Redator

With the bullish momentum growing in the cryptocurrency market, the large-cap altcoins have been some of the major beneficiaries of the current positive trend. Ethereum price, specifically, has continued to impress, with the second-largest cryptocurrency reasserting its position in the market over the past weeks. The Ethereum price displayed significant bullish impetus going into the weekend, reclaiming the $4,000 mark for the first time since December 2024. Interestingly, the “king of altcoins” appears to only be at the beginning of an extended upward trajectory. ETH Price To Soar By 182% In The Coming Months: Analyst In an August 9 post on the social media platform X, pseudonymous crypto analyst Titan of Crypto shared an exciting layout for Ethereum that could see its price climb as high as $12,000. This positive projection is based on the price fractals of the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Bitcoin, in 2020. In technical analysis, fractals refer to the recurring patterns on a price chart. These price patterns often offer insight into historical price movements and can be used to analyze the future trajectory of a cryptocurrency. Titan of Crypto revealed that the Ethereum price is currently at the same spot that the price of BTC was in August 2020. At the time, the premier cryptocurrency was trading within a converging wedge pattern before breaking out to its then all-time-high price at around $69,000. As shown in the chart above, the Ethereum price is currently trading within a similar converging wedge pattern on the monthly chart. Both BTC and ETH prices recently bounced off the lower boundary of the chart pattern earlier in 2020 and 2025, respectively. Almost identically, the two largest cryptocurrencies almost broke above the trendline with their respective July 2020 and 2025 candlestick. While the price of BTC hovered around the upper trendline in the subsequent two months, the Ethereum price has broken clearly above the wedge pattern with its August candlestick. If history is anything to go by, and a sustained monthly close above $4,000 occurs, the price of Ethereum could be on its way to an unprecedented high around the $12,000 region. This move represents a potential 182% surge for ETH from its current price point. Ethereum Price At A Glance As of this writing, the Ethereum token is valued at around $4,270, reflecting an almost 6% increase in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the altcoin is up by more than 25% in the past seven days.

The Ethereum (ETH) market has unlocked another wave of bullish momentum after decisively breaking above the long-standing resistance at the $4,000 level. The most prominent altcoin now trades around $4,200, representing an estimated 180% gain from market lows of $1,500 in May 2025. Looking forward, a market analyst with the username CryptoOnChain unveils a potential price trajectory for Ethereum, detailing both short- and long-term outlooks for the asset. On-Chain Data Shows ETH Long-Term Bullish, Short-Term Vulnerable In a QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, CryptoOnChain shares insights on Ethereum’s future price movement based on recent exchange activity. The digital asset analyst notes that after rallying from the $2,400 zone, ETH has climbed to around $4,215, just shy of the strong $4,400 resistance level that has historically acted as a significant supply barrier. While momentum indicators such as the MACD and buying volume remain positive, the approach toward this resistance is accompanied by potential for near-term selling pressure. Meanwhile, CryptoOnChain also reveals that on-chain exchange metrics reveal a divergence between broader market behavior and activity specific to Binance. Notably, Ethereum’s Exchange Supply Ratio (ESR) across all exchanges has recorded a steady decline since 2022, now standing at approximately 0.16. This development suggests that investors are steadily moving ETH off trading platforms, thereby reducing sell-side liquidity and strengthening the market confidence in the asset’s long-term price outlook. However, Binance’s ESR has been climbing since early 2025, now hovering near 0.04. This localized increase indicates that some ETH holders are moving coins back into Binance, potentially for short-term profit taking, arbitrage opportunities, or to participate in exchange-specific programs. Adding to the cautious tone, Binance’s exchange netflow has recently seen a notable surge in positive inflows, as Ethereum nears key resistance at $4,400, signifying potential intent to sell. The combination of these metrics paints a picture of long-term strength but short-term vulnerability for the Ethereum market. From a macro standpoint, the ongoing decline in the all-exchange ESR points to a healthier supply-demand balance for ETH. However, the localized buildup of ETH on Binance, which is the world’s largest exchange, coupled with heightened net inflows, suggests that sellers may be preparing to take profits in the immediate term. Ethereum Price Forecast At press time, Ethereum trades at $4,230, reflecting a 4.62% gain in the last day. However, the asset’s daily trading volume has declined by 12.08%. Considering the current ESR report, CryptoOnChain outlines two scenarios. In a bullish scenario, a swift drop in Binance net inflows or a leveling off in the exchange’s ESR could open the door for ETH to push decisively past the $4,400 mark, with $4,800 as the next price target amidst the possibility of revisiting all-time highs. Conversely, if strong inflows into Binance persist and the price fails to clear $4,400, ETH could face a short-term pullback, potentially retracing to the $3,950–$4,000 support zone before mounting another breakout attempt.

The Ethereum price has roared on with a strong performance over this weekend, reclaiming the $4,200 level for the first time since 2021. According to data from CoinGecko, the “king of altcoins” has now increased in value by more than 25% on the weekly timeframe. Considering its strong momentum, the general expectation is that the Ethereum price will continue to climb over the next few days. However, the latest price analysis shows that the altcoin might currently be trapped within a resistance range. Why ETH Price Could Be Heading Next For $4,800 In a Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, CryptoOnchain revealed that the Ethereum price might be eyeing a breakout above a key psychological and technical resistance. According to the pundit’s technical analyst, the altcoin would need a sustained breach above this region if it is to retest its all-time-high price. Expanding on this technical hypothesis, CryptoOnchain shared that the Ethereum price is within the green zone between $4,000 and $4,400 (from the chart above), which represents a multi-year resistance range with significant historical selling pressure. Nevertheless, the analyst noted that the Moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) indicator has flipped positive, signaling the continuation of bullish momentum. From an on-chain perspective, CryptoOnchain highlighted that the Ethereum price could be at risk of selling pressure, as the MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) indicator is nearing its upper historical ranges. The other on-chain metrics, however, suggest the investors are not in profit-taking or euphoria mode—despite the widespread profitability in the market. Notably, the Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) metric—which tracks the overall profit and loss status of crypto investors—is in a high, positive region. While the metric signals that the ETH investors are broadly in profit, it also clarifies that the Ethereum price is not yet overheated. CryptoOnchain concluded that a strong break above the $4,400 level could open the door for a run to $4,800 for the Ethereum price in the short term. The on-chain analyst added that the Ethereum market has yet to reach an overheated state, which suggests room for further upside movements in the medium term. Ethereum Price At A Glance As of this writing, the price of ETH sits at around $4,270, reflecting an almost 6% increase in the past 24 hours.

The Binance Coin (BNB) market is showing high levels of bullishness, marked by an 8.92% price gain in the past week. The Binance exchange’s native cryptocurrency now trades above $800 and is merely 6% from returning to its all-time high figure. Interestingly, striking similarities between BNB’s current chart structure and Bitcoin’s trajectory in earlier phases of its bull cycle indicate the altcoin could be in the early stages of a major price rally. Technical Patterns Suggest BNB Could Surge By Over 50% In an X post on August 9, Ali Martinez highlights upside potential in the BNB market after weekly price data from TradingView suggests the altcoin is replicating Bitcoin’s price movement. Notably, the premier cryptocurrency is currently trading at approximately $116,769, having recently broken through multiple key resistances at $82,500, $95,000, and $110,000. From the chart above, the similarities between BNB and Bitcoin’s price are easily seen moving through phases of accumulation, breakout, and rapid expansion. For BTC, traders can observe a prolonged sideways range between mid-2022 and 2023, fluctuating between roughly $15,000 and $25,000, before a steady climb accelerated sharply past the $70,000 and $82,500 resistance in late 2024. Thereafter, the crypto market leader surges towards higher price targets at $95,000, $110,000, and $120,000. Interestingly, BNB’s trajectory mirrors this pattern, with a long consolidation between $200 and $350 from 2022 to 2023, followed by a breakout above $450 and a decisive move past $700 in 2024. Presently, the altcoin finds itself trading at minor resistance at $800, similar to the $80,000 level in the BTC market. If the parallel continues, clearing the mid-cycle resistance at $700 should unleash a strong bullish momentum, which easily pushes BNB towards $950. Thereafter, the cryptocurrency may experience an intense correction, falling to around $777, before climbing towards $1,200 to produce a 50% gain from current market prices. However, while chart similarities offer compelling insights, they do not guarantee identical outcomes. Macroeconomic conditions, regulatory events that affect Binance could impact the BNB’s rally. Alternatively, the potential of an impending altseason may cause BNB to deviate from the observed parallel performance, causing the altcoin to outperform Bitcoin. BNB Price Overview At press time, BNB trades at $810 after a slight 1.78% gain in the last 24 hours. On larger timeframes, the digital asset also remains in profit with price increases of 8.57% and 19.04% on the weekly and monthly charts, respectively. This performance suggests that BNB traders are largely maintaining a bullish outlook, with buying interest persisting across both short- and long-term horizons as momentum continues to build. Meanwhile, with a market cap of $112.36 billion, the Binance Coin continues to rank as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency and fourth-largest altcoin in the market.

Northcliff Resources (TSX: NCF) received an C$8.2 million ($6 million) investment from the Canadian government this week to help advance its Sisson tungsten-molybdenum project in New Brunswick. The sum adds to $15 million in US Defense Production Act funding announced in May. The $29 million funding will help the project become a top tungsten producer outside China, the company said on Thursday. “Bilateral investments by the Canadian and US governments are being made to ensure that the minerals are available to support newly developing technologies as well as maintain security of supply and North American industrial competitiveness,” Northcliff chairman and CEO Andrew Ing said in a release. “Northcliff has the opportunity to contribute to these key objectives by becoming a reliable, easily accessible, domestic producer of two critical minerals.” The Sisson project, backed by New Zealand industrial conglomerate Todd Corp., holds one of the world’s most significant tungsten reserves and is fully permitted at the federal and provincial levels. The cross-border funding mimics how Fireweed Metals (TSXV: FWZ) secured a Pentagon investment of $15.8 million in December and C$12.9 million from Canada’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund to advance the Mactung tungsten project in the Far North. Military applications China controls more than 80% of the world’s tungsten supply, a hard, dense metal used mainly to make cemented carbides for cutting and drilling tools, as well as in alloys for aerospace, electronics and military applications like armour-piercing ammunition. Molybdenum, mainly used in steel alloys, has also gained strategic importance for renewable energy and defence supply chains. Canadian support from Natural Resources Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative will update the Sisson 2013 feasibility study. It will also complete basic engineering. Consulting engineering firm Ausenco has been engaged for the work, which aims to produce the technical and economic detail needed for a construction decision. The US contribution supports pre-construction tasks. This includes offtake talks and project-finance plans. However, significant steps remain before shovels hit the ground. Northcliff needs to wrap up its feasibility study. It must also secure construction financing and finalize offtake agreements. Additionally, it has to fulfill all First Nations engagement and environmental-condition requirements. Northcliff’s Toronto-quoted shares were up about 11% on Friday at C$0.10 per share, valuing it at about C$61 million. Sisson hosts proven and probable reserves of 334.4 million tonnes at 0.066% tungsten and 0.021% molybdenum, for 22.2 million tonnes of tungsten metal and 154.8 million lb. of molybdenum, as per the January 2013 open-pit estimate. Strong partner Northcliff’s development partner Todd Corp., a privately-held company in energy, minerals and technology, joined the project in 2013 in a deal reported by The Northern Miner at the time. Todd now holds nearly 12% of the Sisson Partnership and is Northcliff’s largest shareholder, owning about 81% of the company. Todd’s backing adds long-term financial and technical depth to the project alongside the new government commitments. Tungsten prices in the US have climbed to about $88,800 per tonne this year on supply-chain tightness and strong defence-sector demand. Molybdenum has climbed 12% over the past month to about $67,200 per tonne as of Aug. 8, according to Trading Economics, on strong stainless steel orders in China. Analysts say the Sisson project could offer a rare Western supply option in an increasingly politicized market for critical minerals. The Northern Miner reported in 2023 that the Sisson project’s construction had been delayed to allow more time to meet environmental assessment conditions and continue First Nations consultations, pushing the provincial deadline to December 3.

Bitcoin’s march to reclaim the $120,000 milestone again is gaining pace with a combination of tightening supply and interesting events around the world. Harvard University recently revealed its $116.6 million allocation to BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF. Meanwhile, El Salvador is welcoming Bitcoin-focused investment banks, while regulatory delays have put Japan’s first crypto ETF on hold. El Salvador Opens Door To Bitcoin Investment Banks El Salvador has passed a landmark Investment Banking Law that allows regulated investment banks, which are distinct from commercial lenders, to hold Bitcoin and other digital assets on their balance sheets. These institutions will cater exclusively to sophisticated investors and are required to have a Digital Asset Service Provider license and at least $50 million in starting capital. The law, which was approved on Thursday, effectively paves the way for banks to choose to operate entirely as Bitcoin banks. Government officials say the framework is designed to attract foreign capital and cement the country’s status as a crypto finance hub. Critics, however, warn that the benefits may largely favor wealthy institutions over everyday Salvadorans. This move comes as Japan’s entry into the Bitcoin ETF market is being held back. While US-based Bitcoin ETFs are making ground with inflows and jurisdictions like El Salvador move forward, Japan is yet to be home to a Spot Bitcoin ETF. There were multiple reports this week about Japan’s SBI Holdings filing for spot crypto ETFs. However, the company has clarified that it has not yet submitted any applications for crypto-related ETFs. Nonetheless, the company did note in its Q2 2025 earnings report that it is planning to launch crypto-asset-linked investment trusts and ETFs upon regulatory approval. Harvard University Commits Over $116 Million To Bitcoin ETF Institutional confidence in Bitcoin received a major boost with Harvard University’s decision to invest $116.6 million into BlackRock’s IBIT spot Bitcoin ETF. This interesting investment was revealed in a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission by the Harvard Management Company. This sizable position elevates Bitcoin to a prominent role within Harvard’s equity portfolio, which is a notable shift in its investment choices, particularly following its decision last quarter to scale back exposure to several major Big Tech stocks. According to the filing, the endowment purchased 1.9 million shares of iShares Bitcoin Trust, valued at $116.6 million. This value places Bitcoin as the fifth-largest holding in Harvard’s equity portfolio behind Microsoft, Amazon, Booking Holdings, and Meta. Harvard’s allocation aligns closely with investment trends in the US, as US spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted more than $54 billion in inflows since their launch in early 2024. The move comes at a time when liquidity on major exchanges is tightening, and it has contributed to an increase in bullish sentiment surrounding Bitcoin. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $118,320, up by 4% in the past seven days. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The gold mining sector continues to rely on older discoveries for reserve growth despite a sustained gold price rally in recent years, an annual analysis by S&P Global finds. According to the database of gold discoveries tracked by S&P, the gold sector added three new major discoveries in 2024, taking the global inventory (reserves, resources and past production) to nearly 3 billion oz. across 353 deposits. The gold ounces represent an increase of 3% or 82 million oz. over 2023, which had 350 deposits containing a total of 2.9 billion oz. Credit: S&P Global The S&P analysis points out that — consistent with its previous reports — almost all of the new additions to its list were discovered decades ago and have only recently met its 2-million-oz. criteria for a “major gold discovery”. Notably, no major discoveries occurred during the 2023–24 period, and since 2020, only six major discoveries have been made, contributing a total of 27 million oz. in reserves and resources, it said. Declining budget The absence of new major discoveries in the past two years can be linked to reduced exploration budgets. According to S&P estimates, global exploration spending fell 15% in 2023 and 7% in 2024, ending an uptrend that began in 2017. The decline, S&P says, was driven by reduced allocations by junior companies, which faced tighter financing conditions as interest rates rose, and the higher gold prices did little to encourage more spending. In addition to the lower budgets, the share of grassroots or early-stage exploration within the total budgets continued to decline, reaching just 19% in 2024 — a significant drop from the 50% in the mid-1990s. While part of this decrease is attributable to the natural progression of assets from early-stage exploration to production, explorers have become more risk-averse over the past couple of decades, S&P says, noting that companies have increasingly focused on known assets that offer lower risks. Its analysis shows that more than half (56%) of the initial resource announcements during 2020-2024 came from existing projects. Credit: S&P Global The overall quality of recent discoveries is also on the decline. The average size of new deposits over the five-year period was 4.4 million oz., down from the average of 7.7 million oz. in the decade prior. Moreover, none of the discoveries made in the past 10 years have ranked among the largest 30 gold discoveries, S&P adds. Looking ahead, the firm is expecting increased interest in exploration as gold prices stabilize above the $3,000/oz. level. However, it also warned that even an increase in exploration spending may not contribute to increased discovery rates, given that the industry has been reluctant to allocate funds to untested areas, and instead has focused more on expanding known deposits.

Ethereum’s most recent price rally has eroded Bitcoin’s dominance, representing one of the steeper movements in the crypto space in recent months. Though both assets have registered growth, US President Donald Trump’s long-time crypto skeptic, Peter Schiff, made it plain which one he would retain in case he were forced — and it isn’t Ethereum. ETH Pushes Past $4,000 Amid Strong Activity Ethereum moved past $4,000 in recent trading sessions, reaching a high for 2025. Whale transactions and heavier derivatives trading have been the fuel to this price action, according to reports. Volumes and open interest have also gone up, indicating healthy speculative demand. ETH even surpassed Bitcoin’s percentage appreciation in the previous week, further pushing eagerness up among its fans. Schiff, who is an economist and gold advocate, said Ether’s surge came after he had been recommending investors to transfer their ETH to Bitcoin. Though that tack apparently paid off at first, Ethereum’s late-week surge closed the gap. “I have no interest in owning either, but if you put a gun to my head, I’d pick Bitcoin,” Schiff said on X. Bitcoin Above $100k But Lags Behind In Terms Of Market Share Despite the ETH rally, Bitcoin has kept its position as the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the most widely adopted by institutions. It is still above $100,000, buoyed by spot Bitcoin ETF inflows and corporate treasury buying. Market share statistics from CoinMarketCap, however, indicate that Bitcoin’s dominance had dropped to 59%, which is 4.90% less from last month. Ethereum’s share has grown to 12%, up 3.25% in the same period. Altcoins combined have increased their slice to 25%, a gain of 1.50%. Abrupt Shift From June Peaks Bitcoin dominance hit an annual high of 65% on June 27, 2025, then retreated during the following weeks. Dominance was at 61% a week ago. The year low hit 53% during December 2024, which means current levels are still much higher than that low but still trending downwards. Ethereum, for its part, has continued to consolidate more, nearing the top of its yearly range. Whether it holds there or not will be a function of institutional positioning, macro trends, and continued trading momentum. In the meantime, Schiff’s comment made clear that, if threatened, he’d still take Bitcoin over Ethereum — a rare admission from a long-time critic of both. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView

On August 9, Ethereum (ETH) did what it hadn’t done since last December: it breached the $4,000 mark and has held steady above $ 4,100. However, does the case present for it to be the best crypto to buy now? It climbed 6.38% throughout the day and at one point reached $4332, before sliding down to $4208, where it is currently trading EthereumPriceMarket CapETH$509.43B24h7d30d1yAll time What’s more, some crypto analysts are now anticipating ETH to climb back to its November 2021 all-time high of $4,878, making it the best crypto to buy now, with crypto trader Ted sharing on X that a breakout is imminent. A sustained momentum above the $122k mark could carry forward to to $130k mark. There are a couple of key factors that affect BTC’s future bullish outlook, including the CLARITY Act’s progress, the soon-to-be-made-public economic data, including the US CPI Report, Retail sales and Jobless claims. Explore: Top Solana Meme Coins to Buy in August 2025 There are no live updates available yet. Please check back soon! The post [LIVE] BTC Holds Steady Above $17K, ETH Tops $4.2K, Anticipates New ATH: Best Crypto To Buy appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

XRP’s market presence is gaining strength in 2025, and technical analysis is pointing to a significant divergence from Bitcoin and Ethereum. Recent technical analyses and market structure shifts indicate that XRP is moving along its own bullish path, and its dominance level has been climbing in the past few months. Technical analysis of the XRP/BTC pair and market cap dominance shows a breakout that could set the tone for XRP in the coming weeks and months, even as it is battling an important short-term support level at $3.22. XRP/BTC Pair Shows Decoupling Momentum According to a breakdown of the XRP/BTC pair by crypto analyst Dark Defender on the social media platform X, XRP has been mostly outperforming Bitcoin since late 2024 and the start of 2025. This trend is shown in the XRP/BTC 3-month candlestick price chart below, which captures a decisive breakout above a long-standing downtrend resistance trendline in December 2024. Despite Bitcoin’s multiple all-time highs in 2025, price action on the XRP/BTC pair has maintained strength above this trendline resistance. This trend indicates a prolonged period of relative outperformance, and according to Dark Defender, the decoupling has already started, meaning the altcoin is now following its own unique path. At the time of writing, the XRP/BTC pair is trading at 0.00002696. If this trajectory holds, the pair could continue to climb toward higher targets, which would bode well for the price of XRP and an altcoin season. Chart Image From X: Dark Defender This bullish stance is further supported by popular analyst EGRAG CRYPTO, who noted the growth in the altcoin’s market dominance. According to him, XRP’s market dominance chart is a crucial indicator of its price direction. His Fibonacci-based analysis identified the 5.92% dominance as the first hurdle that must be breached to open the path toward higher targets. Once cleared, the next resistance is at 8.87%, followed by his optimal dominance target of 11.61%. If XRP reaches this optimal target, then it would certify its performance for the crypto this cycle. Finally, a move to 21.5% dominance would push the XRP price to all-time highs. Image From X: EGRAG CRYPTO Short-Term Pullback Tests Important Support Although the long-term XRP structure is bullish, the short-term picture shows XRP is currently undergoing a pullback after touching $3.38 very briefly on August 8. Analyst CasiTrades noted that this retracement is now approaching an important support zone between $3.21 and $3.22, which also coincides with the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level. This zone carries added significance as it aligns with a key backtest area, making it a pivotal point for preserving the bullish structure. The selloff, she noted, may be a calculated liquidity grab to shake out weak holders before the next leg up. Holding above $3.22 could maintain confidence in XRP’s upward trajectory. If XRP does break above $3.22, the next important support level to hold is at $3.17. Image From X: CasiTrades Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Ethereum’s price surge pushed one of its best-known creators back into the billionaire club this week, based on on-chain valuations. Markets moved fast, and so did headline writers, but the numbers behind the noise are plain. Arkham Valuation And Wallets According to Arkham, wallets linked to Vitalik Buterin now hold about 240,042 ETH, giving him an on-chain value near $1.04 billion at recent prices. Those wallets also show smaller stakes in tokens like AETHWETH, White, Moodeng and WETH. This is a price-driven snapshot of holdings that are visible on public ledgers, not a full accounting of any off-chain assets or tax liabilities. Based on reports, Ether climbed as much as 6.20% on Saturday and breached the $4,300 level for the first time since December 2024. Nansen data put Ether around $4,250 at the time of reporting. Traders pointed out that a move to $4,500 would put roughly $1.35 billion of short positions at risk, according to CoinGlass, which feeds talk of a potential short squeeze. Fast moves like this can trigger big liquidations and amplify swings. ETFs And Flows Driving Demand According to Arkham, ETF activity sent $461 million to ETH compared with $404 million to BTC. Over five trading days, US-based spot Ether ETFs recorded net inflows of $326 million, compared with $253.2 million for Bitcoin, based on Farside data. Those steady flows add another channel of demand for spot ETH and help explain why institutions and traders are watching price action closely. A History Of On-Chain Wealth Vitalik first crossed the on-chain billionaire threshold at age 27, in May 2021, when Ether traded above $3,000 and holdings were roughly 333,500 ETH — then worth about $1.029 billion. That rise came after ETH moved from around $700 at the start of 2021 to much higher levels later that year. What’s different now is that the figure is again a simple product of visible token holdings and a higher ETH price. In a recent interview, Buterin warned against a heavy reliance on large treasuries and borrowing in the ecosystem. He said that if treasuries ever caused major damage to ETH, it would be because some players turned the market into an over-borrowed setup. That kind of caution from a founder matters to investors who are weighing long-term structural risks against short-term price moves. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Another week has come to a close, bringing massive changes to the Asian crypto landscape. From regulatory changes and bringing the heat to crypto scammers to raising capital, a lot has happened this week in the Asian crypto landscape. Here’s the top three rundown. UAE’s VARA And SCA Unite To Streamline Crypto Regulations Coming in hot from West Asia, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) have collaborated to harmonise their approach towards crypto regulation. The regulatory bodies formalised their partnership after declaring their intention to work together in September last year. According to an article published on 7 August 2025, the partnership will allow Dubai-based licenses to service the entirety of the UAE. The publication quotes a VARA spokesperson stating, “In essence, the 2024 MOU was a starting point. The current partnership is its formal and functional implementation.” While the agreement introduces mutual license recognition between the SCA and VARA, it stops short of offering automatic passporting across jurisdictions. In layman’s terms, a VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) license issued by either of the two authorities is acknowledged by the other, but only after meeting coordination protocols and regulatory checks. Reportedly, the scammers threatened arrests and legal actions to coerce the victims into transferring funds. In addition to this, the scammers also posed as support staff from companies such as Microsoft and Amazon, socially engineering their victims to part with their funds. Investigation into this matter has revealed that the accused amassed $29 million in Bitcoins through this operation. Authorities reveal that the scammers converted the Bitcoins into cash via USDT and subsequently funnelled the proceeds through multiple hawala networks based in the UAE. Explore: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 Key Takeaways UAE’s VARA and the SCA have partnered up to streamline regulatory oversight, allowing Dubai-based licenses to service the UAE in its entirety MEXC has expanded into Southeast Asia through a $200m investment in Triv, Indonesia’s longest-running digital asset exchange India’s ED raided 11 locations across multiple cities to nab an international crypto scam ring that amassed $29m through illicit activities The post This Week In Crypto Asia: UAE Streamlines Crypto Oversight, India Cracks Down On Crypto Scammers appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Ethereum’s price action in the past seven days has been nothing short of interesting. During this period, the leading altcoin has surged past $4,000 for the first time since December 2024 and is also now trading above $4,200, reclaiming a level it last held in 2021. According to on-chain data, the breakout has injected confidence into the market, especially among retail traders. Ethereum’s technical setup and comparisons with Bitcoin are now showing the possibility of a rally on par with the most explosive phases in its history. Ethereum Fractal Structure Signals 1,110% Rally According to technical analysis of Ethereum’s price action on the weekly candlestick timeframe chart, the leading altcoin is about to enter into a 1,110% rally that might take its price above $20,000. This analysis was initially noted by crypto analyst Merlijn The Trader, who identified a repeating cycle that closely aligns Ethereum’s current performance with Bitcoin’s 2018-2021 run. Taking to the social media platform X, the analyst noted that in that earlier cycle, Bitcoin endured an 83% drop from its highs before staging a powerful 342% recovery. This was followed by a secondary correction of around 63%, which ultimately served as the base for a 1,110% surge between the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021. Ethereum’s weekly chart has been following the same sequence almost step-for-step in the past few years. After a steep 83% decline from its 2021 peak, Ethereum mounted a 342% rebound, only to experience a deep retracement of roughly 63% to $1,500 in April 2025. Since then, however, Ethereum has mounted another rebound, with the latest move being the most recent rally back above $4,200. Image From X: Merlijn The Trader This latest rally shows Ethereum is now in the final phase, where it could be positioned for a comparable explosive run to as high as $20,000 if the fractal continues to play out. In another analysis, Merlijn The Trader also pointed out that Ethereum’s weekly chart is echoing its own 2017 breakout structure. In that cycle, Ethereum reclaimed the 50-week moving average after a prolonged consolidation phase before entering into a sustained and powerful rally. The 2025 chart shows a similar reclaim of the 50 MA, and the price is now breaking above the $4,000 resistance zone that has stood since March 2024. Image From X: Merlijn The Trader Bullish Sentiment Building Above $4,000 Although Ethereum’s recent price rally can be mostly attributed to institutional buys in Spot Ethereum ETFs, the breakout above $4,000 has not gone unnoticed in the broader market. Notably, data from on-chain analytics platform Santiment reflects a dramatic rise in bullish activity across social channels. Mentions tied to buying, optimism, and higher price expectations have surged sharply, now outpacing bearish commentary such as selling or lower price calls by almost two-to-one. Although this can create the conditions in which Ethereum’s rally can sustain momentum, too much FOMO can also put a temporary halt to any rally. Image From X: Santiment At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $4,225, up by 23% in the past seven days. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Analysts are increasingly calling for the start of altseason as Ethereum posts massive gains and a wave of altcoins surges across the market. Over the past days, bullish momentum has pushed many digital assets higher, with price structures showing clear signs of strength. For many traders, this is the moment they’ve been waiting for—the long-anticipated shift where altcoins outperform Bitcoin and deliver outsized returns. Ethereum’s recent breakout above key resistance levels has added fuel to the narrative, with large-cap and mid-cap altcoins following in its footsteps. The market’s renewed optimism has sparked speculation that the altseason cycle, where capital rotates from Bitcoin into the broader altcoin market, may already be underway. However, not all experts are convinced. Some point to Bitcoin’s continued dominance and the fact that most altcoins remain well below their all-time highs as reasons for caution. Historical altseasons have typically seen aggressive outperformance across the board, something the market has yet to fully confirm. Altseason Still Waiting For Its True Breakout According to top analyst Darkfost, the much-anticipated altseason hasn’t truly begun. By examining a comparative chart of Bitcoin, large caps (top 20), and mid/small caps, Darkfost notes that the current cycle is showing the weakest altcoin performance so far. While altcoins have made notable moves in recent weeks, their gains still pale in comparison to Bitcoin’s dominant run. The last instance that resembled a genuine altseason occurred in early 2024, when altcoins—particularly mid- and small-cap projects—outpaced Bitcoin over a short but intense period. That surge marked a clear capital rotation away from BTC into the broader market, delivering outsized returns for altcoin holders. However, the present market conditions suggest that kind of broad-based outperformance has yet to materialize. Even though Ethereum has broken above multi-year highs and several altcoins are posting impressive gains, the rally appears selective rather than widespread. Large caps are recovering steadily, but mid- and small-cap coins—often the hallmark of an explosive altseason—are still lagging. This disparity suggests that institutional and retail capital remains concentrated in more established assets. For a confirmed altseason, analysts will be watching for a sustained breakout in mid- and small-cap performance relative to BTC. Until that shift occurs, the current market may be better described as a strong altcoin rally within Bitcoin’s dominant phase rather than the start of a full-scale altseason. Altcoin Market Nears Key Resistance The Total Crypto Market Cap excluding Bitcoin (TOTAL2) is showing strong bullish momentum, currently sitting at $1.57 trillion after a sharp 13.21% weekly surge. This rally brings the market close to retesting its 2025 highs around the $1.6 trillion level, a critical resistance zone that has capped altcoin gains in previous attempts. The chart reveals that the market has been in a sustained uptrend since early 2024, with price action consistently holding above the 50-week moving average (blue line) and maintaining bullish structure. Both the 100-week (green) and 200-week (red) moving averages are trending higher, reinforcing long-term support and signaling healthy market conditions. If the breakout occurs, TOTAL2 could target the previous all-time high zone near $1.75–$1.8 trillion, marking a potential acceleration in capital rotation from Bitcoin into altcoins. Conversely, failure to clear this resistance could lead to a short-term pullback toward $1.4 trillion support, which aligns with the 50-week MA. The coming weeks will be crucial for determining whether altseason truly ignites. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin is holding firm above the $115,000 level after several days of trading below it, signaling renewed strength in the market. The bullish tone is building as Ethereum posts massive gains and altcoins begin to show strong moves over the past few days. For some analysts, this could be the start of the long-awaited altseason; for others, it’s simply the rest of the market catching up to Bitcoin’s earlier rally. Top analyst Axel Adler noted that Bitcoin’s price is now trading close to its all-time high, with the BTC Z-Score (Price, 30/365) sitting around +1.5σ above its one-year norm. This reading is well below the +2.5σ level typically associated with overheating, suggesting that while momentum is strong, it is not yet at extreme levels. The current environment offers a favorable backdrop for potential upside, with room for the market to expand further before reaching overheated conditions. With altcoins gaining traction and Ethereum’s rally adding fuel to the market’s optimism, the coming days could determine whether this is a sustainable breakout or just another phase of consolidation before the next major move. On-Chain Activity Still Lags Behind Price According to Adler, Bitcoin’s current market setup is showing a positive backdrop but with some important caveats. Adler points out that the Adjusted Price Divergence (APD) remains negative near −1.5 after rebounding from local lows around −2. This metric suggests that Bitcoin’s price is still outpacing on-chain activity, although the gap between the two is narrowing. In other words, while price momentum is firm, the network’s transactional activity and usage haven’t yet fully caught up. This discrepancy creates an interesting dynamic for the market. Adler explains that the bias still favors price, meaning momentum is being driven more by investor positioning and sentiment than by on-chain fundamentals. For the rally to gain more structural support, a healthier setup would see APD move toward zero. This could happen in one of two ways: either network activity increases significantly while price moves sideways or posts modest gains, or Bitcoin’s price cools off to better align with current usage levels. Importantly, Adler warns against interpreting APD moving toward zero as a direct buy or sell signal. Instead, it represents a sign of normalization — a point where market price and underlying network fundamentals are better aligned. For now, Bitcoin’s technical and macro backdrop remains bullish, but sustained long-term growth will likely require the network to catch up with price action. Bitcoin Price Holds Key Support Near $115K Bitcoin is consolidating above the $115,724 support level after a brief dip below it earlier this month. The daily chart shows price stabilizing just above the 50-day simple moving average (SMA), currently near $113,324, which has acted as a strong dynamic support throughout the recent uptrend. The short-term structure remains bullish, with BTC trading inside a range between $115,724 support and the $122,077 resistance level. Volume has tapered off slightly since the early August rebound, suggesting the market is in a wait-and-see mode before a potential breakout. A decisive close above $118,000 could invite another test of the $122,077 resistance, a key level that has capped upside attempts multiple times. If broken, this could open the door toward new all-time highs. On the downside, losing $115,724 would shift focus to the 100-day SMA at $108,983 as the next major support. Until then, the higher-lows pattern suggests buyers are defending the mid-$115K zone aggressively. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

In the latest daily technical update posted on X, Cryptowzrd noted that XRP concluded the session with an indecisive close. Yet, maintaining its stance at the $3.3000 resistance level is notable following the strong bullish rally seen yesterday. Daily Candle Stalls, But XRPBTC Pair Shows Strength Cryptowzrd provided a detailed breakdown of XRP’s current market setup, noting that the daily candle closed indecisively. Despite this, the XRPBTC pair ended the session with a somewhat bullish tone. According to the expert, a decisive move above 0.0028750 BTC could spark a rapid and impulsive upside rally, adding significant momentum to XRP’s bullish prospects from its present position. He pointed out that XRP was hovering near the $3.23 resistance level, a key zone that has the potential to unlock further gains. Should this level give way, the price could advance toward the next major resistance at $3.65. The momentum from such a breakout could be amplified if paired with strength in the BTC market. Beyond the $3.65 threshold, Cryptowzrd foresees the possibility of XRP surging toward a new all-time high near $4.60. He stressed that such a move would likely be driven by a strong, impulsive rally fueled by increased buying pressure and market enthusiasm. This scenario would mark a significant milestone in XRP’s current recovery phase. On the downside, $2.80 remains the critical daily support level to watch. Maintaining this support is vital for preserving the overall bullish market structure. A breakdown below it could alter the current outlook, potentially inviting deeper corrections and cooling bullish sentiment. Looking ahead, Cryptowzrd confirmed that his attention will remain on lower time frame chart formations in the coming sessions. He is particularly focused on identifying the next viable scalp opportunity, as the current secured position continues to work in favor of the broader strategy. Volatility Persists As Traders Eye $3.23 Retest Wrapping up the analysis, the analyst highlighted that XRP’s intraday chart experienced significant volatility on Friday and is likely to maintain that intensity in the near term. Such choppy price action presents both risks and opportunities for short-term traders. The analyst pointed out that a retest of the $3.23 level as support, followed by a bullish reversal, could pave the way for another promising long position. Conversely, a decisive breakout above the $3.23 intraday resistance would likely propel XRP toward the $3.65 resistance zone, offering a clear upside target. For now, Cryptowzrd stressed the importance of patience, emphasizing that the next move should come from a healthy and mature trade setup.

The potential integration of Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s largest cryptocurrency, into the United States 401(k) retirement plans could open the door to a $12 trillion investment pool, marking a significant shift in mainstream adoption. With millions of Americans contributing to this plan every two weeks, even a small allocation to Bitcoin could create a steady, long-term inflow of capital far exceeding the impact of spot Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). Bitcoin To Break Into 401(k) Retirement Market Bitcoin’s possible entry into the US $12 trillion 401(k) investment options could represent one of the largest structural inflows in the asset’s history. Tom Dunleavy, the Head of Venture at Varys Capital and a former senior analyst at Messari, declared in an X social media post on August 7 that cryptocurrencies in the 401(k) retirement plan are much bigger and more bullish news than the ETFs. Dunleavy explained that the US currently has around 100 million Americans participating in the 401(k) plan, where a fixed portion of each paycheck is automatically invested into preselected portfolios of stock and bonds. These allocations are typically reviewed annually at most, creating a steady and predictable stream of capital into financial markets. Additionally, over the past two decades, this 401(k) plan has been a critical driver behind the resilience and long-term upward trajectory of US equities. According to Dunleavy, the total value of assets in the 401(k) plans stands at approximately $12 trillion, with around $50 billion in fresh contributions added every two weeks. The analyst suggested that even a small portfolio allocation to Bitcoin would represent significant and recurring inflows. He estimated that a 1% allocation translates to roughly $120 billion in continuous buying, 3% would equate to $360 billion, and 5% would reach a whopping $600 billion. Unlike one-time purchases, Dunleavy notes that these allocations could continue indefinitely once set, creating a persistent demand floor for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. He also compared the 401(k) plan to ETFs, claiming that cryptocurrencies within the investment pool could have a greater long-term impact than the launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs. Regulatory Backdrop And BTC’s Path To Adoption Dunleavy has indicated that the possible integration of Bitcoin into the 401(k) investment menus is closely tied to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). He noted that ERISA establishes fiduciary standards designed to protect participants’ interests and ensure they receive promised benefits. Under this framework, most fiduciary risk is borne by consultants, who advise plan sponsors on asset allocation and investment options. For over a decade, these consultants have been researching the cryptocurrency market, building the knowledge base and compliance structures necessary to justify a modest crypto allocation—typically ranging between 1% and 5% for pensions and potentially 401(k) participants. Until recently, structural and regulatory constraints meant crypto could not be directly offered as an investment choice. With those barriers potentially shifting, consultants now have both the regulatory cover and the research credibility to recommend adding Bitcoin to retirement plans. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Bitcoin price has been enjoying some form of resurgence over the past week, returning above the significant $115,000 level again. The premier cryptocurrency briefly crossed the $117,000 mark on Friday, August 8, capitalizing on recent bullish developments in the United States. On Thursday, August 7, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing cryptocurrency investment in 401(k) plans. The Bitcoin price rallied on the back of this positive development and looks set to continue this ascent back to its current all-time high. Why 118,000 Might Be Crucial For Bull Run Resumption In a recent post on the social media platform X, prominent crypto analyst Titan of Crypto put forward an interesting outlook for the Bitcoin price over the coming days. According to the current setup, the flagship cryptocurrency could be on its way back to its record-high price of around $122,800. Titan of Crypto highlighted that the Bitcoin price has been on an upward trend since April 2025 and recently just bounced off the ascending trendline. Also, the market leader has filled the Fair Value Gap (FVG), a liquidity void often created by a sharp movement in price. However, the Bitcoin price seems to be approaching a critical level around the Kijun-sen (blue line) from the Ichimoku Cloud indicator. The Kijun-sen, also known as the Base Line, often represents the market’s equilibrium and can act as a key support and resistance level. As shown in the chart setup above, the market leader has climbed back above the Tenkan-sen (red line), which is an indicator of early momentum shift. Meanwhile, the Kijun-sen (hovering around $118,000) appears to be the only obstacle in the way of Bitcoin returning to its all-time-high price within the $123,000 region. However, a sustained close above the “blue line” could suggest a resumption of the bull run for the price of BTC. Moreover, the Chikou Span (orange line), which is a lagging indicator, remains in the bullish zone, supporting a broader uptrend narrative for the market leader. Bitcoin Price Overview As of this writing, the price of Bitcoin stands at around $116,880, with no significant movement in the past 24 hours. This sluggishness does not adequately reflect the coin’s activity over the past week. According to data from CoinGecko, the premier cryptocurrency is up by more than 3% on the weekly timeframe.

Dogecoin is showing strong signs of a market revival, with recent price movements and technical indicators hinting at an incoming rally. According to technical analysis, Dogecoin’s recent price action has opened up a pathway to $1 that’s becoming increasingly visible if some conditions are met. Particularly, technical analysis by crypto analyst MMBTtrader on the TradingView platform outlines a bullish setup that formed after a decisive Dogecoin price breakout from a long-term downtrend channel on the 3-day candlestick chart. Downtrend Channel Breakout And Retest Complete As shown in the 3-day candlestick price chart below, which was initially shared by MMBTtrader, Dogecoin broke above a descending parallel channel on July 15. This breakout is significant because it represents a shift in market structure from sustained selling pressure to an expansion phase from a channel that had contained its price action since late 2024. However, after breaking out of this channel in mid-July, Dogecoin kicked off a correction path on July 21 that saw it reach down towards the upper trendline of the descending channel again. As noted by the analyst, this move allowed Dogecoin to successfully retest the breakout zone, which is a move he sees as confirmation that bulls have regained control. Notably, the 0.61 Fibonacci retracement level appears as a key pivot point where Dogecoin’s price action eventually found strong support. This support was around the $0.188 price low on August 2, where it bounced upwards and has closed three bullish 3-day candles since then. MMBTtrader interpreted these candles as a healthy signal, suggesting that over-leveraged long positions have already been flushed out, and Dogecoin’s price action is now in a more stable state for a strong upside move. Dogecoin Will Reach $1 When This Happens Now that Dogecoin seems to have bounced from its retest of the descending trendline, the analyst highlighted some targets on the way to $1. The first price target is $0.32, which aligns with the 0.236 Fibonacci resistance and acted as a strong support level in December 2024. As such, breaching this level would represent a decisive break above a support-turned-resistance situation. One of the most important observations in the analysis is the $0.40 resistance level, which is marked on the chart with a prominent red horizontal zone. According to MMBTtrader, a clean break above $0.40 would shift Dogecoin into what he calls an “extremely bullish” phase. A breakout above $0.40 would unlock upside potential and push Dogecoin to new price territories above its current all-time high of $0.73. Particularly, the projection is that of a move to $0.75 and the most-coveted $1 price level. At the time of writing, Dogecoin is trading at $0.2355, up by 6.2% and 17.7% in the past 24 hours and seven days, respectively. The most important thing for bullish momentum right now is to hold above the 0.5 Fib level at $0.216. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Chainlink (LINK) market has registered strong bullish action in recent days amidst a general market rebound. Data from CoinMarketCap reports that LINK’s price has increased by 29.75% in the past week, allowing the altcoin to emerge as one of the top market gainers in this period. Interestingly, prominent market analyst Ali Martinez has identified another encouraging trend underneath this positive price action. Chainlink Whale Activity Surges With 8.10 Million LINK Purchase In an X post on August 8, Ali Martinez reports a major rise in whale accumulation on the Chainlink network. Notably, these investors holding between 100,000 and 1,000,000 LINK tokens have collectively added 8.10 million LINK, valued at more than $150 million, to their wallets over the last two weeks. Generally, such a surge in accumulation, particularly among existing large holders, often signals strong confidence in the market. Historically, elevated whale activity has preceded major price movements, either fueling bullish momentum or marking key distribution zones. In the case of Chainlink, this reported accumulation is highly peculiar as chart data indicates that accumulation accelerated during the late-July crypto market correction, when LINK traded below $15, and persisted even as prices rebounded above $20. This pattern suggests that institutional or high-net-worth investors continue to anticipate further price appreciations on LINK despite recent gains. LINK Heading To $23? In other news, another popular X analytics page with the username MoreCryptoOnline shares an interesting insight on Chainlink’s potential price action, referencing key support and resistance levels. In an X post on August 8, these analysts show that LINK is approaching a potential breakout zone. After completing what appears to be the third wave of a five-wave Elliott Wave sequence, the altcoin now targets the $21.07–$22.65 range, corresponding to the 50% and 61.8% Fibonacci extension levels. However, MoreCryptoOnline emphasizes the importance of the $17.83–$18.87 support zone, derived from the Fibonacci retracement of the current impulse to the proposed bullish sequence. They explain that holding this support level would validate wave 4 as a corrective structure and pave the way for a final push toward $23, or even the 78.6% Fibonacci level near $25.12, as wave 5 completes. At press time, LINK trades at $20.80 after gaining by 9.58% in the past 24 hours. However, the asset’s market daily trading volume is down by 2.73% reflecting a minor decline in market activity. Meanwhile, with a market cap of $13.89 billion, Chainlink ranks as the $13th largest cryptocurrency.

Over the past weeks, the altcoins’ season (or the altseason) seems to be the biggest narrative in the digital asset market, leading virtually all conversations amongst the crypto crowd. This narrative is beginning to feel even more organic due to the strong performances of the largest altcoins, ETH and XRP, in recent weeks. Ethereum, the “king of altcoins,” has been on a relatively significant run in the last two months, reclaiming the $4,000 mark for the first time since December 2024. Meanwhile, the price of XRP has returned above $3, surging by more than 10% in the past week. However, the latest on-chain observation points that the altcoin season might only just be warming up and has not kicked in full gear just yet. The altseason, a period when mid/small-cap altcoins outperform BTC, is often marked by capital rotation from the largest cryptocurrency to the rest of the market. Last True Altcoin Season Was In Early 2024: Analyst In a recent post on the X platform, an on-chain analyst with the pseudonym Darkfost postulated that the altseason “has not really started yet.” This hypothesis comes despite the relatively improved performance of the altcoin market over the past few months, with various non-BTC assets leading the sector in gains. The rationale behind this Darkfost’s theory is based on the performance of various asset classes relative to Bitcoin over the last few months. The analyst compared the market cap growth of Bitcoin, large-cap altcoins (the top 20 largest altcoins), and mid-to-small-cap altcoins by calculating the difference between their 365-day and the 30-day moving average (MAs). Typically, the difference between the 365-day moving average and the 30-day moving average can be considered an indicator of growth momentum. Rapid market cap growth is witnessed when the short-term moving average (30-day MA) rises faster than the long-term moving average (365-day MA), while a lagging 30-day moving average indicates slow growth momentum. In their post on X, Darkfost noted that the altcoin market is having its weakest performance in this cycle relative to the premier cryptocurrency. As shown in the highlighted chart, the Bitcoin market capitalization currently outpaces the top 20 largest altcoins and the other mid-to-small-cap assets. According to the crypto analyst, this similar performance pattern was seen earlier in the year before the general market experienced a severe downturn. Nevertheless, Darkfost noted that the strongest action, which resembled a “true” altseason, happened back in the first quarter of 2024. Altcoin Market Capitalization As of this writing, the altcoin market is valued at over $1.55 trillion, reflecting an over 12% increase in the past seven days.

Following the steep corrections seen in late July, the Bitcoin market made a modest recovery in the past week, rising by 2.73% according to data from CoinMarketCap. However, another rejection amidst this price resurgence forces the premier cryptocurrency to now trade within the $116,000 price region. While the crypto market awaits the token’s next move, cumulative trading activity signals potential for a major price surge to a new all-time high. Golden Ratio In Sight: Bitcoin Targets $131K After Volume Shelf Hold In an X post on August 8, popular financial market analyst Donald Dean shares an interesting bullish price prediction on the Bitcoin market. Based on the existence of a volume shelf on the BTCUSDT daily chart, Dean tips the crypto market leader to soon attain a $131,000 market valuation. By way of explanation, a volume shelf refers to a price level where a significant amount of trading activity/volume has occurred. In the chart above, this level of trading is indicated by the horizontal bars on the right side of the chart. A volume shelf tends to act as a strong resistance or support zone because many traders are assumed to have bought or sold at this level. According to Donald Dean’s analysis, Bitcoin is currently hovering around a volume shelf between $116,000 – $118,000, which has been identified as a potential launch area. If Bitcoin can consolidate decisively above this range, it suggests that this level has enough buying interest to potentially act as a springboard for the next leg up. Interestingly, Dean predicts that this accumulation phase would provide the momentum needed to propel BTC toward the 1.618 Fibonacci extension level, a key technical milestone known as the “golden ratio.” This level, positioned around $131,000, represents the next major price target for the Bitcoin market, signaling a potential 12.93% gain on the present market prices. Bitcoin Market Overview At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $116,756, after a minor decline of 0.02% over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, market trading volume has fallen by 20.97% and is valued at $55.24 billion. Data from CoinCodex indicates that market sentiment remains strongly bullish, with the Fear & Greed Index at 67. Despite this optimism, analysts expect BTC to hold within its current range, projecting prices of $117,167 in five days and $115,980 in thirty days, and a potential dip to $112,688 over the next three months.

Highlights include US CPI and Retail Sales, China Inflation and Activity Data, RBA, Aussie Jobs, UK Jobs & GDP, Potential TrumpPutin Meeting, US/China Truce Deadline Newsquawk Week Ahead: Highlightsa 11-15th August 2025 MON: Norwegian CPI (Jul), Japanese Mountain Day Holiday TUE: US-China truce deadline (likely to be extended), RBA Announcement (Aug), UK Jobs Report (Jun), German ZEW Survey (Aug), US CPI (Jul), EIA STEO, OPEC MOMR WED: German Final CPI (Jul), Spanish Final CPI (Jul) THU: Norges Bank Announcement, Australian Jobs Report (Jul), UK GDP (Jun/Q2), Swedish CPIF (Jul), EZ Flash GDP (Q2) and Employment (Q2), US PPI (Jul) FRI: Japanese GDP (Q2), Chinese Activity Data (Jul), US Retail Sales (Jul), US University of Michigan Prelim (Aug) POTENTIAL TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT (TBC): The Kremlin said a US–Russia summit will take place “in the coming days,” while the White House said it is working on the details and that President Trump is open to the meeting. Russiaʼs deputy UN ambassador, Polyanskiy, said Russian President Putin may meet President Trump next week, but was not aware of any planned meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Putin suggested the UAE as a “suitable” venue following talks with UAE President Al Nahyan. Kremlin aide Ushakov said discussions will focus on a Ukraine ceasefire but dismissed Washingtonʼs mention of a trilateral summit with Zelensky, with Putin reiterating conditions for such a meeting are “far from” being met. The summit comes amid Trumpʼs recently shortened deadline for Moscow to show progress or face new sanctions; some analysts suggest Putin may be using the talks to buy time and blunt US measures. Kyiv and European leaders remain cautious of any deal struck without Ukraine present, warning it could involve territorial concessions. Markets will likely focus on confirmation of timing, venue, and thereafter, whether the summit produces substance. On the flip side, a lack of progress could see additional Russian sanctions alongside secondary sanctions for countries doing business with Russia. CHINESE INFLATION (SAT): July CPI Y/Y is expected at -0.1% (prev. -0.1%), with M/M seen at +0.3% (prev. -0.1%), while PPI Y/Y is forecast at -3.4% (prev. -3.6%). ING notes deflationary pressures persist as activity moderates, with anti-price-competition measures unlikely to deliver early relief. Meanwhile, SCMP highlights continued weakness in food prices (June -0.3% Y/Y, fifth monthly decline), driven by severe oversupply in pork (-8.5% Y/Y) and eggs (-7.7%), with farmers reporting widespread losses and weak end-market demand. Marginal improvements are expected in H2, but the scope for recovery remains limited, according to SCMP. US-CHINA TRUCE DEADLINE (TUE): The US-China tariff truce, set to expire on August 12th, is likely to be extended by 90 days, according to US Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Thursday. Following the meeting in Sweden, Beijing has confirmed consensus on the extension, but the White House has yet to formally announce the move, with USTR Greer saying the two sides are “working towards” a deal. The current pause follows months of tariff escalation, with US duties on Chinese imports reaching up to 145% since April, met in turn by Chinese retaliatory tariffs of up to 125% and export controls on key raw materials. The decision comes as US President Trumpʼs new tariffs on imports from ~90 countries took effect on August 7th, whilst more notably for Beijing, the US imposed an extra 25% stacked penalty on India for the import of Russian oil, with China also likely in the firing line. Markets will focus on confirmation of the extension and extension period, alongside any threats of penalties, whilst there is a non-zero chance of no extension and a return to eye-watering tariffs. RBA ANNOUNCEMENT (TUE): The RBA is likely to cut rates at its meeting next week as a recent Reuters poll showed all 40 economists surveyed unanimously expect the RBA to cut the Cash Rate by 25bps to 3.60%, while money markets are pricing in a 98% likelihood of a 25bps cut and a 2% probability of a larger 50bps reduction. As a reminder, the RBA surprised markets at the last meeting by pausing on rates amid wide expectations for a 25bps cut, while its decision was made by a majority of 6-3 votes and stated that the Board will be attentive to the data and evolving assessment of risks to guide its decisions. RBA also noted that inflation has continued to moderate and the outlook remains uncertain, although the Board continues to judge that the risks to inflation have become more balanced and the labour market remains strong. Furthermore, the Board remained cautious about the outlook, particularly given the heightened level of uncertainty about both aggregate demand and supply, and it judged that it could wait for a little more information to confirm that inflation remains on track to reach 2.5% on a sustainable basis. RBA Governor Bullock noted during the post-meeting presser that there will be more data and news by the next meeting, and it was appropriate to have a cautious stance on easing, but noted she is confident they are on a path to ease further, although timing is the question and they can expect rates to decline if inflation slows as expected. Since then, the language from the central bank hasnʼt provided much to shift the dial, although the data releases would support the case for a cut after disappointing jobs data which showed the Unemployment Rate unexpectedly rose in June to its highest in three and a half years of 4.3% (Prev. 4.1%), while inflation continued to soften in Q2 with headline Australian CPI YY slowing to 2.1% vs. Exp. 2.2% (Prev. 2.4%). UK JOBS REPORT (TUE): Expectations are for the ILO unemployment rate in the 3-month period to June to hold steady at 4.7%, whilst average earnings (ex-bonus) 3M/YY are forecast to remain at 5.0%, according to Reuters. As a reminder, the prior release showed the ILO unemployment rate continued to tick higher, rising to 4.7% in the 3M period to May from 3.6%. However, the large contraction in the May HMRC payrolls change was revised materially higher and wage growth remained at an elevated rate. This time around, economists at Pantheon Macroeconomics expect the upcoming report to show “payroll job falls easing and earnings growth holding at a solid pace”. More specifically, the consultancy is of the view that Juneʼs payroll drop will be revised to a smaller 8K month-to-month fall and Julyʼs print to come in at -7k. For the unemployment rate, PM expects another print of 4.7%, whilst vacancies appear to have stabilised and could even be rising again. On the wage front, Pantheon expects a slowdown in the 3M Y/Y ex-bonus metric to slow to 4.8% from 4.9%, which would be below the MPCʼs Q2 forecast of 5.2%. From a policy perspective, up until the August BoE policy announcement, it had appeared that the MPC was increasingly focused on the loosening in the labour market. However, absent a marked deterioration in the upcoming report, the latest vote split suggests that the stubbornness of inflation could limit the BoEʼs easing plans. As it stands, the next 25bps rate cut is not fully priced until February 2026. Try Newsquawk free for 7 days US CPI (TUE): US July CPI is expected to rise by +0.2% M/M at the headline level (prev. +0.3%), with the annual rate seen rising to 2.8% Y/Y from 2.7%. The core rate of inflation is expected to rise by +0.3% M/M (prev. +0.2%), with the annual rate of core inflation expected to rise to 3.0% Y/Y from 2.9%. Wells Fargo says that the data will bring further signs of higher tariffs pushing up prices. “It is still early in the price adjustment process to see how higher import taxes will ultimately be distributed between the endcustomer, domestic sellers and foreign exporters,” the bank writes, “at the same time, growing consumer fatigue is making it more difficult to raise prices in general.” Wells Fargo expects inflation to pick up, but not ratchet higher, in H2 of this year, and sees both the core CPI and core PCE deflator returning to around 3% in Q4. Some on the Fed are more concerned about the labour market (Waller and Bowman), but others still believe that inflation is further away from the Fedʼs goals. High inflation and fears of higher inflation ahead in response to tariffs is seeing the Fed hold a wait-and-see approach. However, with the recent July NFP report painting a softer picture of the labour market than initially thought (due to chunky downward revisions), markets are now looking for a rate cut in September. Fedʼs Daly has since spoken on the matter, noting the Fed cannot wait forever. NORGES BANK ANNOUNCEMENT: Norges Bank is expected to keep rates steady at 4.25%, after the Bank unexpectedly cut rates by 25bps at the last meeting. Policymakers explained their decision by suggesting core inflation declined somewhat faster than expected, and as such, their inflation outlook is lower than previously expected. On future policy, the Bank said it “will be reduced further in the course of 2025”, should the economy evolve as projected. Into this meeting, the Bank will have two inflation reports to digest; Juneʼs Core CPI-ATE printed a touch above the consensus (but in line with Norges Bankʼs own forecast). Julyʼs metrics are yet to come out, SEB predicts CPI-ATE (Y/Y) will print at 3.0% (vs. Norges Bank forecast of 3.1%). Given both SEB and Danske Bank call for a cut in September and December, a softer inflation outturn for July could have policy implications in the immediacy – particularly in the context of a gradually cooling labour market. AUSTRALIAN JOBS REPORT (THU): There are currently no forecasts for the Australian jobs report, which in June metrics missed expectations, with employment rising just 2k (exp. +20k) and the jobless rate climbing to 4.3% (exp. 4.1%) – the highest since late 2021. The report comes after the RBAʼs August meeting, in which the central bank is likely to cut rates. A recent Reuters poll showed all 40 economists surveyed unanimously expect the RBA to cut the Cash Rate by 25bps to 3.60%, while money markets are pricing in a 98% likelihood of a 25bps cut and a 2% probability of a larger 50bps reduction. As a reminder, the RBA surprised markets at the last meeting by pausing on rates amid wide expectations for a 25bps cut, while its decision was made by a majority of 6-3 votes, and it stated that the Board will be attentive to the data and evolving assessment of risks to guide its decisions. Markets will focus on whether the July jobs data confirms a trend of soft hiring and rising unemployment. UK GDP (THU): Expectations are for M/M GDP in June to pick up to 0.1% from -0.1% with the Q/Q growth rate expected to slow to 0.1% from 0.7%. As a reminder, the May release showed a second M/M monthly decline. Albeit it followed on from a strong Q1, which was artificially boosted by the front-loading of expected tariffs. This time around, analysts at Investec hold an aboveconsensus forecast of +0.3%, noting that “manufacturing activity, according to the PMI indices, looks less soft than before”. Additionally, the desk looks for an expansion in the services sector and for construction to rebound from the 0.6% retracement seen in May. A 0.3% outturn would lead to a Q2 Q/Q rate of 0.2% and leave the economy in a position to grow by some 1.2%-1.3% over 2025 as a whole, a touch above the official Spring Statement forecast from the OBR of 1.0%. From a policy perspective, a soft outturn would further limit available headroom for UK Chancellor Reeves and likely see desks revise up their forecasts for the ongoing “black hole” in the UKʼs finances. The implications for monetary policy are likely less severe, with the MPC more biased to see how developments on the inflation fro JAPANESE GDP (FRI): Japanese GDP Y/Y for Q2 is expected to print at -0.7% (prev. +2.2% in Q1). Industrial production is expected at +1.7% for June (vs -0.1% in May). June Industrial Production is expected at +1.7% (prev. -0.1%). ING notes exports weakened sharply in Q2, with inventories also dragging, though services and private consumption have shown recovery. The BoJʼs latest meeting kept rates at 0.50% unanimously, reiterating readiness to hike if the economy and prices track forecasts, but emphasising high trade-policy uncertainty. Governor Ueda, at the post-policy presser, said the Japan-US trade deal was “great progress”, reducing downside risks but with tariff impacts yet to fully emerge; he expects some negative effect in H2, though a tariff-driven economic nose-dive now seems unlikely. Underlying inflation is seen stalling before gradually re-accelerating, with achieving 2% “closer than before,” and wage growth expected to turn positive by year-end. There was also confusion regarding the US-Japan trade deal, in which “tariff stacking” saw miscommunication, although on Friday, Japan’s trade negotiator Akazawa said that they have been able to confirm a non-stacking stance from the US, and there is no discrepancy between the US and Japan that there is no tariff stacking. CHINESE ACTIVITY DATA (FRI): There are currently no central expectations for the Chinese activity data, although the trend is expected to show further moderation in economic activity. ING sees industrial production slowing to ~6.2% Y/Y (prev. 6.5%), retail sales easing to 4.6% Y/Y (as the boost from trade-in policies peaks), and fixed asset investment holding near 2.8% Y/Y YTD amid subdued private sector participation. The data, however, is lagging and could prove to be stale, contingent on the US-China tariff truce, which is set to expire on August 12th. The truce is likely to be extended by 90 days, according to US Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Thursday. That being said, participants should be cognizant that there is a non-zero chance of no extension and a return to eye-watering tariffs US RETAIL SALES (FRI): Headline retail sales are expected to rise by +0.5% M/M in July (prev. +0.6%), with the ex-autos measure seen cooling to +0.2% M/M (prev. +0.5%). Retail sales in June rose more than expected, partly due to a surprise jump in auto sales. However, Pantheon Macroeconomics noted that the data was flattered by this gain, despite falling unit sales and rising prices from tariffs. Pantheon expects real retail spending to stagnate ahead, with Q3 consumption likely to grow by less than 1%. Participants Copyright © {{ copyright-year }} will be watching the Retail Sales data to see if there is a slowdown in consumer spending, given the recent jobs report showed a weaker labour market than initially thought due to the chunky, downward two-month net revisions. Copyright © 2025 Newsquawk Voice Limited. All rights reserved. Registered Office One Love Lane, London, EC2V 7JN, United Kingdom · Registered Number 12020774 · Registered in England and Wales. newsquawk.com · +44 20 3582 2778 · info@newsquawk.com Join Our GTA for FREE – Click HERE The post Newsquawk Week Ahead: Highlightsa 11-15th August 2025 appeared first on Forex Trading Forum.

Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, suggested this week that a rumored move by the US to impose tariffs on gold imports could push money out of the metal and into Bitcoin. According to a Bloomberg interview, Saylor argued that Bitcoin cannot be taxed at the border because it “lives in cyberspace, where there are no tariffs.” He said the coin’s lack of physical weight and its speed of settlement make it more attractive than gold in a world where import duties on bullion are being discussed. Saylor Frames Bitcoin As Tariff-Proof Asset Reports have disclosed that others in the industry agree. Simon Gerovich, president of Metaplanet, called gold “heavy, slow, and political,” and labeled Bitcoin “light, fast, and free.” Based on reports, Metaplanet — a Japanese company that manages a Bitcoin treasury — bought nearly $54 million in Bitcoin recently, bringing its total holdings to 17,595 BTC, roughly $1.78 billion at current values. Those numbers matter to investors watching whether corporate treasuries will switch allocation from stored metal to digital coins. Market Reaction And Price Moves Markets reacted in different ways. Gold futures hit an all-time high after the tariff news, as traders scrambled to price the possible cost impact of new import rules. Bitcoin, meanwhile, traded roughly sideways in the same period, moving down by less than 1% in the last 24 hours. The split response shows that a policy shock can push some capital into metal while other buyers may sit on the sidelines or look to crypto for a different kind of hedge. Brandt Highlights Dollar Decline Over Decades Veteran trader Peter Brandt added fuel to the debate by posting a long-run chart that traces the US dollar’s purchasing power from $1.00 in 1971 to about $0.031 in 2025, based on M2 money growth. Brandt pointed to a roughly 95% decline in that period and said this trend shows fiat currency can lose value over decades. He argued that while gold has held value for many years, Bitcoin is now positioned to serve as a store of value going forward. According to market watchers, the tariff talk has changed the short-term mood but not resolved which asset is the better long-term refuge. Institutional buyers like Strategy and Metaplanet are making public bets on Bitcoin, and that shapes expectations. At the same time, gold’s record high reminds investors that demand for tangible stores of value can spike on policy risk. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Shiba Inu community is in its most defining moments as it kicks off its first election that will decide an interim president and set the course for the $7 billion token ecosystem’s future. With the fifth “Shib Year” now underway, some community members see the election as a significant step toward decentralization, with debates over leadership, transparency, and accountability heating up across the community. What’s Happening Inside the Shiba Inu Community In an August 4 post titled ELECTIONS, Shiba Inu’s lead developer, Shytoshi Kusama, announced that the community will choose a new lead visionary and councils for each DAO, calling it “the true birth of a network state.” The election announcement has brought long-standing frustrations to the surface, with some community members accusing Kusama of poor leadership, lack of transparency, and keeping too much control in the hands of a few. Woof Swap, a vocal voice in the Shiba Inu ecosystem, has been especially blunt, calling for leadership with “actual ability, not just visibility.” They wrote, “We don’t need an incompetent president,” and stressed that leaders must have the skills, strategy, and resources to guide the project forward. Other long-time supporters, like Shiba Germany, have raised concerns about broken promises, such as the unfulfilled goal of activating 100 validators and onboarding a billion users. There is also unease about projects like SHY and POE, seen as distractions from Shiba Inu’s core goals, arguing that the election will only work if it leads to leaders aligned with Ryoshi’s original vision of transparency, decentralization, and shared responsibility. How The Shiba Inu Major Electoral Process Will Work The Shiba Inu elections will unfold in three main phases. First, open nominations will allow any member of the community to apply. The top ten nominees will move on to a debate stage, with live or recorded sessions hosted across platforms. A second vote will narrow the field to three finalists, who will then face a final vote one week later. The winner will serve as interim president until the position is formally approved, no later than four months after the start of “Shibizenship.” Voting will follow a “1 token = 1 vote” system with any SHIB ecosystem token – SHIB, BONE, TREAT, or LEASH. Kusama argues that the voting system is fair by giving more influence to those with the most invested in the ecosystem’s success, as they have the most at stake. But the Shiba Inu Foundation will still hold veto power, a point that has fueled claims the process is more “controlled democracy” than complete decentralization. The interim president will coordinate the transfer of power, carry out the vision laid out in the “Shib White Paper,” establish the first congress of four DAO councils, and manage the community’s billion token economy. Logistical details, including the exact dates for nominations, debates, and voting, will be announced soon. With millions of holders worldwide and billions in value on the line, the outcome of these elections will shape Shiba Inu’s direction for years to come.