Introduction
The blockchain and cryptocurrency space is moving at lightning speed, and this week was no exception. From major corporate acquisitions to strategic Bitcoin purchases, the period of October 20-26, 2025, delivered significant developments that'll reshape how we think about digital assets and blockchain infrastructure.
You'll discover the most impactful blockchain news from this week, including game-changing acquisitions, corporate treasury moves, and emerging trends that matter to investors and tech enthusiasts alike.
Here's what you'll learn in this comprehensive report: major company acquisitions, Bitcoin and cryptocurrency market movements, and the products and innovations that are transforming the blockchain landscape.
Major Acquisitions Shape the Blockchain Landscape
The week kicked off with some impressive M&A activity that signals growing confidence in blockchain infrastructure. Here's the thing: major tech companies are doubling down on blockchain investments.
Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash
Coinbase Acquires Echo for $375 Million
Coinbase, the leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, completed a significant acquisition this week. The company purchased Echo, a crypto investment and fundraising platform, for approximately $375 million on October 21, 2025.
This deal represents Coinbase's strategic push into on-chain capital formation. Echo's technology enables investors to participate in early-stage crypto projects directly on the blockchain, eliminating traditional intermediaries. The acquisition strengthens Coinbase's position as a comprehensive crypto infrastructure provider.
Modern Treasury Acquires Beam for Stablecoin Expansion
Modern Treasury, a payments infrastructure company valued at $2.1 billion, announced the acquisition of Beam on October 22, 2025. The all-stock deal marks a major move in the stablecoin and payments space.
Beam specializes in stablecoin and fiat payment solutions. By combining forces, Modern Treasury and Beam create a unified payments infrastructure that supports both instant fiat and stablecoin transactions. This integration challenges traditional card-first payment platforms and opens new possibilities for global money movement.
The Crypto Company Completes Starchive.io Acquisition
The Crypto Company announced the completion of a majority acquisition of Starchive.io on October 20, 2025. This deal brings cultural and digital assets onto the blockchain, expanding the scope of what blockchain technology can preserve and authenticate.
Bitcoin Holdings and Corporate Treasury Moves
Corporate adoption of Bitcoin continues to accelerate at an impressive pace. Companies are treating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset, similar to how nations hold gold reserves.
Strategy Inc. Acquires 390 BTC
Strategy Inc. quietly acquired 390 Bitcoin for approximately $43.4 million during this reporting period. This purchase brings the company's total Bitcoin holdings to 640,808 BTC, making it one of the largest institutional Bitcoin holders in the world.
Here's the best part: This acquisition demonstrates sustained institutional confidence in Bitcoin's long-term value proposition. Large corporations continue to view Bitcoin as a legitimate store of value and strategic asset for their balance sheets.
American Bitcoin Increases Strategic Reserve
American Bitcoin, a company focused on Bitcoin infrastructure, acquired approximately 1,414 Bitcoin by October 24, 2025. The company's total strategic Bitcoin reserve reached 3,865 BTC, reflecting aggressive growth in its institutional holdings.
These corporate treasury moves aren't random. They signal that institutional investors believe Bitcoin will appreciate significantly over time, and they're positioning themselves accordingly.
Market Activity and Trading Volume
The blockchain trading ecosystem remained robust throughout the week with significant activity across major exchanges.
Record Block Trade Volume
According to GreeksLive data, the notional block-trade volume for October 20-26, 2025, totaled $287.4 million. Deribit dominated the market with $284.1 million in notional volume, representing a 98.9% market share of block trades during this period.
OKX captured the remaining market share with $3.3 million in notional volume. This concentration shows that Deribit remains the dominant platform for large institutional cryptocurrency trades and derivatives activity.
The truth is: High block trade volumes indicate that institutional investors are actively positioning themselves in the market. These large trades often precede significant market movements, suggesting traders expect important price action ahead.
Top Cryptocurrencies Gaining Momentum
Several cryptocurrencies captured investor attention during this week, each offering unique value propositions and growth potential.
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
Ethereum, Chainlink, and BlockDAG in Focus
The crypto community is closely watching several projects:
- Ethereum continues its role as the leading smart contract platform, with developers building thousands of decentralized applications on its network
- Chainlink maintains its position as the most widely-used oracle solution, connecting blockchain networks with real-world data
- BlockDAG has emerged as a promising new project, having raised $430 million and attracting 3.5 million users with presale activity at $0.0015 per token
These projects represent different segments of the blockchain ecosystem: Ethereum powers decentralized finance and applications, Chainlink bridges blockchain and real-world data, and BlockDAG represents emerging technologies that could revolutionize blockchain architecture.
Bitcoin Price Trends
Bitcoin demonstrated resilience during the week, trading in the range of $110,000 to $114,600. The cryptocurrency closed the reporting period near $111,620, reflecting the market's ongoing strength despite macroeconomic uncertainties.
Gate Ventures' Strategic Expansion
Gate Ventures announced a strategic acquisition of ADEN, a leading decentralized perpetual exchange, marking another significant development in the derivatives trading space. This move positions Gate Ventures to expand its influence in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector and offer more comprehensive trading solutions.
The acquisition demonstrates how major players in the crypto space are consolidating power and expanding their service offerings to meet growing institutional demand.
What This Week Means for the Blockchain Industry
The blockchain sector is experiencing a transformation driven by institutional adoption, strategic consolidation, and expanding use cases. Let me explain: These aren't isolated events—they represent a broader trend of blockchain technology becoming embedded in mainstream finance and corporate strategy.
Key Takeaways:
- Institutional adoption is accelerating – Companies like Strategy Inc. and American Bitcoin are building massive Bitcoin reserves, signaling long-term confidence in cryptocurrency
- M&A activity reflects growing maturity – Major acquisitions by Coinbase, Modern Treasury, and others show the blockchain industry is consolidating around proven business models
- Diverse blockchain use cases are expanding – From stablecoins to cultural asset preservation, blockchain technology is finding applications across multiple industries
- Trading volumes remain strong – High block trade activity demonstrates sustained institutional investor interest and activity
The blockchain ecosystem is no longer a fringe technology—it's becoming central infrastructure for global finance, corporate treasury management, and digital asset preservation.
Conclusion
The week of October 20-26, 2025, showcased the maturity and momentum of the blockchain industry. With over $287 million in block trade volume, multiple billion-dollar acquisitions, and continued institutional Bitcoin purchases, the market demonstrated sustained confidence in digital assets and blockchain technology.
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Sources & Citations
- CoinDesk. "Coinbase Buys Crypto-Fundraising Firm Echo for $375M." October 21, 2025.
- Modern Treasury. "Modern Treasury Acquires Beam to Expand Instant Payments Leadership with Stablecoins." October 22, 2025.
- ACCESS Newswire. "The Crypto Company Completes Majority Acquisition of Starchive.io, Inc." October 20, 2025.
- Yahoo Finance. "Strategy Acquires 390 BTC for $43.4M, Total Holdings Hit 640,808." October 20-26, 2025.
- PRNewswire. "American Bitcoin Acquires 1,414 Bitcoin and Increases Strategic Reserve to 3,865 Bitcoin." October 24, 2025.
- GreeksLive. "Weekly Block Trades: $287.4M Notional, Deribit 98.9% Share." October 20-26, 2025.
- CryptoNinjas Editorial Team. "Top Cryptocurrencies Gaining Investor Attention in October 2025." October 23, 2025.
- YCharts. "Bitcoin Price (Daily) - Historical Data & Trends."
- The Block/Chainwire. "Gate Ventures Announces Strategic Acquisition of Leading Decentralized Perpetual Exchange ADEN." October 27, 2025.