Latest Core (CORE) News Update

By CMC AI
18 August 2026 12:41PM (UTC+0)

What are people saying about CORE?

TLDR

CORE's community is a mix of unwavering belief in its Bitcoin DeFi future and stark realism about its brutal price decline. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. Traders are making bold price predictions, citing CORE's potential as the leading Bitcoin L1 for DeFi and a new revenue-driven buyback model.

  2. The official Core DAO account is pushing a narrative of CORE becoming the second essential asset for Bitcoiners, enabling self-custodial yield.

  3. A critical analysis highlights persistent decline due to delayed product launches, continuous token supply, and intense sector competition.

  4. Recent on-chain data shows a recovery in daily active users and fees, suggesting underlying network engagement may be improving despite low prices.

Deep Dive

1. @BASEGEMSLLC: Bold Price Predictions for BTCFi Leader bullish

"$5-$10 by end of 2026 in a moderate bull scenario... In a full alt season moonshot, $10–$30+ is plausible for a low-cap BTC L1 with CORE’s fundamentals." – @BASEGEMSLLC (2,333 followers · 7 May 2026 02:30 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for CORE because it frames the current low price as a massive opportunity, banking on the growth of the Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi) sector and Core's unique positioning as a Bitcoin-secured, EVM-compatible Layer 1 to drive exponential gains.

2. @Coredao_Org: Framing CORE as Bitcoin's Utility Layer bullish

"CORE is becoming the second asset that Bitcoiners care about. This is because CORE adds real utility to Bitcoin." – @Coredao_Org (2.3M followers · 8 July 2025 14:00 UTC) View original post What this means: This is bullish for CORE because Core DAO is directly marketing the token as the essential key to unlocking yield and DeFi for Bitcoin, aiming to create fundamental, usage-driven demand beyond speculative trading.

3. 萍水相逢&: Critical Look at Persistent Decline bearish

"CORE faces persistent decline due to: 1) continuous mining reward supply... 2) hash power narrative losing credibility, 3) delayed product launches... 4) sector competition... Short-term rebounds are weak and unsustainable." – OKX Orbit User (9 August 2026 00:00 UTC) What this means: This is bearish for CORE because it identifies structural headwinds—ongoing inflation, narrative fatigue, and execution delays—that challenge the token's ability to recover, suggesting any price increase may be temporary without real product adoption.

4. CoinMarketCap Community: On-Chain User Recovery Amid Low TVL mixed

"On-chain data shows daily active users on Core Network are ticking higher again... even as TVL remains under pressure." – CoinMarketCap (17 August 2026 12:51 UTC) What this means: This is neutral to slightly bullish for CORE because it shows growing fundamental usage and transactions, which could precede a price recovery, but also acknowledges that locked value—a key DeFi health metric—remains weak.

Conclusion

The consensus on CORE is mixed, split between deep conviction in its long-term BTCFi thesis and sober acknowledgment of its severe price erosion and execution risks. Optimists see the current $0.0206 price as a historic buying opportunity, betting on ecosystem growth and token buybacks. Pessimists point to continuous token unlocks, delayed flagship products like SatPay, and fierce competition. Watch for the public launch and adoption metrics of SatPay, as this consumer-facing product is repeatedly cited as the primary catalyst for generating real demand and revenue for the CORE token.

What is the latest news on CORE?

TLDR

Core's network buzzes with user growth while navigating an exchange hiccup. Here are the latest news:

  1. BitMart Withdrawal Issues for CPEN (18 August 2026) – Core's INK team publicly appeals to BitMart to resolve token withdrawal problems before the exchange shuts down.

  2. User Activity Recovers on Core Network (17 August 2026) – Daily active users and transaction counts are rising, signaling a rebound in on-chain engagement.

  3. App Fees Drive Core's Economic Activity (14 August 2026) – Ecosystem applications generated $58.9K in fees, far outpacing base-layer gas revenue.

Deep Dive

1. BitMart Withdrawal Issues for CPEN (18 August 2026)

Overview: The INK Network Core Team issued an open letter to BitMart Exchange concerning unresolved withdrawal issues for the CPEN token. This comes as BitMart winds down operations, with a deadline for withdrawals set for 26 August 2026. The core issue is a prohibitively high withdrawal minimum of 16,689 CPEN, locking out smaller holders. What this means: This is a neutral-to-bearish operational challenge for the broader Core ecosystem. While not a direct failure of Core's chain, it risks eroding user trust in connected projects and highlights the dependency on third-party exchange infrastructure. The resolution depends on BitMart's cooperation. (CoinMarketCap)

2. User Activity Recovers on Core Network (17 August 2026)

Overview: On-chain data shows Core Network's daily active users increased from 8,974 on 7 August to 9,118 on 16 August. Transaction volumes held steady around 48,000–54,000 per day, and network fees rose 4.4% over 30 days, indicating improving fundamentals. What this means: This is bullish for CORE as it demonstrates resilient user engagement and network utility despite a declining total value locked (TVL). The recovery in active addresses often precedes capital inflows, suggesting the ecosystem is rebuilding organic activity. (CoinMarketCap)

3. App Fees Drive Core's Economic Activity (14 August 2026)

Overview: In the past 30 days, applications on Core DAO generated $58,900 in fees, compared to just $274 in base-chain gas fees. This 215-fold difference underscores that real economic activity is happening in DeFi and staking products built on the network. What this means: This is strongly bullish for Core's long-term value proposition. It validates the network's design for productive Bitcoin finance (BTCFi) and creates a tangible revenue stream. This ecosystem revenue is earmarked to fund systematic CORE token buybacks, a key pillar of its 2026 tokenomics shift. (CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Core is charting a path of fundamental recovery through growing user activity and robust app-layer revenue, even as it contends with external exchange complications. Will the planned buyback program successfully translate this on-chain strength into token price momentum?

What is next on CORE’s roadmap?

TLDR

Core's development is focused on expanding its Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem with these key initiatives:

  1. lstBTC Launch (Upcoming) – A liquid staking token for Bitcoin designed to add yield to WBTC while driving CORE demand.

  2. Native Major Stablecoin Integration (Upcoming) – Plans to bring a top stablecoin natively onto Core to deepen its DeFi liquidity.

  3. Hardware Wallet BTC Staking Access (Upcoming) – A partnership to enable Bitcoin staking directly from major hardware wallets.

  4. Revenue-Driven Tokenomics Shift (2026 Roadmap) – Transitioning from token burns to using ecosystem revenue for systematic CORE buybacks.

Deep Dive

1. lstBTC Launch (Upcoming)

Overview: lstBTC is a liquid staking derivative for Bitcoin, built to take the substantial WBTC market (noted as a $14B asset) and add a yield-generating layer. The protocol is designed so that whenever BTC or WBTC is converted to lstBTC, CORE tokens are acquired and staked, directly linking Bitcoin activity to CORE demand.

What this means: This is bullish for CORE because it creates a new, utility-driven demand sink for the token tied to a massive asset class. It could significantly increase staking participation and network security. The risk is execution delay and competition from other Bitcoin liquid staking solutions.

2. Native Major Stablecoin Integration (Upcoming)

Overview: Core DAO has signaled that one of the world's largest stablecoins will soon exist natively—not as a wrapped asset—within its Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem (Core DAO). This is a critical infrastructure upgrade for liquidity and user experience.

What this means: This is bullish for CORE because deep, native stablecoin liquidity is essential for a thriving DeFi ecosystem. It lowers barriers for users and developers, potentially increasing transaction volume and gas fee revenue. The bearish angle is the uncertainty around which stablecoin and the timeline for full integration.

3. Hardware Wallet BTC Staking Access (Upcoming)

Overview: Targeting the estimated 25% of Bitcoin held in hardware wallets, Core is partnering with a major hardware wallet provider to enable non-custodial Bitcoin staking directly from these devices (Core DAO). This bridges security-focused Bitcoin holders with Core's yield-generating infrastructure.

What this means: This is bullish for CORE because it taps into a large, previously passive segment of the Bitcoin market, potentially driving substantial new capital and staking activity onto the network. Success depends on the partnership's finalization and user-friendly implementation.

4. Revenue-Driven Tokenomics Shift (2026 Roadmap)

Overview: A central theme of Core's 2026 roadmap is a fundamental shift in supply dynamics. According to a CoinMarketCap community analysis, the protocol is transitioning away from burning transaction fees and block rewards. Instead, ecosystem revenue from BTCFi activities (like staking yields and products such as SatPay) will fund systematic CORE token buybacks from the market.

What this means: This is a neutral-to-bullish structural change for CORE. It moves value accrual from pure supply reduction to creating sustainable, demand-side buy pressure funded by real ecosystem activity. However, its success is entirely dependent on generating significant protocol revenue, which is not yet guaranteed.

Conclusion

Core's roadmap is strategically focused on cementing its position as a Bitcoin DeFi hub by launching yield-bearing assets, integrating critical stablecoin liquidity, and onboarding secure capital through hardware wallets—all while overhauling its tokenomics to tie CORE's value directly to ecosystem growth. Will the revenue from these new BTCFi products be sufficient to catalyze the intended buyback-driven token economics?

What is the latest update in CORE’s codebase?

TLDR

Core's recent codebase updates focus on enhancing security and user experience.

  1. Core v26 Protocol Upgrade (August 2026) – Improves smart contract security and cross-chain functionality for a more robust network.

  2. Core Wallet MCP & Fast Stake (July 2026) – Introduces AI agent controls and automated staking to simplify user interactions.

Deep Dive

1. Core v26 Protocol Upgrade (August 2026)

Overview: This network-wide upgrade implemented critical improvements to smart contract security and cross-chain communication. It required node operators to update their software by August 11, 2026, to stay compatible.

The upgrade focused on hardening the protocol's defensive layers and optimizing how different blockchains interact with Core. These backend enhancements are designed to make the entire ecosystem more resilient against potential exploits and to support more complex, multi-chain applications seamlessly.

What this means: This is bullish for CORE because it directly addresses security, which is the top priority for institutions and users looking to stake Bitcoin. A more secure and interoperable network builds greater trust and lays the groundwork for more advanced financial applications. (OKX)

2. Core Wallet MCP & Fast Stake (July 2026)

Overview: Core Wallet released two major features: Core MCP (Model Context Protocol) and a redesigned "Fast Stake" flow. MCP allows users to set strict spending limits for AI agents that can execute wallet actions, while Fast Stake automates validator selection for staking AVAX in under a minute.

These updates tackle two common user pain points: the risk of delegating control to automation and the complexity of manual staking research. Every AI-driven transaction is simulated for user review before signing, maintaining self-custody.

What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for CORE because it significantly improves the wallet experience, a crucial gateway to the ecosystem. While focused on Avalanche (AVAX) staking, it demonstrates a commitment to user-friendly innovation that could attract more users to Core's broader Bitcoin DeFi offerings. (NullTX)

Conclusion

Core's development is actively targeting both foundational security and front-end usability, a balanced approach essential for long-term adoption in Bitcoin DeFi. Will the enhanced security features from the v26 upgrade accelerate institutional adoption of Core's dual-staking model?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.