The week of October 7–13, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space, with major developments spanning token launches, regulatory actions, infrastructure innovation, and community-driven movements. From airdrop snapshots to high-profile legal actions and new layer-2 advancements, the ecosystem continued to evolve at a rapid pace. This comprehensive recap breaks down the most significant events, trends, and insights shaping the industry.
Scroll (SCR) Tokenomics Revealed: Launchpool Allocation and Binance Listing
On October 8, Scroll, the zkEVM-based Layer 2 scaling solution, officially unveiled its tokenomics. The total supply of Scroll (SCR) is set at 1 billion tokens, with 5.5% allocated to Binance Launchpool. Of this portion, 85% is dedicated to the BNB pool, highlighting Binance’s strategic support for the project.
The initial circulating supply at listing accounted for 19% of the total supply, offering early access to a broad user base. A key milestone for participants was the airdrop snapshot on October 19, 2024, with tokens distributed and claimable starting October 22, 2024.
👉 Discover how to maximize your participation in major crypto launches like Scroll.
Binance also announced the integration of SCR into both its Launchpool and pre-market trading, with pre-market trading commencing on October 11, 2024 (UTC+8) and Launchpool staking beginning on October 9. This dual launch strategy underscores the growing importance of community engagement and early liquidity formation in new project rollouts.
Uniswap Labs Launches Unichain: A New Era for Cross-Chain DeFi
In a bold move to expand its ecosystem, Uniswap Labs announced the launch of Unichain on October 10. Built on the OP Stack, Unichain is designed as a fast, decentralized Optimism Superchain Layer 2 network focused on becoming the central hub for cross-chain DeFi and liquidity aggregation.
Key features include integration with Flashbot’s Rollup Boost, enabling block times as low as 1 second, significantly improving transaction speed and user experience. The testnet is already live, with the mainnet expected to launch later in 2025.
The Uniswap Foundation will provide grants and developer support to encourage ecosystem growth on Unichain. While this marks a strategic expansion beyond its core DEX offering, it has sparked debate within the community—especially after Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin previously questioned the necessity of a Uniswap-specific chain, arguing that Uniswap’s strength lies in its simplicity and interoperability across existing networks.
Despite skepticism, Unichain could redefine how liquidity flows across chains, positioning UNI not just as a governance token but as a foundational asset in a broader financial infrastructure.
Puffer and Swell Open Airdrop Claims: Community Rewards Take Center Stage
Two major Ethereum restaking protocols—Puffer Finance and Swell Network—made headlines by opening their airdrop claim portals, reinforcing the trend of rewarding early adopters and contributors.
Puffer Finance: $PUFFER Token Distribution
Puffer revealed its tokenomics with a total supply of 1 billion PUFFER tokens:
- 7.5% allocated to first-season "Crunchy Carrot Quest" participants
- 40% reserved for ecosystem and community growth
- 20% for early contributors and advisors
- 26% for investors
- 1% committed to supporting Ethereum core development over a 4-year vesting period
Airdrop claims opened on October 14, 2024, and will remain active until January 14, 2025, giving users ample time to participate.
Swell Network: Voyage Airdrop and Sybil Detection
Swell launched its Voyage airdrop query tool, allocating 8.5% of its 10 billion SWELL supply (850 million tokens) to eligible users. Rewards are distributed linearly based on accumulated White Pearls, with an additional 1.5% reserved for loyal stakers.
Notably, Swell identified 7,500 Sybil addresses (holding over 7.3 million Pearls), which will be disqualified unless users can prove false identification. Unclaimed tokens from invalid claims will be redistributed among legitimate participants at Token Generation Event (TGE).
These initiatives highlight the growing emphasis on fair distribution models and robust anti-gaming mechanisms in decentralized protocols.
Regulatory Crackdown: U.S. Agencies Target Meme Coin Market Manipulation
On October 9, U.S. authorities—including the SEC, FBI, and DOJ—filed joint lawsuits against four crypto firms accused of market manipulation: Gotbit Consulting, ZM Quant Investment, CLS Global, and others. The charges involve wash trading and artificial inflation of meme coins such as Saitama, Robo Inu, and NexFundAI.
In a striking revelation, investigators found that the FBI created a fake token—NexFundAI—to entrap these market manipulators. This marks one of the first known cases where U.S. law enforcement used a decoy cryptocurrency to gather evidence in a financial crime probe.
Nine individuals were named in the suit, with some agreeing to settlements. The case spans multiple jurisdictions—including the U.S., Russia, and India—underscoring the global nature of crypto fraud and the increasing sophistication of regulatory enforcement.
Major Developments in Security and Legal Affairs
FTX Bankruptcy Plan Approved Amid Creditor Backlash
On October 8, Judge John Dorsey of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware approved FTX’s restructuring plan. Under the proposal:
- 98% of creditors will receive approximately 119% of their claim value in cash
- Total repayments range between $14.7 billion and $16 billion
- Distributions expected within 60 days of plan activation
However, the plan faced criticism from creditor representatives like Sunil Kavuri, who argued that repayments should be made in crypto assets rather than USD value, citing potential tax burdens for recipients.
Mt. Gox Repayment Deadline Extended to 2025
In related news, Mt. Gox extended its repayment deadline from October 31, 2024, to October 31, 2025 (JST). The trustee cited incomplete claim procedures by many creditors as the reason for the delay. This extension ensures more victims of the historic hack can recover their funds under court supervision.
Infrastructure Funding and Innovation
Bitlayer Raises $9M in Series A+ at $300M Valuation
Bitcoin-native Layer 2 project Bitlayer secured $9 million in a Series A+ round led by **Polychain Capital**, with participation from Franklin Templeton and SCB Limited. This follows a previous $11 million raise just three months prior, signaling strong investor confidence in Bitcoin's expanding ecosystem.
CARV Launches First-Season Airdrop
Modular data layer platform CARV opened claims for its first-season airdrop, distributing 40 million CARV tokens. Users can choose between direct receipt or triple-yield restaking with exclusive NFT rewards for second-season eligibility.
Market Trends and Notable Events
Meme Coin Market Cap Surpasses $54 Billion
Meme coins surged this week, with total market capitalization crossing $54.26 billion, up 7.4% in 24 hours. Coins like Neiro, SPX, MOG, MEW, WIF, and MOODENG saw significant gains, driven by social momentum and influencer activity.
Security Breaches Highlight Risks
Two high-profile hacks occurred:
- A phishing attack exploiting Permit signature vulnerabilities drained ~$35 million in fwDETH from an address linked to Continue Capital co-founder Lin Xia Hong.
- NFT artist DeeKay Kwon lost his life savings after a wallet compromise during an international flight, suspected due to seed phrase exposure.
These incidents emphasize the critical need for improved security practices and user education.
FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered
Q: What is Unichain and how does it benefit Uniswap users?
A: Unichain is a new Optimism-based Layer 2 network launched by Uniswap Labs to enhance cross-chain DeFi efficiency. It offers faster transactions (1-second blocks via Flashbot integration) and aims to become a liquidity hub across chains. Users benefit from lower fees and smoother asset transfers between ecosystems.
Q: How can I claim my Puffer or Swell airdrop?
A: Visit the official Puffer or Swell websites, connect your wallet, and check eligibility. For Puffer, claims opened October 14, 2024; for Swell, use the Voyage portal to verify status. Ensure your wallet wasn’t flagged for Sybil activity.
Q: Why did U.S. agencies sue meme coin market makers?
A: The SEC, FBI, and DOJ allege that firms like Gotbit engaged in wash trading to artificially inflate prices of obscure tokens like Saitama and Robo Inu. The FBI even created a fake token (NexFundAI) to catch manipulators—a novel enforcement tactic.
Q: Is the Scroll airdrop still active?
A: The snapshot was taken on October 19, 2024. If you interacted with Scroll before then, you may be eligible through Binance Launchpool or direct claims depending on participation criteria.
Q: What happened to Mt. Gox repayments?
A: The deadline has been extended to October 31, 2025. Creditors who haven’t completed verification must do so before this date to receive Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash reimbursements.
Q: How are projects fighting Sybil attacks in airdrops?
A: Protocols like Swell use behavioral analytics to detect fake accounts—such as multiple wallets generating identical activity patterns. Users can appeal if wrongly flagged; otherwise, unclaimed tokens are redistributed fairly.
Final Thoughts: Building Trust Through Transparency
This week highlighted the dual forces shaping crypto’s future: innovation and accountability. From cutting-edge rollups like Unichain to fair-distribution-focused airdrops and aggressive regulatory oversight, the ecosystem is maturing rapidly.
As users navigate these changes, platforms that prioritize security, transparency, and community empowerment will lead the next wave of adoption.
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