The crypto market landscape has been buzzing with major updates and market shifts — from critical blockchain upgrades to sudden price swings that moved billions in value.
This week, Klever Blockchain rolled out a key mainnet update packed with new features for developers and validators, while the broader crypto market faced intense volatility with Bitcoin’s sharp drop, record options expiries, and altcoins delivering eye-popping gains.
At the same time, regulators and banks worldwide are stepping deeper into the sector, shaping the next phase of digital finance.
In this guide, you’ll get a clear breakdown of the latest blockchain updates, market movements, and trends shaping the future of crypto.
Klever Blockchain Mainnet v1.7.14 Update: Everything You Need to Know
Klever has announced the mandatory mainnet upgrade to version v1.7.14, bringing new features, security patches, and performance improvements. This update is critical for validators as it ensures the stability and alignment of the entire network.
Key Improvements in Upgrade v1.7.14
- Support for Semi-Fungible Tokens (SFTs) → a hybrid model combining features of fungible tokens and NFTs.
- Cross-VM Execution → smart contracts can now interact across different virtual machines.
- Smart Contract Enhancements → execution of arguments, royalties, contract deployment, and deletion.
- Security Patches → protection against vulnerabilities and malicious validators.
- More Stable and Scalable Infrastructure → upgrades in consensus and overall network performance.
These improvements expand development possibilities and strengthen security for all users within the Klever ecosystem.
Why This Update Matters
The activation of KVM positions Klever Blockchain as a next-generation smart contract platform. By combining security, scalability, and cross-chain interoperability, Klever aims to compete with established ecosystems such as Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon — while offering simpler tools and lower costs.
For the ecosystem, this means:
- More projects being deployed on Klever.
- New liquidity flows through the Ethereum bridge.
- Better user adoption thanks to developer-friendly features.
Bitcoin Crash: $76 Billion Wiped From the Crypto Market in 24 Hours
Source: CoinMarketCap
The cryptocurrency market went through one of the most tense weeks of September. On September 26, Bitcoin dropped about 2.5%, trading around $108,900, according to InfoMoney. This downturn was accompanied by growing selling pressure, reflecting both technical factors and derivatives activity.
Options Expiry Fuels Volatility
According to Portal do Bitcoin, $22.3 billion in crypto options are set to expire, with $17.06 billion concentrated in Bitcoin alone. This massive volume increases market uncertainty, as many traders adjust their positions before expiry, adding further pressure.
$76 Billion Erased in 24 Hours
In the 24 hours of September 26, the crypto market lost more than $76 billion in market capitalization, according to InfoMoney. The drop was intensified by automatic liquidations in leveraged trades, mainly in long contracts, which accelerated the downward move.
Mass Liquidations and Domino Effect
Money Times reported that this wave of liquidations triggered a domino effect: as prices fell, more positions were closed, amplifying losses and dragging major cryptocurrencies to even lower levels.
Bitcoin at a Crossroads: $22B Options Expiry Could Impact Price
This week, the crypto market faces one of the biggest derivatives events of the year: the expiry of $22.3 billion in options, with $17.06 billion tied to Bitcoin contracts, according to Deribit data.
BTC opened the day down about 2.5%, trading near $108,900, reflecting the selling pressure associated with this expiry.
Why Options Expiry Matters
Options expiry is a critical moment because:
- Call and put options expire, forcing investors to either exercise or abandon positions.
- Market makers (dealers) need to rebalance their hedges.
- These adjustments can generate additional volatility and even trigger automated sell-offs if key price levels fail to hold.
According to Amberdata, the $109,000 and $108,000 levels are key “short gamma” points. If Bitcoin falls below these thresholds, the market could see accelerated declines.
Macroeconomic Factors at Play
Beyond the expiry, investors are closely watching the Core PCE Index (the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge):
- Stronger-than-expected PCE → boosts the dollar and pressures risk assets like Bitcoin.
- Weaker-than-expected PCE → opens the door for monetary easing and could support BTC.
Possible Scenarios for Bitcoin Price
- Holding above $109K → Market tends to stabilize and may regain buying momentum.
- Breaking support below $108K → Risk of deeper drops, with some analysts projecting a move toward $96K.
- Medium-term optimism → Traders are positioned in call options targeting $120K to $140K, signaling expectations of upside if macro conditions favor crypto.
The $22B options expiry places Bitcoin at a true crossroads. The outcome will depend on a mix of technical factors (support/resistance levels) and macroeconomic signals (U.S. inflation and Fed policy).
In the medium to long term, the concentration of high-strike call options suggests the market still sees room for a potential Bitcoin rally.
Record Bollinger Bands Compression in Bitcoin
Bitcoin price chart with technical indicators showing the cryptocurrency’s Bollinger Bands in extreme compression. Source: Mr. Anderson
According to Cointelegraph, one of the most talked-about technical signals this week was the historic compression of Bollinger Bands on Bitcoin’s chart.
Bollinger Bands are a volatility indicator that shows whether an asset’s price is moving within a narrow or wide range relative to its moving average.
- When the bands widen: it signals increased volatility, usually after strong upward or downward moves.
- When the bands compress: it indicates the price is stable within a tight range, building pressure for a sharp breakout.
What the Record Compression Means
The current compression in Bitcoin has been classified as the tightest in history. This suggests the market is in an unusually calm phase, accumulating pressure. Typically, this pattern precedes an explosion in volatility — meaning the price could soon break sharply either upward or downward.
How Traders Interpret the Signal
Bullish scenario (upside):
- If the breakout is upward, it may signal the resumption of Bitcoin’s rally, especially if macro factors are supportive (such as expectations of Fed rate cuts).
Bearish scenario (downside):
- If the breakout is downward, Bitcoin could test key support levels, triggering more liquidations and putting additional pressure on the market.
Bollinger Band compression doesn’t predict the direction of the next move — only that significant volatility is imminent. For traders, it serves as a warning that the short term is likely to bring sharp swings, requiring extra caution in risk management.
ASTER, AVNT, UB and FLZ Surge Up to 620%, Outperforming Bitcoin
7-day chart of ASTER/USD pair. Source: CoinMarketCap.
While Bitcoin (BTC) is trading with moderate losses, some altcoins have caught the market’s attention by posting massive gains over the past week:
- ASTER (ASTER): +620%
- AVNT (AVNT): +580%
- UB (UB): +106%
- FLZ (FLZ): +72%
These performances ranked the tokens among the most profitable assets of the period, widely surpassing Bitcoin’s gains (or stagnation).
Crypto Market Loses Steam, But Altcoins Attract Capital
According to Cointelegraph Brazil, the total cryptocurrency market cap dropped to around $4.07 trillion, down 0.8% in 24h.
Even so, capital rotated from BTC to altcoins, boosting the dominance of emerging tokens and strengthening the so-called altseason index — an indicator that suggests greater upside potential for altcoins compared to Bitcoin.
- Bitcoin price: ~$116,550
- BTC dominance: 57.1%
- Futures liquidations: $129M in longs and $75M in shorts
Listings and Liquidity Accelerate Gains
The appreciation of these tokens is also linked to new exchange listings, which increase liquidity and visibility. This movement attracts speculators seeking quick profits and reinforces short-term buying pressure.
Technical Indicators Show Neutral Market
The market’s average RSI (Relative Strength Index) stood at 48.31, in a neutral zone, with no signs of overbought or oversold conditions.
This indicates there’s still room for stronger moves — either upward or through corrections.
What to Expect for ASTER, AVNT, UB and FLZ
- Bullish scenario: Continuation of the “altseason,” with capital flowing from BTC to altcoins.
- Risk scenario: Sharp corrections, since gains above 500% in just a few days are often unsustainable without strong fundamentals.
- Key factor: Macro performance (Fed decisions and US inflation), which could either attract or drive away risk-on investors.
Conclusion
While Bitcoin weakens, altcoins such as ASTER, AVNT, UB and FLZ have taken the spotlight, delivering weekly returns as high as +620%.
This movement strengthens the thesis that we are in an altseason phase, where investors seek more aggressive opportunities for appreciation.
Solana (SOL) Drops Below $200 Amid Liquidations
Source: CoinMarketCap
Solana (SOL) experienced a sharp pullback in the last week of September, following selling pressure across the crypto market. According to Cointelegraph data, SOL’s price dropped below $200, reaching around $192, which represents a loss of nearly 19% in just a few days.
Record Open Interest and Risk of Further Declines
Solana futures contracts hit a record open interest, with 71.8 million SOL open (equivalent to $14.5 billion). This excess leverage left the market exposed to cascading liquidations, raising the risk of SOL testing support levels between $120 and $150.
$112 Million in Long Position Liquidations
In just 48 hours, traders betting on a price increase were liquidated for approximately $112 million in SOL long contracts. Meanwhile, the funding rate of perpetual contracts turned negative, signaling reduced buying appetite and the potential continuation of selling pressure.
SEC, CFTC and the Push for Regulatory Harmonization in the Crypto Sector
Last week, major exchanges such as Kraken and Crypto.com were invited to participate in panels at a roundtable organized by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) in the United States.
Purpose of the Roundtable
The focus of the meeting is to discuss “regulatory harmonization” — an effort to align how the country’s two main regulators should approach crypto assets.
- The SEC, led by Gary Gensler, has argued that most tokens should be classified as securities.
- The CFTC, on the other hand, often treats them as digital commodities, focusing on futures and derivatives contracts.
This divergence in interpretation has created legal uncertainty for crypto companies, which face lawsuits, fines, and unclear compliance requirements.
Role of the Exchanges in the Debate
The presence of Kraken and Crypto.com executives is strategic because:
- These exchanges operate globally and can share experiences from regulatory frameworks already applied in regions such as the UK, European Union, and Singapore.
- They also represent the practical perspective of the industry, pointing out how unclear or conflicting rules affect innovation, institutional investor participation, and consumer protection.
Why It Matters
The lack of regulatory clarity remains one of the biggest barriers to sustainable crypto market growth in the US.
- A consensus between the SEC and CFTC could lead to more consistent rules, reduce lawsuits, and open the door to greater institutional adoption.
- The debate also takes place alongside discussions on crypto ETFs, stablecoins, and the implementation of MiCA in Europe, reinforcing global pressure for standardized regulations.
European Banks Join Forces to Launch Euro-Backed Stablecoin by 2026
One of the most significant moves in the European financial sector last week was the announcement that nine major banks, including ING (Netherlands) and UniCredit (Italy), have partnered to develop a stablecoin backed by the euro.
The project is scheduled for launch in 2026 and will be fully aligned with the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, which is gradually taking effect starting in 2024.
Purpose of the Bank-Issued Stablecoin
- Create a 100% euro-backed digital currency, designed for instant payments, financial transaction settlement, and integration with banking systems.
- Offer a regulated alternative to private stablecoins like USDT (Tether) and USDC (Circle), but with direct backing from traditional European financial institutions.
- Meet MiCA’s requirements for transparency, auditing, and governance, strengthening trust among users and regulators.
Participating Banks
Alongside ING and UniCredit, other medium and large European banks are part of the consortium (full list to be detailed in future announcements). The goal is to build interoperable infrastructure usable by banks, payment companies, and fintechs across the European Union.
Expected Market Impact
Competition with Global Stablecoins
- Today, the market is dominated by USDT and USDC, both pegged to the US dollar.
- A euro-denominated stablecoin could diversify global liquidity and strengthen the euro’s role in the crypto market.
Regulatory Alignment with MiCA
- MiCA requires stablecoin issuers to maintain auditable reserves and clear custody rules.
- Direct involvement of banks boosts credibility and potential adoption of the future euro stablecoin.
Integration with the European Financial System
- Could be used in SEPA instant payments, e-commerce, and even regulated DeFi applications within the EU.
- Seen as a potential intermediate step before the adoption of a Digital Euro, currently under review by the European Central Bank (ECB).
Conclusion
The European banking consortium marks a turning point: traditional banks are entering the stablecoin market directly, not just watching startups and private issuers.
If confirmed, the euro stablecoin set for 2026 could become the first major regulated alternative to the dollar-backed stablecoins on blockchains, paving the way for broader institutional adoption and practical use in Europeans’ daily lives.
