The Zcash NU7 upgrade is now activated on the mainnet. This upgrade reduces block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds and temporarily removes 60% of the transaction fees from each block, with plans to redistribute them to miners around February 2031. Furthermore, Zcash's original privacy system, Sprout, has been completely shut down.

[South Korean Finance Minister: Actions to Stabilize Market, Easing Lending and Investment Regulations] South Korea's Finance Minister stated that proactive measures will be taken to prevent escalation of market anxiety and to ease lending and investment regulations to mitigate market volatility. If volatility intensifies, the Finance Minister will implement additional stabilization measures. (Source: Jinshi)

Pump.fun co-founder Alon stated on the X platform that Baton Corporation is hiring for three business development positions: perpetual contracts, prediction markets, and trading terminals. Alon stated that to expand the social graph on the Pump.fun app, it needs to attract traders from the Meme coin market, perpetual contracts, or prediction markets. Applicants should have at least two years of business development experience on crypto platforms, with New York being the preferred work location, although remote work may be considered for outstanding candidates. This is the first time Alon has mentioned the prediction market strategy.

[Tarek Mansour: Supports Banning Members of Congress and Government Officials from Trading Prediction Markets They Can Influence] Tarek Mansour, CEO of prediction market platform Kalshi, stated his support for rules prohibiting members of Congress and government officials from trading prediction markets they can influence. Kalshi has been regulating insider trading since its founding in 2018. U.S. Representatives Jeff Merkley and Jamie Raskin introduced legislation to ban event contracts involving elections, sports, military operations, and most government actions.

Market sentiment tightened due to changes in the US political landscape and a sell-off in tech stocks, with spot gold testing the $4,100 level. If Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh remains in office, he may gain greater support and leeway in maintaining the Fed's independence, thereby limiting the potential for a gold price rebound. (Source: Everbright Futures)