Latest Qtum (QTUM) News Update

Deep Dive

1. Mining Reward Halving (30 November 2025)

Overview:
Qtum completed its second halving on 30 November 2025, slashing block rewards from 0.5 to 0.25 QTUM. This follows its 2021 halving, which historically correlated with price rallies. However, QTUM has fallen 46% over 90 days to $1.49, underperforming Bitcoin’s 11% 30-day decline.

What this means:
The halving reduces annual inflation to ~0.25%, but weak macro sentiment (global crypto market cap down 7% MoM) overshadows supply dynamics. Traders may watch for staking demand as only 1.77% of max supply remains unstaked. (Qtum)

2. Hard Fork Announcement (11 November 2025)

Overview:
Qtum confirmed a January 2026 hard fork integrating Bitcoin Core 29.1 (improved node reliability) and Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade (EVM enhancements). The update aims to streamline cross-chain compatibility and smart contract efficiency.

What this means:
This hybrid upgrade could strengthen Qtum’s niche as a Bitcoin-Ethereum bridge. However, competition from newer L1s and developer adoption post-fork will determine its impact. Node operators must update before block 5,483,000 (~12 January). (Qtum)

3. Stablecoin Blueprint (18 July 2025)

Overview:
Founder Patrick Dai unveiled plans for a Qtum-native stablecoin to reduce reliance on bridged assets like USDT. The proposal targets DeFi liquidity and institutional use cases but faces regulatory and adoption challenges.

What this means:
A successful launch could differentiate Qtum in payments and lending, though competing with established stablecoins (97% market dominance) remains a steep climb. Development progress and partner integrations will be key. (CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Qtum’s halving and technical upgrades reflect a focus on scarcity and interoperability, but macro headwinds and ecosystem traction are near-term tests. Will January’s hard fork catalyze developer activity, or will QTUM’s hybrid model struggle against specialized L1s?

Deep Dive

1. @qtum: Halving Mechanics & Supply Dynamics bullish

"Annual inflation drops to 0.25% post-halving – only 1.9M QTUM left to stake over ~20 years, no unlocks remaining."
– @qtum (275K followers · 4.1M impressions · 2025-11-28 23:05 UTC)
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What this means: This is bullish for QTUM because it creates predictable, diminishing sell pressure from new supply while signaling long-term scarcity.

2. @qtum: Hybrid Blockchain Upgrade neutral

"Jan 2026 hard fork integrates Bitcoin Core 29.1 stability + Ethereum Pectra EVM for ZK-Rollups prep."
– @qtum (275K followers · 3.8M impressions · 2025-11-29 00:27 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is neutral near-term as markets weigh technical upgrades against QTUM's -42% 90d price drop, but Layer 2 readiness could reposition it vs ETH/BTC hybrids.

3. CoinMarketCap: Native Stablecoin Bid mixed

"QTUM founder plans native stablecoin to reduce reliance on bridged assets – faces Tether/USDC dominance."
– CoinMarketCap (2025-07-18 12:05 UTC)
View article
What this means: This is mixed – while DeFi liquidity could improve, QTUM must overcome network effects favoring established stables and ETH-based alternatives.

Conclusion

The consensus on QTUM is mixed, balancing deflationary tokenomics and technical upgrades against stiff Layer 1 competition and macroeconomic headwinds. Watch for developer traction post-January hard fork – successful ZK-Rollup integration could revive its hybrid blockchain narrative, while stagnant GitHub activity (<10 commits/week recently) may confirm fading relevance.

Deep Dive

1. Second Halving (December 2025)

Overview:
Qtum’s second halving will reduce block rewards by 50% (0.5 → 0.25 QTUM), mirroring Bitcoin’s scarcity mechanics. This event, occurring every ~4 years, aims to curb inflation. Historical data shows QTUM rallied 50% ahead of the 2021 halving (CCN).

What this means:
Bullish: Reduced supply could lift prices if demand holds steady. Bearish: Miner revenue cuts risk network security declines if staking participation falters.

2. v29.1 Hard Fork (12 January 2026)

Overview:
The fork merges Bitcoin Core 29.1 (improved node synchronization, NAT-PMP/PCP protocols) and Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade (EIP-2537 for ZK-Rollups prep). Notably, orphan transaction handling will optimize Qtum’s 32-second block finality (Qtum).

What this means:
Neutral-to-bullish: Backend improvements enhance reliability but lack immediate user-facing features. Long-term scalability via ZK-Rollups could attract DeFi builders.

3. Qtum-Ethereum Bridge (Q1 2026)

Overview:
A Certik-audited bridge will enable cross-chain transfers of ERC-20 tokens (e.g., USDC) to Qtum. MetaMask Snap integration aims to simplify DeFi interactions (Qtum).

What this means:
Bullish: Native stablecoin access may revive Qtum’s DeFi ecosystem, currently lagging rivals. Risk: Adoption hinges on liquidity incentives and Circle’s approval for USDC conversion.

Conclusion

Qtum’s roadmap balances supply dynamics (halving), technical robustness (hard fork), and ecosystem growth (bridge). While upgrades strengthen fundamentals, success depends on developer adoption post-DeFi infrastructure rollout. Will reduced inflation and cross-chain liquidity catalyze a utility-driven price rebound?

Deep Dive

1. Hard Fork (12 Jan 2026)

Overview: The fork integrates Bitcoin Core 29.1 and Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade, aligning Qtum with both chains’ latest features.

Details:
- Bitcoin Core 29.1: Adds Taproot improvements, fee optimizations, and security patches (Source).
- EVM Pectra: Introduces BLS12-381 precompiles for zk-SNARKs and cross-chain efficiency, reducing gas costs by ~15% for privacy-focused dApps (Source).

What this means: This is bullish for QTUM because it enhances interoperability with Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems, attracting developers seeking hybrid UTXO/EVM functionality. Node operators must update before block 5,483,000 to avoid disruptions.

2. MetaMask Snap (29 Oct 2025)

Overview: Streamlines Qtum interactions within MetaMask, reducing setup friction for DeFi users.

Details:
- Adds Qtum network auto-detection and QRC-20 token support.
- Fixes UI bugs affecting transaction confirmation times.

What this means: This is neutral for QTUM as it improves accessibility but doesn’t directly boost network utility. However, easier wallet integration could drive incremental adoption among Ethereum-native users (Source).

3. Block Explorer (15 Jul 2025)

Overview: Backend upgrades cut latency by 40% during peak loads.

Details:
- Optimized database indexing and query caching.
- Added real-time block/tx monitoring APIs for developers.

What this means: This is bullish for QTUM because faster explorer performance improves developer experience, critical for debugging and building complex dApps. The update also supports higher network activity without service degradation (Source).

Conclusion

Qtum’s codebase updates emphasize cross-chain compatibility (Bitcoin/Ethereum) and user experience refinements. The January 2026 hard fork positions QTUM as a bridge between UTXO and EVM ecosystems, while infrastructure upgrades aim to retain developers.

What’s next? Will Qtum’s hybrid model gain traction as Bitcoin and Ethereum continue diverging?