Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Ethereum’s 180-day moving average of new smart contracts hit a record high after the 2025 Pectra upgrade, which boosted throughput to 100,000 TPS and cut gas fees by 90%. This surge reflects growing developer activity across DeFi, NFTs and enterprise applications. On-chain data shows aggressive whale accumulation. Large holders increased net ETH by 36.6% in the past week and 457.7% over 30 days. Spot exchange inflows totalled $21.6 million, signaling possible profit-taking and selling pressure. Derivatives markets remain balanced, with longs at 50.4% and shorts at 49.6%, indicating trader caution. Traders should monitor smart contract deployments, whale netflows and daily exchange inflows to gauge Ethereum momentum and potential price rally.

Chainlink price jumped over 8% in 24 hours to a six-month high of $24.07. The rally coincided with its Total Value Secured (TVS) topping $93 billion, up 90% year-to-date. Recent protocol upgrades have driven demand: Chainlink launched Data Streams for US equities and ETFs, and rolled out the on-chain Chainlink Reserve, which has added over $1 million in LINK from off-chain revenues. The network also partnered with ICE to provide real-time on-chain FX and precious metals pricing. Traders may view these developments—alongside past highs near $30 in December and the May 2021 ATH at $52.88—as indicators of sustained adoption and bullish momentum for LINK.

ATOM price traded within a $4.47–$4.60 range over 24 hours, reflecting ongoing consolidation. Institutional trading drove heavy volumes on August 11–12, pushing ATOM price down from $4.65 to $4.45 before rebounding. A 1.93 million ATOM volume spike signaled renewed demand, while resistance held at $4.60 and support at $4.47–$4.48. The token later slipped 1% in the final hour, confirming profit-taking. This price consolidation follows earlier intraday volatility, where ATOM price ranged from $4.48 to $4.77 and staged a late-session breakout above $4.53 to set new support at $4.54. Trading volumes surged, driven by institutional interest, and market sentiment improved after Coinbase listed dYdX on the Cosmos blockchain. Crypto traders should monitor ATOM price levels at $4.60 and $4.47 for clear trading signals. With enhanced institutional flows and a strong volume profile, the current pattern suggests accumulation ahead of potential upside toward $5.48 in 2025.

Steak ’n Shake began accepting Bitcoin payments on May 16 across its US, France, Monaco and Spain outlets. Within two weeks, the chain cut transaction fees by 50% and reported a 10.7% quarter-on-quarter same-store sales rise in Q2 2025 – outpacing rivals like McDonald’s and Taco Bell. On launch day, its locations accounted for 0.2% of global Bitcoin transactions, reaching over 100 million customers. The trial underscores growing retail adoption of Bitcoin payments, echoing earlier initiatives such as Overstock’s 2014 pilot and luxury brands’ crypto integrations. Despite only about 2,300 US merchants accepting Bitcoin today, surveys show rising consumer interest. Reduced processing costs, new customer segments and high average crypto order values suggest long-term gains for retailers and bullish trading sentiment for Bitcoin.

Bitcoin price rallied in early August, first briefly surpassing $117,000 on OKX on August 10 (reaching $117,017.30, up 0.11%) before climbing to $120,104.90 on August 13 (up 0.14%). These consecutive price milestones underscore growing bullish momentum and establish strong psychological support at $117K and $120K. Trading volume remains moderate, but momentum traders may drive further gains as Bitcoin tests these key resistance levels. Broader crypto market trends are mixed, yet Bitcoin’s steady advance could pave the way for additional upside or potential consolidation if it fails to hold above support.

XRP has surged over 550% since November, breaking out from a seven-year double-bottom pattern above the $1.80 neckline and retesting support. Technical analyst Gert van Lagen projects a measured move to $34 by mid-2026 on this bullish setup. The rally is underpinned by positive developments in the Ripple lawsuit, exchange relistings and a 95% probability of a spot XRP ETF approval. However, onchain metrics signal valuation risks: the XRP Ledger’s market cap-to-TVL ratio stands near 2,200 versus Ethereum’s 5.6, and more than 95% of circulating XRP is in profit, heightening profit-taking pressures. Traders should balance the bullish technical breakout and ETF optimism with onchain imbalances when planning near-term positions and long-term targets.

FG Nexus, rebranded as FGNX, raised $200 million via private placement to accumulate 47,331 ETH, targeting a 10% stake in circulating Ethereum. The initiative began on July 30 with a symbolic 6,400 ETH purchase marking Ethereum’s genesis anniversary. FGNX plans to generate recurring yields by staking and restaking its ETH reserves, defining “ETH Yield Per Share” as a core metric, and exploring DeFi opportunities in tokenized real-world assets and stablecoin yields. Institutional partnerships with Anchorage Digital and Galaxy ensure secure custody and facilitate structured trading and asset management. This strategic move aligns with corporate crypto treasury diversification amid Ethereum’s recent 47% price rally, reflects growing institutional interest, and may bolster market confidence by setting a new benchmark for large-scale ETH staking.

XRP price rebounded from the $2.8 support and is now challenging the key $3.6 resistance zone. On the daily chart, the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level has drawn buying interest, fueling a push toward $3.4–$3.6. A breakout above $3.6 on strong volume could trigger a short squeeze and propel XRP price toward the $4 psychological mark. On the 4-hour timeframe, XRP price formed a bullish flag and briefly broke out before retreating to around $3.20. Traders should watch volume and price action near $3.6 to gauge whether a decisive breakout or short-term consolidation will follow.

Analysts forecast Ethereum price to climb from around $4,000 to $6,800 by end-2025, driven by sustained ETF inflows, Layer 2 scaling growth, rising on-chain metrics, whale accumulation, and renewed institutional demand. The Ethereum price is trading within a long-term ascending channel, where a decisive break above key resistance could accelerate its rally, supported by positive funding rates and robust DeFi and staking activity. Meanwhile, Remittix (RTX) nears a $20 million presale, having raised $18.7 million at $0.0922 per token, and plans to lock liquidity for three years to curb volatility. The project will launch a beta wallet on September 15, 2025, enabling instant crypto-to-fiat payouts across 30+ countries with built-in FX conversion and zero exchange delays. A 40% token bonus and a planned first CEX listing at the $20 million milestone are cited as catalysts for potential 40–50x returns by 2026. Traders seeking rapid, outsized gains may diversify into Remittix while retaining ETH for steadier long-term growth.

Chainlink’s price rally extended over two sessions, propelling the CoinDesk 20 Index past key levels. On August 11, LINK jumped 8.9%, lifting the index 1% to 4,119.66. In the following session, Chainlink added another 3.3%, pushing the index up 0.6% to 4,138.64. The strength underlines robust demand for blockchain oracle solutions amid mixed market conditions. Ethereum also advanced, gaining 3.3% initially and a further 2.1%, reflecting renewed buying interest in smart contract platforms. Overall, 16 of the 20 index constituents traded higher, boosting market sentiment. Conversely, select lower-cap tokens saw profit-taking: Hedera (HBAR) fell 3.4%, Uniswap (UNI) dipped 3.3%, and Litecoin (LTC) slid 1.2%. Traders are eyeing Chainlink’s momentum for potential breakout trades while monitoring altcoin volatility for short-term opportunities.

Revolut will list the ALEO token for its 60 million European users, integrating Aleo Network’s zero-knowledge cryptography layer to enable secure, programmable payments. The partnership positions the ALEO token as a compliant privacy solution under Europe’s MiCA regulations. The listing is set to boost ALEO token liquidity, adoption and trading volumes while showcasing privacy-focused blockchain innovation. Aleo Network Foundation EVP Josh Hawkings said embedding privacy in global finance turns blockchain into a tool for compliance and empowerment. Traders can expect increased market activity around the ALEO token as new users onboard via Revolut.

Bitcoin.com Casino has launched a 1 BTC Weekly Promotional Challenge to attract Web3 casino veterans and crypto natives. The challenge awards up to 0.5 BTC prizes in a weekly draw. The platform offers poker, slots and a metaverse-style multiplayer crash game called Bitcoin Arena. Players can use BTC, ETH, LTC, TRX, XRP, ADA, LINK, XLM, BCH, USDT or USDC. Fiat payments include SEPA, Visa, MasterCard, MiFinity and Revolut. Built on blockchain, Bitcoin.com Casino promises instant deposits, transparent play and exclusive token perks. The Bitcoin Club loyalty program gives wager-free bonuses, rakeback and a €100 sportsbook free bet. VIPs gain unlimited transactions, a Bitcoin Visa card and dedicated concierge services. Licensed by New Brunswick’s Tobique in Canada, the casino focuses on fast, fair and fully crypto-native gaming. These updates could appeal to crypto traders looking for immersive Web3 casino experiences.

Bithumb, South Korea’s leading crypto exchange, has resumed its crypto lending service after pausing on July 29 due to low volumes and consulted regulators before relaunch. The exchange cut its crypto lending cap by 80%, lowering the maximum loan to 200 million won, and halved maximum leverage from 4x to 2x. These stricter terms apply even to traders with over 100 billion won in cumulative trades over three years. The changes follow guidance from the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) as they draft Virtual Asset Lending Service Guidelines under the Digital Asset eXchange Alliance, focusing on leverage limits, asset eligibility and risk disclosure. The move comes amid wider risk management efforts after KYC lapses at Upbit. South Korea’s retail crypto market remains robust, with over 25% of 20–50-year-olds holding digital assets and allocating an average of 14% of their portfolios to crypto, shifting focus from US tech stocks to crypto-related equities.

Ghost chains are blockchain networks that remain technically active but abandoned by developers and communities. Key warning signs include stagnant developer activity, low on-chain transactions, inactive social channels, outdated websites and token delistings due to poor liquidity. Even well-funded projects like Diem, KodakCoin (KODAK), Luna (LUNA), WAVES, OMG Network (OMG), NEM (XEM), Wrapped NXM (WNXM) and Feathercoin (FTC) can become ghost chains when adoption stalls. To avoid dead blockchain projects, traders should monitor on-chain activity via block explorers, review GitHub commits for recent updates, assess DApp and DeFi usage, and track community engagement on forums, Telegram and X. Analyzing token performance—persistent price declines and negligible trading volume—signals waning interest and poor token liquidity. Beware overhyped “Ethereum killers” or “100,000 TPS” claims lacking delivery. While some ghost chains may revive through rebranding or renewed support, most pose risks of capital loss, wasted resources and security vulnerabilities. Rigorous due diligence and independent research help traders distinguish healthy protocols from ghost chains before investing.

Bitcoin kidnapping is surging in 2025, with at least one Bitcoiner abducted and extorted each week at the Baltic Honeybadger conference in Riga. Criminals use violence in “5-dollar wrench” attacks to force victims to surrender private keys. Rising Bitcoin prices and media coverage have fueled these crimes, which now target holders with as little as $6,000 and have led to murders for over $50,000. A key enabler is leaked KYC data: more than 18 million identities, including 2.2 million home addresses, are exposed online from exchange breaches like Coinbase. Attackers combine this data with blockchain analysis to locate victims. Ranging from ad hoc criminals to professional gangs, the threat has spiked in regions such as France. Experts warn that technology alone cannot stop Bitcoin kidnapping. They recommend op-sec training, physical security checklists, non-custodial wallets, fund distribution and tools like Glok, a Nostr-based app for encrypted distress alerts. The rise in Bitcoin kidnapping underscores the urgent need for stronger crypto security and personal safety measures.

XRP fell about 4% on the day Ripple settled its long-running legal battle with the SEC, even as the agreement confirmed that XRP is not a security. Traders employed a classic “buy the rumor, sell the news” strategy, locking in gains after a pre-settlement price spike. XRP’s mixed reaction was highlighted when Ripple CTO David Schwartz marked the settlement on X with a Monty Python reference, reflecting mixed market sentiment. SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce signalled a move toward regulatory clarity for digital assets, a development welcomed by Ripple’s legal team. However, many investors remain cautious, preferring to await detailed policy proposals. Until formal guidelines are released, XRP and the wider altcoin market will be subject to ongoing volatility driven by profit-taking and shifting sentiment.

BlockchainFX has launched its $BFX presale at $0.019 per token, raising over $5 million and surpassing peers like Remittix, Lightchain, Bitcoin Hyper and Little Pepe. The sale follows a staged pricing model that rewards early investors and targets a $0.05 listing price. Unlike many early-stage tokens, BlockchainFX offers a live multi-chain trading super-app, secure asset storage and a BFX Visa Card compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Its staking programme shares 50% of trading fees in BFX and USDT, while a token buyback and burn mechanism introduces a deflationary tokenomics model. Additional presale incentives include a $500,000 Gleam giveaway for contributions over $100, a $100,000 prize pool for top backers and up to $25,000 in post-launch trading credits. For crypto traders seeking immediate utility and upside potential, BlockchainFX’s presale presents a compelling opportunity.

Sequans Communications (NYSE: SQNS) has further expanded its corporate treasury with a bitcoin acquisition of 13 BTC for about $1.5 million, at an average price of $117,012 per BTC (including fees). The move increases Sequans’ total bitcoin holdings to 3,171 BTC as of August 8, 2025, valued at roughly $370 million and brings its average acquisition cost to $116,709 per BTC. This strategic crypto investment underscores growing institutional demand and may encourage additional corporate bitcoin acquisitions, bolstering market demand and reinforcing bitcoin’s role in balance sheet management.

SharpLink Gaming has agreed a $400 million share issuance with five institutional investors to fund further Ethereum acquisitions. The company will issue shares at $21.76 each. The deal, expected to close this Tuesday, will lift SharpLink Gaming’s ETH holdings above $3 billion. Last week, the firm raised nearly $900 million, including $264.5 million via an at-the-market offering, and retains $200 million capacity for future purchases. On the announcement day, SharpLink Gaming’s stock (SBET) dipped 6.6% to $22.34, then recovered to $23.10 in after-hours trading. Since May, the share price has climbed 189% year-to-date despite a 73% intraday drop in mid-June over a resale filing misunderstanding. As of Sunday, SharpLink Gaming holds 598,800 ETH worth around $2.57 billion, ranking second among public holders behind BitMine Immersion. Meanwhile, Ethereum trades near $4,300, up 44.5% over the past month. The ongoing capital raises underscore market confidence in SharpLink Gaming’s Ethereum treasury strategy.

Michael Saylor’s firm Strategy expanded its Bitcoin holdings on July 29 with a $2.46 billion purchase of 21,021 BTC, raising its total stash to 628,791 BTC valued at over $70 billion. To highlight Bitcoin’s superiority over gold, Saylor has released AI-generated images of himself as pop-culture icons—first as Fight Club’s Tyler Durden, then as Indiana Jones captioned “I was looking for gold… and I found something better.” These viral visuals aim to reinforce Bitcoin’s role as a long-term store of value and boost investor confidence amid market volatility. While the AI art sparks copyright debates, Strategy’s precise disclosure of BTC purchase details underscores its transparency and reflects ongoing corporate demand for Bitcoin as an alternative to traditional assets.

In July, Ethereum futures volumes on CME surged 82% month-on-month to $118 billion, while open interest climbed from $2.97 billion in June to $5.21 billion, data from CoinGlass shows. Across all exchanges, global Ethereum futures turnover hit $2.12 trillion, up 38% year-on-year and 13% above the May 2021 record, with total open interest approaching a new high of $36.3 billion by August 9. At the same time, ETH prices broke above $4,300, peaking at $4,350 in early August—14% below its November 2021 all-time high. Funding rates remain moderate, easing leverage risks, and Google search interest in ETH has reached levels unseen since June 2022. CryptoAppsy reports ETH trading around $4,303, up 0.78% over 24 hours, 18.6% over one week and 45.5% over the past month, underscoring strong market momentum.

Bitcoin price is showing signs of stalling as Wyckoff distribution patterns emerge, suggesting large holders may be offloading positions. A failed breakout above $122,000 and bearish RSI divergence point to weakening momentum. Key support lies between $92,000 and $95,000; a breach could trigger a deeper markdown phase targeting that zone. Traders will also monitor the $117,000–$117,500 CME futures gap, the 4H 200MA/EMA confluence, and the upcoming U.S. CPI data for volatility catalysts. Risk management is crucial: set stop-loss orders near support and view any dips as potential long-term buying opportunities. Altcoin rotation plans may be valuable if distribution confirms.

MicroStrategy bought 155 Bitcoin between August 4–10 at an average of $116,401 per BTC, spending about $18 million. The company’s holdings rose to 628,946 BTC, acquired for a total of $46.09 billion since 2020. At current prices near $119,700, its Bitcoin stake is valued at $75.17 billion, marking a 63% unrealized gain. Co-founder Michael Saylor signaled the latest purchase on social media, following a record 21,021-BTC buy last month. Data from Sentora show MicroStrategy leads all corporations and governments in Bitcoin treasury holdings, accounting for one-third of the 1.86 million BTC held by institutions. The ongoing buying spree highlights growing corporate treasury adoption of Bitcoin and may bolster market momentum.

Floki Valhalla, the Viking-themed play-to-earn MMORPG, has launched a 60-day US TV campaign across Bloomberg, Fox Business and CNBC. Starting August 9, the 30-second ads will air 350 times during prime business hours, reaching over one billion households. This initiative is part of a three-month media push following Valhalla’s June 30 mainnet launch, designed to drive blockchain gaming SEO, brand awareness and token utility. The campaign also features a Times Square digital billboard takeover on Reuters 42nd Street, bi-monthly interviews on New To The Street, Bloomberg Television and Fox Business, and digital content distribution to New To The Street’s 3.16 million YouTube subscribers. Investor outreach includes broker meet-and-greets, New York City retail events and virtual presentations for family offices. With dynamic hexagonal battlefields and a player-driven economy, Valhalla aims to attract new gamers and investors while consolidating its position in the metaverse. The utility token FLOKI, with over 550,000 holders, stands to benefit from increased visibility and engagement.

Upbit has announced that on August 12 it will list the CYBER token, launching KRW/CYBER and USDT/CYBER trading pairs. Deposits opened ahead of the launch, enabling traders to secure CYBER tokens and prepare orders in advance. This altcoin listing on the Ethereum network aims to diversify Upbit’s token offerings, boost liquidity in both fiat and stablecoin markets, and support the growth of the CYBER project.

Tether and Rumble have jointly proposed a $1.17 billion Northern Data acquisition to consolidate control of the AI and high-performance computing provider. Under the deal, each Northern Data share would convert into 2.319 new Class A Rumble shares, valuing Northern Data at $18.27 per share. After closing, Northern Data investors would own 33.3% of Rumble, while Tether becomes the largest Class A shareholder. The proposal includes refinancing Tether’s existing €575 million debt in Northern Data and builds on its earlier $775 million investment in Rumble. Northern Data plans to divest its Peak Mining bitcoin unit and reinvest in Taiga Cloud GPU services and Ardent Data Center AI/HPC infrastructure. This Northern Data acquisition aims to boost AI infrastructure and HPC capabilities, reduce bitcoin mining exposure, and secure long-term financial stability.

Digital asset treasuries have shifted from passive Bitcoin reserves to programmable capital engines. Since June, over 100 public companies have raised $43 billion through token purchases. Institutional holdings now exceed 11% of BTC market cap, with ETFs at 6.5% and corporate treasuries at 4.6%. Firms like MicroStrategy and Trump Media lead with 607,770 BTC and $2 billion investments. In phase two, these treasuries deploy DeFi yield strategies. They stake ETH, participate in liquidity mining, and trade structured options. Governance voting shapes protocol ecosystems and boosts token prices. Self-reinforcing cycles elevate mNAV ratios, lifting stock valuations and funding further crypto acquisitions. Regulatory initiatives like the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts may enhance stablecoin competition and institutional DeFi infrastructure. Traders should watch this trend as a bullish indicator for BTC, ETH, and DeFi tokens.

Crypto AI agent sector has collapsed from a peak $10 billion market cap in late 2024, with token prices (GOAT, ALCH, TRUMP, AI16Z) plunging 50–95%. Over 90% of teams halted development as liquidity dried up and demos failed to scale. Solana’s AI hackathon delivered the only bright spot: an open-source Multi-Chain Protocol (MCP) server, a modular agent suite, and growth from 11 to 50+ integrations, though tool calls remain slow. In the next 6–12 months, traders can expect smarter on-chain AI agents with integrated wallets, faster tool calls, and proactive protocol invocation—potentially resetting Crypto AI infrastructure. Over the long term, AI agents may power stablecoin payments, embed intelligence into DeFi protocols, and enable personalized on-chain context layers. Traders should brace for continued volatility in Crypto AI tokens and monitor infrastructure milestones for new opportunities.

Heritage Distilling (NASDAQ: CASK) has raised $220 million in a private placement to establish a pioneering $360 million IP token reserve. The deal includes $82 million for the direct purchase of 52.5 million IP tokens at $3.40 each, and $100 million via common stock and warrants. Backed by Story Protocol, a16z Crypto and Polychain, this blockchain IP asset reserve marks the first time a US-listed company uses tokenized intellectual property as its primary treasury reserve. Story Protocol will reinvest all net proceeds within 90 days to repurchase IP tokens on the open market, supporting token liquidity and market alignment. This IP token reserve and digital asset treasury strategy aims to unlock new revenue streams, enhance financial flexibility and broaden Heritage Distilling’s investor base. IP token trades at $6.09, down 12% in 24 hours but up 36% in 30 days, with a $1.8 billion market cap, 16% below its February peak. Cantor Fitzgerald and Roth Capital Partners acted as joint placement agents, and Open World served as strategic advisor.