Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Onchain analysis by Detective and Lookonchain uncovered a sniper wallet behind Kanye West’s Solana-based YZY token. It executed an alleged $21M insider trading operation tied to the LIBRA token launch. The wallet acquired $250K of YZY tokens at $0.20 each—well below market price—and sold them minutes later, netting over $1M in profit. Proceeds went to a treasury address previously funded with $21M from LIBRA sniper wallets. The YZY token price plunged over 60% after rallying to a $3B market cap, now trading near $1. The case mirrors past Solana memecoin sniping incidents and could trigger heightened regulatory scrutiny of DeFi token sales. Traders should watch YZY token liquidity and potential policy responses.

MetaMask will launch its native stablecoin mUSD later this year on Ethereum and Linea. It will be issued via Bridge and powered by the decentralized M0 protocol, with each mUSD token backed 1:1 by U.S. dollar cash and short-term Treasuries. mUSD offers instant on-chain transparency and monthly public attestations of its reserves. Yields from these reserves flow back into MetaMask, enabling lower fees and smoother integrations for users. Integrated directly into the MetaMask wallet, mUSD supports minting, holding, trading and seamless cross-chain transfers. Traders can also spend mUSD via the MetaMask Card at Mastercard-accepting merchants by year-end. According to Bridge CEO Zach Abrams, issuance timelines have been cut from over a year to mere weeks. MetaMask aims to boost DeFi liquidity across lending markets, DEXs and custodial platforms, targeting over 100 million users amid global stablecoin volumes nearing $1 trillion and new U.S. payment stablecoin regulations under the GENIUS Act.

Arthur Hayes, former BitMEX CEO, warns that Ethereum may briefly test $4,000 if Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivers hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium. Powell’s speech on Friday could trigger short-term market volatility for ETH. Despite the risk of a pullback, Hayes remains bullish on Ethereum’s long-term outlook. He forecasts that ETH could climb to $10,000–$20,000 by the end of the current cycle. Hayes cites growing capital inflows from digital asset treasury firms as a key driver for price gains. He also highlights the role of US fiscal policy and election-driven monetary expansion, predicting that aggressive money printing will support cryptocurrency markets through mid-2026 and beyond. Traders should monitor Powell’s tone at Jackson Hole and broader political developments for potential impact on ETH price action.

Morgan Creek’s CEO Mark Yusko and General Partner Xavier Segura joined Outlier Ventures Podcast host Dimi Chatzianagnostou to explore the emergence of the Post Web, or agentic internet. They examined key catalysts for founder success in Web3, including ecosystem development, capital access and technical talent. The duo also unveiled the Post Web Base Camp accelerator in the MENA region, a joint program designed to support early-stage Web3 startups with mentorship, funding and access to industry partners. The episode offers traders insight into the evolving Web3 landscape and highlights growth opportunities in MENA’s crypto sector.

Matrixdock, Asia’s leading real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform under Matrixport Group, has launched its gold-backed token XAUm on the Sui blockchain. This marks XAUm’s first issuance on a non-EVM chain. Each XAUm token is backed 1:1 by LBMA-accredited gold of 99.99% purity and audited by Bureau Veritas. The Sui blockchain was chosen for its parallel execution, sub-second finality, and horizontal scalability, enabling fast and cost-efficient tokenized gold transactions. The launch expands XAUm’s digital utility and underscores growing demand for secure, asset-backed tokens.

U.S. stocks rose modestly as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole symposium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 275 points (0.28%), while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.2% and 0.15%, respectively. Market volatility this week stemmed from corporate earnings reports, weak labor data and geopolitical concerns. Pressure from President Trump to cut interest rates has put the Powell speech into sharp focus following two dissenting Fed governors at the last meeting. UBS raised its 2025 year-end S&P 500 forecast from 6,200 to 6,600 and set a mid-2026 target of 6,800, citing expectations for easing rates, stronger corporate earnings and new trade deals. The crypto market is also on edge: Bitcoin (BTC) is expected to mirror risk assets and analysts predict it could reach $150,000 in 2025 and as high as $1 million by 2030. Traders will closely monitor Powell’s speech for signals on monetary policy, anticipating that any hint of rate cuts could fuel further gains in equities and digital assets.

CoinW has issued an official statement denying any ties to the Bixiang money laundering case. After Taiwan prosecutors indicted 14 suspects in a 23 billion TWD laundering investigation, media reports suggested a CoinW supervisor was involved. CoinW clarified that no senior management has been implicated. The exchange reaffirmed its commitment to global compliance standards, anti-money laundering (AML), and anti-fraud measures. It has launched an internal review and is cooperating with authorities. CoinW emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for illegal activities and said it will publicly disclose any violations. Traders should await the judicial outcome as legal responsibility will be determined by courts.

CoinW has officially responded to recent scam controversy reports by launching a special investigation and coordinating with regulatory authorities. The exchange emphasizes zero tolerance for illegal activity and commits to transparent, lawful handling of any confirmed violations. CoinW will continuously enhance its integrated compliance framework—covering KYC, AML, CFT, transaction monitoring, and a dedicated anti-fraud task force. Users are urged to report suspicious behavior via official channels. Any accounts linked to illicit actions will be frozen, and those who maliciously spread false information will face legal liability. CoinW will provide regular updates on its investigation and compliance progress.

South Korea’s Seoul Central District Court has ruled that Wemade must compensate 27 former employees approximately KRW 99.39 billion for failing to deliver promised WEMIX tokens. The plaintiffs, who filed the suit in July last year, originally sought KRW 161.76 billion in damages. Wemade created its blockchain subsidiary, Wemade Tree, in 2018 and merged it back into the parent company in 2022. The WEMIX Foundation now handles all token-related functions. This judgment highlights legal and fiscal risks around employee compensation tied to crypto promise, potentially affecting Wemade’s liquidity and WEMIX token distribution.

Memecoins season intensifies with overlooked micro-caps on Solana, Base and Ethereum offering high-reward plays. These memecoins blend viral culture, AI integration and utility features like NFTs, staking and cross-chain plans, creating sustainable hype beyond one-day pumps. Top picks include Solana tokens AMI, UDOG and PEDRO, Base’s MOCHI and TYBG, and Ethereum’s MANYU, ZEUS and new launch ICERAIDS. Traders should manage risk by limiting position sizes to 1–2%, diversifying, and focusing on tokens with transparent teams, locked liquidity and gradual unlock schedules. Catalysts such as Solana’s network strength, Coinbase adoption on Base and upcoming Ethereum upgrades could trigger 10–50x gains in tiny market caps. Due diligence and swift execution remain crucial in this high-risk, high-reward market.

DFINITY’s Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) offers a blockchain-based alternative to centralized cloud computing. It mirrors Bitcoin’s security model by using cryptographic math and distributed node governance, ensuring unhackable, unstoppable smart contracts. Since its May 2021 launch, ICP runs seamlessly, providing high storage, compute, and bandwidth akin to AWS. Users access dapps via browsers using URLs. Developers benefit from reduced security overhead and lower costs, enabling small teams to build scalable Web3 applications. ICP’s protocol eliminates cloud control issues by decentralizing operations, offering a resilient, trustless computing environment. Traders and developers should monitor ICP adoption and ecosystem growth for potential market impact.

XRP has established the $2.88 Fibonacci golden retracement zone as a key support and potential springboard for a rally toward $3.41. Current trading at around $2.79 suggests consolidation above $2.88 could accelerate bullish momentum. Analysis from crypto analyst Dhan highlights this level’s technical significance based on Fibonacci retracement, signaling renewed investor confidence. Meanwhile, CME Group reports that XRP futures open interest surged to an all-time high of $12 million on August 18, with over 6,000 contracts in play. This CME XRP Futures open interest milestone reflects growing institutional demand for regulated exposure to XRP and broader crypto derivatives market maturation. Elevated open interest has historically preceded strong spot price movements, indicating expanding liquidity and potential for further gains. Momentum indicators show stable trading volumes and deeper liquidity on major exchanges. Regulatory clarity, ISO 20022 alignment, and rising adoption in cross-border payments underpin bullish sentiment. Should XRP reclaim $3.00 and push toward $3.41, the combination of the $2.88 Fibonacci golden retracement and record CME XRP Futures open interest could drive a decisive breakout. Traders should monitor open interest trends and volume shifts to gauge market confidence and potential entry points.

Australia’s AUSTRAC has ordered an independent audit of Binance Australia after identifying serious gaps in its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) controls. The Binance audit will examine customer identification, transaction monitoring and senior management oversight amid concerns over high staff turnover and limited local resources. Matt Poblocki, Binance’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, said this is a supervisory measure rather than a punitive action. This step follows ASIC’s cancellation of Binance’s derivatives licence and the abrupt loss of banking partners that froze AUD services, highlighting rising compliance pressure. In Taiwan, prosecutors have indicted 14 people in the country’s largest crypto money laundering case, involving more than $70 million and 1,539 victims. Authorities allege the group, led by Shi Qiren, used 40 franchise outlets under CoinW and CoinThink Technology to defraud investors, converting illicit funds into USDT via BiXiang Technology. Prosecutors seek to seize over $40 million in local assets and millions in crypto and cash.

The Open Network (TON) has strengthened its market position with two major developments. Verb Technology Company revealed a treasury of over $780 million, holding $713 million in Toncoin and $67 million in cash. This marks the first publicly traded firm to adopt Toncoin as its primary reserve asset. Verb plans to build up to 5% of TON’s circulating supply and increase Toncoin per share through staking rewards and treasury management. Meanwhile, Ledger Live launched native TON staking, lowering the minimum entry to just 10 TON from 300,000 TON. The service offers non-custodial staking with institutional-grade security, 36-hour activation and withdrawal times, and an annual yield of around 4.7%. On-chain indicators are also improving. Data from CryptoQuant shows TON’s Sharpe ratio turned positive in August, while daily active addresses are rising. Additionally, Telegram’s integration of TON for Mini Apps, wallets and payments brings TON to over one billion users. Together, these developments set the stage for renewed growth and trader interest in TON.

Google Trends data shows that investor searches for “altcoin season” plunged by 88% in August after Ethereum’s price fell from its 2025 peak near $4,700 to around $4,100. This sharp decline in altcoin season interest coincides with Ethereum’s recent downtrend and Bitcoin retracing from its all-time high of $124,000. Despite Bitcoin’s market dominance holding below 60% (58.66%) and ETH dominance above 10% (13.47%), the altcoin season index stands at 51—between Bitcoin season (25) and full alt season (75). Market analyst Milk Road notes early breakout signals on ETH/BTC charts and a rollover in Bitcoin dominance that mirror patterns from 2017 and 2021. However, persistent resistance on the ETH/BTC pair and other headwinds suggest a full altcoin season has yet to materialize.

Bitcoin Cash price has stabilized above the $547 support level after falling below its 21-day and 50-day simple moving averages (SMAs) from a recent high of $632. On August 19, the 50-day SMA halted the bearish decline, leading BCH to trade between the 50-day and 21-day SMAs over the past 48 hours. Traders are watching closely for a break above the 21-day SMA barrier, which could signal a resumption of the uptrend and push Bitcoin Cash price back towards the $632 resistance zone, with further targets at $650 and $700. Conversely, a drop below the 50-day SMA may increase selling pressure, risking a test of the next support at $517 or lower. Key technical levels include support at $500, $450 and $400, and resistance at $600, $650 and $700. Investors should monitor BCH’s movement relative to these moving averages to gauge the short-term outlook and potential trading opportunities.

Technical analysis of Aerodrome Finance (AERO) reveals mixed signals that warrant caution. AERO’s price rose 0.6% alongside an 8.28% uptick in Open Interest, indicating bullish momentum. However, a deeply negative Funding Rate amid rising prices and a sudden spot CVD surge suggest speculative short positions are building. On the daily chart, AERO cleared early-2025 resistance, and DMI indicators (+DI and ADX above 20) confirm a strong uptrend, though buying pressure (A/D) and the MFI have cooled near the $1.4 supply zone. A liquidation heatmap shows liquidity swept above $1.4, making a retracement to $1.2–$1.1 likely. Traders should view dips to $1.1–$1.2 as buying opportunities, while a swift breakout past $1.45 could be a bull trap driven by a liquidity hunt. Position management is essential for swing traders and long-term investors.

Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone warns that a sustained Bitcoin rally could force the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary policy. The simultaneous upswing in equities, Treasury yields, gold and Bitcoin signals excess liquidity that may ignite volatility and drive inflation expectations higher. If the Bitcoin rally continues, 10-year Treasury yields could spike further, increasing the likelihood of Fed rate hikes. Since last Friday’s local high of $119,111, Bitcoin has retreated about 6%, trading near $111,980, but a strong rebound could reignite concerns about policy tightening and dampen short-term crypto bullishness. Traders should closely monitor CPI and PCE data, key Fed communications and bond market movements to gauge shifting monetary conditions. Meanwhile, Michael Saylor’s corporate treasury vehicle Strategy added another 430 BTC (approx. $51.4 million), bringing total institutional holdings to 629,376 BTC (over $70 billion). This large-scale accumulation underlines ongoing demand and potential supply tightening, reinforcing a long-term bullish outlook despite macro risk.

Bitcoin lost 6% this week, sliding from its recent all-time high to $112,000. The broader cryptocurrency market saw a steep altcoin crash. Ethereum fell 9% to $4,220 and XRP dropped 10.4% to $2.79. Cardano and Sui also posted double-digit losses. In contrast, OKB led gainers with a 130% surge, reaching $225. Traders are now eyeing the upcoming Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speech at Jackson Hole. Market participants expect his comments on monetary policy to drive short-term volatility. Bitcoin’s drop below the $112K support level raises concerns of further declines. Conversely, BNB hit a new record high, while analysts note ongoing corporate accumulation, with Strategy buying additional BTC. Other notable events included MetaMask launching the Stripe-backed mUSD stablecoin, Ripple partnering with SBI to issue RLUSD in Japan, and Kanye West’s YZY meme coin hitting a $3 billion cap before crashing. Solana briefly achieved over 100,000 TPS in a weekend test. SEC Chair Paul Atkins’s remarks that “very few” cryptocurrencies qualify as securities provided regulatory clarity. Overall, the market faces mixed signals. The altcoin crash weighs on sentiment. OKB’s surge and BNB’s new high offer bullish catalysts. All eyes remain on the Powell speech for the next major price driver.

Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes said Federal Reserve policy will drive crypto markets. Speaking on Crypto Banter, he warned that Powell’s hawkish Jackson Hole speech could force an ETH retest $4K. A policy surprise may echo the 2022 cycle, prompting rapid repricing and volatility. Hayes said a strong hawkish stance might trigger an ETH retest $4K technical level in the short term. He also highlighted the underappreciated policy role of stablecoins. Hayes argued that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen could deploy stablecoins to counter de-dollarization, restoring offshore dollar flows and extending banking services in the Global South under existing regulations. Traders should monitor Fed communications and stablecoin policy shifts closely. A potential ETH retest $4K presents short-term trading setups, while stablecoin developments could reshape offshore liquidity and dollar demand.

Pi Coin’s price has remained at $0.36 despite a 60% annual decline and a recent 5% weekly drop. Short-term technical indicators on the hourly chart show a bullish crossover of the 20-period EMA above the 50-period EMA, briefly lifting Pi Coin to $0.37. However, past patterns suggest such moves are temporary without altering the long-term downtrend. On the 12-hour chart, a positive RSI divergence points to growing buyer strength, yet broader market uncertainty persists. Analysts identify key resistance at $0.37, $0.38, and $0.40; a sustained break above $0.40 could confirm a bullish shift, aided by the new PI/USDC pair on OKX. Conversely, a fall below $0.33 would invalidate current technical support and risk fresh lows. Traders should watch these levels as they weigh short-term relief against the need for stronger trend signals before committing long-term capital.

Recent reports suggest China may approve a yuan stablecoin to advance renminbi internationalization. Legal and industry experts say any yuan stablecoin initiative will target the offshore yuan market (CNH) rather than the onshore yuan (CNY) due to mainland capital controls. Hong Kong, with its new stablecoin licensing regime and status as the primary CNH hub, is the favored launch venue. The token could integrate with China’s digital yuan (e-CNY) for onshore compliance, while strategically expanding the yuan’s digital footprint abroad. However, CNH liquidity (0.88 trillion yuan) is a fraction of the domestic supply (329.94 trillion yuan), limiting the stablecoin’s market scale compared to dollar-pegged tokens like USDT and USDC. Experts view China’s offshore stablecoin push as a strategic move to bolster renminbi relevance in global digital finance rather than a direct challenge to existing crypto markets.

HBAR is testing crucial support at $0.23 after a 3% pullback, with intraday trading volume surging above 80 million on August 21. SWIFT plans to launch live blockchain payment trials using HBAR across its $150 trillion annual network from November 2025, marking a major adoption milestone. Concurrently, Grayscale filed Delaware trust documents linked to HBAR, fueling exchange-traded fund speculation. These developments highlight hashgraph’s capacity to handle over 10,000 transactions per second and have drawn significant institutional interest. On the technical side, HBAR faces resistance at $0.24, with 2.4% volatility observed within the $0.23–$0.24 range. Growing volumes and fundamental catalysts position HBAR for potential gains as global payments infrastructure evolves.

A total of $3.82 billion in Bitcoin options expired ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech, with BTC testing intraday lows near $112,047. The put-to-call ratio stands at 1.30 and the max pain level at $118,000—both pointing to a bearish tilt and heightened demand for downside protection. Analysts at Deribit report that 25-delta risk reversals show puts trading six volatility points above calls. Over $4.8 billion in crypto options (including $948 million in ETH) will expire tomorrow. Traders expect the speech to drive a ±2% move in BTC price, as September rate-cut odds fall to 70%. Short-term implied volatility has eased, suggesting institutions anticipate a controlled market reaction even amid cautious positioning. Market participants will watch for interest rate and liquidity signals to guide trading strategies.

Crypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano told CNBC’s Squawk Box that Bitcoin remains the clear market leader. He contested the “blockchain, not Bitcoin” narrative, arguing that Bitcoin’s proven track record and demand as a store of value surpasses blockchain-only solutions. Pompliano highlighted a split between investors seeking yield and those who prefer direct asset ownership. He noted growing interest in BTC ETFs, driven by institutional-grade custody and security benefits. Despite this trend, core enthusiasts still favor self-custody. Pompliano warned that diversified positions across ETFs, infrastructure stakes, and wallet holdings could amplify price swings, presenting both opportunities and increased volatility in the Bitcoin market.

MetaWin today launched MetaWin Create, offering free premium AI tools exclusively to MetaWinners NFT holders. The initiative combines digital ownership with real-world utility. MetaWin Create unlocks access to productivity tools for research and workflows, creative suites for design and video, and developer platforms for coding—all at no extra cost. This move builds on MetaWin’s internal AI adoption, where its development team has tripled productivity and its games studio is transitioning to AI-powered builds. Founder Skel says democratizing AI access will empower creators. MetaWin Create rolls out in phases to verified NFT holders. For details, visit metawin.com or follow @MetaWin on X.

Husky Inu advanced from $0.00019863 to $0.00019921 in its pre-launch phase, marking a continued upward trend. The memecoin has raised $882,811 toward its $1.2 million goal, crossing $850,000 on July 25 and poised to surpass $900,000 by month-end thanks to a dynamic pricing strategy that increases token value every two days. This progressive funding approach rewards early adopters and supports platform development, marketing, and ecosystem expansion. Last week, Husky Inu announced the launch of SwapCrypto.com, its native crypto exchange that aims to strengthen utility for the community. Unlike other tokens reliant on speculation, Husky Inu focuses on infrastructure building and real-world DeFi applications. Meanwhile, broader crypto markets have turned bearish, with Bitcoin down 1% to $112,220 and Ethereum off 0.5% at $4,251. Ripple, Solana, and other altcoins also traded lower. Traders should monitor how Husky Inu’s milestone-driven momentum interacts with overall market volatility and pre-launch dynamics.

Microsoft’s AI head Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, has cautioned that society isn’t ready for “conscious” AI. In a blog post on August 19, Suleyman explained that developers are creating advanced systems that mimic awareness—though they don’t truly think or feel. He warned these “seemingly conscious” tools could prompt calls for legal rights or protections, as people start believing machines are alive. Suleyman highlighted potential AI risks: emotional bonds with lifelike bots could exacerbate loneliness and mental health issues. Debates over AI rights and identity may intensify, complicating regulation. Although he stressed these AI risks, Suleyman stopped short of banning research. Instead, he urged developers to focus on building AI for human benefit rather than crafting “digital persons” with humanlike status. This stance underscores the need for clear AI policy and ethics as technology advances.

Coinglass data reports that crypto contract liquidations hit US$92.78 million in the past hour. This crypto liquidation surge was dominated by long positions, with US$91.09 million (98.1%) liquidated. Short positions saw just US$1.70 million in liquidations. Such crypto liquidations reflect intensified downward pressure and market volatility, as leveraged long traders are forced into margin calls. Traders should monitor these liquidation trends for potential price swings.