The Block - 2026-10-06 ​
11 items collected.
1. Pudgy Penguins-backed Ethereum L2 Abstract to shut down after losing ‘tens of millions’ ​
Author: Jason Shubnell
Published: 10/6/2026, 8:11:30 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Deals, DeFi, Layer 1s, Markets, Metaverse & NFT, NFT Collections, People, People, People, People, People, People, Policy, Token Projects, Ethereum, Pudgy Penguins, News
Abstract, the Pudgy Penguins-backed Ethereum L2, will shut down on Dec. 15. Users must bridge assets off before then.
2. Conduit sues Tether over $2.76 million freeze, says it has ‘no legal entitlement’ to funds ​
Author: Kyle Baird
Published: 10/6/2026, 5:54:00 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Finance firms, Legal, Markets, Policy, Regulation, Stablecoins, Token Projects, Lawsuits, Payments, Tether, News
Conduit is suing Tether in NY federal court, alleging the USDT issuer froze $2.76 million of its funds for over a year without explanation.
3. Winklevoss group seeks to launch Zcash ETF with 0.25% fee, proposed WINK ticker ​
Author: Jason Shubnell
Published: 10/6/2026, 4:43:41 PM
Categories: Companies, Funds, Markets, People, Privacy, Bitcoin ETF, Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss, Zcash, News
Winklevoss Asset Services filed for a spot Zcash ETF under ticker WINK, with Gemini as custodian and a 0.25% fee, rivaling Grayscale's ZCSH.
4. Solana treasury DeFi Development authorizes CHAD preferred stock buyback program ​
Author: Jason Shubnell
Published: 10/6/2026, 3:09:41 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Equities, Layer 1s, Market Updates, Markets, Token Projects, Equity Movers, Solana, News
Solana treasury firm DeFi Development approved an open-ended program to repurchase CHAD preferred stock if it trades below its $10 par value.
5. Brevan Howard to use Ripple Prime for multi-asset brokerage, clearing and financing ​
Author: Jason Shubnell
Published: 10/6/2026, 2:36:08 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Deals, Institutional Investors, Hedge Funds, Ripple, News
Ripple Prime will provide prime brokerage, clearing and financing to Brevan Howard, deepening a tie that began with its Ripple investment.
6. Polymarket rolls out V2 upgrade with single ERC-1155 positions contract, pUSD collateral ​
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 10/6/2026, 2:35:03 PM
Categories: Companies, News
Polymarket rolls out Protocol V2, replacing its legacy Gnosis-based setup with a single ERC-1155 positions contract and pUSD collateral.
7. Fortitude expands Zcash mining push with up to $100 million equipment commitment ​
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 10/6/2026, 1:00:48 PM
Categories: Companies, Privacy, Zcash, News
Fortitude secured priority access to BITMAIN’s next-generation Zcash miners as it expands capacity and increases financing from DCG.
8. Rep. Don Davis introduces bill to stop federal candidates trading prediction market contracts tied to their own elections ​
Author: James Hunt
Published: 10/6/2026, 11:36:15 AM
Categories: Crypto Ecosystems, DeFi, Policy, Regulation, Prediction Markets, News
Don Davis introduced legislation barring federal candidates and their families from trading prediction contracts tied to their own elections.
9. Spiko raises $90 million to expand tokenized cash funds across markets ​
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 10/6/2026, 10:58:29 AM
Categories: Companies, Lobbying, Policy, Fundraising, News
Spiko raised $90 million in Series B funding to scale its $2.7 billion tokenized cash fund business and expand into new markets.
10. ZachXBT says he fronted $349,700 to infiltrate alleged Chinese launderers tied to Lazarus, Bybit hack ​
Author: Timmy Shen
Published: 10/6/2026, 9:51:47 AM
Categories: Crypto Ecosystems, DeFi, News
Posing as a client, ZachXBT said he gathered intelligence that helped freeze funds tied to the $1.5 billion Bybit hack.
11. Ondo launches onchain private-company exposure, starting with AI ​
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 10/6/2026, 9:38:28 AM
Categories: Companies, News
Ondo Finance launched a private-markets platform with tokenized notes tied initially to a pre-IPO artificial intelligence company.