What Happened in Crypto This Week

This roundup covers the major developments across the crypto market from the last few days. The focus is on unlocks, regulatory actions, and security incidents affecting global platforms.

Starknet Unlocks 127 Million STRK

Starknet is set to unlock 127 million STRK, a volume increase from the 2 percent seen in the October tranche. This unlocking is reported to be more than 14 percent of the day's trading volume, according to data from Tokenomist.

Arbitrum Unlocks 92.65 Million ARB

Arbitrum will see 92.65 million ARB unlocked. This monthly release of tokens follows a schedule provided by Tokenomist.

Mercado Bitcoin Reopens View-Only

Mercado Bitcoin, a major Brazilian crypto exchange, is scheduled to reopen on November 9, 2026, following a cyberattack that forced it to freeze all customer deposits and withdrawals. The initial phase will be view-only.

New EU Task Force Targets Sanctions Evasion

The European Union has established a 12-month cryptocurrency task force. The group is tasked with coordinating enforcement among member states to combat sanctions evasion using digital assets.

Institutional Changes in MSCI Index

Changes are coming to the MSCI index following new rules designed for firms that hold large amounts of crypto. Strategy and Metaplanet are being watched as candidates for removal from the index, with the changes effective after the close on November 30.

Cardano and Dogecoin Price Activity

Cardano fell 2.49 percent to a trading price of $0.1802. Dogecoin experienced a 1.01 percent loss during the reporting period.

Macroeconomic Data and Fed Decisions

The October consumer price index is scheduled to be released this Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. ET. This is the final inflation reading before the Federal Reserve's decision on December 9.

BTC Mining Difficulty Passes Key Metric

Bitcoin mining difficulty, which hit a peak of 156 trillion on October 29, 2025, has remained below that threshold for over a year. The current metric, as of November 8, 2026, sits at just over 148 trillion, which is approximately 5 percent lower than the previous peak.

Financial Market Catalysts for the Week

• Tuesday, November 11: The October consumer price index is due out at 8:30 a.m. ET.
• November 15–17: The Solana Breakpoint event will run in Olympia, London.
• December 1: Russia allows retail trading in bitcoin, ether, and USDT, allowing non-qualified investors to purchase up to 300,000 rubles annually through an intermediary on the Moscow Exchange.