Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has introduced stricter virtual asset custody rules for all licensed trading platforms. Under the new requirements, platforms must segregate client assets from business funds, enhance record-keeping, undergo independent audits, and store assets in multi-layer protected wallets. They must also strengthen crypto custody practices by implementing real-time threat monitoring, bolstering cold wallet management, maintaining documented best practices, and disclosing custody risks to investors. Non-compliant platforms face license suspension or revocation. These virtual asset custody measures aim to prevent theft and fraud, restore investor confidence, and align Hong Kong’s crypto market with global investor protection standards. The overhaul also paves the way for advanced custody technologies and is expected to draw more institutional capital to the region. Analysts see this robust framework as key to boosting market legitimacy and long-term growth in the digital asset ecosystem.

The Shiba Inu team marketing lead Lucie has publicly praised lead developer Shytoshi Kusama and co-developer Kaal Dhairya for their resilience and hard work in overcoming daily attacks from SHIB haters. In a series of tweets, Lucie warned dishonest SHIB partners accused of mudslinging and using the project to promote personal tokens, highlighting suspicious monthly transfers to a sub-DAO. Despite “attacks, insults and lies,” the team remains committed to building and expanding the Shiba Inu ecosystem. The warning underscores the importance of accountability, action and unity as Shiba Inu continues its development journey. Traders should note this cohesive stance, which may support SHIB’s market stability.

BlockDAG has raised $374.5 million in funding and onboarded over 2.5 million miners ahead of its mainnet launch, positioning itself as a strong competitor to Solana (SOL) and Chainlink (LINK). The project leverages a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture to deliver high throughput, low fees, and enhanced network security. BlockDAG’s funding round attracted participation from top-tier venture capital firms and strategic partners. In contrast to Solana’s proof-of-history consensus and Chainlink’s oracle services, BlockDAG focuses on scalable mining incentives and native node rewards to bootstrap network activity. The capital will be used to expand the developer ecosystem, launch incentive programs for miners, and accelerate integration with decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. Early adoption metrics—2.5 million active miners—already surpass comparable figures on Solana and Chainlink networks. BlockDAG also ensures EVM compatibility, allowing Solidity-based dApps to migrate seamlessly. For crypto traders, the strong financial backing and rapid miner on-boarding signal a high-growth potential token launch. The project’s technical roadmap includes mainnet activation, cross-chain bridges, and governance modules, which may catalyze increased market liquidity and trading volumes once live.

Ripple unlocks have released approximately 3 billion XRP into circulation over the past year. This surge in XRP circulation is primarily driven by whale accumulation ahead of further market fluctuations. Whale investors are strategically buying large XRP holdings to support prices. Market analysts note that these whale purchases could offset supply pressures from Ripple unlocks. The increased XRP circulation and whale activity are stabilizing trading behaviors and reducing volatility. Traders should monitor whale wallets for accumulation trends and potential shifts in market dynamics. Overall, Ripple unlocks and whale accumulation signal long-term confidence in XRP’s price trajectory amidst evolving regulatory developments.

AI-driven forecast platform Grok, backed by Elon Musk, projects XRP price between $3.60 and $5.20, centering on $4.45 by August 31. Currently, XRP trades between $3.07 and $3.28, with resistance at $3.10–$3.34 and support at $2.85–$2.90. Conservative models see XRP stabilizing at $3.00–$3.30, while moderate forecasts anticipate $3.50–$4.45. Bullish scenarios suggest a potential surge to $6–$8, or even above $10 under extreme conditions, driven by spot XRP ETF approvals in Europe, Ripple’s expanding partnerships, and robust institutional inflows. Recent legal developments in Ripple’s SEC case have eased regulatory concerns, boosting market sentiment. However, downside risks remain, including whale liquidations and broader market corrections, with possible support retest at $2.60–$2.80 if $2.85 fails to hold. Traders should watch key technical levels and upcoming catalysts for clues on XRP’s end-of-month trajectory.

Arbitrum ARB plunged over 10% after 92.65 million tokens were unlocked, intensifying bearish pressure. On-chain metrics weakened sharply: transaction fees fell 74% to 11.62 ETH, daily transactions dropped 4.7%, new addresses declined 46% and verified contracts fell 11.8%. Funding rates and open interest also contracted amid weakening trader sentiment. ARB tests key support at $0.48 after rejection near $0.60; failure to hold this flip zone could see a slide toward $0.43, while a rebound targets $0.60. Despite the sell-off, Arbitrum’s Total Value Locked rose to $5.59 billion, nearing its $6.17 billion peak, and decentralized exchange and perpetual volumes remain robust at around $905 million and $870 million. Traders should watch upcoming token unlock schedules, on-chain activity, and flip-zone levels for potential trading opportunities or further downside.

Crypto VC Funding jumped with nearly $1.5 billion across 18 projects this week. Bullish priced its NYSE IPO at $37 per share, raising $1.1 billion and securing a $5.4 billion valuation. Story Protocol partnered with Heritage Distilling in a $220 million token-and-cash placement, including $82 million in IP tokens. Cybersecurity firm 1Kosmos closed a $57 million Series B, while Sui’s Mysten Labs secured $20 million. Other notable rounds included Neon Machine’s $19.5 million raise and Transak’s $16 million strategic funding. Finance and infrastructure deals dominated. Crypto VC Funding highlights renewed institutional appetite and liquidity in blockchain startups, underlining strong growth prospects for DeFi and Web3 ventures.

Gemini Wallet has launched a passkey-based self-custody solution to streamline Web3 onboarding and on-chain interactions. The Gemini Wallet replaces complex seed phrases with device-native passkeys and offers seamless dApp access across desktop and mobile via its Onchain Dashboard. It reimburses gas fees on major Layer 2 networks including Arbitrum, Polygon, Optimism and Base, and issues a free ENS subdomain to each user. Partnerships with Blockaid, WalletConnect and Bungee ensure robust security, wide dApp compatibility and cross-chain liquidity, while integrated Morpho vaults provide instant yield on deposits. Future integration with Gemini’s exchange will further streamline trading flows. By lowering entry barriers, the Gemini Wallet aims to drive adoption of non-custodial solutions and boost on-chain activity and trading volumes.

Bitcoin volatility has re-emerged as prices recently retreated from record highs. The DVOL index, which tracks expected price swings, has plummeted to levels only seen 2.6% of the time, signaling an unusually calm market. In this backdrop, Bitcoin volatility may spike, as low DVOL readings often precede sharp moves. Long-term holders (LTHs) have paused net position changes. Early-month purchases rose but then halted, and no significant selling pressure has emerged, reflecting cautious optimism among strategic investors. Traders should monitor the $117,000 support level. A sustained hold could fuel a rally toward $120,000, while a breakdown below $112,526 may trigger bearish momentum. The suppressed DVOL invites risk managers to brace for sudden volatility surges.

AI-powered stuffed animals are gaining traction as screen time alternatives, with startups like Curio launching plushies that converse, play adaptive games, and learn from interactions. Promoted benefits include personalized learning, companionship, and reduced screen dependence. However, critics caution about potential impacts on child development, arguing that AI-powered stuffed animals may hinder genuine social skills and imaginative play. Data privacy and security concerns also loom large, as these devices collect sensitive interaction data. Experts recommend parents thoroughly research toy functionality, set clear usage boundaries, and balance AI engagement with traditional play. Despite promising features, removing the AI “brain” from these plush toys still leaves a beloved companion, highlighting that responsible integration rather than full reliance is key.

Stellar XLM price has doubled from $0.227 to $0.4746, buoyed by strong market interest and technical momentum. Analysts highlight a critical support at $0.3788, holding bullish sentiment. If this level holds, XLM could rally by 20–37% to reach $0.57–$0.65 resistance. A break below $0.3788 risks a correction toward $0.30–$0.25, with long-term support at $0.127–$0.1587. Stellar’s adoption metrics reinforce the bullish outlook: 9.69 million enterprise wallets, a TVL of $150 million, and over 5 000 new institutional addresses added daily. Traders should monitor these support and resistance levels closely, as they signal potential entry and exit points. Overall, Stellar XLM’s technical setup and growing network activity underpin a bullish price outlook, suggesting a positive trading opportunity for short-term gains and long-term growth.

Ethereum price target is set at $9,600 following its breakout above the 365-day moving average. In August, over $3 billion flowed into Ethereum ETFs, signaling strong institutional confidence. Regulatory clarity and supportive economic policies are enhancing Ethereum’s appeal, particularly for DeFi applications. The convergence of technical momentum, substantial ETF inflows, and favorable regulations underpins a bullish outlook. Traders should watch for continued capital influx and policy updates, as these factors could sustain upward pressure on ETH and influence broader market dynamics.

On-chain metrics point to a potential altcoin rally driven by record stablecoin liquidity and a dip in Bitcoin dominance. The total ERC-20 stablecoin supply has climbed to an all-time high of $128.7 billion, while active stablecoin addresses surpassed 250,000 for the first time. Positive net inflows of over $67 million into stablecoins on Binance further underscore growing buying power. Meanwhile, Bitcoin dominance (BTC.D) was rejected at its previous cycle resistance zone—a historical signal of capital rotating into mid- and large-cap altcoins. Traders are now watching for Ethereum to break above its current cycle bull-run resistance while BTC.D trends downward. As of today, the total altcoin market capitalization stands at $1.57 trillion, up more than 5% over the past week despite a slight 1% pullback in 24 hours. Combined, these indicators suggest that investors may soon shift more capital into altcoins, potentially igniting the next phase of the altseason.

As the 2025 bull run takes shape, traders are eyeing five tokens with the potential to match PEPE’s explosive gains. Little Pepe (LILPEPE) leads the pack with an Ethereum-compatible Layer-2 memecoin presale nearing $19 million, 206 000 participants and a staged vesting model to prevent dumps. Kaspa (KAS) leverages the GHOSTDAG proof-of-work protocol for near-instant block confirmations and trades on a $2.46 billion market cap. Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) has grown from an NFT drop into a $2.34 billion cultural brand with mainstream partnerships and over 50 billion social media views. Arbitrum (ARB) remains Ethereum’s dominant Layer-2 scaling solution at a $2.32 billion cap, prized for low fees and a rich DeFi ecosystem. Algorand (ALGO), with a $2.26 billion valuation, offers a high-speed, eco-friendly Layer-1 platform adopted by enterprises and national projects. Together, these projects span memecoins, Layer-2 scaling, proof-of-work and sustainable blockchains, presenting diversified bullish opportunities—albeit with the usual volatility and execution risks.

Cardano price prediction has risen to $6 by 2025 following the Chang hard fork and on-chain governance upgrade. The latest Voltaire-era upgrade enables ADA holders to vote on protocol changes, fueling DeFi and NFT growth. Cardano’s ecosystem expansion, plus enterprise and interoperability partnerships, support a 589% potential gain. Key resistance levels are $1.05, $1.32 and $1.80, with supports at $0.75, $0.62 and $0.48. In parallel, Ozak AI is conducting its fourth presale stage at $0.005, positioning its AI-driven market intelligence platform as a high-growth altcoin. With $1.8 million raised, a CertiK audit, and listings on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, the project targets $1 by 2025—offering up to 360× ROI. Strategic partnerships with Manta Network, Weblume and SINT enhance real-time data integration and automated trading. Traders seeking stability may favor Cardano’s long-term fundamentals, while those targeting outsized returns might explore the Ozak AI presale.

CryptoAppsy delivers instant real-time price updates and historical charts for thousands of cryptocurrencies without requiring account setup. The app aggregates data from global exchanges to ensure traders spot every arbitrage opportunity. Its fully featured portfolio management lets users manually define assets and view live valuations for accurate profit and loss tracking. Customizable smart price alerts send push notifications when assets hit user-defined thresholds, helping traders adhere to strategies and avoid emotional decisions. A curated, multilingual news feed filters credible sources, offering concise summaries and direct article links. With zero-friction navigation on iOS and Android, CryptoAppsy streamlines data access for novice and professional traders alike.

In August, crypto commentator John Squire reported on X that a single trader moved 19 million XRP (≈$61 million) in one Upbit transaction. Whale Alert flagged the transfer from an Upbit address to an unknown wallet, triggering speculation of large-scale XRP accumulation. The token briefly spiked between $3.01 and $3.15, peaking at around $3.11—a 6% gain since July. On-chain analysis later confirmed the 19 M XRP move was an internal transfer between hot and cold wallets for liquidity and security management, not a fresh buy. Despite the clarification, the incident underscores how whale alerts can drive short-term market volatility. Technical indicators remain supportive: XRP’s 200-day moving average is rising, signaling strong long-term momentum, while short-term trends stay mixed. Analysts forecast XRP could test $4 by year-end, backed by easing US inflation, expected Fed rate cuts, strong Asian liquidity, and favorable regulatory outlooks. For traders, this episode highlights two lessons: whale alerts on major exchanges like Upbit can sway sentiment, and verifying on-chain data is essential to distinguish genuine accumulation from routine internal transfers.

Ethereum treasury companies have amassed over $11.7 billion in ETH, led by BitMine Immersion Technologies, SharpLink Gaming and The Ether Machine. In a Bankless interview, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin praised these firms for creating new ETH access channels for both institutional and retail investors uneasy with self-custody. Buterin warned that excessive leverage among Ethereum treasury companies could destabilize markets, pointing to past bear-market losses of over 80% in ETH. He urged robust risk management and prudent financial practices to ensure sustainable growth, noting most treasury firms operate responsibly. In a lighter moment, he named the US government his “favorite treasury company” for confiscating hacker ETH.

Ethereum topped $4,600 in August 2025, marking a major breakout that echoes its 2017 rally. The move followed a recovery above the 50-week moving average, a key support indicator that often precedes strong price advances. Institutional investors and newly approved ETFs are driving fresh capital into ETH. Recent data show sustained buyer control and growing trading volume. This cycle mirrors 2017’s months-long consolidation between $2,200 and $4,000. Analysts see the ETF inflows and institutional demand as catalysts for further upside. Traders should watch for tests of higher resistance levels and monitor on-chain metrics. The convergence of historical patterns, technical support at the 50-week MA, and strong ETF demand suggest a bullish outlook for Ethereum.

Over 80 leaders in crypto and fintech have petitioned U.S. President Donald Trump to block bank data fees that would charge for accessing customer financial data. Signatories from companies including Shopify (Tobias Lütke) and Gemini (the Winklevoss twins) warn that bank data fees threaten open banking innovation and fintech competitiveness. If bank data fees proceed, banks could entrench dominance, complicate integration for decentralized finance (DeFi) onramps and offramps, and hamper the usability and adoption of Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC). The coalition calls for regulatory intervention to preserve open banking principles and maintain free data flows essential for fintech solutions and cryptocurrency integration. Industry analysts note that these charges risk fragmenting the market, reducing consumer choice, and slowing growth in DeFi. Action to halt proposed data fees is seen as critical to safeguarding a competitive landscape for both traditional fintech and digital asset ecosystems.

The stablecoin market capitalization surged to $273 billion, driven by Tether’s circulating supply reaching $165 billion. This represents roughly 60% of the total stablecoin market, underscoring Tether’s dominance. Growing demand for stablecoins reflects their vital role in hedging against volatility, facilitating DeFi liquidity, and supporting high-frequency trading activities. Major alternatives such as USDC, BUSD, and DAI also saw steady growth, highlighting broader adoption across exchanges and blockchain protocols. The influx of stablecoins strengthens trading liquidity and reduces market friction, offering traders enhanced execution and risk management tools. Continued expansion of the stablecoin sector signals robust confidence in digital asset markets and lays groundwork for further DeFi innovation.

This week’s M&A deals spanned multiple sectors, led by Gildan Activewear’s agreement to acquire HanesBrands for $2.2 billion in equity and $4.4 billion in enterprise value. Other notable M&A deals included Western Union’s strategic moves in cross-border payments, Sapiens’ consolidation in insurance technology, AI startup Perplexity raising funding for expansion, and Teladoc Health’s continued healthcare sector partnerships. The wave of M&A deals underscores robust corporate activity across retail, fintech, AI and healthcare, signaling continued appetite for growth and consolidation.

Tokenized private stocks promise 24/7 trading and broader access to high-value real-world assets. Yet most current offerings merely wrap opaque, illiquid private shares in a digital shell. Investors face unclear ownership rights, limited exit options, and weak investor protections. To fulfil tokenization’s democratizing potential, platforms must enforce legal equity rights, record transparent on-chain ownership, and secure explicit backing from the issuing companies. Without these fundamentals, tokenized private stocks risk remaining over-engineered window dressing rather than a true bridge between private and public markets.

Ethereum ETF inflows hit a new high this week, with $2.8 billion of capital entering ETFs, reinforcing sustained buying interest. This follows earlier spot ETF inflows of $326 million and marks 14 consecutive weeks of net inflows, bringing total ETH ETF assets above $30 billion. BlackRock’s ETHA leads with $15.9 billion in holdings and daily trading volumes up to $2.4 billion. On-chain network fundamentals remain robust. DeFi total value locked has climbed to $203 billion, capturing 68% of sector value. Ethereum’s stablecoin supply rose 10% in 30 days to $144 billion, while active addresses jumped 30% to 2.6 million. Average daily transaction volume surged past $878 billion, outpacing Tron’s $664 billion and underscoring growing network usage. Technically, Ether formed a golden cross on the 3-day chart and completed a cup-and-handle pattern. A successful break and retest of the $4,110 support could trigger a rally toward $6,840–$6,800, implying upside potential of 55–68%. Traders should watch for this key technical confirmation to validate the next leg of the price rally.

Ozak AI’s native token $OZ has entered Phase 4 of its presale at a price of $0.005, raising $1.92 million so far across 144.4 million tokens sold. Investors can participate using ETH, USDT, or USDC, with the next stage price set at $0.01. The platform leverages machine learning to deliver real-time trading signals and market data, aiming to reduce information latency for traders. Strategic partnerships with Manta Network, Ventures BD, TCVN Community, SoulsLabs, MPost.io, Yellow and an integration with Weblume’s no-code Web3 builder enhance ecosystem development. Community engagement events, such as GM Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, have expanded its global reach. Analysts project a listing price of $1 on public exchanges—a potential 200× gain—with forecasts of up to $2 within 18 months. If achieved, $OZ’s ROI could outpace Cardano’s historical returns and challenge Dogecoin’s market cap. While no listing date is confirmed, continued presale momentum and ecosystem growth underpin a bullish outlook for traders.

In Bitcoin mining, Hive Digital Technologies reported $45.6 million in revenue and an adjusted EBITDA of $44.6 million for Q1 2026, driven by a 45% quarter-on-quarter increase in hashpower to 89 EH/s. The Bitcoin mining firm expanded rig deployments and infrastructure, leveraging renewable energy to lower costs and address environmental concerns. The surge in mining capacity bolsters network security and may spur further investment in clean-energy operations. Investors are attracted to Hive’s strong profitability and sustainable growth strategy. Analysts consider these results proof of the mining sector’s maturity amid rising Bitcoin prices and technological advances.

Ronin Network, originally the off-chain sidechain for Axie Infinity, is relaunching as an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution. The update integrates Ethereum security with fast, low-cost gaming transactions. This shift opens DeFi and NFT opportunities on Ronin and allows seamless asset transfers between Ronin and the Ethereum mainnet. The network will compete with Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon for L2 dominance. Ronin’s gaming and NFT focus, higher throughput, and user-friendly design aim to attract new projects and players. By uniting Ronin and Ethereum ecosystems, the Layer 2 upgrade promises to enhance liquidity and interoperability for gaming, DeFi, and NFT applications.

CryptoQuant data shows that Ethereum is approaching its all-time high after a shift in investor preference. The price of Ethereum has climbed by over 15% in the past month, trading around $4,750 as of June 15. On-chain metrics reveal a significant reduction in Ethereum exchange reserves, with net outflows exceeding $200 million in the last week. Meanwhile, Bitcoin flows remained relatively stable, highlighting renewed interest in Ethereum. The shift reflects growing confidence in Ethereum’s staking rewards and network upgrades, such as the London hard fork and EIP-1559 fee burn mechanism. CryptoQuant’s report suggests that traders are reallocating capital from Bitcoin and other assets to Ethereum, anticipating further price gains. This development could fuel short-term momentum while reinforcing long-term bullish sentiment for Ethereum and the broader altcoin market.

Justin Sun, founder of TRON, has sued Bloomberg Media in Delaware after the outlet published his TRX holdings without consent. Sun alleges the disclosure of 60 billion TRX tokens, along with 17,000 BTC and 224,000 ETH, violated confidentiality agreements and jeopardized his personal safety. Bloomberg defends its report under First Amendment and public interest, arguing no prior restraint is warranted. The lawsuit highlights a clash between media transparency and crypto data privacy, as Sun warns of security risks from exposed holdings. Traders should monitor TRX for potential volatility and watch for regulatory responses and strengthened privacy guidelines in the crypto sector.