This feature enables merchants to connect to a crypto market worth over $3 trillion by allowing instant crypto-to-stablecoin or fiat currency conversion
So far this month, Ethereum has surged nearly 59 per cent. Despite the recent rally, ETH remains 19 per cent below its all-time high of $4,891, reached in November 2021
Ethereum has found its footing above $3,600, though it couldn't quite hold onto the gains that pushed it near $3,800 earlier this week
At last check, Bitcoin was trading around $118,071.31, down 0.41 per cent, with a 24-hour trading volume of $71.07 billion
The feature is integrated directly into Square's payment infrastructure, allowing merchants to receive Bitcoin payments alongside traditional options like credit cards and digital wallets
Altseason, analysts suggest, typically follows a pattern in the crypto market's 4-year cycle - starting with Bitcoin, then large-cap tokens like ETH and SOL, and finally spreading to smaller altcoins
In 2024, around $2.2 billion worth of cryptocurrencies were stolen. This followed losses of $1.7 billion in 2023 and $3.8 billion in 2022
Stablecoins are digital assets that are designed to maintain a stable value relative to a specific reference asset, like a fiat currency such as the US dollar
Supporters say crypto can be used for purposes as varied as managing government subsidies and trade settlements
The incident came around the heals of the first anniversary of a security breach at WazirX, another cryptocurrency exchange which reported theft of approximately $230-235 million in July 2024
US President Donald Trump has signed the first federal stablecoin law, calling it a major leap for US crypto leadership; measure sets strict rules for dollar backing and boosts dollar's global reserve
The approval of these crypto-related bills, analysts said, has boosted investor confidence and added regulatory clarity, driving strong upward momentum across the market
Bitcoin has fluctuated between $117,751 and $120,065 over the past 24 hours. Ethereum, on other hand, is currently outperforming after confidently breaching the $3,000 level
Bitcoin is currently 4.25 per cent away from its all-time high of $123,091.60, scaled on July 14 this year
Market analysts attribute this pullback to profit-taking among investors at higher levels
The flagship cryptocurrency's market cap has soared to $2.43 trillion, cementing its position as the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation and making it the fifth-largest asset globally
The rally in Bitcoin, market analysts said, is being driven by a confluence of macroeconomic factors including anticipated US rate cuts, a weakening dollar, and ongoing trade negotiations
Alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, other altcoins within the top 10 displayed strength and were trading above their respective support levels
The availability of institutional-grade tools and improving regulatory clarity is encouraging a more sophisticated, professional investor base to participate in this evolving asset class
Market analysts, however, remain optimistic about the long run and expect the impact on the crypto market to be negative only in the short term