Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Binance will launch the Niu Lai USDT-margined perpetual contract on 30 August 2026 at 11:30 UTC, or 19:30 China Standard Time, according to its official announcement. The Binance Futures contract will offer maximum leverage of 10x, while copy trading may become available within 24 hours of launch. The listing follows a sharp increase in Niu Lai market activity, including a reported gain of more than 75% in 24 hours and a new all-time high. The Binance Niu Lai perpetual contract could improve market access, visibility, liquidity and short-term trading activity. However, leveraged trading may intensify price volatility and liquidation risk. The announcement does not disclose Niu Lai’s trading symbol or full contract specifications. Traders should verify the details on Binance and monitor funding rates, open interest, order-book depth, liquidation data and spot-perpetual spreads. Initial speculative demand may fade quickly if liquidity or market interest weakens.

Real Trump Coins has denied launching, promoting or authorising the Trump Digital GOLD token, despite promotions that appeared on its X account and RealTrumpCoins.com. The company blamed third-party bad actors, deleted the related posts and said it was cooperating with law-enforcement agencies. The X account later linked to TrumpCoins.com, although RealTrumpCoins.com still displayed GOLD promotion at the time of reporting, raising concerns that the account or domain may have been compromised. Blockchain data from Lookonchain indicated that the developer and newly created wallets controlled 82.45% of the GOLD supply. Fifteen wallets linked to the team reportedly sold about $330,000 worth of tokens, with an estimated profit of $312,000. Other reports estimated that operators liquidated roughly $1.01 million, while GOLD’s market capitalisation fell about 99%, from $66 million to $700,000. Security researchers also linked an alleged fraud group to more than $8.2 million in proceeds and another token called PLATINUM. The GOLD token remains an unverified, high-risk asset rather than an official Trump-linked cryptocurrency. Concentrated ownership, rapid liquidation, deleted promotions and possible phishing or domain compromise could increase volatility and undermine liquidity. Traders should verify contract addresses, wallet concentration and liquidity before trading GOLD or similar celebrity-themed tokens.

A critical Cosmos EVM vulnerability was exploited across six blockchain networks between 20 and 25 August 2026, draining an estimated $5.72 million through decentralised and centralised exchanges. The flaw affected Cosmos EVM versions below 0.6.2 and versions from 0.7.0 to below 0.7.2. Patches were released on 19 August, about 20 hours before the first known attack. The vulnerability was reported through Cosmos Labs’ bug bounty programme on 25 April, but it was initially judged not to affect production systems. An unchecked subtraction in StateDB allowed a vesting account that delegated more than its spendable balance to trigger an unsigned-integer overflow. Attackers could then create artificial balances or transfer funds without obtaining validator, administrator, governance or multisig keys. Cosmos Labs estimated that about $2.87 million moved through decentralised exchanges and $2.85 million through centralised platforms. MANTRA separately reported the loss of 720,923,967.99 MANTRA tokens, valued at about $3.6 million before the attack. Three affected chains halted block production, while 13 others were patched or secured before exploitation. Eleven additional installations were identified during the review. MANTRA, KiiChain and TAC were among the publicly identified networks. The incident increases short-term risk for affected tokens, particularly MANTRA’s OM, because of forced selling, reduced liquidity and uncertainty over chain operations. Traders should check block production, wallet balances, software versions and exchange deposits or withdrawals. Cosmos Hub and ATOM were not affected because they do not use Cosmos EVM. The episode also highlights the market risks of silent security patches, delayed disclosure and short upgrade windows for shared blockchain infrastructure.

Anthropic will permanently raise Claude Code weekly usage limits by 25% from September 14, 2026, for Pro, Max, Team and seat-based Enterprise plans. The increase is measured against the original quota, not the temporary limit currently available to users. Since May 13, Anthropic has temporarily provided 150% of the original Claude Code capacity. The extension was renewed four times and is scheduled to end in late August. From September 14, the permanent limit will be set at 125% of the original quota. This gives users 25% more capacity than the old baseline but 16.7% less than the current temporary allocation. The change may feel like a reduction for existing subscribers, despite being described as a permanent increase. It highlights pressure on Anthropic to manage AI computing costs while competing in the AI developer-tools market. Technology traders should monitor user retention, subscription demand and cloud infrastructure costs. The announcement has no direct cryptocurrency market catalyst and is therefore neutral for crypto prices.

Japan and the US initially carried out a rare coordinated yen intervention, selling about $59 billion to support the currency after USD/JPY approached 164. Japan later spent a record $96.4 billion over four weeks, briefly pushing USD/JPY towards 157. However, the yen weakened again, with USD/JPY breaking above 160 on 28 August and closing near 160.10. More than half of the intervention-driven gains were erased. The renewed yen weakness reflects a stronger US dollar, higher Treasury yields and expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer. Hedge funds have also expanded short-yen positions, testing Japan’s willingness to defend the 160 level. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the intervention partly aimed to protect the US Treasury market, while critics questioned its legality, transparency and effectiveness. Officials also warned that intervention cannot resolve wider US fiscal deficits or the underlying interest-rate gap. The Bank of Japan’s 17–18 September policy meeting is the next major risk event. Markets reportedly price in an 80% chance of a rate hike. An unexpected BOJ hike could trigger a sharp unwinding of yen carry trades, as seen in August 2024, when equities and Bitcoin suffered heavy losses. A hold could leave the yen under pressure and increase volatility across global risk assets. Crypto traders should monitor USD/JPY, Treasury yields, BOJ guidance and liquidity conditions for signs of a potential Bitcoin volatility spike.

Fogo, a newly launched Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) Layer 1 blockchain, halted its mainnet after detecting unauthorised activity in a foundation-controlled wallet. About 400 million FOGO tokens, equal to roughly 4% of the 10 billion total supply, were transferred to an attacker-controlled address. The tokens were valued at about $3 million to $3.88 million after the Fogo hack. FOGO fell roughly 18% to 20% to around $0.0075 following the disclosure. The foundation said it is working with cryptocurrency exchanges, law-enforcement agencies and blockchain forensics firms to track the funds and restrict deposits, withdrawals and liquidation of the stolen tokens. Fogo said the breach was limited to its internal wallet infrastructure. User funds and blockchain protocols were not affected, suggesting a treasury or wallet-security incident rather than a direct network compromise. The mainnet pause is intended to prevent further movement of the funds. The team also plans network upgrades and restrictions on addresses linked to the attack, but has not provided a restart timeline. For traders, the Fogo hack and mainnet halt increase liquidity, volatility and counterparty risks. FOGO may remain highly sensitive to recovery efforts, exchange restrictions and updates on the network restart.

Afghanistan’s crypto ban remains in force, blocking licensed domestic cryptocurrency trading and fiat on-ramps. Da Afghanistan Bank says unauthorised online exchanges are illegal, with individuals and companies facing possible legal action. The Taliban began enforcing the Afghanistan crypto ban in August 2022. Police arrested traders and shut more than 20 cryptocurrency businesses in Herat, previously a major trading hub. Authorities also classified crypto trading as gambling and haram under their interpretation of Islamic finance. Before the crackdown, Afghanistan ranked 20th in Chainalysis’ 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index. After the Taliban takeover disrupted banking and cross-border payments, Bitcoin and stablecoins were used for savings and remittances. Afghanistan-based users received about $68 million in on-chain value per month before the takeover, but activity fell below $80,000 from November 2021 onward. Earlier reports also estimated flows had dropped from a peak above $150 million to below $80,000. The ban does not stop the Bitcoin network. Users with private keys and internet access can still send BTC, but domestic trading and fiat conversion carry major legal and enforcement risks. For traders, the policy is a local regulatory restriction rather than a direct threat to Bitcoin’s global market. It reduces local liquidity and formal payment access while highlighting the risks of operating in jurisdictions with strict crypto controls.

Deribit will remove its public Proof of Reserves page on 1 September 2026, ending users’ ability to conduct daily checks of customer assets and liabilities through the exchange dashboard. The decision follows Deribit’s wallet-infrastructure updates and integration with Coinbase, which was completed after Coinbase acquired Deribit in August 2025. About 90% of Deribit customer assets have now moved under Coinbase custody. Deribit said the change will not affect asset protection or segregation. Under Dubai’s VARA rules, it must maintain reserves covering at least 100% of customer liabilities and undergo independent Proof of Reserves audits twice a year, alongside annual financial audits. However, Deribit has not announced a replacement public dashboard. For crypto traders, the removal of daily Proof of Reserves reduces real-time exchange transparency and may increase reliance on custody disclosures and formal audits when assessing counterparty risk.

The Jackson Hole symposium delivered a progressively more hawkish outlook for global monetary policy. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said controlling inflation remains the Fed’s top priority and reaffirmed its 2% PCE inflation target. With July PCE inflation at 3.3%, he warned that the Fed may have more work to do if underlying inflation does not move clearly and quickly towards target. He did not explicitly call for a rate increase, but his comments lifted expectations for tighter policy. European Central Bank officials also indicated that inflation remains too high and that a September rate hike may be necessary. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey was more cautious, citing softer labour-market conditions and moderating second-round inflation effects. Markets are now focused on US inflation data due on 11 September and the Federal Reserve meeting on 15–16 September. The hawkish Jackson Hole message pushed up bond yields, pressured equities and increased interest-rate uncertainty. The symposium also covered tokenisation, payment-system innovation and regulatory challenges for central banks. Political pressure on Fed Governor Lisa Cook resurfaced after the Trump administration renewed efforts to remove her over disputed mortgage-fraud allegations; her lawyers rejected the claims. ECB President Christine Lagarde, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda and former Fed Chair Jerome Powell were absent. For crypto traders, the Jackson Hole outlook is a key macro risk. Higher interest-rate expectations could strengthen the US dollar, reduce liquidity and weigh on Bitcoin and other risk assets. Short-term price action will depend on inflation, employment and growth data, as well as bond yields and rate futures. The longer-term impact may ease if inflation weakens, but the Jackson Hole message currently favours caution and defensive positioning.

Bitcoin short-term holders are recording average unrealised profits of nearly 15% as BTC approaches $80,000, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost. Their estimated average cost basis is about $70,100, marking the highest profit level since July 2025. Bitcoin short-term holders may become more willing to take profits as gains expand, which could explain BTC’s pause near $80,000 and increase short-term volatility. Traders should monitor exchange inflows, realised profits, spot demand and support near the $70,100 cost basis. The data points to elevated selling pressure, but it does not confirm a broader Bitcoin market reversal. If BTC holds support and demand remains strong, the profit cushion could support the longer-term bullish structure.

A National Institute on Retirement Security survey found that 53% of US adults oppose employers adding cryptocurrency to 401(k) and other workplace retirement plans. The survey of 1,203 adults, conducted from 24 October to 14 November 2025, found that 77% view crypto as high risk, including 46% who consider it extremely risky. The results show weak public support for crypto retirement plans despite growing policy debate over digital assets in workplace savings accounts. The survey also found that 80% of respondents believe the US faces a serious retirement crisis. Inflation, market volatility and possible Social Security cuts remain major concerns, while debt and rising costs make retirement saving harder. The Labor Department has withdrawn earlier strict crypto guidance and is considering rules for fiduciaries evaluating alternative assets, including crypto, private equity and commodities. A proposed framework could provide a legal safe harbour, but it would require documented, case-by-case reviews of performance, fees, liquidity, valuation and redemption terms. It would not force employers to offer crypto investments. Democratic lawmakers, including Maxine Waters, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have opposed the proposal, citing volatility, fraud risks and weaker investor protections. Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said fiduciaries would still need to make prudent assessments. For traders, the survey reinforces negative retail sentiment toward crypto retirement plans but does not create a new restriction or immediately change fund flows. The short-term effect on crypto prices is likely limited. Future regulation, institutional adoption and investor sentiment remain the key market variables.

SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung expects the global memory chip shortage to continue through the end of 2030, with no clear signs of a major downturn. He said strong artificial intelligence demand is keeping supply tight and reducing the risk of a sharp oversupply cycle. High-bandwidth memory (HBM), used in AI servers, is developed through close cooperation between chipmakers and customers, making demand more predictable than traditional commodity memory. Even if AI investment eventually peaks, Kwak expects any downturn to be gradual rather than a sudden collapse. The memory chip shortage could support firm pricing, AI data-centre investment and semiconductor capacity expansion. Crypto traders should monitor AI capital expenditure, chipmaker earnings and order growth because these indicators can affect technology stocks, data-centre activity and sentiment around AI-linked crypto projects. The news has no direct impact on cryptocurrency fundamentals.

Hyperliquid initially announced that HIP-4 permissionless deployment would be enabled in the network’s next upgrade. Founder Jeff Yan later added that market templates will be introduced gradually through validator votes. HIP-4 could expand Hyperliquid’s market-creation capabilities, support new DeFi derivatives infrastructure and strengthen decentralised governance. However, no upgrade date, deployment schedule or details on the first approved markets have been released. Traders should monitor validator voting, new market launches, liquidity conditions and HYPE trading activity. HIP-4 may support long-term ecosystem growth, but its short-term impact on HYPE is likely to remain limited until concrete markets and user demand emerge.

Bitwise’s Solana ETF, BSOL, surpassed $1 billion in assets under management on 28 August 2026, about 10 months after its NYSE Arca launch. It became the first individual Solana ETF to reach the milestone, even as SOL traded about 60% below its all-time high. BSOL held roughly 9.33 million SOL worth $1.018 billion as of 26 August. The fund represented more than half of assets across Solana-focused ETFs and captured about 79% of cumulative net inflows. Solana spot ETF products had attracted about $1.7 billion in cumulative inflows, while total trading volume since their late-2025 launch exceeded $13 billion. On 24 August, tracked US spot Solana ETFs recorded $33.5 million in net inflows, including $25 million for BSOL, with combined trading volume of $166.8 million. BSOL stakes about 96% of its holdings and reported a 5.80% net staking reward rate, with a 0.20% management fee. Staking income may support demand during a downturn, but it does not offset SOL’s price volatility, tracking differences or staking risks. The ETF also reported a 39.07% year-to-date NAV loss as of 30 July. For traders, BSOL’s growth signals strong institutional demand for SOL, but its market concentration means large redemptions could increase selling pressure. ETF flows, SOL’s reaction to redemptions and staking demand remain key indicators.

Ajna reported that its Ajna v2 protocol suffered a liquidation-accounting manipulation attack, with estimated losses initially reported at about $775,000 and later estimated at roughly $775,400. The attack drained seven Ethereum-based lending pools between August 28 and 29, 2026: syrupUSDC, wstETH, rETH, cbETH, WBTC, WETH/USDC and sDAI. Security analysts said the Ajna exploit manipulated liquidation and residual-balance calculations rather than relying on an oracle failure or stolen private keys. The attacker repeatedly triggered liquidations and extracted excess value from multiple pools. Ajna’s total value locked fell to about $246,880, down 71.3% over 30 days. Ajna urged users to withdraw all quote tokens, repay outstanding loans and stop interacting with the protocol. Because Ajna v2 is immutable and lacks governance, an upgrade mechanism and an emergency pause function, developers cannot patch or halt the contracts. Users must exit independently. The incident shows that audits do not eliminate smart-contract risk. The Ajna exploit is bearish for exposed lenders, borrowers and the AJNA ecosystem. Traders should monitor further withdrawals, pool liquidity, debt repayment and possible contagion across related DeFi lending markets. The event may also increase caution toward immutable protocols and highlight the importance of liquidation logic, upgrade authority, pause controls and real-time monitoring.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh called artificial intelligence a “hinge point in history” at the 28 August Jackson Hole symposium, saying AI is advancing faster than many supporters expected. US business capital expenditure rose about 9% over the latest four quarters, with more than half linked to AI infrastructure such as data centres, chips and computing systems. Annualised token sales by the two leading AI labs reportedly exceeded $100 billion, up more than 500% from a year earlier. AI has appeared at least 18 times in recent Federal Open Market Committee minutes. The Federal Reserve is assessing whether AI-driven productivity gains could support faster growth without adding to inflation. Higher productivity could affect the long-term level of interest rates and potentially allow rates to stay lower for longer. The Fed is also monitoring AI asset bubbles, market concentration, job cuts, financial instability and the distribution of gains among AI labs, chipmakers, cloud providers and energy companies. A dedicated task force formed in 2026 is studying AI’s effects on productivity, employment and the tech sector, although its findings are not yet directing monetary policy. For crypto traders, AI remains an indirect market driver. Continued AI investment and stronger productivity expectations could support risk assets, while stretched valuations, slower investment growth or tighter policy could increase volatility in technology and crypto markets. The key signal is whether AI spending continues to accelerate or begins to slow, with implications for interest-rate expectations, liquidity and risk appetite.

COPPERINU, a meme coin launched on Robinhood Chain by a Pons Vault developer, initially reached about $10 million in market capitalisation before climbing to roughly $14.6 million, according to later GMGN data. The token gained more than 2,296-fold in one day, while earlier trading volume exceeded $5.7 million. The developer transferred 40% of the COPPERINU supply to crypto influencer Him. Him said the allocation could support staking, claiming and token-burning features, as well as community airdrops. The concentration of tokens in one wallet may support future catalysts but also increases selling-pressure and liquidity risks. COPPERINU’s narrative is linked to a January joke by influencer Cobie about a “Copper Inu” token. Him had previously promoted a similarly named Solana meme coin. Traders should monitor volume, holder concentration, wallet transfers and any staking or burn announcements. The COPPERINU rally shows why headline market capitalisation can be unreliable for newly launched meme coins.

Liverpool drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on 29 August, leaving both clubs without a Premier League win after two matchweeks. Forest led twice through Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty, but Alexander Isak and Víctor Muñoz equalised for the hosts. The Liverpool draw followed a 1-1 result against Newcastle and leaves Liverpool with two points. The match also highlighted defensive concerns under manager Andoni Iraola’s new system, despite strong attacking performances from Isak, Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai. Forest earned a valuable point after two opening defeats, with Matz Sels, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Gibbs-White and Ndoye standing out. The Liverpool draw has no direct effect on cryptocurrency prices or market stability. Traders should view it as sports news rather than a market-moving catalyst.

Hyperliquid’s HIP-4 framework has recorded its first reported builder-deployed outcome exchange, OUT. An on-chain transaction confirms the deployment, but there is no independent evidence that OUT markets are live or have meaningful liquidity or trading volume. HIP-4 enables approved deployers to create validator-approved YES/NO and multi-outcome prediction markets. Its contracts are fully collateralised and do not use leverage, funding rates or liquidations. Traders pay the entry price upfront and can lose no more than that amount. A binary YES position settles at 1 if the event occurs and 0 otherwise. Hyperliquid documentation currently labels permissionless HIP-4 deployer actions as testnet-only. Operators reportedly need to stake 500,000 HYPE, while validators can penalise incorrect or delayed settlement. Separate stakes are required for HIP-3 and HIP-4 deployments. Earlier HIP-4 markets covered Bitcoin, US inflation, Federal Reserve decisions and sporting events. Galaxy Research reported that Bitcoin outcome-market volume once reached $2.38 million in 24 hours, although later activity declined. Blockworks later estimated HIP-4 open interest at about $182,000 and cumulative notional activity at roughly $881,000. The OUT deployment expands Hyperliquid’s prediction-market infrastructure, but its immediate impact on HYPE is likely neutral until live markets, liquidity and volumes are verified. US access remains restricted, and neither OUT nor Hyperliquid has been confirmed as a CFTC-registered venue. Traders should monitor adoption, validator activity, liquidity and future token-related announcements.

INTERPOL’s Operation Jackal IV targeted crypto investment scams, romance fraud, email fraud and money laundering linked to West African organised crime networks. The eight-month operation ran from November 2025 to June 2026 across 22 countries and six continents. Authorities reported 58 arrests and 263 identified suspects. South African police arrested 39 people in Johannesburg, seized $2.67 million and blocked 257 bank accounts linked to crypto investment scams and romance fraud targeting retirees. Argentina reported 17 arrests and identified 196 people tied to a crime-as-a-service network that allegedly provided website infrastructure and money-laundering services. Romanian authorities separately arrested 11 suspects accused of running a call centre that redirected investor deposits into controlled electronic wallets. INTERPOL estimated the operation stole and laundered about €143 million. Police seized approximately €330,000 in cash and cryptocurrency, six properties and luxury watches. The investigation also identified shell companies, digital wallets, dark-web services and external providers used to conceal illicit funds. Country-level arrest figures total 67, exceeding INTERPOL’s headline figure of 58; the agency did not clarify whether the Romanian arrests were included. For crypto traders, the crypto investment scams crackdown signals continued global scrutiny of digital-asset fraud and money laundering. Exchanges, payment providers and wallet platforms may face higher compliance costs and stricter monitoring. However, the operation does not directly target legitimate crypto markets and is unlikely to have a significant short-term effect on major cryptocurrency prices.

Robinhood ecosystem meme coin microduck initially rose more than 352% in one day, briefly reaching a market capitalisation of about $13 million. It later extended its rally, reaching roughly $22 million, with GMGN data showing a reported intraday gain of 415.8%. The move reflects intense short-term speculation around Robinhood meme coins and AI-themed meme narratives linked to Microduck, an open-source AI robot derived from the Open Duck Mini community project and promoted by Hugging Face. The $399 robot includes a camera, LiDAR, open-source development tools and reinforcement-learning capabilities. Despite the sharp price increase, microduck remains highly vulnerable to viral sentiment, limited liquidity, holder concentration and rapid profit-taking. Traders should assess trading volume, liquidity and price concentration before entering, as the rally does not confirm lasting value or broader crypto-market strength.

Gemini has enabled eligible users in Singapore to deposit and withdraw XRP directly on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), following an announcement by CEO Tyler Winklevoss on 25 August 2026. The service connects Gemini accounts with compatible external wallets, including self-custody wallets and other supported blockchain platforms. Users must verify the network, wallet address and destination-tag requirements before transferring XRP. Incorrect details may result in permanent loss of funds. Gemini did not announce new XRP trading pairs, fee changes, minimum transfer limits or adoption targets, so the update is primarily a wallet-connectivity and settlement improvement rather than a direct trading catalyst. The XRP Ledger rollout builds on Gemini’s broader XRP strategy. The exchange added XRP to its derivatives cross-collateral framework in July and enabled XRPL transfers for RLUSD in December 2025. Gemini’s Singapore expansion also follows its October 2024 in-principle approval for a Major Payment Institution licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, although final approval has not been announced. For XRP traders, native XRP Ledger access could improve liquidity links between Gemini, self-custody wallets and other services. Near-term price effects are likely to depend on whether Singapore users generate meaningful XRP deposits, withdrawals or trading volume.

DeFi Development Corp. (Nasdaq: DFDV) has resumed its Solana treasury strategy, buying about 19,000 SOL on 27 August at an average price of $98.14. The $1.86 million purchase lifted its holdings of SOL and SOL equivalents to approximately 2,333,432, up from 2,311,523 reported on 12 August. The SOL purchase was partly funded by proceeds from selling the company’s ZeroStack position, although DFDV did not disclose the proceeds or the precise mix of native SOL, liquid staking tokens and other SOL-denominated assets. The company intends to hold SOL as a long-term treasury asset and deploy it through staking and on-chain infrastructure to generate potential yield. DFDV said SOL had outperformed the Nasdaq-100 by 33% quarter to date, while its shares had outperformed SOL by 1.8 times. These figures are management estimates and are not audited. The transaction reinforces DFDV’s long-term SOL exposure, but further buying will depend on market conditions, available capital and treasury decisions. Traders should also monitor SOL volatility, staking returns, possible equity dilution and changes in DFDV’s premium or discount to its treasury assets.

Former Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao said Bitcoin could reach $1 million in less than 25 years and eventually surpass gold in importance. Speaking at a Bitcoin conference in Hong Kong, Zhao said gold’s market capitalisation is about 10 times larger than Bitcoin’s and predicted that sovereign reserves would gradually shift towards digital assets. He expects Bitcoin to represent more than half of strategic crypto holdings, alongside Ethereum and BNB. The forecast followed a 27% two-week Bitcoin rally. Bitcoin rose from below $65,000 on 18 August to under $79,000 on 28 August, but remained below its October 2025 peak above $126,000. CryptoQuant’s Bull Score also climbed from 30 to 80. It identified a daily close above the 365-day moving average near $83,000 as potential confirmation of a new Bitcoin bull-market phase. Zhao’s outlook is more bullish than Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong’s revised estimate of $300,000-$400,000, although Armstrong has said Bitcoin could reach $100,000 by year-end. Zhao has made accurate and inaccurate cycle forecasts before, so traders should treat the $1 million Bitcoin target as a long-term opinion rather than a near-term signal. The $83,000 level remains an important technical threshold.

The Solana GOLD token faced a suspected insider sell-off after launching on 29 August. A wallet controlled about 82.454% of the GOLD token supply, equal to roughly 824.54 million tokens, through allocation and early purchases. After the Trump-linked account realtrumpcoins promoted the token address, GOLD’s market capitalisation briefly reached $66 million. The post was deleted at 11:48, after which the controlling wallet began selling. GOLD’s market capitalisation fell from $55 million to about $1 million within 30 seconds. The wallet eventually sold its entire GOLD token position for 9,784.6 SOL, worth approximately $1.01 million. GOLD later fell to a market capitalisation of about $700,000, marking an estimated 99% decline from its peak. The GOLD token collapse highlights the risks of concentrated ownership, social-media-driven speculation and thin liquidity in Solana meme coin trading.

Chinese memory-chip maker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has sued the US Department of Defense in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking removal from a military blacklist. CXMT was first designated in January 2025 under Section 1260H of US law, with the listing reaffirmed in June 2026. The company says its chips are intended for civilian and commercial use and that the designation is arbitrary and unlawful. CXMT says the listing has harmed its reputation and commercial interests. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is named as a defendant, while the Pentagon said it does not comment on pending litigation. The case adds to US-China technology tensions and could influence semiconductor supply-chain sentiment, trade restrictions and technology stocks. For crypto traders, the CXMT lawsuit has no direct cryptocurrency catalyst. Its immediate impact on crypto prices is likely limited, although court rulings or wider geopolitical escalation could affect broader risk sentiment.

Lookonchain reported that realtrumpcoins, an account followed by Donald Trump on X, launched the GOLD token. The developer holds 600 million GOLD, while 15 newly created wallets spent about $18,700 to acquire 224.5 million GOLD. Together, these wallets control 82.45% of the total GOLD supply, creating a high risk of market manipulation, sudden selling and extreme volatility. The account was also suspected of being compromised, and its launch post was reportedly deleted soon afterwards. Traders should verify the GOLD contract, liquidity, wallet activity and distribution before taking a position. The GOLD launch currently represents a risk warning rather than a bullish catalyst.

US federal debt exceeded $40 trillion on 18 August, while the Congressional Budget Office projects a $1.9 trillion fiscal 2026 deficit. Federal interest payments have also overtaken Medicare as the government’s second-largest spending item. Grayscale Research chief Zach Pandl said rising debt, persistent deficits and higher long-term Treasury yields are reviving the Bitcoin debasement trade. Investors are increasingly considering scarce assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Zcash as hedges against weaker fiat purchasing power. Bitcoin rose more than 20% over 30 days and reached $81,281. Its 90-day correlation with gold climbed above 50%, while its correlation with the Nasdaq 100 fell to about 33%, suggesting Bitcoin may be behaving more like gold than a technology stock. Earlier, Grayscale said expanded Treasury liquidity operations and potential monetary expansion could weaken the US dollar and support scarce assets. The outlook remains dependent on Federal Reserve policy, Treasury yields, dollar strength and liquidity conditions. A hawkish interpretation of comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh later pushed Bitcoin below $78,000, highlighting short-term volatility. Traders should monitor bond yields, Bitcoin ETF flows, central-bank policy and risk appetite to assess whether the Bitcoin debasement trade can continue.

The Fogo Foundation said an unknown attacker breached its systems and transferred approximately 400 million FOGO tokens to a malicious address. Fogo notified cryptocurrency exchanges and is working with law-enforcement agencies and blockchain forensics experts. The Fogo blockchain remains operational and was not affected. Traders should monitor exchange deposit restrictions, on-chain wallet movements, liquidity conditions and official freezing or recovery efforts. The transferred FOGO supply could increase short-term selling pressure and volatility.