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The disgraced crypto founder behind the monumental collapse of Terra, Do Kwon, Today admitted to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud in one of the industry’s biggest scandals. Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, the once high-flying crypto mogul behind the ill-fated Terra USD stablecoin, has pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud in a New York federal court, according to Reuters. Entering a plea marks the latest chapter in a years-long legal saga that has gripped the digital asset world since Terra’s catastrophic collapse in 2022. It could reduce his prospective sentence from 150 years to just 25 years in prison. Do Kwon’s Journey From Crypto Fugitive to Courtroom Confession Kwon, 33, admitted to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud, waiving his right to trial and acknowledging a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer confirmed earlier this week that the court had been advised that Kwon might enter a plea change. This move ends months of speculation about whether the former CEO would fight the charges. The criminal case stems from the implosion of Terra USD (UST), an algorithmic stablecoin designed to maintain its peg through a linked governance token, Luna. When the system failed in May 2022, it triggered a $40+ billion wipeout and a contagion event that toppled several major crypto firms. Prosecutors accused Kwon of misleading investors and engaging in market manipulation, with both U.S. and South Korean authorities seeking his arrest. DISCOVER: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now From Montenegro Arrest to U.S. Guilty Plea Deal After months on the run, Kwon was arrested in Montenegro in March 2023 for traveling on forged documents. He was extradited, after a lengthy battle with South Korea, to the United States in December 2024 and initially pleaded not guilty in January 2025. His guilty plea follows an April civil fraud verdict in which a jury found Kwon and Terraform Labs liable for misleading investors in violation of federal securities laws. DISCOVER: Top Solana Meme Coins to Buy in 2025 The post Do Kwon Pleads Guilty to Fraud in Terra USD Collapses: Deal Cuts 150 Years to 25 Years Sentence appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The XRP price action is unfolding in line with a textbook Elliott ABC Wave pattern, signaling the potential for its next upward move. According to crypto analyst Dark Defender, the chart structure remains intact and could set the stage for a major rally if the current corrective phase completes as projected. ABC Wave Pattern To Drive XRP To New Highs In Dark Defender’s latest XRP price analysis, the crypto expert outlined a clear Elliott Wave ABC structure on a 4-hour chart, suggesting a potential price surge to new highs if the formation completes. The setup began forming in July 2025 after XRP reached $3.66, marking the starting point for the corrective pattern on the “Dark’s Side” chart. From there, the price began retracing toward the anticipated $2.85 level, successfully establishing Wave A in line with the forecast. By early August, XRP rebounded, climbing to $3.33 to form the B Wave top. As a result, Dark Defender’s chart structure remains intact, with the cryptocurrency now positioned in the Wave C phase. The analyst’s projection anticipates a price decline completing this corrective leg before XRP can initiate the next significant upward move. Dark Defender’s chart also highlights critical price interaction points, including exact hits at $3.333 and $3.364 before a rebound. In addition, XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) movements align closely with the wave progression, showing dips at key reversal points and its current momentum staying within the expected zone. According to this wave framework, the next phase hinges on whether XRP can maintain its structure through the end of the corrective cycle. If it does, Dark Defender suggests that the technical setup could open the path for significant upward momentum, potentially positioning the cryptocurrency for its next bullish leg. The trajectory of the green arrow in the chart indicates a possible price rally above $3.8. With XRP trading at $3.14 as of writing, this would represent a significant price increase of over 21%. XRP Price Eyes $5.8 Breakout After Bounce In a follow-up post, Dark Defender noted that XRP bounced precisely from the $3.333 level before resuming its upward movement. This bounce occurred after the Elliott Wave corrective structure pushed prices down from recent highs. At the time of the analysis, XRP was trading near $3.06, positioned within a consolidation range that could extend toward the $3.05 area if $3.33 remains a barrier. As mentioned earlier, XRP’s price chart shows an ABC corrective wave in play, with the cryptocurrency now in the middle of the ‘B’ leg’s development. If the $3.33 resistance is decisively cleared, the analyst projects a rapid acceleration toward higher short-term targets at $4.39 and $5.85. At current market prices, this would represent a significant surge of roughly 39.8% and 86.3%, respectively. Dark Defender also notes that support remains firm at $3.05 and $3.00, marking key levels where buyers are expected to step in should prices retrace.

Discovery Silver (TSX: DSV) climbed to an all-time high on Tuesday after reporting strong results for the most recent quarter and its first as a gold producer. During the second quarter, the company completed its $425 million acquisition of the Porcupine operation in Ontario from Newmont (NYSE: NEM, TSE: NGT), the world’s leading gold producer. The Porcupine complex covers a 1,400 km2 land package in and near Timmins, and includes the Hoyle Pond and Borden underground mines, the Pamour open-pit mine, and the Dome milling facility. From April 15, the date of acquisition close, to June 30, the Porcupine complex delivered total gold production of 50,552 oz., at all-in sustaining costs of $2,123 per oz. sold and average realized gold price of $3,337 per oz. With first production in the books, the Toronto-based Discovery posted a net income of $5.5 million, versus a net loss of $5.1 million in the same quarter last year and a loss of $6.5 million the previous quarter. When adjusted for costs related to the Porcupine acquisition, its net earnings would swell to $28.4 million, compared to just $3 million in both Q2 2024 and Q1 2025. “During the quarter, we integrated systems, strengthened management structures and began implementing investment programs at Porcupine aimed at improving existing operations and pursuing growth opportunities,” Discovery CEO Tony Makuch stated in the earnings release. He added that the company made several key investments during Q2, including upgrades to the Dome facility, ramp-up of the Pamour mine towards commercial production levels, and optimization of the Hoyle Pond and Borden operations. It also began deploying drills as part of an extensive exploration program focused on near-mine and district targets to grow the resource base. “Looking ahead, we are targeting production levels to increase in the final two quarters of the year,” Makuch said. Last year, the Porcupine operation contributed 284,000 oz. to Newmont’s total production. Shares of Discovery Silver gained as much as 6.8% to a new high of C$3.92 apiece following the Q2 2025 results release. By 11:00 a.m. ET, it had pulled back to around C$3.87 with a market capitalization of C$3.1 billion ($2.2 billion).

The rapid buildout of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is poised to tighten the global copper market further, potentially pushing the supply shortfall to 6 million tonnes by 2035, according to a new BloombergNEF (BNEF) report. BNEF analysts said copper demand from the sector will average around 400,000 tonnes annually over the next decade, peaking at 572,000 tonnes in 2028. The cumulative total in use by data centers could top 4.3 million tonnes by 2035. This comes on top of surging demand from other sectors, such as power transmission and wind energy, where copper usage is expected to almost double by 2035. Price pressures ahead With demand accelerating and supply growth lagging, BNEF expects copper prices to peak at $13,500 per tonne in 2028. The shortfall is exacerbated by a projected global copper supply of just 29 million tonnes by 2035, well below the 35 million tonnes needed to meet demand. Why data centers need so much copper Copper can account for nearly 6% of the capital expenditure of a data center project. Its role is critical: Electrical conductivity – maximizes efficiency in transmitting and distributing electricity. Thermal conductivity – supports high-performance heat exchangers, vital for cooling servers. Ductility and malleability – allow copper to be shaped into compact components like connectors. Data centers rely on copper for a wide range of applications, including power cables, busbars, electrical connectors, heat exchangers and sinks, and power distribution strips Microsoft’s $500 million data center in Chicago alone required 2,177 tonnes of copper during construction. Meanwhile, North American data center infrastructure alone is expected to grow from a $33 billion business in 2020 to $70 billion in 2030 and $185 billion in 2040.

This morning saw some particular reactions to the as-expected CPI report. Initial reactions were going towards most assets benefitting from rate cuts rallying, like US Equities, bonds and gold heading higher. Since, longer-term bonds are getting sold off due to the pricing of an immediate September rate cut which would put up long-term inflation expectations. 10 (4.315%) to 30 Year yields (4.90%) are at their highs of the session. Nasdaq and S&P are getting hurt from this, particularly following the Nvidia and AMD announcement to share 15% of their profits from China to the US Government. The Dow Jones on the other hand seems to like the inflation report and is seeing the most buying flows in the morning session – let's have a look at the Technicals for the Index. Equity Heatmap Current session Equity Heatmap, August 12, 2025 – Source: Finviz The picture is fairly mixed, gives profit-taking impressions Read More: Markets Today: RBA Cuts Rates, UK Labor Market Weakens, US-China Tariff Truce Extended, FTSE 100 Eyes ATHCurrent Picture for Indices and US Bonds Indices and Bonds performance in the morning session, Source: TradingView See how everything rallied at the number release and the consequent rewiring of flows with the US 30Y Bonds getting sold off while the Dow Jones starts to overperform other indices. Dow Jones Multi-timeframe analysisDow Jones Daily Chart Dow Jones Daily Chart, August 12, 2025 – Source: TradingView Buyers are trying to push higher from the multi day 44,000 to 44,500 consolidation zone. Daily momentum is tilting higher from neutral levels, however it will take a consequential rally to put the RSI back towards strictly bullish territory. The 50-Day MA tilting higher is currently acting as support after catching up slowly to the price action from the NFP lows. Dow Jones 4H Chart Dow Jones 4H Chart, August 12, 2025 – Source: TradingView Dow buyers are trying to push the index towards the 44,500 mini resistance zone after bouncing on the 50-period MA. Momentum is strong for the Index as flows are rewiring towards the US 30 from Tech indices. Failure to break the 44,500 would indicate further consolidation, therefore keep an eye on that level. Breaking higher would point to a retest of the All-time highs for the Dow. Levels to watch for the Dow Jones: Resistance Levels Mini resistance 44,500 +/- 15 points44,519 Thursday highs to breakAll-time high resistance zone around 45,000Current ATH 45,150Support Levels Lows of consolidation zone 43,820Pivot turned Support 43,500 to 43,750NFP Lows Mini-Support 43,25043,000 Main Support ZoneDow Jones 1H Chart Dow Jones 1H Chart, August 12, 2025 – Source: TradingView Looking closer offers a clearer picture of the 5-day range. Buyers will have to be careful of imminent overbought levels, a sign of their strength would be ongoing consolidation at the highs or a refusal to retest lower levels. Watch the effect of rising yields on indices as some rewiring of flows from Nasdaq to the Dow is going on. Safe Trades! 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.

De Beers, the world’s largest diamond miner by value, and its joint venture partner in Angola, state-owned Endiama, have discovered a new kimberlite field, its first such discovery in three decades. The diamond giant said it struck kimberlite, the most common source of mined diamonds, in its first drill hole into a high-priority target cluster in July. It plans to conduct more drilling, geophysical surveys and lab analysis over the coming months to determine the kimberlite type and its diamond potential. “Angola is, in our view, one of the best places on the planet to look for diamonds, and this discovery reinforces our confidence,” De Beers chief executive Al Cook said in the statement. De Beers, owned by Anglo American (LON: AAL), has explored for diamonds in Angola with Endiama since April 2022, after signing two mining investment deals with the government. In 2024, the partners expanded their agreements to cover diamond processing and further exploration. The find comes as De Beers faces an uncertain future. Anglo American announced in May 2024 it would sell the unit or launch an initial public offering, part of a corporate shake-up following its defence against a £39 billion ($49 billion) takeover bid by Australian rival BHP (ASX: BHP). At least six consortia are reported to be interested, including commodities billionaire Anil Agarwal, Indian diamond firms KGK Group and Kapu Gems, and Qatari investment funds. Botswana is also said to be pursuing a controlling stake. The sale process unfolds against weak market conditions, with prices pressured by competition from lab-grown stones and slowing demand in China.

Bitcoin is once again at the center of market attention, trading at critical price levels after a 9% surge since the start of August pushed it to just below its $123,000 all-time high. The rally has reignited the bull-vs-bear debate, with analysts split on where BTC heads next. Some believe the momentum will be enough to break through resistance and set fresh record highs, while others warn of a looming deeper correction if buying pressure falters. Adding to the intrigue, key data from CryptoQuant shows that despite Bitcoin’s climb to this milestone, the Realized Profit and Loss (P&L) Ratio remains close to its historical average. This metric, which measures the magnitude of gains or losses realized by market participants, suggests the current uptrend is not yet in the overheated territory that often precedes sharp reversals. For bulls, this could indicate room for further upside without excessive risk of a rapid downturn. For bears, it’s a reminder that Bitcoin’s long-term trend remains intact but vulnerable to sudden shifts in sentiment. With volatility still defining the crypto landscape, the next moves around this level could shape Bitcoin’s trajectory for the rest of the year. Bitcoin Faces Pivotal Test As ATH Breakout or Rejection Looms According to top analyst Axel Adler, Bitcoin’s current market structure presents a much lower risk of a sharp trend reversal compared to previous peaks in the Realized Profit and Loss (P&L) Ratio. In past cycles, this metric often spiked to overheated levels before major pullbacks, signaling that market participants were taking excessive profits all at once. Today, however, the P&L Ratio remains closer to its average range, indicating a more balanced market environment despite Bitcoin trading just below its $123,000 all-time high. This suggests that while volatility remains a constant in the crypto space, the immediate probability of a dramatic downturn is lower than in past overheated phases. Still, Adler emphasizes that Bitcoin is entering a critical price range where market direction will be decided. Breaking above the all-time high is essential for the uptrend to continue, as such a move would likely trigger a new wave of momentum buying and potentially set the stage for fresh record highs. On the other hand, failing to clear this level—especially after multiple attempts—could result in a sharp correction or an extended period of sideways consolidation, testing investor patience. Other analysts highlight the contrast between Bitcoin’s strong long-term fundamentals and the current market indecision. On-chain data points to healthy accumulation trends, steady network activity, and relatively contained leverage in derivatives markets—all signs of underlying strength. Yet, uncertainty over macroeconomic conditions, regulatory developments, and short-term profit-taking continues to weigh on sentiment. BTC Price Analysis: Testing Critical Resistance Bitcoin’s price action shows a decisive rally since early August, climbing nearly 9% and approaching the all-time high at $123,217.39. On the 8-hour chart, BTC faced strong rejection near this resistance, pulling back to the $118,500 area. The recent move marks the second approach toward this level in the past three months, highlighting its importance as a critical breakout point. The chart also reveals that BTC remains above its key moving averages — the 50 SMA ($116,605), 100 SMA ($117,340), and 200 SMA ($112,019) — reinforcing the underlying bullish structure. The 50 SMA has recently crossed above the 100 SMA, a short-term bullish signal suggesting continued upward momentum if buyers can sustain pressure. However, the failure to break above the $123K level could lead to renewed selling pressure, with potential retracements toward the 100 SMA or even the 200 SMA if momentum fades. A confirmed breakout above $123K would likely trigger a new wave of buying, pushing BTC into price discovery and setting fresh record highs. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Raoul Pal, a macro investor, former Goldman Sachs strategist, and founder of Real Vision, has revealed that he has been holding XRP for over four years after he referred to the digital asset as part of what he once described as a “moron trade.” The label, not meant as an insult, was a way to tell a specific retail trading behavior in early crypto market cycles. Soon after, he disclosed that he bought XRP in 2021 when it was trading at $0.60. Raoul Pal Clears XRP “Moron Trade” Comment In a recent interview, Pal outlined his views on how retail investors enter the crypto market and how the nominal price of a token can influence their buying decisions. He breaks the space into three risk categories: large, established layer-1 tokens he called “idiot-proof,” a more challenging middle tier of DeFi tokens, and a straightforward momentum play he described as the “moron trade.” Pal stressed that the phrase was not an attack on holders but a description of what happens when newcomers avoid higher-priced coins and buy cheaper ones without deeper analysis. Following the comment, Pal quickly clarified his position on XRP. He revealed that he had held the asset since June 28, 2021. The price was just below the market price, which hovered around $0.64. Sharing the exact date and entry point reflects his commitment to transparency, as he highlights that investors can keep their market views separate from how they invest. Four Years Of Holding XRP And A Strong Payoff Holding XRP for a multi-year span has become a highly profitable move for Pal. At the time of writing, XRP trades at around $3.15, representing an approximate 5.5x gain from its $0.60 entry. The price appreciation is driven by improved regulatory clarity, growing whale accumulation, and bullish technical patterns, with metrics such as rising open interest in XRP futures and positive on-chain indicators like MVRV golden crosses reinforcing the rally. Pal’s decision to hold through four years of market ups and downs, including a long stretch of legal uncertainty with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, points to a conviction level beyond short-term speculation. The significance of his position extends beyond profits to the message it conveys to the crypto market. By staying invested during volatile cycles, Pal has shown that XRP can be seen as a viable long-term asset when bought at what later proves to be an opportunistic price. His early entry came well before XRP’s major rally phases, making it a textbook example of patient capital allocation. To the XRP community, Pal’s disclosure feels like validation. It shows that discipline and vision can pay off in a fast-moving market while also strengthening XRP’s case as a strategic investment now standing on firmer ground as the bullish trend continues.

The US CPI just released with the data coming right around expectations. US CPI, August 12, 2025 – Source: MarketPulse Except for the rounded core year-over year, data did not surprise. Core is at 3.1% y/y vs 3.0% but the m/m is as expected at +0.3% The Headline is as expected with 0.2% m/m and 2.7% y/y Update coming up with the market reactions 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.

Crypto ETFs see over $1.1 billion in net inflows as Ethereum sets single-day record. While US crypto ETFs posted one of its strongest sessions on record with combined net inflows across spot ETH and BTC funds surpassing $1.1 billion, Ethereum was the clear winner. Ether ETFs recorded more than $1 billion in a single trading day on 11 August 2025- an ATH for any US crypto ETF product! Notably, the staggering crypto ETF net inflows was largely driven by BlackRock and Fidelity’s flagship funds. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) led decisively with about $640 million in net inflows, while Fidelity’s FETH followed with roughly $276-$277 million. “Corporate treasuries are acquiring ETH at twice the rate of BTC,” said Geoff Kendrick of Standard Chartered. Ethereum spot ETFs launched after Bitcoin’s, and allocators are ramping positions toward target weights as confidence builds. Institutional money has been flooding into Ethereum ETFs with $1.17 billion in June, over $1.5 billion so far this year, and projections point to $10 billion by the end of 2025. EXPLORE: Institutions Could End Up Holding 10% of ETH: Analysts Expect Ethereum Crypto to Blast 4K This Week Institutions Could End Up Holding 10% of ETH Kendrick projects that institutions could control 10% of Ethereum’s total supply, which could top $45 billion by the end of 2025. 99Bitcoins analysts credit staking yields and DeFi integrations as key reasons ETH is outperforming Bitcoin. Ethereum is back on top. It hasn’t become the Web3 “world computer;” NFTs are still dead, but what we’re seeing is corner offices starting to treat it like gold. 3.2 billion hit ETH ETFs in July alone, a stampede that added $150 billion to ETH ▼-0.75%‘s market value. Another major tailwind is that the SEC has finally approved in-kind creation/redemption for crypto ETFs. That means institutions can now exchange ETH or BTC directly for ETF shares, instead of using cash. “It’s a new day at the SEC, these approvals will make crypto ETPs less costly and more efficient,” said SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in August 2025 Key Takeaways Regulated crypto exposure is scaling quickly, and ETH has decisively joined BTC as a primary institutional vehicle in the US market. Institutional narratives around ETH’s role in powering DeFi, smart contracts, and Layer-2 scaling increasingly complement BTC’s store-of-value pitch, enticing broader mandate types. The post $1 Billion Day – Ethereum ETFs Hit Inflow Milestone: Who Called It? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Uniswap is undoubtedly one of the most valuable DeFi projects. With this mega valuation comes interest from traders across the board. There is an expectation that Uniswap will tick higher in the coming years, and understandably so. The DeFi protocol is one of the most active, and traders can instantly swap tokens without a third party. Will UNI Crypto Break $19? Over the years, attention has been paid to its native token, UNI ▲7.24%. After peaking at over $45 in the last DeFi boom in 2021, prices tanked in 2022, dropping to as low as $3. However, with Bitcoin and crypto recovering, UNI crypto has been rising with the tide, breaking $19 in December 2024 before dropping to spot rates. From the daily chart, traders are upbeat. Technically, the uptrend from early May 2025 remains, aligning with the trend of top Solana meme coins. Although prices fell from mid-July when UNI crypto rose to nearly $12, there is an attempt for bulls to push higher. UniswapPriceMarket CapUNI$7.14B24h7d30d1yAll time The local resistance is at $12, and if the momentum from early August pushes UNI crypto above this level, there is a high probability for the token to retest $19 and 2024 highs in Q3 2025. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 For this projection to be valid, UNI crypto must hold above $8 or the August 2025 lows. Meanwhile, if buyers are successful, a close above $12 and July 2025 highs must be with high trading volume. In that event, UNI crypto would have the much-needed momentum to rally toward 2024 highs in a much-needed bounce after the sell-off in H1 2025. DeFi Dominance Uniswap is the 11th largest DeFi protocol, with a total value locked (TVL) of nearly $6 billion as of mid-August 2025. It enables token swapping in 38 chains, but a big chunk of trades is on the Ethereum mainnet and its layer-2s, including Arbitrum and Base. Narrowing down to DEXes alone, Uniswap is the largest by total value locked (TVL). (Source: DefiLlama) This dominance explains why Uniswap is a blue-chip protocol and UNI is considered one of the best cryptos to buy. Despite the contraction in H1 2025 and the fact that UNI is down by over 60% from all-time highs, there is confidence that the token will gradually tick higher, reversing losses of 2022 and even post fresh all-time highs. Uniswap Foundation Announces DUNI The Uniswap Foundation recently announced the formation of a new legal structure that will govern the protocol. The foundation said it plans to adopt a new Decentralized Unincorporated Nonprofit Association (DUNA) registered in Wyoming. DUNA is designated as the official legal framework for Uniswap Governance and will play a crucial role in preserving its decentralized nature. At the same time, the entity, dubbed DUNI, will provide the much-needed legal clarity and protect UNI holders who participate in governance. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 DUNI will receive $16.5 million worth of UNI to support operations, most of which will go toward legal defense and tax compliance. By allocating this amount, it is clear that Uniswap is keen on ensuring the protocol remains stable over the long haul while remaining compliant, a net positive for UNI crypto. Coinbase Integrates Base DEXes The announcement comes after Coinbase began integrating DEXes on Base. By allowing millions of users to access DEXes on Base directly on the Coinbase app, protocols like Uniswap are expected to get new traffic and even more liquidity to the DEX’s pools. According to DappRadar, Uniswap is the top dapp on Base, boasting over 220,000 unique active wallets (UAWs). DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025 Will UNI Crypto Break $13? Uniswap Making Big Moves Uniswap is a top DEX in crypto UNI crypto bulls target $19 Uniswap foundation announces DUNA Coinbase integrates DEXes on Base The post Will UNI Crypto Break $13? Uniswap Making Big Moves appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

SharpLink Gaming is solidifying its position as one of the world’s largest corporate holders of Ethereum, announcing a landmark of $400 million registered direct offering secured through partnerships with five major institutional investors. This move underscores the growing confidence institutional players have in ETH’s long-term potential and its aggressive accumulation strategy. Institutional Backing Pushes SharpLink Toward $3 Billion Milestone SharpLink Gaming has announced a $400 million registered direct offering agreement with five global institutional investors, which includes some of the largest in the world. The agreement marks one of the company’s most significant funding deals to date, bolstering its capital reserves and signaling strong institutional confidence in its growth strategy. This capital injection adds to its unused $200 million at-the-market (ATM) facility, giving the company a powerful liquidity arsenal. In addition to these funding streams, SharpLink currently holds approximately 598,800 ETH in its treasury, and the company’s ETH holdings are expected to exceed an estimated $3 billion in value with the latest move. While SharpLink entered an agreement with investors to boost its ETH reserve, BitMine Immersion is also aggressively buying Ethereum. A recent report revealed that the company has become the largest ETH treasury in the world, holding more than 1,000,000 ETH in corporate reserves. The firm’s treasury now sits at a remarkable 1.15 million ETH, valued at approximately $4.96 billion at current market prices. Meanwhile, the scale and speed of this accumulation are unprecedented. In just over a month, the company has expanded its holdings from 163,000 ETH to more than a million, with a bold goal to stake 5% of the entire ETH supply. “In just a week, BitMine increased its ETH holdings by $2.0 billion to $4.96 billion (from 833,137 to 1.15 million tokens), lightning speed in the company’s pursuit of the ‘alchemy of 5%’ of ETH,” Thomas “Tom” Lee of Fundstrat, Chairman of BitMine’s Board of Directors, stated. How Ethereum Delivers Security And Alignment In an X post, BitDigital_BTBT emphasized that the company does not consider Ethereum a hedge, but the foundation of their entire investment strategy. The firm regards ETH as the most productive, secure, and aligned asset in the world, uniquely positioned to drive the future of finance. Beyond its current role, BitDigital_BTBT sees ETH as a critical infrastructure layer that will fundamentally reshape how value is moved and settled in modern financial markets. With its robust technology and growing adoption, ETH holds the transformative power to rewrite the entire financial system, shaping the next generation of global economic interactions. Currently, Bit Digital holds over 120,00 ETH, but this is just the beginning. Specifically, their boldness is fueled by a deep conviction in ETH’s potential to transform the world of finance and beyond. The company believes that no other blockchain and technology platform comes close to matching ETH’s ability to reprogram finance.

The alt season is officially underway, with ETH (Ethereum) leading the charge in institutional interest. Bernstein, a recognised research and brokerage firm, has backed ETH-native platforms like Coinbase to benefit from the current market dynamics. Bernstein issued a client memo on 11 August 2025, highlighting an 80% surge in ETH since 5 June 2025. This was parallel to Circle’s successful IPO, suggesting ETH’s growing domination in stablecoin issuance. In the memo, Gautam Chhugani, an analyst at Bernstein, stated, “In crypto lingo, this market structure is called the ‘alt rally’, i.e. when digital assets other than bitcoin rally stronger relative to bitcoin.” Notably, by July, the trading volumes had climbed 40% above Q2 averages, suggesting a renewed market demand. Bernstein’s memo framed Q3 and Q4 as the performance benchmark that investors should look out for. “From a revenue materiality standpoint, a rising ETH, followed by several ETH-linked ecosystem tokens, leads to a surge in trading volume and fees for Coinbase,” explained Chhugani. Given Coinbase’s transaction-driven revenue model, a persistent ETH rally could outperform its revenue projections. EXPLORE: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 Institutional Interest In ETH Follows BTC’s Playbook Zooming back a little, it seems likely that ETH is tracing BTC’s institutional path. According to Bernstein, BTC’s evolution from spot ETF to balance sheet adoption is being studied and followed by ETH. Additionally, the research firm highlights the rise of ETH-focused treasuries, mirroring Michael Saylor Strategy’s BTC play as a new avenue for investment exposure. While analysts at Bernstein highlight that it is still early in the crypto bull cycle, several investment opportunities stand to gain as volumes rise and crypto moves further into the mainstream. EXPLORE: Top 20 Cryptos to Buy in August 2025 Key Takeaways Bernstein analysts comment that the alt-season is officially on Coinbase has a unique position to take advantage of ETH’s resurgence Bernstein suggests that ETH’s institutional take-off is taking a page out of BTC’s playbook The post Coinbase To Benefit From Institutional Interest In ETH, Says Bernstein appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Ethereum’s price trajectory has taken on a decisively bullish tone with its movement in the past 24 hours. Now, technical patterns are pointing to the possibility of a rally that would not only push it past its current all-time high of $4,878, but also carry it to as high as $8,500. A recent analysis by TradingView analyst melikatrader94 points to the formation of a Right-Angle Broadening Formation (RABF) on the daily candlestick chart, a rare but powerful continuation setup that has been in play since March 2024. The Mechanics Of Ethereum’s Current Bull Run Ethereum’s price action in the past few days has been very notable in terms of bullishness. The leading altcoin is currently up by 20% and 45% in the past 24 hours and seven days, respectively. This powerful upswing has pushed Ethereum to its highest price point since the peaks of the 2021 bull market. According to the technical analysis in question, which was initially shared by melikatrader94 on the TradingView platform, Ethereum is now playing out the last phase of an RABF pattern that has dragged on for many months. This RABF pattern is characterized by a horizontal resistance zone, now situated between $4,200 and $4,300, and a downward-sloping support trendline, which indicates that buyers are becoming increasingly aggressive with each pullback to reach the resistance again. The last time Ethereum bounced off this support trendline was in early April 2025, when it reached a low of $1,470. Since then, it has increased by about 194% up until the time of writing, where it is now attempting to break above the upper trendline. Price Target And What Needs To Happen According to the measured move principle, the breakout target is derived from the pattern’s vertical height, which is roughly $2,070. Adding this vertical height to the breakout level at $4,300 results in an initial price objective of $6,370. However, a strong bullish momentum beyond that milestone would see Ethereum extend its rally to as high as $8,500. Such an outcome would depend on if Ethereum can make a decisive daily close above $4,300 accompanied by robust trading volume. According to the analyst, this would set off a rapid advance with only a brief consolidation near the $5,100 mark before resuming its upward move. On the other hand, support levels to watch are at $3,700, then $3,200 in case Ethereum fails to hold above $4,300 and extend its rally. At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $4,320, up by 1.1% in the past 24 hours. Interestingly, this move has seen Ethereum outperforming other top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, XRP, and Solana, which are down by 2.2%, 3.5%, and 4% in the past 24 hours.

Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) may walk away from its $3.8-billion bid for Anglo American’s Australian coking coal mines after an unexpected closure cast doubt over the high-profile sale. The US miner agreed last year to buy the Queensland mines in the Bowen Basin, the world’s top coking coal region, as part of a push into steelmaking coal. But in March, Anglo had to halt its Moranbah North mine after an underground fire, triggered by high gas levels, broke out at the site. The incident prompted Peabody to invoke a clause allowing either party to abandon or renegotiate if a major negative event occurs before completion. The clause triggered a 90-day consultation period, which expired on August 3. Anglo maintains the closure is not “significant,” arguing damage and downtime will be limited. Chief executive Duncan Wanblad says the company stands by its legal position, is prepared to restart the sale process and now awaits Peabody’s decision. Peabody, which has not reached revised terms, intends to provide an update on August 19, it said at its second quarter results. The original deal included a $2.05-billion upfront payment, $725 million in deferred cash, up to $550 million in additional payments, and $450 million contingent on the reopening of the Grosvenor mine, after another fire there in June last year, ahead of the acquisition. For Anglo, the sale marked the first major divestment in a broader restructuring plan. For Peabody, backing out could ease pressure on a looming $2-billion bridge loan, but it could also chill coal deal-making across Australia. Peabody’s latest quarterly loss, on the back of a 33% dive in coking coal prices, left investors and rivals watching closely. With the deal in limbo, market sentiment could weaken further, clouding coal asset values and the short-term price outlook.

The British pound is in positive territory on Tuesday. In the European session, GBP/USD is trading at 1.3461, up 0.22% on the day. The pound has jumped 1.9% in August and touched a high of 1.3476 on Monday, its highest level since July 25. Job openings drop, wage growth steadyThe UK labor market continues to cool. Job openings fell by 5.8% across most industries and the nunber of payrolled employeees also declined. However, the slowdown was not as bad as expected and didn't boost the unemployment rate, which remained at 4.7%. The labor market is feeling the effect of higher employer national insurance contributions and a rise in the minimum wage, as employers continue to cut back on hiring. The Bank of England has been cautious in its rate path and last week's cut was only the second this year. The split vote at the rate meeting reflects the conundrum that Bank policymakers face regarding rates - the UK economy is weak and the labor market is slowing, but inflation has been moving higher. The Bank is expected to cut rates again in November but that will depend on the employment and inflation numbers. US inflation expected to hit to 2.8% The US releases the July inflation report later today. Inflation is is expected to inch higher to 2.8% y/y, up from 2.7% y/y in June. This would mark a third straight acceleration and the highest inflation level since February. Core CPI is also expected to accelerate to 3.0%, up from 2.9%. Monthly, CPI is projected to ease to 0.2% from 0.3%. Core CPI is projected to rise to 0.3% from 0.2%. Today's inflation report could shift market expectations for the September Fed meeting but a Fed cut will likely remain on track. The markets have currently priced in the likelihood of a rate cut at 84%, according to FedWatch's CME. GBP/USD Technical GBP/USD has pushed above resistance at 1.3436 and is testing 1.3453. Next, there is resistance at 1.34871.3402 and 1.3385 are providing support GBPUSD 4-Hour Chart, Aug. 12, 2025 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.

Is BlackRock set to become Ethereum’s Biggest Validator? ETH USD is on the verge of its next leg up after reclaiming $4,300 for the fourth time in 48 hours. A breakout from here likely takes the number two digital asset to a new all-time high, surpassing its November 2021 high of $4,878. This recent price action for Ethereum coincides with BlackRock making one of its most significant ETH purchases since it began accumulating, securing 150,584.76 $ETH for $639 million, taking the asset manager’s crypto holdings over $100 billion for the first time, per Arkham. (ARKHAM) DISCOVER: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now BlackRock Now Holds $12 Billion in ETH USD – What Do They Know? With its latest nine-figure ETH USD purchase, BlackRock now holds over $12.8 billion in Ethereum, its second-largest holding behind Bitcoin ($87.91 billion). BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager, with over $4.74 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Per HedgeFollow, its top holding is Apple stock (AAPL), at $253.27 billion. Now, its crypto holdings have exceeded $100 billion, making it the fifth-largest holding, overtaking Meta (META), in which it holds $95.89 billion worth of stock. It isn’t talked about nearly enough how significant it is that the world’s largest asset manager has made crypto its fifth-largest holding. And its mass accumulation of ETH, while it is still more than 11% away from its all-time high level, is telling. For context, BTC is around 90% up from its November 2021 high of $67,617. It currently trades for $118,600 and looks ready for another leg up. BlackRock has seemingly spotted Ethereum’s undervalued position. Ethereum is the second-largest digital asset by market cap and has not yet made a new all-time high for the past four years. With its current ETH holdings making BlackRock the largest corporate holder of Ethereum, it highlights the demand and success of its spot Ethereum ETF product. Per CoinGlass data, yesterday, $1.02 billion in positive inflows for all Ethereum ETFs were seen, with over $639 million of that coming from BlackRock’s ETHA ETF. BlackRock is now seeking approval from the SEC to allow staking of its ETH holdings. If passed, this could see the asset manager earning over 209 ETH in yield on its Ethereum holdings per day, which equates to around $867,000 in daily ETH USD rewards, a staggering amount for BlackRock and its ETHA investors. DISCOVER: Top Solana Meme Coins to Buy in August Could BlackRock and Ethereum Treasury Firms Be the Catalyst to Send Ethereum to $15k? Not only is BlackRock buying ETH in huge quantities, but publicly traded companies are also taking the Michael Saylor/Strategy approach and pivoting to Ethereum Treasury firms. Sharplink Gaming (SBET), headed by Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin, and Bitmine (BMNR), a former Bitcoin mining firm led by Tom Lee, are the two most prominent. Both firms now hold a combined 1.67 million ETH and are still buying. The difference between a Bitcoin Treasury strategy and an Ethereum one is the yield on offer with ETH staking. The current APR is around 2.6% on average, meaning these firms can earn sizeable interest just for staking Ethereum. This opens up the possibility for it being a more lucrative venture than the same strategy with Bitcoin due to the yield on offer. And with ETH USD still being under its 2021 all-time high, the continuous buying of Ethereum from behemoths such as BlackRock and the other asset managers, and also the ETH Treasury firms such as Sharplink and Bitmine, make the possibility of Ethereum hitting $10,000+ this cycle a real possibility. Retail investors can now invest in Ethereum without needing to navigate crypto exchanges, their awkward UIs, and unforgiving processes. By simply investing in BlackRock’s ETHA fund or buying SBET/BMNR stock, investors can gain exposure to the Ethereum upside more easily than ever. Then, if you add in to the mix that the chance of a 25bps rate cut in September at the Federal Reserve FOMC meetings is sitting at a 73% chance of ‘YES’ on prediction platform, Polymarket, things are shaping up for ETH USD to skyrocket to five-figures in 2025. EthereumPriceMarket CapETH$517.82B24h7d30d1yAll time EXPLORE: Best Meme Coin ICOs to Invest in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates The post Is BlackRock Set To Become Ethereum’s Biggest Validator? Here’s How ETH USD Can Hit $15K appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Ethereum ETFs recorded their highest daily net inflows ever in the past 24 hours, reaching over a huge $1 billion. A milestone that displays growing institutional demand for ETH, with funds like BlackRock and Fidelity leading the total inflows. The past 24 hours, ETH inflows hit $1.018 billion, surpassing previous records high of $461 million days before. It’s a clear signal in a shift of investor focus. EthereumPriceMarket CapETH$517.82B24h7d30d1yAll time Is ETH The Best Crypto to Buy Amid Record-Breaking Inflows? Yesterday’s number shows BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust absorbed $639.8 million in inflows, purchasing around 150,000 ETH. Fidelity followed with $276.9 million, while other providers like Bitwise and VanEck added smaller amounts. This pushed cumulative inflows past $10.83 billion since launch. Amid the big inflows, ETH’s price held steady at around $4,300, which was up 45% over the past 30 days. The rally forces reduced selling pressure while adding a strong whale accumulation. It is reported that large holders have added $1.3 billion in ETH recently. Institutions bought 5.5 times more ETH than BTC through ETFs on the same day, with Bitcoin inflows at $178 million. This disparity clearly shows Ethereum’s appeal apart from its power in DeFi and smart contracts. Analysts are targeting $5,000 soon once $4,330 resistance breaks . Layer-2 solutions and upgrades has enhance Ethereum’s utility, drawing more capital. Accumulation addresses hold record ETH volumes as on-chain data indicates steady outflows to cold storage, reducing available supply. The event has also driven Ethereum to potential all-time highs near $4,900, with some forecasts eyeing $6,000 to $7,000 by year-end. Sustained demand will trigger altcoin momentum, and Ethereum will likely lead the bulls. Overall, these inflows mark Ethereum’s maturation as an institutional asset. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates 42 minutes ago ZORA Price Shocks Market In 80% Mega Rally: Best Crypto to Buy Now? By Akiyama Felix Zora price went parabolic, making a 77% jump over the past 7 days, totaling over 1,330% monthly crypto gains. Looks like whales are targeting this “night owl”, creators flooding in, and Binance perps making it into Web3’s latest obsession. Once just an NFT marketplace, Zora crypto has shifted to a fully-fledged decentralized social protocol living on Coinbase’s Base network. It is mixing NFTs, creator coins, and low-cost minting into a creator-owned economy. It is a truly decentralized art of works, leaving the unnecessary middleman in the past. Is Zora the best crypto to buy right now? Read the full story here. EXPLORE: Best New Crypto to Buy Now in 2025 The post [LIVE] ETH ETFs Hit Record $1B Inflows: Crypto Analyst Preditcs Ethereum To Fly Past $7,000 Before Year End appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The Bitcoin News today opened with El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly passing the Investment Banking Law, establishing rules for financial institutions that cater exclusively to high-net-worth and institutional clients. The bill passed in the 68th plenary session with 55 votes. El Salvador’s new law enforces a $50 million share capital floor, prohibits crossover with commercial banking, and limits services to clients holding at least $250,000 in liquid assets, which may include BTC ▼-2.32%, gold, tokenized securities, cash, or government bonds. “The goal is to position El Salvador as a regional operational base for private capital,” – Legislative statement Both Brazil and Bolivia have also joined El Salvador as major adopters of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies – are we seeing Latin America pivot to become the crypto capital of the world? BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.36T24h7d30d1yAll time Bitcoin News Today: Bolivia Trades Monopoly Money For USDT and BTC While El Salvador builds its crypto regime through legislation, Bolivia’s shift is happening at the street level. The country lifted a decade-old ban on digital assets last year, and in the first half of 2025, crypto payments have surged fivefold to nearly $300 million. Stablecoins such as USDT are now in circulation everywhere from coffee stands to universities, filling the gap as inflation climbs to a 34-year high of 25%. At this point, the Boliviano feels like Monopoly money, and the only board game anyone’s playing is called “How Fast Can You Swap to BTC or Tether.” Can anybody seriously create that? We’d play it. “When they can’t access hard currency and need to make urgent payments, crypto becomes a viable alternative,” – Oswaldo Barriga, Bolivian business leader (Chainanalysis) DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in July 2025 CoinGlass data indicate that stablecoin transaction volumes in Latin America have surged over 400% year-over-year, with Bolivia ranking among the fastest-growing markets. While most flows involve USDT, there’s also been a marked uptick in BTC. In El Salvador, institutional crypto flows remain modest but are expected to grow as the new banking law enables Bitcoin-focused financial services. 99Bitcoins analysts note that the overlap between private capital inflows and digital asset infrastructure could position the country as a regional crypto-finance hub. Bottom Line In Latin America, two paths toward crypto adoption are unfolding at once. El Salvador is constructing a framework to court big money and regulated players. Meanwhile, Bolivia is watching ordinary people swap into digital assets out of sheer economic necessity. Both approaches are accelerating the region’s shift into the crypto era. This isn’t even getting into Brazil, where nearly 20% of the population owns cryptocurrencies according to the latest data, or Venezuela, which is adopting to combat inflation. South America is emerging as one of the few regions where cryptocurrency’s value proposition is obvious. Here, it’s less about chasing quick gains than preserving what’s already earned. EXPLORE: XRP Price Jumps 11% After SEC Crypto Unit Tease XRP ETF Progress Key Takeaways The Bitcoin News today opened with El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly passing the Investment Banking Law, creating new rules for BTC. Stablecoins such as USDT are now in circulation everywhere from coffee stands to universities in Bolivia. The post Bitcoin News Today: Is Latin America Crypto’s Sleeping Giant? BTC is King in El Salvador and Bolivia appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Overview: There were three highlights for today and two, the rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the UK's labor market update are behind us. The Reserve Bank of Australia delivered a dovish cut after last month's hawkish hold. It signaled scope for two more rate cuts. The UK's labor market appeared to stabilize, and this has seen the odds of another cut before the end of the pared. The third highlight is the US July CPI. We had anticipated a firmer today for the dollar ahead of the report and this has transpired. Even though headline and core CPI are likely to have edged up, we do not think that stands in the way of a cut next month. The full employment side of the Fed's mandate is seen at risk and a consensus appears to have formed to remove more of the restrictiveness of the current monetary setting. Ahead report, the dollar is trading quietly but with a mostly firmer bias. Japanese markets re-opened after yesterday's holiday and stocks rallied, with the Nikkei gaining a little more than 2%. Most of the large bourses in the region rose with the exception of South Korea, India, and Singapore. Europe's Stoxx 600 is recouping yesterday's minor loss. US index futures are slightly firmer. Major bond markets are mixed. The 10-year JGB yield edged up to almost 1.49%. Benchmark 10-year yields are mostly narrowly mixed in Europe, leaving the 3.5 bp increase in the UK 10-year Gilt the outlier. The 10-year US Treasury yield, which has risen for the past five sessions, is around a basis point softer, near 4.28%. Gold, which was tagged for 1.6% yesterday, the most in nearly three months, has stabilized today, but is stuck near yesterday's trough (~$3341.50). After falling 5.1% last week, September WTI posted its first gain of the month yesterday, rising a few cents. It is up a few more cents today but remains in the pre-weekend range (~$62.75-$64.60). USD: The Dollar Index rallied from almost 98.00 yesterday, in the Asia Pacific session to around 98.65 in the North American morning before the European session ended. It is flat so far today in a roughly 98.45-98.55 range. We had anticipated a firm dollar ahead of today's CPI reading, but we expected it to have been boosted by firmer US rates. US rates were soft yesterday, while the dollar advanced, and remain so now. The headline and core July CPI likely rose for the third consecutive month. A 0.2% rise in the headline rate would lift the year-over-year pace to 2.8% from 2.7%. and would be the highest since February. A 0.3% rise in the core rate, the largest since January, would lift the year-over-year pace to 3.0% from 2.9%, and be the highest in five months. So far firms have had trouble raising prices as household debt stress levels are elevated and real disposable income growth has been weak. Goods prices may firm a little while soft demand limits service price increases. The softer rent and owners' equivalent may be ending. Used car prices may have also risen. Varying by industry, a combination of narrow profit margins by US producers, firmer US goods prices are expected to absorb the bulk of the tariffs, and the risk may increase in the coming months. Two regional Fed presidents (Barkin from Richmond and Schmid from Kansas City) speak shortly after the CPI. Nevertheless, the market is convinced that the easing cycle will continue next month (~88%) and futures market is discounting two cuts fully this year still, and about a 1/3 chance of a third. EURO: After stalling last week in front of $1.17, the euro was sold to a three-day low yesterday near $1.1590 yesterday. It is holding above $1.1605 today and has been capped near $1.1630. The (38.2%) retracement of the rally since August 1 low is near $1.1580. The (50%) retracement is around $1.1545. There are two sets of chunky options that expire today: 1.11 bln euros at $1.1650 and about 815 mln euros at $1.1575. Germany's ZEW survey showed deterioration. The assessment of current conditions slumped to -68.6 in August from -59.5 in July. It is the second-best reading since July 2023. The expectations component fell to 34.7 from 52.7 in July. It is a three-month low. The economy is still struggling. The 0.1% contraction estimated for Q2 risks being revised lower, and the median forecast in Bloomberg's survey calls for a flat Q3. CNY: The dollar is firm against the offshore yuan. The move above CNH7.1950, the upper end of last week's range, targets CNH7.2000-CNH7.2060. That said, the August 1 high matched the June 2 high near CNH7.2240. The PBOC set the dollar's reference rate higher for the third consecutive session (CNY7.1418 vs. CNY7.1405 yesterday). Many argue that the yuan is undervalued and this boosts its exports. Yet, look at Japan. By many measures, it is more undervalued than the yuan, yet it runs a trade deficit. The trade deficit in H1 25 was about JPY2.3 trillion (~$15.6 bln). Many of Chinese exports may not be particularly sensitive to short-term moves in foreign exchange, like rare earths, magnets, batteries, and EVs, ventilators, and for solar panels, polysilicon, ingot, and wafers. Meanwhile, there is an agreement to extend the tariff truce between the China and the US for another 90 days (to Nov 10). Separately, but tellingly about the grow asymmetries, Chinese officials are dissuading the use of Nvidia's H20 processes, particularly for government-related entities. We suspect China's weaponization of critical earths, after the US weaponized the semiconductor supply chain was what has tempered the efforts to contain China. JPY: The dollar rose to its best level against the yen yesterday near to its best level since the August 12 downside reversal. It reached JPY148.10. And today, surpassed the (38.2%) retracement from the August 1 high (~JPY150.90) near JPY148.25. The (50%) retracement is near JPY148.75. Japan returned from the long holiday weekend. The highlight of the week is Friday's first estimate of Q2 GDP. After contracting by 0.2% at an annualized rate in Q1, it is projected to have grown by 0.4% (annualized rate) in Q2. The BOJ is not in a hurry to hike rates again. The swaps market has almost 15 bp of tightening at the end of the year. It briefly traded around 20 bp in late July. GBP: After visiting its highest level since July 25 (~$1.3575) yesterday, sterling reversed and fell through the pre-weekend low (~$1.3420). It settled barely inside last Friday's range to avoid a technically bearish key reversal. It has rallied 3 1/3 cents from the August 1 low (~$1.3140), but the move does not appear over. The five- and 20-day moving averages converged yesterday slightly below $1.34 and the shorter-dated moving average crossed above the 20-day moving average for the first time in a month. The next target is near $1.3540. The UK labor market appeared to stabilize, and this reinforces the sense that the cut earlier this month exhausted the scope for near-term easing. The swaps market has a little less than 50% chance of a cut in November and a 70% chance of a cut before the end of the year. Last Wednesday, before the BOE meeting, it was fully discounted. Now, the next cut is not fully discounted until the middle of Q1 26. Average weekly earnings moderated to 4.6% in June from 5.0% in May. It matches the lowest since August 2024. The BOE's preferred measure of earnings growth (private sector earnings excluding bonuses) slowed to 4.8% from 4.9%. The unemployment rate was steady at 4.7% in the three months through June, following three consecutive increases. It stood at 4.2% in June 2024 and 4.4% as recently as February. The number of people on company payrolls fell by 8k in July. It was the least in six consecutive months that it has declined. Jobless claims in July fell by 6.2k and June's 25.9k increase was revised to a 15.5k decline. CAD: Amid the US dollar's firmer tone yesterday, the Canadian dollar was among the strongest G10 currencies, falling by about 0.15%. Still, the greenback rose to a four-day high slightly shy of CAD1.3800. It is holding slightly below there today, but the looks poised to take it out, at least on an intraday basis. Recall that the high from August 5 was about CAD1.3810. This area corresponds to the (38.2%) retracement of the US dollar's sell-off since the August 1 high (~CAD1.3880). The market is not typically sensitive to Canada's build permits time series, which will be reported today. After surging 12% in May, it is expected to have pulled back by 4% in June. Following last week's disappointing employment data boosted the market’s confidence of another rate cut before the end of the year from around 80% on August 4 to 100% before the weekend before consolidating yesterday around 90%. AUD: As it did before the weekend, the Australian dollar was confined to last Thursday's range yesterday, which was roughly $0.6490-$0.6540. It is threatening to break lower today and a push below $0.6480 targets $0.6465. The Reserve Bank of Australia's rate cut was fully anticipated in the futures market. Unlike last month, the RBA did not disappoint. The futures market has the next cut fully discounted for the next meeting in November, and before the end of the year and around a 62% chance of another. Today's cut brings the cash target rate to 3.60%. The market expects it to be near 3.0% in the middle of next year, which is seen as the terminal rate. Governor Bullock said that the central bank's forecasts assume a couple more rate cuts. It downgraded its productivity growth assumption to 0.7% from 1%The Reserve Bank of New Zealand meets next week (August 20) and the market has almost a 90% chance of a cut in the 3.25% cash target rate. The terminal rate is seen near 2.75% next year. MXN: Mexico reported a 0.1% decline in June industrial output. The median forecast in Bloomberg's survey was for a 0.3% rise. The drag was not from manufacturing, where output rose by 0.3%, but from mining (-1.4% June after a -1.1% drop in May), utility output (-0.2% vs. +0.4%) and construction (-0.2% after +3.2% in May). The disappointing report weighed on the peso in a mostly firmer US dollar environment. The dollar rose to almost MXN18.6950 after recording a low before the weekend near MXN18.5250. A move above the nearby cap around MXN18.70 could spur greenback gains toward MXN18.75-MXN18.80. Mexico's economic calendar is light for the remainder of the week. Brazil reports last month's IPCA measure of inflation today. It is seen little changed around 5.3% where it has been for the previous two months. The central bank's tightening cycle appears to have ended with the Selic rate at 15.00%. It meets next on September 17, the same day as the Federal Reserve meeting concludes and the Bank of Canada meets. Disclaimer

Gert van Lagen says the macro structure of XRP has finally done the one thing it needed to do: break the neckline of a seven-year base and hold it. “XRP [2W] – Ripple is ready to rip. The 7-year double bottom has broken out at The neckline was successfully retested at ATH cleared — first target near ~$34, at 2.00 fib. extension of double bottom. → Compare with 2014–2017 setup,” the analyst wrote. His chart is drawn on a logarithmic scale with two-week candles, framing the move as a multi-cycle reversal rather than a short-term pop. Could XRP Really Hit $34? The geometry is clear on the chart. A broad W-shaped base stretching from the 2018–2024 bear market carved twin lows in the sub-$0.20–$0.30 region, then returned to a horizontal neckline that sits just above the $2 handle. Van Lagen marks an initial breakout attempt with a red cross just over that barrier, followed by a decisive surge and a pullback that tags support around the $2 area, annotated with a blue dot. On a log chart, that textbook breakout-retest sequence is the confirmation step technicians typically look for before projecting targets. Price at the time of the snapshot is labeled $3.19 on the right axis, meaning XRP is trading above the neckline but still below the 2018 all-time high at $3.40. That placement matters because the prior macro cap now acts as support; staying north of roughly $2.00 keeps the double-bottom thesis intact. The measured arrow drawn from the neckline replicates the height of the base on a multiplicative (log) basis, which is why the upside extension leaps into the mid-double digits rather than adding only a few dollars. Van Lagen’s first objective is derived explicitly from Fibonacci proportions. He sets the 2.00 extension of the double-bottom as the initial target, landing “near ~$34.” On his scale the projected path peaks above the $27 and $20 grid lines and briefly tags the mid-$30s before mean-reverting, consistent with how log-scale extensions translate when a long consolidation unwinds quickly. The left side of the graphic provides the historical rhyme he wants readers to notice. Between 2014 and 2017, XRP built a smaller double-bottom within a shaded accumulation zone, broke its neckline, retested it, and then accelerated vertically. Van Lagen marks that sequence with the same red cross at breakout and blue dot at the retest, plus a vertical measuring arrow to illustrate how the earlier base resolved. The current pattern, shaded across 2018–2025, repeats that choreography at a far larger scale. His sketch includes a time-and-price roadmap using twelve forward candles—two-week bars—implying a five- to six-month arc for the entire move if it were to echo the prior cycle. The first projected bar vaults XRP above $11. After three candles, the blue path tops out above $36, roughly six weeks into the run. The fourth candle traces a deep retracement back toward the $11 region, followed by a sharp recovery above $30 on the fifth. The next three candles stabilize around the $30 area before the path draws another slide to ~$11 and the onset of a cooling phase. The sequence is illustrative rather than prescriptive, but it visually anchors the extension math to possible market behavior. Whether XRP can follow the steep path sketched in blue is a separate question from whether the double-bottom has technically activated. Van Lagen’s chart answers the second with a yes: the breakout and retest sequence is complete. The first answer—delivery toward the ~$34 Fib extension—will be determined by how the next several two-week candles will look like. At press time, XRP traded at $3.14.

Ethereum developer Federico Carrone, known as “Fede’s Intern” on X, has been released after a 24-hour detention in Turkey over alleged links to an ETH ▲0.45% privacy protocol. “I’m finally out, safe and free. There was a small moment were things looked very bad but thanks to help from many I got released,” – Federico Carrone, X post Carrone said Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs accused him of “helping others misuse Ethereum,” which was allegedly linked to a January 2022 research paper examining Ethereum privacy and Tornado Cash mixers. “We never helped anyone engage in illegal activity; it was purely research on mixers and their properties,” Carrone told reporters. (Source) Who is Ethereum Developer Federico Carrone? Allegations and International Intervention Carrone, a ZK and Ethereum infrastructure developer, said he was being held in Izmir and warned of possible charges, despite insisting that his companies operate transparently and in partnership with European governments. It took contacts in over 10 countries, industry peers, and Catholic Church representatives lobbying Turkish authorities to free him. “They wanted to take my phone since they considered it a security risk but thanks to some friends calls they didn’t,” Carrone said. Bankless co-founder Ryan Sean Adams called the episode “very troubling,” pointing to potential fallout for Istanbul’s DevCon 2026 ambitions. DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 Carrone’s arrest adds to a growing wave of prosecutions targeting developers of open-source privacy tools. Tornado Cash co-founders Alexey Pertsev and Roman Storm have faced similar charges. Storm’s upcoming verdict in New York is a potential precedent for criminalizing privacy tech in decentralized finance. On Tuesday, Carrone pledged $500,000 in ETH to Storm’s legal defense. In crypto terms, that’s doubling down on the jailbreak of innocent devs. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Federico Carrone Willing to Return to Turkey to Clear His Name Carrone is now in Europe, but says his legal team is in Turkey working on the case. “We still don’t have the full picture of what happened or why it happened, but we will bring in the best team we can and resolve this,” said Carrone. “If needed, once things are sorted out, I will come back to clear my name and defend myself.” The situation underscores a growing legal gray zone for crypto developers operating on privacy-focused infrastructure—an area increasingly under government scrutiny worldwide. EXPLORE: XRP Price Jumps 11% After SEC Crypto Unit Tease XRP ETF Progress Key Takeaways Ethereum developer Federico Carrone, known as “Fede’s Intern” on X, has been released after a 24-hour detention in Turkey. Carrone’s arrest adds to a growing wave of prosecutions targeting developers of open-source privacy tools. The post Who is Ethereum Developer Federico Carrone? Core Dev Freed After Kidnap in Turkey appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The Australian dollar is lower on Tuesday. In the European session, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6494, down 0.29% on the day. RBA cuts rates to 3.60% The Reserve Bank of Australia lowered the cash rate by a quarter-point on Tuesday in a unanimous decision, bringing the cash rate to 3.60%. This is the lowest level since April 2023 and today's cut was the third this year. This time around the RBA didn't shock the markets, unlike the July meeting when the RBA held rates and said it needed to see additional inflation data before lowering rates. The rate statement began by noting that inflation has "fallen substantially" since 2022 and that inflation had fallen back within the target band of 2%-3% in the second quarter. The Board noted that headline inflation was at 2.1% and trimmed mean (a key core CPI gauge) was at 2.7%. The Board said that underlying inflation is expected to continue to ease to the midpoint of the target band and the cash rate should continue to follow a "gradual easing path". This dovish tune in the statement was balanced out by concerns that uncertainty remains in both the global economy and at home. The Board said it would remain cautious and would remain focused on price stabililty and employment. At a post-meeting press conference, Governor Bullock said that the growth and inflation forecasts support further rate cuts but "there is still a lot of uncertainty" and future rate decisions would be data-dependent. US inflation expected to rise to 2.8% The US releases the July inflation report later today. Inflation is expected to nudge higher to 2.8% y/y, up from 2.7% y/y in June. This would mark a third straight acceleration and would be the highest inflation level since February. Monthly, CPI is projected to ease to 0.2% from 0.3%. Core CPI is also expected to accelerate to 3.0%, up from 2.9%. Monthly, core CPI is projected to rise to 0.3% from 0.2%. Today's inflation data could shift market expectations for the September Fed meeting but the decision will very likely be rate cut, with a current likelihood of 84%, according to FedWatch's CME. AUD/USD Technical AUD/USD is testing support at 0.6500. Below, there is support at 0.64830.6500 and 0.6527 are the next resistance lines AUDUSD 4-Hour Chart, Aug. 12, 2025 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.

Майкл Сэйлор, известный сторонник Биткоина и сооснователь компании Strategy, снова использовал поп-культурный образ, чтобы продвинуть идею BTC в соцсетях. Он опубликовал сгенерированное ИИ изображение, на котором он предстает в роли Индианы Джонса внутри храма, напоминающего южноамериканский. Подпись к картинке гласила: “Я искал золото… и нашел кое-что лучше”. Коротко и по делу, пост повторяет давнюю мысль: Биткоин лучше золота. Сэйлор в стиле поп-культуры Судя по публикациям Сэйлора, это не разовая акция. Недавно он поделился еще одним ИИ-изображением, на котором предстал в образе Тайлера Дердена из фильма “Бойцовский клуб”. Визуалы простые, однако цепляющие, и они поддерживают Сэйлора в заголовках СМИ. По сообщениям, за этим креативом стоит и крупный корпоративный шаг, что объясняет, почему посты в соцсетях – больше, чем просто мемы. Согласно отчетам, 29 июля Strategy объявила о покупке 21 021 BTC примерно за $2,46 млрд. Эта сделка увеличила общий объем владения фирмы до 628 791 BTC. На момент объявления эти активы оценивались более чем в $70 млрд. Конкретные цифры такие: количество BTC фиксировано в реестре, а долларовая стоимость меняется в зависимости от рынка. Почему картинки имеют значение Эти изображения выполняют вполне понятную задачу. Они демонстрируют уверенность для инвесторов и подписчиков, а также направляют обсуждение в русло основной идеи Сэйлора: Биткоин превосходит золото как средство сохранения стоимости. Короткие сообщения быстро охватывают широкую аудиторию, а более развернутые публикации с фоном поддерживают интерес к истории. В отчетах поднимается еще один момент: использование ИИ-арта с заимствованием образов известных персонажей может затрагивать вопросы авторских прав и прав на изображение. Похоже, что эти посты не имеют официального отношения к киностудиям или правообладателям. Это может стать поводом для обсуждений, но не для немедленных действий. Кроме того, долларовая оценка, привязанная к Биткоину, будет колебаться вместе с рынком, поэтому указание количества BTC с датой дает читателям более точное представление. Согласно поданным документам и публичным сообщениям, факты просты: 29 июля Strategy приобрела 21 021 BTC и теперь владеет 628 791 биткоином. Изображение в стиле Индианы Джонса – это одновременно комментарий и маркетинговый ход. Оно привлекает внимание и напоминает, что современная корпоративная коммуникация сочетает финансы и шоу, но при этом базовые цифры – сколько BTC и когда были куплены – по-прежнему имеют первостепенное значение. TOKEN6900 объединяет истинный абсурд, любовь к криптовалютам и развлечения Тренды крипторынка, особенно в сегменте мем-монет, стремительно меняются: мемкоины уже завлекают инвесторов не ИИ-интеграциями и обещаниями реальной супер-полезности, а легкостью, долей абсурда и получением прибыли без особых усилий. В таком направлении движется проект TOKEN6900 – новая предпродажа июля с огромным потенциалом. За первые 4 дня предпродажи проект привлек более $150 000, а сейчас сборы составляют почти $2 млн! При стоимости одной монеты всего в $0.006925 это довольно впечатляющий результат. TOKEN6900 позиционирует себя как “паразит сознания” и “эталон brain rot finance”, честно заявляя: “мы отслеживаем не ВВП, нефть или прибыль, а высокую ликвидность”. И именно такая искренность привлекает массовую аудиторию! Аналитики прогнозируют десятикратный рост токену после его выхода на бирже – отличный способ заработать на ранних вложениях без сложных действий. Переходите на официальный сайт проекта и убедитесь в этом сами.

Asia Market Wrap - RBA Cuts Rates, Nikkei Hits Fresh All-Time Highs Most Read: Markets Weekly Outlook - US Inflation, EU/UK GDP and RBA Meeting to Shape Market Moves Asian stocks rose 0.6%, though gains were trimmed after China advised local companies not to use Nvidia's H20 processors. Earlier, Trump said he might allow Nvidia to sell a less advanced version of its AI chip to China. Tech stocks in Asia climbed on Tuesday, boosted by chipmakers like Advantest, as Micron's positive outlook and easing tensions at Intel improved market sentiment. Japan's Nikkei-225 stood out, jumping 2.4% to a record high, driven by Softbank's surge. Meanwhile, the yen weakened for the third day in a row. For more on the Nikkei, read Nikkei 225 Update: Bullish impulsive sequence intact, new resistance levels to watch after new all-time high Trump's decision on chip exports helped calm market fears about stricter tech sanctions and possible supply chain issues. China asked local companies, especially in government projects, to stop using Nvidia's H20 processors. This makes it harder for Nvidia to recover billions in lost revenue from China and complicates the US government's efforts to benefit financially from these sales. Australia's central bank lowered interest rates for the third time this year on Tuesday, hinting that more cuts might be needed to boost inflation and employment as the economy slows down. After a two-day meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia reduced the main cash rate by 0.25% to 3.6%. They expect core inflation to settle near the middle of their 2%-3% target, assuming gradual policy adjustments. US-China Tariff Deadline Extended by 90 Days The US and China have agreed to extend their tariff truce for 90 days, avoiding steep triple-digit tariffs on each other's goods. This comes as US retailers prepare for the busy holiday season. On Monday, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he signed an order delaying higher tariffs until November 10. China’s Commerce Ministry also paused its planned extra tariffs for 90 days. The agreement prevents US tariffs on Chinese goods from rising to 145% and Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods from hitting 125%, which could have nearly stopped trade between the two countries. For now, US tariffs on Chinese imports stay at 30%, while China’s tariffs on US goods remain at 10%. Source: LSEG The move has boosted sentiment but it is important to note that the risk still remains in play until an actual deal is reached. European Open - European Shares Advance European stocks rose on Tuesday, helped by the extension of the U.S.-China tariff truce. Investors are also waiting for US inflation data to see how tariffs might affect prices and future interest rate decisions. The STOXX 600 index, which tracks European shares, was up 0.4%, with most markets in positive territory. Among individual stocks, UBS dropped 0.9% after an investor sold shares in the Swiss wealth manager. Sartorius gained 3.6% after Jefferies upgraded its rating to "Buy." Vestas Wind Systems rose 3.5% after getting new US orders for unnamed projects. Spirax Group was the biggest winner, jumping 16% after its first-half results exceeded expectations. On the FX front, the dollar rose 0.1% to 148.31 yen, while the euro stayed unchanged at 1.1613. The British pound held steady at 1.3434, despite data showing a weaker jobs market in the UK. The Australian dollar dropped 0.18% to 0.6502, and China's offshore yuan remained flat at 7.195 per dollar. Currency Power Balance Source: OANDA Labs Gold prices edged up slightly on Tuesday, recovering from a sharp drop the day before, as investors waited for US inflation data to get clues about the Federal Reserve's plans for rate cuts. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $3,348.41 per ounce, while US gold futures for December fell 0.2% to $3,397.10. On Monday, gold prices fell 1.6%, and futures dropped over 2% after President Trump announced that tariffs would not be placed on imported gold bars, calming market concerns. Oil prices went up on Tuesday after the US and China extended a pause on higher tariffs. This eased worries that their trade war could hurt their economies and reduce fuel demand in the world's top two oil-consuming countries. Brent crude rose 14 cents (0.2%) to $66.77 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude increased by 8 cents (0.1%) to $64.04. For a breakdown on Oil, read WTI Crude Forecast: Risk premium fades, supply pressures mount, bearish trend ahead Economic Data Releases and Final Thoughts Looking at the economic calendar, ZEW economic sentiment data will be released in a short while before all focus turns to US CPI data later in the day. Today's core CPI (Consumer Price Index) is expected to rise by 0.4% compared to last month, which is higher than the 0.3% most people are predicting. If this happens, yearly core inflation would increase from 2.9% to 3.1%, and overall inflation would go from 2.7% to 2.9%. Even though some investors are adjusting their positions before the data is released, a higher-than-expected inflation number could still boost the US dollar. This is because markets might lower their expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September to less than 0.2%. However, the job market data is more important than inflation right now in my opinion. Many think that price increases caused by tariffs are temporary, and last month’s big revisions to payroll data add to this view. So, even if inflation rises by 0.4%, it could still align with a September rate cut if the job market continues to weaken. Because of this, I don’t think higher inflation will lead to a lasting rise in the US dollar. Any boost is likely to be short-lived. Also on today’s schedule: the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index and July’s Federal budget report. For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. (click to enlarge) Chart of the Day - FTSE Index From a technical standpoint, the FTSE 100 broke above the 100-day MA as discussed yesterday. The index now has all-time highs in sight but a break above this level has proven a challenge over the past few weeks. Since the back end of July, looking at the chart below we have attempted a break above the 9200 handle and have failed to do so around 4 times. In an ideal scenario, the 100-day MA support needs to hold if the FTSE is to have any chance of breaking above the 9200 level. FTSE Daily Chart, August 12. 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.