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In his August 5 “Macro Monday” livestream, crypto analyst Josh Olszewicz delivered a review of the market’s late-summer state, arguing that while Bitcoin’s price action has gone quiet, the broader cycle remains intact. “We’re in this pocket of seasonal weakness for August and September that we typically see most years,” he explained, pointing to seasonality charts showing that historically, Bitcoin underperforms in this time window. “It’s a high likelihood that August and September is a giant nothing burger,” he added. Is The Bitcoin Bull Run Over? At day 978 of the current cycle, the question many investors are asking, Olszewicz noted, is simple but existential: is the cycle already over? Will it end this year? Or is there more upside ahead? His answer leaned cautiously optimistic. “I’m in the ‘probably not over yet, could continue’ camp,” he said. “But we will have to see what happens in Q4. Ultimately, that’s going to determine it.” From a technical standpoint, the analyst sees no reason to declare the top is in. “Technicals still look fine. Price still looks okay. We had a pullback. All that is fine,” he said, emphasizing that Bitcoin has not yet exhibited the typical parabolic advance associated with major tops. Nor have other macro or on-chain metrics shown signs of terminal overheating. “We don’t have other metrics screaming from the rooftop saying it’s time yet.” However, the short-term setup is underwhelming. After a cup-and-handle breakout that briefly pushed price toward the $122,000–$123,000 region, momentum faded. Olszewicz doubts such levels can be reclaimed soon: “In the next two weeks we’ll know if we can start to creep back towards $120,000, which is asking a lot admittedly for August.” The wildcard, he said, is ETF flows. “Do we see ETF flows for any reason? Then do we see treasury companies continuing to buy? Those are the marginal buyers right now.” He suggested that ETF buyers could return due to a combination of underweight positioning, opportunistic dip-buying, and monthly rebalancing dynamics. Still, he remains neutral overall. “Just a general softening of any bullishness we may have had,” he said. “Now it’d be a different story if this is October and we’re seeing this. That’s not normal.” A further reason for caution is the collapse in futures basis across major assets. “Premium is all the way down to under 7% on BTC. It’s under 8% on ETH. And I think SOL is a little more illiquid, but even SOL is way down—15% from 35%,” he noted. That contraction in futures premiums, typically a sign of speculative demand drying up, reflects a broader risk-off mood. “Not a lot of bullish sentiment, not a lot of craziness,” Olszewicz observed. On-chain risk metrics confirm the trend. “There’s a decline here in risk appetite,” he said, referring to metrics like unrealized profit versus MVRV. He added that if Bitcoin were to enter a parabolic advance, “you will see this metric shoot up… But what’s it going to take?” Q4 Or Bust He floated a few possibilities: rate cuts, weakening Fed independence, or perhaps just seasonal strength and macro chaos in Q4. But for now, he advised traders to “take it easy on the 50X leverage,” especially those who’ve already made significant gains this cycle. “Do I need to put risk back on? Do I need to be as risky as I was earlier?” he asked rhetorically. “Or does it make more sense to be less risky here?” From a macroeconomic perspective, the picture is mixed. Inflation data from Trueflation remains low—currently at 1.65%—but Olszewicz warned that new post–August 1 tariffs may raise prices in the months ahead. “We are adding inflationary pressures with tariffs, no doubt about it,” he said, though the effect will take time to appear in the data. Meanwhile, core PCE is headed in the wrong direction, and the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model is printing 2.1% growth for Q3—hardly recessionary, but not robust either. Labor market data continues to cloud the outlook. “If we account for a non-collapsing labor force participation, we could be as high as 4.9% on the actual unemployment rate,” Olszewicz warned. “And we’re continuing to see a degradation in job availability for manufacturing,” particularly in “Heartland Rust Belt types of jobs.” Liquidity dynamics are also in flux. He drew attention to the draining of the Fed’s reverse repo facility—once a $2 trillion reservoir of sidelined capital—which has supported risk assets through 2023 and 2024. “As this gets drained closer to completion, there’s a potential likelihood for liquidity hiccups and a liquidity intervention by the Fed,” he said. Importantly, this has kept overall US liquidity flat, offsetting quantitative tightening. “Despite QT, the drain of the reverse repo has offset QT, and US liquidity by this metric has been basically flat since 2022.” What changed the game, Olszewicz said, was not liquidity per se, but the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs. “That has really been, in my opinion, a big difference maker,” he explained. “We got ETF approvals here, ETF started trading here, and the rest is history as far as flows are concerned.” In conclusion, Olszewicz emphasized that while the broader risk appetite has declined and price action remains dull, there is no evidence yet that the Bitcoin cycle has topped. “The cycle’s probably not over,” he said. “It’s just sleeping—and Q4 will ultimately determine whether it wakes up.” At press time, BTC traded at $113,041.

XRP has surged an impressive 35% over the past month, currently trading at $3.05. This bullish momentum is fueled by growing institutional interest, massive whale accumulation, and a long-anticipated regulatory breakthrough in Ripple’s legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors are increasingly optimistic ahead of the SEC’s expected status report on August 15, which may finally end Ripple’s multi-year lawsuit. This outcome could unlock a flood of institutional adoption and pave the way for XRP spot ETF approvals. With whale wallets scooping up over $60 million in the token recently, market sentiment is turning decisively bullish. Whale Activity and ETF Buzz Signal Institutional Confidence XRP isn’t rallying alone as Institutional capital has flowed heavily into Ethereum and XRP over the past few weeks, according to CoinShares. XRP-related investment products saw $31.26 million in inflows, while whale trackers confirmed large transactions, including a single 20 million transfer from Upbit worth over $60 million. Additionally, anticipation is mounting over potential XRP ETF approvals. The SEC has set an October 17 deadline to rule on several XRP spot ETFs, and a recent policy shift enabling in-kind redemptions has eliminated key logistical barriers. If approved, these ETFs could dramatically reduce the token’s circulating supply and fuel further price appreciation. Can XRP Reach New All-Time Highs in 2025? Beyond legal clarity and ETF speculation, the token’s real-world utility is gaining traction. Its recent integration of an Ethereum-compatible sidechain opens the door for DeFi developers to launch dApps on the XRP Ledger using XRP for fees. Moreover, the XRPL now hosts one of the largest tokenized U.S. Treasury bill products, signaling its growing role in asset tokenization. While $100+ price predictions remain highly debated, the token’s bullish structure and ecosystem expansion offer a compelling long-term thesis. Technical indicators remain cautiously optimistic, and analysts suggest $3 may be the last ideal entry point before the next leg up. With regulatory momentum, whale interest, and real-world use cases converging, XRP may be poised to break out even higher in Q3 and beyond. Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview

Following another rejection from the $120,000 region on July 21, Bitcoin (BTC) is now holding steady around the $115,000 level. However, realized price data suggests that BTC’s surface-level calm may be nearing its end. Old Bitcoin Whales Stop Realizing Gains According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor Kripto Mevsimi, Bitcoin whale behavior indicates that the asset may be walking a tightrope. While “old whales” have stopped realizing profits, newer whales remain slightly in the green – though only marginally. Here, old whales refer to large BTC holders who have held the digital asset for more than a year. New whales – including institutional players – are those who entered the market within the past year. Kripto Mevsimi notes that the current balance between old capital and newly invested capital may not hold much longer. A decisive break in either direction could push BTC into a new price range. The chart below illustrates the rising realized cap of old whales from 2022 to 2024, confirming that this cohort steadily realized profits during that period. Notably, this quiet distribution phase coincided with mid-cycle market conditions. However, since early 2025, the realized cap for old whales has flattened – signalling a pause in profit-taking. Their average cost basis of $39,400 puts them well in profit, suggesting they are likely waiting for higher prices before re-entering the market. In contrast, the average cost basis for newer whales is approximately $105,300 – a level that now serves as their psychological breakeven. As long as BTC remains above this threshold, these newer investors are unlikely to sell in large numbers. That said, a drop below this critical level could trigger risk-off behavior among new whales. Kripto Mevsimi suggests that such a move could escalate current conditions from moderate profit-taking to panic selling, potentially triggering a wave of leverage unwinds. Keep An Eye On Realized Price It’s worth noting that recent activity has been minimal across both BTC investor cohorts – old whales and new whales alike. As the CryptoQuant analyst puts it: Old whales are idle. New whales are exposed. Neither is pressing the market – yet. But once the range breaks, the reaction could be sharp. In short, Bitcoin holders should closely monitor realized price levels. If BTC maintains a price above $105,000, newer capital is likely to remain stable. However, a drop below that could weaken the floor and invite downside pressure. Conversely, a breakout toward a new all-time high – possibly around the $130,000 mark – could bring old whales back into play, expanding their realized cap. That said, a few warning signs point to potential short-term weakness. For instance, BTC deposits to Binance have been rising steadily after months of decline, indicating that selling pressure may increase in the near future. At press time, BTC trades at $113,500, down 0.3% over the past 24 hours.

SUI is currently sitting in a prime “sweet spot,” where key structural support meets the VWAP average. This alignment establishes a robust technical foundation, indicating a potential breakout as buyers step in at this critical level. Key Support Level Near Aligning With VWAP Average In a post on X, CryptoPulse drew attention to SUI’s recent price action, noting that the token has pulled back into what is described as a “sweet spot” for potential buying opportunities. The price recently touched the VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) and is currently sitting directly on a critical structural support level around $3.50. This zone has been a key area of interest for the analyst, who has been patiently waiting for SUI to reach this level before stepping in. The convergence of the VWAP and structural support creates a favorable setup that often precedes strong upward moves. Fundamentally, SUI is also gaining increasing recognition and traction within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The project’s growing presence, combined with solid chart structure, reinforces the possibility of substantial upside potential over the coming weeks and months. Currently, the analyst is actively averaging into their position, setting an initial target at $5. However, they remain optimistic that this setup can extend much further if momentum continues to build and key technical levels are broken. With both technical and fundamental factors converging, CryptoPulse views SUI as a project worth watching closely for possible significant gains ahead. SUI Chart Shows Promise, But Setup Needs Confirmation Sharing additional insights in a separate post, AlgoCats highlighted that SUI is currently showing a very promising chart setup. The analyst noted that while the structure looks favorable, they are waiting for a more defined formation to develop, which would offer a clearer signal for a long position before considering an entry point. Their target is a key resistance zone that has seen multiple wicks and a previous fake breakout, marking it as a critical level where price action could accelerate. This resistance zone is central to their trading plan, as it could act as a springboard for a potential breakout if approached with the right setup. However, AlgoCats emphasized that patience is key, and they intend to wait for confirmation before making any move. Until that confirmation arrives, the focus remains on observing how SUI behaves around current levels. AlgoCats is prepared to act, but only when the chart provides a clean and confident signal for entry. At the time of writing, SUI was trading at $3.54, demonstrating a nearly 3% increase in the last 24 hours. Its trading volume has increased significantly by more than 33% in the past day.

Despite recent bearish pressure in the crypto market, Dogecoin (DOGE) is showing signs of resilience, holding above the crucial $0.18 support level. After slipping below the $0.20 threshold, DOGE continues to attract bullish speculation, particularly as it approaches a critical RSI level on the 4-hour chart. Crypto analyst KrissPax highlights that Dogecoin’s RSI is nearing the same level that triggered a 70% rally in June 2025. Back then, DOGE surged from $0.14 to over $0.24 within a month. With the current RSI trajectory aligning closely with past patterns, traders are watching for a similar uptrend, this time potentially pushing DOGE to $0.34, especially with its higher low structure forming. Institutional Accumulation Fuels Dogecoin Optimism Adding fuel to the fire, large Dogecoin whales have accumulated over 1 billion DOGE in just 48 hours, signaling growing confidence among institutional investors. Historically, such accumulation often precedes major price moves. Analysts now speculate that September could see DOGE breaking past key resistance levels at $0.50, with some even eyeing a long-term target of $1 if bullish momentum sustains. Technically, DOGE is also forming a bullish megaphone pattern, which could pave the way for extended upside if confirmed. The coin is also trading within the historical accumulation zone of $0.15–$0.22, a range that previously triggered exponential rallies. Can Dogecoin (DOGE) Beat Market Expectations in Q3? Though the broader meme coin sector has underperformed this cycle, Dogecoin’s technical setup tells a different story. According to past posts from X analyst Trader Tardigrade, DOGE has already completed two significant bottoms in a classic reversal pattern, with a third forming. If history repeats, this structure could precede another breakout. Additionally, CoinCodex predicts a 16% rise in DOGE price by early September, targeting $0.24. With a neutral sentiment and Fear & Greed Index at 64 (greed), market conditions appear ripe for a rebound. If DOGE can maintain support above $0.18 and follow through with historical RSI-driven rallies, the meme coin could surprise investors with a strong Q3 performance. Cover image from ChatGPT, DOGEUSD chart from Tradingview

Log in to today's North American session recap for August 5, 2025. Yesterday's rally in equities was very strong and despite recovering beyond their pre-NFP levels, other assets had shown some discrepancies warranting caution. And these discrepancies did not lie, commodities like Oil and Gold traded the weekly open in lower economic outlook territory (Oil down, Gold up) and the same flows repeated today after the Miss in the US Services PMI – You can access the details of the report right here. It is always essential to look at the broad market picture to get an understanding of what the story of the day is, and yesterday's rebound in Equities really just seems to have been one of oversold dip buying at a lower bound of an upwards channel – I invite you to check the purple notes on the chart below. Nasdaq 8H Chart, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView Sentiment has been hurt from Friday's NFP report and with FED communications pointing in that direction, economists and Market participants will now turn into risks to the Economy following the implementation of the US Tariffs. About Tariffs, Canada and Switzerland are on the move to negotiate further the rough tariffs currently in place – track the headlines regarding this closely. On the geopolitical side, Russia might be inclined to accept a truce as the US keeps applying monetary pressure to stop the conflict by imposing further sanctions on Russian Oil purchasers (like India for example). Read More: USDCHF – Is it the end of the run for the Swiss Franc?Daily Cross-Asset performance Cross-Asset Daily Performance, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView Most assets are closing red on the session after the temporary boost from yesterday's session. Oil keeps getting wrecked (with WTI close to $65) and Gold keeps grinding higher, I would suggest to keep watching these two to spot sentiment in the waiting for more data. Other indices around the world have held strongly compared to the US ones, particularly the Canadian TSX (not on the chart) closing the session up 2%. A picture of today's performance for major currencies Currency Performance, August 5 – Source: OANDA Labs Forex movement has been very muted throughout majors as the US Dollar had started the day rallying before giving back its gains after the miss in US PMIs. The Yen has given up some of its strength, with Participants not seeing what they wanted to see from the most recent Bank of Japan Minutes – There is surely some profit-taking from the ongoing mean-reversion in JPY pairs. Earnings Season: Who is releasing their numbers tomorrow Earnings Calendar for August 6th – Source: Nasdaq.com Some big names are releasing their earnings tomorrow – McDonalds, Disney, Uber are releasing their numbers in the pre-open, Doordash and AirBNB will release their own numbers after the close A look at Economic data releasing in tonight and tomorrow's sessions For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. There will be a big focus in the upcoming sessions on APAC-Centric data, particularly with New Zealand. Expect their Employment numbers in this evening's session. Also do not forget the European Retail Sales numbers releasing overnight at 5:00 A.M. ET. The North American Session will have all the attention on FED Speakers as players await a different stance after the Friday data. FED's Collins and Cook (both voters) are speaking at a Panel on the US and global Economy at 14:00 ET followed by FED's Daly (non-voter) speaking at Anchorage at 16:00. Safe Trades! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

On-chain data shows Bitcoin investors who purchased near the price top are choosing to hold even after the latest pullback. Bitcoin Cost Basis Distribution Shows Supply Still Firm Above $118,000 In a new post on X, the on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has discussed the latest trend in the Cost Basis Distribution Heatmap of Bitcoin. This indicator tells us about how much of the asset’s supply was purchased at the various spot price levels. In on-chain analysis, supply cost basis is considered a key concept, as investor behavior is often more pronounced when the cryptocurrency is trading at or near its acquisition level. When the market mood is bullish, investors in profit may see price declines toward their cost basis as ‘dip‘ buying opportunities. This can make levels concentrated with supply under the spot price support boundaries. Similarly, holders in loss can look forward to retests of their acquisition mark so that they can exit the market with their money ‘back.’ This selling can provide resistance to the asset. Now, here is the chart shared by Glassnode that shows the trend in the Bitcoin Cost Basis Distribution Heatmap over the past month: As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin Cost Basis Distribution Heatmap formed a sort of “airgap” as a result of the cryptocurrency’s explosive run toward the new all-time high (ATH) last month. Gaps like these form whenever BTC runs by levels too fast for supply to change hands, leaving no dense cost basis centers in that range. The airgap that gets left behind corresponds to a “free for all” space in terms of investor behavior, as there are no major support or resistance levels built into it yet. From the chart, it’s visible that as Bitcoin consolidated earlier, supply gradually became concentrated at levels above $116,000, but below that mark, supply remained thin up to $109,000. With the latest plunge, the asset is finally exploring this airgap, and so far, supply is being filled in. This could be an indication that the investors are interested in buying the dip, which may help form a support cluster in the range. Another interesting trend that’s apparent in the graph is that a notable amount of supply still retains its cost basis between $118,000 and $120,000. While some panic selling has occurred from investors who purchased in this range, a lot of them appear to be choosing to hold strong instead. It now remains to be seen how the Bitcoin airgap would develop in the coming days and whether these top buyers would continue to stand firm. BTC Price At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $114,200, down 4% in the last seven days.

Bitcoin mining difficulty has hit the brakes in 2025. For the first time in the network’s history, difficulty is rising at a slow pace and is on track for its slowest annual difficulty growth rate ever recorded. Signals Of Consolidation In The Bitcoin Mining Landscape Bitcoin mining difficulty has risen by 0.5% since June 1st, signaling an extraordinary slowdown in network expansion. According to mining infrastructure firm Blockware’s post on X, the Year-to-Date mining difficulty is up only 16%, which is a stark contrast to prior post-halving years. “2025 is on pace to see the slowest growth in mining difficulty in BTC history,” Blockware added. The mining growth will continue to slow down due to the following reasons: The mining Hardware is reaching the limits of Moore’s law. This is approaching the physical and economic limits of chip miniaturization, and making the new generation of miners only marginally more efficient. The physical infrastructure and energy production are the bottlenecks for growth, which is about powering the scaling of mining and ordering machines. Lastly, the data center operators are diversifying into AI and high-performance computing (HPC). However, this is bullish for BTC miners as it means less competition for the 450 BTC that are mined daily. As BTC trends steadily toward six figures, miners are positioned to arbitrage energy and compute, while producing BTC at a substantial discount to its market value. Currently, a Bitmain S21 XP hosted at the Blockware mining site is producing 1 BTC for just $55,000 in electricity costs. This is a significant discount to the market price of BTC. The benefit of BTC mining is the ability to depreciate 100% of the hardware costs and create powerful tax offsets. When combined with Tax benefits and BTC accumulation, this is how generational wealth is created. The Shift Toward Cleaner Energy And Sustainable Mining SustainableBTC has also highlighted on X that in 2017, a Newsweek article warned that Bitcoin was on track to consume all of the world’s energy by 2020. Furthermore, in 2019, the academic paper reported that emissions from BTC mining alone would push global temperatures above 2°C. Since then, there has been a widespread belief that BTC mining is harmful to the environment. However, in reality, BTC mining has the potential to be a powerful tool in the clean energy transition and a force for climate justice. In the midst of this widespread view, SustainableBTC noted that awareness and advocacy alone are not enough to change deeply rooted perceptions about BTC mining and sustainability. To move the industry forward, there is a need for transparent, auditable data, market-based incentives that align with economic performance, and environmental responsibility.

GBPUSD found intermediate lows at 1.3140, losing close to 7 handles since its June 30 highs. The pound had seen a huge uptrend in 2025, with a 13.57% increase from 1.21, as the year commenced, to its recent top at 1.3790. July changed Forex markets consequently with the Dollar Index retaking some of what it had lost through the first half – After the injurious US Non-Farm Payrolls report from last Friday, the Greenback saw some of its momentary strength evaporate and which allowed the GBP to take a breather from strong selling flows. The Bank of England began a non-continuous rate-cutting cycle, taking their benchmark rate from 5.25% to the current 4.25%. The Central Bank has struggled with persistently high inflation, in both goods and services sectors, prompting a cautious dovish stance. However, with the degrading global outlooks and some government mess-ups, Markets have priced a 96% chance of a 25 bps cut for the upcoming meeting. There is still some uncertainty regarding how dovish the communications from the BoE will be, which will impact the outlook for the pair. In the waiting for the Thursday meeting (decision released at 7:00 A.M. ET), let's have a look at the Technicals for the pair. Read More: USDCHF – Is it the end of the run for the Swiss Franc?GBPUSD Technical Analysis ahead of Thursday's Bank of England MeetingGBPUSD Daily Chart GBPUSD Daily Chart, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView As explained in the introduction, the strong selling flows that started on the 1st of July has found a local bottom on Friday, leading the pair to a 1,300 Pip recovery back right around the 1.33 handle. It is notable that GBP/USD broke below its 2025 rising channel – It will be key to see how markets react after this. A Head and Shoulders pattern could also be developing. The pair saw some technical support from an oversold daily RSI, with the indicator currently still stalling in its lower bound. Participants seem to await for the BoE Meeting to move their pieces further. Today's session marks another consecutive doji candle, so let's take a closer look to spot more detailed levels. GBPUSD 4H Chart GBPUSD 4H Chart, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView Buyers are trying to push the pair towards the 4H 50-period Moving Average but seem to find some lack of conviction at the 1.33 psychological level. The support and resistance levels, drawn in our previous Bank of England June-meeting analysis have held very strongly (for now), with the pair finding some dip buyers at the previous S3 level (currently S2 – see the prices below). Breaking the most recent lows point to a resumption of the bearish trend and this would see the Pound giving back more of its early 2025 gains. In the meantime, look at the reactions to the 50-period MA (currently at 1.3328); any break higher will test the key 1.34 pivot, a major level for bull/bear strength. Levels to watch for the pair: Resistance Levels 4H MA 50 1.33282024 Highs turned Pivot/Resistance 1.34 ZonePrevious Pivot Now Resistance 1.3470Main Resistance 2 1.36Daily Support Levels Support 1 1.3260-1.33Support 2 1.3170 - 1.31850 – Most recent lows 1.3140S3 at 1.30 Zone (+/- 300 pips) A lack of conclusive price action does not warrant many reasons to look at smaller timeframes, with the pair stuck in a 500 pip range between 1.3260 (lows) to 1.33150 (highs). Trade the pair with caution in the waiting of the rate decision. Safe Trades! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Bitcoin is undergoing a sharp correction after losing the $115K support level, triggering a wave of uncertainty across the market. Following weeks of consolidation in a tight range, BTC has broken down, fueling debates among analysts about the asset’s short-term direction. Some experts warn that Bitcoin could face further declines as investors take profits and sentiment turns cautious. Others maintain a more optimistic view, suggesting that the correction is a healthy pause before BTC makes another attempt to reclaim its all-time highs. Key data from CryptoQuant adds another layer to the analysis. Metrics indicate that Bitcoin is currently in an “overheated” state, with valuation indicators signaling excessive bullish momentum. This suggests that the current consolidation phase may extend further as the market works to reset. Until demand stabilizes and new liquidity flows in, Bitcoin could continue to trade in a volatile environment, with the $112K–$115K range acting as a critical battleground between bulls and bears. With the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and global macroeconomic factors still in play, Bitcoin’s next major move will likely depend on a combination of market sentiment, institutional demand, and the broader risk appetite of investors in the coming weeks. Bitcoin Stock-to-Flow Model Signals Overvaluation Top analyst Darkfost recently shared insights on X, highlighting the significance of the Bitcoin Stock-to-Flow reversion (S2F) chart as a reliable indicator to assess Bitcoin’s valuation cycles. According to Darkfost, when the S2F metric rises above a value of 3, it typically indicates that Bitcoin is entering an overheated phase, signaling a high probability of a market correction. Currently, the S2F value is approaching this critical threshold, prompting Darkfost to caution investors that it may be an opportune moment to lock in profits before a deeper correction unfolds. Darkfost’s analysis points to historical patterns where similar S2F readings have preceded substantial price declines. In September 2021, Bitcoin dropped from $63,500 to $30,800 after the S2F metric crossed into the overvaluation zone. Again, in November 2021, BTC crashed from $67,000 to $15,800 following a peak S2F signal. More recently, in March 2024, Bitcoin corrected sharply from $73,000 to $54,000 after entering overheated territory. This preset alert system, designed for long-term market participants, serves as a strategic tool to help investors navigate Bitcoin’s volatile cycles. While the current correction might seem abrupt, Darkfost emphasizes that such pullbacks are essential for the market to reset and build a sustainable foundation for future growth. Investors are urged to remain cautious and monitor the S2F chart closely as Bitcoin navigates this critical phase. BTC Struggles To Reclaim The $115K Level Bitcoin is attempting to recover after its recent decline, currently trading around $115,019 as shown in the 8-hour chart. The price has managed to bounce from the $112K support zone but faces strong resistance at the $115,724 level, which previously acted as a key support during the two-week consolidation range in July. The 50-day and 100-day simple moving averages (SMAs) are now positioned just above the current price, adding to the overhead resistance. The 200-day SMA around $110,677 continues to provide solid support, keeping the overall uptrend intact for now. However, BTC must reclaim the $115,724 level and consolidate above it to regain bullish momentum. Volume has been relatively low during the recent bounce, suggesting a lack of strong buying conviction. If Bitcoin fails to break above the $115K resistance decisively, it risks falling back to test the $112K zone again. On the upside, a successful breakout above $115,724 could open the path to retest the $122,077 all-time high resistance. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

The debate around Bitcoin’s top for this cycle has been a major topic as market participants eye potential peaks later this year. Although some analysts have forecasted a blow-off top in October or November, Quinten Francois, a respected crypto market commentator, strongly disagrees. Drawing from historical data and market psychology, Francois believes that the current bull market is far from over and that expectations for a Q4 2025 top are “just not going to happen.” November Is Too Soon For A Bitcoin Peak Taking to the social media platform X, Bitcoin commentator Quinten argued that any expectations for a full market peak by November completely overlook how previous cycles have unfolded. He pointed out that in both 2017 and 2021, the altseason, the period when altcoins outperform Bitcoin, began in Q1 of those respective bull market years. From that point, the retail-driven psychological cycle took roughly 9 to 12 months to fully play out. This time around, the analyst suggests that altseason hasn’t even started in earnest. The ETH/BTC ratio, often used as the criteria for altseason momentum, is only just beginning to reverse. Given this timing, Quinten noted that a cycle top occurring within the next two or three months is nearly impossible. The moment altseason begins marks the entry of broad retail participation, and from that point onward, it typically takes 9 to 12 months for euphoria and market excess to reach a crescendo. If history is any guide, the current psychological cycle is still in its early stages because the retail cycle hasn’t properly kicked in yet. This would push a market peak into the second or third quarter of 2026 at the earliest. Altcoin Cycle Will Determine If Peak Is Possible The only condition that could allow for a major top this year, Quinten admitted, would be an absence of an altcoin cycle altogether. That scenario, or a catastrophic black swan event, could short-circuit the retail cycle and lead to an earlier-than-usual top. However, the possibility of this happening is very low, and this psychological cycle simply cannot play out much quicker than 9-12 months. As such, Bitcoin’s price action is most likely to play out like it has always done. “If things unfold as they historically have (we can only count on this), then it’s just not going to happen,” he said. Although the analyst did not give a price target for the expected Bitcoin top for this cycle, other technical analysts have pointed to targets between $140,000 and $200,000. In another post on the social media platform, Quinten noted that Bitcoin is currently playing out its biggest bullish setup in history. This outlook is based on a current retest of an ascending trendline of all-time highs, which Bitcoin broke above in July. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $114,460, having declined by about 3.7% in the past seven days.

Fortuna Mining (NYSE: FSM; TSX: FVI) has boosted the mineral resource count for its Diamba Sud gold project in Senegal ahead of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) later this year. The Diamba Sud project now contains 724,000 ounces of gold in indicated resources, a 53% increase on the previous estimate since year-end 2024. The inferred resource also rose by 93% to 285,000 gold ounces. The resource covers seven deposits — Area A, Area D, Karakara, Western Splay, Kassassoko, Southern Arc and Moungoundi — based on drilling data from a total of 1,178 diamond and reverse circulation holes completed since 2019. The update incorporates over 31,000 metres of drilling (243 holes) completed on the property for the one-year period up until July 2025. It includes the first estimates for the Southern Arc and Moungoundi deposits, containing 194,000 and 31,000 ounces respectively. In a press release Tuesday, Fortuna said it is planning further drilling for the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the PEA work for Diamba Sud is also underway, with completion targeted also for Q4. The ramp-up in exploration follows the company’s recent decision to exit from Burkina Faso due to jurisdictional risks. Its largest asset remains in West Africa — the Séguéla mine in Côte d’Ivoire — which entered production two years ago. Fortuna acquired Diamba Sud in 2023 to boost its presence in the region. Shares of the Canadian-based gold miner jumped 7.3% to C$9.46 apiece by midday, for a market capitalization of C$2.93 billion.

In the face of growing market uncertainty, a Shiba Inu developer, Kaal Dhairya, has spoken out on X about the project’s internal problem and the team’s top priorities. As SHIB begins August with a market dip, slipping further down the crypto rankings, and facing growing competition, Dhairya is drawing attention to the internal struggles holding the ecosystem back. Shiba Inu Primary Challenge Revealed According to Kaal Dhairya, the biggest issue holding Shiba Inu back is not the market, but what’s happening inside the community, highlighting the ongoing splits slowing down SHIB’s development and holding back its progress. He says rather than evaluating projects based on their potential benefits to Shibarium and SHIB holders, decision-makers often base their choices on personal opinions and bias. Dhairya gave a past example to show how things used to be different. He mentioned how the K9 project thrived under the support and guidance of trusted community members like himself and another developer, Shytoshi Kusama. Back then, no one saw it as a scam or a quick cash grab, and the community supported it. But now, he says, even legitimate projects get caught in the crossfire of personal rivalries and distrust. Individuals who have already raised significant amounts of money from the SHIB community or built influence under changing identities often drive this tension. He added that while it is typical for projects to hire advisors or influencers to promote their tokens in return for payment, he believes the SHIB community should aim for something better. Dhairya emphasized the need for openness and honesty within the community regarding personal gains from promoting or advising a project as part of that higher standard. Top Priority: Building Unity And Community Governance With the market turning and the cryptocurrency dropping under the top 20 in the rankings, Dhairya clarified that the main priority now must be unity. Shiba Inu saw a 9% rise in July, but that momentum quickly faded. By early August, SHIB had dropped over 2%, falling from a high of $0.00001437 on July 28 to a low of $0.0000116 on August 2. The token has now dropped to the 22nd spot in the crypto rankings, with a market cap of $7.17 billion. Instead of being divided by internal arguments, Dhairya wants the community to unite and tackle the external challenges, especially in light of SHIB’s recent price drop. These include rival projects that have pushed the cryptocurrency out of the top 10 and major web3 companies and crypto infrastructures that continue to overlook Shiba Inu. He also mentioned centralized exchanges that earn large profits from SHIB but do not show the community the respect it deserves. To face these outside forces, Dhairya stressed implementing practical decision-making tools, eliminating favoritism, and supporting projects that add actual value to the ecosystem. The developer also underscored the need to empower Shiba Inu’s decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) as the future lies in building a fair, community-led system where every “Shibizen” has an equal voice. He further suggests a quad-token governance model and adherence to ethical guidelines, like the Great Canine Code, to keep leaders accountable and prevent misuse of power.

The Swiss Franc has been on a formidable run in 2025, continuing a trend that began when it reached parity with the US Dollar in November 2022. With the American Exceptionalism theme, widening deficits, and growing trade distrust, markets have sought the CHF as a stable hedge against the Greenback. Switzerland’s neutrality in economic and geopolitical affairs—and its low, stable inflation—make it an attractive safe haven, especially in a world facing fresh conflicts. The Franc’s rally to 2011 highs has also been fueled by regional currency trends. Since early 2025, the Euro’s strength has lifted its neighbors, adding tailwinds to the CHF. This trend is actually one to watch in Forex where currencies tend to move in tandem with their neighbours – It's an historic trend but got exacerbated with the ongoing geopolitics. Still, the Swissie hit a local top in July against most majors, including the Yen against which it attained weekly record highs. While the CHF’s appreciation has not been as explosive as the Euro’s, the trend had remained consistent and persistent – but is it now over? Next, we’ll look at USDCHF technicals to see if momentum can hold—or if a reversal is on the horizon. Read More: S&P 500 shows a decline after the US Services PMI missWhich safe-haven currency to choose – A small parenthesis on CHF/JPY CHF/JPY Daily Chart, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView CHF/JPY has been up-trending since May 2020 (which coincides with lows on Global Yields post-COVID peak fears), and this same trend found some steep acceleration, particularly since Liberation Day. The pair went from 109.00 lows to the current 186.00 highs. One aspect to consider when looking at this pair is the Safe-Haven nature of both currencies—the current overperformance of the Franc has marked it as the preferred option for flight-to-safety exposure. We are now seeing this trend conclude. The rest is to see if the recent highs mark an intermediate top or more one for the longer-run. You can take a look at our most recent weekly analysis of the trading pair. USD/CHF Technical AnalysisUSD/CHF Daily Chart USD/CHF Daily Chart, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView The major pair, which had been in a steep downtrend since the beginning of 2025, has marked a double-bottom on its Daily charts during the month of July after attaining levels unseen since 2011. Since, the rebound has been consequent but with buyers failing to breach above the 0.8150 to 0.82 Main Resistance, the action is seeing more balance. Watch the 50-Day MA acting as immediate support to spot if buyers manage to respond to the 2025 Main Descending Trendline, which just acted as a supply zone for USD/CHF Sellers. The RSI Momentum was rising but is still closer to the neutral level than decisively bullish momentum. USDCHF 4H Chart USD/CHF 4H Chart, August 5, 2025 – Source: TradingView Looking closer, sellers are bringing back the pair into its 0.80 Main Pivot Zone (0.80 to 0.8070), where reactions will be important to monitor. There are some conflicting signs between the uptrending intermediate trendline formed after the double bottom and the main descending 2025 trend. Looking at the conflicting price action, there is a high probability of a range forming around the Pivot Zone but it is still far from being confirmed, therefore the pair will have to be watched closely and may move fast depending on risk appetite. The current price action is currently seller-dominated after this morning's miss in the US Services PMIs. Levels to watch for the pair: Daily Resistance Levels Main resistance 0.8150 to 0.82 (last highs 0.8165)0.83350 bear PivotMay 2025 highs 0.8475 Resistance ZoneDaily Support Levels Long-term pivot 0.80 Zone (0.80 to 0.8070) Confluence with Daily and 4H MA 500.7950 bull Pivot0.7875 2025 lows Safe Trades! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Shares of NextSource Materials (TSX: NEXT) soared on Tuesday as the graphite producer became the designated supplier of anode active materials to Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical under a multi-year offtake agreement. NextSource — which mines graphite from its Molo project in Madagascar — will supply 9,000 tonnes of intermediate anode materials to Mitsubishi on an annual basis, with an agreed-upon price formula that comprises both a fixed and variable component linked to the mine’s economics. The graphite concentrate, dubbed the SuperFlake, will also go through a qualification process through technical collaboration between the parties to confirm its compliance with specific anode quality and performance requirements. This process is expected to be finalized in 2026. The anode materials will then be processed at Mitsubishi’s facilities in Japan into a final battery product that will be shipped to a major automotive equipment manufacturer based in North America, with full-scale ramp-up expected in 2027. Following the announcement, NextSource’s stock jumped by 27.1% by noon ET in Toronto, for a market capitalization of $100.4 million. Vertically integrated strategy NextSource says this offtake agreement represents “a major milestone” in its strategy to become one of the very few vertically integrated graphite producers outside of China. Anchored by one of the world’s largest graphite deposits in Molo, the company is looking to build a significant downstream value-added business capable of large-scale production of coated, spheronized and purified graphite (CSPG). The company’s priority is the development of a large-scale battery anode facility (BAF) to meet the volume capacities required for Mitsubishi, as part of the SuperFlake qualification process. It initially planned to build the BAF closer to the mine in Mauritius, but recently pivoted the location selection to the Middle East for its faster permitting, infrastructure and proximity to electric vehicle manufacturers. Several prospective sites in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are currently under consideration for the BAF, NextSource said, adding that the facility will serve as a secure and transparent source of supply for battery and OEM customers, entirely decoupled from existing Asian supply chains. “We are excited to have entered into a partnership with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation through a binding offtake agreement for the production of active anode material in the Middle East, leveraging high-quality graphite feedstock from our Molo mine in Madagascar,” stated Hanré Rossouw, NextSource CEO, in a press release. Mine expansion Meanwhile, NextSource said it has begun preparations to expand its Molo mine operations to ensure that sufficient graphite feedstock will be available under the offtake agreement. The Molo operation is currently in its Phase 1, which has a nameplate capacity of 11,000 tonnes per annum. The Phase 2 expansion, the company says, is expected to benefit from larger economies of scale, while continuing to qualify its graphite products through Phase 1 production. The expansion would take its capacity to 15,000 tonnes per annum. NextSource said it is currently in discussions with partners to secure funding for both the construction of the large-scale BAF and Molo mine expansion. The Molo mine, which began production in 2023, has a measured resource of 23.6 million tonnes grading 6.32% graphitic carbon and an indicated resource of 76.7 million tonnes grading 6.25% carbon.

Ethereum (ETH) has been facing heightened volatility over the past week, following a sharp correction from its recent local high at $3,940 down to $3,360. After weeks of aggressive buying activity and bullish momentum, the market is now showing signs of fatigue. Analysts are growing cautious, with many warning that a deeper correction could be imminent if Ethereum fails to reclaim key support zones. Adding to these concerns, fresh data reveals a significant shift in market dynamics. The taker buy/sell ratio — a key indicator that tracks the aggressiveness of buyers versus sellers — has sharply declined into negative territory today. This signals that sellers are currently dominating the order books, applying sustained pressure on ETH’s price action. While some view this as a typical cooldown phase after a major rally, others believe Ethereum is entering a riskier phase where bearish sentiment could intensify if support fails to hold. The coming days will be critical in determining whether ETH stabilizes around current levels or slides further into correction territory. Ethereum Faces Short-Term Selling Pressure According to top analyst Darkfost, Ethereum’s taker buy/sell ratio has dropped sharply into negative territory today, reaching 0.87—one of the lowest levels recorded since the start of the year. This metric, which measures the ratio of aggressive buyers to sellers in futures markets, reveals that selling pressure is now firmly in control of ETH’s order books. Although today’s data is still incomplete, the current reading already indicates a dominance of sell orders on Ethereum futures. Darkfost notes that this shift has been developing for several weeks. Since July 18th, the taker buy/sell ratio has been mostly negative, which correlates with Ethereum’s recent inability to break through key resistance levels and its transition into a short-term consolidation phase. While this may seem concerning for bullish traders, Darkfost emphasizes that such consolidations are a normal part of market cycles, especially after a strong rally. He suggests that Ethereum could face a challenging period in the short term, as market sentiment remains fragile and sellers continue to control intraday movements. However, this phase might offer a healthy foundation for the next leg up. If Ethereum manages to stabilize and consolidate above critical support zones, the broader trend remains favorable. Long-term fundamentals, including on-chain accumulation and growing institutional interest, still point toward upside potential once this phase of selling pressure eases. Price Analysis: Bulls Attempt Recovery After Sharp Decline Ethereum is currently trading at $3,654.60, attempting to stabilize after a sharp correction from its recent highs around $3,940. The 4-hour chart shows a recovery bounce that met resistance near the 50-period SMA (currently at $3,668.28), signaling that bulls are facing strong selling pressure at this level. Despite the bounce, ETH remains below the key horizontal resistance at $3,860.80, which has capped multiple upward attempts in recent weeks. The bullish attempt to reclaim momentum earlier today was rejected near this level, leading to a quick retracement back into the $3,600-$3,650 zone. The 100-period SMA (green line) at $3,695.32 is acting as dynamic resistance, while the 200-period SMA (red line) at $3,303.42 serves as a longer-term support level should the correction deepen. Volume spikes indicate that buyers are stepping in aggressively on dips, but overall, Ethereum remains in a short-term consolidation phase between $3,850 and $3,350. A decisive breakout above $3,860.80 is required to regain bullish momentum, while failure to hold above $3,600 could expose ETH to another retest of lower support levels around $3,300-$3,350. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an advisory flagging 10 major international cryptocurrency exchanges for operating within the country without necessary licenses. Popular exchanges including OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, Kraken, MEXC, Bitget, Phemex, CoinEx, BitMart and Poloniex made the list. A 4th August 2025 advisory from the SEC said, “These platforms have no license, registration, or authorization from the SEC to operate in the Philippines or to solicit investments from the public.” The Philippines SEC said it will work with Google, Apple and Meta to curb the marketing activities of these unauthorized exchanges. The authorities can also potentially block their apps. There is also the possibility that users may be given a limited window to withdraw their funds. Therefore, the move has drawn significant criticism from crypto investors, with most lashing out on X. “This news is negative,” insisted a user. In a similar move last year, the SEC successfully directed Google and Apple to remove the Binance App from their local app stores. The authorities cited investor protection concerns. EXPLORE: 10 Best AI Crypto Coins to Invest in 2025 Key Takeaways Popular exchanges including OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, Kraken, MEXC, Bitget, Phemex, CoinEx, BitMart and Poloniex made the Philippines SEC list of exchanges operating in the country without necessary licenses. For now, the exchanges remain accessible in the Philippines. Many continue to maintain an active local marketing presence. However, the SEC’s public advisory serves as a final warning. The post Philippines SEC Issues Warnings To OKX, Bybit, Kraken For Non-Compliance appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Shares in Fresnillo (LON: FRES) jumped 6% on Tuesday after the Mexican precious metals miner raised its gold production forecast for the year, driven by a strong first-half performance marked by rising profits and solid free cash flow. For the six months ending June 30, gold production rose 16% to 314,000 ounces, fuelled by operational gains at the Herradura mine in Sonora. In contrast, silver output fell 12% year-over-year to 24.9 million ounces, weighed down by mine closures and lower ore grades. The company responded to the performance by revising its full-year guidance. Fresnillo now expects to produce between 550,000 and 590,000 ounces of gold, up from a previous range of 525,000 to 580,000 ounces. The upward revision reflects both operational improvements and stronger metal prices, along with continued cost discipline. Silver guidance was lowered slightly to a range of 47.5 million to 54.5 million ounces, down from 49 million to 56 million. Fresnillo attributed the cut to the end of silverstream contributions following a buyback agreement with Peñoles, the planned closure of the San Julián DOB mine, and lower grades across several operations. Revenue rose 30% year-over-year to $1.94 billion, while EBITDA more than doubled to $1.1 billion, up 103%. Fresnillo also scaled back its capital expenditure for 2025 to $450 million, signalling a move away from aggressive expansion towards focused reinvestment. Project delays at Saucito and Juanicipio prompted a reshuffling of priorities, with the company now aiming to optimize its existing asset base. Fresnillo’s shares closed at 1,520p in London, giving it a market cap of nearly £11.2 billion ($14.9 billion).

The XRP price broke above $3.00 and didn’t flinch. At least not yet… we’re looking at you, Donald Trump and those capricious U.S. tariffs. You can throw Fed Chair Jerome Powell in there, too. After grinding at resistance, the price for XRP kicked higher with momentum holding steady through the session. Behind the move is the same unresolved tension: Ripple’s never-ending courtroom brawl with the SEC. Here’s where that stands and where XRP goes next. XRPPriceMarket CapXRP$180.05B24h7d30d1yAll time XRP Price: Ripple Withdraws Appeal as SEC Deadline Approaches Ripple recently withdrew its appeal in the SEC lawsuit. The SEC has not followed suit. According to legal analyst Bill Morgan: “The SEC is expected to provide a status update to the appellate court by August 15, 2025.” – Bill Morgan, legal expert That filing could take multiple forms: a withdrawal, a plea for additional extension, or another legal maneuver. Its outcome may significantly influence market sentiment. Although courts cleared Ripple’s exchange-based token sales from being labeled as securities, the proposal was tossed when it came time to settle, limiting penalties and lifting restrictions. So the stalemate drags on, and institutional adoption keeps getting pushed further down the road. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Ripple Data Spotlight: Derivatives and Exchange Sentiment Signal Bullish Bias Fresh data from Coinglass and DeFiLlama paints a clear picture: traders are loading up on XRP: Open interest in futures jumped 24% over the past week Net exchange inflows hit a two-week high, a signal that holders may be positioning ahead of a breakout or legal clarity. Funding rates are still tilted positive, showing traders are leaning long, not hedging. Altogether, the metrics suggest rising conviction in XRP’s setup and possibly a bigger move coming. DISCOVER: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in 2025 XRP and Problems with Centralization XRP has an army. The XRP army. They get very mad when you say the word ‘centralization.’ Centralization. Centralization. Centralization. Centralization. Centralization!! There, we said it. This is another thing holding XRP back from its SEC woes. Namely, in the past, XRP used a default list of 35 validators determined based on trust. It’s very anti-crypto, but it works nonetheless. We’d be remiss not to point out that most of the XRP token supply and nodes belong to Ripple. XRP makes up for it by being a utility workhorse, but they’ll need to put the centralization fears to rest if they want any chance at beating this case. 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 The clock is ticking on one of crypto’s longest legal dramas and the XRP price could be ready to rocket. The XRP price broke above $3.00 and didn’t flinch. At least not yet… The post XRP Millionaires: Why It’s the Most Important Token in Crypto appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The China crypto ban just added another delicious layer to the Asian markets. China is creating a dip so they can buy it. Our theory at 99B is that China bans BTC ▼-0.28% when the price is high and unbans it when the BTC price is low, so their citizens and companies don’t buy high. Forced diamond hands. In addition, Beijing announced this week that it will start unloading its stockpile of seized crypto through licensed exchanges in Hong Kong. By pushing confiscated assets into licensed platforms, China injects liquidity, props up volume, and molds Hong Kong into a pricing engine for global crypto markets. Here’s what you need to know: BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.27T24h7d30d1yAll time China Crypto Ban is a LIE That Will See Hong Kong Become the Biggest BTC Hub Hong Kong’s digital asset framework rests on several legal pillars: The 2022 Anti‑Money Laundering & Counter‑Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) mandates licensing all virtual asset trading platforms. Stablecoin Ordinance, effective August 1, 2025, mandates rigorous reserve requirements, redemption mechanisms, and Hong Kong-based incorporation for issuers. LEAP 2.0, introduced in June 2025, offers unified licensing across crypto products and fosters cross-sector collaboration. However, licensing alone doesn’t create influence. Liquidity does. By offloading state-seized crypto through Hong Kong, we’ll see added liquidity turn the city into a pressure valve, and China can open or close to influence global crypto markets. (Source) Real-time data from CoinGlass and DeFiLlama illustrate the impact of open interest on Hong Kong-listed crypto pairs, which have surged by 35% in recent weeks. Additionally, on-chain stablecoin TVL through issuers targeting Hong Kong stablecoin licenses already shows a 28% month-on-month increase—suggesting that institutional capital is positioning for the new regime. (Source) DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Strategic Implications: Hong Kong Ascendant, U.S. Passive By strategically aligning regulation and liquidity, China aims to build Hong Kong into a digital asset super-hub—a geopolitical and financial lever. Unlike the U.S., which maintains a passive “hold-only” Bitcoin reserve, Hong Kong can convert and deploy crypto to influence price discovery and market narratives. This shift raises critical questions: Will U.S. regulators respond by building mechanisms to reclaim influence over crypto liquidity? Can global compliance frameworks adapt to jurisdictions using liquidity as a strategic asset rather than a regulatory requirement? For crypto investors, compliance professionals, and policymakers alike, the takeaway is clear: Hong Kong now holds the switch. For years, crypto has been held back by boomers who refuse to accept that the writing is on the wall. The same people pursuing wars they can’t win are holding back the crypto revolution because they think they can still rule the world if they censor the Internet. China is waking up to that game, and nobody can stop them. 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 The China crypto ban just added another delicious layer to the Asian markets. China is creating a dip so they can buy it. By strategically aligning regulation and liquidity, China aims to build Hong Kong into a digital asset super-hub. The post China’s Plan To Destroy The Dollar: Smart Money is on Hong Kong appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Most Read: S&P 500 shows a decline after the US Services PMI miss Gold prices have seen whipsaw price action today with a $30 drop being wiped away after the US open. Part of this could be down to another poor US data point which will only add to rate cut bets moving forward. The US ISM Services PMI dropped to 50.1 in July 2025 from 50.8 in June, falling short of the expected 51.5. This shows the services sector barely grew, with seasonal and weather issues affecting business. There was a slowdown in business activity (52.6 vs 54.2), new orders (50.3 vs 51.3), and inventories (51.8 vs 52.7). Meanwhile, price pressures increased to their highest level since October 2022 (69.9 vs 67.5), with many survey participants highlighting the impact of tariffs, especially on commodities. Gold prices had already been on a recovery from a daily low around $3349 before the data further boosted the recovery. Gold Prices Moving Forward - Federal Reserve Policy & Rate Cut Expectations Golds looked on course for a potential correction last week before the US jobs data. The picture since then has changed dramatically however, and this underscores the age old adage, ‘trade what you see, not what you think’. The most significant change has come in the form of rate cut expectations from the US Federal Reserve. Ahead of the jobs data on Friday last week, markets were still split around the 50-50 mark on a potential rate cut in September following the Fed meeting on Wednesday. However, as of this morning the CME FedWatch Tool reflected a high 88% probability of such a cut at the upcoming monetary policy meeting in September. Source: CME FedWatch Tool The jobs data has raised hopes in the market for two or even three interest rate cuts by the end of the year, with the first expected in September and the second in October. Even cautious comments from Federal Reserve officials were seen as signs that rate cuts might be coming. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly urged caution about expecting aggressive rate cuts, saying the job market wasn’t "too weak" and suggesting the Fed could wait a bit longer. However, she also mentioned that the Fed "can’t wait forever" and downplayed the idea that tariffs were causing long-term inflation. Markets took her comments as a sign that the Fed might still cut rates in September. This strong belief in upcoming rate cuts is helping support gold prices. Lower interest rates make gold more attractive because it doesn’t pay interest, so the cost of holding it becomes less of a concern. Looking ahead, the next big catalyst which could shape both Fed rate cut expectations and have a material impact on Gold is likely to be the US CPI data. A strong CPI print would likely trigger a significant re-evaluation of its bullish trajectory, whereas other data points might only cause minor fluctuations. Technical Analysis - Gold (XAU/USD) From a technical standpoint, Gold monthly candle close for July closed as a massive shooting star which hints at further downside ahead. This also marked the first bearish monthly close since December 2024 and could be a sing of the shift in momentum between buyers and sellers. However, price action since Friday has left a potential deeper pullback at risk. On a monthly chart, a candle close above the 3439 handle will be needed to invalidate the setup and for this we will have to wait the rest of the month. Looking at a more near-term perspective, let us look at the daily timeframe. Here we can see the recent bullish move which is approaching the most recent swing high around 3431. A daily candle close above this level will invalidate the bearish setup on the daily timeframe and put bulls firmly in control. Given that tariffs are now largely set and implementation is largely what remains, the chance that we enter a period of consolidation is shrinking. This hints that a daily candle close above the 3431 may lead to more bullish momentum. Gold (XAU/USD) Daily Chart, August 5, 2025 Source: TradingView (click to enlarge) Client Sentiment Data - XAU/USD Looking at OANDA client sentiment data and market participants are Long on Gold with 55% of traders net-long. I prefer to take a contrarian view toward crowd sentiment, however with a 55-45 split this is rather too close to draw any conclusions just yet. Follow Zain on Twitter/X for Additional Market News and Insights @zvawda Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

The euro is showing limited movement on Tuesday. In the European session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.1579, up 0.05% on the day. Eurozone Services PMI shows weak expansion Eurozone Services PMI for June showed slight expansion, rising to 51.0 from 50.5 in May but missing the market estimate of 51.2. This was the fastest growth in services since March, which indicates that the services sector remains in weak shape. The European Central Bank held the cash rate at 2.0% last month after seven consecutive rate cuts in which the central bank chopped 200 basis points. At the meeting, President Lagarde said that the risk to growth remained tilted to the downside as global tensions remain high. The EU and the US have reached a trade deal since the June meeting, which has reduced uncertainty and should make it easier for the ECB to lower rates. US ISM Services PMI softens The US ISM Services PMI disappointed with a reading of 50.1 in July, down from 50.8 in June and below the market estimate of 51.5. The reading points to stagnation in the services sector. Exports and imports both declined, indicative of the impact that US tariffs are having on the US economy. On Friday, ISM Manufacturing PMI slipped to 48.0 for July, down from 49.5 in June. This marked the fifth consecutive contraction for manufacturing. On Wednesday, we'll hear from three FOMC members, which could provide insights into Fed monetary policy. The Fed held rates last week, a decision that was widely expected. The markets have priced in a quarter-point cut in September at 88%, compared to 63% one week ago, according to the CME's FedWatch. Friday's nonfarm payrolls report pointed to widening cracks in the US labor market which support the Fed responding with rate cut. EUR/USD Technical EUR/USD is testing resistance at 1.1573. Above, there is resistance at 1.15961.1549 and 1.1526 are the next support levels EURUSD 1-Day Chart, Aug. 4, 2025 Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Elon Musk’s latest crypto provocation came via Grok, his custom AI bot. The question is: Can Bitcoin’s SHA-256 algorithm withstand quantum computing? He posted it the same day IBM announced Blue Jay, a quantum platform that aims to achieve 2,000 qubits in under a decade. Microsoft and Google are also moving fast, with Majorana 1 and Willow closing the gap. Elon Musk, Quantum Computing: Is SHA-256 Safu? According to Grok, the odds of SHA-256 being cracked by a quantum computer in the near term remain extremely low: “The chance remains close to zero over the next five years.” – Grok, xAI “Even by 2035, the probability is still under 10%.” – Grok, xAI The upshot is that BTC ▼-0.28% will be the most valuable piece of the pie. Quantum computing isn’t the kill shot you think it is. (BTCUSD) The explanation centers around Grover’s algorithm, which theoretically reduces SHA-256 brute-force attacks from 2^256 to 2^128 operations. But even that remains computationally unfeasible without millions of fault-tolerant, error-corrected qubits, a goal that’s decades away. The real quantum Achilles’ heel? It’s not SHA-256. It’s ECDSA, the algorithm used for Bitcoin’s private key signatures. If quantum computing progresses faster than expected, exposed public keys (such as those used in older or unspent wallets) could be vulnerable to theft. (X) IBM’s Blue Jay project is the latest in a string of quantum leaps from major tech firms. The system is projected to support more than 1 billion logical gate operations, a staggering leap beyond current capabilities. A recent Deloitte report warned that up to 25% of existing Bitcoin could be vulnerable to future quantum attacks if post-quantum cryptography is not adopted in time. DISCOVER: Top Solana Meme Coins to Buy in 2025 Elon Musk and Tesla’s Holdings and Motivation This isn’t just abstract curiosity for Musk. Tesla holds approximately 11,500 BTC, which is worth about $1.3 billion. SpaceX owns an additional $850 million worth. Musk has also confirmed that Bitcoin is part of his portfolio. “Yeah, I don’t know why so many people think SHA-256 is the problem… Grover’s algorithm only gives a quadratic advantage. If it becomes a problem, moving to SHA-512 is a relatively easy solution.” – Grok, xAI Given those stakes, it makes sense that he’d want clarity on quantum threats, even if the danger remains years away. DISCOVER: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now Final Thoughts: ECDSA, Not SHA, Is the Threat to Watch Musk’s concern about SHA-256 reminds the crypto world that quantum resilience isn’t just about proof-of-work, but about securing the entire cryptographic stack. Until then, BTC holders—and the developers behind the protocol—would do well to pay attention to the risks and not just scream “FUD, FUD, FUD!” every time. 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 The clock is ticking on one of crypto’s longest legal dramas and the XRP price could be ready to rocket. All eyes are on Powell this week. As inflation lingers and labor metrics soften. The post Did Elon Musk Just Blow The Lid on Bitcoin’s Future: Here’s Why Quantum Computing Won’t Kill SHA-256 appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Canada’s first potential in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium project has moved one step closer to reality with Denison Mines (TSX: DML; NYSE: DNN) receiving its environmental assessment (EA) approval from Saskatchewan. The Prairie province, where Denison has its main Phoenix/Wheeler River ISR project, has given Denison the green light to start developing the mine in the southeast Athabasca basin, the company said Tuesday. Phoenix is about 600 km north of Saskatoon. “Denison’s announcement that it has received provincial environmental assessment approval for Wheeler River is a key positive for the stock as it progresses the project towards construction,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Alexander Pearce said in a note on Tuesday. “The next major milestone is obtaining federal EA approval, with the company’s Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission hearing dates set for October and December this year,” potentially leading to a final investment decision in the first half of next year. Largest undeveloped mine Wheeler River is the largest undeveloped uranium project in the eastern Athabasca basin by tonnage and with the third highest grade behind Cameco’s (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) Cigar Lake and McArthur River mines. As an ISR mine using a well through which solution would be pumped to release uranium from ore, it could leave a lighter environmental footprint and at lower cost than an open pit. The company is targeting production to start in 2028. Denison shares gained 6.7% to C$3 apiece on Tuesday morning in Toronto, for a market capitalization of C$2.69 billion. The stock has traded in a 12-month range of C$1.58 to C$3.45. “We applaud the work of the provincial government to uphold the province’s rigorous environmental regulations, while simultaneously recognizing the important role that the natural resources sector can play in driving societal well-being,” Denison President and CEO David Cates said in a release. “Completion of the provincial EA represents one of the final regulatory milestones necessary for Denison to commence construction of the Phoenix ISR mine, which is on track to become Canada’s next new large-scale uranium mine.” EA process harmonization Denison submitted its provincial EA late last year after it had completed several milestones of the federal regulatory process, part of its strategy to harmonize the federal and provincial EAs for Wheeler River. Last year it finished the CNSC’s technical review and the commission accepted its environmental impact statement. The federal and provincial EAs are now essentially the same and no further revisions are expected, Denison said. Its next steps before starting construction at Phoenix are getting the provincial pollutant control facility permit and federal approval of the EA and licence to prepare the site. Those federal approvals are subject to CNSC public hearings scheduled for October and December, the final steps of the approval process for its EA and uranium mine licence. Phoenix has a post-tax net present value of C$1.16 billion and an internal rate of return of 90% at capital costs of C$419 million, according to a 2023 feasibility study. Its mine life is estimated at 10 years. The project hosts proven reserves of 6,300 tonnes grading 24.5% uranium oxide (U3O8) for 3.4 million lb. of U3O8, and probable reserves of 212,700 tonnes at 11.4% U3O8 for 53.3 million lb. U3O8.

Cardano (ADA) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of its first-ever on-chain governance vote. For the first time, core development funding has been directly approved by the Cardano community, marking a significant step forward in the blockchain’s transition to fully decentralized governance. Reacting to the milestone, Cardano’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, shared his thoughts on the network’s progress. Cardano Enters New Era Of Decentralized Governance The Cardano ecosystem has reached a pivotal moment in its growth and evolution, marking a historic milestone with the recent execution of its first governance vote. The landmark event signals the beginning of a new phase for the blockchain, where decisions around core development funding are now being made directly by the community rather than centralized entities. Hoskinson publicly acknowledged the significance of the event in an X social media post on August 3. He praised the community for their support and trust, reinforcing the belief that decentralized governance is not just a vision but now an operational reality within the Cardano ecosystem. Hoskinson’s remarks came in response to an earlier post by Input Output Global (IOG), a blockchain research and development company behind Cardano’s development. IOG had commemorated the blockchain’s recent governance achievement by stating that the Cardano community had officially made history. The governance vote had approved direct funding for core development initiatives, representing a foundational shift in how the Cardano ecosystem grows and evolves. Rather than relying on a small group of decision-makers, the blockchain now empowers its global community to determine resource allocation collectively. Input Output Global praised both Cardano and its community’s efforts, calling the recent milestone the beginning of a new era of decentralized governance. Notably, the broader crypto community is already responding with enthusiasm, with many offering congratulations and support as Cardano celebrates this landmark event. The network’s successful governance vote sets a powerful precedent in the crypto industry, showcasing the potential of a blockchain governed directly by its users. Cardano Becomes Only Top 10 With On-Chain Governance In addition to its historic governance vote, Cardano has emerged as the only top 10 cryptocurrency by market capitalization to implement on-chain governance, setting a new benchmark for how blockchain ecosystems are managed and governed. According to a report by Cardanians (CRDN) on X, the blockchain’s governance framework is actively functioning, with 39 treasury withdrawal proposals currently open for voting. These proposals allow Delegated Representatives (DReps) and the broader community to directly participate in shaping the ecosystem by deciding which initiatives receive funding and move forward. As of now, none of the other top 10 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, USDT, Binance Coin, Solana, USDC, Tron, and Dogecoin, have matched Cardano’s level of on-chain decision-making power. While these cryptocurrencies continue to lead in various areas, Cardano stands out as the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap with a uniquely advanced governance system.