Crypto News Oct 3: Dolphin, GRX, SAND Token Are Top 3 Gainers Today

Top 10 Crypto News: BTC Falls, NEAR and Consensys Hack, Arbitrum Pause

Crypto news today, October 3, 2026: The global crypto market weakened as Bitcoin and Ethereum declined, while total trading volume increased to $122 billion. The market cap fell 0.6% to $2.97 trillion, while Bitcoin dominance climbed to 57.2% and the Crypto Fear and Greed Index dropped to 67.  

At the same time, several altcoins recorded sharp gains and losses, highlighting a wider divergence between major cryptocurrencies and smaller-cap tokens.

Crypto Market Update Today: Prices, Volume & Trends

According to CoinGecko data recorded on October 3, 2026, at 1:30 AM UTC, the global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.97 trillion, down 0.6% over 24 hours. Total crypto trading volume increased to approximately $122 billion.

Bitcoin's (BTC) dominance rose to 57.2%, while Ethereum (ETH) held an 11% share of the market. Metaverse and Play-to-Earn cryptocurrencies were among the strongest-performing categories during the period.

The combination of a lower market cap and higher trading volume suggests that market activity remained elevated even as prices weakened.

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) Price Today

• Bitcoin price today stood at $84,628.32, down 0.6% over the last 24 hours. BTC trading volume reached approximately $45 billion, while its market capitalization remained around $1.7 trillion. Bitcoin's decline was relatively limited compared with several smaller cryptocurrencies, but its rising market dominance indicates that BTC continued to account for a larger portion of the overall crypto market.

• Ethereum price today was $2,679.85, down 1.2% over 24 hours. ETH recorded approximately $19.34 billion in trading volume, with a market capitalization of around $327.2 billion. Ethereum therefore recorded a larger daily decline than Bitcoin, while its market share remained at approximately 11%.

Note: BTC and ETH can experience substantial volatility despite their larger market sizes. The figures above reflect the October 3, 2026, 1:30 AM UTC snapshot. The data recorded from Official CoinGecko Data 

Top Trending Crypto Coins Price in 24 Hours

Several trending assets also posted notable moves over the last 24 hours.

• Edel (EDEL) coin price: $0.04151, up 33.2%, with $7.51 million in trading volume.

• Super Cat (SC) token price: $0.02071, up 1.4%, with $18.75 million in trading volume.

• Pons (PONS) token price: $0.4447, down 12.2%, with $42.14 million in trading volume.

• STONK (STONK) coin price: $0.2272, down 7.5%, with $19.85 million in trading volume.

• Solana (SOL) price: $119.18, down 0.2%, with $4.54 billion in trading volume.

Solana stands out because its trading volume was considerably higher than that of the other listed trending coins, while Edel recorded the largest 24-hour percentage gain.

Top 3 Crypto Gainers in 24 hours (Ranked by 24-hour percentage gain):

• Dolphin (POD) price today: $0.7236, surged 128.7%, with trading volume of $113.49 million.

• GRX Chain (GRX) price today: $21.17, climbed 62.1%, with trading volume of $2.70 million.

• The Sandbox (SAND) price today: $0.06716, jumped 50.7%, with trading volume of $679.69 million.

Dolphin (POD) recorded the largest percentage gain among the listed tokens, rising 128.7%, while The Sandbox (SAND) had the highest trading volume at $679.69 million.

Top 3 Crypto Losers in 24 hours (Ranked by 24-hour percentage loss):

• Lobster (LOBSTER) price today: $0.04661, down 29.4%, with trading volume of $107.73 million.

• Blast (BLAST) price today: $0.0002397, fell 41.8%, with trading volume of $15.78 million.

• Moonriver (MOVR) price today: $1.83, dropped 38.9%, with trading volume of $68.38 million.

Blast (BLAST) recorded the largest percentage decline among the listed tokens, falling 41.8%, while Lobster (LOBSTER) had the highest trading volume among the three losers at $107.73 million.

Stablecoins and DeFi Market Update 

(As per CoinGecko on 3 October 2026 at 1:30 AM UTC)

The broader market weakness did not extend equally to stablecoins and decentralized finance.

• The stablecoin market capitalization reached $292.9 billion, up 0.1% over 24 hours. Stablecoin trading volume stood at approximately $108.3 billion.

• Meanwhile, the DeFi market capitalization declined 1.1% to $86.6 billion. DeFi trading volume reached approximately $7.43 billion, representing a market dominance of 2.9%.

The contrast between the two sectors is notable: stablecoin capitalization edged higher while DeFi market capitalization moved lower.

Crypto Fear and Greed Index Today

Source: Alternative Me

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index stood at 67, indicating Greed, on October 3. The five-point daily decline shows that sentiment cooled from the previous session. However, the index remained in the Greed zone. This means the market's overall sentiment remained positive despite the decline in major cryptocurrency prices.

Top Cryptocurrency News Today

Beyond market prices, several developments could influence crypto sentiment, regulation, infrastructure and institutional activity.

1. UK Finance Leaders Back Tokenization: A Lloyds survey found 71% of UK financial executives expect tokenization to reshape finance, citing faster settlements and improved collateral management.

2. Bitdeer Director to Resign October 15: Bitdeer director Sheldon Trainor-DeGirolamo will resign on October 15, 2026, citing no disagreements with the company’s operations, policies, or practices.

3. Nevada Challenges Kalshi Delay Request: Nevada opposed Kalshi prediction market request to delay appeals proceedings, while an Illinois judge separately granted preliminary relief concerning state sports betting restrictions.

4. US Sanctions Suspected Hamas Crypto Network: The US Treasury sanctioned a suspected Hamas financing network allegedly transferring over $2 million through fake charities, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency transactions.

5. Arbitrum Pauses New Stylus Contracts: Arbitrum suspended new Stylus contract activations on One and Nova over security risks; existing contracts remain operational, and user funds are unaffected.

6. NEAR crypto Hack Funds Returned: NEAR Intents head Alex Shevchenko said $3.8 million linked to a previous attack was fully returned, ending related investigations.

7. Consensys Reports Infrastructure Security Incident: Joseph Lubin said Consensys infrastructure was affected by a security incident, but investigations found no evidence that MetaMask wallets, keys, or customer funds were compromised.

8. Community Banks Sue US Banking Regulator: The ICBA sued the OCC, alleging crypto firms received national trust bank charters without facing regulatory, capital, and liquidity requirements comparable to community banks.

9. BNY and Kraken Parent Discuss Partnership: BNY is discussing a potential digital asset partnership with Payward, Kraken’s parent, covering custody, trading, payments, wealth management, and financial infrastructure.

10. BitGo CEO Warns of Crypto Market Risks: BitGo CEO Mike Belshe warned that lacking a US market structure framework could heighten custody and counterparty risks when institutions combine multiple financial services.

Comparative Insight: What Changed Today?

Compared with the October 2 update, the crypto market weakened on October 3, with global market capitalization falling 0.6% to $2.97 trillion, despite trading volume rising to $122 billion. 

Bitcoin slipped 0.6% to $84,628, while Ethereum declined 1.2% to $2,680. Stablecoin capitalization edged up to $292.9 billion, but DeFi fell 1.1%. Bitcoin dominance rose to 57.2%, while the Fear and Greed Index dropped from 72 to 67, signaling cooler market sentiment.

What Does This Crypto Market Move Mean Today?

The October 3 crypto market update shows a mixed picture rather than a uniform market decline. Bitcoin remained relatively close to the $85,000 level, while Ethereum posted a larger daily decline. At the same time, Bitcoin dominance increased and stablecoin capitalization edged higher.

The sharp gains and losses among smaller cryptocurrencies also show that market performance remains highly uneven. Some assets gained more than 100%, while others fell by more than 40%.

For readers tracking the market, price, volume, liquidity, BTC dominance, and sentiment together provide more context than a single 24-hour percentage change.

What Should Crypto Traders Watch Today?

Several indicators could provide useful context for the next market update:

• Bitcoin near $85K: Whether BTC remains around the current range.

• Trading volume: Whether the increase to $122 billion continues.

• BTC dominance: Whether Bitcoin's 57.2% share rises further.

• Ethereum performance: Whether ETH stabilizes after its 1.2% decline.

• Market sentiment: Whether the Fear and Greed Index remains in Greed or moves lower.

• DeFi activity: Whether the sector's 1.1% market-cap decline continues.

• Regulatory developments: New developments around crypto custody, prediction markets and banking regulation.

These indicators can help readers understand the market's direction without relying on a single price movement.

CoinGabbar's Market View

The October 3 crypto market update reflects a more cautious trading environment. The global market cap declined 0.6%, while trading volume increased significantly from the previous day.

Bitcoin's 57.2% dominance indicates that BTC continued to represent a substantial share of the overall market, while Ethereum underperformed Bitcoin on the day. Stablecoin capitalization remained relatively resilient, but DeFi market capitalization declined.

The Fear and Greed Index also fell to 67 from 72, showing that market optimism cooled while remaining in the Greed category.

Sharp moves among smaller tokens further highlight the risks of relying only on short-term percentage gains. Investors should consider liquidity, trading volume, market capitalization, token fundamentals, and personal risk tolerance before making cryptocurrency decisions.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, and individual digital assets can experience substantial price fluctuations or losses. Readers should conduct their own research (DYOR) and consult a qualified financial professional before making financial decisions. Availability of cryptocurrency services and assets may vary by jurisdiction.