Key Insights
- Crypto news today tracked Bitcoin’s seven-month hashrate high above 1 zettahash per second.
- Starknet voters backed post-quantum layer-1 research, with 93.52% of voting power supporting the proposal.
- The PHP Foundation acknowledged delayed security fixes after developers identified two critical vulnerabilities.
Crypto news today focused on rising Bitcoin mining competition, Starknet’s governance vote, and critical PHP security vulnerabilities.
BlocksBridge Consulting reported Bitcoin’s highest seven-day hashrate since March 3. Meanwhile, Starknet voters supported independent blockchain research, while PHP developers addressed vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized server access.
The developments emerged between Oct. 21 and Oct. 22, raising separate questions about infrastructure costs, network security, and software maintenance.
Crypto News Today: Bitcoin Hashrate Surpasses 1 ZH/s
BlocksBridge Consulting said Bitcoin’s seven-day average hashrate exceeded one zettahash per second during the week. That equals 1,000 exahashes per second, its highest reading since March 3. The research group’s Oct. 22 Miner Weekly newsletter described a network recovering capacity despite large operators pursuing AI contracts.
Crypto news today therefore presented a contradiction for miners expecting less competition. Bitcoin mining difficulty increased 5.92% on Oct. 16, reflecting faster block production during the preceding adjustment period. BlocksBridge forecast another 5.16% increase, although that estimate could move before the next adjustment.
A separate Hashrate Index reading placed seven-day computing power near 1,050 exahashes per second. The platform also confirmed the previous 5.92% difficulty adjustment. Greater difficulty reduces the Bitcoin rewards an unchanged amount of computing power can earn, assuming constant network conditions.
The mining story behind Crypto news today extends beyond those network figures. BlocksBridge measured a 56 exahash-per-second reduction in realized hashrate among tracked public miners during the first half of 2026. Their directly reported artificial intelligence and high-performance computing revenue increased 52% from the prior quarter. Those figures describe the tracked companies, not every Bitcoin miner.
The firm valued displaced capacity at roughly $1.5 billion, assuming $20 per terahash in equipment costs. That calculation did not represent realized losses or actual equipment sale proceeds. BlocksBridge suggested smaller operators could purchase used machines and redeploy them where electricity costs are lower.
Crypto News Today: Starknet Voters Back Independent Blockchain Research
Crypto news today also followed a governance decision with consequences for Ethereum’s scaling ecosystem. Starknet’s seven-day poll closed Oct. 22 with 93.52% of participating voting power supporting research into independent operation. The approximately 3,200 votes measured participation, while the approval percentage represented voting power rather than individual voters.
The Starknet Foundation’s Oct. 15 proposal explicitly described the exercise as nonbinding. Support authorized a technical study of a post-quantum layer-1 network, not an immediate departure from Ethereum. A separate governance process would consider any proposed migration after researchers presented their findings.
The distinction shaped the Starknet discussion in Crypto news today. Developers said the network’s existing cryptographic proofs could support quantum-resistant security. However, Ethereum (ETH) still underpins Starknet’s bridge and data-availability infrastructure. An independent chain could control its own timetable, but would face fresh questions about security and validation.
The foundation said STRK would remain the token under either route. Ethereum bridges would also remain open. StarkWare and the foundation planned additional research. The layer-2 network continued operating without an approved migration timetable.
PHP Foundation Acknowledges Delayed Fixes to Critical Vulnerabilities
Crypto news today then turned to a security problem beyond cryptocurrency protocols. The PHP Foundation acknowledged that its developers first encountered evidence of a memory-management vulnerability in 2024. They struggled to select a repair that preserved compatibility with software that relies on the language.
The foundation called the delays a structural failure involving decision-making and limited staffing. Security researchers at Calif and OpenAI independently identified the underlying issue on Aug. 11, 2026. Further research established ways attackers could execute unauthorized code on vulnerable servers without authenticating.
The PHP episode widened the scope of Crypto news today beyond token networks. PHP developers released updates on Oct. 21 for versions 8.5, 8.4, 8.3, and 8.2. Their advisory identified two critical vulnerabilities, CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, each involving remote code execution risks.
The foundation assigned the vulnerabilities a severity score of 9.2, correcting earlier claims of 10.0. It said premature disclosure complicated coordinated patch distribution, while no functional exploits were identified at public release. The project’s security team urged administrators to install patched releases rather than rely on incomplete mitigations.
Taken together, Crypto news today highlighted three separate operating pressures: mining economics, blockchain governance and software maintenance. None established an immediate Bitcoin price direction or an approved Starknet departure. Network difficulty projections remain provisional, and technical proposals still face scrutiny.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets carry substantial risks, and readers should conduct independent research before making investment decisions.
