Oct 4, 2026 · 7 min listen · Last updated October 4, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Hey, Dex here. October 4th. What actually moved in crypto — five stories, no hopium. Let's get into it. First, from CryptoPotato. Crypto Hacks Hit $766M in September With Bitget and Liquid Leading Losses.
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Daily Crypto Brief · October 4th
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Crypto Hacks Hit $766M in September With Bitget and Liquid Leading Losses
$766 million — that’s the staggering total lost to crypto hacks in September, a 462% jump from August's $136 million. The two big players in this grim tally are Bitget, which saw about $387 million stolen, and Liquid Network, losing around $320 million, though $285 million of that has been returned.
Bitget’s CEO Gracy Chen clarified that the breach stemmed from a backend system exploit, not a private key compromise, and assured users that the exchange would cover the losses through its User Protection Fund. Meanwhile, the Liquid incident involved a withdrawal of 4,000 BTC by hackers claiming to be white-hat, promising to return the funds once security issues were resolved.
Interestingly, North Korean hackers are reportedly laundering Bitget's stolen funds through various methods, including CoW Protocol and CoinJoin, highlighting ongoing challenges in tracking illicit crypto movements. The rest of the hacks in September amounted to about $59 million, with the largest being a front-run exploit involving the MEV bot “yoink.”
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports BTC — link in show notes.
DOGE Director Highlights 'Avalanche' of New Projects as Dogecoin Infrastructure Expands
Dogecoin's infrastructure is expanding rapidly, with the launch of a public test network by DogeOS for Ethereum-style trading and lending. This initiative aims to provide Dogecoin holders with more utility beyond just payments. Timothy Stebbing from the Dogecoin Foundation noted an "avalanche" of new projects emerging on the Doge/EVM chain, highlighting the growing ecosystem.
Additionally, Metallicus has introduced DogecoinVM, which enhances Dogecoin's speed and interoperability, making transactions 300 times faster with instant finality. These advancements suggest a bright future for developers looking to create innovative solutions on the Dogecoin network.
On the price front, Dogecoin is nearing its first daily golden cross of 2026, with the 50-day and 200-day moving averages set to converge. This is noteworthy as the last golden cross occurred over a year ago, leading to a price spike. Currently, Dogecoin is trading around $0.093, reflecting broader market trends influenced by recent economic data and Fed rate hike expectations.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports Dogecoin — link in show notes.
America's Data Center Revolt Finds New Recruits in Australia, Europe and Asia
Opposition to AI data centers is gaining traction globally, with communities in Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia pushing back against proposed developments. In Sydney, Goodman Group has scrapped its Project Mars, initially planned just 20 meters from homes, after local feedback highlighted strong resistance. Meanwhile, Victoria has introduced new regulations requiring data centers to be at least 150 meters from residential areas and to use renewable energy.
In South Korea, residents in Seoul's Geumcheon district have been protesting for months, demanding the revocation of a data center's building permit. In Japan, a lawsuit has been filed against a planned data center in Inzai, citing concerns over noise and loss of sunlight. Malaysia recently saw its first data center protest with over 50 participants voicing their concerns.
Back in the US, local opposition has stalled around 120 data center projects, totaling nearly $200 billion in potential investment, according to Data Center Watch. Public sentiment is shifting, with a recent poll showing 72% of Americans now oppose local AI data centers, up from 65% earlier this year. In response, Amazon has pledged $1 billion to support communities affected by these developments, highlighting the tension between local resistance and the drive for technological advancement.
Goldman Sachs is backing five stocks as we head into earnings season, with a notable split in performance. Nu Holdings, the Brazilian digital bank, is struggling the most, down nearly 20% this year, while Baker Hughes has seen a solid gain of about 23%. Disney and Omnicom are in the middle, with slight declines, and UPS is down around 6%.
Analysts are optimistic about Nu’s entry into the U.S. consumer credit market, keeping a price target significantly higher than its current value. Disney's target was adjusted down, but there's still a belief in its growth potential, especially in its Experiences division. UPS is expected to stabilize now that it's moved past its Amazon-related challenges. Omnicom is seen as undervalued, with upcoming earnings likely to provide a boost.
The first earnings report to watch will be Omnicom on October 20, followed by UPS and Baker Hughes on October 27, and finally Disney and Nu around November 12.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports Bitcoin — link in show notes.
On the markets — Kalshi traders have been actively repricing this story in the last day.
Cerebras sidesteps AI chip supply bottlenecks with 5nm wafer-scale design
Cerebras has rolled out a 5nm wafer-scale chip design, which could really shake things up in the AI infrastructure space. This move is all about tackling the persistent supply bottlenecks that have been a headache for the industry. By going wafer-scale, they’re aiming for greater efficiency and performance, which could give them a solid edge.
However, it’s not just about the chip itself. The real test will be how well they execute this plan and whether they can diversify their offerings to meet the evolving demands of AI applications. So, while it’s an exciting development, there’s still a lot to watch for in terms of their next steps.
For listeners who want low-fee crypto exposure, our markets partner Kraken supports BTC — link in show notes.
ARK’s Cathie Wood counters Bill Ackman’s inflation warning
The debate highlights AI's potential to reshape economic dynamics, influencing inflation trends and monetary policy effectiveness. The post ARK’s Cathie Wood counters Bill Ackman’s inflation warning appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Hong Kong bankers skip summer break as AI drives record fundraising
AI-driven fundraising in Hong Kong signals a shift in global capital flows, potentially reducing Wall Street's dominance in equity markets. The post Hong Kong bankers skip summer break as AI drives record fundraising appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Florida governor race tightens as Byron Donalds faces David Jolly
The tightening Florida governor race could shift political dynamics, influencing national strategies and market perceptions of party strength. The post Florida governor race tightens as Byron Donalds faces David Jolly appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
VIS weighs second Singapore plant as AI demand fills its first fab
VIS's expansion plans highlight the growing demand for AI infrastructure, potentially intensifying competition in the mature-node chip market. The post VIS weighs second Singapore plant as AI demand fills its first fab appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
AI benchmark flaws impact Anthropic’s market odds for October 2026
The revelation of AI benchmark flaws prompts a reevaluation of AI model assessments, impacting market confidence and necessitating improved auditing. The post AI benchmark flaws impact Anthropic’s market odds for October 2026 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.