SpendNode Podcast: Crypto News & Analysis

Circle is defending USDC's partner economics as rival stablecoin issuers dangle larger revenue shares to win distribution deals. Here is what the fight is about. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/circle-defends-usdc-economics-stablecoin-rivals-october-2026/

Ether Fi says its self-custody crypto card has processed over $1 billion in cumulative spend across 199 countries, 131 currencies and 12.6M+ transactions. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/ether-fi-1-billion-cumulative-card-spend-october-2026/

For the first time since 2022, the US is pulling in more Bitcoin than it sends out, according to BitcoinNews. Here is what the on-chain flow shift means. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/us-net-bitcoin-importer-first-since-2022-october-2026/

A forensic accountant testified that Aiden Pleterski sent none of his investors' money to the trading platform named in their contracts, spending millions instead. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/crypto-king-pleterski-forensic-accountant-zero-investor-money-october-2026/

Nine crypto infrastructure firms launched a Quantum Alliance modeled on the IETF to set post-quantum standards, with about 6 million Bitcoin exposed to future attacks. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/quantum-alliance-6-million-bitcoin-exposed-october-2026/

Companies have bought roughly 19,000 BTC every month since 2020, a steady accumulation pace that cuts against the idea corporate Bitcoin buying is a 2024 fad. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/businesses-accumulate-19000-bitcoin-monthly-october-2026/

Polygon acquired Coinme to move into crypto payments, aiming at a settlement and on-ramp market dominated by Visa and Stripe. Here is what the deal buys. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/polygon-acquires-coinme-payments-infrastructure-october-2026/

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire says the company is targeting roughly 40 developing markets across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East for USDC. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/circle-usdc-40-developing-markets-october-2026/

Coinbase now has $2.3B in crypto-backed loans outstanding with 17 banks involved, per Cointelegraph. The same institutions that once called crypto a fad are now in the business. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/coinbase-2-3-billion-crypto-backed-loans-17-banks-october-2026/

Galaxy Research's onchain tally puts losses from the Ledger supply-chain compromise at $91M across 474 victim addresses, sharpening the full scale of the attack. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/ledger-supply-chain-exploit-91-million-474-wallets-october-2026/

Jack Henry is integrating Google Cloud Universal Ledger to let community banks and credit unions issue tokenized deposits with 24/7 programmable settlement. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/jack-henry-google-cloud-universal-ledger-tokenized-deposits-october-2026/

Taiwan has restricted access to Coinbase and prediction platform Kalshi ahead of local elections, a reminder that platform access can vanish by government order. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/taiwan-blocks-coinbase-kalshi-election-october-2026/

SMBC, Mizuho, and MUFG completed a joint proof-of-concept for issuing a yen stablecoin and using it for cross-border payments, per CoinMarketCap. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/japanese-megabanks-yen-stablecoin-proof-of-concept-october-2026/

MSCI has finalized rules excluding Bitcoin treasury companies from its global indexes, putting Strategy and Metaplanet at risk of removal by November 30, 2026. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/msci-excludes-bitcoin-treasury-companies-indexes-october-2026/

Visa Direct has moved its stablecoin capabilities from pilot to production, with Inyo Global as the first enabler prefunding cross-border payouts in USDC. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/visa-direct-stablecoin-payments-production-usdc-october-2026/

South Korea's FSC plans mandatory twice-yearly vulnerability checks for larger financial firms after a review found security gaps at 130 companies, including crypto exchanges. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/south-korea-fsc-crypto-exchange-security-checks-october-2026/

A federal judge refused to vacate Gemini's $5M CFTC settlement, ruling that shifting enforcement priorities and misconduct claims do not undo a signed deal. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/judge-rejects-cftc-gemini-5m-settlement-october-2026/

Binance's bStocks tokenized equities product passed $1 billion in assets under management four months after launch, a sign retail demand for on-chain stocks is holding. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/binance-bstocks-1-billion-aum-october-2026/

Stripe partnered with Plasma to launch multi-currency stablecoin cards in USD, EUR, and GBP across 30+ countries. What the move means for crypto card users. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/stripe-plasma-stablecoin-cards-30-countries-october-2026/

Cointelegraph says the current SEC has wiped away Gary Gensler's crypto enforcement legacy. We look at what the policy reversal means for mainstream adoption. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/sec-dismantles-gensler-crypto-stance-october-2026/

Mastercard is wiring stablecoin payments into its checkout network, pushing on-chain spending toward mainstream retail. What it means for merchants and crypto card users. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/mastercard-stablecoins-checkout-mainstream-october-2026/

Richard Heart, founder of the HEX protocol, was arrested in Istanbul after an Interpol red notice. HEX fell 34.8% as the token's dependence on one man showed. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/richard-heart-hex-founder-arrested-istanbul-october-2026/

Hyperscale Data says it will tokenize up to 1.34 million shares of its 13% Series D preferred stock, pushing a public company's securities onto a blockchain. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/hyperscale-data-tokenizes-series-d-preferred-shares-october-2026/

Qivalis secured an EMI license from Dutch central bank DNB with backing from 37 European banks, but MiCA white-paper rules keep its launch on hold. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/qivalis-dutch-emi-license-mica-launch-block-october-2026/

A WSJ investigation says Tether money flowed to Nxum, a firm co-founded by Bo Hines, while he worked in the White House on US stablecoin legislation. Read the full article: https://www.spendnode.io/blog/tether-nxum-bo-hines-stablecoin-conflict-october-2026/