Sep 18, 2026 · 6 min listen · Last updated September 18, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. It's Dex, September 18th. On-chain and off — the five stories setting today's crypto agenda. Let's get into it. First, from CryptoSlate. Fake AI crypto software is secretly replacing browser wallet extensions.
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Daily Crypto Brief · September 18th
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Fake AI crypto software is secretly replacing browser wallet extensions
Once installed, it uses a trusted-looking executable to load a DLL that decrypts Needle Stealer. This malware scans for popular wallet extensions and, if it finds one, it shuts down the browser and replaces the extension with a malicious version. The kicker? This counterfeit extension connects to a command-and-control server, capturing your wallet ID and password. So, while your funds might seem safe, they’re at risk if your device is compromised.
HP didn’t share how many people have fallen victim or the total crypto losses, so the full impact of this operation remains unclear. Just a heads-up to keep your security tight and be wary of any unsolicited software.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports Bitcoin — link in show notes.
Crypto.com Gets Green Light to Bring Single-Stock Futures to the US
Crypto.com is moving closer to launching single-stock futures in the United States after the SEC acknowledged a Form 1-N filing from North American Derivatives Exchange (Nadex). CEO Kris Marszalek revealed the company is now “authorized” to bring single-stock futures to the market through OG.com, which is its CFTC-regulated standalone prediction market platform launched in February. In a post on X, Marszalek also said the team is working with the SEC and CFTC for the offering in the US. Single-stock futures are contracts linked to the future price of individual stocks.
US sanctions Iran’s BitBank, saying it processes ‘Hormuz Safe’ Bitcoin payments
US Treasury says the Iranian exchange processed payments received through Iran’s Strait of Hormuz maritime scheme and helped move hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to the IRGC. US authorities on Thursday announced sanctions against Iranian crypto exchange BitBank, accusing it of processing Bitcoin paid by ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said that as of June, the Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority used BitBank to transfer payments it received to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Shiba Inu (SHIB), Zcash (ZEC), Ethereum (ETH) and Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Analysis For September 18: Pivotal Moment for the Market
Shiba Inu (SHIB) is trading around $0.00000506, stuck in a tight range of moving averages. Resistance is at $0.00000510-$0.00000520, while a drop below $0.00000490 could push it down to $0.00000460-$0.00000470. Zcash (ZEC) is on a roll, hitting $1,376 after breaking through $1,250-$1,300, with $1,400 as the next resistance. Ethereum (ETH) is consolidating at $2,455, holding above $2,400, but needs to reclaim $2,500-$2,560 to regain momentum. Dogecoin (DOGE) is struggling near $0.0813 after failing to break $0.090-$0.092, with immediate support at $0.079-$0.080.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports SHIB — link in show notes.
Why Banks Suddenly Want Stablecoins, and Why It May Matter for You
For most of their first decade, stablecoins lived inside crypto, sitting on exchanges as dry powder between trades. Supply rose from $27 billion at the end of 2020 to more than $300 billion today. A significant portion of that growth now occurs outside the order book. Cross-border flows into the US alone total nearly $127 billion a month, and businesses settled $226 billion in B2B payments in stablecoins last year, according to Artemis Analytics. The expansion has caught the attention of the institutions it threatened.
Binance-backed AVA Token is Up Nearly 100% Today. Here's Why
The AVA token, tied to Binance-backed travel platform Travala, surged as much as 112% intraday, swinging from a low near $0.155 to a high of $0.329. The move followed Bithumb opening a new Korean won trading pair for the token. AVA has since eased back to around $0.27, still up roughly 72% over 24 hours. Leveraged futures trading appears to have extended the move once it started. Bithumb’s Won Listing Draws Waves of AVA Token Buyers Bithumb, one of South Korea’s largest won-based exchanges, announced the AVA/KRW pair on Thursday. Trading opened at 2 p.m.
Binance's EU Entry Personally Blocked by ECB President. What Did She Know?
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde personally asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to reject Binance’s bid for an EU crypto license, The Wall Street Journal reported. The report says Lagarde raised concerns over Binance’s past US regulatory violations and the risk that wider dollar stablecoin use could weaken the ECB’s planned digital euro. A License Effort That Stalled Near the Finish Line Binance applied through Greek regulators for a crypto-asset service provider license under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework.
Coinbase partners with Stablecore to integrate crypto in US community banks
This partnership could accelerate crypto adoption in traditional finance, potentially influencing market dynamics and regulatory landscapes. The post Coinbase partners with Stablecore to integrate crypto in US community banks appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
S&P Global to Acquire OpenZeppelin in Onchain Risk Push
S&P Global has agreed to acquire OpenZeppelin, bringing a provider of smart contract audits and open-source developer libraries into the financial-data company’s digital asset risk business. The companies said OpenZeppelin will retain its name and operate as a separate business unit. CEO Demian... Read the full story at The Defiant
X Adds US 'Trade' Button to Cashtags With Coinbase, Kraken and Gemini
X launched a U.S. Cashtag Partner Program on Sept. 15 that connects supported stock, ETF and cryptocurrency pages to Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, Interactive Brokers and Moomoo. The new “Trade” option does not execute a transaction on X. A user taps a Cashtag to see its price chart and related posts,... Read the full story at The Defiant