• Bitcoin held near $88K as Asian markets opened with low holiday liquidity.
• Altcoins were mixed, while total crypto market cap stayed above $3T.
• Derivatives data suggests cautious year-end positioning by traders.

Bitcoin held a solid price at $88,000 in the early Asian markets as cryptos kept their composure despite low year-end liquidity. The markets seemed stable, with cryptos not showing notable strength despite a better start to the day by Asia equities markets.

Bitcoin started with a slight increase of around 0.6%, as it continued to maintain the range that it had established after the events of last week. The performance of Ether was somewhat better as it showed an increase of about 1.5%, but XRP showed a slight decrease. Market participation also remained cautious.

Market Snapshot

• Bitcoin (BTC): 88,560
• 24h Volume: ≈ $42.5 billion | Dominance
• Ether (ETH): ≈ 3,
• Market Cap: ~$50.9
• XRP: ~$1
• Current Volume: ≈ $6.4
• Total Crypto Market Cap: Approximately $3.08 Trillion (+0
• 24h Market Volume: Approximately $98 billion

Derivatives markets provided better signals compared to spot markets. futures open interest and options positioning indicate that there has been little derisking going into the year-end. Funding rates on the main exchanges were close to neutral.

This suggests that there has been little leverage. Bitcoin ETF action was also in the headlines. Though the level of net inflows has moderated in the past few sessions compared to the opening weeks of the quarter, cumulative holdings are not far off record levels, which has helped Bitcoin hold strong above the $85,000-$88,000 level.

Traditional Market

In traditional markets, gold reached a new all-time high of almost $4,383 per ounce as a result of expectations of rate cuts, safe-haven considerations, as well as a weakening US dollar. Silver prices reached new records too, continuing a positive momentum.

In the past, extreme movements within gold reserves have normally been associated with a period of gold consolidation in Bitcoin. Macro cues are mixed. Asian markets are up 0.5%, with U.S. stock futures furthering the recovery seen last week.

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack believes that interest rates can remain the same for several more months, defying market predictions of a further two cuts in 2026. In Asia, China’s loan prime rates are kept unchanged for the seventh consecutive month. By supporting the notion of targeted measures and not a broad-based stimulus package.

As the end of the year is approaching, the crypto market continues to be shaped by range trading, derivatives, and selective risk, with traders closely observing the ability of Bitcoin to stay above $88,000.

• Lighter moved 250 million LIT tokens, about 25% of supply, sparking big airdrop talk before the TGE.
• If split across 12 million points, each could get around 20.8 LIT worth maybe $68 at speculated prices.
• Network upgrade hits December 21, volume’s exploding, and Polymarket bets point to a late December drop.

Lighter, the decentralized perpetual exchange on Solana, just moved 250 million LIT tokens, about 25% of the total supply, sparking big talk about a user airdrop before the token generation event by December 31. Analysts spotted the transfer, and people are guessing these could go to points holders from the program’s seasons.

The points system rewarded trading in Season 1 (private beta January to September 2025, 100,000 to 110,000 users, $550 billion volume, 8.65 million points) and Season 2 (public mainnet October to December, adding 500,000 users for 640,000 to 750,000 total, weekly 250,000 to 600,000 points, no wash trading).

With roughly 12 million points out, a straight split of 250 million LIT would mean about 20.8 tokens per point. Market guesses put each at $3 to $5, so points could be worth $58 to $104, or around $68 average per some chatter.

Network Upgrade and Timing

A network upgrade hits December 21 at 12 UTC, including an airdrop allocation module from past updates. CEO Vladimir Novakovski keeps it mysterious: “The tiger doesn’t let you know in advance when it will appear.” Polymarket bets lean toward a December 29 drop, with insiders wagering on timing and fully diluted value.

Trading volume tells the growth story. Daily perps started under $1 billion early 2025, climbed to $2 to $4 billion mid year, then often topped $5 billion from August, peaking $18 to $20 billion single days in October and November. Annualized fees hit $167.9 million, 30 day volume $248.3 billion, open interest around $1.7 billion.

Community discussion mixes excitement and caution. Hexdrunker sees points from $33 low to $150 high. ProMint pegs premarket $3 to $5 per LIT. The 250 million move has everyone watching, could be the airdrop fuel or something else. With the upgrade and TGE looming, Lighter’s year end plans have the whole perp crowd on edge.

• MoMA added eight original 2017 CryptoPunks to its permanent collection in the Media and Performance department.
• The Punks were donated by Larva Labs and big collectors like Cozomo de’ Medici and Ryan Zurrer.
• It’s a huge nod to on-chain art as real culture, not just crypto hype, from one of the top modern museums.

MoMA in New York just added eight CryptoPunks to its permanent collection, putting them in the Media and Performance department alongside video, tech, and experimental art. The Punks are #4018, #2786, #5616, #5160, #3407, #7178, #74, and #7899. It’s a big deal for on-chain art, treating these 2017 pixel characters as serious cultural pieces, not just crypto hype.

CryptoPunks started as a fun experiment by Larva Labs founders Matt Hall and John Watkinson. They coded 10,000 unique 24-by-24 pixel faces and put them straight on the blockchain. No copies, no fakes, with ownership and history locked forever. That setup became the blueprint for NFTs that exploded later.

How They Got There

The eight Punks came as donations from a group effort. Larva Labs gave some, collectors like Mara and Erick Calderon, Rhydon and Caroline Lee, Ryan Zurrer of 1OF1 AG, judithESSS, the Tomaino Family, and Cozomo de’ Medici Collection chipped in others.

Art on Blockchain and 1OF1_art helped make it happen. Each Punk got its own MoMA object number from 423.2025 to 430.2025.This isn’t MoMA buying on the open market. It was the community and the creators themselves handing over pieces they believe deserve a place in art history. Placing them in Media and Performance fits perfectly, grouping them with works shaped by new tools and ideas.

For the CryptoPunks crowd, it’s validation after years of debate. What began as a small experiment rooted in code and curiosity is now part of one of the world’s top modern art museums. It shows that institutions are starting to see on chain art as digital culture and creativity, not just market driven assets.

MoMA’s decision sends a quiet but clear message that blockchain art is no longer on the sidelines. It has found a place in the cultural mainstream.

What started as a small 2017 experiment has now reached museum walls. CryptoPunks show how early internet ideas can grow into lasting cultural works. Backed by well known collectors and creators, it feels less like a market moment and more like a statement that these pieces belong to everyone and should be preserved for the long term.

• MEXC users are reporting lost funds and premarket scams, with trades failing and collateral vanishing against the rules.
• One buyer got screwed when the seller defaulted but MEXC kept the collateral, another waited days for stuck USDT.
• Echoes last month’s big drama with frozen accounts, even though reserves look solid trust is taking hits.

MEXC is catching heat again as users report lost funds and premarket trade issues. Analyst Gautamgg posted on X about two big problems in the last 20 days that break the exchange’s own rules. Traders say support gives confusing answers and settlements drag on or fail.

One case had a buyer picking up RateX at $0.4 while the listing hit $1.3. The seller didn’t settle, but MEXC kept the collateral instead of handing it to the buyer, going against their Rule 10 on refunds for defaults. Another trade got canceled, and USDT sat stuck for over 10 days with no clear word from support.

Past Drama Lingers

This echoes late October when trader The WhiteWhale accused MEXC of freezing over $3 million without good reason, tied to profitable trades. ZachXBT looked into similar complaints, sparking big backlash.

CSO Cecilia Hsueh apologized publicly October 31, admitting communication mess-ups, and funds got released. Withdrawals spiked amid solvency whispers, but MEXC denied issues and pointed to over 100% reserves.

MEXC posted fresh Proof of Reserves November 3 showing full backing for USDT, USDC, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. They use Merkle Tree checks with mirrors on CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko, and DefiLlama.

From April to June they blocked over 70,000 fraud tries linked to 8,500 groups, cutting fraud by 12%.Crypto scams are exploding anyway.

TRM Labs says AI scams jumped 456% from May 2024 to April 2025, with $2.47 billion lost first half of the year. One guy recently dropped $50 million USDT on a copy-paste wallet trick.

MEXC says reserves are solid and they’re fighting fraud hard, but trust takes hits with these reports. Traders have to stay alert, keep an eye on the rules, and be ready for sudden account closures in such a fast changing market.

• Binance and CZ hit with new lawsuit from Oct 7 victims, accused of funneling $400M+.
• Complaint says Binance wallets sent $300M before the attack, $115M after.
• Even after the $4.3B settlement, some terror linked accounts stayed open.

Binance and its former boss CZ are getting sued again, this time by American families hit by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,200 and took 250 hostages. The 284 page lawsuit filed in North Dakota says Binance knowingly let Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Iran’s IRGC move millions in crypto for years.

The complaint claims Binance’s own wallets sent over $300 million to terror linked accounts before the attack. And another $115 million after, totaling more than $400 million. Some of those accounts were still active even after Binance paid a $4.3 billion settlement in 2023 for sanctions and laundering violations.

Leaked Internal Messages

Plaintiffs pulled up old employee messages: one compliance officer said users “are here for crime,” another joked about advertising “come to Binance” for washing drug money. The suit says Binance ignored 2019 and 2020 warnings about Hamas wallets and never filed proper suspicious activity reports.

It also ties in a Venezuela Iran gold smuggling ring that allegedly used Binance to funnel cash to terror groups. Courts in New York and Alabama have already said the families have a plausible case that Binance. By “knowingly and substantially” helped the attackers.

Under U.S. anti terror laws, that could mean triple damages. Binance says it follows sanctions and can’t comment on live cases, but the families aren’t backing down.

• Fake delivery guy in San Francisco robbed a dude for $11M in crypto, tied him up and bounced.
• Physical “wrench attacks” on crypto holders jumped 65% this year, now 61 cases worldwide.
• Once the coins are gone through mixers in minutes, you’re never seeing that money again.

A San Francisco crypto holder got robbed of $11 million when a fake delivery guy forced his way in, tied him up with duct tape, and grabbed his phone, laptop, and wallet keys. It happened November 22 in Mission Dolores. The robber rang the bell with a box, asked for “Joshua” and a pen, then pulled a gun the second the door opened.

Security cam footage shared by Y Combinator’s Garry Tan shows the whole creepy act. Cops found the victim shaken but okay; no arrests yet. The thief wore gloves, hoodie, and sunglasses, a classic playbook.

Wrench Attacks Are Spiking Hard

Casa’s Jameson Lopp counted 61 physical crypto attacks worldwide this year, up 65% from 38 in 2024. Fake couriers, machete gangs, home surveillance, robbers are getting bold. A UK case earlier this month had the same delivery trick for $4.3 million.

Expert David Baek says getting the coins back is almost impossible. Thieves dump everything through mixers or private wallets in minutes. Even if cops grab the bad guys, the crypto is long gone. More people are now asking if keeping big stacks at home is still worth the risk when regulated vaults exist. Police want any doorbell footage from Dorland Street that night.

• Japan’s FSA says every crypto exchange has to hold cash reserves like stock brokers do.
• Big hacks like DMM and Bybit pushed this; they also want bulletproof bankruptcy rules.
• Might move BTC, ETH and tons of alts under the stricter investment law instead of the old payment rules.

Japan’s FSA is getting serious about protecting crypto users. They want every exchange to keep a pile of cash on hand. Just like securities firms do, so if a hack or a mistake happens, customers get paid quickly.

Think billions of yen, depending on the exchange size and past drama. Final numbers come in 2026, and smaller platforms might cover part of it with insurance instead.

Right now exchanges already stash most coins in cold wallets, but big hacks like DMM Bitcoin losing 48 billion yen last year and Bybit dropping $1.46 billion in February showed that’s not enough. The FSA also wants crystal clear rules for bankruptcies.

Customer funds stay completely separate, and an independent admin steps in to hand coins back if the company collapses, with no more Mt. Gox nightmares.

Bigger Picture

The agency is talking about moving Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over a hundred big coins from the Payment Services Act (where they’re seen as money) into the tougher Financial Products Transaction Act, same rules as stocks. That would mean stricter ads, clearer risk warnings, and heavier licenses for exchanges.

Japan was one of the first countries to legitimize crypto, but now regulators say the market is mostly trading and speculation, not payments. With Europe, Hong Kong, and others tightening up, Japan wants to stay safe while still letting the industry grow. Expect the new rules to hit the Diet in 2026.

• XRP surges 9% to $2.27 the second Franklin Templeton and Grayscale dropped their spot ETFs.
• Ripple’s $125M SEC settlement finally gone, Wall Street’s piling in hard.
• Big players love XRP’s 3 second cheap payments calling it the future of global settlements.

XRP shot up over 9% to $2.27 Monday after Franklin Templeton and Grayscale rolled out their spot XRP ETFs on NYSE Arca. This marks a fresh start for the token, especially after Ripple wrapped its long SEC fight with a $125 million settlement. At the time of writing, XRP sits at $2.24 with a $135.06 billion market cap, per CoinMarketCap.

Franklin’s XRPZ ETF tracks the CME CF XRP Dollar Reference Rate, with Coinbase as custodian and BNY Mellon handling admin. They call XRP key for global settlements. Grayscale’s GXRP offers a zero fee start to pull in cash. Bitwise’s version from last week already snagged $118 million inflows.

XRP’s Edge and World Trends

XRP Ledger shines with 3-5 second transactions, tiny fees, and over 3.3 billion handled so far. Reports paint it as a practical bridge for cross border payments, very different from Bitcoin’s store of value image. Interest in XRP futures is steadily rising.

Black Swan Capitalist argues that XRP fits well into payment routes across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and it also has links to BRICS and Japan’s SBI Holdings. BRICS supported digital settlement systems back in April 2025. The ECB’s Project Nexus is connecting regional payment networks too.

All in all, these ETFs show that the market is growing up. They combine wider acceptance, practical technology, and cleaner regulations, which could help digital payments move ahead in a big way.

• SEC okays Fuse’s ENERGY token; no registration needed.
• Token rewards users for energy-saving, not investment profits.
• Signals SEC easing on real-world utility tokens.

The SEC just handed Fuse Crypto a no action letter on November 24, saying they won’t chase charges. That is over the company’s energy rewards token as long as it sticks to the plan laid out. That means Fuse can sell the token without registering it as a security under the 1933 Act or listing it as equity under the 1934 Act.

Jonathan Ingram from the SEC made it clear the okay is based strictly on Fuse’s facts—if things change, so could the relief. The letter doesn’t say if the token is or isn’t a security, just that enforcement won’t kick in right now.

Fuse’s Token and Why It’s Not a Security

Fuse works in clean energy across the U.S., putting in EV chargers, rooftop solar, and grid support gear. Their token, called FUSE or ENERGY, rewards people who join programs easing grid strain, like smart energy use.

Fuse argued it doesn’t fit the Howey Test no money invested for profits from others’ work. Users earn it for their own actions, like consuming energy smarter, not betting on Fuse’s success. The company sees it as a flexible rewards setup for a growing need in decentralized energy.

This is the second such letter lately the SEC gave one to DoubleZero in September for its DePIN token. Under Trump, the agency has shifted: hosting crypto talks, dropping old probes, starting “Project Crypto” to update rules, and working on a token taxonomy to sort securities from non-securities. Chair Paul Atkins pushed for clearer lines on digital assets.

For Fuse, it’s a green light to roll out without heavy registration, focusing on utility over speculation. For the crypto world, it’s a sign the SEC might ease up on tokens tied to real world use, cutting uncertainty after years of gray areas. Still, any slip from the described setup could flip the script fast.

• Memecoins crashed to $39B lowest all year, lost $5B in one day.
• Every big doge (DOGE, PEPE, BONK, WIF) down 14-20%, even Trump coin bled.
• NFTs back to April lows, most collections down 25-40%, party’s over for now.

Memecoins just hit their lowest point all year, crashing to a combined $39.4 billion market cap on Friday after losing over $5 billion in a single day. That’s a brutal 66% drop from the January peak of $116.7 billion. Trading volume actually jumped 40%, but nobody was buying pure panic selling.

The whole crypto market got wrecked too, shedding $800 billion in three weeks, down to $2.96 trillion. Bitcoin fell 14.7% this week to $82,778, Ethereum dropped 16% to $2,688, and every top memecoin bled double digits. Dogecoin down 14%, Pepe, Bonk, and Dogwifhat each lost around 20%. Even Trump’s own TRUMP coin slid 11.6%.

                                        Top 10 memecoins by market capitalization. 

NFTs Back to April Levels

NFTs are hurting just as bad. Total market cap sank to $2.78 billion, the lowest since April and 43% down in the last month. Most big collections got crushed: Hyperliquid’s Hypurr NFTs down 41%, Moonbirds off 33%, CryptoPunks 27%, Pudgy Penguins 26%. Only Infinex Patrons gained 11%, and Autoglyphs barely moved.

It’s a full on risk off mood. Traders are dumping anything speculative memecoins, NFTs, you name it. With Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the slide, the fun money has vanished fast, dragging the wildest corners of crypto right back to spring levels.

• Binance CEO says Bitcoin’s 35% crash is just normal deleveraging, same stuff happening everywhere.
• BTC still up 2x from last year, so this pullback is actually healthy profit taking.
• Crypto volatility isn’t fair anymore; Tesla and AMD are swinging harder than Bitcoin right now.

Binance boss Richard Teng says everyone needs to chill about Bitcoin’s big drop. Speaking in Sydney, he told reporters the 35% slide from October’s $126,000 peak to around $82,000 is just normal risk off deleveraging you see across all markets right now, not some crypto only meltdown.

                                                      Bitcoin’s one year price chart. 

Teng pointed out Bitcoin is still more than double where it was last year, so a breather after such a run is healthy. “People took profits, markets consolidate, that’s how it works,” he said, adding the whole industry needs time to catch its breath and find solid ground again.

Not That Wild Anymore

He also pushed back on the old “Bitcoin is super volatile” story, saying its swings are pretty much in line with plenty of major assets these days. Sure, Bitcoin’s yearly volatility is still around 50%, but that’s actually way down from the 181% insanity back in 2013. Some big tech stocks like Tesla (65%), AMD (73%), and Super Micro (73%) are even jumpier right now.

The broader market’s been messy too—during the recent chaos, the S&P 500’s volatility actually shot past Bitcoin’s for a bit. 

Teng’s bottom line: crypto isn’t the wild child anymore, it’s just riding the same waves as everything else. A little consolidation now could set the stage for the next leg up.

• PayPay (SoftBank’s app) now lets you buy/sell crypto on Binance Japan straight from your phone balance.
• One tap moves, starts at just $6.50, 24/7 no more slow bank wires.
• SoftBank’s going all in on crypto right before PayPay’s huge US IPO next month.

Binance Japan just got a lot friendlier for everyday users. PayPay, the huge mobile payment app run by SoftBank, now lets people buy and sell crypto on Binance Japan straight from their PayPay Money balance. It’s the first time Binance Japan offers anything besides plain old bank transfers in yen.

You can move money in and out with one tap once you link the two apps and finish KYC on both. Deposits are free right now, withdrawals cost a flat 110 yen (about 60 cents), and the limits are 1 million yen a day or 2 million yen a month. Even tiny amounts from 1,000 yen (around $6.50) work, and it’s 24/7.

SoftBank Keeps Going Big on Crypto

This hookup comes right after PayPay bought a 40% stake in Binance Japan back in October. SoftBank already backs Twenty One Capital, one of the top 10 public companies holding Bitcoin with about 43,500 BTC worth $3.7 billion. Clearly, Masayoshi Son’s crew is all in on crypto.

The timing feels perfect. PayPay is gearing up for a possible US IPO as soon as December, with whispers of a valuation over $20 billion. Letting millions of PayPay users jump into crypto with pocket change could be a sweet growth move just before ringing the Nasdaq bell. For Japanese traders, crypto just got as easy as buying coffee.

• SEC hosting a big crypto privacy roundtable Dec 15 no new rules, just real talk with the industry.
• Tornado Cash and Samourai Wallet cases scared devs shitless about building privacy tools.
• Privacy coins pumping and cypherpunk vibes back everyone asking where the legal line is now.

The SEC’s Crypto Task Force is hosting a big crypto privacy roundtable on December 15 to talk about privacy in crypto and how it fits with the usual money monitoring rules. It’s not a rule making session, just an open chat between regulators and industry folks. And it will be live streamed for everyone to watch.

Privacy has suddenly become a hot topic again after two painful court cases. In June, Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm got a partial guilty verdict. And just this month a Samourai Wallet dev was sentenced. Both tools were non custodial, yet the government still went after the coders. Which is leaving developers wondering where the line is.

Why Everyone’s Talking crypto Privacy rountable Now

Privacy coins have been pumping the last two months. With these cases hanging over their heads, builders are nervous about writing code that hides transaction details even if it’s open source and nobody controls the keys.

The crypto privacy roundtable will focus on real-life headaches: how do privacy tools work with KYC, AML, and surveillance laws without breaking them? The SEC says they’ll drop the speaker list and full agenda soon; in-person seats need registration, but anyone can watch online.

No new rules will come out of it, but the talk could shape how the agency thinks about privacy tech going forward.

• Bitmine just grabbed another $49M of ETH even while prices tank.
• Now sitting on 3.5M ETH worth $10B – second only to Strategy.
• Tom Lee says market makers are still broke from October crash, so pain lasts a few more weeks.

Bitmine just scooped up another 17,242 ETH for about $49 million on November 21. Which is pushing its total stash to roughly 3.5 million ETH worth over $10 billion. That puts them right behind Strategy as the biggest corporate Ethereum holder. Even with ETH sliding hard to $2,780 and the whole market looking rough, Bitmine keeps stacking.

The old mining outfit turned treasury giant is dead set on grabbing around 5% of all Ethereum out there someday. They fund the buys with fresh cash raises, staking rewards, and quiet OTC deals through desks like FalconX and BitGo so they don’t rattle the spot price.

Why Prices Still Hurt

Chairman Tom Lee told CNBC the market’s still stuck because big market makers got burned in the October 10 liquidation mess and haven’t rebuilt their balance sheets yet. He says it’s like 2022 all over again took eight weeks back then, we’re six weeks in now, so maybe a couple more weeks of pain before things loosen up.

Bitmine’s own stock (BMNR) got hammered over 10% to $26.02, but the company isn’t blinking. They see Ethereum as the backbone for DeFi, smart contracts, and tokenization for years to come. As liquidity creeps back, everyone’s watching if this aggressive dip buying pays off big.

• Alibaba teams with JPMorgan on tokenized payments to speed B2B payments.
• AI Mode helps buyers compare suppliers fast, costs about $20/month.
• Agentic pay drafts contracts from chats, launching December.

Alibaba is diving into tokenized payments to make international B2B payments deals faster and cheaper. President Kuo Zhang told CNBC the company is testing JPMorgan’s JPMD system, a digital version of bank money that moves on blockchain. This cuts out the usual days of waiting as payments hop through multiple banks and currencies.

The goal is simple: slash delays and fees in cross-border trade. After getting comfy with tokenized dollars or euros, Alibaba might try stablecoins for specific cases. It’s all about smoothing global business on their massive marketplace.

AI Tools Join the Mix

Alibaba rolled out AI Mode, a subscription feature that lets buyers compare suppliers on price, output, shipping, and trust in one spot. No more flipping through pages. It’s around $20 monthly or $99 yearly, though final prices aren’t set. This adds cash beyond ads and trade fees.

Coming in December, agentic pay uses AI to draft contracts from chat history, skipping offline back and forth. Both sides review before signing, speeding things up. Zhang says buyers increasingly want smart search for complex supply chains. Alibaba’s blending quick blockchain tricks with smart AI features to keep ahead in worldwide trade.

The crypto market surged on Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump reminded everyone that he would be sitting down with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 31 at the Seoul gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Investor confidence picked up as hopes for trade tensions easing between the two large economies grew.

In an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, Trump said, “We’re going to meet in South Korea with President Xi and other people, too.” He called Xi “a very strong leader” and expressed optimism about reaching a fair trade agreement.

The decision is a reversal of earlier remarks, in which Trump said there was “no reason” to meet with Xi and imposed new tariffs on China. The remarks triggered a sudden sell-off that erased billions from cryptocurrency exchanges and spurred almost 20 billion dollars’ worth of crypto derivative liquidations, the largest ever.

Following the latest remark from Trump, Bitcoin (BTC) rose by approximately 2 percent to $109,172, while Ether (ETH) and BNB rose by some 3.5 percent each. Solana (SOL) rose by nearly 4 percent, according to TradingView data.

Investor sentiment also turned positive. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which fell to a six-week low of 22 last week, began to recover following Trump’s comments.

The Kobeissi Letter analysts said that the pullback was only temporary and that the overall crypto bull trend remains in place if trade relations continue to improve.

• Metaplanet bought 5,419 Bitcoin for $632.53 million, bringing their total to 25,555 BTC, worth $2.93 billion at $114,575 per coin.
• They’re over 85% toward their 2025 goal of 30,000 Bitcoin, with a BTC Yield of 10.3% from July to September 2025.
• A $1.4 billion share offering funds their Bitcoin buys, with 183.7 billion yen set for more purchases in the next two months.

Metaplanet, a big Japanese firm betting hard on Bitcoin, just added 5,419 more coins to its pile on September 22. They paid about 93.6 billion yen, or $632.53 million, at roughly $116,724 per coin. This bumps their total stash to 25,555 Bitcoin.

Scaling Up Bitcoin Reserves

The company’s total Bitcoin buy in cost 398.2 billion yen, around $2.71 billion, with an average price of $106,065 per coin.

Right now, with Bitcoin trading at $114,575 per CoinMarketCap, Metaplanet’s holdings are worth about $2.93 billion. They’re also tracking something called BTC Yield, which hit 10.3% from July to September 2025, showing solid returns.

This big buy follows a smaller one on September 18, when they grabbed 136 Bitcoin. With this, Metaplanet is over 85% toward its 2025 goal of owning 30,000 Bitcoin. To fund these purchases, they’ve been busy raising cash. Since July, they’ve cashed in bonds and sold stock rights.

Earlier this month, they issued 385 million new shares in a global offering, pulling in $1.4 billion. About 183.7 billion yen of that is earmarked for more Bitcoin buys in the next two months, and nearly half is already spent.

Metaplanet started treating Bitcoin as a core part of their business in late 2024. Their stock closed at 597 yen, down 1.65% in Tokyo, per Yahoo Finance. They’re pushing hard, and investors are watching closely as they keep stacking coins.

• Strategy bought 850 more Bitcoin, bringing their total to 639,835 BTC, the biggest corporate stash, worth over $47.3 billion.
• The $99.7 million purchase, at $117,344 per coin, happened between September 15 and 21, 2025, led by Michael Saylor.
• Their holdings, bought for $47.33 billion, are up 52 percent, netting a $28.3 billion profit, per Bitcoin Treasuries data.

Strategy, the business intelligence company run by big Bitcoin follower Michael Saylor, just snapped up another 850 Bitcoin. This bumps their total stash to 639,835 BTC, making them the top corporate holder out there.

Bolstering the World’s Largest Bitcoin Stash

The buy happened between September 15 and 21, 2025. They shelled out $99.7 million for those coins, at an average of $117,344 each. Saylor, who is the Executive Chairman, shared the news on X to keep everyone in the loop.

This latest move keeps Strategy way ahead as the biggest company Bitcoin holder, based on Bitcoin Treasuries data. Their full pile now cost $47.33 billion overall, with an average price of $73,971 per coin. That puts them in the green by 52 percent, or a sweet $28.3 billion profit.

Saylor and the team have been on a steady Bitcoin buying spree, using it as their main treasury asset. It shows their rock solid belief in BTC as a long term store of value, even as prices swing.

With their stash now worth over $47.3 billion at today’s prices, they’re leading the charge for other companies thinking about jumping into crypto reserves. Investors like it, and it keeps the stir going around corporate adoption.

Tom Lee’s crypto firm BitMine has purchased another huge amount of Ethereum, adding close to $84 million worth of ETH over the last 24 hours. The transaction further solidifies it as the largest public holder of Ethereum, with over 2.15 million ETH held in its treasury.

New ETH Acquisitions Amid Market Decline

Blockchain monitoring platform Arkham indicates that BitMine initially purchased 4,428 ETH from Galaxy Digital’s OTC desk before making four additional transfers of a total of 14,302 ETH.

The latest round of purchases follows just days after the company confirmed its enormous Ethereum holdings, which significantly surpass other firms such as SharpLink Gaming.

The timing is significant, as the crypto space has been under stress since its fleeting rally after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut. Ethereum momentarily rose above $4,600, but has since fallen back towards the $4,500 support area.

Analysts caution that selling pressure from whales with high unrealized gains may bear down on price action in the short term.

Despite short-term weakness, some analysts think Ethereum may be ready to retest its all-time highs soon. Crypto commentator Doomer likened BitMine and SharpLink’s accumulation patterns to Michael Saylor’s famous Bitcoin approach, indicating that their ongoing accumulation is an early indication of a bigger move up.

He proposed that Ethereum is still undervalued and expects it to surpass $5,000 in the months to come, likely going up even higher should buying momentum prevail.

Iko, another analyst, pointed out that Ethereum’s present price movement in the 4-hour chart is similar to a Falling Wedge, which tends to produce a breakout.

Should bulls get grip and volume increase, ETH may target the $5,000 level, with the last quarter of 2025 a turning point that might come into play.

• London sees a spike in phone snatchings targeting crypto holders, with thieves stealing phones to drain wallets.
• Young men aged 18 to 34 are prime targets, often hit after nights out in places like Old Street.
• Stolen phones expose passwords and two factor codes, but UK police struggle to track crypto thefts.

London is turning into a tough spot for crypto followers with a wave of phone snatchings letting thieves raid digital wallets. According to a report by The Financial Times, earlier this month, a 42 year old guy named Christian D’Ippolito lost almost £40,000 in crypto after four men grabbed his phone near Old Street roundabout on his way home from a night out. They drained his wallet in hours.

Rising Street Smarts Behind Crypto Heists

This kind of hit is not rare anymore. The London Metropolitan Police report a big jump in street thefts of phones from crypto holders, especially around Old Street and Brixton. Thieves grab the devices to break into wallets and swipe thousands of pounds worth of assets.

Young people aged 18 to 34 make up the main targets, with one in four owning crypto and guys most at risk. Thieves spot young men coming back from evenings out, chat them up casually, then snag the phone. They dodge locks, reset Apple IDs, or use crypto apps to move the cash fast.

Neil Kotak, another victim, lost £10,000 that way. He said the guys seemed friendly, asked for his number, and grabbed the phone when he logged in.

Our heavy use of phones for everything amps up the danger. An open device spills emails, passwords, two factor codes, and even passport pics, handing thieves the keys to your digital life.

Crypto moves can be traced, but most crooks get off scot free. UK cops often lack the skills or manpower to chase stolen coins.

Ex officer Pounder reported 20 thefts to the fraud unit with proof, but none moved forward. With phone grabs up 150 percent last year and £50 million stolen in London alone, young crypto users need to stay sharp on the streets.

• Flora Growth raised $401 million to launch an AI driven treasury strategy with 0G coin.
• The company will rebrand as ZeroStack, using $366 million in digital assets and $35 million in cash to blend DeFi.
• 0G’s decentralized AI system trained a 107 billion parameter model 357 times faster than Google.

Flora Growth Corp, a global pharmaceutical distributor, just secured $401 million in funding to kick off an AI driven treasury plan centered on the Zero Gravity coin, or 0G. The deal includes a $22.88 million investment from DeFi Development Corp, a top Solana focused treasury firm.

Pioneering Decentralized AI Through 0G Integration

In their blog post, Flora plans to rebrand as ZeroStack while keeping the FLGC stock ticker. The move blends DeFi tools with traditional business and uses AI to smarten up treasury operations. They raised $366 million in digital assets and $35 million in cash through a private share sale at $25.19 each.

People contributing 0G tokens as loans, valued at $3 apiece, get pre funded warrants that kick in after shareholder okay.
Incoming CEO Daniel Reis Faria said AI changes not just what firms do but how they build their setups. He called this strategy a way for big investors to get equity in clear, verifiable, cheap, and private AI growth.

Flora highlighted 0G’s feat in training a 107 billion parameter AI model on spread out clusters over slow internet, beating Google’s old DiLoCo research by 357 times. This proves big AI can train without central hubs, handling tough tasks on networks.

0G leads as the first Web3 AI outfit to fully integrate its storage, compute, and training market into one system for decentralized AI work. It bundles everything into an easy operating system for Web2 and Web3 developers.

DeFi Development Corp leads the pack, joined by Dao5, Abstract Ventures, Dispersion Capital, Blockchain Builders Fund, and Salt.

Their CEO Joseph Onorati is pumped to team up and push AI on Solana. The deal should close around September 26 if conditions clear, with funds going to buy more 0G tokens for the ecosystem.

DeFi protocol decentralized perpetual swap protocol Hyperliquid has added Aster’s native token ($ASTER) to its exchange, sparking buzz from traders and the DeFi community. The listing is a sign that decentralized protocols are growing more competitive in their pursuit of market share, liquidity, and validator support.

Aster Trading Now Live on Hyperliquid

In its X release, Hyperliquid stated that clients now have the ability to short or long ASTER by up to 3x leverage, also warning clients about low liquidity and sudden volatility hazards. The listing represents a landmark for Aster, which entered the market relatively recently but has already made waves with its rapid growth.

The Aster token went live on the BNB chain last month and rapidly picked up steam. In the first 24 hours, Aster’s platform recorded $345 million in trading volume, $1 billion worth of TVL, and 330,000 new users. Even (CZ) praised the rollout, making the undertaking all the more legitimate.

Market Responses to the Listing

Having begun its inaugural on Hyperliquid, ASTER had more than $14 million of trading volume** and peaked at $0.63 in writing. Not only does the listing make Aster more visible but also makes Hyperliquid a good contender in bringing in new projects and their supporters.

In the meantime, Hyperliquid’s native token, $HYPE, also reached its all-time high of $59.36, an 8% increase within one day, with market capitalization at $18 billion. The trend indicates that investors are having confidence in the growth of the platform to go on.

• Coinbase’s new USDC lending with Morpho lets users earn up to 10.8% yearly.
• USDC deposits go into vaults for lending, with no lockups and instant withdrawals.
• Paired with Bitcoin-backed loans worth $900 million, this setup blends Coinbase’s app with Morpho’s smart contracts for easy, safe investing.

Coinbase, a top US crypto exchange, just launched a new way for users to earn money on their USDC stablecoin by teaming up with DeFi platform Morpho. This lets customers make returns without leaving the Coinbase app.

New Lending Opportunities for USDC Holders

The exchange shared that USDC deposits go into special vaults managed by Steakhouse Financial using Morpho’s smart contracts.

When you put in USDC, it’s lent out to borrowers, including those using Coinbase’s crypto backed loans. You earn interest from what borrowers pay, with no lockup periods, instant withdrawals, and interest that adds up automatically.

As of September 18, 2025, users can earn up to 10.8% yearly on USDC, with standard rates at 4.1% or 4.5% for Coinbase One members. This is available in the US, except New York, plus Bermuda and other countries.

Coinbase also tied this to its Bitcoin-backed loan service, started earlier this year, which has already given out $900 million. Users can borrow up to $100,000 in USDC using their bitcoin as collateral, with flexible repayments and changing interest rates.

There’s no need to sell bitcoin, but loans can be closed if the collateral’s value drops.

They call this setup the DeFi mullet, blending Coinbase’s easy app with Morpho’s open smart contracts. It’s a clean system where folks can lend and borrow in one spot, growing their money easily while keeping things safe and flexible.

• Singapore High Court set new deadlines for WazirX case.
• Many WazirX users still can’t access funds over a year after the ₹2,000 crore hack, with no clear recovery timeline.
• WazirX’s token WRX is trading at $0.05084, down 3.47% in a day, with a $19.41 million market cap.

It’s been over a year since the massive ₹2,000 crore hack hit WazirX, and many users are still stuck without their funds after 14 months.

The Singapore High Court just laid out new steps in the legal fight between Zettai Pte Ltd and some opposing creditors, showing how drawn out this recovery is turning out to be.

Navigating the Legal Hurdles in WazirX Recovery

During a hearing on September 3 for case HC/SUM 940/2025, the court told the Relevant Non Parties, those opposing creditors, to submit a proper affidavit from an Indian law expert. Their first one didn’t meet the rules, so now they have to replace it.

The deadlines are tight: the group must file by today, September 19, at 9:30 AM IST. If they do, Zettai files its reply by September 22 at 11:30 AM IST. Then both sides send in final written submissions by September 26 at 11:30 AM IST. No next hearing date yet, and this only involves Zettai and those creditors, not other WazirX users.

WazirX posted this on their X account around 4:18 PM IST yesterday, but the deadline was already past, and lots of users say they got no email alert. It’s unclear if everyday folks needed to know or just the main players.

Users are on pins and needles over this. With thousands locked out of their money, the new dates offer a bit of movement, but no clear timeline for getting cash back.

Meanwhile, WazirX’s token WRX sits at $0.05084, down 3.47% in the last day, with a $19.41 million market cap and $32.58K in trading volume, per CoinMarketCap data. Everyone’s hoping for quicker resolution soon.

Aster, previously referred to as APX, witnessed its token price soar on September 18, rising by over 360% in one day. The surge followed after the project started its airdrop program and from CZ.

What’s Driving Aster Price Surge

The token’s steep price action came after the token’s airdrop began, and it will run until October 17. Approximately 704 million tokens representing approximately 8.8% of the total supply are being sent to eligible users. These include members of Aster’s Spectra Stage 0 and 1 programs, owners of Aster Gems, and traders of Aster Pro.

Adding fuel to the charge, CZ publicly congratulated the Aster team, further increasing visibility to the project. That validation, combined with the token distribution, driven the price surge.

Fundamentals Behind the Rally

Beyond the frenzy, Aster’s fundamentals have been improving. Based on statistics provided by DeFi Llama. Its perpetual futures platform has seen more than $12 billion worth of trading volume this month, an increase from $9.78 billion in August and $8.5 billion last July.

Revenue has increased steeply as well. Fees earned this quarter total $8.82 million, up from only $1.8 million during the same time last year. In Q3 2024, Aster had only generated $11,660 in revenue, but today that number is up to $5.4 million.

The total value locked (TVL) in the protocol has hit a record high of $1.85 billion, an astronomical increase from $141 million in January.

What’s Next for Aster

Analysts believe that the rally may prevail since Aster is now becoming available on additional exchanges, yet it is mainly traded on its own platform. Yet with recipients of the airdrop likely to take profits in place, there will be some pressure selling.

Like other recently listed coins like WLFI, Spark, and Avantis, a good starting run will be followed by a temporary pullback before the market establishes balance.

Australia’s corporate watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Which rolled out temporary exemptions from financial licensing rules for companies reselling stablecoins. The goal is to cut red tape in the digital asset world while bigger changes get sorted out.

Easing Barriers for Stablecoin Growth

ASIC announced the updates on Wednesday with its Corporations (Stablecoin Distribution Exemption) Instrument 2025/631. Companies that distribute stablecoins from holders of an Australian financial services license can now skip getting their own license for services, markets, or clearing facilities.

ASIC wants to back smart innovation in digital assets but keep strong protections for consumers by sticking to licensed issuers. These exemptions act as a short term patch until full rules for payment stablecoins roll out. They run until June 1, 2028.

The rules focus on stablecoins seen as financial products under the Corporations Act, issued by approved licensees. Right now, they only cover the AUDM stablecoin from Catena Digital, Australia’s first licensed issuer. ASIC says it might expand to more as others get approved.

Allowed tasks include giving basic advice, acting as market makers, trading stablecoins without creating them, and holding them for clients.

The crypto industry in Australia has been vocal about the high costs of meeting regulatory demands, especially after feedback from a December 2024 consultation paper. Regular crypto users in Australia are annoyed because banks keep strict caps on deposits to exchanges.

Even though anti money laundering laws came in back in 2018 and Bitcoin and Ether trading got the green light in 2024.

A Binance survey of 1,900 people showed 58 percent want easier ways to move their money, and 22 percent even switched banks to get better access to crypto platforms.

On September 2, 2025, Australia’s massive $2.8 trillion pension system threw open its doors to crypto investments. By giving people a new way to put retirement savings into digital currencies. Places like Coinbase and OKX are opening the door for folks to put their retirement cash into crypto, giving investors some exciting new options.

• Ethereum whales with big profits are selling, which could push prices down based on past trends.
• Spot Ethereum ETFs saw outflows, and Citigroup predicts a year-end price of $4,300, with a possible drop to $2,200.
• Analysts warn ETH may fall to $4,000 or $4,570 if it can’t break past the $4,700 resistance.

Ethereum faces some rough times ahead as big holders keep selling when the price goes up. Even with the Federal Reserve starting rate cuts again, whale sales, a gloomy view from Citigroup, and money leaving spot Ethereum ETFs point to big challenges in reaching $5,000.

Ethereum’s Downside Pressures

On September 18, CryptoQuant reported that unrealized profits for whales with 10,000 to 100,000 ETH hit levels seen at the 2021 market top.

This often leads to profit taking and more selling. Long term holders have been reducing their stacks for months now, which could add pressure without causing a sudden drop, but it is worth watching based on past patterns.

Spot Ethereum ETFs saw $1.89 million in net outflows on Wednesday, even after the 25 basis point Fed cut. Fidelity’s fund lost $29.19 million, and Bitwise’s shed $9.7 million, according to Farside Investors. A whale just sent all 5,000 ETH, worth $22.84 million, to Binance, pocketing $5.08 million in gains, as noted by Onchain Lens.

Citigroup stays bearish, forecasting ETH at $4,300 by year end, with a worst case of $2,200 due to macro factors that only mildly helped the recent push past $4,500. Analyst Ted Pillows says ETH is stuck below $4,700 and might correct to $4,000 if it fails to break out.

Ali Martinez spots a sell signal from the TD Sequential indicator, eyeing a dip back to $4,570.ETH climbed 2% in the last day, trading around $4,600, with a low of $4,429 and high of $4,643. Volume increased 28%.

Donald Trump sued The New York Times, four of its journalists, and book publisher Penguin Random House for $15 billion in damages in a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed Monday in a federal court in Florida, alleges their stories intentionally damaged his reputation and one of his major businesses, the $TRUMP cryptocurrency token.

In the complaint, Trump charges a sustained attempt by the Times and its reporters to take him down through what he describes as malicious and false reporting. The case identifies a book titled Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, written by Times reporters Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner.

And published by Penguin Random House. Trump’s attorneys contend that the book, as well as accompanying articles questioning his business history and connections between the $TRUMP token and Chinese crypto mogul Justin Sun. Which is unfairly injured both his reputation and his cryptocurrency venture.

It responded by rejecting the allegations, referring to the suit as meritless. “This lawsuit has no merit. It has no legitimate legal claims and is instead an effort to discourage and stifle independent reporting,” the paper stated. By promising to keep fighting for press freedom.

The legal action comes as the $TRUMP token suffers significant losses. Figures from CoinMarketCap indicate the coin has plunged almost 88% from its all-time high of around $75 to around $8.50. This is giving it a market capitalization of $1.7 billion. Trump maintains that negative news coverage directly contributed to the losses.

It is a decline notwithstanding, Trump’s individual fortune has increased due to other crypto-related businesses and investments. Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.. They have diversified their engagement in blockchain ventures, highlighting the family’s continued thrust into digital assets.

• Jenny Johnson predicts a 25 basis point Fed rate cut, citing strong wage growth and retail sales despite sticky 3% inflation.
• Scott Melker expects a cautious 25 basis point cut, with Powell’s speech focusing on data driven decisions.
• Bitcoin and Ethereum are steady, but a hint of more cuts by year-end could spark a market rally.

The Federal Reserve announced its interest rate decision. On CNBC, Jenny Johnson, the CEO of Franklin Templeton, shared her take, betting on a small 25 basis point rate cut rather than a bigger 50 basis point one.

She mentioned recent job numbers that show a softening labor market, but she thinks those figures are old news. Instead, she pointed to strong wage growth and growing retail sales, which show people are still spending despite inflation hanging around 3%.

What’s Driving the Fed’s Next Move

Johnson feels a 25 basis point cut is the smart play for Fed Chair Jerome Powell. She noted there’s room to cut rates more in October or December if the economy calls for it. The economy looks solid, she said, but Powell’s comments at Jackson Hole about a weaker job market mean no rate cut isn’t an option.

Market expert Scott Melker agrees, expecting a cautious 25 basis point cut, with Powell likely to stress that future moves depend on data without promising more cuts soon. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is pushing for a larger cut.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies are holding steady as investors wait for Powell’s speech. Analyst Kevin Capital says the market already expects the cut, but if Powell hints at more cuts by year-end, we could see a rally. Everyone’s watching to see what Powell says next.

• Changpeng Zhao might return to Binance after changing his X profile from “ex-@binance” to “@binance.”
• Binance is nearing a deal to end U.S. DOJ oversight from a 2023 $4.3 billion settlement.
• BNB hit a new high of $960, up 5%, with trading volume and futures interest rising.

Speculation is swirling that Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, the founder of Binance. This might be gearing up for a return to the exchange nearly two years after he stepped down in November 2023.

The talk started after CZ updated his X profile, changing “ex-@binance” to just “@binance.”The change comes as Binance is close to wrapping up its legal troubles with the U.S. Department of Justice, potentially lifting restrictions on CZ. Meanwhile, BNB, Binance’s token, jumped 5% to a new all time high around $960.

BNB Hits New High on Word in the Market

The timing couldn’t be better for the rumors. Binance is reportedly negotiating to end a three year compliance oversight from its 2023 settlement, where CZ pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering violations and paid a $50 million fine.

That deal banned him from running the exchange, with Richard Teng taking over as CEO. But with the lawsuit settled in May 2025, folks are talking about CZ possibly coming back in some role.

BNB’s rally pushed it past $960, with daily trading volume up 37.3% to $3.31 billion and futures open interest climbing 10.5% to $1.83 billion, showing traders are betting big. Analysts think a break above $1,000 could be next if the momentum holds.

Crypto journalist Wu Blockchain first spotted the profile change, and it’s got the community chatting about what it means for Binance’s future growth. nothing from CZ or Binance so far, but traders think something is happening.

• Ripple and BBVA partnered to offer secure Bitcoin and Ethereum storage for Spanish customers.
• BBVA uses Ripple’s tech to meet EU’s MiCA rules, ensuring safe and legal crypto services.
• This deal builds on past Ripple-BBVA collaborations in Switzerland and Turkey.

Ripple, a company that’s big in crypto tech, just teamed up with BBVA. One of Spain’s biggest banks, to help traders store and trade Bitcoin and Ethereum.

They announced this deal today, September 9, 2025. And it lets BBVA use Ripple’s tools to offer these services to its regular customers in Spain. It’s part of a bigger shift where European banks are getting into crypto, thanks to new EU rules called MiCA that make it easier to do so.

Banks Stepping into Crypto

With Ripple’s help, BBVA’s customers in Spain can now hold and trade Bitcoin and Ethereum without worrying about safety or breaking any rules. This isn’t the first time Ripple and BBVA have worked together, they’ve done deals like this in Switzerland and Turkey before.

Last year, BBVA’s Turkish branch, called Garanti BBVA Digital Assets, rolled out a crypto wallet and trading option on its mobile app. By using Ripple and IBM to keep everything secure and running well. The EU’s new MiCA rules are opening the door for more banks to offer crypto, and BBVA’s jumping in.

Cassie Craddock, who heads Ripple’s Europe team, said this partnership lets BBVA give its customers crypto options that are safe and legal. Ripple has been in the game for over 10 years and has more than 60 licenses worldwide. So they know how to guide banks like BBVA into crypto.

Regular banks are getting into crypto on their own. Leaning on solid tech like Ripple’s to make digital cash feel just like everyday banking.

• Tom Lee predicts Bitcoin could reach $200k by the end of 2025, driven by a Fed rate cut.
• Lower interest rates, expected next week, often boost crypto prices by increasing market money flow.
• Other experts like Matt Hougan and Robert Kiyosaki also see Bitcoin hitting $180,000-$200,000 this year.

Financial analyst Tom Lee told CNBC that Bitcoin could hit $200,000 by the end of 2025, pointing to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s expected interest rate cut as a big driver.

With the Fed’s next meeting on September 17, 2025, Lee said looser money policies tend to enhance cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As of September 9, 2025, Bitcoin’s trading at $112,776, according to CoinGecko.

Rate Cuts and Bitcoin’s Rise

Lee’s bold call comes as President Donald Trump pushes the Fed to lower rates, which are currently between 4.25% and 4.50%. Analysts at Standard Chartered expect a half-point cut next week. Lower rates often help assets like stocks and crypto by putting more money into the market.

Lee’s banking on this trend, though he’s been off before, in 2018, he predicted Bitcoin would reach $125,000 by 2022, but it only hit $48,222 before crashing to $16,300 after a 2021 peak of $69,044. Still, Bitcoin’s been strong this year, overtaking Alphabet’s market cap in June at $2.128 trillion, making it the sixth most valuable asset globally. Other experts agree with Lee’s optimism.

Bitwise’s Matt Hougan also predicted a $200,000 Bitcoin by year end back in May, citing big institutional buying and ETF investments. Robert Kiyosaki, the Rich Dad Poor Dad author, said in April that Bitcoin could land between $180,000 and $200,000, thanks to growing interest from big investors and economic shifts.

While Lee’s track record isn’t perfect, the expected rate cut and strong market trends have many thinking Bitcoin’s got room to climb.

• Fidelity rolled out its FDIT token on Ethereum, giving people an easy way to invest in U.S. Treasuries on the blockchain.
• It already has over $200 million in assets, with low fees and backing from regulators.
• The market for tokenized Treasuries is growing fast, now around $7 billion.

Fidelity, a major asset manager, quietly rolled out its Fidelity Digital Interest Token, or FDIT, on the Ethereum blockchain last month. This tokenized version of its Treasury Digital Fund has already pulled in over $200 million in assets.

The token lets users hold shares in a fund made up of U.S. Treasury securities and cash. By giving them easy access to a stable, yield bearing investment on the blockchain.

A Growing Market for FDIT token

The FDIT represents one share of Fidelity’s Treasury Digital Fund, known as FYOXX, which launched in August with Bank of New York Mellon as custodian. According to data from rwa.xyz. Fidelity charges a 0.20% annual management fee, which is competitive in the tokenized Treasury market.

The fund has just two holders right now, one with about $1 million in tokens and the other with the rest. This launch came after Fidelity got the go ahead from the SEC to add a blockchain share class to its existing fund.

Experts think tokenized securities like this could be worth more than $2 trillion by 2030, thanks to better efficiency and 24/7 trading. The market for tokenized Treasuries has grown to about $7 billion. With BlackRock’s BUIDL fund leading the way at more than $2 billion in assets.

Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree also offer similar products, giving investors a way to tap into Treasuries without going through traditional middlemen.

Fidelity’s entry shows how major firms are leaning on blockchain. To make investing simpler for crypto users who want regulated options with returns, rather than just holding stablecoins.

• The Trump family’s fortune climbed by $1.3 billion this week after the launch of WLFI and ABTC.
• ABTC, co-founded by Eric Trump, opened strong at $14 before slipping to around $7, while WLFI jumped early but later dropped over 40%.
• Despite the swings, their wealth now tops $7.7 billion, though some critics say the projects create a conflict of interest.

The Trump family’s wealth jumped by $1.3 billion this week after two crypto projects they back started trading.

According to Bloomberg, World Liberty Financial added $670 million to their net worth, while Eric Trump’s stake in American Bitcoin Corp. reached over $500 million at its peak. The launches of WLFI on September 1 and ABTC on September 3, 2025, highlight the family’s deeper move into crypto.

Volatility Hits Both Projects

ABTC, co-founded by Eric Trump, went public through a merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, but both tokens have already seen big price swings. On its first day, shares climbed to $14 but then fell more than 50% to $6.24, with trading halted five times due to wild swings.

It closed around $7.36. WLFI, a DeFi platform tied to the Trumps, unlocked 24.6 billion tokens for trading on September 1st. The price spiked at first but dropped over 40% shortly after. The family holds about $4 billion in locked WLFI tokens, which aren’t counted in the current estimate.

Excluding those, their total net worth is over $7.7 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The family’s crypto push has helped make the industry seem more legit in the US after years of tough rules under the last administration. But Democratic lawmakers are raising flags, saying it looks like a conflict of interest for the First Family.

These launches highlight the ups and downs of crypto, where quick gains can turn into losses fast, but they’ve still boosted the Trumps’ fortune big time.

• John Williams is open to a Fed rate cut in September.
• He sees the job market as strong with a 4.2% unemployment rate.
• An 88.2% chance of a 25 basis point cut is expected.

John Williams, the head of the New York Federal Reserve, just said he’s okay with cutting interest rates at the Fed’s September meeting.

He was on CNBC talking about how, if inflation keeps dropping and the economy stays on track, lowering rates could work. This comes right after Fed Chair Jerome Powell dropped a hint at last week’s Jackson Hole conference that a rate cut might be coming soon.

Watching the Economy Closely

Williams mentioned that the current rates are a bit tight, so there’s space to cut them and still keep things under control. He said they’ll look at the latest numbers on inflation and jobs to figure out what’s best.

Some people think the job market’s getting shaky, but Williams isn’t convinced, pointing out the unemployment rate’s still at a solid 4.2%. He doesn’t think it’s right to panic just because last month’s job report was weaker than expected. 

As one of the voters on the Federal Open Market Committee. Williams could have a big say at the September 16-17 meeting. Powell talked about growing job risks, but Williams seems less worried. According to CME FedWatch, there’s an 88.2% chance of a 25 basis point cut next month. 

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s pushing hard for a cut and even tried to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Who’s fighting it, saying he’s got no legal basis. Trump’s also trying to fast track Stephen Miran to replace Adriana Kugler on the Fed Board before the meeting. It’s a tense time as everyone waits to see what the Fed will do next.

• Metaplanet plans to raise $881 million through a stock sale to buy more Bitcoin.
• The company aims to protect against Japan’s weak yen and grow Bitcoin income using derivatives.
• Metaplanet holds 18,991 BTC and wants to rank higher among corporate Bitcoin holders.

Japanese company Metaplanet is looking to raise about $881 million by issuing new shares. The firm plans to use the money to buy more Bitcoin and strengthen its financial position.

The news emerged on August 27, 2025, as the company seeks to increase its Bitcoin holdings and establish a new means of generating income utilizing the cryptocurrency. This is in line with their plan to shield themselves against Japan’s economic woes, such as a weakening yen and increased national debt.

Designing a Bitcoin Income Model

Metaplanet will raise new shares in an international placement, to be completed after a shareholder meeting on Sept. 1, 2025. They plan to change their company rules to allow more shares, but if that fails, they’ll still go ahead with the sale using existing shares. The goal is to quickly raise money to buy more Bitcoin, which they see as a shield against Japan’s falling yen value.

Right now, Metaplanet holds 18,991 BTC, worth about $1.95 billion, bought at an average price of $102,712 per coin. They’re also working on earning income from Bitcoin by selling put options, a type of financial trade.

Which brought in $12.7 million in Q2 2025. They’ll use $44 million from the new funds to grow this side of the business. Other companies, like Michael Saylor’s Strategy, are also buying Bitcoin weekly, reporting a 25.4% yield this year.

Eric Trump recently predicted Bitcoin could hit $175,000 by the end of 2025. Metaplanet’s big plan aims to make it one of the top corporate Bitcoin holders, passing companies like Bullish and Riot Platforms.

• Trump tried to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, accusing her of lying on mortgage applications, but Cook refused to step down, saying he has no legal authority.
• Experts warn this fight could threaten the Fed’s independence, shake investor trust, weaken the dollar, and even risk a recession.
• Trump’s history of clashes with the Fed and new political pressure has raised fresh concerns about interference in US monetary policy.

On August 25, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve Governor and the first Black woman on the board, saying she lied on mortgage applications.

Cook fired back, saying she’s not leaving because Trump doesn’t have the legal power to kick her out. This has people worried about the Federal Reserve staying independent and what it means for the US dollar’s strength.

A Threat to Fed Independence

Trump posted a letter on Truth Social, saying Cook’s alleged false statements on mortgage agreements justified her immediate removal. Cook, appointed by Joe Biden in 2022 with a term until 2038, responded that Trump’s “for cause” firing lacks legal ground and vowed to stay put.

Alex Obchakevich from Obchakevich Research said the Fed’s independence is important for a stable economy, as it keeps monetary policy separate from politics. He warned that Trump’s action, likely driven by political motives, could shake markets, weaken the dollar, and even risk a recession.

Trump has clashed with the Fed before, criticizing Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates fast enough and threatening to fire him. In April, Trump called for Powell’s ouster, but crypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano and Senator Elizabeth Warren warned that such moves could hurt trust in US markets.

Obchakevich noted Bitcoin might challenge the dollar’s role long term but isn’t a quick fix. The firing, following unproven claims by Trump appointee William Pulte about Cook’s mortgages, has raised fears of political interference in the Fed, which could unsettle investors and markets.

• Gemini climbed to 11th place in the US App Store after launching its XRP Mastercard.
• The card gives up to 4% cashback in XRP, no annual fee, and a $200 bonus for new users.
• Gemini is also pushing XRP use with RLUSD stablecoin trading.

Gemini, a crypto exchange, just shot past Coinbase and Robinhood in the US Apple App Store rankings, landing at number 11 for finance apps. This happened right after they rolled out their XRP Mastercard on August 25, 2025. Teaming up with Ripple and WebBank. The card’s got people excited with its up to 4% cashback in XRP, and it’s giving a nice push to the whole Ripple scene.

Ripple’s Getting a Lift

According to Sensor Tower, Gemini is now at 11th, while Coinbase is at 25th and Robinhood is at 18th. Even though Coinbase handles far more trading volume, with $4.54 billion compared to Gemini’s $382.49 million.

The new XRP Mastercard has no yearly fee and dishes out 4% XRP back on stuff like. Gas, EV charging, and rideshares, 3% on dining, 2% on groceries, and 1% on everything else. Spend $3,000 in the first 90 days, and you get a $200 XRP bonus.

Gemini says people who held onto XRP rewards from their old program made over 450% gains between October 2021 and July 2025. Ripple’s big boss, Brad Garlinghouse, called this a huge win for XRP users. And their tech guy, David Schwartz, made a funny post about rocking the “XRP lifestyle.” The card’s part of Gemini’s plan to go public, with Ripple tossing in a $75 million credit line that could double.

Gemini’s also letting traders use Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin for US spot trading, which saves on fees. Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson mentioned maybe adding XRP to their Lace Wallet, and with the Ripple-SEC lawsuit done, XRP’s looking like it’s ready for more everyday use.

• The wallet linked to the $330 million Coinbase hack bought $8 million worth of Solana after moving stolen funds through stablecoins.
• The Radiant Capital hacker turned $58 million stolen in 2024 into over $105 million by actively trading Ethereum, doubling their haul.
• Another hacker lost $6.9 million on bad trades but later made $9.75 million, showing mixed results among hackers trading stolen crypto.

A wallet labeled the “Coinbase hacker” by blockchain analysts bought $8 million worth of Solana on Sunday, using money tied to a theft of over $300 million from Coinbase users, according to Lookonchain.

Meanwhile, another hacker from the Radiant Capital exploit has been trading Ethereum, turning their stolen funds into a bigger pile, showing how some criminals are playing the crypto market with their loot.

Hackers Trading Stolen Funds

Lookonchain reports the Coinbase hacker swapped DAI for USDC, moved it to the Solana network, and bought 38,126 Solana coins at about $209 each. With Solana now at $202.15, they’re sitting on a small paper loss.

Arkham flagged this wallet as the “Coinbase hacker,” and Lookonchain links it to a $330 million scam, as noted by analyst ZachXBT in May.

Back in July, this hacker sold 26,762 Ether for $69.25 million and bought 4,863 Ether for $12.55 million and 649 Ether for $2.3 million.

The Radiant Capital hacker, who stole $58 million in October 2024 from the DeFi platform on BNB Chain and Arbitrum, swapped their haul into 21,957 Ether, now worth about $103 million as of August 14. Last week, they bought 4,913 Ether and sold 4,131 Ether, making a $2.7 million profit, growing their stash from $49.5 million to over $105 million, a 114% jump.

Another unknown hacker wasn’t so lucky, losing $6.9 million by selling 12,282 Ether and buying back at a higher price in July, though they later made $9.75 million selling 4,958 Ether on August 15. These moves show hackers are actively trading, with mixed results.

• HYPE rose nearly 4% to $45.64 after Arthur Hayes predicted it could grow 126 times in three years.
• Hyperliquid’s open interest hit a record $15 billion with trading volume peaking at $1.56 billion.
• The exchange now controls over 75% of the decentralized perpetuals market, rivaling Binance on some pairs.

Hyperliquid’s HYPE token jumped nearly 4% in a day, hitting $45.64. After BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes predicted it could soar 126 times in value over the next three years.

Speaking at the WebX 2025 conference in Tokyo on Monday. Hayes said a growing stablecoin market could push Hyperliquid’s yearly fees from $1.2 billion to $258 billion. The token, which powers the decentralized exchange for perpetual futures, was one of the few coins to gain while others dipped.

All-Time High Activity

Hyperliquid, a platform for trading derivative contracts without expiration dates, saw its open positions hit a record 198,397 on Monday, according to Hypertracker.

The value of unsettled contracts, called open interest, climbed past $15 billion, and total wallet equity reached $31 billion. Over the weekend, trading volume on the exchange hit an all-time high of $1.56 billion, per DefiLlama.

With monthly transaction fees nearing July’s peak of $93 million. The total value locked in the exchange is $685 million, close to its February high.

A Redstone report noted that Hyperliquid has grabbed over 75% of the decentralized perpetuals market in less than two years, overtaking dYdX. It now handles up to $30 billion daily, nearly matching Binance’s volume on some trading pairs.

HYPE’s all-time high was just under $50 on July 14, and it’s now only 7% below that. Hayes’ bold prediction and the platform’s strong numbers are driving interest in HYPE as a top player in decentralized finance.

• Metaplanet bought 103 BTC for $11.6 million, raising its total holdings to 18,991 BTC worth about $1.95 billion.
• The company is now the seventh largest public Bitcoin holder, with returns of nearly 480%, far above stock market gains.
• Analysts think Metaplanet may be buying Bitcoin regularly, while Eric Trump predicted Bitcoin could hit $175,000 by year end.

Japanese company Metaplanet just bought 103 Bitcoin for $11.6 million, enhancing its total holdings to 18,991 BTC. The purchase came after Michael Saylor, head of Strategy, posted on X that “Bitcoin is on sale,” hinting at more buys. Metaplanet’s stock jumped over 4% to 878 yen after the news, while Bitcoin’s price stayed steady around $112,000.

Big Bitcoin Bet Pays Off

Metaplanet’s latest buy, at an average price of $113,491 per Bitcoin, brings its total stash to about $1.95 billion, with an average cost of $102,712 per coin. This follows Strategy’s recent moves, including a 430 BTC purchase worth $51.4 million, pushing their holdings to 629,376 BTC, nearly 3% of all Bitcoin out there.

Metaplanet now ranks as the seventh largest public Bitcoin holder, just behind Riot Platforms and Peter Thiel’s Bullish, according to Bitcoin Treasuries data. The company’s Bitcoin investments have earned a 479.5% return, beating the stock market.

Metaplanet’s shares rose more than 4% to 878 yen, showing investor confidence in the company’s Bitcoin strategy. Bitcoin, on the other hand, stayed mostly flat, trading near $112,000 after briefly dropping to $110,000 over the weekend.

In Japan, where the yen is weakening, Metaplanet sees Bitcoin as a shield against economic uncertainty. Metaplanet’s Bitcoin strategy has paid off strongly, bringing in a 95.6% gain in Q1 2025, 29.1% from July to late August, and 129.4% in Q2.

Some analysts believe the company may be adding Bitcoin on a weekly basis, taking a page from Michael Saylor’s playbook. Adding to the spotlight on corporate Bitcoin buys, Eric Trump called himself a “Bitcoin Maxi” and predicted the price could reach $175,000 by the end of the year.

• David Bailey says a Bitcoin bear market is still far off as big institutions, funds, and pensions are now buying in.
• Institutional Bitcoin holdings have already crossed $100 billion, though some analysts warn treasury firms may not last and markets could still fall with stocks.
• Analysts see Bitcoin rising for now, with risks like economic shocks, rate hikes, trading challenges, or new rules possibly leading to a mild downturn around 2026.

David Bailey, a Bitcoin adviser to President Donald Trump, says a Bitcoin bear market is years away because big institutions like banks and corporations are jumping into crypto.

He believes Bitcoin has barely tapped its potential, with only a tiny fraction of its possible market reached. But some analysts aren’t so sure, pointing to risks that could push prices down sooner.

Potential Challenges

Bailey, who runs Bitcoin Magazine and BTC Inc., posted on X that this is the first time big players like sovereign funds and pensions are seriously buying Bitcoin, unlike smaller bets in the past.Institutional holdings, mostly Bitcoin, have already topped $100 billion through things like ETFs and crypto treasuries.

A June report from Breed, a venture capital firm, warned that many of these treasury companies might not last, which could lead to a bear market. CK Zheng from ZX Squared Capital told that crypto often follows the stock market, and if stocks tank, so could crypto. He thinks a bear market is unlikely soon, especially after Jerome Powell’s recent speech hinting at a September rate cut.

Pav Hundal from Swyftx thinks Bitcoin’s on an upward path but says a sudden economic jolt or higher interest rates down the road could knock it down a bit.

Ryan McMillin from Merkle Tree Capital figures the market might hit a high around mid 2026, with a chance of a small bear market if global cash flow gets tight. He points out that too many trading challenges or new regulations could stir up trouble, but steady growth with occasional dips might keep a big crash at bay, like what happened with gold after its ETF boom in the early 2000s.

• Bitcoin fall about 2.2% in minutes, erasing $45 billion in value after a whale sold large amounts to buy Ethereum.
• The whale sold 18,142 BTC for $2 billion, swapped much of it for 416,598 ETH, and staked over $1.3 billion worth of ETH for long-term plans.
• Analysts note whales still hold huge BTC reserves, while more big players are shifting to Ethereum, which has surged 220% since April.

Bitcoin took a hit on Sunday, dropping nearly 2.2% in just nine minutes, from $114,666 to $112,174, wiping out $45 billion in market value. Crypto people on X are pointing fingers at a big Bitcoin holder, or whale, who sold off a huge chunk of Bitcoin to buy Ethereum, causing a market ripple.

Analyst Willy Woo says old school Bitcoin whales, who bought cheap years ago, are making it tough for prices to climb without tons of new money coming in.

Whale’s Big Sell Off

According to Blockchain.com, this whale moved 24,000 BTC, worth $2.7 billion, to Hyperliquid over nine days starting August 16, selling 18,142 BTC for about $2 billion and swapping most of it for 416,598 ETH.

Crypto analyst MLM says the whale also holds 135,263 ETH in long positions, worth over $2.6 billion, earning $185 million in profits by outsmarting other traders. They staked 275,500 ETH, about $1.3 billion, hinting at a long term plan.

The whale’s selling triggered a wave of sell orders, especially after traders caught on to their strategy, leading to the flash crash. Ethereum also dropped 4% from $4,937 to $4,738 during the same time, though both coins later regained some ground.

• SBI Group partnered with Chainlink to build crypto tools for banks, starting in Japan and later across Asia Pacific.
• The deal focuses on tokenized assets, cross border payments, and stablecoin reserve verification using Chainlink’s tech.
• This comes as SBI expands in crypto with Circle, Ripple, and Startale, while Japan prepares to approve a yen based stablecoin.

Japan’s big financial player, SBI Group, is teaming up with Chainlink to bring new crypto tools to banks, starting in Japan and spreading to other parts of Asia Pacific.

The partnership will start in Japan and later expand across the Asia Pacific region. Announced on Sunday, the partnership will focus on creating tools for tokenized assets and stablecoin verification, aiming to make blockchain more useful for banks and businesses.

New Tools for Finance

SBI and Chainlink plan to develop tools for things like onchain bonds and cross border payments using Chainlink’s technology. They’ll also use Chainlink’s data tools to provide real time asset value data for tokenized funds and verify stablecoin reserves on the blockchain.

Chainlink’s co-founder, Sergey Nazarov, said they’ve been working with SBI for a while on stablecoin settlements and advanced fund tokenization, and now they’re ready to roll these out on a bigger scale. 

SBI’s chair, Yoshitaka Kitao, added that the partnership will help push stablecoin based transactions that meet regulations, enhancing digital asset use in Japan and beyond.

This is SBI’s fourth crypto deal in days, following partnerships with Circle for USDC, Ripple for Ripple USD, and Startale for a 24/7 tokenized stock trading platform.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency is also set to approve a yen based stablecoin next month, led by JPYC, which could tie into SBI’s plans.

SBI VC Trade, the group’s crypto arm, is preparing to launch Ripple’s stablecoin by March 2026 and promote USDC in Japan, underscoring its deeper move into the crypto market.

• LayerZero secured a $110 million deal to buy Stargate, with 95% community approval after revising its offer.
• Rival bids came from Wormhole, Axelar, and Across, but Stargate moved forward with LayerZero’s proposal.
• The updated deal gives stakers half of Stargate’s revenue for six months and swaps all STG tokens for ZRO.

LayerZero Stargate, a blockchain messaging protocol, has won a $110 million deal to buy Stargate, a cross chain platform it created in 2022.

The Stargate community voted on Sunday, with 95% approving the deal after LayerZero tweaked its offer following complaints it wasn’t fair. Three other companies, Wormhole, Axelar, and Across, also showed interest, turning it into a last minute bidding war.

Community Strength and Rival Offers

Over 15,000 wallet addresses voted, with 94.76% (7.2 million STG tokens) backing LayerZero’s offer, while 5.24% (399,400 tokens) voted no, making it Stargate’s biggest vote ever, according to LayerZero’s CEO Bryan Pellegrino.

Wormhole tried to outbid with a $120 million cash offer, promising stakers three times the projected revenue for six months, but their request to pause the vote was denied.

Axelar and Across also wanted to bid but needed more time for a fair process, which Stargate’s lead, Angus Lamps, said wasn’t possible. The original deal upset some STG holders because it focused on buying back LayerZero’s ZRO token without clear benefits for them.

LayerZero changed it to share half of Stargate’s revenue with stakers for six months, with the other half for ZRO buybacks.

All STG tokens will now swap for ZRO at a rate of 1 STG to 0.08634 ZRO. Stargate’s tech, which uses liquidity pools for safer cross chain transfers compared to hack prone bridges, will return to LayerZero’s control, strengthening its role in blockchain interoperability.

• XRP hits 99th largest asset by market cap at over $180 billion, passing $3 price mark.
• Fed’s rate cut hint and Ripple-SEC lawsuit dismissal fuel XRP’s recent price surge.
• Analysts see XRP climbing to $3.21, driven by ETFs, partnerships, and ledger upgrades.

XRP just made it into the top 100 assets in the world, landing at number 99 with a market cap of a little over $180 billion. It’s a big deal since the coin broke past the $3 mark, which has people excited. There are some solid reasons to think XRP’s got more room to climb, and people are watching closely.

What’s Driving XRP’s Climb

According to Companies MarketCap, XRP, now trading just above $3, sits right above CATL but below Pinduoduo and Deutsche Telekom. It’s one of only three cryptos, along with Bitcoin and Ethereum, in the top 100.

The price popped after Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech, where he hinted at a possible rate cut in September. Plus, a U.S. Appeals Court just okayed dropping the Ripple SEC lawsuit, which had been a big weight on XRP. Analyst CasiTrades thinks it could hit $3.21 soon, a level to watch, but says it’ll likely keep going up after a quick pause, maybe dipping to test $3.168.

Crypto commenter Altcoin Gordon’s hyped, saying XRP’s ready to bust through an eight year slump against Bitcoin. He points to upcoming XRP ETFs, Ripple’s partnerships, the lawsuit wrapping up, and upgrades to the XRP Ledger as big drivers.

Lawyer Bill Morgan chimes in, saying XRP’s been a top three coin before and only got knocked down by the lawsuit. He’s seeing more big players using it, new ways to earn yields, and XRP getting a bigger role in traditional finance. All this makes it look like XRP could keep rising, both in price and where it ranks among the world’s assets.

• Social media mentions of the Fed and rate cuts hit an 11 month high after Powell’s Jackson Hole comments.
• Santiment warns the hype could signal a short term peak despite 75% of traders expecting a September cut.
• Analysts are split, with some predicting huge gains for altcoins while others caution about recession risks.

Social media mentions of the Federal Reserve’s possible interest rate cut in September 2025. With mentions hitting an 11 month high, according to Santiment. The discussion picked up after Friday’s crypto rally, which came on the heels of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments at the Jackson Hole symposium, where he hinted that a rate cut could be on the way.

A Warning Sign for Crypto

Santiment’s Saturday report highlighted that conversations around the Fed, rates, cuts, and Powell have jumped to levels not seen in almost a year. The platform cautioned that when one positive story drives too much attention. It often means the market is getting carried away, which could end in a short term top.

On Friday, Powell explained that inflation trends and the state of the job market may allow the Fed to adjust its policy. Data from the CME FedWatch Tool shows that about 75% of traders now expect a cut in September.

Some in the crypto industry, like Ash Crypto, are very bullish. By saying the Fed’s move could bring trillions into the market and push altcoins up by 10x to 50x. But not everyone shares that view. Markus Thielen of 10x Research argued back in April that betting on a massive rally right after a cut is premature, since recession concerns could push prices lower in the short term.

Timothy Peterson also warned in March that if the Fed holds off on cuts in 2025, crypto could face a rough patch.

For now, Powell’s remarks have enhanced confidence. But Santiment points out that traders should be careful, as the surge in sentiment might not hold for long.

• BitMine added $45 million in Ethereum, with total holdings now at $7.19 billion and $1.9 billion in profits.
• Ethereum’s network hits record highs in transactions and active users, with very low gas fees.
• Strong scaling and investor confidence, like BitMine’s, point to a possible $5,500 ETH price target.

Tom Lee’s company, BitMine, just grabbed another $45 million worth of Ethereum, pushing their total stash to $7.19 billion. They’re sitting on $1.9 billion in profits they haven’t cashed out yet.

This comes as Ethereum’s network is going wild, with more transactions and active users than ever, and super low fees despite all the action.

Solid Gains and a Rising Network

According to Arkham, BitMine’s got about 1.518 million ETH, bought at an average of $3,492. Their latest pickup of 9,500 ETH at $4,735 isn’t in the green yet, but their earlier buys are racking up $1.9 billion in unrealized gains. It’s clear BitMine’s all in on Ethereum, betting it’s got a big future. XRP lawyer John Deaton’s on the same page, saying ETH could climb higher.

Meanwhile, Token Terminal’s data shows Ethereum’s Layer 1 is busier than ever, with record numbers of transactions and active addresses. The important part? Gas fees are near their lowest, even with all this traffic. That means Ethereum’s scaling fixes are working, letting people do more for less.

Some analysts are now watching a $5,500 price target for ETH because of this. BitMine’s massive investment and Ethereum’s strong network numbers show that big players are feeling good about where this coin’s headed for the long haul.

• A Bitcoin whale sold 4,000 BTC for $460 million, buying Ethereum worth $806 million.
• The whale’s Ethereum holdings are up $100 million in profit, showing strong faith in ETH.
• Ethereum’s price at $4,700 nears key levels, hinting at an altcoin increase as Bitcoin holds at $114,800.

A big time Bitcoin investor, one of those whales everyone talks about, just sold 4,000 BTC worth $460 million to load up on Ethereum. Their Ethereum pile is now worth $806 million, and people are stirring that this could mean altcoins like Ethereum are about to take the spotlight over Bitcoin. This whale’s been steadily swapping Bitcoin for Ethereum, showing they’re pretty confident in where it’s headed.

Whale’s Ethereum Haul

A post on X from Lookonchain says this whale’s got 179,448 ETH, bought at an average of $4,490 each. That includes 135,265 ETH in long contracts, worth $581 million, with $58 million in profits they haven’t cashed out yet. They’re also holding 122,226 ETH straight up, bought at $4,377, with another $42 million in unrealized gains.

Just an hour ago, they dumped 300 BTC for $34.86 million on Hyperliquid and turned it into more Ethereum. All told, their Ethereum bet’s up over $100 million in profit. It’s one of the biggest Bitcoin to Ethereum switches by a known whale in a while.

Other players, like Matrixport, are also shuffling things, pulling 95,873 ETH worth $452 million from exchanges while grabbing 2,300 BTC worth $272 million. Bitcoin’s sitting steady at $114,800, soaking up the whale’s sell off without much fuss, which shows people are still buying above $110,000.