Here’s What Happened in Crypto Today: Key Highlights
Today’s crypto news features several noteworthy developments—from innovative lending practices and shifting market predictions to a rare solo Bitcoin block mining success.
Divine Research Launches Unbacked USDC Loans Using Sam Altman’s World ID
San Francisco-based lender Divine Research has quietly issued around 30,000 short-term crypto loans without backing them with collateral, utilizing World ID, an iris-scanning identity platform developed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to verify borrowers.
The loans, offered primarily in USDC stablecoins and capped below $1,000, target users overseas who often lack access to traditional financial services. To prevent abuse such as multiple accounts after defaults, Divine leverages the biometric verification of World ID.
Diego Estevez, founder of Divine Research, described the initiative to the Financial Times as “microfinance on steroids,” emphasizing inclusivity. “We’re loaning to average folks like high-school teachers, fruit vendors … basically anyone with internet access can get our funds,” he said.
Interest rates on these loans range from 20% to 30%, reflecting risk. Divine reported a first-loan default rate of approximately 40%. To mitigate losses, borrowers receive free World tokens that Divine can partially reclaim if defaults occur.
Bitcoin’s Next Big Rally Could Arrive in 2026, Says Bitwise CIO
Contrary to traditional market expectations tied to Bitcoin’s four-year halving cycle, Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, predicts significant price appreciation in 2026 rather than in the expected 2024-2025 window.
In a recent video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Hougan stated, “I bet 2026 is an up year,” and expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s performance in the coming years. He reasons that the conventional four-year cycle “is dead,” arguing that each successive halving event appears to have diminishing impact on price.
Hougan also pointed to macroeconomic factors, including the current interest rate cycle. With ongoing public pressure by former US President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, lower yields on traditional investments like bonds could make cryptocurrencies more attractive, potentially fueling Bitcoin’s growth.
Solo Bitcoin Miner Mines a Block, Wins Over $370,000 Reward
On Saturday, a solo Bitcoin miner achieved a notable feat by successfully mining block 907283, adding it to the blockchain and earning the full block reward of 3.125 BTC—worth approximately $372,773 at current prices.
This block, mined via the Solo CK pool which commands roughly 6.3 exahashes per second (EH/s) of mining power, contained 4,038 transactions and generated additional transaction fees totaling $3,436. Solo Bitcoin mining is now a rare occurrence as the mining ecosystem is increasingly dominated by large corporate pools and entities with massive computing power. The odds of solo miners successfully validating a block are extremely low—often compared to winning a lottery—making this event particularly newsworthy.
Looking Ahead
These developments illustrate the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, from innovative financial products unlocking credit for underserved populations, to evolving market dynamics challenging long-standing price cycle theories, and rare success stories in mining reflective of decentralized participation.
For continuous updates and deeper insights, stay tuned to TradingView News and Cointelegraph.
Market data provided by ICE Data services. Reference data sourced from FactSet. Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc. © 2025 TradingView, Inc.