Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• Flare Network’s price rose amid momentum ahead of a key mainnet upgrade.
• The upgrade has been activated on Songbird and is scheduled for December 2, 2025, on mainnet.
• Gains across crypto and the upgrade buzz could boost FLR price.

Flare, a layer 1 blockchain known for its interoperability and support for decentralized applications (dApps), is on the brink of a significant transformation.

The network, which allows users to tap into its ecosystem to put XRP to work in decentralized finance, is on the verge of a major network upgrade. Could the Flare (FLR) price explode amid this development?

Flare readies for major network upgrade

As noted, Flare is preparing for two pivotal hard forks.

The upgrade has already been successfully activated on the Songbird testnet.

On Wednesday, the Flare team confirmed the mainnet upgrade is set for December 2, 2025, at 12:00 UTC.

FLR price is up amid the successful completion of the Songbird network upgrade and the impending Flare mainnet upgrade.

These upgrades are part of a broader strategy to integrate key components of the Cancun/Dencun fork, promising a more efficient and cost-effective environment for smart contracts.

For investors and enthusiasts, the critical question is what this could mean for FLR.

Notably, the upgrades introduce advanced Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) features.

Co-founder Hugo Phillion commented on the development via X.

Flare launched in a bear market. We shipped.
Flare emerged into a bull market. We climbed the MCAP rankings. We shipped.

Throw what you will at us.
We will ship and climb.

— Hugo Philion (@HugoPhilion) November 25, 2025

The aim is to boost performance, efficiency, and scalability.

Key enhancements include the MCOPY opcode, which accelerates memory operations through chunk-based data transfers.

There’s also TSTORE/TLOAD (Transient Storage), offering cost-effective temporary storage for high-throughput applications.

According to the project, these improvements introduce critical capabilities and enhancements.

Other than supporting a more efficient and scalable dApps ecosystem, it means reduced execution costs and innovative protocols, including modular lending systems.

Additionally, the P-chain will introduce dynamic staking fees based on gas consumption and current gas prices, alongside upgrades to supporting libraries like flarejs.

As a comprehensive overhaul, the upgrade positions Flare for the next generation of dApps.

It also adds to the current traction that includes FXRP.

FLR price outlook

Historically, significant protocol upgrades have sparked investor optimism.

Often, this has led to price surges due to increased utility and adoption potential.

In this case, the successful Songbird upgrade may serve as a confidence booster, suggesting a smooth transition for the mainnet upgrade.

Enhanced scalability and lower costs could attract more dApp developers.

Potentially, this increases demand for FLR tokens used in transaction fees and governance.

Given the current price has jumped from lows of $0.011 to above $0.015 and seen over 24% gains in the past week, the upgrade could catalyse a short-term price rally.

FLR testing higher resistance levels in the coming months will depend on the next moves and overall price outlook.

The token reached highs of $0.035 in December 2024 and the all-time peak of $0.079 in January 2023.

The post Flare Network’s major upgrade is here: what’s the outlook for FLR price? appeared first on CoinJournal.

• BONK ETP launches on SIX, giving European investors regulated access to the crypto.
• BONK price jumps by 3.5%, outperforming broader crypto amid technical rebound.
• Institutional demand may boost liquidity and tighten the circulating supply.

Swiss crypto ETP provider Bitcoin Capital has launched a regulated exchange-traded product (ETP) for the Solana-based meme coin BONK on Switzerland’s SIX Swiss Exchange.

This marks a major milestone for the memecoin as the ETP helps it to enter one of Europe’s largest and most established financial markets.

Expanding access to meme coins

The BONK ETP provides a bridge between the cryptocurrency community and traditional financial investors.

By creating a regulated vehicle, Bitcoin Capital makes it possible for those unfamiliar with crypto exchanges to participate in the meme coin ecosystem while benefiting from the oversight and credibility that comes with a listed product.

Marcel Niederberger, CEO of Bitcoin Capital and FiCAS AG, highlighted Switzerland’s regulatory framework and the SIX Exchange’s infrastructure as key factors in choosing the venue.

According to Niederberger, the combination of consistent supervision and developed market structures positions Switzerland as an ideal hub for launching digital asset ETPs.

For the broader crypto market, BONK’s ETP represents another step in the gradual institutionalisation of meme coins.

While Dogecoin (DOGE) has dominated the conversation in regulated markets, with ETFs and leveraged products appearing on US exchanges, BONK’s introduction to Europe reflects an appetite for thematic and community-driven digital assets.

Bitcoin Capital anticipates further expansion of regulated products referencing BONK in the coming year, including additional ETPs and structured notes, as European investors increasingly embrace digital assets within conventional investment frameworks.

Regulatory legitimacy for BONK

By bringing BONK to regulated platforms, Bitcoin Capital is opening a new chapter in the evolution of meme coins, demonstrating how niche tokens can gain legitimacy while maintaining a connection to their communities.

Notably, the Swiss crypto ETP provider will lock the underlying BONK tokens in the ETP, tightening the circulating supply and providing a level of certainty for investors often absent in purely digital markets.

This structure is expected to enhance investor confidence and attract capital from institutional desks, which historically account for the majority of inflows in Bitcoin Capital’s products.

By integrating BONK into a regulated environment, the product demonstrates that meme coins can transcend their origins as internet-driven tokens to become credible investment vehicles.

The timing of the launch is particularly noteworthy given the rapid growth of digital asset products across Europe and the United States.

Recent months have seen a surge in memecoin ETFs and structured products, including offerings tied to Dogecoin, highlighting a global trend toward regulated exposure to popular cryptocurrencies.

Following the Bonk ETP launch, the BONK price has jumped 3.5%, outperforming the broader crypto market, which rose around 2.84% today.

At press time, BONK memecoin was trading at $0.0599, and technical signals hint at a possible bullish trend, with BONK’s price reclaiming key moving averages and the RSI exiting oversold territory.

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• About 54 billion won in tokens moved to an external wallet on Nov. 27.
• Around 12 billion won in Solaire tokens have been frozen so far.
• The breach coincided with Dunamu’s major merger plans with Naver.

Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, is carrying out extensive security inspections after an early-morning breach on Nov. 27 led to unauthorised transfers of Solana-linked assets worth about 54 billion won.

The exchange halted all deposits and withdrawals as it began moving digital assets to cold storage and initiated a broader internal review.

The incident has renewed attention on how Solana-based tokens are secured across trading platforms and has placed pressure on Upbit to strengthen systems as the company enters a major corporate transition involving its parent firm, Dunamu.

Solana assets targeted in early transfer

The breach took place at around 4:42 am on Nov. 27 when Solana network assets, including SOL, USDC, and other smaller tokens, were moved to an external wallet without authorisation.

Upbit described the activity as abnormal withdrawals connected to the Solana network.

The exchange confirmed that roughly $37 million worth of digital assets had been affected.

Upbit immediately suspended services to stop further transfers.

It said it has identified the entire scale of the outflow and will fully compensate users by covering the amount with its own holdings.

Customer balances will not be touched as part of the reimbursement process.

To control risk, the exchange transferred assets to cold storage and started a systemwide inspection of its wallet operations, deposit channels, and withdrawal procedures.

These steps were taken to prevent any further unauthorised movement and to contain the situation while teams examined logs and asset flows.

System checks widen beyond the Solana network

Upbit said its investigation will not be restricted to the Solana ecosystem.

It is reviewing the stability and security of the complete deposit and withdrawal infrastructure. This includes a detailed audit of network connections, wallet systems, and digital asset storage methods.

The exchange has begun an emergency sweep of internal processes and is carrying out a full evaluation of whether other networks require additional protections.

Deposits and withdrawals will resume gradually once the inspections conclude and the company is satisfied with system security.

The timing has amplified industry attention.

The breach occurred one day after Dunamu announced plans for a multibillion-dollar merger with Naver’s fintech arm.

The deal, valued at about $10.3 billion, represents one of the largest corporate moves in Asia’s digital finance landscape.

Reports suggest it may support Upbit’s ambitions for a future Nasdaq listing, creating pressure for the company to demonstrate resilience during a sensitive transition.

Freeze efforts expand as authorities prepare response

Upbit has started on-chain measures to track and freeze the affected assets.

It said around 12 billion won in Solaire tokens have already been frozen, and it continues to work with related projects and institutions to stop further movement.

The exchange is tracing the remaining funds through blockchain monitoring tools and coordinating with partners to identify additional freeze points.

Authorities and law enforcement agencies are also expected to join the investigation.

Upbit has prepared to cooperate with official inquiries once they begin and has asked users to report any verified information linked to the suspicious transactions.

The company acknowledged the disruption caused by the suspension of services and repeated that member assets remain protected.

It also stressed that the entire outflow will be covered using the exchange’s own resources.

Major merger plans heighten timing pressure

The breach took place on the anniversary of a major incident in Upbit’s history.

In 2019, on the same date, the exchange lost 342,000 ETH in another high-profile theft.

South Korean investigators later connected the event to North Korean hackers.

The stolen Ether has since increased in value to over $1 billion and remains one of the largest crypto heists associated with the country.

With deposits and withdrawals still paused, Upbit plans to restore services in stages after it completes its full review.

The exchange said its priority is to secure its infrastructure across all supported networks and to strengthen safeguards around Solana-linked assets while recovery and freeze efforts continue.

The post South Korea’s Upbit hack puts spotlight on Solana security and exchange safeguards appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Bolivia lets banks offer crypto services to counter inflation and dollar scarcity.
• Stablecoins gain traction in Bolivia as businesses and consumers hedge a weakening boliviano.
• Government pairs digital finance push with major new financing and tax reforms.

Bolivia is turning to cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in a sweeping effort to stabilise an economy strained by high inflation, a widening fiscal deficit, and a persistent shortage of US dollars.

The initiative is emerging as a central pillar of the government’s broader plan to modernise the financial system and revive investment under President Rodrigo Paz.

Crypto push in Bolivia gains steam

The shift marks a major policy change for the country, which only lifted a longstanding ban on crypto last year.

Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza confirmed that banks will now be allowed to custody digital assets and offer crypto-based savings accounts, loans, and credit cards.

The move effectively brings stablecoins such as USDT into the formal financial system, giving them a role similar to legal tender.

Espinoza said the decision reflects the practical reality that cryptocurrencies cannot be contained by national borders. He noted that recognising and integrating them is more efficient than trying to enforce old restrictions.

This approach follows a regional trend, as several Latin American economies hit by inflation turn to digital assets as a hedge against currency depreciation.

Bolivia’s inflation, in particular, has averaged above 22% over the past year, eroding the value of the boliviano and pushing residents toward alternatives that hold value more reliably.

As a result, stablecoins, which maintain a one-to-one link to assets such as the US dollar, have become a popular escape hatch for households and businesses looking to shield their savings from further losses.

Pressure from inflation and dollar scarcity

Businesses across Bolivia have already begun pricing goods in USDT, responding to the sharp shortage of physical dollars that has disrupted imports and raised costs.

Vehicle manufacturers, including Toyota, Yamaha, and BYD, started accepting stablecoins in September after struggling to secure dollars for transactions.

The state-owned energy company YPFB has also revealed plans to create a system allowing crypto-denominated payments for energy imports, though details are still being developed.

Stablecoins offer a workaround for strict currency controls that limit access to foreign currency.

Anyone with a mobile phone and a crypto wallet can now hold dollar-pegged tokens without going through banks that enforce tight restrictions.

This ease of access has been a major factor behind the rapid rise in crypto volumes following the regulatory shift last year.

Financing push alongside crypto reforms

The government’s crypto strategy is unfolding alongside a wider effort to shore up the economy through new financing and investment incentives.

Espinoza announced that Bolivia is negotiating more than $9 billion in multilateral financing for public and private projects, far above initial projections.

Roughly a third of the funds could arrive within two to three months, providing support for infrastructure, renewable energy, and financial inclusion initiatives.

The announcement lifted Bolivia’s dollar bonds, which reached their highest levels since 2022.

The government has also moved to scrap the wealth tax and eliminate taxes on financial transactions to attract private capital and encourage investment.

These measures still require congressional approval, but they signal a significant shift away from the state-heavy policies of previous administrations.

Paz has pledged a market-oriented approach while avoiding shocks that could undermine the country’s social programs.

The administration plans to cut public spending by 30% in the 2026 budget, though officials stress that the decision was made independently and not under pressure from the International Monetary Fund.

The post Bolivia eyes crypto and stablecoins to fight inflation and US dollar shortage appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Naver Financial will acquire Dunamu in a $10.3B stock-swap deal.
• The merger now awaits shareholder votes and key regulatory approvals.
• If successful, Upbit’s operator will become a wholly owned Naver subsidiary in 2026.

Naver Financial has set the stage for one of South Korea’s largest fintech and crypto-related mergers, unveiling a stock-swap plan to fully acquire Dunamu, the company behind the country’s dominant crypto exchange, Upbit.

Dunamu recently reported 10.4 trillion won in total assets and 4 trillion won in equity, with revenue up 35% and net profit rising 145% year-over-year, cementing its position as one of Korea’s most influential digital asset players.

A landmark stock-swap merger

Naver Financial confirmed that it will absorb Dunamu through a stock-swap transaction valued at approximately 15.1 trillion won, or about $10.3 billion.

To complete the merger, the company will issue 87.56 million new shares to Dunamu shareholders according to a filing made on Wednesday, making the crypto firm a wholly owned subsidiary once the process is finalised.

The exchange ratio, set at 2.5422618 Naver Financial shares for each Dunamu share, was determined through an external discounted cash-flow valuation.

The effective stock exchange date is scheduled for June 30, 2026, though shareholders will vote on the plan earlier, at general meetings set for May 22, 2026.

Investors who oppose the deal will have the option to exercise appraisal rights at a price of 117,780 won per Naver Financial share.

These rights can be exercised from May 22 to June 11, 2026.

However, the deal may be cancelled if appraisal demands exceed 1.1 trillion won combined, unless both parties agree to adjust the cap.

Several regulatory approvals are required

The merger still requires approval from multiple regulators before it can proceed.

The deal must pass a business combination review by the Fair Trade Commission and meet requirements tied to major shareholder changes under the Act on the Use and Protection of Credit Information.

Naver Financial acknowledged in its filings that delays remain possible if any part of the process stalls.

But despite those hurdles, the companies appear confident about the transition.

Naver has said it plans to use the merger to “secure future growth momentum based on digital assets.”

While the firms have not yet mapped out structural changes following the merger, both sides expect closer strategic and operational cooperation.

According to reports shared earlier this year, Naver Financial is preparing to launch a Korean won-backed stablecoin after the merger, though no official timeline has been disclosed.

If confirmed, the move aligns with broader shifts in South Korea, where major banks and policymakers have adopted a more supportive stance toward digital asset innovation.

Notably, the election of President Lee Jae-myung marked a turning point for crypto regulation, and several domestic banks have already announced plans to introduce won-pegged stablecoins by late 2025 or early 2026.

That environment may provide Naver with fertile ground to expand its fintech capabilities and build a digital finance ecosystem that integrates payments, blockchain services, and investment tools.

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