitcoin’s volatility has compressed to multi-month lows near 111,000 dollars.
  • The market is bracing for US CPI data and the Federal Reserve’s rate decision.
  • Prediction markets show an 82% chance of a Fed rate cut on September 17.

An unnatural, almost unsettling calm has descended upon the cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin is pinned, trading in one of its tightest ranges in months near 111,000 dollars, its volatility compressed to multi-month lows.

But this is not the quiet of stability; it is the tense, electric stillness that precedes a storm. Traders know the lull is temporary, a collective holding of breath before two powerful, market-moving events arrive to unleash the next decisive move.

The entire financial world is now focused on a two-part drama: the release of September’s US inflation data, followed by the Federal Reserve’s high-stakes interest rate decision a week later.

The outcome of these events will not just influence stocks and bonds; it will likely break the crypto market’s fragile trance.

The coiled spring: a verdict awaits

The market has already placed its bet. On the prediction market Polymarket, traders are assigning a commanding 82 percent chance of a quarter-point rate cut from the Fed on September 17.

But beyond that single, seemingly certain event, the path forward fractures into deep uncertainty. October expectations are a coin toss, with nearly even odds for another cut or a pause.

This divergence is the very definition of a coiled spring, a setup that explains why the current absence of volatility is so deceptive.

This is a market waiting for a signal, and the signal is coming.

“Markets often look calm just before they move. Bitcoin is trading in one of its tightest ranges in months, and volatility across crypto has compressed to multi-month lows,” said Gracie Lin, CEO of OKX Singapore. 

“With US inflation data like Core CPI out on Sept. 11 and the Fed’s much-anticipated rate decision just ahead, this quiet period is setting the stage for the next decisive move… history shows the market will find its next direction soon enough.”

The real trade: will a flood of capital be unleashed?

While the Fed’s decision will grab the headlines, the real, multi-trillion dollar question is what happens next.

According to the market maker Enflux, the pivotal trade is not about the cut itself, but about whether it finally pushes the mountain of cash currently sitting on the sidelines into riskier assets like crypto.

“The real debate now is not if cuts come, but whether liquidity deployment shifts into BTC, ETH, and even riskier assets,” the firm told CoinDesk.

This is the central tension gripping the market. The specter of a dovish Fed is already sending traditional safe havens like gold soaring to record highs.

Yet, Bitcoin remains stuck. If the Fed delivers, will that be the catalyst that finally unlocks a wave of new capital and fuels the return of the volatility that traders crave?

The quiet is about to end, and the market is about to get its answer.

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Cboe to launch continuous Bitcoin and Ether futures in November

  • Cboe to launch continuous BTC and ETH futures on Nov. 10, pending regulatory approval.
  • Continuous futures last up to 10 years, removing frequent contract rollovers for traders.
  • Cboe expects new products to attract both institutions and retail crypto derivatives traders.

Cboe Global Markets announced plans to launch new “Continuous futures” for bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH), with trading expected to begin on November 10, pending regulatory approval.

The products are designed to resemble perpetual futures contracts that are widely traded on offshore exchanges, but with adjustments to align with US regulatory requirements.

What sets continuous futures apart

Unlike traditional futures, which require frequent rolling as contracts near expiration, Cboe’s Continuous futures are structured as single contracts that can last up to 10 years.

This design is intended to simplify position management for traders by removing the need to roll over contracts at regular intervals.

According to Cboe, the contracts will be cash-settled and linked to real-time spot market prices.

They will incorporate daily cash adjustments, supported by a transparent and replicable funding rate methodology.

This approach is aimed at creating a stable and reliable trading instrument for both institutional and retail participants.

Bringing perpetual-style futures to US markets

Catherine Clay, Global Head of Derivatives at Cboe, highlighted the growing popularity of perpetual-style futures in offshore markets.

She noted that Cboe’s introduction of a similar product within a regulated US framework would provide traders with greater confidence.

“Perpetual-style futures have gained strong adoption in offshore markets. Now, Cboe is bringing that same utility to our US-regulated futures exchange and enabling US traders to access these products with confidence in a trusted, transparent, and intermediated environment,” Clay said in a statement.

The contracts will be cleared through Cboe Clear US, a derivatives clearing organization regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

This ensures that the products fall under the oversight of US financial authorities, addressing one of the main concerns around offshore perpetual futures.

Cboe’s broader push into digital assets

Cboe, originally known as the Chicago Board Options Exchange, was the first US exchange to offer bitcoin futures in 2017.

However, the company suspended new contracts about two years later as the crypto market downturn reduced demand.

With the recent resurgence in digital assets and renewed bullish momentum in the market, Cboe has re-energized its efforts to expand crypto-related offerings.

The exchange has been particularly active in pursuing listings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to digital assets.

The addition of Continuous futures for bitcoin and ether reflects its strategy of broadening crypto derivatives available to US traders.

Clay added that Cboe expects the new products to attract a wide range of participants.

“We expect Continuous futures to appeal to not only institutional market participants and existing CFE customers, but also to a growing segment of retail traders seeking access to crypto derivatives,” she said.

By providing long-dated, perpetual-style contracts within a US-regulated environment, Cboe is positioning itself to capture both institutional and retail demand in the rapidly evolving crypto derivatives market.

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Spanish bank BBVA taps Ripple to power retail crypto custody under MiCA

  • Ripple and BBVA extend earlier collaborations in Switzerland and Turkey.
  • BBVA launches retail crypto custody for BTC and ETH using Ripple.
  • MiCA regulation gives banks confidence to expand digital asset services.

Ripple has announced that Spain’s second-largest bank, BBVA, would integrate its institutional-grade custody technology into the bank’s retail crypto platform in Spain.

This signals a new phase of mainstream adoption for digital assets in Europe, coming at a time when the region’s banks are embracing the regulatory clarity provided by the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law.

Ripple’s crypto custody enters Spain

The agreement between Ripple and BBVA enables BBVA customers to trade and securely hold bitcoin and ether directly within the bank’s mobile application.

By using Ripple Custody, BBVA can manage cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets without depending on third-party intermediaries, giving customers a more seamless and trusted experience.

The Spanish lender disclosed the new offering to Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), underscoring its commitment to transparency and compliance.

With this rollout, BBVA becomes one of the first major European banks to make crypto trading and custody services available to retail clients under a fully regulated framework.

Building on past collaborations

The new agreement is not the first between the two companies. Ripple and BBVA have previously worked together in Switzerland and Turkey, where the custody technology was deployed to support similar initiatives.

BBVA’s Swiss unit had already collaborated with Metaco, the digital asset firm Ripple acquired in 2023, to build out its custody operations.

The pair also tested real-time cross-border payments in earlier pilot projects, signalling a broader ambition beyond custody alone.

Last month, BBVA was reported to have taken on a role as one of the few independent custodians serving clients of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange.

European banks can offer crypto services under MiCA

BBVA’s move in Spain reflects a broader shift within Europe’s financial industry.

MiCA’s implementation has given traditional banks a clear path to enter the crypto sector while ensuring customers remain protected.

Ripple executives have pointed to MiCA as a turning point for the European banking sector.

Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s managing director for Europe, noted that the regulation gives banks the confidence to deliver digital asset services their customers have long demanded.

By adopting Ripple’s custody solution, BBVA can scale its offering to meet rising demand without compromising on compliance or security.

For Ripple, the deal in Spain adds another milestone in its strategy to support regulated financial institutions across Europe.

BBVA echoed the same sentiment, stressing that customers can now explore digital assets while maintaining the security expected from a global bank.

Francisco Maroto, who heads the lender’s digital asset unit, said Ripple’s custody system delivers the reliability and security needed to earn customer trust.

Moroto added that the partnership allows BBVA to provide an end-to-end custody service, strengthening the bank’s position as a leader in Europe’s evolving crypto landscape.

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