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Overview: Capital market activity is subdued. The US dollar and the dollar-bloc currencies ae mostly a little softer, while the other G10 currencies are around 0.1-0.2% firmer. Emerging market currencies are mixed with central European currencies mostly firmer, though the Russian ruble is the notable exception, off about 1%. European bond yields are slightly softer, though ahead of Sweden's Riksbank meeting tomorrow, its 10-year bonds yield is up a basis point, while the krona is the strongest of the G10 currencies, though no change is expected in the 2% policy rate. News of a rapprochement between India and China, one of the consequences of US foreign economic policy, helped Indian equities buck the regional down draft today. Reports suggest Beijing is lifting export restrictions on rare earths and heavy earth-moving equipment on India. Europe's Stoxx 600 is up about 0.5% and is advancing for the fifth session in the past six. US index futures are flat to slightly lower. Gold and September WTI are trading quietly inside yesterday's ranges. There seems little market reaction to the Ukraine-Russia developments, but some observers are wary of a repeat of the Sudetenland in 1938, when Czechoslovakia was forced to surrender it to Germany to avoid further war, which, of course it didn't. Instead, the abandonment of the defended territory, like the part of Donbas that Russia has not managed to take, made a full invasion easier. The market is digesting news that the US has extended the steel/aluminum tariffs to include more than 400 consumer items. Separately, S&P affirmed the US AA+ rating, explaining that the tariffs US are collecting will offset the deterioration of the recent tax and spending bill. Lastly, the continued decline in the use of the Federal Reserve's reverse repo facility boosts the chance that next month the Fed will not only cut its target rate but may announce an exit strategy from its quantitative tightening. USD: Last Thursday's range remained operative through yesterday, confining the Dollar Index in a roughly 97.65-98.30. It made a marginal new high today but held below the 20-day moving average (~98.40) and this month's down trendline, found around 98.55-60 today. US reports July housing starts and permits. Both are expected to slip. Starts have fallen in two of the three months every quarter since Q2 24. In H1, starts fell by an average of 1.9% a month (compared to -1.8% average in H1 24). Tomorrow, the minutes from last month's FOMC meeting are due. The hawkish takeaway by the market confounded us, especially given the dovish dissent by two governors. If anything, subsequent events make the minutes somewhat less significant. The day following the conclusion of the FOMC meeting, the futures market almost 10 bp of cuts discounted for the Sept meeting and now it is double that. EURO: The euro made a marginal new three-day high yesterday, slightly above $1.1715, but was sold back to almost $1.1655 in North America yesterday. Losses were extended to about $1.1640 today ahead of support seen around $1.1630, where last Thursday's low and the 20-day moving average are found. Some countries like Japan run a trade deficit and a current account surplus, but the eurozone's current account surplus is driven by the trade account. However, yesterday's news that the trade surplus narrowed to 2.8 bln euros (seasonally adjusted) from 15.6 bln in May was not reflected in today's current account report that showed the surplus widened to (seasonally adjusted) to 35.8 bln euros from 31.8 bln in May. The eurozone's current account surplus was 2.6% of GDP in 2024 and may be a little smaller this year. On an unadjusted basis, the EU's trade surplus with the US in June was almost half of the June 2024 surplus (9.6 bln euros vs. 18.5 bln) as exports fell 10.3% year-over-year and imports rose 16.4%. Exports to China are off 12.7% year-over-year, while imports are 16.7% higher. CNY: The dollar continues to trade in a narrow range against the offshore yuan. The convergence of the five- and 20-day moving averages (~CNH7.1840) illustrate this. The dollar reached a five-day high near CNH7.1920 before being sold to almost CNH7.1830. Even as the PBOC pledges "moderately loose monetary policy," it set the dollar's reference rate at a new low for the year yesterday (CNY7.1322), though higher today (CNY7.1359). Loan prime rates are set tomorrow and look to be flat at 3.0% and 3.50% for the one- and five-year terms, respectively. After the recent batch of disappointing data, there is renewed speculation of more stimulus, perhaps in Q4. JPY: The dollar firmed to a marginal new four-day high today, and pushed a little aboveJPY148, the (38.2%) retracement of this month's decline. Selling pressure emerged and the US dollar was knocked back to JPY146.55. Support is seen in the JPY147.15-35 area. Japan reports the July trade figures first thing tomorrow. On an unadjusted basis, it is expected to report a surplus of almost JPY200 bln. Without seasonal adjustments, a deficit is projected. In the first half, Japan recorded an average monthly deficit of JPY370 bln (unadjusted). In H1 24, the average monthly deficit was almost JPY561 bln and an average deficit of nearly JPY1.12 trillion. Despite last week's call from the US Treasury Secretary for the BOJ to hike rates and the stronger than expected Q2 GDP, and the contraction in Q1 GDP revised away, the swaps market still see little chance of a hike next month. It has about 2.5 bp discounted compared with 1.5 bp a week ago. GBP: Sterling reached almost $1.3600 last Thursday after the stronger than expected Q2 GDP figures but was greeted by sellers and finished lower on the session. Sterling was sold to a three-day low slightly above $1.35 yesterday. Follow-through selling took it slightly below $1.3490 today before finding bids. A break of the $1.3480 area could signal a move toward the (38.2%) retracement of this month's rally and the 20-day moving average around $1.3420. Tomorrow, the UK reports July CPI. The median forecast in Bloomberg's survey is for a flat reading, which given the base effect, would allow the year-over-year rate to tick up to 3.7% (from 3.6%), while core and services prices remain elevated. The BOE warned that the headline rate may rise to 3.8% and sees a peak of 4.0% next month. It projected service price inflation to rise to 4.9% (from 4.7%). The swaps market is pricing in about 13 bp of cuts before the end of the year (~52% chance of a quarter-point cut), down from fully pricing in a cut before the last BOE meeting earlier this month. CAD: The US dollar rose to about CAD1.3830 yesterday, its best level since August 1. The upside momentum was not sustained and the greenback eased to around CAD1.3800. That more or less has held today, and the US dollar is back near CAD1.3820 late in the European morning. The next near-term target is around CAD1.3840 and then the August 1 high around CAD1.3880. The Canadian dollar's initial decline losses came despite favorable economic news but amid a broadly firmer greenback. Yesterday, Canada reported the fourth consecutive increase in housing starts, and the 294.1k annual rate was the strongest since September 2022. Separately, Canada reported that foreign investors were net buyers of Canadian stocks in bonds in July for the first time since January, but it was minor (C$701 mln). Today, Canada reports July CPI. Given the base effect, the 0.3% increase expected will allow the year-over-year rate to slip to 1.8% from 1.9%. However, the underlying core rates look firm (may average 3.1% in July from 3.05% in June) and this will likely keep the Bank of Canada on hold next month. AUD: The Australian dollar rallied from about $0.6420 on August 1 to nearly $0.6570 on last Thursday. It slipped marginally through the pre-weekend low yesterday (slightly above $0.6480). The $0.6475, which the Aussie has held above today, corresponds to the (61.8%) retracement of this month's rally. A break could signal a move to $0.6450 initially. Despite the Aussie sometimes being seen as a G10 proxy for China, it has not worked so well recently. The correlation between changes in the exchange rate and China's CSI 300 is less than 0.15 over the past 30 sessions, which is the lowest in about six weeks. The high for the year was set in early May a little above 0.75. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to cut its target rate a quarter-point tomorrow to 3.0%. The swaps market sees the terminal rate near 2.75%. MXN: The greenback remains in its trough against the Mexican peso. It was volatile in the first part of the year as the market tried assessing the implications of Trump's second term. In the first four months of the year, three-month implied volatility average 13.2%. Since the end of April, the average is closer to 10.3%. The dollar has been trading roughly between MXN18.50 and MXN19.00 since late June. Given the carry, one is paid to be long peso even in the sideways market. Speculators (non-commercials) have among the largest net long peso positions in the futures market in about a year. The greenback reached almost MXN18.87 yesterday but slipped back to nearly unchanged levels in late turnover. The dollar remains firm today in a roughly MXN18.7470-MXN18.8120 range. Disclaimer

With XRP staring down the barrel of bears, there are now a number of levels that are important to watch as the month progresses. Crypto analyst EGRAG CRYPTO has outlined these important targets for investors to pay attention to, as they could be the make-or-break points for XRP. What To Watch Out For With XRP At the start of the analysis, the crypto analyst first implores investors to make sure that they adjust their perspective as things change. This is to ensure that they do not lose sight of the macro picture and are able to keep up with the market trends. That said, there are different levels that are now determining where the XRP price could be headed next, as bulls and bears continue to vie for total control. After breaking below $3 again, the XRP price is already at risk of being completely overtaken by bears as they continue to mount bear pressure. From here, the determining target lies at the $2.9 support, which the bulls must hold if there is going to be any further decline. As EGRAG CRYPTO explains, if bulls do not hold this level, then XRP could be looking at a more than 10% crash from here. A break of this support would confirm that the price is fulfilling a Wave 5 structure, and the analyst sees this leading to a decline to as low as $2.65. On the flip side of this are levels that could point to a resumption of the upward rally if broken. The first of these is to reclaim $3 decisively before moving toward the $3.13. Once the price is able to surmount the resistance at $3.13, this is where the real action starts as the first major milestone in the move. Next is the $3.20 resistance, which needs a decisive close. As the analyst explains, closing above $3.20 will be the confidence boost needed to continue the upward move, and after here, there is a bit of a gap before the XRP price encounters the next major resistance. Once the price gets to the $3.45 level, then it is gearing up to clear new all-time high levels. This gives way to the very last roadblock to new all-time highs, and that is the $3.65 target. This is where the analyst tells investors to watch as the price makes its way upward.

The South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) has ordered Korean crypto exchanges to stop lending with immediate effect. This move comes in as the financial authority attempts to control some of the risky lending practices in its digital asset sector. On 19 August 2025, the financial regulatory body confirmed this news and formally issued administrative guidance requiring crypto exchanges to cease all lending operations involving fiat or crypto collateral. The guidance will remain in effect till a framework is in place. Interestingly, the FSC issued its guidance just days after analysts at Galaxy Digital published their Q2 report, highlighting growing leverage across crypto markets. Crypto lending witnessed a massive spike starting early July as major exchanges rolled out aggressive lending programs. For instance, Upbit allowed users to borrow up to 80% of their deposit value. This borrowed amount could be in Korean Won or digital assets backed by collaterals such as Tether (USDT), Bitcoin and XRP. Competition ensued with Bithumb offering an even more leveraged offering, extending loans worth up to four times a customer’s holdings. Several domestic platforms then joined in, bringing about a rapid expansion of retail lending activity. EXPLORE: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in August 2025 FSC Recently Flagged An Unusual Selloff Of Tether While the launch of these lending products aligned with the ruling party’s introduction of the Digital Asset Basic Act, a legislative proposal to formalise lending services on crypto exchanges, the FSC ended up issuing a warning last month, stating that these products operate in a grey zone and are extremely risky. The FSC revealed that approximately 27,600 investors borrowed about 1.5 trillion Won (approximately $1.1Bn) during the first month of a crypto exchange’s lending program rollout. It further noted that more than 13% of those borrowers were liquidated amid heightened market volatility. Additionally, the regulatory body flagged an unusual selloff of Tether (USDT), triggered by lending activities, which temporarily disrupted stablecoin prices across South Korean trading platforms. To counter grey zone lending operations, the FSC stated that it will develop a formal regulatory framework for digital asset lending. “We will move swiftly to prepare guidelines to protect users and ensure stability in the market,” the agency said. Additionally, it confirmed that investors can still pay off existing loans or extend under current agreements. EXPLORE: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Clampdown On Lending Enforced Within A Broader Industry Pivot To Crypto The regulatory clampdown on crypto lending is taking place in the backdrop of a broader shift towards digital finance in the country. Authorities under the new regime are easing restrictions on institutional trading and are currently laying the groundwork for South Korea’s first spot crypto ETF as a nod to the mainstreaming of crypto. President Lee Jae Myung’s administration is working away at a stablecoin framework pegged to the Korean Won, signalling an assertive stance on crypto despite roadblocks. Meanwhile, Dunamu, the company behind Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, launched a new custody service last week to cater to corporate and institutional clients. This reflects a growing demand for secure asset storage as regulatory clarity fuels institutional interest in virtual asset investments. EXPLORE: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in August 2025 Key Takeaways South Korean FSC has paused all crypto lending operations till formal frameworks are in place 26,700 investors borrowed $1.1 Bn, with 13% of them liquidated amid heightened market volatility in one month Investors can still pay off existing loans or extend under current agreements The post South Korean Crypto Exchanges To Stop Lending With Immediate Effect appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Bitcoin (BTC) is attempting to reclaim a crucial level as support after bouncing from the recent drop below $115,000. Nonetheless, some analysts warned that the cryptocurrency is entering a corrective phase with a potential 15%-25% drop. Bitcoin Risks Drop Below $110,000 On Monday, Bitcoin fell below the $115,000 level for the first time in nearly two weeks, retesting the $114,500 support before bouncing. The flagship crypto has been hovering between its local price range since August 7, hitting its latest all-time high (ATH) of $124,200 before ultimately being rejected from the range highs. Now, some market watchers have affirmed that BTC has entered a corrective phase, which could send the cryptocurrency below other crucial support levels. Ali Martinez noted that the recent rejection “came in the form of a deviation, which often signals weakness and opens the door for deeper pullbacks.” According to the analyst, Bitcoin has been trading within the $112,000-$122,000 price range, suggesting that the local bottom is the next key support level to watch as momentum leans bearish. Notably, the cryptocurrency immediately bounced from today’s drop, reclaiming the recently lost $116,500 breakout level, and nearing the $117,000 area again. To the analyst, a confirmed rebound could reset bullish momentum, sending the price to the range highs. However, if BTC’s price drops again and the $112,000 support doesn’t hold, the cryptocurrency risks triggering a $4,000 drop to the $108,000 area. Martinez highlighted that on-chain data shows a liquidity grab between these two levels. Additionally, the Accumulation Trend Score, which dropped to 0.20, signals that holders are “redistributing their Bitcoin rather than accumulating at these levels.” Has The Price Discovery Correction Begun? Analyst Rekt Capital pointed out that BTC failed to hold the crucial $119,000 level as support on the weekly chart, closing on Sunday below its weekly bull flag pattern that had been developing since early July. According to a previous analysis, turning the pattern’s bottom into resistance would be a bearish retest that would confirm the breakdown from the pattern, and potentially lead to a new retest of the $112,000 area. Amid its recent performance, he asserted that Bitcoin has entered its second Price Discovery Correction, which has historically followed the second Price Discovery Uptrend peak, between weeks 5-7. “Interestingly, the upside wick that formed last week developed right at the finish line in Week 6 before pulling back. This upside wick was crucial because it came to save the historical cyclicality that we tend to see in price action across cycles,” the analyst explained, as the previous ATH formed in Week 2 of the second uptrend. Rekt Capital suggested that Bitcoin could be transitioning into a corrective period. Nonetheless, he noted that this corrective might not last as long as previous corrections, as at this moment of the 2017 and 2021 cycles, BTC pullbacks lasted between 1-3 weeks and were 25% and 29% deep, respectively. “In both cases, these pullbacks were shorter and shallower by the standards of the previous corrections in the respective cycles,” he detailed, concluding that BTC must “ideally resolve this pullback over the next handful of weeks and perform a relatively shallow pullback of -15% to -25%.”

The crypto market remains under pressure as Bitcoin slipped below $115,000, testing key support levels and dragging sentiment lower. Ethereum also fell under $4,200, fueling a wave of volatility that led to more than $400 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours. As some believe Bitcoin may revisit $112K, others see this as a chance to accumulate specific altcoins like Chainlink (LINK). Whale 0x4EBD recently withdrew another 249,808 LINK ($6M) from Binance about 35 minutes ago, bringing his total withdrawals to 1,293,757 LINK ($31.15M) over the past four days making LINK one of the best of the altcoins to buy right now. ChainlinkPriceMarket CapLINK$17.25B24h7d30d1yAll time EXPLORE: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 ETF flows reflected the cautious mood. On August 18, Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $197 million in net outflows, the second-largest in history. Bitcoin spot ETFs also struggled with $122 million in total net outflows, though Bitwise’s BITB was the only one to register net inflows. Despite the broader pullback, XRP reclaimed the $3 mark, showing relative strength compared to majors. With Bitcoin dominance still high, traders are watching for signals of rotation into promising altcoins. While volatility is shaking weaker hands, accumulation in projects like LINK highlights how selective altcoins could outperform once stability returns. But what else is happening in crypto news today? Follow our up-to-date live coverage below. 38 minutes ago Deja Vu? SEC Kicks Solana, XRP, Truth Social Crypto ETFs Into Long Grass By Fatima The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has once again kicked key crypto ETF applications into the long grass, delaying a slate of high-profile filings until October – in a deja vu moment for SEC crypto timelines. In notices filed August 18, the regulator extended review deadlines for NYSE Arca’s Truth Social Bitcoin-Ethereum ETF to October 8, for 21Shares’ and Bitwise’s Solana funds to October 16, and for the 21Shares Core XRP Trust to October 19. Are political fears holding back Trump’s crypto ETF? Read The Full Article Here The post [LIVE] Latest Crypto News, August 19 – Bitcoin Price Struggles To Hold $115K, XRP Reclaims $3: Best Altcoins To Buy Right Now? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

GameFi is broken – if it ever worked to begin with. Play-to-earn relied on complicated tokenomics (often inflationary), with gameplay driven largely by luck. And if you really wanted to earn more, the easiest way was by bot-powered reward farming. As a result, the GameFi sector hasn’t really gotten off the ground, mired in crappy gameplay and poor mechanics. But Tapzi ($TAPZI) could change everything, finally fulfilling GameFi’s promise. GameFi Sector Outlook: Stormy, But Rays of Light Activity in blockchain gaming has softened in recent months. DappRadar’s Q2 2025 snapshot shows daily unique active wallets (dUAW) across Web3 at 24.3M (down 2.5% quarter-over-quarter), with gaming’s share at 20% and gaming-specific dUAW down 17% quarter-over-quarter to 4.8M. Steep year-over-year funding declines and a wave of game shutdowns have been tied to weak retention and unsustainable tokenomics. But these negative stats might just be the calm before the storm. So far, the GameFi industry has stagnated due to poor games – not because of any problem with the underlying concept. And there are bright spots in the sector, too, such as the Notcoin phenomenon on TON. It pushed wallet growth and popularized simple tap-to-earn mechanics – evidence that straightforward loops and social distribution can still succeed. Another positive sign? Traditional publishers are testing on-chain features: Ubisoft rolls out Might & Magic: Fates with Immutable, and Immutable has opened ‘Immutable Play’ to Web2 studios to add on-chain rewards. Sega launched KAI: Battle of Three Kingdoms in April on the Oasys blockchain Netmarble continues to push a 2025 roadmap with seven Immutable-based blockchain games Fifa, Mythical Games, and even Cirque du Soleil are getting into Web3 games. Coming at a time when the broader market is down, these moves underscore a shift toward optional, utility-led blockchain layers rather than token-first design. And blockchain-first architecture is exactly what Tapzi offers. Tapzi: Gaming Platform and Skill-Based Winners Aware of the weaknesses of the Web3 gaming world, Tapzi sets out to solve them. One of the best crypto presales and best meme coins of 2025, Tapzi offers gasless, bot-free matches that let players stake tokens in live duels of chess, checkers, tic-tac-toe and rock-paper-scissors. The winner takes the pot, pure and simple. Tapzi’s core loop is simple: before a match of chess, checkers, rock-paper-scissors or tic-tac-toe, both players stake $TAPZI; the winner takes the prize pool. Matches are gasless (not as fees), so micro-stakes aren’t eaten by fees and are played live against human opponents (no bots). The whitepaper calls for on-chain result storage, replays and cryptographic timestamps for dispute resolution. The aim is to reward time and talent, not random number generators or loot-box dynamics. Tapzi’s not waiting around, either – a demo is already live, with gasless, real-time multiplayer and anti-bot measures to keep outcomes decided by gameplay rather than randomness or emissions. Tapzi is a platform, not just a single game. SDKs and smart-contract tools are planned so outside developers can launch skill-based titles on Tapzi’s arcade, set custom rules, and route staking-based rewards to players. That approach aligns with the sector’s tilt toward infrastructure. While simple, classic games ironically provide more reliable gameplay than many more ‘advanced’ GameFi concepts. Tapzi ($TAPZI): Future-Ready Architecture to Rejuvenate Blockchain Gaming Hold $TAPZI to enter matches, join ranked events and purchase upgrades, thereby creating in-game demand. Prize pools are player-funded (winner takes the opponent’s stake), with no additional emissions. The total supply is 5B tokens: 20% presale, 20% liquidity, 15% locked treasury, 10% for airdrops, development, marketing, and the team behind the project. An additional 5% goes towards user rewards. By delivering gasless, bot-resistant matches and verifiable results, Tapzi could ride current currents in Web3 gaming. Smaller, instantly playable loops, real stakes, and platform-first distribution drive a smooth, practiced feel to the project, in contrast to clunky interfaces of other projects. Tapzi arrives just as GameFi investors are looking for the best crypto to buy – and they’re looking for quality projects. That could explain why the presale is off to a roaring start, with tokens priced at $0.0035, with an expected listing price of $0.009. Purchase tokens with wallets like Best Wallet; crypto accepted includes $ETH, $BNB, $MATIC, $SOL, $TRX and card payments. Tapzi Launches at Perfect Time, Takes GameFi by Storm Tapzi enters a tougher, more discerning market where metrics and retention matter more than token hype. That’s perfect – Tapzi delivers the gaming experience and platform the market is looking for. Do your own research first, of course. None of this is financial advice.

Asia Market Wrap - Markets Steady as Nikkei Retreats Asian stocks were mostly unchanged as traders considered positive signs of progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Japan's Nikkei index rose at first but then fell 0.1%, weighed down by a 2.5% drop in SoftBank Group after it revealed a $2 billion investment in struggling U.S. chipmaker Intel. Meanwhile, MSCI's index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.1%, following small losses in U.S. stocks the day before. Trump Meets Zelensky and Other European Leaders On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the U.S. would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal to end the war with Russia, though the details of this support were unclear. Trump made this promise during a major summit at the White House, where he met with Zelenskiy and European allies after his Friday meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskiy called the promise "a big step forward" and said the guarantees would be finalized within a week or so. He also mentioned Ukraine’s plan to buy $90 billion worth of U.S. weapons. The meeting had a much friendlier tone compared to a tense Oval Office meeting in February, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskiy. However, a peace deal still seems far off. Before the talks began, Russia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the idea of NATO troops being involved in securing a peace deal, complicating Trump’s offer. Both Trump and Zelenskiy expressed hope that the meeting would lead to direct talks with Putin, whose forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine. Later on Monday, Trump said he had called Putin to arrange a meeting between him and Zelenskiy, followed by a three-way summit with all three leaders. According to a European source, Putin suggested this sequence. While the Kremlin hasn’t confirmed the plan, a U.S. official said the Putin-Zelenskiy meeting might happen in Hungary within two weeks, as mentioned by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The last direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were in Turkey in June, but Putin declined Zelenskiy’s invitation to meet in person and sent a lower-level delegation instead. Zelenskiy has mostly dismissed Putin's proposals from the Alaska meeting. These included giving up the remaining quarter of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, which is mostly under Russian control. Any decision to give up Ukrainian land would need to be approved through a public vote. The war has caused over a million casualties on both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians, and has devastated large parts of the country. Source: LSEG European Open - FTSE Eyes Gains, Defense Stocks Slip European stocks opened slightly higher, with the STOXX 600 index rising 0.1%, along with Britain's FTSE 100. France's CAC 40 gained 0.2%, and Germany's DAX increased by 0.1%. However, European defense stocks fell by 1.3%, with Swedish military contractor Saab dropping 3.7%. UK Stocks- Factors to Watch Assura: Ed Smith has stepped down as chairman after seven years. Jonathan Davies, a senior board member, will take over. UK Motor Finance: A court ruling in the UK could save car finance companies billions in payouts and may lead to more mergers in the industry. IWG: IWG announced a new $130 million share buyback plan for the year and confirmed its annual forecast after reporting a 6% profit increase in the first half due to strong revenue. Rio Tinto: A U.S. court has temporarily stopped a land transfer needed for Rio Tinto and BHP to develop a copper project in Arizona. Shell: Brazil’s Petrobras said it has no plans to invest in ethanol production or distribution with Raizen, a joint venture involving Shell. Shein IPO: Shein is considering moving its headquarters back to China to get approval for a Hong Kong IPO, after previous attempts to list in New York and London. On the FX front, the dollar dropped 0.2% to 147.64 yen. The euro increased by 0.1% to $1.1670, while the dollar index, which measures the dollar against other major currencies, stayed mostly unchanged after rising 0.2% the day before. Currency Power Balance Source: OANDA Labs Oil prices fell on Tuesday, gold stayed stable, and copper prices barely moved as traders remained cautious due to mixed market signals creating uncertainty. For more on Oil, please read WTI Crude Technical: Bearish tone intact as Trump-Zelenskiy meeting looms Economic Data Releases and Final Thoughts Looking at the economic calendar, a quiet day for Europe and the US. The major event of the day comes from Canada where we will get Canadian CPI data which could stoke some volatility on Canadian Dollar pairs. For more on Canadian inflation, read USD/CAD Eyes Gains Above 100-day MA. Geopolitics, Fed Outlook May Prove to be Stumbling Blocks. For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. (click to enlarge) Chart of the Day - FTSE 100 Index From a technical standpoint, the FTSE 100 finally breached the 9200 handle on Friday before a drop of around 100 points. Yesterday saw the index recover with price action showing a change in structure as the FTSE printed a higher high. There is significant support on the two-hour chart, provided by the 100 and 200-day SMA which rests around the 9145 mark. If this level holds, a retest of Fridays all-time highs may come to fruition. A break below the SMAs and a candle close below the swing low at 9127 could open up a move lower and potential retest of the 9048 handle once more. The period-14 RSI has also bounced off the 50 level this morning hinting at bullish momentum. FTSE Daily Chart, August 19. 2025 Source: TradingView.com (click to enlarge) Follow Zain on Twitter/X for Additional Market News and Insights @zvawda Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

On-chain data shows Ethereum has once again found rejection at a level that has repeatedly acted as a resistance barrier in previous cycles. Ethereum Failed To Breach +1 SD Of Active Realized Price As explained by on-chain analytics firm Glassnode in a new post on X, the ETH rally stumbled after the asset’s price hit a level of a historically relevant pricing model. The model in question is the “Active Realized Price,” which, in short, tells us about the cost basis of the average investor or address on the Ethereum network. This indicator differs from the usual Realized Price in that it excludes the inactive or lost supply from its data. Now, here is the chart shared by Glassnode that shows the trend in the model, as well as its +1 standard deviation (SD) level, over the last few years: As displayed in the above graph, Ethereum has recently been trading above the Active Realized Price, indicating that the average holder of the asset has been sitting on some net unrealized profit. The recent price rally took the cryptocurrency far above this metric and in fact resulted in a retest of the +1 SD level. From the chart, it’s visible that this level is currently situated around $4,700. This is around where the asset topped out last week, before starting on a drawdown of around 10%. Thus, it would appear that the threshold may have played the role of resistance. According to the analytics firm, this isn’t anything unusual, as the line has repeatedly acted as a barrier in past cycles. The explanation behind this trend may lie in the fact that this level is around where investor profits become significant enough for mass selloffs with the motive of profit-taking become likely to occur. In the current cycle so far, Ethereum has been able to breach the line once, back in March 2024. This break lasted only briefly, however, suggesting the selling pressure was again a big obstacle to the bullish momentum. In some other news, last week was the strongest for the Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) since their launch in the US, as Glassnode has pointed out in another X post. As is visible in the above chart, the US Ethereum spot ETFs saw a massive green netflow spike last week, with 649,000 tokens of the asset entering into the wallets associated with these funds. The coin’s rally to the top above $4,700 occurred as these inflows took place. ETH Price At the time of writing, Ethereum is floating around $4,360, up 2% over the last week.

Join OANDA Senior Market Analyst Kelvin Wong and podcast host Jonny Hart as they review the latest market news and moves. MarketPulse provides up-to-the-minute analysis on forex, commodities and indices from around the world. MarketPulse is an award-winning news site that delivers round-the-clock commentary on a wide range of asset classes, as well as in-depth insights into the major economic trends and events that impact the markets. Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Earlier today, Bitcoin (BTC) slipped below $115,000 for the first time since August 6, raising concerns that the cryptocurrency’s bullish momentum may be fading. Against this backdrop, the Binance Buying Power Ratio suggests that demand for BTC could be weakening, potentially setting the stage for a deeper price correction. Binance Buying Power Ratio Raises Alarms According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor Crazzyblockk, the Binance Buying Power Ratio serves as a reliable indicator of overall market health. The analyst explained that the current reading points to a possible downturn for Bitcoin. To explain, the ratio measures stablecoin inflows against Bitcoin outflows on Binance, essentially showing how much new capital is available to buy BTC compared to how much is leaving the exchange. A rising ratio reflects strong buying power and liquidity, while a sharp drop signals weaker demand and a greater risk of correction. Recently, the ratio suffered a steep decline, issuing what the analyst called a “textbook warning” just before BTC’s latest price drop. The correction saw Bitcoin fall from as high as $124,474 on August 13 to a low of $114,786 earlier today. The analyst noted that the ratio peaked at 2.01 on August 14, showing peak buying pressure where for every $1 of BTC moving to cold storage, more than $2 in stablecoins entered the market. In the following days – from August 16 to 17 – the ratio witnessed a sharp reversal, crashing to -0.81 within 48 hours. As a result, more buying power left Binance than entered it, confirming that the BTC market’s primary fuel source was exhausted. Subsequently, BTC underwent a sustained price correction, falling 4.7% over the past seven days. Currently, the cryptocurrency is hovering slightly below $115,000, while its next major support lies around the $110,000 level. Crazzyblockk concluded: This analysis proves that Binance is the market’s center of gravity. Its capital flows are an early warning system. A falling Buying Power Ratio signals exhausted liquidity and high correction risk. For any serious analyst, monitoring Binance isn’t optional – it’s essential. How Will Bitcoin Perform In September? If Bitcoin avoids slipping below $110,000, the short-term holder cost basis model suggests its next major resistance lies around $127,000. A strong breakout above this level could send BTC climbing toward $140,000. In a separate X post, crypto analyst KillaXBT said BTC must hold above $115,787 to target the $125,000 – $127,000 range in September. However, the analyst warned that even if Bitcoin opens the month with a fresh all-time high, it may not guarantee sustained bullish momentum. At press time, BTC trades at $114,988, down 2.4% in the past 24 hours.

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing significant price declines, particularly among the three largest digital assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP. Following record-breaking rallies in the previous week, these cryptocurrencies have seen notable losses, with Ethereum down 5.2%, XRP dropping 3.8%, and Solana (SOL) slipping 6%. Even memecoin Dogecoin (DOGE) has not been spared, losing 5.2% of its value. Crypto Market Faces New Downturn According to a recent report by Barron’s, the recent downturn can be attributed to a combination of macroeconomic factors that have dampened investor optimism. Wholesale price data has also raised concerns about the potential for sustained high interest rates, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the US government does not plan to expand its Bitcoin reserves. Antonio Di Giacomo, analyst at XS, emphasized the impact of macroeconomic indicators on cryptocurrency prices. He pointed out that Bitcoin’s pullback after reaching an all-time high illustrates the volatility that can accompany such rapid price movements, even as institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies continues to rise. The analyst believes that the digital asset market now appears to be balancing optimism with caution, navigating both structural demand and speculative exposure. Looking ahead, market analysts are closely watching upcoming statements from Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole Symposium. Any hints of hawkishness or delays in rate-cut expectations could further pressure risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Conversely, dovish signals may help sustain the current momentum in the market. September Challenges For Bitcoin In a recent social media post on X (formerly Twitter), market expert Doctor Profit has shared insights regarding the next price trajectory for Bitcoin. He forecasts a sideways movement within a narrow range of approximately 8% leading into September. While the medium-term outlook remains bullish, he anticipates a significant correction in September, warning that it could be a challenging month for the crypto market. Profit advises that now is the time to prepare for potential short positions, as he expects prices to decline in the coming weeks, allowing traders to buy back at lower levels. Despite the current pullback, on-chain data reveals continued accumulation by larger wallets, indicating that major investors remain optimistic about the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies. The expert also highlighted that the funding rates also appear healthy, suggesting that the market is not facing immediate selling pressure despite the recent Bitcoin and Ethereum price declines leading the current downturn. As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at $115,630, registering a 6.5% gap from the recently achieved $124,000 record. Ethereum on the other hand, has been inching closer to its all-time high with the drop stopping at the $4,300 support. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Solana started a fresh decline from the $210 zone. SOL price is now showing bearish signs and might decline below the $172 support zone. SOL price started a fresh decline after it failed to clear $210 against the US Dollar. The price is now trading below $185 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $188 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it clears the $188 resistance zone. Solana Price Dips Again Solana price failed to clear the $210 zone and started a fresh decline, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. SOL traded below the $200 and $188 support levels to enter a short-term bearish zone. The bears were able to push the price below the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $173 swing low to the $209 high. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $188 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair. Solana is now trading below $185 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. It is also below the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $173 swing low to the $209 high. On the upside, the price is facing resistance near the $182 level. The next major resistance is near the $184 level. The main resistance could be $188. A successful close above the $188 resistance zone could set the pace for another steady increase. The next key resistance is $192. Any more gains might send the price toward the $200 level. More Losses In SOL? If SOL fails to rise above the $182 resistance, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $175 zone. The first major support is near the $172 level. A break below the $172 level might send the price toward the $162 support zone. If there is a close below the $162 support, the price could decline toward the $150 support in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for SOL/USD is gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for SOL/USD is below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $172 and $162. Major Resistance Levels – $182 and $188.

Ethereum (ETH) has lost some of its upward momentum after nearing its all-time high, mirroring a broader correction across the cryptocurrency market. The second-largest digital asset by market capitalization briefly touched $4,776 last week, just shy of the $4,878 record set in 2021, before retreating. At the time of writing, ETH trades at $4,280, reflecting a 5.7% decline in the past 24 hours and nearly $500 below its recent peak. The pullback comes as analysts closely watch trading activity in derivatives markets. According to data shared by CryptoQuant analyst CryptoOnchain, retail participation in Ethereum’s futures market has surged significantly in recent sessions. This heightened activity, combined with elevated open interest levels, has sparked debate about whether the market is approaching a tipping point. Ethereum Futures Market Shows Overheating Signals CryptoOnchain noted that Ethereum’s futures trading frequency has entered what he describes as the “Many Retail” and “Too Many Retail” zones, thresholds that historically appear near the late stages of strong uptrends. “Retail participation has sharply increased as ETH prices moved above $4,500,” he explained, adding that such conditions often bring greater volatility and sudden pullbacks. Additional indicators support this cautious outlook. The analyst highlighted Ethereum’s Futures Volume Bubble Map, which currently shows clusters of large red bubbles near recent price highs. These patterns, he said, have frequently preceded either sharp breakouts or rapid corrections when excessive leverage unwinds. Meanwhile, open interest (OI) on Binance futures climbed to nearly $12 billion before easing back to around $10.3 billion. While still at historically high levels, the recent dip suggests some traders may already be reducing exposure. “Extreme open interest expansion near price peaks can either provide fuel for further upside or trigger squeezes when the market turns,” CryptoOnchain wrote. He also pointed out that Binance’s taker buy/sell ratio has remained below 1, indicating selling pressure has dominated trading activity in recent days. Spot Market Dynamics Offer a Different Perspective Not all analysts see the current pullback as an immediate sign of market stress. In a separate post, CryptoQuant contributor Woominkyu observed that funding rates for ETH perpetual futures remain flat around zero. This contrasts with previous bull runs in 2020–2021 and early 2024, when funding rates spiked above 0.05–0.10, signaling overheated long positions. “ETH just pushed above $4.2K, but funding is still sitting flat,” Woominkyu explained. “That suggests the rally has been driven more by spot buying rather than leverage.” According to the analyst, this dynamic indicates a relatively healthier market environment compared to past rallies, as it reduces the risk of forced liquidations. He added that a funding rate surge above 0.05 would be the level to watch for potential short-term tops. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

XRP price is gaining bearish pace below the $3.10 resistance zone. The price is struggling near $3.050 and remains at risk of more losses. XRP price is declining below the $3.150 and $3.10 levels. The price is now trading below $3.10 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $3.070 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could regain bullish momentum if it clears the $3.120 zone. XRP Price Dips Further XRP price remained in a bearish zone after a close below the $3.20 level, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price extended losses and traded below the $3.10 support zone. The price even declined below $3.00. Finally, it tested the $2.950 support zone. A low was formed at $2.941 and the price recently attempted a recovery wave above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3.148 swing high to the $2.941 low. However, the bears were active near $3.10 and the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3.148 swing high to the $2.941 low. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $3.070 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The price is now trading below $3.050 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $3.0450 level. The first major resistance is near the $3.070 level. A clear move above the $3.070 resistance might send the price toward the $3.120 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $3.150 resistance or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3.350 swing high to the $2.97 low. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $3.20. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $3.070 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.9420 level. The next major support is near the $2.920 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.920 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $2.850 support. The next major support sits near the $2.80 zone, below which there could be a larger decline. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $2.940 and $2.880. Major Resistance Levels – $3.070 and $3.10.

According to reports, Shiba Inu (SHIB) fell 4.50% in the past 24 hours as the wider market moved sideways. The token’s seven-day retracement likewise sits at 4.50%, and it is down about 35.5% year-to-date while trading outside the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap. At the time of reporting, SHIB’s market price was $0.00001261. Shiba Inu Weekly Support Levels Hold Analyst MMB Trader has pointed to two weekly support lines at $0.000010 and $0.000007 that have repeatedly absorbed selling pressure. SHIB dropped to $0.00000714 in July 2022 after an 88% fall from its 2021 peak of $0.00008854, and buyers pushed it back up. The popular memecoin came back to that area in June and October 2023 and regained footing. This year, the token revisited around $0.000010 in March, April, and June and bounced each time. Those moves suggest there are price zones where demand has shown up. Analyst’s Targets And Recent History Based on reports, the analyst laid out a step-up of targets if SHIB clears its descending trendline. The first target is $0.00003364, a close to 170% rise from $0.00001249 at the time of reporting. The next level is $0.00005480, an increase of approximately 330%, and a distance benchmark at $0.00007716 suggests around 500% increase. SHIB’s own past provides some background: it climbed from $0.00000967 to $0.00004567 on March 5, 2024, on a meme-coin frenzy, and regained to $0.00003343 in December 2024 before again retreating. Models also give more modest short-term views; one forecast puts SHIB at $0.00001324 by September 17, 2025. Big swings have happened here before, but they came with heavy volume and wide attention. Market Snapshot And Close Current sentiment measures look mixed. The Fear & Greed Index reads 60, which sits in the Greed zone, while technical indicators show a Bearish tilt at the moment. SHIB recorded 14/30 green days (47%) and roughly 7.02% price volatility over the last 30 days. Traders should note that those readings can flip quickly. If weekly support holds and a catalyst pushes volume up, the mood could shift. If those supports fail, the picture could darken fast. Meanwhile, volume and on-chain flows will be crucial going forward. A breakout candle that lacks rising volume may not last. Watch exchange inflows and whale transfers because large moves onto exchanges often precede selling. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView

Ethereum price started a downside correction below the $4,550 zone. ETH is showing some bearish signs and might decline toward the $4,120 support zone. Ethereum started a fresh decline below the $4,550 and $4,420 levels. The price is trading below $4,450 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $4,450 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move down if it settles below the $4,200 zone in the near term. Ethereum Price Dips Again Ethereum price failed to recover and started a fresh decline below the $4,650 zone, like Bitcoin. ETH price gained bearish momentum and traded below the $4,450 support zone. The bears were able to push the price below the $4,350 support zone. Finally, the price tested the $4,220 zone. A low was formed at $4,228 and the price is now attempting to recover. There was a move above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $4,581 swing high to the $4,228 low. Ethereum price is now trading below $4,450 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price could face resistance near the $4,375 level. The next key resistance is near the $4,400 level. It is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $4,581 swing high to the $4,228 low. The first major resistance is near the $4,450 level. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $4,450 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. A clear move above the $4,450 resistance might send the price toward the $4,550 resistance. An upside break above the $4,550 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $4,650 resistance zone or even $4,720 in the near term. More Losses In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $4,400 resistance, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $4,220 level. The first major support sits near the $4,200 zone. A clear move below the $4,200 support might push the price toward the $4,150 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $4,050 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $4,000. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $4,200 Major Resistance Level – $4,400

Analyst Cryptoinsightuk argues that Dogecoin is primed for one of its characteristic “violent” upside phases, contending that a 500% rally from current levels is a realistic scenario in the next leg of the market cycle. In a new YouTube analysis focused on altcoin rotation, he frames DOGE as a top-10 laggard that has yet to print a new all-time high this cycle—precisely the kind of setup that has historically preceded its biggest moves. Dogecoin Could Still Rip 500% This Cycle The analyst’s core thesis is structural rather than narrative-driven: Dogecoin advances in compressed bursts, with most of the cycle’s gains arriving in just a handful of outsized monthly candles. “If you look at it on the monthly… the majority of Doge’s move happens in like two different monthly pops,” he says, citing prior surges of “six, seven hundred percent,” followed by another consolidation and a second leg of roughly “five hundred percent.” By contrast, the largest single monthly gain so far this cycle sits near “about 150%,” a magnitude he views as small relative to DOGE’s historical blow-off dynamics. From a momentum perspective, he highlights a looming inflection on high-timeframe oscillators: “The monthly RSI is potentially about to cross bullish also,” adding that DOGE has “either wicked or got close to the oversold area” twice on the monthly. In his read, those conditions have coincided with DOGE’s most explosive phases: “The oversold area is when all the violent price action happens on the monthly or the weekly… for cryptos generally.” Price mapping and targets are explicit. Assuming a repeat of DOGE’s typical impulse size, the analyst sketches a 500% scenario that would “take us up to like $1.40,” with a staged take-profit ladder beginning “at like $1.18.” He stresses this is a path consistent with DOGE’s historical cadence rather than a call on exact timing: the coin tends to grind, then erupt, compressing multiple hundreds of percentage points into one or two monthly candles. The setup he prefers is rooted in range structure and risk-reward. Across majors and large-cap alts, he observes a similar pattern: form a base, run to a range high, retrace to the base, and compress. “At the bottom of the range is where the best risk-reward is,” he notes, emphasizing that asymmetric entries come when price returns to prior support and sentiment is fragile. He applies the same logic to DOGE, arguing the current structure resembles past pre-acceleration phases rather than distribution. Rotation is the second pillar of the call. The analyst expects capital to continue sliding down the risk curve from Bitcoin into large-cap altcoins and then into high-beta names like DOGE. He points out that even a modest replication of recent capital flows into a single top-10 asset can reprice peers dramatically, and he uses market-cap arithmetic to illustrate the point. With Dogecoin around the mid-$30 billion range by his count, a few hundred billion dollars rotating across the complex—as seen elsewhere this cycle—would imply multi-fold upside for laggards. “That’s where market cap has a bit of an issue in crypto,” he cautions, but the example underlines how quickly prices can gap when liquidity chases momentum. The crux of the trade, he argues, is to stay aligned with the prevailing trend and use pullbacks to build long exposure: “Pullbacks are for buying in trending bull markets and that is what we’re in.” In his framework, the invalidation sits below established range lows, while the upside tails are long if DOGE repeats its signature monthly expansions. As for timing, he refrains from precision. Instead, he reiterates the behavioral pattern: DOGE’s cycle gains typically arrive in a short, violent window after prolonged compression. With a potential monthly RSI turn, a still-muted largest monthly candle compared to prior cycles, and a wider backdrop of alt rotation, he concludes that the conditions for Dogecoin’s next act are falling into place. “It’s probably crazy season,” he concluded, adding that investors who wait for unambiguous confirmation often find “when it’s happened, it’s too late.” At press time, DOGE traded at $0.2217.

Bitcoin price is correcting gains and trading below $118,000. BTC is still showing some bearish signs and might decline toward the $112,000 zone. Bitcoin started a downside correction below the $118,000 zone. The price is trading below $116,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $118,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might start another increase if it clears the $118,000 resistance zone. Bitcoin Price Dips Again Bitcoin price started a fresh decline after a close below the $120,000 level. BTC gained bearish momentum and traded below the $118,500 support zone. There was a move below the $116,500 support zone and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. The pair tested the $114,750 zone. A low was formed at $114,715 and the price is now consolidating below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $124,420 swing high to the $114,715 low. Bitcoin is now trading below $117,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $117,000 level. The first key resistance is near the $118,000 level. There is also a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $118,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The next resistance could be $118,500. A close above the $118,500 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $119,500 resistance level. It is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $124,420 swing high to the $114,715 low. Any more gains might send the price toward the $120,000 level. The main target could be $121,500. More Losses In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $118,000 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Immediate support is near the $115,000 level. The first major support is near the $114,750 level. The next support is now near the $113,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $112,000 support in the near term. The main support sits at $110,000, below which BTC might continue to move down. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $115,000, followed by $113,500. Major Resistance Levels – $118,000 and $118,500.

Gemini is moving ahead with plans to go public. The Winklevoss-owned crypto exchange just filed for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker GEMI. The filing gives a rare look at Gemini’s finances and strategy as it tries to reestablish itself in a maturing market. Massive Losses Underscore a Tough Year The numbers are rough. Gemini posted a net loss of $282.5 million in the first half of 2025, compared to a $41.4 million loss in the same period last year. Revenue also dropped to $68.6 million, down from $74.3 million. These figures show just how difficult the past year has been, even as markets have begun to rebound. The report points to legal costs, rising headcount, and declining trading activity as the main reasons for the steep losses. Ripple Offers a Lifeline With $75 Million Credit Facility To help shore up liquidity, Gemini secured a $75 million credit agreement from Ripple Labs. It’s a revolving facility that lets Gemini request loans starting at $5 million, with a potential ceiling of $150 million. Once the first $75 million is drawn, Gemini can start borrowing in Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. This adds a new layer of flexibility and highlights how crypto-native funding deals are starting to resemble traditional credit lines, just with digital assets in the mix. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Dual-Entity Setup Aims to Bypass Regulatory Friction Gemini is also getting creative with its legal structure. The company plans to operate through two separate entities. Gemini Trust Company, based in New York, will handle custody and regulated activities. Meanwhile, Moonbase, based in Florida, will operate the main platform used by most customers. This lets Gemini sidestep the strict New York BitLicense requirements without giving up regulatory cover altogether. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.31T24h7d30d1yAll time IPO Filing Joins a Growing Trend Among Crypto Firms Gemini’s move to go public follows similar filings from other major players like Circle and Bullish. Both of those firms found receptive markets despite the broader regulatory pressure on the industry. Gemini’s IPO is backed by big-name underwriters including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Cantor Fitzgerald. If it completes the process, Gemini will become the third major crypto exchange to trade publicly, after Coinbase and Bullish. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 What the Filing Tells Us About Gemini’s Plan Despite the sharp losses, Gemini’s IPO shows it’s not backing down. The credit facility from Ripple gives it short-term stability, while the dual-entity structure shows long-term planning. The company is betting that going public now will help it reset, attract capital, and lean into the next wave of institutional crypto growth. Investors will have to decide if that’s a gamble worth taking. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways Gemini has officially filed for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker GEMI, signaling its intent to go public despite ongoing challenges. The exchange posted a $282.5 million net loss in the first half of 2025, over six times worse than the same period in 2024, as revenue also dropped. To help with cash flow, Gemini secured a $75 million credit facility from Ripple Labs, which could expand up to $150 million and allow borrowing in RLUSD. Gemini plans to operate through two entities—New York-based Gemini Trust for regulated services and Florida-based Moonbase for the main exchange—to work around strict licensing rules. With big-name banks backing the IPO, Gemini aims to rebrand itself as a serious player in the next wave of institutional crypto growth. The post Gemini Prepares for IPO as Filing Reveals Major Losses and Ripple Credit Deal appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Two of the most aggressive corporate Bitcoin buyers, Strategy and Metaplanet, have ramped up their holdings once again, taking their combined stash to nearly 3.1 percent of the total Bitcoin supply. As public companies continue treating Bitcoin as a strategic asset, the supply picture is quietly shifting in real time. Strategy Adds Another $51M in BTC Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, announced it bought an additional 430 BTC earlier this week for about $51.4 million. That works out to roughly $119,666 per coin. This purchase brings its total holdings to a staggering 629,376 BTC. That’s nearly 3 percent of all Bitcoin in circulation. The company has spent over $46 billion on its Bitcoin accumulation strategy so far. With Bitcoin trading near recent highs, Strategy is sitting on more than $27 billion in unrealized profits. That kind of performance makes it one of the most influential institutional players in the Bitcoin market today. Metaplanet Ramps Up Buying With 775 More BTC Metaplanet, the Japanese firm that’s quickly becoming Asia’s most visible Bitcoin-heavy public company, isn’t slowing down either. The company just acquired 775 BTC at an average price of about $119,853 each. That’s a bold move, especially considering Metaplanet’s average cost basis across all holdings now sits at roughly $101,726 per coin. With this latest purchase, Metaplanet’s total holdings reach 18,888 BTC, about $1.9 billion in total value. That’s four times higher than its Bitcoin stash back in March, showing just how rapidly it’s scaling its strategy. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in August2025 Corporate Holdings Are Reshaping Bitcoin’s Market Dynamics Together, Strategy and Metaplanet now hold close to 3.1 percent of all Bitcoin in circulation. That kind of concentration means fewer coins are available on exchanges, which could eventually impact market liquidity. Corporate accumulation is no longer a sideshow; it’s a real force shaping the structure of Bitcoin’s supply and demand. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.31T24h7d30d1yAll time By pulling Bitcoin off the market for long-term treasury purposes, these companies are tightening circulating supply, especially during periods of rising institutional demand. Strategy Adjusts Funding Strategy for Future Growth Strategy has also recently updated how it issues stock to finance its Bitcoin buys. Under the new policy, the company will only issue new shares when its stock is trading at least four times its net asset value. Between 2.5 and 4 times, issuance will be more selective. If the ratio drops below 2.5, share sales are limited to servicing debt or paying dividends. If it falls under 1, Strategy may even use credit to buy back stock instead. This approach allows the company to remain aggressive in its Bitcoin strategy while protecting shareholders from unnecessary dilution. DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 What This Signals for the Market Corporate interest in Bitcoin has reached a point where major firms are becoming significant stakeholders in its ecosystem. When companies begin holding single-digit percentages of the total supply, they don’t just participate in the market; they start shaping it. For investors, this is a reminder that Bitcoin’s scarcity narrative is becoming more real, not just through halvings, but through corporate hoarding. At this pace, Bitcoin isn’t just a decentralized asset anymore; it’s a high-stakes battleground for institutional capital. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) now holds 629,376 BTC after a $51M purchase, controlling nearly 3% of the total Bitcoin supply. Metaplanet added 775 BTC, raising its holdings to 18,888 BTC, four times more than it held in March. Together, Strategy and Metaplanet control about 3.1% of all Bitcoin in circulation, influencing market liquidity and long-term supply. Strategy updated its stock issuance policy to reduce dilution and better align with its Bitcoin buying strategy. Corporate accumulation is tightening supply and turning Bitcoin into a competitive asset for institutional treasuries. The post Strategy and Metaplanet Now Control 3.1 Percent of Bitcoin’s Total Supply appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The Solana (SOL) ecosystem demonstrated notable growth in the second quarter (Q2) of the year, particularly in terms of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) total value locked (TVL). Solana DeFi TVL Soars 30% According to market analysis firm Messari, the total value locked in DeFi on the Solana ecosystem surged by 30.4% quarter-over-quarter, reaching $8.6 billion. This growth solidified Solana’s position as the second-largest network in DeFi TVL. However, the quarter was not without its challenges. Average daily spot decentralized exchange (DEX) volume experienced a sharp decline of 45.4%, dropping to $2.5 billion, attributed to the waning excitement surrounding memecoins. The stablecoin market on Solana also faced headwinds, with its market cap decreasing by 17.4% to $10.3 billion, positioning it third among networks. A significant portion of this growth earlier in the year was fueled by the launch of the official TRUMP token on January 17, which injected substantial liquidity into the ecosystem and created high-liquidity trading pairs utilizing Circle’s USDC stablecoin. Despite the decline, the stablecoin market’s sustained growth indicates that much of the new capital has remained within the Solana network, according to the firm’s findings. By the end of Q2 2025, USDC’s market cap stood at $7.2 billion, reflecting a 25.2% decline and a 69.5% market share. Meanwhile, Tether’s USDT maintained its position as the second-largest stablecoin on Solana, holding a steady $2.3 billion. Network Activity In terms of staking, Solana’s liquid staking rate rose to 12.2%, an increase of 16.8% from the previous quarter. With 64.8% of SOL’s circulating supply now staked, this growth in liquid staking enhances the DeFi ecosystem, supporting yield-bearing opportunities for SOL holders. Solana’s circulating market cap also grew by 29.8% to $82.8 billion, placing it sixth among all cryptocurrencies, behind Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether, XRP, and Binance Coin (BNB). The non-fungible token (NFT) market, however, faced a downturn, with average daily trading volume plummeting by 46.4% to approximately $979,500 in Q2. Despite this decline, Solana’s NFTs continue to lead in creator royalties. Network activity remained relatively stable, with average daily fee payers decreasing slightly by 1.4% to 3.9 million, while non-vote transactions rose by 4% to 99.1 million. The average transaction fee saw a significant drop of 59.6%, settling at just $0.01. On a broader scale, total staked value hit an all-time high of $102 billion on January 18, coinciding with SOL’s peak price of approximately $295. By the end of Q2, the total staked SOL had increased by 25.2% to $60 billion. Messari’s analysis hints that while the Solana ecosystem is navigating through a phase of “adjustment,” its foundational metrics and continued development might signal a promising outlook for the future. As of this writing, SOL’s price stands at $184.50, recording a 4.4% drop in the past 24 hours. When compared to its $293 record reached earlier this year, SOL’s price trades nearly 40% below. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin’s momentum has slowed after reaching a new all-time high above $124,000 last week. The cryptocurrency has since moved lower, with its price slipping by nearly 10% from that peak. At the time of writing, BTC is trading around $115,424, reflecting a 2.5% decline in the past 24 hours. The retracement has drawn attention to on-chain activity and investor behavior, particularly among long-term holders (LTHs). A CryptoQuant analyst has been monitoring realized profit and loss metrics to gauge whether the current cycle is approaching its peak or if more upside potential remains. Data released by the analyst sheds light on how seasoned holders are reacting to Bitcoin’s latest rally. Long-Term Holder Trends Across Market Cycles CryptoQuant contributor PelinayPA shared an assessment of Bitcoin’s long-term holder realized profit and loss (RPL) metric, which tracks when investors who have held coins for extended periods decide to sell. According to the analyst, this indicator has historically been reliable in signaling both cycle tops and bottoms. The analysis highlights key phases across multiple market cycles. During the 2017 bull market, a surge in LTH realized profits coincided with Bitcoin’s peak. By contrast, in the 2018–2019 bear market, profit realization slowed dramatically, while losses surfaced, reflecting the market bottom. A similar pattern was observed in 2021, though the profit realization was more gradual, suggesting that selling pressure was spread across the market rather than concentrated in short bursts. When Bitcoin entered the 2022–2023 downturn, realized losses increased significantly as the asset fell into the $15,000–$20,000 range. That period was characterized by panic selling among longer-term holders. In the current market, however, PelinayPA notes that while profit-taking is visible, it remains moderate compared with past peaks. This indicates that, although selling is occurring, it has not yet reached the levels typically associated with a cycle top. What the Current Data Suggests for Bitcoin The current phase of moderate profit realization suggests caution but does not confirm that Bitcoin has fully topped out. PelinayPA explained that: Historically, sharp increases in LTH profit realization (large green spikes) align with bull market tops. Current selling (mid-2025) is measured and gradual, which implies BTC may still be in the late stages of a bull cycle. If LTH selling accelerates, it could mark the next peak. This measured approach by long-term holders could mean that the market retains some room for additional upward movement, provided selling pressure does not intensify. At the same time, the data highlights that a shift toward heavier profit-taking would be an important warning signal for traders and institutions watching the market closely. On-chain analytics firms frequently point to these long-term holder behaviors as leading indicators. While Bitcoin’s price action continues to consolidate below its record high, how these investors act in the coming weeks could set the tone for the next stage of the cycle. For now, the data suggests that the rally has not yet reached conditions historically associated with a definitive top, but market participants are advised to watch profit realization closely. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

As XRP slides down over 5%, an analyst has highlighted the next possible targets for the asset, based on this technical analysis (TA) pattern. XRP May Visit These Levels Of A Parallel Channel Next In an X post on Sunday, analyst Ali Martinez pointed out how XRP was at risk of observing a further drop if it couldn’t reclaim the $3.3 level. Below was the chart shared by the analyst. In the graph, Martinez highlighted a Parallel Channel that XRP has followed since late last year. A Parallel Channel is a TA pattern that forms whenever the price of an asset consolidates between two parallel trendlines. The upper line of the channel is likely to be a point of resistance, while the lower one that of support. A breakout of either of these bounds can trigger a continuation of the trend in that direction. From the chart, it’s visible that the asset slipped below the lower line of the Parallel Channel back in April, but this breakdown lasted only briefly, with the coin swiftly recovering back into the channel. Similarly, the cryptocurrency saw a breakout above the pattern last month, but once again the signal couldn’t sustain as its price returned below the upper line. Since then, XRP has made a couple of retests of this line situated at $3.3, but each attempt has been rejected. On Sunday, the analyst warned that the coin could face a further drawdown if it failed to recover to this level. Today, Martinez quoted the chart, noting that the asset has just lost another support level: $3. This line is located a quarter of the way down the Parallel Channel. Now, what could be next for XRP? According to the analyst, the coin may be heading to $2.6, corresponding to the midway line of the channel, or even $2, which represents its lower bound. These are just the support levels available to the cryptocurrency from a TA perspective. Another major support level could perhaps be hinted at by on-chain data, as Martinez shared in another X post. In the chart, the data for the recent Cost Basis Distribution of XRP is shown. According to this indicator, investors last accumulated around 1.7 million tokens of the cryptocurrency at the $2.81 level. Since the spot price is trading above this mark right now, these holders would be sitting on some gain. Generally, if the market mood is bullish, investors in profit react to retests of their cost basis by buying more. This is because they may look at the drawdown as just a ‘dip.’ Related Reading: Dogecoin Bullish Signal: Whales Buy 2 Billion DOGE The more concentrated a level is with supply, the stronger this reaction is. As such, the $2.81 level with its dense supply could play the role of a major support level for XRP in the event of a retrace to it. XRP Price At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $2.99, down over 6% in the last week.

Metallium Limited (ASX: MTM; OTCQX: MTMCF) reported on Monday that its subsidiary Flash Metals USA has made substantial progress on its Technology Campus in Chambers County, Texas – the site of its first commercial Flash Joule Heating metal recovery plant in the US. The method called ‘flash Joule heating,’ which was originally developed to produce graphene from carbon sources like food waste, was adapted in 2021 by researchers at Rice University to recover rhodium, palladium, gold and silver from electronic waste. The company said it is pursuing commercial opportunities across a range of critical metal feedstocks, including antimony, rare earth element (REE) magnets, heavy REE-enriched e-scrap, and selected mining concentrates. Metallium also released on Monday its proven technology performance from US -sourced e-waste feedstocks: Gold – 100% recovery from e-waste feedstock grading 551 g/t Au, over 100x higher than typical primary ores; silver – 97% recovery at 2,804 g/t Ag and antimony – 98% recovery from feedstock grading 3.13% Sb. Since securing its Texas site, Metallium said it has significantly progressed the redevelopment of the site infrastructure to enable commissioning to commence in December 2025. Alongside equipment procurement and site works, the company said it is advancing air quality, water quality, and waste management permitting; has engaged VaporPoint to implement best-practice monitoring and compliance systems and is finalising balance-of-plant engineering, structural analysis, and integration design. Metallium also said it has engaged engineering firm Hunt, Guillot & Associates for plant integration, implementation engineering, and structural assessments and that it is working with the local power utility Entergy Texas to finalise supply arrangements and capacity for long-term operations. A key commissioning milestone has also been achieved, Metallium said, with the order of 60 tonnes of printed circuit board (PCB) scrap e-waste. “We are progressing on all fronts to deliver our first U.S. facility as planned. With critical equipment ordered, site works advancing, and commissioning feedstock secured, the project is materially de-risked,” Metallium CEO Michael Walshe said in a news release. “Our ambition is to leverage the FJH modular system design so that we can rapidly expand this model across the United States, targeting pre-permitted sites strategically located near major e-waste collection centres,” Walshe said. “Every step we are taking now, from engineering to feedstock readiness, is about building a robust, scalable platform capable of processing a diverse range of critical and precious metals, positioning Metallium as a leader in U.S.-based metals recovery and refining.” The company is targeting a December 2025 commissioning for the facility.

Bitcoin has been moving sideways, and traders are starting to lose patience. The world’s largest cryptocurrency couldn’t hold recent highs, sparking talk about whether the market is bracing for a sharper swing. Some analysts say the pause is normal, others warn it could be the calm before the storm. Traders Watch Price Levels Closely Popular market watcher Daan Crypto Trades pointed out that Bitcoin’s struggle to pick a direction isn’t unusual. He noted the coin has been locked between support and resistance zones, with neither bulls nor bears taking control. It’s the kind of setup that often leads to big moves once one side gives in. Meanwhile, technical evidence sends mixed signals. By September 16, 2025, Bitcoin will reportedly hit at least $130,266, which is a 13.07% increase compared to the previous prediction. The Fear & Greed Index is currently at 60, indicating that greed is on the menu, while sentiment indicators are neutral. In the last 30 days, Bitcoin had 14 green sessions out of 30, and the average performance remained on the positive at 1.63%. That isn’t extreme, but it does indicate that traders are being cautious. Analysts Split On What’s Next There are a few investors who believe the current lull is nothing but a breather before another rally. They say that buying interest remains high, particularly with long-term demand coming from institutions. Skeptics, however, believe the latest rejection at higher levels is a sign of weakness and that another pullback opportunity has opened up. Jitters in the marketplace always invite disorientation, and this moment is no exception. A 13% gain sounds exciting, but sentiment may change in a heartbeat if the Bitcoin price loses the entire support level. Traders are keen to see if momentum will pick up or if the sideways chop will continue. Is It A Good Time To Buy? Based on technical indicators, reports suggest it may still be a decent entry point. But timing is tricky. With price forecasts pointing toward $130K and resistance overhead, the next few weeks could decide the short-term trend. Some see this as a chance to accumulate, while others would rather wait for a clearer breakout. For now, Bitcoin sits in limbo. Traders are scanning the charts, looking for clues on whether the path to $135K is still alive — or if the market is setting up for another surprise. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from TradingView