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Samson Mow, a well-known Bitcoin entrepreneur and founder/CEO of JAN3, warned that recent gains in Ether could be short lived as some investors move profits back into Bitcoin. According to his post, many ETH buyers already hold Bitcoin — often from ICOs or insider positions — and are rotating that BTC into ETH to drive prices up. He argued that once Ether reaches a high enough level, those same holders may sell, leaving a fresh set of buyers holding the bag. “No one wants ETH in the long run,” he wrote, and he called the selling pressure near big price marks a “Bagholder’s Dilemma.” ETH/BTC Moves Raise Questions Based on reports, the ETH/BTC ratio has jumped to about 0.036 on TradingView, up from a five-and-a-half-year low of 0.018 in April. That rise has come while Ether surged in price; the token topped $4,310 in late trading on Sunday and posted a weekly gain of 21%. Those numbers put Ether roughly 10% from its 2021 all-time high of $4,880. For proponents of Bitcoin, those shifts look like a rotation back to altcoins that could reverse once sellers take profits. Some market watchers read the same facts differently. They see the recent ETH surge as a bullish sign and expect a more complex cycle: Ether could hit a fresh peak and spark a mini altseason. After that, capital may flow back into Bitcoin until BTC reaches about $140,000, before rotating again into Ether and other altcoins — a back-and-forth that has played out in past bull runs and makes a neat, one-way trade unlikely. Flows, Use Cases And On-Chain Signals Reports have disclosed that institutional interest and new strategies are also part of the story. Nick Ruck, director at LVRG Research, pointed to institutional demand and “strategy reserve plays” as drivers behind Ether’s climb to $4,300. According to Ruk, higher interest has helped DeFi platforms lift total value locked. Staking, yield tactics and burning of fees change supply dynamics compared with earlier cycles, and those factors make today’s rally different from the ICO-era rotations Mow described. Technical signals add another layer. Ether’s weekly candle closed at levels not seen since November 2021, which gives momentum traders something to watch. At the same time, Bitcoin dominance has slid by about 10% since late June, showing capital has already shifted into altcoins in recent weeks. Those two trends can coexist — strong ETH momentum plus a still-present risk that profit-taking will trigger a reversal. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

This Monday, crypto markets are pushing higher, with total market value rising 2.43% to more than $4.05 trillion. Bitcoin climbed 3.3% to break $122,000, leaving it just 1% shy of its record peak after a strong weekend run. Ethereum also moved higher for the second day in a row, reaching above $4,300, marking its highest price since late 2021. Could this be the sign of an upcoming altcoin season? What are the best crypto to buy right now? EXPLORE: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025 The rally spread across several sectors. NFTs led the charge, gaining 4.28% as Zora jumped 45.82% and Pudgy Penguins added 4.13%. DeFi advanced 1.79%, powered by double-digit gains in Lido DAO (+11.30%) and Ethena (+10.79%). (ZORAUSDT) ZORA has been in a strong uptrend, breaking above $0.13. The move represents a gain of nearly 45% in the last 24 hours, with momentum accelerating over the past two days. Immediate resistance is near $0.14, while short-term support is around $0.11–$0.12. Sustaining above $0.13 could open the door for a push toward $0.15, but overextended conditions may trigger a possible pullback. DISCOVER: What Palantir and Private Crypto Companies Don’t Want You to Know Adding to the bullish sentiment, Arkham data revealed that Arthur Hayes increased his holdings over the past 24 hours, acquiring 1,500 ETH (about $6.35 million) along with several DeFi blue-chip assets: 425,000 LDO (around $557,000), 420,000 ETHFI (about $517,000), and 185,000 PENDLE (approximately $1.02 million). Stay tuned for live updates on the latest developments about the crypto market. 10 minutes ago Bitcoin Again above $122K, Overtakes Amazon as Ethereum ETF Inflows Hit $2B By Fatima From August 4 to August 8, spot Bitcoin ETFs brought in $247 million, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading at $189 million. Spot Ethereum ETFs attracted $327 million in the same period, extending their streak to 13 consecutive weeks of net inflows. Ethereum ETFs gained a massive $2.03 billion. Despite Bitcoin’s market cap being nearly five times larger than Ethereum’s, ETH’s recent ETF performance is drawing attention. Bitcoin has just broken $122,000, overtaking Amazon to rank as the sixth-largest asset globally, holding a 59.8% market share. Ethereum holders who entered at $1,300–$1,400 earlier this year are also enjoying strong gains. The post [LIVE] Latest Crypto News, August 11 – Bitcoin Crosses $122K, Ethereum Marks 3-Year High: Best Crypto To Buy? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

From ballistic missile development in North Korea to weapons pipelines in Russia, Palantir and BTC ▲2.22% have become the modern tools for modern warfare. Once promoted as a path to financial freedom, it has become a funding channel for sanctioned states and armed groups operating outside global oversight. “Around 40% of the stolen crypto funds are used for the development of ballistic missiles,” – Source close to the matter on North Korea’s Lazarus Group The same decentralized rails that move donations to dissidents also move money for nuclear development, drone procurement, and other military technology. And that’s not even getting into Palantir yet; here’s what you should know: North Korea, Ukraine, Russia, and Hamas in the Crypto Theater Recent years have seen North Korea’s Lazarus Group steal billions from exchanges, including a $1.5 billion heist from ByBit. Intelligence agencies say a notable share of illicit crypto funding ends up in North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. In Ukraine, we see a similar story. The government embraced digital assets in 2022, collecting tens of millions for battlefield gear, helmets, armor vests, and rifle scopes. Today, Arkham Intelligence tracks just 0.133 BTC in Ukraine’s public wallets, sparking questions over the rest of the funds. (X) Russia has also tapped crypto as a workaround for sanctions, using it to sustain parts of its military campaign. Chainalysis data links dozens of sanctioned entities to direct crypto fundraising for drones, weapons, and armor. Hamas has also solicited crypto, with U.S. authorities actively seizing these funds under anti-terror financing laws. Palantir and the Defense-Tech-Crypto Nexus Now onto the really scary one. Palantir is the tech company that took control of the Patriot Act, the program that spied on Americans post-9/11. The project is so Orwellian that their co-founder, Peter Thiel, has literally had to defend himself as not being the antichrist in interviews. Palantir Technologies has spent more than a decade in global security work, from counterterrorism operations in the Middle East to intelligence support in Ukraine. The company started accepting Bitcoin as payment in 2021, but has yet to hold any on its books. Thiel has fueled speculation that the company could take a deeper position in digital assets, especially as battlefield financing shifts further into decentralized networks. With its $10 billion U.S. Army contract and growing role in defense strategy, Palantir sits at the intersection of military intelligence and emerging financial infrastructure. As it stands, warfare will get increasingly technological and less personal. We’re not sure if that’s a good thing or if it’s terrifying. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways ETF appetite is reaching record levels. U.S.-listed spot Ethereum ETFs saw a single-day net inflow of $727 million. The big new play leading the pack is TOKEN6900, which has just crossed $900,000 in presale funding, drawing heat as traders chase the next 100X. The post What Palantir and Private Crypto Companies Don’t Want You to Know appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

AERO, the native token powering Aerodrome, the DEX on Base, is trading at a six-month high. At press time, AERO crypto is changing hands at $1.12 as its market cap inches closer to the coveted $1 billion market cap, looking at Coingecko data. With AERO2 (No data) flying, the DEX is among the top 20 most valuable crypto projects, and could inch higher, flipping the Lido DAO and Pump.fun should the momentum of the past week remain. AERO Crypto Flying High With 60% Price Spike This explosive rally, seen by the 60% price spike in less than a week, has effectively positioned Aerodrome as the next crypto project to explode in DeFi and across the crypto ecosystem. From the daily chart, AERO crypto easily broke above the double top of June and July, where resistance stood at $1, a psychological level. AERO2PriceAERO224h7d30d1yAll time The uptrend will likely continue this week since buyers are in the driving seat and bears stand no chance of reversing the sharp expansion. As long as buyers defend $1, there could be opportunities to load the dips, targeting $2 and December 2024 highs of around $2.4 in the coming sessions. This projection is not far-fetched. Presently, Aerodrome is a top DEX on Base, an Ethereum layer-2, and the uptick in AERO crypto prices is fueled by a confluence of multiple factors. Coupled with favorable crypto and DeFi laws in the United States, the path of least resistance for AERO crypto is northwards. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Coinbase To Incorporate Aerodrome and Base DEXes Over the weekend, Coinbase, one of the world’s largest centralized exchanges with over 100 million users worldwide, rolled out the red carpet for DEXes running on Base. In a statement, Coinbase said it was weaving DEXes on Base into its app. This announcement means that millions of Coinbase users can now trade AERO and other Base tokens directly on the centralized exchanges without sweating. The deal means no clunky wallets for users keen on swapping on Aerodrome, provided they are Coinbase clients. What’s cool about this integration is that there is no need for separate apps. Being the largest DEX on Base, the Coinbase announcement effectively gave the DEX a front-row seat in DeFi, explaining what AERO is powering higher, effortlessly clearing resistance levels. What’s more? Coinbase One subscribers get to trade on Aerodrome without paying a fee. Additionally, those who lock 2,500 AERO score another 30% boost in staking rewards and trading perks, an incentive that makes holding AERO a yield-generating token, fueling the recent buying frenzy. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Flashblocks Rollout Through BASE Behind AERO Price Pump? However, Aerodrome isn’t just riding and coasting on Coinbase’s coattails. Last month, Aerodrome integrated Flashblocks, a feature in Base that seeks to further crank up transaction speeds by up to 10X. Base, being an Ethereum layer-2, is designed to keep fees low and process transactions faster. The integration of Flashblocks means Base now delivers near-instant transactions without sacrificing accuracy. This integration translates to a more enhanced user experience for traders. Specifically, liquidity providers now rake in bigger profits because the slippage is way lower. Because of Flashblocks, Aerodrome is now processing more volume and growing its total value locked (TVL). According to DefiLlama, Aerodrome posted over $20 billion in DEX volume in the past 30 days, generating over $17 million in revenue from trading fees in the process. (Source) The number will likely grow as DeFi finds adoption, boosted by the Coinbase integration. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025 Coinbase Integrates Base DEXes, Aerodrome AERO At 6-Month High AERO price surges to a six-month high Coinbase to integrate Aerodrome and Base DEXes Aerodrome announces more incentives to attract users to the DEX Aerodrome integrated Flashblocks in July 2025 The post Aerodrome AERO Surges To a 6-Month High: What’s Driving Growth? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

BNB crypto is inching closer to $1,000, rising steadily alongside Ethereum, which is trading above $4,300. Currently, BNB USD is a top performer, securing its position in the top 10 most valuable cryptos. According to Coingecko, BNB ranks fifth, trailing XRP and USDT. BNB has surged nearly 10% in the past week and is likely to extend gains if Ethereum continues rallying. Will BNB Crypto Rally to $1,000? From the daily chart, BNB ▲0.82% is trading near all-time highs of $861. After a dip in early August, the coin rebounded strongly, mirroring Ethereum’s gains. Binance CoinPriceMarket CapBNB$119.43B24h7d30d1yAll time If bulls maintain momentum from last week, BNB could surge past $870 and reach $1,000 in a buy trend continuation, confirming the breakout above December 2024 highs printed in late July 2025. DISCOVER: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now According to Coinglass data, traders are preparing for this possibility. Binance has seen over $43 million in net inflows over the past week alone. There has been a steady inflow in the spot BNB market since August 6, suggesting traders are keen on HODLing. During this time, prices rose from $755 to current levels, emerging as one of the best cryptos to buy. (Source) Beyond trader accumulation, institutions are gaining exposure to BNB. Firms like Nano Labs and Windtree Therapeutics collectively control over $600 billion worth of BNB. This inflow remains despite the U.S. SEC approving only spot crypto ETFs tracking Bitcoin and Ethereum. Nonetheless, institutional backing of BNB is a major boost for prices and may even boost capital inflow to some of the best meme coin ICOs. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Will Trump Pardon Changpeng Zhao of Binance? Investors are closely monitoring developments in the United States. Recent reports indicate that Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, is seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. In late 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice fined Binance $4.3 billion for securities law violations, charged Zhao $50 million, and sentenced him to four months in prison. He was released in September 2024. A year after his release, Zhao is mounting a clemency campaign. According to reports, the White House has received pardon applications from both Zhao and Binance, which are still under review. It remains unclear whether Zhao will receive a pardon. Zhao has publicly praised the Trump administration for supporting crypto on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, Binance has cultivated a strong business relationship with World Liberty Financial, a DeFi platform linked to the Trump family. Although unverified, claims suggest Binance wrote the USD1 smart contracts and facilitated a $2 billion transaction, with 90% of USD1 still held in Binance-controlled wallets. However, if Zhao receives a pardon, Trump and the White House should brace for controversy. Democrats are concerned that a pardon could enable Binance to reward World Liberty Financial with additional business, indirectly benefiting Trump. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025 BNB Crypto Tracks Ethereum, Will Trump Pardon Binance Founder? BNB crypto swinging higher, targets July 2025 highs Will BNB USD soar to $1,000, mirroring Ethereum’s strong performance? Institutions, including Nano Labs and WindTree Therapeutics, are buying BNB Changpeng Zhao and Binance seek Trump’s clemency The post Can BNB Catch Up With Ethereum? Changpeng Zhao Seeks Presidential Pardon From Trump appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

A new partnership between World Mobile and Indonesian telecom giant Protelindo is taking 5G to the skies, and it looks as though this could be the Helium crypto killer in a massive DEPIN shake up. Branded as World Mobile Stratospheric, the program will use hydrogen-powered drones to deploy blockchain-integrated telecom services to remote regions. From 60,000 feet, each drone can blanket up to 15,000 square kilometers with 450 targeted beams. “We can deliver service up to 18 times cheaper per gigabyte than satellites, with just 6ms total latency,” – Charles Barnett, Chief Business Officer, World Mobile Group By combining its aerial network with an existing decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) of ground-based nodes, World Mobile plans to blanket dead zones with affordable wireless service. So, is this the HNT killer? (HNTUSDT) Is Helium Crypto Dead? The Next Big Thing in DePIN With a wingspan of 56 meters, the hydrogen-powered World Mobile Stratospheric drones are built to stay in the air for nine days between refuels. Stratospheric altitudes provide calm air and stable conditions, yet the technical demands are high. The market for sky-based communications is projected to hit $159 billion by 2030, with World Mobile aiming to carve out a share from the current $98.3 billion sector. But competition is fierce. Elon Musk’s Starlink dominates satellite internet for remote regions, while Helium Mobile offers a decentralized wireless alternative through a mix of community-run nodes and partnerships with carriers like AT&T. According to World Mobile officials, the model is better suited for dense mobile user areas, unlike Starlink, which requires dedicated hardware for remote deployments. DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 Helium Price Technical Analysis (Source) DeFi Llama’s figures show that capital is still moving into DePIN projects this year, with infrastructure tokens delivering stronger returns than last quarter’s broader market. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in July 2025 Meanwhile, Helium’s recent rally has stalled, with the price struggling to hold key support. Support: $3.06–$3.07 (200 SMA) is the critical short-term floor. Below that, $3.02 comes into play. Resistance: $3.12 immediate cap; heavier selling expected near $3.15. Trend: Golden Cross formed on the 20 SMA vs. 200 SMA, but momentum is cooling. Pattern Risk: A head-and-shoulders formation could trigger if $3.06 breaks on volume. Helium Crypto has fallen off the DePIN scene for a few years, and projects like World Mobile Stratospheric are set to eclipse it this cycle. We’ll keep tabs if WMTX can outperferom in Q4. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways World Mobile and Indonesian telecom giant Protelindo is taking 5G to the skies and it looks as though this could be the Helium crypto killer. The market for sky-based communications is projected to hit $159 billion by 2030, with World Mobile aiming to carve out a share from the current $98.3 billion sector. The post Is Helium Crypto Finished: Drone Based Decentralized Telecom Could Kill DEPIN Project appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Bo Hines is out as head of the White House Crypto Council. The former college football player and North Carolina congressional candidate announced Saturday that he will leave government service to return to the private sector. Brought in late last year, Hines became a public point man for the administration’s crypto policy alongside David Sacks. His short tenure included the inaugural White House crypto summit, legislative work on the Genius Act for stablecoin oversight, and the release of the Digital Assets Report. (X) Sacks praised Hines’ leadership and hinted at future collaboration. While a successor has not been formally announced, independent journalist Eleanor Terrett reports that deputy director Patrick Witt is the likely choice. White House Crypto Council’s Work and Its Limits The White House Crypto Council has played a key role in shaping the administration’s digital asset policy, recently publishing a July report outlining a proposed regulatory framework for U.S. crypto markets. However, critics argue the council underdelivered on one of its most high-profile goals: a strategic Bitcoin reserve. (X) DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 The Push for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve In January, Trump signed an executive order creating a national Bitcoin reserve and crypto stockpile. The problem is, it isn’t really a reserve. It’s more of we won’t sell the BTC ▲2.22% we have kind of reserve, and buying new BTC like El Salvador or tech companies like MicroStrategy is strictly off the table. Hines advocated creative approaches to growing the reserve, including revaluing U.S. gold holdings from the outdated official price of $42.22/oz to current market levels near $3,400/oz and allocating a portion to Bitcoin. “The strategic reserve provides a long-term foundation for U.S. crypto leadership without adding to the budget deficit,” – Bo Hines, March 2025 (BTCETF) Hines exits as institutional players deepen their hold on the crypto market. CoinGlass data shows Bitcoin ETF inflows still hovering near record levels, while DeFi Llama reports stablecoin supply holding firm even as retail activity slows. DISCOVER: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in 2025 What’s Next? Hines’ exit marks a leadership change at a time when the White House is actively shaping the U.S. role in global crypto markets. With Patrick Witt likely stepping in, the focus will remain on regulatory implementation, the Bitcoin reserve plan, and expanding institutional adoption. But the council’s ability to balance innovation with centralization will be tested. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways Bo Hines is out as head of the White House Crypto Council. The former college football player and North Carolina congressional candidate announced Saturday he’s out. Independent journalist Eleanor Terrett reports that deputy director Patrick Witt is the likely choice. The post Bye Bye Bo Hines: Is The White House Crypto Crusade Over? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

In an August 10 video titled “My End Of 2025 ETH Price Prediction (Using AI) — You’re Not Bullish Enough!”, crypto analyst Miles Deutscher said Ethereum’s latest breakout above the “very key level in the $4,000 zone” has shifted the market into what he views as a confirmed, structurally stronger advance toward new all-time highs. “We actually did get a daily close,” he noted, adding that the weekly close above the same region—something Ethereum “hasn’t closed above on the weekly since November 2021”— underscores the significance of the move. In Deutscher’s framework, that close is “confirmation for a much bigger run.” How High Can Ethereum Go? Deutscher centered the analysis on a simple question—how high can Ethereum go—and answered it with a blend of technical context and model-driven probabilities. Before invoking AI, he sketched an “eye test” path in which price discovery unfolds “well into this range here between $6,000 to $8,000,” arguing that Ethereum is effectively “playing catch-up” after lagging other top assets that already printed new highs. He even floated a directional benchmark—“I think the price prediction is going to be $7,000”—before deferring to probability distributions as a more disciplined way to size the upside. To that end, he ran two large-language models on a shared set of inputs, asking for odds of specific price bands by the end of 2025 and then by the end of 2026. On his telling, the first model’s 2025 peak probabilities favored continuation: roughly a three-in-four chance to revisit the prior high near $4.7k, about sixty-plus percent to clear $5k, around thirty percent to reach $6k, high-single-digits to breach $7.5k, and roughly one percent to tag $10k this year. Expanding the window through 2026 raised those odds materially, to what he summarized as high confidence in $4.7k–$5k, better-than-even odds for $6k, and about forty percent for $7.5k, with a non-trivial tail—“even here 10k plus it’s giving an 18% probability to.” Running the same exercise on Grok produced a more aggressive contour. As Deutscher relayed it, Grok’s “base case could very well be $10,000,” with an $8,000–$15,000 band as a plausible cycle-top range. He quoted the model’s technical guardrails explicitly: “A break above $4,800 signals new all-time high pursuit. Drop below $3,800 could invalidate the bullish thesis.” By contrast, his own trading invalidation skews tighter to trend, cautioning that “if Ethereum drops below the money noodle on the daily, which right now is around like $3,400, I think structurally this could start to invalidate the bullish move at least in the short term,” while “as long as we maintain above $4,000, we are in the pursuit of that prior all-time high.” Headwinds For Ether The projection stack rests on a macro-to-micro chain of tailwinds that Deutscher argued now favors Ethereum more directly than in prior cycles. He cited consistently positive ETF flows—“around $17 billion of net inflows into the crypto ETFs over the last 60 days, $11 billion coming in the month of July alone,” with particular traction on the ether side—alongside anticipated retirement-account access to crypto that could unlock what he called a “massive pool of new buyers.” He framed recent US policy steps as a near-term accelerant for on-chain finance, saying the GENIUS Act clarified treatment for a set of crypto assets and “regulates some of the key stable coins,” thereby widening the aperture for institutional yield strategies and tokenization. In his view, those are specifically Ethereum-centric growth funnels because “Ethereum is the biggest blockchain facilitating asset tokenization and DeFi,” which makes ETH “the number one proxy for anyone looking to get exposure to this narrative.” Deutscher also paired the flows argument with market-structure observations: stablecoins at fresh highs, price resilience marked by “sell-offs… relatively short-lived,” and a turn in bitcoin dominance that, if it persists, historically precedes broader alt rotation with ETH at the fulcrum. None of this, he stressed, implies a straight line. Deutscher expects the cycle to oscillate through rotations—bitcoin strength, an ether catch-up, then a higher-beta alt expansion—rather than a single monolithic “altseason.” He even penciled in a likely second-leg window into 2026, aligning with political and monetary calendar points, while cautioning that “you never know what’s going to happen” and emphasizing the need for clear invalidations. Still, the directional conclusion is unambiguous: the combination of structural inflows, regulatory clarity around on-chain finance, and Ethereum’s technical regime shift leaves him biasing to the upside. “This would be hard momentum to slow down in the short to mid-term,” he said, adding that the true “FOMO” phase probably begins only once ETH is in price discovery above its $4,800 peak. At press time, ETH traded at $4,303.

XRP has shown a lot of potential after its price bounced off a major trendline and has now been able to turn previous resistance levels back into support. As the crypto market looks to be in an uptrend, it is likely that the XRP price could see a continuation of the current bullish trend going into the new week. If this happens, crypto analyst Lingrid sees such a move leading the digital asset back toward its all-time high levels before the next major decline. XRP Price In A Perfect Position For Continuation In the analysis, Lingri points out that the XRP price is now holding support at a notable level, which is above $3. This comes after a crash below this level, as bears had beaten down the price. However, as the ascending trendline had moved, the cryptocurrency was able to break above, and this meant that it was a signal for a possible continuation. The analyst had initially predicted a decline back below $3.2, but the emphasis was on the fact that the $3.15 support is able to hold after the rebound. This level now becomes the level to watch, especially if the structure is able to remain intact from here. In the event of a bounce from the $3.15 support and a breakout, Lingrid expects a sharp upward movement for the XRP price. The buy zone here is placed at the $3.1-$3.2 levels, with a break above $3.4 being the confirmation of the buy trigger. Once the move is underway, a 20% move is expected to send the price toward $3.8. This is where the next major resistance lies for XRP once the break is complete. “A breakout above 3.4000 could open the way for accelerated upside movement. Trend bias remains bullish while price holds above key support,” Lingrid stated. Bears Could Still Take Control As is the case with any analysis, there is the possibility of an invalidation and that the XRP price would end up going the opposite direction. In this scenario, it is if there is another break below $3 again, which would serve as the invalidation move that will put bears back in control. Lingrid explains that such a breakdown would shift the trend to bearish. There is also the possibility of limited upside brought about by a weakening of the market. Even in the event that the XRP altcoin does complete the bullish move to $3.8, the crypto analyst says the resistance near $3.8 could also trigger a sharp rejection.

Types of Gold Bars: A Practical Buyer’s Guide When people talk about “buying gold,” they often mean gold bars. But the types of gold bars you can buy differ in purity, format, size, maker, and—most important—how easily you can resell them. This guide breaks it all down in plain English so you can choose bars that match your budget, storage plan, and exit strategy. No fluff. Just what matters at purchase and at resale. What Is a Gold Bar, Really? A gold bar is refined gold shaped into a uniform piece with clear markings. Legitimate bars display weight, purity (usually 0.999 or 0.9999), and the refiner’s name or hallmark. Many include a serial number and arrive sealed in an assay card—tamper-evident packaging with the bar’s specs printed on the card. Those markings and that packaging shorten verification time when you sell and can narrow the bid/ask spread you face. Think in troy ounces (31.1035 grams), not kitchen ounces. Purity is expressed as a decimal—0.999 (99.9% pure) or 0.9999 (99.99% pure). Either is considered investment-grade, but some depositories and dealers prefer well-known refiners that consistently hit tight tolerances. Quick Checklist for a Legit Bar Purity listed as 0.999 or 0.9999 and an accurate weight. Recognized refiner or mint hallmark. Unique serial number where applicable. Sealed assay card (especially for minted bars) for easier verification. Cast vs. Minted Gold Bars Most gold bars are either cast or minted. Cast bars are poured into molds, then cooled—rugged look, rounded edges, matte finish. Minted bars are cut or punched from rolled sheet—crisp edges, mirror-like surfaces, and often sealed in branded assay cards. The difference isn’t only cosmetic; it impacts price and convenience. Minted bars cost more over spot because they require more precise manufacturing and retail-friendly packaging. They shine in smaller sizes (1 gram to 1 oz) and stack neatly in sleeves. Cast bars usually win on value at larger weights (10 oz and 1 kilo), where a lower premium per ounce adds up. Pros and Cons at a Glance Minted bars: Tight tolerances, sealed packaging, strong retail appeal; typically higher premiums. Cast bars: Rugged, lower premiums at larger sizes; great for bulk storage and vaulting. Common ground: Both are widely accepted if produced by recognized refiners or mints. Size Guide: From Fractionals to Good Delivery Bar size affects price, portability, storage, and liquidity. Smaller bars cost more per ounce but sell in smaller chunks. Larger bars reduce premiums but require bigger commitments and professional storage. How the Common Sizes Stack Up 1 g to 20 g: Gift-friendly, entry-level, highest premium per ounce. 1 oz: Most popular retail size—broad buyer pool, strong liquidity, balanced premium. 10 oz: Value-focused for experienced buyers—lower premium per ounce, still manageable at home (with a proper safe). 1 kilo (32.15 oz): Serious stacking—excellent value per ounce, best stored in a depository. 100 oz & 400 oz Good Delivery: Wholesale territory—lowest premiums per ounce, made for vaults and institutional trades. Good Delivery Real-world lesson: A friend proudly bought a 10 oz bar—loved the heft. Two years later he wanted to sell “half.” Not possible. Bigger bars are efficient to buy, but they reduce flexibility when you need only partial liquidity. Brands, Hallmarks, and Why They Matter Brand recognition smooths transactions. Names like PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Perth Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, and Argor-Heraeus are globally known and typically meet stringent standards. When buyers see a familiar hallmark, the conversation moves faster and the discount demanded at buyback can be smaller. Many minted bars arrive in sealed assay cards showing weight, purity, and a matching serial number. That card is not just “pretty packaging”—it’s a simple verification tool that protects surfaces and speeds resale. You’ll also see special formats (for example, divisible or “snap-off” bars). They can be handy, but they often carry higher premiums. Compare the total price per ounce against standard 1 g or 1 oz bars to keep your math honest. What a Hallmark Signals Published standards for weight and purity are met consistently. Serial numbers tie back to production records for quality control. Packaging that reveals tampering and preserves resale confidence. Premiums, Liquidity, and Total Cost of Ownership Every bar has two components in its price: the spot price of gold and the premium you pay for fabrication, distribution, and packaging. Smaller bars carry higher premiums per ounce; larger bars cut the premium but can limit flexibility. Pick your trade-off deliberately: convenience versus cost. Liquidity is your ability to sell quickly at a fair price. Common sizes from recognized makers—like 1 oz minted bars or cast kilo bars from major refiners—tend to move faster and command tighter spreads. Don’t ignore ancillary costs: shipping, insurance, and storage all affect your true cost of ownership. Ways to Keep Premiums in Check Favor common sizes (1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo) for better pricing and easier resale. Choose well-known mints/refiners to avoid extra discounts at buyback. Compare the per-ounce cost across sizes; don’t chase flashy packaging. Security, Counterfeits, and Verification Counterfeits exist. Reduce exposure by buying from reputable dealers and sticking with recognizable brands. Dealers typically verify bars using dimensions, weight checks, electronic meters, ultrasound, and sometimes specific gravity. Some brands embed microtext, holograms, or proprietary features right on the bar or card—practical in the real world, not just “security theater.” Layered checks make high-quality fakes harder to pass. One seasoned investor keeps bars sealed in their assay cards until the day he sells. His logic: fewer questions, quicker bids. If you must open a package, document the reason and keep the card. Clear records and straightforward presentation win better offers. Simple Checks You Can Do at Home Measure length, width, and thickness; compare to the maker’s published specs. Confirm weight (troy ounces or grams) with a scale that has fine resolution. Inspect surfaces and edges: crisp relief on minted bars, consistent shape on cast bars. Record serial numbers and store invoices separate from the metal. How to Choose the Right Gold Bar for You Start with purpose. If you prioritize flexibility and resale to the widest audience, 1 oz gold bars from top refiners are the workhorse. Building weight efficiently for vault storage? Cast 10 oz or 1 kilo bars often deliver the best value per ounce. Testing the waters or giving gifts? Fractional gram bars work—but accept the higher per-ounce cost. Storage is your next decision. A few 1 oz bars fit in a small, anchored, fire-rated home safe. Heavier stacks (10 oz and kilo bars) belong in a professional depository if you want clean insurance and audit trails. Wholesale 100 oz and 400 oz bars live inside the vaulting system and aren’t practical for households. A Straightforward Decision Framework Need flexibility: 1 oz minted bars from recognized makers. Building size efficiently: Cast 10 oz or 1 kilo bars from major refiners. Trying gold in small steps: Fractional bars—accept the premium trade-off. Institutional scale: 100 oz/400 oz through professional vaults only. Special Formats, Collectibles, and IRA Rules Specialty bars—commemoratives, divisible “breakable” formats, limited editions—can make great gifts or satisfy collectors. Just remember: novelty usually increases premiums. If liquidity and tight spreads matter most, stick to mainstream sizes and brands. For retirement accounts that allow physical gold, bars must meet specific purity and fabrication standards and be stored with an approved custodian. Keep it simple: choose well-known brands and common sizes that depositories handle daily. Odd sizes complicate transfers and can slow down future trades. When Specialty Bars Make Sense Gifts where presentation and uniqueness matter more than the tightest premium. Long-horizon personal collections where quick resale isn’t the goal. Emergency kits where divisible pieces may be useful (understand the cost trade-off). Practical Handling and Storage Treat bars like precision products. Keep minted bars sealed to preserve finishes and quick verification. Protect cast bars in sleeves to avoid edge dings. If you store at home, use a bolted, fire-rated safe in a discreet location and keep purchase records and serial numbers stored separately from the metal. For larger holdings, a professional depository provides insurance options, audits, and hassle-free logistics. Shipping? Use fully insured, trackable methods approved by your dealer. Follow packing instructions, document serials, and photograph contents before sealing. These unglamorous steps reduce headaches and can improve resale bids. FAQs About the Types of Gold Bars Is 0.9999 purity always better than 0.999? Both are investment grade. Liquidity depends more on brand recognition, size, and condition than the extra “9” in purity. Should I remove a bar from its assay card? Generally, no. Keeping bars sealed shortens verification and helps preserve resale value. If a seal must be opened, document it and keep the card. Are “breakable” or divisible bars worth it? They can be convenient for gifting or small trades but often carry higher premiums. Compare the per-ounce cost to standard 1 g or 1 oz bars. Home safe or depository? Small holdings can work at home with a proper safe. Larger stacks, or any bars you might ship or trade frequently, are usually better in a depository. Bottom Line: Match the Bar to the Mission The best choice among the types of gold bars is the one that aligns with your purpose, budget, storage plan, and patience at resale. Minted 1 oz bars offer flexibility and broad demand. Cast 10 oz and 1 kilo bars deliver value per ounce—ideal for vaulting. Big wholesale bars belong in professional systems. Prioritize recognized brands, keep premiums in check, maintain tidy records, and you’ll own gold with confidence—and sell it with minimal friction when the time comes. The post Various Types of Gold Bars first appeared on American Bullion.

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