October 25, 2025 | 08:25Changpeng Zhao’s recent presidential pardon has ignited intense industry speculation about his potential return to leadership at Binance, with the development potentially reshaping the exchange’s strategy for re-entering the competitive US market. As Bloomberg reports the company is exploring options to integrate Binance.US into global operations or directly enter the American market, industry experts remain divided on whether Zhao will reclaim his former CEO role despite his subtle social media profile change from ‘ex-Binance’ to ‘@Binance.’
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Pump.fun Token Surges 13% After Binance.US Listing
Pump.fun’s PUMP token has experienced significant growth, rising 13% in 24 hours and 39.8% weekly to $0.0053, approaching its July debut price of $0.0055. The surge follows PUMP’s listing on Binance.US and several platform updates including UI improvements, Bubblemaps integration, and a partnership with MEXC exchange. The platform has implemented an aggressive buyback program, purchasing $99.2 million worth of PUMP tokens using protocol revenue, including a recent $2.5 million buyback representing over 100% of daily revenue. Pump.fun has reclaimed market share from rival LetsBonk, with daily revenue reaching $2.28 million in late August. Despite PUMP’s gains, ecosystem tokens have shown mixed performance with HYPER rising 25% while SPARK fell 12% among top market cap tokens.
read moreOFAC Sanctions Garantex Over $100M Illicit Crypto Transactions
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) sanctioned Garantex, a Russian crypto exchange, for facilitating over $100 million in transactions linked to ransomware and cybercrime. Six businesses and three executives tied to the exchange were also blacklisted. The action contrasts with broader U.S. regulatory easing under President Trump, including the DOJ disbanding its crypto fraud unit. OFAC emphasized the role of stablecoins in evading sanctions, citing USDT and ruble-backed alternatives. This follows Garantex’s 2022 sanctions for ties to Russia’s financial sector amid the Ukraine conflict. The move underscores OFAC’s focus on crypto platforms enabling sanctions evasion.
read moreMeme Coin Market Drops as Pump.fun Delays Airdrop
The meme coin market has seen a significant downturn, with major tokens like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pepe dropping approximately 7% in value. This decline follows Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen’s confirmation that the PUMP airdrop will not occur in the ‘immediate future,’ causing the token to plummet 17.7%. The broader meme coin market is down 10.7% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko. Pump.fun’s delay has led to a sharp drop in market confidence, with predictors now giving only a 3% chance of an airdrop by month-end. Meanwhile, rival platform LetsBonk, backed by the BONK community, has gained market share, dominating Solana token creations. Only 12 of the top 100 meme coins are in the green, with REKT being a notable exception due to a Binance.US collaboration.
read moreOKB Surges 11.47%, Fartcoin Tumbles 9.7% Amid Market Volatility
The crypto market is largely stagnant as geopolitical tensions, including the Israel-Iran conflict, rattle global financial markets. Bitcoin struggles to hold above $104K, while Ethereum and XRP show minor gains. Oil prices surge 7%, and traditional safe havens like gold see renewed interest. Meanwhile, OKB skyrocketed 11.47% after OKX burned 42.4M tokens (~$2.26B), creating a supply shock. In contrast, Fartcoin plummeted 9.7% in a classic ‘sell the news’ reaction to its Binance.US listing. Technical indicators like RSI, ADX, and EMA suggest bearish pressure for Fartcoin but neutral-to-bullish momentum for OKB. Key support and resistance levels are outlined for both tokens.
read moreNo Limit Holdings Closes $15T Crypto Fund II
No Limit Holdings (NLH) and ClearVue Partners (CVP) have closed their CVP NoLimit Fund II, which exceeded its $100M target and will invest in native crypto projects amid expectations of a $15 trillion digital asset market by 2030. Fund I, launched in 2022, delivered top-tier returns by backing high-potential sectors like DePIN (e.g., Grass Protocol) and L1 blockchains (Sei, Sui). NLH, led by ex-Binance strategist Gin Chao, predicts Bitcoin could hit $400-500K in the next cycle, citing institutional adoption and blockchain’s role in reshaping global finance. Fund II will focus on AI-blockchain convergence, B2C applications, and partnerships with consumer giants to drive mass adoption.
read moreNo Limit Holdings Closes $100M Crypto Fund II for $15T Market
No Limit Holdings (NLH) and ClearVue Partners (CVP) have successfully closed their CVP NoLimit Fund II, exceeding its $100M target to invest in native crypto projects. The fund follows the outperformance of Fund I, which backed 40+ projects like Wynd Labs (Grass Protocol), Sei, Sui, and Ethena, leveraging trends in DeFi and decentralized infrastructure (DePIN). NLH, led by ex-Binance strategist Gin Chao, predicts Bitcoin could hit $400-500K in the next cycle amid institutional adoption. Fund II will focus on blockchain-AI convergence, B2C applications, and partnerships with global enterprises. The firms project the crypto market to grow to $15T by 2030 as regulatory clarity improves.
read moreSEC Drops Lawsuit Against Binance and Founder CZ
The SEC has filed to drop its lawsuit against Binance and its founder, Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, according to a recent court filing. The regulator had accused Binance and its U.S. affiliate of selling unregistered securities, failing to restrict U.S. users, and commingling customer funds in what it described as a ‘web of deceit.’ The dismissal, if approved, could signal a shift in the SEC’s enforcement approach toward crypto exchanges. This story is still developing, with more details expected to emerge.
read more$450M Crypto Scam: NZ Man Arrested in Global Fraud Case
A Wellington man has been arrested in connection with a $450 million (NZD) crypto theft spanning March to August 2024. The U.S. DOJ filed federal charges, including racketeering (RICO Act), wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering. The accused, granted interim name suppression, is one of 13 individuals involved in a cross-border scheme that defrauded seven victims. Stolen funds were allegedly laundered through crypto platforms and spent on luxury items like exotic cars and designer goods. New Zealand and U.S. authorities collaborated in the investigation, with further arrests expected. The case highlights rising crypto scams, including a separate $92.5 million DeFi hack in April 2025.
read moreSenators Probe Trump’s Binance Crypto Ties
Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen, have urged the US Treasury and Justice Department to investigate President Donald Trump’s connections to Binance. The lawmakers raised concerns over Binance’s compliance with its plea agreement and its interactions with Trump-affiliated entities, including a $2 billion investment facilitated by stablecoin USD1. The letter also seeks clarity on Binance’s US exit plans and potential discussions about a presidential pardon for former CEO Changpeng Zhao, who recently confirmed filing for one. Binance’s legal history, including admissions of violating US money laundering laws, adds urgency to the senators’ request for scrutiny.
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