Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

US prosecutors have appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court over what they call a lenient sentence in the $577 million HashFlare crypto fraud case. Estonian nationals Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turõgin ran a cloud mining Ponzi scheme from 2015 to 2019, selling non-existent contracts to 440,000 investors. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after being arrested in Estonia in October 2022 and extradited to the US in May 2024. In August, Judge Robert Lasnik granted "time served"—16 months in detention—along with three years of supervised release and $25,000 fines per defendant. The judge cited uncertainties around international sentence transfers and the risk of indefinite detention if transfer to Estonia was denied. Prosecutors had originally sought 10-year prison terms. The appeal challenges both the sentencing process and outcome, reflecting a push for tougher penalties in major crypto fraud cases. The HashFlare appeal sets a precedent for future blockchain-sector sentencing and signals stricter enforcement. Other recent sentences include eight years in the EmpowerCoin fraud case and 2.5 years for a separate mining Ponzi scheme. Traders should monitor evolving regulatory actions as this may tighten compliance standards and influence market trust.

First Lady Melania Trump has unveiled the Presidential AI Challenge, inviting K-12 students to create AI-based projects that address real-world community issues. The Presidential AI Challenge requires teams, overseen by an adult mentor, to submit proposals by January 20, 2026. Winners at the state level will compete in one of five regional events, with finalists presenting their work at a White House event in June 2026. National champions receive a $10,000 award, payable to their school or shared among team members. The competition aims to cultivate AI literacy and problem-solving skills among young learners and highlight the practical applications of AI in local communities. Interested students can register on the official challenge website.

Bitfinex has released version 1.120 of its trading platform, focusing on security, usability and chart updates. The Bitfinex update introduces an OTP typing indicator and a 2FA refresh button, streamlining the two-factor authentication (2FA) process. A transfer form auto-focus feature now overrides charts to speed up fund movements. The exposure chart is replaced by a daily cryptocurrency change percentage chart, and the portfolio distribution pie chart in Wallets receives a fresh design. Asset lists now display a dash for zero “in use” balances. Traditional Chinese translations have been updated. Deposit flows are optimized, skipping card deposit requests when amounts exceed limits and notifying users of regionally restricted tokens. Numerous bug fixes address modal behaviours, date formats, mobile responsiveness, IP whitelist toggles, column sorting, and notation errors. This Bitfinex update enhances platform stability and user experience without impacting trading functionality.

AI startups funding in the US has reached unprecedented levels in 2025, with 33 firms securing mega-rounds of $100 million or more. This year’s capital influx underscores robust investor confidence and highlights venture capital giants such as Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital driving these rounds. Key sectors benefiting include healthcare AI, infrastructure and hardware, research labs, generative media and legal tech. Notable deals range from OpenAI’s record $40 billion round valuing the firm at $300 billion to emerging labs like Thinking Machines Lab raising $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation. The breadth of funding—from Series A through Series E—demonstrates AI startups funding diversity and the pervasive appeal of artificial intelligence across industries. While these mega-rounds signal rapid innovation, they also raise questions about valuation sustainability, regulatory scrutiny and talent competition. For crypto traders, the trend highlights potential partnerships between AI and blockchain, but AI startups funding remains largely distinct from direct token issuance or DeFi projects.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) now holds about 745,357 BTC, surpassing Coinbase’s 706,150 BTC and Binance’s 584,557 BTC. Meanwhile, the iShares Ethereum ETF holds 3.6 million ETH, narrowing the gap with Coinbase’s 3.8 million ETH and Binance’s 4.7 million ETH. Over two months, iShares added 1.2 million ETH, positioning it to overtake Coinbase by year-end. On-chain data shows 30-day average inflows to exchanges at multi-month lows for both BTC and ETH, indicating reduced selling pressure. Ether ETFs have seen over $1.5 billion in net inflows since last Thursday, with $450 million in a single day. Bitcoin ETFs reversed a $1.17 billion outflow last week with $310 million in inflows over two days. This shift toward regulated BlackRock ETF holdings tightens market supply and underscores growing institutional confidence, creating a bullish backdrop for both Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Animoca Brands, the Hong Kong-based gaming and venture capital firm, has become a network validator and ecosystem partner for IoTeX. This move underscores Animoca Brands’ strategy to expand its AI-driven crypto ventures through real-time, verifiable data. IoTeX delivers live data from millions of devices via decentralized physical networks (DePINs), bridging the gap between static AI datasets and dynamic real-world applications. The partnership boosts IoTeX’s credibility and network capacity, with Animoca Brands already supporting over 540 blockchain projects. Following the announcement, the IOTX token spiked from $0.030 to $0.032 before settling at $0.0306, retaining most of its gains. The collaboration highlights the growing trend of integrating AI frameworks with cryptocurrency infrastructure, potentially paving the way for more autonomous and data-driven blockchain solutions. Traders should watch IOTX token performance closely, as the deal could drive further adoption and price momentum.

On August 28, BitMine chairman Tom Lee told crypto commentator Mario Nawfal that Ethereum presents the largest long-term macro opportunity. Lee argued that blockchain infrastructure could reshape the global financial system, likening the shift to the 1971 change in U.S. monetary policy. He cited firm research projecting multi-year upside for Ethereum and set a $60,000 price target in five years. Lee also reaffirmed his bullish stance on Bitcoin as a scarce store of value, recalling his mid-2017 forecast that BTC might reach $25,000 by 2022. He emphasized that these are professional assessments and not certainties, urging traders to conduct independent analysis and consult current market data before making investment decisions.

Joao Wedson, CEO of crypto analysis firm Alphactal, warns that Litecoin (LTC) may be on the verge of a significant rally. On-chain fundamentals show rising blockchain maturity, suggesting stronger long-term sustainability. Wedson identifies $88 as a key support level and notes that a clear break above $123 could trigger a surge toward the $183 alpha price. Historically, LTC tends to rally sharply when it breaches its alpha target. After an extended accumulation phase designed to test investor conviction, Wedson believes LTC’s next major move is imminent and reveals he personally bought the dip in April.

XRP has consolidated around $2.80 support and is approaching a pivotal resistance at $3.10, according to market commentator Olivia Jane. A sustained breakout above $3.10 on increased volume could attract momentum traders and trigger a surge towards $3.20. This bull flag pattern suggests bullish mid-term potential if key levels hold. Meanwhile, Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato has signaled that cryptocurrencies can serve as complementary assets within diversified portfolios, provided a robust regulatory environment. Speaking at a financial forum, Kato emphasized balancing innovation with investor protection. Japan, a pioneer in crypto regulation and among the first to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, is exploring frameworks to integrate digital assets without compromising financial stability. For traders, the confluence of technical signals in XRP and supportive policy news from Japan could create favorable conditions. Monitoring volume at the $3.10 threshold and regulatory developments will be crucial for assessing short-term momentum and long-term trends.

The Mitosis Booster Campaign is now live on Binance Wallet, offering a structured crypto airdrop and staking rewards in MITO tokens. The campaign runs in two seasons: Season 1 (Aug 19–25) with $1 million in MITO and Season 2 (Aug 26–Sept 8) with $1.4 million. Users deposit BNB or USDT and earn daily MITO rewards proportional to their stake. Season 2 features Simple Yield vaults: a BNB vault sharing $500 K over 14 days and a USDT vault sharing $900 K. An exclusive TGE event will follow, letting users subscribe directly to MITO before public trading. Participants need a backed-up Binance Wallet and must maintain positions. The Mitosis Booster Campaign enhances early project support and broadens MITO token distribution via Binance Wallet.

The Bybit WSOT Airdrop launches ahead of the 2025 World Series of Trading (Aug. 12–Sept. 15). Traders compete individually or in squads for a share of the 10 million USDT prize pool. The airdrop rewards early registration, trading volume milestones, referrals and social engagement. Prize segments include a 670,000 USDT Preheat Stage, 4.4 million USDT Individual Showdown, 3.76 million USDT Squad Showdown and 220,000 USDT Livestream Series. To join the Bybit WSOT Airdrop, users must sign up or log in, complete KYC verification, visit the WSOT event hub, choose one or more competition formats and complete required tasks: meet trading volume thresholds, deposit minimum amounts, refer new users and share content on social platforms. Participants must maintain an active account; only post‐registration trades and deposits count. First‐time deposit bonuses are limited to one claim per user. Rewards are distributed within ten working days after risk review. The contest disqualifies fraudulent or bulk accounts. The Bybit WSOT Airdrop boosts trading activity by offering structured USDT incentives across phases, giving traders a clear path to maximize their rewards.

MetaDAO has introduced futarchy decision markets on Solana, enabling contributors to stake capital on governance proposals rather than relying on traditional token-weighted voting. In this model, a proposal spawns two tokens, PASS and FAIL, which traders acquire by depositing USDC. As traders buy and sell these tokens based on their expectations, the time-weighted average price (TWAP) determines the outcome: if the PASS TWAP exceeds the FAIL TWAP by a preset threshold, the proposal passes. This futarchy decision markets approach aims to align economic incentives with DAO governance, leveraging market participants’ profit motives to drive informed decision-making. Early adopters include Drift, Sanctum and Marinade, which have collectively raised active governance proposals. By tapping into futarchy decision markets, Solana-based DAOs can overcome common challenges such as plutocratic voting, insider influence and voter apathy. While decision markets suit proposals with measurable economic impact—like emission cuts—they are less effective for subjective choices. With MetaDAO’s futarchy decision markets, the Solana ecosystem gains a novel governance tool that rewards accurate pricing of policy outcomes and could reshape community-driven decision processes.

Dogecoin price has fallen 55% from its November peak and continues to trade in a technical bear market. Futures open interest for DOGE has dropped nearly 40% since July, indicating waning derivatives demand and liquidity. Derivatives trading volume also fell to $4.7 billion from $14.5 billion last month. On the three-day chart, DOGE has formed a bearish pennant (symmetrical triangle) pattern at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level near the 50-day and 100-day EMAs. A breakdown below the triangle could send Dogecoin price toward its year-to-date low of $0.1362, a 40% decline from current levels. A move above the pennant’s upper trendline would invalidate this bearish forecast.

Cronos price surged 270% this week to $0.2872, its highest level since May 2022, driven by the launch of the Trump Media CRO Strategy by Trump Media and Crypto.com. The strategy holds $1 billion in CRO tokens, $200 million in cash, a $5 billion credit line and $220 million in warrants. However, three factors point to a near-term Cronos price correction. First, FOMO-driven spikes often reverse once the news fades, as seen in OKB’s 35% drop and Bio Protocol’s 45% plunge after similar rallies. Second, technical indicators show Cronos price in overbought territory: the RSI and MFI are at extremes, and the token trades 90% above its 50-day EMA and 116% above its 100-day EMA, suggesting an imminent mean reversion. Third, the futures funding rate has turned negative and open interest hit a multi-year high of $53 million—signals that traders anticipate lower prices. Together, these dynamics suggest Cronos price is poised for a pullback.

New on-chain data from CryptoOnchain shows the 30-day moving average of the Bitcoin Taker Buy/Sell Ratio has plunged to its lowest level since May 2018, sliding below the critical 0.98 threshold that historically signals strong sell-off pressure. This sharp drop indicates that aggressive sell orders are now decisively outweighing buyer demand, pointing to a market leaning toward distribution rather than accumulation. Compared to November 2021—when Bitcoin last hit all-time highs—the current ratio is even weaker, suggesting elevated downside risk. Bitcoin price is consolidating near $110,000–$111,000 after failing to break the $124,000 resistance zone. Both the 50-day and 100-day moving averages are trending downward, while the 200-day moving average at approximately $114,100 now acts as resistance. If $110,000 support holds, a relief bounce to $114,000–$116,000 may occur. However, a break below this level could trigger a deeper correction toward the next demand zone near $105,000.

Google has unveiled its GCUL L1 blockchain, a fast, low-cost network built on Google Cloud for stablecoin settlements, payments, and tokenized capital markets. The Google L1 blockchain, named Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), is currently in private testnet with a public launch scheduled later this year. Industry experts, including Pratik Kala of Apollo Crypto, warn that this move, alongside similar initiatives by Stripe, Tether, and Circle, may erode Ethereum’s market share, where ETH currently handles over 52% of stablecoin settlements (approx. $145 billion) per DeFiLlama. Paxos’s product manager Chuk Okpalugo counters that GCUL is a permissioned chain targeting commercial bank deposits, not public stablecoins. Despite concerns, Ethereum’s dominance in tokenization remains strong at around 52% ($7 billion in assets), and Standard Chartered projects an ETH price target of $7,500 by end-2025, citing growing crypto treasury demand. Traders should watch for potential shifts in settlement volumes and the impact of permissioned versus public chains on market liquidity.

In the cryptocurrency market, BlockDAG presale has raised $385 million by selling over 25.4 billion coins in 30 batches. The current batch price is $0.03, and early investors in Batch 1 have seen 2,900% gains. Forecasts suggest a listing price of $0.05, with long-term targets at $1 by 2027 and $5 by 2030. The project secures sports partnerships with Inter Milan, the Seattle Seawolves, and the Seattle Orcas. Millions of mobile miners are active, and supply is tightening ahead of exchange listings. The DOGE price forecast shows weakening momentum. Trading volume remains stable, but growth depends on social sentiment and external triggers. Key resistance levels around current prices will decide if DOGE sparks a new rally. XRP could surge if a U.S. spot ETF is approved in October 2025. Analysts project up to 600% gains, targeting $22 to $50. A monthly close above $3.30 is critical for a bullish breakout. This cryptocurrency update highlights diverse opportunities. Traders seeking volatility might watch DOGE. Those betting on regulation could focus on XRP. Investors aiming for significant upside may consider the BlockDAG presale.

Solana (SOL) has formed a 36-day ascending triangle, a bullish continuation pattern that suggests a breakout above $207. Crypto analyst Bluntz highlights this setup on Coinbase, noting SOL’s recent consolidation between $187 and $205. Trading at $202.34, SOL is up 11.9% in the past week and 28% year-on-year. A decisive move above $207 could trigger targets at $250, $277 and $300. Key support sits at $176 after recent rejections at $205. Solana’s fundamentals are strengthening: active wallets near 3 million, network throughput tripled since July, and Visa’s USDC pilot underscores adoption. Institutional interest grows as Pantera Capital raises $1.25 billion for a Solana fund while Galaxy Digital and Jump Crypto plan a $1 billion reserve. This technical and fundamental backdrop may fuel a major rally if SOL breaks resistance.

Financial analyst Levi has issued a bullish outlook on XRP, stating that "XRP is about to explode" based on recent adoption trends and technical indicators. He highlighted the launch of the Gemini-powered XRP credit card as a major milestone for mainstream financial integration. Additionally, Levi pointed to real-world applications—including airfare payments, cross-border settlements, and university trials—as evidence of expanding cryptocurrency adoption for XRP. From a technical analysis standpoint, XRP’s daily stochastic RSI sits in a median zone historically seen as an accumulation opportunity. Levi is monitoring key support levels for potential entry points and expects a breakout once those levels hold. Community reactions have been mixed, with some investors expressing skepticism about repeated “explosion” claims without clear timelines. However, Levi believes that the combination of growing utility and favorable market positioning sets the stage for a significant XRP price rally in the near term. Traders should watch adoption announcements and RSI movements closely for confirmation of this bullish setup.

With the Federal Reserve edging toward its first interest rate cut of 2024, altcoins face mixed prospects amid potential tariff discussions. Analyst Michael Poppe highlights S Coin’s accumulation phase, citing a new testnet integration of account abstraction and an Ethereum-compatible Pectra upgrade as bullish catalysts. Currently trading at $0.318 with 44% lower volume, S Coin has held above $0.25 support and eyes a move toward $0.40; a breakout could propel it to $0.605. Meanwhile, Solana (SOL) surpassed the $203 resistance and targets $220, with Scott Melker noting that a breakout above $204 on SOLBTC could ignite a broader altcoin rally. Traders should monitor these developments for short-term entry points and potential market rallies.

BlockDAG has raised $385 million in its presale with a 2049% bonus, setting a new benchmark ahead of Token2049. The project sold 25.5 billion BDAG tokens with a 2900% ROI since batch 1, and batch 30 is live at USD 0.03 per token. In contrast, Bitcoin Swift surpassed USD 1.3 million in presale funding from over 5,500 contributors and prepares for its August 30 launch with Stage 7 tokens at USD 7 and up to 300% bonus plus 25% referral rewards. Meanwhile, BlockchainFX’s presale hit USD 6 million, pricing BFX tokens at USD 0.021 with an expected listing price of USD 0.05 for up to 150% gains. BlockchainFX also redistributes 70% of trading fees to stakers in BFX and USDT, funds token buybacks and burns, and offers a presale-exclusive BFX Visa card across multiple asset classes.

An ongoing Ethereum rally above $4,000 is boosting altcoin performance and increasing investor appetite in ecosystem tokens. LILPEPE, an ETH-based meme coin under $0.0025 in its presale, stands out with a Layer-2 solution designed for fast, low-cost transactions. Its PEPE launchpad incubator has raised $22.3 million across 4.25 billion tokens. Analysts see 1,000x potential if LILPEPE hits $2.50 by 2026, citing parallels with Shiba Inu and Pepe Coin surges during previous Ethereum rally phases. Key drivers include robust community engagement, anticipated CEX listings, and spillover liquidity from the Ethereum rally. These factors, combined with market tailwinds, make LILPEPE a candidate for explosive altcoin gains in the next cycle.

MicroStrategy Bitcoin investment has been ongoing since August 2020, funded largely through debt issuance to boost shareholder returns. After a March purchase of 155 BTC for $18 million, MicroStrategy added 3,018 BTC on August 25 for $357 million, raising its total corporate treasury holdings to 632,457 BTC (3.176% of the 19.9 million circulating supply), now valued at $46.5 billion at ~$111,300 per BTC. In Q3, its BTC holdings rose 4.7%, yielding $3.16 billion, while year-to-date returns reached 25.4% ($12.64 billion), outpacing 2024 profits. Co-founder Michael Saylor plans to raise up to $200 billion over four years for a Bitcoin credit initiative. This MicroStrategy Bitcoin investment strategy underscores growing institutional demand for BTC and cements its role as a corporate treasury asset, with potential to influence market sentiment and serve as a proxy for direct Bitcoin exposure.

XRP has formed a bullish flag pattern with support at $2.89. A clear break above $3.08 could trigger a rally toward $3.20. Rising trading volume and more than $1 billion in CME XRP futures open interest point to growing institutional activity. Meanwhile, University of Basel Prof. Fabian Schär highlights Ripple’s XRP Ledger for high-speed, low-cost cross-border payments. He says RippleNet can integrate with existing banking systems, offering near-instant and transparent settlements. Ripple’s development of a compliant oracle further strengthens its appeal to financial institutions.

Tazapay, a Singapore-based cross-border payments platform, has raised a Series B funding round led by Peak XV Partners with new investments from Ripple and Circle Ventures, Norinchukin Capital and GMO VenturePartners. The undisclosed funding will fuel its expansion in the US, UAE, Hong Kong and Australia, accelerate licence applications for digital payment tokens in Singapore, and support entry into Japan. Tazapay processes over $10 billion in annual transaction volume and achieved 300% year-over-year growth. By integrating fiat transfers with stablecoin rails powered by USDC and XRP, the platform bridges traditional banking and blockchain payments. The round will deepen stablecoin support and expand last-mile payment rails in emerging markets, building on a Series A led by Sequoia Southeast Asia.

The CFTC will implement Nasdaq SMARTS, a widely used market surveillance system, to oversee trading in crypto derivatives, spot exchanges and on-chain prediction markets. This move enhances the regulator’s ability to detect manipulation, wash trading, insider trading and other abusive practices. By integrating this advanced crypto surveillance tool across multiple venues, the CFTC strengthens market integrity and investor protection. The initiative aligns with similar surveillance agreements by other US regulators for spot BTC and ETH ETFs, marking a broader shift toward standardized crypto surveillance. Expanded monitoring may bring stricter compliance, new reporting requirements and heightened scrutiny of decentralized platforms, potentially affecting liquidity.

BONK has broken out of an inverse head and shoulders pattern around $0.00002 and is now retesting the neckline as support. Analysts forecast a 100% upside move, targeting levels from $0.000024 up to $0.000052. The token trades above its 200-day moving average, indicating long-term strength, while the RSI remains neutral. After forming a bullish flag, BONK is testing its upper edge and could see another leg higher if it breaks out. However, open interest in BONK futures has dropped from $73 million to $29 million, reflecting caution among traders. Institutional attention rose when BONK was added to Grayscale’s tracking list. A decisive hold above the neckline and flag breakout would confirm bullish momentum.

Jupiter Lend launched its public beta on Solana with over 40 isolated vaults. The platform rolls out a $2 million incentive program funded by JUP, Fluid and partners. Jupiter Lend supports JUP collateral alongside USDC, USDT and Global Dollar stablecoins, wrapped Bitcoin tokens (cbBTC, xBTC, WBTC) and liquid staking tokens JupSOL, JitoSOL. Key features include higher borrowing caps, elevated loan-to-value ratios, reduced liquidation penalties and one-click leverage loops powered by Fluid’s flash-loan engine. Composability enables users to borrow and instantly swap or trade perpetuals within the protocol. Following stress tests and audits by Offside Labs and Zenith256, traders deposited JUP to borrow USDC. The JUP price jumped about 7% to $0.498, with traders eyeing a move above $0.54. Strong incentives and advanced DeFi tools suggest a bullish outlook for Jupiter Lend, though sustained gains depend on broader market momentum and trading volumes.

Stellar XLM traded within a tight $0.38–$0.40 range over the past 24 hours, despite a 2% intraday dip. Trading volume jumped 115% to $402.2 million, driven by institutional flows linked to ETF-related regulatory filings. XLM tested resistance at $0.40 before retracing to support near $0.38, highlighting key technical levels. Elevated volume during breakouts and rebounds underscores sustained institutional participation. Market watchers see this surge in trading volume and the ability to hold support as bullish indicators. Continued ETF approvals and corporate interest in digital assets could propel XLM past its current resistance, shaping both short-term momentum and long-term growth prospects.