Ethereum pullback from $4,946 to $4,342 has slashed blue-chip NFT floor prices across top collections. According to DefiLlama, floor prices dropped by double digits last week as Ethereum pullback fueled market volatility. Pudgy Penguins led the slump with a 17.3% fall to 10.32 ETH. Bored Ape Yacht Club and Doodles fell 14.7% and 18.9% to 9.59 ETH and 0.73 ETH, while Moonbirds and Lil Pudgys declined 10.5% and 14.6%. CryptoPunks weathered the pullback, down only 1.35%. Trading volume remains robust, with 2,112 ETH for Pudgy Penguins, 1,979 ETH for Moonbirds, 1,879 ETH for CryptoPunks, and 809 ETH for BAYC. Overall, the NFT market cap slid nearly 5% from its $9.3 billion peak on August 13 to $7.7 billion by August 18. This trend highlights the tight link between Ethereum price swings and NFT market dynamics, signaling caution for traders.
Bearish
EthereumBlue-Chip NFTNFT Floor PriceTrading VolumeMarket Cap
Bybit, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has officially added the CAMP token to its spot trading offerings. With the new CAMP listing, traders can now buy and sell CAMP directly on Bybit’s spot market, boosting liquidity and market access for this emerging altcoin. The CAMP token listing underscores Bybit’s commitment to expanding its altcoin portfolio and offers investors an early opportunity to trade this digital asset. As a high-profile exchange listing, it could draw increased attention and trading volume to CAMP, potentially impacting its short-term price and long-term adoption.
On August 26, Bitcoin experienced over $900 million in liquidations after a 12% price drop, driven by a whale sell-off of 29,000 BTC and ETF outflows. Technical analysis shows potential rebound signs, with Bitcoin forming a hammer/doji candle and trading within the 0.5–0.618 Fibonacci “golden pocket.” Meanwhile, Layer-2 project Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) gained attention as it prepares to enable smart contracts, dApps, and DeFi on Bitcoin via a Solana Virtual Machine bridge. In related news, mining firm BitMine purchased 190,500 ETH this week, boosting reserves to 1.71 million ETH and fueling expectations for increased market momentum. Traders should monitor these developments for short-term opportunities.
Dogecoin (DOGE) fell nearly 10% yesterday, closing below key short-term EMAs (10, 20, 50, 200), signaling short-term bearishness amid a broader bullish trend. Weekly charts show DOGE trading within the 0.5–0.618 Fibonacci retracement zone and resting on the 50 EMA, suggesting healthy consolidation ahead of the anticipated September rate cut. Since its 2013 launch, DOGE has surged over 38,000%, currently trading around $0.21 with billion-dollar volumes. Endorsements from Elon Musk and the Grayscale Dogecoin Trust underpin its meme coin dominance. Despite its saturated supply and limited utility, many traders now target new presale tokens. ChatGPT identifies Maxi Doge (MAXI) as a top high-risk, high-reward pick. MAXI’s presale has raised $1.5M at $0.000254 per token, offering zero-tax trading, 196% staking APY, and 1,000x leverage features. Traders seeking untapped upside should monitor this emerging memecoin.
ONDO and Chainlink are emerging as top candidates in the expanding real-world asset sector. Over the past month, ONDO’s price fell about 8%, trading between $0.71 and $1.14, with resistance at $1.38 and support at $0.51. Traders might look for a rebound at $0.51 as a buying signal. Conversely, Chainlink recorded 43.5% gains in the last month and 71.5% over six months, trading between $9.12 and $24.18. Its RSI of 62.8 suggests continued bullish momentum, with a break above $24.18 indicating further upside. Both tokens leverage unique real-world asset integration: ONDO offers tokenized investment stability, while Chainlink provides decentralized oracles for data services. Their technical setups could attract significant inflows, positioning them as key assets for traders tracking the real-world asset boom.
Crypto experts from BetterTrade.digital and Arch Public told viewers that platforms like XRP and Solana are vying to serve as the base layer for future financial infrastructure. They noted that XRP is optimized for cross-border settlements, while Solana focuses on trading. A key point was XRP’s potential to underpin major stablecoins, including RLUSD and possible bank-issued tokens on the XRP Ledger. Institutional adoption could cement XRP’s role as a SWIFT alternative. Utility is the decisive factor. Experts agree that networks with real-world use and scalability will capture lasting value. Traders should watch XRP as it pushes for broader stablecoin support and global payment integration.
Major NFT collections saw significant NFT floor price drops this week. Data from DeFiLlama shows Pudgy Penguins fell 17.3%, Bored Ape Yacht Club declined 14.7%, and Doodles dropped 18.9%. Overall NFT market capitalization slid 5% to $7.7 billion, according to NFTPriceFloor. Analysts attribute these NFT floor price drops to a short-term correction in Ethereum (ETH) following its recent all-time high. As most NFTs are minted on Ethereum, volatility in ETH often spills into the NFT space. Traders view NFTs as higher-risk assets, prompting capital outflows during crypto downturns. To navigate this volatility, holders should assess the long-term prospects of their collections, monitor Ethereum’s price action, avoid impulsive selling, and consider buying opportunities on the dip. The current correction underscores the close link between Ethereum’s performance and NFT valuations. While the downturn may be temporary, it highlights market maturity and the need for strategic management in the evolving digital collectibles sector.
Pantera Capital is preparing to establish a Solana treasury firm via a $1.25 billion fundraising and Nasdaq-listed company spin-off. The move follows Galaxy Digital, Jump Crypto and Multicoin Capital’s $1 billion Solana acquisition. Pantera will convert a Nasdaq company into a dedicated Solana investment vehicle. If successful, it will become the largest Solana treasury firm, surpassing current public holdings of 3.44 million SOL (approximately $650 million). Earlier this month, Pantera revealed $300 million in digital asset treasury (DAT) investments covering Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Binance Coin (BNB), Toncoin (TON), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Sui (SUI) and Ethena (ENA).
Bitcoin price has fallen 12.7% from its recent high, dipping to a local low of $108,700. This correction reset key momentum indicators. The Stochastic RSI and other short-term metrics now sit at oversold levels. A Binance futures liquidation heat map highlights liquidity clusters at $108,464 and between $111,000–$112,000. On the daily chart, Bitcoin rests on a major horizontal support tied to its bull market structure. A break below this level would signal broader weakness, though a bounce seems likely. Weekly indicators remain bearish but lag price action. If Bitcoin recovers, the MACD could avoid a bearish crossover, and the Stochastic RSI may begin to climb by week’s end. Traders should watch support levels and momentum signals for signs of a rebound.
XRP is poised for a major breakout after completing a classic cup-and-handle pattern, with leading analyst Crypto Bull forecasting a $7 target on strong volume. Trading around $2.91, XRP’s technical setup aligns with a broader forecast of a potential 200% rally to $9.63 over the next cycle. Concurrently, Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon have launched an initiative to tokenize $7.1 trillion in money market funds, aiming to streamline settlements, reduce costs, and enable real-time transactions. Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure and XRP liquidity solutions have been integrated into this project, highlighting Ripple’s role in bridging legacy finance with digital rails. For traders, the technical signal on XRP combined with high-profile institutional adoption underlines both short-term trading opportunities and a long-term shift toward blockchain-based asset management.
Bitcoin’s recent consolidation has fueled capital rotation into altcoins, marking early altseason. The BPENGU presale has raised over $4.5M ahead of its September 2 exchange listing. With only 24 hours left, traders are rushing to join the BPENGU presale at early-stage prices. Bitcoin dipped below $110,000 after hitting $117,000, driven by profit-taking and Fed rate-cut hopes. Whale activity—including the movement of 23,969 BTC—signals shifting funds into Ethereum and memecoins. Ethereum boasts record ETF inflows, reinforcing the bullish outlook. Bitcoin Penguins (BPENGU) blends meme culture with Bitcoin branding and includes a BTC-BPENGU trading pair in its roadmap. A 1 BTC giveaway sparked early FOMO, contributing nearly $500K in presale funding within 24 hours. Community-driven momentum has propelled BPENGU toward a potential breakout. Similar memecoin surges, such as Pudgy Penguins’ PENGU token, highlight the power of social buzz. Crypto traders eye BPENGU as a top presale opportunity. The BPENGU presale closing soon represents a last chance for buyers to secure tokens ahead of live trading.
MoonBull, an Ethereum-based meme coin, has launched a limited memecoin presale whitelist designed for degen traders. The presale whitelist grants participants the lowest entry price, bonus token allocations, secret staking rewards, and early roadmap hints. After the presale begins, Stage One opens to the public without whitelist perks. MoonBull’s tokenomics hinge on scarcity, volatility, and exclusivity. This memecoin presale whitelist aims to fuel hype and speculation, drawing traders chasing high-risk, high-reward trades. Interested traders should secure a spot via MoonBull’s website before the whitelist fills up.
A CoinCodex machine learning algorithm forecasts significant gains for Ethereum in both the short and long term. The five-day Ethereum price prediction projects a 10% rise to above $5,200, setting a new all-time high. The longer-term Ethereum price prediction for Q4 2025 anticipates ETH breaching $8,100 in October and surpassing $9,000 by November, before a modest December pullback to between $6,876 and $7,278. Historically, the last quarter has delivered double-digit gains for Ethereum, reinforcing the bullish outlook. Traders should watch key levels at $5,000, $8,100, and $9,000 as indicators of the next altcoin season.
Global crypto exchange Gate.com sponsored the WebX Summit in Tokyo on August 25–26, marking its first major Asia-Pacific appearance since rebranding from Gate. Founder and CEO Dr. Han delivered a keynote reviewing Gate.com’s 12-year evolution, highlighting ongoing investments in trading security, regulatory compliance and ecosystem expansion. He asserted that the next-generation financial order will be built on-chain and that Web3 adoption is inevitable.
Gate Japan CEO Pace spoke at the WebX Summit’s closing session on August 26, while Chief Business Officer Kevin Lee and CGEO Laura K. Inamedinova joined roundtables on “Infrastructure as the Foundation for Global Trading” and “Critical Moments for Crypto Success.” As the event’s title sponsor, Gate.com unveiled its refreshed international brand identity at a prominent exhibition booth. The exchange also hosted an exclusive VIP side event at the Tokyo American Club for over 1,000 APAC and global partners, project teams and capital institutions to discuss policy trends and collaboration opportunities.
In Q2 2025, institutional investors increased their exposure to Bitcoin via exchange-traded funds (ETF) to $33.6 billion, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart and Cryptoslate data. Institutions net purchased 57,375 BTC across all tracked categories. Investment advisors led the charge with $17.4 billion in Bitcoin ETF holdings, nearly double the $9 billion held by hedge funds. Brevan Howard Capital Management emerged as the largest new institutional holder, raising its BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust stake to 37.5 million shares ($2.3 billion). Harvard Management Company also entered with a $117 million position. Seyffart noted that investment advisors now hold 161,909 BTC, adding 37,156 BTC in Q2. Among 15 institutional categories, all but pension funds increased their Bitcoin ETF allocations. Broker-dealers and banks ranked second and third. Despite robust growth, institutions account for just 25% of total Bitcoin ETF AUM based on 13F filings, with the remaining 75% held by non-reporting investors, mainly retail. The surge reflects growing integration of professional wealth management into Bitcoin ETFs, potentially boosting liquidity and price stability.
Perpetual swap markets use the long-short ratio—a measure based on open interest rather than trading volume—to gauge true market sentiment and capital flow. Two calculation methods exist: by account count (reflecting retail sentiment) and by weighted open interest (revealing whale positioning). When these ratios diverge, they signal potential reversals: a high account ratio but low OI ratio warns of “cautious whales” building shorts against retail longs (bearish), while a low account ratio but high OI ratio indicates “contrarian whales” absorbing sell pressure (bullish). Extreme long-short ratios also highlight crowded trades vulnerable to squeezes. For optimal timing and risk management, traders should combine long-short ratio analysis with open interest trends, funding rates, and liquidation heatmaps to identify market tops, bottoms, and high-probability trade setups.
Hyperwave Airdrop is now live, allowing DeFi users to earn Wave Points that convert into $HWAVE tokens. Season 1 runs until August 28, 2025, and allocates 16% of total $HWAVE supply to participants. Hyperwave is a DeFi SuperApp built on the Hyperliquid network. Its core products include hwHLP, a provider vault exposure to stablecoins, and hwHYPE, an automated yield vault for HYPE tokens. Partnerships with Pendle, Euler Finance, Felix Protocol, and LayerZero power cross-chain integrations and multipliers. To participate, users connect an EVM wallet, deposit USDT or USDe for hwHLP, and HYPE tokens for hwHYPE. Early deposits, referrals, and Pendle multipliers (2x–2.5x) boost Wave Points. No fees apply in the first 90 days, and tokens can be withdrawn two weeks after deposit. The referral program offers a 5% permanent bonus. Hyperwave’s airdrop targets yield-driven governance distribution. It aims to attract liquidity with zero initial fees and long-term rewards. With cross-protocol integrations, the Hyperwave Airdrop stands out as a major DeFi event for traders seeking new yield opportunities.
Web3 tooling defines the infrastructure choices for decentralized applications. The Web3 stack includes the user-facing dApp UI, blockchain infrastructure providers (RPC endpoints like Infura, Alchemy, QuickNode), data indexers for real-time queryable blockchain data, oracles and decentralized storage for off-chain information, and underlying blockchains such as Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT) and Cosmos (ATOM). Electric Capital’s Developer Report highlights that teams leveraging strong Web3 tooling attract more contributors and deploy features faster. Integrated solutions like SubQuery combine performant RPC infrastructure and scalable indexing, simplifying stack management. As the ecosystem evolves, future blockchain tooling trends will focus on cross-chain development, modular infrastructure components, AI-driven development for automating smart contract audits, query optimization and analytics, and enhanced privacy features through zero-knowledge proofs. AI-driven Web3 tooling reduces development time, minimizes errors, and enables predictive analytics for network demand and anomaly detection. Selecting the right Web3 tooling strategy is a critical investment that determines application performance, cost and scalability, ultimately shaping the success of Web3 companies.
Bullish
Web3 infrastructureBlockchain toolingData indexersAI in blockchainDecentralized applications
A decade-long undercover operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) not only dismantled a transnational drug-trafficking network but also transformed seized illicit funds into a landmark crypto investment. From 2010 to 2020, DEA agents posed as expert money launderers, processing around $1.9 million through shell companies, offshore accounts and complex financial structures. In 2018, to maintain credibility, the team converted $150,000 of drug proceeds into 13 BTC via Coinbase. When the case files were unsealed in August 2025, the Bitcoin stash had ballooned to over $1.5 million, delivering a 1,000% return. The unexpected windfall has triggered a legal debate: should the profit be classified as seized criminal proceeds or legitimate government investment income? This episode highlights how law-enforcement’s hands-on money laundering tactics, mirroring criminal methods, yielded an unparalleled return on Bitcoin. Traders may note the broader lesson: long-term crypto holding can outperform even the most sophisticated Wall Street strategies.
Ethereum is preparing a major architecture overhaul by replacing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with the RISC-V instruction set. This shift aims to remove performance bottlenecks in zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs—currently hampered by 50–800× slowdown from interpreter overhead and inefficiencies from 256-bit stack design and precompiled modules. RISC-V offers a minimal base of about 47 core instructions, a mature LLVM ecosystem supporting Rust, C++, and Go, and a formal SAIL specification enabling strict verification. Over 90% of zkVM projects already target RISC-V, and hardware proof paths (ASICs/FPGAs) are in testing. The migration will unfold in three phases: low-risk RISC-V precompiles, a dual-VM era with full EVM–RISC-V interop, and a Rosetta phase to reimplement EVM atop RISC-V. The upgrade promises 100× faster proof execution, potential throughput up to 10,000 TPS, and reduced costs. Optimistic rollups like Arbitrum and Optimism must revise fraud-proof mechanisms, while ZK rollups such as Polygon, zkSync, and Scroll stand to gain with cheaper, faster, and simpler operations. Developers will access native Rust, Go, and Python toolchains; users will benefit from dramatically lower ZK proof costs. Ultimately, Ethereum will evolve into a streamlined, verifiable trust layer with a “snark everything” vision.
Venture capitalist Tim Draper says altcoins serve as experimental platforms for new features before integration into Bitcoin. He notes Bitcoin’s market share climbed from 40% in the first bull cycle to about 62% today, spurred by successive adoption waves. Despite only 2,583 developers working on Bitcoin compared with over 12,900 on EVM-based chains and 9,094 on Ethereum, Draper believes Bitcoin’s network effect and top-engineer appeal remain unrivaled. He frames Bitcoin as a hedge against unchecked government spending and the soaring US debt, which has ballooned from $395 billion in 1924 to a projected $37.2 trillion by 2025. Draper reaffirms his $250,000 Bitcoin price target - first set as $10,000 in 2017 - citing Bitcoin’s resilience after reaching a record $124,450 before retracing to around $109,144. This dynamic underscores altcoins’ role in incubating innovations that strengthen the Bitcoin ecosystem and bolster its long-term bullish outlook.
Crypto security remains under siege as CertiK reports $2.47 billion in crypto hacks during H1 2025, a 3% increase year-on-year. In Q2, 144 incidents caused $800 million in losses—a 52% quarterly drop—yet February’s $1.4 billion Bybit breach drove overall growth. Nearly half of security failures stem from operational risks such as private-key compromises and social engineering. Recent cases include a $3 million USDT phishing loss and a $900 000 malicious transaction. CertiK co-founder Ronghui Gu warns that as technical defenses strengthen, attackers will increasingly exploit human vulnerabilities. He predicts crypto security losses may exceed $1 billion next year, underscoring the need for human-centric measures alongside code audits.
The Hong Kong stablecoin ordinance, effective August 2025, establishes the world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for fiat-backed stablecoins. Under the Hong Kong stablecoin ordinance, issuers must hold 100% high-liquidity reserves and undergo regular audits. The ordinance positions stablecoins as a payment tool, not a speculative asset. It aims to slash cross-border payments costs from 3% to below 1% and enable near-instant settlement. The regulation bars secondary trading, leverage, and derivatives, and enforces strict KYC and AML requirements. Major Chinese firms are applying for licenses to use stablecoins in Greater Bay Area trade, Southeast Asian remittances, and digital gold settlements. Officials say the ordinance marks a paradigm shift in Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure and will support RMB internationalization. In the next six months, compliant issuers and offshore RMB stablecoin issuance will further drive cross-border payments adoption and stablecoin growth.
Bullish
Hong Kong stablecoin ordinancestablecoin regulationcross-border paymentsRMB internationalizationcrypto compliance
India is set to modernise its financial network by integrating Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across borders and domestic services. The Department of Posts has signed an NDA with NPCI International to connect UPI with the Universal Postal Union’s Interconnection Platform for real-time, low-cost remittances via post offices. Under the IT 2.0 upgrade, all 165,000 India Post branches will soon accept UPI payments through dynamic QR codes, boosting financial inclusion in rural areas. Bank of Baroda’s new bob e-Pay app and AU Small Finance Bank’s update allow NRIs to use UPI for international merchant payments and peer transfers via local or international mobile numbers. Additionally, AssetPlus has launched UPI AutoPay for Systematic Investment Plans, streamlining mutual fund SIP mandates. These initiatives aim to bridge the digital divide, reduce remittance costs, and accelerate digital adoption across India’s economy.
SWIFT’s Chief Innovation Officer, Tom Zschach, recently resurfaced a 2017 article highlighting Ripple’s bid to challenge SWIFT’s dominance in cross-border payments with its XRP-based solutions. The original article covered Ripple’s launch of its Swell conference to coincide with SWIFT’s flagship SIBOS event. Crypto researcher SMQKE questioned the timing of this repost, asking “What does he know about Ripple and SWIFT that the rest of the world is not supposed to see yet?” The move has reignited speculation over whether Ripple’s blockchain network can outpace SWIFT’s financial messaging system. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has forecast that XRP could capture 14% of SWIFT’s transaction volume within five years. As SIBOS 2025 approaches, market observers will watch for any competitive or collaborative updates that may influence the adoption of distributed ledger technology in global payments.
Nasdaq-listed Sharps Technology surged 70% after a $400 million capital raise to build what could become the largest corporate Solana treasury. Backed by ParaFi, Pantera, and others, Sharps will allocate proceeds to accumulate SOL. The Solana Foundation will sell $50 million in SOL at a discount, signalling growing interest in digital asset treasuries. In a partnership with Ripple, Gemini launched an XRP-branded credit card issued by WebBank. The card offers up to 4% back in XRP on fuel and EV charging, 3% on dining, 2% on groceries, and 1% on other purchases, with up to 10% back at select merchants. Gemini also added Ripple USD (RLUSD) as a base currency for all US spot trading pairs, bolstering its product suite ahead of a planned IPO. Prediction markets on Polymarket show a 10% chance President Trump will replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell in 2025, and a 27% chance he will remove Governor Lisa Cook. If realized, such changes could signal looser monetary policy, weakening the dollar and boosting risk assets, including bitcoin. This crypto roundup highlights a surge in Solana treasury fundraises, evolving XRP payment solutions, and market sentiment on Federal Reserve leadership.
In 2025, AI crypto trading will reshape market strategies. Traders blend manual approaches—day trading, swing trading, long-term HODLing, arbitrage, trend-following, momentum, event-driven, and indicator-based tactics—with advanced AI crypto trading tools. Leading platforms—Bitunix, 3Commas, Pionex, Cryptohopper, Coinrule, and HaasOnline—offer adaptive strategy learning, smart trade signals, dynamic grid bots, real-time backtesting, and secure API integrations. Best practices include diversified algorithm portfolios, rigorous backtesting, daily bot monitoring, and strict risk controls (max drawdowns, stop-loss limits, position-size caps). Common pitfalls involve over-reliance on automation, outdated algorithms, and neglected real-time risk management. Effective AI crypto trading enhances execution speed, data analysis, and risk management, empowering traders to respond to volatility with greater consistency and precision.
Neutral
AI Crypto TradingTrading StrategiesCrypto PlatformsMachine LearningRisk Management
RSXYZ, a publicly listed Thai firm, has launched an institutional bitcoin purchase program by raising $5.8 million through a common stock issuance. The RSXYZ bitcoin purchase will fund the acquisition of 3,333 BTC over the next three years, using a dollar-cost averaging strategy to mitigate volatility. This move underscores growing corporate confidence in digital assets and highlights bitcoin’s role as a treasury diversification tool and inflation hedge.
By committing significant capital, RSXYZ aims to position itself at the forefront of crypto adoption in Southeast Asia. The staged RSXYZ bitcoin purchase signals a measured approach that could encourage other Thai and ASEAN companies to explore cryptocurrency investments. Analysts expect increased institutional demand to bolster market legitimacy and potentially support price stability. With global peers like MicroStrategy setting precedents, RSXYZ’s strategy reflects a broader trend of corporate bitcoin treasury management.
Chainlink supply plunge on exchanges hit a record low this August, driven by heavy whale outflows and long-term accumulation. CryptoQuant data shows net outflows of approximately 239,000 LINK, with a single-day withdrawal exceeding one million tokens between August 1 and 7. Reduced exchange supply often translates to lower sell pressure, supporting LINK’s rally from $16 to over $25 earlier this month.
After peaking near $26, LINK retraced to around $23 amid a broader market pullback. On-chain analysts note a symmetrical triangle forming, suggesting a short dip toward $22–$24 before a potential breakout. Fibonacci projections mark upside targets at $31, $52, and ultimately $98–$100 if current support holds.
Adding to bullish sentiment, Chainlink announced a partnership with SBI Holdings to integrate its oracle technology into Japanese financial applications. This collaboration could boost network usage and further reduce circulating LINK supply. Together, the supply plunge and the SBI partnership point to mounting bullish momentum and raise the viability of a $100 price target for LINK.