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Xena, a well‐known voice in the XRP community, has put a bold target on the table. She says that if Bitcoin can reach $1 million, then XRP could push all the way to $1,000. Based on reports from the XRP camp, she argues that hitting that mark would turn more everyday investors into millionaires than Bitcoin’s own million‐dollar milestone. XPR’s Potential Millionaires According to Xena’s math, you can pick up 1,000 XRP tokens today for about $2,960, since each token trades at $2.97. If XRP ever climbed to $1,000 per token, that position would be worth $1 million. Compare that with Bitcoin. At its current price of $114,500, the same $2,960 only buys about 0.025 BTC. If Bitcoin then rose to $1 million, that stake would grow to roughly $25,860. Reports have disclosed that XRP has a total supply of 100 billion tokens, with about 59 billion in circulation. To reach $1,000 per token, XRP’s market cap would have to swell to around $59 trillion. Bitcoin, by contrast, caps at 21 million coins and needs a market cap near $20 trillion for a $1 million price tag. Today’s entire crypto market sits at just over $2 trillion. That means XRP needs a 300× increase in price while Bitcoin needs about a 9× climb. Investor Interest And Adoption According to Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, Bitcoin is seen as a digital safe haven similar to gold, with milestones of $150,000 and $500,000 expected within five years. Based on reports from ARK Invest, CEO Cathie Wood raised her Bitcoin target from $1 million to $1.5 million by 2030, citing growing interest from big institutions. Strategy founder Michael Saylor has even said Bitcoin could hit a mind-boggling $13 million by 2045. Author Robert Kiyosaki expects Bitcoin to reach $1 million by 2035, pointing to rising US debt and financial strain. For his part, Bitcoin advocate Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, has reiterated his forecast that Bitcoin will hit $1 million this year. Ambitious Targets Even with these bullish forecasts, the path to such highs comes with hurdles. XRP faces legal and regulatory challenges tied to its issuer. It also lacks the broad ETF market that Bitcoin enjoys. Everyday investors may see bigger token counts with XRP, but big gains often come with big risks. Betting on a 300× gain is a very different game than a 9× gain. Whether XRP ever reaches $1,000 remains to be seen. The math may show how more millionaires could emerge if it did. But growth on that scale would require massive adoption and fresh capital. For now, both digital assets have a long way to go before they hit these ambitious targets. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Saturday, yes, it’s the best day of the week again to find the crypto to buy for now or next week. Right now, the crypto market is seeing a bearish trend, with key players like Bitcoin and Ethereum facing price drops. Bitcoin fell from $117k to $113 level, a 3.6% decline, while Ethereum slipped from $3,7k to $3,4k area, down 6.7%. Yet, market sentiment holds a bullish edge, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index showing “Greed” earlier this week with BTC reaching a high $119k, hinting at investor optimism. Is “now” the best time to buy crypto? BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.26T24h7d30d1yAll time EXPLORE: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Expecting the Pump: Time to Reenter The Market Yesterday, $1,29 billion in liquidations was not all that bad. It could be just institutions shaking off weak hands, always happening. Yes, tariffs and the Fed’s failing to bring the rate down might affect it, but it could also be the reason for a shake-off. Just how institutions with big money play, taking advantage of the situation. Now, here’s the fact: Ethereum, the second-largest crypto, remains below its all-time high (ATH) of $4.7k this cycle, and could be the best one to buy. EthereumPriceMarket CapETH$421.43B24h7d30d1yAll time Despite the dip, it is still recording positive developments. The Pectra upgrade has boosted scalability and cut transaction costs, which will definitely help with adoption. Ethereum is also still dominating DeFi and NFTs, with over 56% of DeFi’s total value locked. Institutional interest in Ethereum is also surging and not stoping. Spot ETH ETFs recorded strong inflows, including $18.27 million into BlackRock’s ETHA end of July alone. It’s not a secret that institutional backing fuels crypto pump. Not to forget that most Analysts predict Ethereum to hit new ATHs in 2025, with estimates topping $6,500. It real, the dump could be a spring down before it coils up. The post [LIVE] Massive Crypto Liquidations to Precede A Big Pump: Best Crypto To Buy Now appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The month of August has historically been very bearish for the Dogecoin price, and with the new month rolling in already, expectations are that the meme coin will follow this established trend. If this holds, then the downtrend that has already plagued Dogecoin at the end of July could only be the beginning, and the meme coin could end up falling into double-digit losses from here. August Could Turn Red For Dogecoin When looking at past performances of the Dogecoin price over the last 11 years, it is no surprise that investors tend to move cautiously during the month of August. So far, a total of 7 out of 11 years have closed in the red, leaving only four years of green closes so far. This performance pushed the median returns to -9.98% with an average of -0.79%, as shown by data on CryptoRank. While this average is low, looking at the years when August has closed in the red shows a high loss rate. For example, the last three years have seen the Dogecoin price close out at an average of -10%. August 2020 was just coming off the back of the bull market, and eventually fell 9.98%, signaling the end of the bull run. The next year, August 2023, saw even worse headwinds, and the Dogecoin price crashed 17.9% before the month was over. Then in August 2024, another 16.9% crash rocked the meme coin, leading to three consecutive years of red closes so far. Post-Halving Trend Could Save DOGE Price Amid the bearishness of August, there has been one deviation that has held over the years, and that is the altcoin’s performance following a halving year. The month of August following each Bitcoin halving year so far has been incredibly bullish, returning more than 20% gains in the month. This was the case for 2017 after the 2016 halving year, when the Dogecoin price rallied 20% in the month of August. Then again, in 2021, following the 2020 Bitcoin halving year, the Dogecoin price would go on to rally 34.2%, suggesting that this year could go in the same direction, since 2024 was a Bitcoin halving year. However, in both 2017 and 2021, the month of July had closed deep in the red before the August rally. But in 2025, the month of July has already seen an over 35% rally in the Dogecoin price, marking a significant deviation from the trend. Given this, it is possible that Dogecoin does not follow the post-halving trend. However, sentiment in the crypto market is still very bullish at this level and could drive prices higher. If Ethereum does continue to rally and trigger an altcoin season, then Dogecoin will undoubtedly lead the start of the meme coin rally as the leader in the space.

As the market soared in July, crypto hacks also saw a significant increase from the previous month, with crypto exchanges losing over $100 million in the past 30 days. This follows a concerning trend that has been developing this year, which suggests that theft from digital asset services could reach a new milestone by the end of 2025. Crypto Exchanges Lose $114 Million In July On Friday, security firm PeckShield noted that the total losses from crypto hacks reached $142 million in July, with crypto exchanges topping the list. CoinDCX, GMX, and BigONE recorded 80% of the total losses. Notably, Indian exchange CoinDCX suffered the highest loss of the month after a security breach on July 19 resulted in the transfer of $44 million in USDT from one of the platform’s wallets to six unknown personal wallets. Hackers were able to access the crypto exchange’s system after compromising an employee’s login credentials. Recent reports revealed that the employee was allegedly lured into a fake job task and persuaded to download and use his CoinDCX-designated laptop to complete tasks, unsuspectingly downloading files with malware. Meanwhile, Perpetual and spot crypto exchange GMX recorded the second-largest hack of the month after losing around $42 million on July 9 when an attacker exploited a vulnerability in the protocol’s first version on Arbitrum. GMX V1’s vault contract had a vulnerability that allowed the attacker to manipulate the GLP token price through the system’s calculations, resulting in approximately $42 million worth of assets being transferred from the GLP pool to an unknown wallet. Nonetheless, the incident saw a happy ending after the hacker accepted a white-hat bounty and returned most of the funds. As reported by NewsBTC, the exploiter returned $10.49 million worth of FRAX and 10,000 ETH, valued at $30 million, on July 11. 2025 Alarming Trend Continues Based on data from PeckShield’s previous reports, Q2 showed a diminishing trend in total crypto losses, with May and June recording 40% and 56% month-on-month (MoM) declines, respectively. However, the short-term trend changed in July as the total value of stolen funds surged 27.2% from June’s $111.6 million. Additionally, the total number of major incidents slightly increased by 13.3%, from 15 registered incidents in June to 17 hacks in July. This follows a broader trend developing this year, as Chainalysis explained on its “2025 Crypto Crime Mid-Year Update.” In the report, the on-chain analytics firm revealed that crypto theft this year has been “more devastating” than the entirety of 2024, with over $2.7 billion worth of funds stolen from crypto services in the first half. By the end of June, more value had been stolen year-to-date (YTD) than during the same period in 2022, suggesting that theft from crypto services could potentially increase another 60% by year’s end. Additionally, YTD activity shows a steeper trajectory into the end of the first half, with an alarming velocity and consistency, than in previous years. For reference, 2025 required 142 days to hit the $2 billion mark in value stolen from platforms, while 2022 reached this volume in 214 days. “If this trend continues, we could see 2025 end with more than $4.3 billion stolen from services alone,” the report forecasted.

Bitcoin (BTC) is facing renewed downward pressure as it struggles to maintain levels above $115,000. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is trading around $115,745, down approximately 2.2% in the past 24 hours and nearly 6% below its July all-time high of $123,000. The latest market movement has raised questions about short-term price stability, particularly amid growing concerns over weak structural support in the current trading zone. Recent data from on-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant suggests that while long-term holders remain largely profitable, short-term sentiment has shifted. Bitcoin UTXO Data Points to Changing Investor Behavior Activity among Bitcoin Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs), a metric that tracks coins being spent either in profit or at a loss, indicates that many investors are beginning to react to smaller price drops, potentially signaling increased market uncertainty. In a recent analysis on CryptoQuant’s QuickTake platform, contributor Darkfost shared insights on how UTXO activity can reflect broader market sentiment. “This chart, based on UTXOs from block data, highlights the number of UTXOs spent either in profit or in loss,” the analyst wrote, noting that this approach focuses on transaction count rather than value, helping filter out price-based noise. Historically, Bitcoin has seen a dominance of UTXOs spent in profit, with patient holders benefiting from long-term appreciation. Between July 11 and 13, the ratio of profitable UTXOs compared to those spent at a loss surged above 10,000, meaning for every loss-making spend, there were over ten thousand profitable ones. However, this ratio has since declined to around 500, suggesting that some investors are now closing positions at a loss even with minor price retracements. This change, according to Darkfost, may indicate short-term selling pressure despite the overall profitable status of most holders. Weak Support Structure Adds to Downside Risk Another CryptoQuant analyst, Maartunn, highlighted structural weaknesses in Bitcoin’s recent price surge. On July 10, BTC rapidly climbed from $112,000 to $115,800, but this upward move left little on-chain support in the price range. “The move happened so quickly that no support levels were formed,” the analyst explained. “If momentum drops or sellers step in, the price could fall just as fast as it rose.” With Bitcoin now hovering just above its last known on-chain support zone, analysts caution that a failure to hold this level could accelerate the decline. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Data shows the cryptocurrency derivatives market has seen more than $700 million in long liquidations as Bitcoin and altcoins have plummeted. Bitcoin Price Just Made A Low Under $115,000 Bitcoin and the wider cryptocurrency market has witnessed a wave of bearish momentum during the past day as prices across the coins have declined. BTC went into the low $114,000 levels earlier in the day, but the coin has since bounced back above $115,000. The below chart shows how the asset’s recent performance has looked. Last week, BTC also dropped toward the $115,000 mark, but back then, it was able to quickly bounce back to resume sideways movement around $118,000. As such, it only remains to be seen whether the current deviation is a temporary one as well or if it’s the start of a real break away from the consolidation range. Most of the altcoins have taken a worse hit than the number one cryptocurrency during the past day, with some like Solana (SOL) and Hyperliquid (HYPE) exceeding losses of 5%. Crypto Derivatives Market Has Racked Up Large Liquidations A consequence of the market-wide volatility has been that liquidations have piled up over at the derivatives side of the cryptocurrency sector, according to data from CoinGlass. Below is a table that shows the numbers related to the latest market liquidations. As is visible above, a total of $804 million in cryptocurrency contracts have found liquidation during the past day. Out of these, $741 million of the contracts, equivalent to 92% of the total, were longs. Ethereum (ETH) led the derivatives flush with $250 million in liquidations, Bitcoin followed at $200 million. ETH topping the sector in this metric over BTC is likely a combination of two factors: its price has seen a steeper decline in the last 24 hours and speculative interest around it has been elevated due to the earlier breakout. Signs were already there that a volatile liquidation event may be coming. As this chart shared by CryptoQuant community analyst Maartunn on Wednesday shows, the Bitcoin Aggregated Open Interest was sharply climbing. The “Aggregated Open Interest” here naturally refers to an indicator that keeps track of the total amount of derivatives positions related to BTC that are open on all centralized exchanges. The speculators haven’t been dissuaded by the latest liquidations, either, as Maartunn has today pointed out a sharp jump in the Bitcoin Open Interest on cryptocurrency exchange ByBit.

Bitcoin (BTC) is navigating a period of heightened uncertainty as its price struggles to regain upward momentum following recent declines. Over the past 24 hours, the world’s largest cryptocurrency recorded a dip to $114,326 before slightly recovering above the $115,000 mark. Despite this rebound, the asset remains under pressure, with recent market movements highlighting potential shifts in trader sentiment and long-term holder behavior. Data shared by market analysts indicates that derivatives activity is playing a significant role in current price fluctuations. Insights from the analytics platform CryptoQuant suggest that sudden changes in leveraged positions and aggressive selling pressure on major exchanges are contributing to the ongoing volatility. At the same time, on-chain data shows an increase in activity from long-term Bitcoin holders, suggesting a structural change in the market that may influence future price dynamics. Leveraged Positions Under Pressure on Major Exchanges According to a recent analysis by CryptoQuant contributor Amr Taha, Bitcoin’s decline below $115,000 coincided with a notable reduction in open interest on Binance, dropping from $14 billion to under $13.5 billion in a short span. This 4% decline in open interest within a single day is often linked to liquidation events, where leveraged positions are closed automatically due to margin calls. Taha explained that many traders appear to have exited long positions as the price fell, potentially triggering a cascade of sell orders and amplifying market pressure. Net Taker Volume on Binance also turned sharply negative, nearing -$160 million, suggesting an increase in aggressive selling activity. This trend reflects fear-driven reactions among market participants, particularly retail traders, who may have chosen to close or reverse positions amid expectations of further price declines. Despite this wave of selling, Taha noted the possibility of a short-term rebound. A reduction in leveraged long positions combined with an increase in short exposure could create conditions for a market rebalancing or a short squeeze if selling pressure eases in the coming days. Dormant Bitcoin Wallets Show Signs of Major Reallocation In addition to short-term derivatives market dynamics, other analysts are pointing to broader structural changes in Bitcoin’s investor base. CryptoQuant analyst OnChainSchool highlighted that in 2024, more than 255,000 BTC previously inactive for over seven years were reactivated. In 2025, this trend has continued, with over 215,000 BTC already moving within the first several months of the year. The average monthly movement of long-dormant coins has risen from 4,900 BTC in 2023 to over 30,000 BTC in 2025. Transaction sizes have also grown significantly, from around 162 BTC to over 1,000 BTC per transfer. According to OnChainSchool, these patterns indicate that large-scale holders, rather than retail investors, are reallocating capital on a scale not seen in previous cycles. The analyst suggested that beyond price fluctuations, these shifts may have long-term implications for market liquidity and Bitcoin’s future ownership distribution. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Solana (SOL) is attracting renewed institutional attention as major asset managers including Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, VanEck, and Fidelity have updated their spot Solana ETF filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While the token’s price briefly dipped following the news, long-term indicators suggest this move could be a major bullish trigger. Asset Managers Revise Solana ETF Filings Amid SEC Dialogue As of August 1, at least seven asset managers submitted amended S-1 registration statements for Solana-based ETFs. These updates, which now include staking provisions and clearer custodianship structures, reflect ongoing discussions with the SEC. Notably, Grayscale’s updated proposal introduces a 2.5% annual fee in SOL, while VanEck’s version includes active staking rewards and dual custodianship. These moves are viewed as part of a coordinated strategy to align with SEC expectations, especially after the Commission recently approved in-kind redemption structures for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Market watchers believe a decision on Solana ETFs could arrive as early as late August or September 2025. SOL Price Reacts Cautiously, But Long-Term Momentum Builds Surprisingly, Solana’s price dropped by over 3% following the ETF filings, closing at $170.24. This suggests the news may already be priced in, or that traders remain cautious amid broader market uncertainty. Technical indicators show bearish momentum, with SOL struggling to stay above key support zones at $170 and $158. A close above $180 could reignite bullish sentiment, while a drop below $158 may signal a deeper correction toward $145 or $130. What Solana ETF Approval Could Mean for SOL While short-term volatility persists, the broader implications of Solana ETF approval are substantial. A greenlight from the SEC could legitimize Solana as a mainstream investment asset, increase market liquidity, and open the door for more institutional adoption. With over $60 billion in staked SOL and a maturing ecosystem, Solana is well-positioned to benefit once regulatory clarity arrives. In the coming weeks, all eyes remain on Washington. But for long-term investors, this could be the calm before a potential breakout. Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview

Earlier today, Bitcoin (BTC) briefly fell below $115,000 – hitting a low of $114,116 – triggering panic selling across major crypto exchanges, including Binance. Sharp shifts in several key metrics, such as open interest and net taker volume, confirm the intensity of the sell-off. Bitcoin Decline Wipes Out $500 Million In Open Interest According to a Quicktake post on CryptoQuant by contributor Amr Taha, BTC’s drop below $115,000 led to a sharp decline in open interest on Binance, which fell from $14 billion to under $13.5 billion. The following chart shows Binance open interest declining by nearly 4% in a single day – a move typically associated with liquidation events. Supporting this, data from CoinGlass shows $760 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours. To explain, such large-scale liquidation events typically occur when leveraged traders face forced position closures – long or short – due to margin calls. The sharp BTC drop resulted in the liquidation of approximately 183,514 traders in just 24 hours. In addition to falling open interest and widespread long liquidations, Binance’s net taker volume also points to rising bearish sentiment. The metric plunged to -$160 million, underscoring aggressive selling pressure. For context, Binance net taker volume measures the difference between market buy and sell orders initiated by takers. A positive value suggests dominant buying activity (bullish), while a negative value reflects dominant selling activity (bearish). Binance net taker volume dropping into negative territory further reinforces bearish pressure on BTC. Since this net selling coincided with the decline in open interest, it indicates that many derivatives traders are panic-closing late long positions. Will BTC Make Recovery? Despite the falling price, shrinking open interest, and negative net taker volume, Taha suggests that these bearish indicators could paradoxically set the stage for a short-term rebound. Bitcoin’s selling pressure may be nearing exhaustion, while short interest continues to rise. This combination could trigger a market rebalancing phase, potentially paving the way for price stabilization – or even a short squeeze-driven bounce. However, on-chain data points to continued bearish momentum. The increasing share of new investors among BTC holders may lead to overheated market conditions in the near term. At the same time, exchange reserves are rising, which could contribute to more selling pressure. Long-term BTC holders also appear to be selling in significant volumes, suggesting potential rally exhaustion. That said, BTC could still remain on track for its year-end target of $180,000 – but only if it holds key support at $110,000. At press time, Bitcoin is trading at $115,310, down 2.1% over the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin (BTC) has continued to face resistance below the $120,000 level, with price action showing little momentum to push the asset toward a new high. At the time of writing, the world’s largest cryptocurrency is trading above $118,000, reflecting a slight pullback of around 3.6% from its most recent all-time high. With the asset still in a tight range, investors are watching whether Bitcoin can establish a breakout or if a price correction is more likely in the near term. Meanwhile, recent on-chain analysis has highlighted an area of potential concern in Bitcoin’s price history that may point to a retest of lower levels before further upward movement. Analyst Highlights “Unrealized Gap” in Bitcoin’s Price Movement According to data shared on CryptoQuant’s QuickTake platform, the $111,000–$115,000 range remains an untested zone that could see renewed activity in the future, despite broader market optimism. CryptoQuant contributor and on-chain analyst CryptoMe has identified what he calls a “gap” in Bitcoin’s recent trading behavior. The analyst noted that between July 9 and 14, Bitcoin experienced a rapid rally from $110,000 to $123,000 without significant trading activity in the $111,000–$117,000 range. On-chain data during that period reportedly showed limited retail participation, with most buying pressure coming from institutional players. “This rapid upward move created a visible gap in the UTxO histogram,” CryptoMe explained, adding: Few transactions occurred in that range, meaning unrealized outputs were not established. Historically, such gaps have often been revisited by the market, filling those levels over time. The analyst also mentioned that part of the gap has already been addressed with price action touching $115,000–$117,000 in recent sessions, but the lower section around $111,000 remains unfilled. Historical Patterns Suggest Possible Retest of $111K Drawing from Bitcoin’s 16-year price history, CryptoMe pointed out that similar scenarios have occurred before. For instance, in 2024, Bitcoin skipped the $70,000–$80,000 range on its way to $110,000 but eventually revisited and filled that gap. Based on these recurring patterns, the analyst believes the $111,000 level may see a retest, even in a generally bullish environment. “What remains uncertain,” CryptoMe said, “is whether this will happen as a direct drop from current levels or after a further climb, potentially toward $140,000, followed by a correction.” The analyst advises market participants to consider the possibility of a pullback when planning their risk exposure and leverage positions, noting: But either way, I believe the gap will be filled! So investors should know that, even in this bullish environment, a pullback toward 111k is still possible, and they should adjust their positions, leverage, and risk levels accordingly. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Bitcoin’s latest push towards $120,000 fizzled into a stall-out that now resembles a “failed breakout zone,” according to market analytics firm Swissblock. In a July 31 thread, the firm said “momentum has failed to ignite,” arguing that realized-profit flows and an overwhelming share of coins sitting in profit have turned every bounce into an opportunity for supply to meet price. Profit-Taking Cools Bitcoin Rally Swissblock framed the setback as a pause rather than a breakdown. “Profit-taking is rising—but not as intense as late 2024,” the firm wrote, adding that the effect through July was “enough to cap upside and trigger consolidation.” The tone is cooling, not capitulatory: “Selling pressure is visible, but not extreme—think cooling, not capitulation.” That diagnosis hinges on on-chain readings of realized profit—an input that tends to expand into rallies as long-held coins are spent into strength—and a market structure in which bids are absorbing supply rather than being overwhelmed by it. The most striking datapoint in the thread is breadth of profitability: “96% of supply is in profit,” Swissblock noted, citing Glassnode. That ratio is historically consistent with late-cycle euphoria, but it is also mechanically self-limiting; when nearly all holders are in the green, latent sell pressure rises because “unrealized gains are tempting sellers.” As Swissblock put it, “Strong holders remain. But unrealized gains are tempting sellers. Until demand returns, each bounce invites supply.” The firm contends the broader trend “is intact—but momentum needs a reset.” Beyond on-chain realized flows, the firm’s composite fundamentals read neutral with improving liquidity. “BTC fundamentals are strong and stable,” Swissblock wrote, pointing to a Bitcoin Fundamentals Index reading of 60 (neutral), “Network Growth is cooling,” and “Liquidity is recovering.” That mix typically favors range behavior over directional surges—“a consolidation-supportive environment,” as the post put it—in which Bitcoin “can grind sideways longer—until it’s ready to break with conviction.” The implication is that the market’s “failed breakout” risk reflects timing rather than trend reversal: positioning and liquidity are not aligned yet for a sustained continuation. The cross-asset context is equally nuanced. “Altseason is active—but under stress,” Swissblock wrote, observing that while “$ETH continues to outperform BTC structurally, holding up better in this pullback,” most altcoins are sagging, with “only 5% of top 100 showing positive impulse.” That thinning rotation underlines the selectivity of risk appetite and the fragility of momentum outside of the largest names. Historically, that pattern often precedes a decisive move in Bitcoin that either recharges the rotation or breaks it. Swissblock’s concluding assessment leans cautiously constructive. “Profit-taking is fading and selling pressure is being absorbed. BTC is preparing for breakout—but momentum needs to align.” Until that alignment arrives, the firm expects a grind: bids continue to meet supply from profitable holders, realized profits moderate, and liquidity improves in the background. If and when Bitcoin flips momentum back to positive, Swissblock argues, the spillover could be forceful: “While BTC grinds sideways, watch for the moment it flips—ETH and altcoins will likely explode upward when it does.” In short, today’s dip to $115,000 looks less like an outright rejection than a test of the market’s ability to digest profits and reset momentum without damage to the underlying uptrend. With 96% of supply in profit and breadth compressed, the next impulse likely hinges on whether liquidity and demand can reassert themselves before profit-taking reaccelerates. For now, Swissblock’s message is clear: the breakout will need to be earned, not assumed. At press time, BTC traded at $115,452.

Ethereum (ETH) dropped over 6% in the past 24 hours, sliding to around $3,630 after briefly touching the $3,800 mark. The pullback comes after a robust July rally, which saw the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency surge more than 50%, its best monthly gain in three years. Despite the recent dip, on-chain data suggests the uptrend may not be over. Glassnode’s latest analysis points to a potential new all-time high (ATH) of $4,900, fueled by bullish investor sentiment, growing ETF inflows, and rising open interest (OI) in futures markets. Glassnode Points to a $4,900 Ethereum Target According to Glassnode, Ethereum is trading near its March 2024 levels, yet unrealized profits remain comparatively lower. This divergence implies a large upside potential as investors are not yet cashing out, signaling confidence in further gains. The firm’s analysis shows that if unrealized profits reach the same levels as in 2024, ETH would likely climb toward $4,900, marking a new ATH and testing the critical psychological resistance at $5,000. This could reflect a growing shift in how investors treat Ethereum, from a speculative token to a core financial asset. Open Interest and ETF Demand Reinforce Bullish Outlook Rising open interest further supports Ethereum’s bullish case. Crypto futures data indicates that more traders are opening long positions on ETH, reflecting expectations of further upside. Ethereum’s OI has been a key contributor to the broader altcoin market rebound. Moreover, spot Ethereum ETFs, especially BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum ETF, saw over $4 billion in inflows in July 2025, pushing total ETH ETF holdings to $21.85 billion. The surge underscores Ethereum’s rising status among institutional investors and may amplify future price movements. With Ethereum facing resistance at $4,000, the convergence of strong technicals, investor optimism, and institutional demand paints a promising outlook. If momentum continues, ETH may soon chart new territory above its previous highs. Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview

The Central banks, institutions, and payment corridors are experimenting with something deeper than crypto hype. From cross-border settlements to real-world assets, Ripple is building blockchain infrastructure. If recent comments from top banking executives are any indication, XRP may move trillions in value. The Settlement Layer No One Saw Coming According to KingXRP, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is on the brink of a groundbreaking transformation that could unlock a staggering $196 trillion market through the emergence of RealFi and real-world finance powered by blockchain technology. His post includes a recent interview with Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie, where he made a bold declaration that XRP and Ripple will move trillions and tokenize the entire financial system. As mentioned in the video, XRP is often misunderstood. It can be traded and speculated on like any other asset, but its true purpose goes much deeper. Ripple is the company behind XRP, and it was originally founded to facilitate fast, efficient money transfers across borders. Apparently, XRP is now evolving far beyond simple transactions. It’s becoming a foundational tool for tokenizing a wide range of assets and enabling the movement of value in new and innovative ways. As Ripple continues to advance its level 2 infrastructure, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they are positioning to tokenize the entire financial system. They have acquired a broker-dealer clearing member, which is a strategic move that brings them one step closer to integrating deeply with the traditional financial markets. This move marks what Gilbertie believes is the first step toward integrating traditional finance with DeFi. The acquisition of a broker-dealer isn’t just a technicality, but it’s the kind of infrastructure move that would rewire the system in the future. XRP Moves Into Institutional Payment Rails CryptoGeek has also shared an update on X about Ripple Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, stating that banks are now integrating XRP. Meanwhile, Ripple Bank will operate entirely on the XRP Ledger, settling all payments with XRP as its core asset. Schwartz emphasized in the video that closing a deal with a bank always feels exciting, and it looks great on paper, which signals validation. However, behind the scenes, it’s a different story, and banks are extremely slow to move, cautious, conservative, and are bound by layers of internal processes. Furthermore, Schwartz stated that the team focused a lot on banks, because landing a press release with a major institution looked like progress. It felt like a milestone, and over time, the firm realized most of them were only in it for the optics.

Hong Kong’s stablecoin licensing framework officially went live on August 1. This is the first time the city has introduced a legal structure specifically for fiat-pegged digital tokens. The move puts the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in charge of approving which firms can issue stablecoins and how they operate. The new law applies immediately. What Stablecoin Issuers Are Now Required to Do Under the new rules, any company offering stablecoins backed by the Hong Kong or US dollar must get a license from the HKMA. It does not matter if the firm is based in Hong Kong or operating from overseas. The requirements are strict: issuers must keep full reserves at all times, clearly separate customer funds from their own, and guarantee that users can redeem tokens quickly. They’ll also be subject to audits, compliance checks, and vetting to ensure their leadership teams meet certain standards. Source: Shutterstock Licenses Are Live, but Approvals Come Later Even though the law is in force now, licenses won’t be handed out right away. The HKMA says it will begin issuing approvals in early 2026. There will be a limited number of licenses granted in the first wave, and firms hoping to be among the first need to move fast. The deadline to signal interest is August 31, 2025. Full applications must be submitted by September 30. That timeline sets a clear pace for serious contenders. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in August2025 Misleading Marketing Comes With Penalties The HKMA made it clear that no one should be promoting themselves as a licensed issuer until they actually are. Any company caught doing so could face consequences. Only licensed entities will be allowed to advertise stablecoins to the general public. The regulator is taking a phased approach, and this early stage is clearly meant to set the tone and limit hype. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.26T24h7d30d1yAll time Some Big Names Are Already in the Mix Several major companies have already expressed interest. JD.com, Ant Group, and Standard Chartered are among those preparing to register. Some are aiming to issue Hong Kong dollar stablecoins, while others are considering tokens backed by US dollars or offshore yuan. However, if a firm plans to use Chinese yuan, the HKMA expects full transparency around reserves and intended use cases. DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 Crypto Fundraising Is Picking Up Steam The policy launch coincided with a wave of equity activity in Hong Kong’s fintech sector. In July, digital asset firms raised over 1.5 billion dollars in fresh capital. Groups like OSL, Dmall, and SenseTime are reportedly planning new offerings tied to stablecoins or tokenized bonds. There’s clearly momentum behind regulated crypto projects in the region. Barriers for Smaller Players While this all sounds promising, the entry bar is high. Smaller startups could struggle with the cost of compliance. Maintaining proper reserves, audit infrastructure, and security features demands serious resources. That might leave the market concentrated among larger firms for now. Why This Move Matters The regime is part of a broader push to make Hong Kong a leading digital asset hub. Authorities are trying to find the middle ground between encouraging innovation and protecting users. With clear rules now on the books, Hong Kong becomes one of the few financial centers to fully regulate fiat-backed tokens. The Road Ahead Applications are open, but it will take time before the first licensed issuers go live. Observers will be watching to see who qualifies and whether smaller players can realistically compete. The standards set here may influence how other markets respond to stablecoins in the months to come. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways Hong Kong’s stablecoin law is now active, requiring all issuers of HKD or USD-backed tokens to get a license from the HKMA. Firms must meet strict rules: full reserves, separate customer funds, quick redemptions, and regular audits. License approvals begin in early 2026, with a tight timeline for early applicants to meet interest and submission deadlines. Marketing as a licensed issuer without approval is banned, with penalties in place for misleading promotions. Big players like JD.com and Ant Group are getting involved, but high compliance costs could limit smaller firms. The post Hong Kong Stablecoin Licensing Regime Takes Effect appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The Financial Conduct Authority has cleared the path for retail investors in the UK to access crypto exchange-traded notes, or ETNs, starting October 8. These products, which track the price of assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, will now be available through Recognised Investment Exchanges. This officially ends a ban that has been in place since January 2021. Why the FCA Decided to Reverse Course The original ban was meant to protect consumers from sharp price swings and unclear pricing. But regulators now believe the market has developed enough safeguards to revisit that decision. With professional investors already trading crypto ETNs in the UK since 2024, the FCA sees no reason to keep retail investors entirely shut out. Issuers Have a Strict Set of Rules to Follow Only ETNs listed on recognised UK exchanges will qualify, and any firm offering them must comply with the full range of Consumer Duty obligations. That includes making sure promotions are clear and appropriate, performing suitability checks, and being upfront about the risks. There’s no safety net from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme either, so investors will need to tread carefully. How the UK’s Stance Compares to Other Markets Plenty of European countries have let retail investors trade crypto ETPs for years, including Germany and Switzerland. This decision helps bring the UK more in line with those markets. It also tracks with moves seen recently in the US and EU, where spot crypto funds are now available to everyday investors. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 What Retail Traders Need to Understand Crypto ETNs are not the same as buying actual Bitcoin or Ethereum. They are debt securities that track the price of crypto assets, without giving holders any claim to the tokens themselves. And since they’re unsecured, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back if the issuer fails. That risk is something the FCA wants investors to understand upfront. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.26T24h7d30d1yAll time DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Derivatives Stay Off the Table The regulator made one thing clear: crypto derivatives are not coming back for retail. The FCA still sees them as too risky and too complex for the average investor. That ban will remain in place, with no signs of change anytime soon. Eyes on October The policy kicks in this autumn, and all eyes will be on how many issuers step up with compliant offerings. It’s also unclear how much demand there will be from retail investors. The FCA is watching closely to see if the protections in place do their job, or if further restrictions need to be added later. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways The FCA will allow retail access to crypto ETNs starting October 8, ending a ban that’s been in place since 2021. Retail investors can only buy crypto ETNs listed on Recognised Investment Exchanges and offered under strict Consumer Duty rules. Crypto ETNs are unsecured debt instruments that track crypto prices but don’t grant ownership of digital assets. The UK’s move brings it closer in line with Europe and the US, where retail access to crypto ETPs has become more common. The FCA is not lifting the ban on crypto derivatives for retail users, citing ongoing concerns over risk and complexity. The post FCA Opens the Door to Crypto ETNs for UK Retail Investors appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Ethereum has turned 10 years old. And instead of looking back, the team behind the second-largest cryptocurrency is laying down a bold plan for the future. The Ethereum Foundation has released a long-term roadmap called the “Ethereum Lean Plan.” The focus: scale the network massively, keep it online 100% of the time, and prepare for future threats—including powerful quantum computers. Big Goals For The Next Decade The Foundation says Ethereum will continue operating with no downtime, just as it has since its launch in 2015. The team wants to make sure that even if nation-states or supercomputers try to take it down, Ethereum will survive. In addition to that, Ethereum also intends to scale considerably. The strategy involves 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) on the layer 1 chain and 1 million TPS on layer 2 chains. All of these will be accomplished with improved tools, such as zkVMs and Data Availability Sampling (DAS), to assist users in being able to verify the chain more quickly without having to download everything. All Eyes On Lean Consensus And Speed Upgrades The Lean Plan will enhance all three sublayers of Ethereum’s foundation layer. The crew would like to implement what it refers to as a “lean consensus,” or quicker transaction confirmations and better data handling. New technology such as SNARK-friendly code for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is being developed to speed up and make the network lighter. These upgrades will provide finality in seconds instead of minutes, a significant boon for users seeking quick and trustworthy results. The Foundation also intends to advance cryptography to secure Ethereum against quantum attacks. The mission is straightforward: safeguard user balances and smart contracts prior to quantum computers posing an actual threat. Ethereum Reserves Reach $10 Billion The big announcement came during Ethereum’s 10th anniversary celebration. At the same time, reports showed that Ethereum’s strategic reserves have grown to $10 billion. Corporate holdings have also jumped, with total assets reaching 2.73 million ETH. ETH is also doing well on the market. At the time of the report, the token was trading at $3,610 after gaining 47% over the last month. The Foundation called the new vision a “generational oath” to keep Ethereum alive, safe, and ready for the next wave of users and developers. This 10-year roadmap is ambitious, but if the team delivers, Ethereum could become much faster and stronger than it is today. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView

The Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI), an independent organisation dedicated to improving the safety of mine tailings facilities worldwide, has announced the appointment of its multi-stakeholder board of directors. The board will be chaired by Mark Cutifani, former CEO of Anglo American. The deputy chair is Vicente Mello, senior vice president at global infrastructure, technical, environmental and social consultancy, AECOM. Both leaders bring decades of mining experience, with a strong focus on responsible tailings management. The board’s role will be to oversee the widespread implementation of, and conformance with, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), driving safety, continuous improvement, accountability, and transparency in tailings management, GTMI said. “It’s an honour to Chair the inaugural GTMI Board,” Cutifani said in a a statement. “The Institute is a key part of the global infrastructure to ensure we can achieve zero harm to people and the environment from tailings waste. “It is a unique collaboration, focused on aligning standards and supporting each other to create a safer and more socially sensitive mining industry,” Cutifani said. “Taking past lessons and developing new and innovative approaches is at the core of how we come together to continuously improve our approach to mine waste and tailings solutions.” Diverse representation in governance After the Institute was established in January 2025, more than 150 individuals from multiple stakeholder groups, including from the mining industry, technical and academic communities, potentially affected communities, Indigenous Peoples, the mining workforce, environmental experts, regulators, and the finance sector, responded to the call to join the board. This was followed by an extensive process of review and selection facilitated by the GTMI’s co-founders, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Principles for Responsible Investment. Multi-stakeholder participation is critical to build credibility and trust in the work of the Institute, it said. Drawing from the breadth of expertise of leading figures from the workforce, industry, potentially affected communities and regulators amongst others, will ensure that a diversity of perspectives will inform the critical decisions the Institute will make. The board of directors are as follows: Chair: Mark Cutifani, Former CEO of Anglo American (Australia) Deputy Chair: Vicente Mello, Senior Vice President, AECOM (Brazil) Other board members: Janis Shandro, Owner/Managing Director, Arrowsmith Gold Inc. (Canada); Mutuso Dhliwayo, Executive Director, Zimbabwe Environmental Law;Organisation (Zimbabwe); Jacqui Hex, Environmental Scientist, Jones & Wagener (South Africa); Andressa Lanchotti, Public Prosecutor (Brazil); Edson Krenak, Indigenous scholar and advocate (Brazil); John Howchin, Special Advisor, The Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 (Sweden) and Jeronimo Covacevich, Tailings Subject Matter Expert, BHP (Chile).

Ethereum has faced an 8% correction since Monday, cooling off from its recent rally and slipping below the key $3,850 level. This move suggests that the bullish momentum that carried ETH higher in July is beginning to fade, with price now entering a critical consolidation phase. Bulls are still holding key support levels, but the threat of a deeper correction is growing as selling pressure intensifies. On-chain data shows signs of profit-taking from large investors, adding to short-term volatility and uncertainty. Heavy selling volume over the past two days has sparked speculation across the market, especially as Ethereum remains below recent local highs. Analysts are split in their outlook—some argue that this is a healthy pullback within a broader uptrend, while others warn of a potential slide toward the $3,400–$3,500 range if sentiment worsens. Despite the recent drop, Ethereum’s long-term structure remains intact, with fundamentals like growing DeFi usage and Layer 2 adoption continuing to support the narrative. However, the next few days will be critical. If bulls can defend current levels and regain momentum, ETH could attempt another move toward $4,000. If not, the market may see extended downside pressure before a clearer recovery emerges. Ethereum Sees Massive Sell-Off In Two Minutes According to top analyst Maartunn, Ethereum experienced a dramatic spike in taker sell volume, reaching $335 million in just two minutes. This massive wave of sell orders signals a key moment in the market, one that could mark either the peak of profit-taking or the end of panic-driven capitulation. While some interpret the event as large investors securing gains after the recent rally, others believe this could reflect emotional selling from retail traders spooked by short-term volatility. Despite the heavy selling pressure, Ethereum’s long-term bullish narrative remains intact. Large players continue to accumulate, taking advantage of dips and buying from weaker hands. This activity suggests strategic positioning ahead of expected growth in adoption, especially as Ethereum cements its dominance in decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. ETH spent months in a downtrend earlier this year, weighed down by macro uncertainty and regulatory fears. Yet, while the broader market showed weakness, sophisticated investors appeared to accumulate. Now, with sentiment shifting and the price structure strengthening, Ethereum seems well-positioned for the months ahead. The $335 million sell-off highlights market vulnerability—but also shows that whales are stepping in. If price holds current levels and sentiment stabilizes, Ethereum could see a renewed push toward the $4,000 mark as confidence returns. ETH Tests Support After Breakdown Ethereum (ETH) has officially broken below its critical resistance zone near $3,860, signaling increased selling pressure and short-term weakness. After maintaining a steady range for nearly two weeks, the price has dropped to $3,619 on the 4-hour chart, finding temporary support just above the 100-period SMA (green line), currently near $3,670. This breakdown comes amid an uptick in bearish volume, suggesting momentum may favor sellers in the short term. The 50-period SMA (blue line), located around $3,762, has now turned into near-term resistance, capping any immediate recovery attempts. If bulls fail to reclaim the $3,760–$3,800 zone, Ethereum could risk deeper downside toward the next key support around $3,175 (200 SMA, red line) or even $2,852, which served as a base in early July. Despite this weakness, the broader trend remains structurally bullish as long as price stays above the 200 SMA. However, bulls must reclaim the $3,860 level and build momentum above it to regain strength. Until then, volatility is expected, especially as profit-taking and macro uncertainty weigh on sentiment. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

According to the legend, Iniskim – meaning Buffalo Healing Stone in Blackfoot language – brought prosperity back to peoples stricken with famine and starvation on prairie plains. Long ago, as the story is told, one sister among three out collecting firewood heard singing, leading her to a rock that spoke, telling her the buffalo, a vital source of food and warmth, could hear it – and that it would call the buffalo back, after herds had wandered too far from the camp. The rock was the ammonite, which the Blackfoot peoples still consider a sacred stone that brings prosperity. The only known reserves in the world are in the Bearpaw Formation, which spans the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and the US state of Montana, but gem-quality ammolite is found only in Alberta. Ammolites are rare, rainbow-coloured gemstones derived from the fossils of ammonites — which are actually extinct marine mollusks from the dinosaur-era. In June, Indigenous owned Buffalo Rock Mining acquired Calgary-headquartered KORITE, North America’s largest producer of ammolite, creating the world’s largest mine-to-market ammolite producer. Ancient legends aside, the ammonites are currently being unearthed at the company’s two namesake mines in Alberta – bearing the brilliant colours of the rainbow after being buried for over 70 million years. And ammonite fossils have fetched as much as C$600,000 ($433,000) on Christie’s auctions internationally. Colours of the rainbow. Image: Amanda Stutt Buffalo Rock Mining, 100% owned by Tracy and Beth Day Chief of the Kainai Nation, acquired KORITE – and its eponymous ammonite mine – with a commitment, it said, to preserving the legacy while expanding its global footprint. The combined company works with provincial environmental officials to ensure the land is restored to its natural state and is improved during the reclamation process. KORITE will continue to set the Ammolite Industry standard in environmental mining practices. The mined ammolite is certified by the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage. The ammonites became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous era. There are three main species of fossils the company extracts: Placenticeras costatum, Placenticeras intercalare and Placenticeras meeki. The rarest and most sought-after species is Placenticeras intercalare, which displays distinctive ‘horns’ that spiral along the surface. These formations allow for unique surface texturing that is unlike the smooth, flat texture of other Canadian ammonite species, according to the company. Buffalo Rock & KORITE mines The drive down to the Buffalo Rock and KORITE mines is about 30 minutes from Tracy and Beth Day Chief’s residence on the Blood Tribe #148 reservation – Alberta’s largest by population and held by the Kanai nation. The ride is smooth and scenic – we encounter cattle grazing, and in the distance see a band of wild horses. There were heavy rains early that July morning and the skies were still grey. In between deftly navigating portions of flooded plains in the large pickup truck, Day Chief describes the mines, discovered in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Both, Day Chief says, have projected mine lives of 40-45 years. The Buffalo Rock is open pit, surface mined. Workers dig only an inch at a time to avoid breaking up an intact fossil. The aim is to get them out without cracks or fissures and miners – 16 in total – don’t use headphones while digging, as they listen carefully for the sound of hitting glass, which signals an ammonite fossil has been found. Broken ammonites are cut and polished into ammolite gem stones, used in jewelry. After every two acres mined, the company has to re-apply for the mineral rights, Day Chief says. We arrive at Buffalo Rock, where Indigenous miners have discovered an intact fossil near the surface, and prod gently with small hammers to extract it in its entirety without breaking it up. The colours are revealed when a clear cleansing solution (ingredients undisclosed) is applied. Intact ammonite fossil found at Buffalo Rock mine. Image: Amanda Stutt At the KORITE mine, about 10 minutes drive from Buffalo Rock, they panel mine two main zones. The first is the “K Zone” about 15 meters below the surface and extends 30 metres down. Further down, roughly 20-65 meters deeper into the ground resides “Zone 4” or the “Blue Zone”. The Blue Zone is where the most high-quality ammolite gemstone material and fossils are found, and this is where KORITE sources much of its supply. In this zone, “Sheet Ammolite” comprises KORITE’s highest grade pieces that display many vibrant color tones. Before the Buffalo Rock acquisition, KORITE was mined only about two months a year, but production is beginning to ramp up. Some of the fossils are dug up, one miner explains, with teeth marks visible – the result of being chased and bitten by predatory dinosaur species. Some smaller dinosaur fossils have been dug up, and sent to local museums for display. Back at camp, instead of a core shack there is a workshop, and instead of drill core there are tables strewn with fossils in various shapes and sizes. Day Chief displays the fruits of his labours, after using air pens and other hand tools to gently remove the surrounding rock, also known as matrix, from the nodule containing the fossil. A large, intact rainbow-coloured fossil sits at his workbench, where he spends tireless hours with his toolkit, working to preserve the ammonite fossils. Tracy Day Chief displays an intact ammonite fossil in his workshop. Image: Amanda Stutt

Vale’s (NYSE: VALE) Canada operations led its second-quarter performance with a 44% rise in nickel output at Voisey’s Bay in Labrador and higher output at its Sudbury operations. Nickel sales drove base metals revenues to $1 billion, a 15% rise, as copper revenues climbed 23% to $958 million. “We delivered another strong quarter, reflecting our focus on operational excellence and disciplined execution, keeping us on track to meet our 2025 guidance,” CEO Gustavo Pimenta said on a Friday conference call with financial analysts. The executive attributed the strong performance at Voisey’s Bay to Shaun Usmar, who has been the CEO of Vale Base Metals for a year and was previously with Triple Flag Precious Metals (TSX, NYSE: TFPM). Usmar also led an asset review initiative in Vale’s Base Metals unit. Nickel output rose 44% year on year to 40,000 tonnes, driven by productivity initiatives and the successful ramp-up of the $3 billion Voisey’s Bay underground mine in northern Newfoundland and Labrador. Unit cost of sales at Voisey’s Bay and the Long Harbour plant fell 57% to $13,236 per tonne. Lower cost The Sudbury nickel unit’s cost dipped 31% to $10,511 per tonne as higher volumes and reduced planned refinery maintenance diluted fixed costs. By-product revenues at the nickel operations rose 20% to $8,510 per tonne. Sustaining capex in the nickel segment dropped 42% to $183 million. This followed the commissioning of the Voisey’s Bay mine expansion. Meanwhile, growth investment increased to $32 million to support ongoing mine development. Vale’s New York-listed shares last traded at $6.71, up C$0.18 or 1.9% for the day. It has a market capitalization of $42 billion. Peers such as BHP (ASX, NYSE, LSE: BHP) recorded their highest-ever annual copper output of 2.02 million tonnes and iron ore production of 290 million tonnes in fiscal 2025, ended June 30, although it flagged cost overruns and delays at its $7 billion Jansen potash project in Canada. Rio Tinto (ASX, LSE, NYSE: RIO) posted a 16% year-on-year drop in first-half underlying profit to $4.8 billion, driven by a 13% slide in iron ore prices amid weaker Chinese steel demand. Copper growth Vale’s group-wide copper output climbed 18% year on year to 66,000 tonnes, with Canadian sales up 28% at 23,000 tonnes. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for Vale’s base metals unit jumped 77% to $721 million, split between $538 million from copper and $201 million from nickel offsetting a loss of $18 million marked as ‘other items.’ Pimenta opened the analyst call Friday by framing Vale’s growth ambitions under its ‘Vale 2030’ vision. The plan puts copper growth at its centre. Near-term growth hinges on two projects. In Brazil, Onça Puma’s second furnace will add 12,000–15,000 tonnes per year when it starts in the coming months after reaching 94% commissioning by quarter end. The New Carajás program marked its first milestone when the Bacaba project in Para state secured a preliminary licence in June. Bacaba will feed the Sossego plant with 50,000 tonnes per year at a capital intensity of $5,400 per tonne and targets start-up in the first half of 2028. Brazil iron Elsewhere, Vale’s Iron Ore Solutions unit completed the first shipment from its Capanema project about 80 km from Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais. The unit shipped 143 million tonnes in the first half, despite a 3% drop in volumes for the three months through June 30. The average realized fines price slipped 13% in the quarter to $85.10 per tonne, yet operating cash cost fell 11% to $22.20 per tonne, driving 39% pro forma EBITDA margins. Free-cash surge Across all segments, net operating revenues totaled $8.8 billion, down 11% year on year. Pro forma EBITDA reached $3.4 billion, off 14% year on year, while recurring free cash flow surged to $1 billion, up 412%, as working capital and lower capital expenditures boosted liquidity. The company’s net debt fell to $17.4 billion, within Vale’s $10–20 billion target range.

Polkadot (DOT) is building momentum and pressing against key resistance, with bullish signals flashing on the 4-hour chart. Rising volume and a tightening range hint at an imminent breakout, with a $4.75 target in sight. DOT isn’t done yet—bigger gains could be just ahead. Breakout Confirmation Hinges on Key Closing Level Polkadot could be gearing up for a significant breakout, according to a recent post from crypto analyst GodstarPL on the X (formerly Twitter) platform. The analyst emphasized that key bullish signals are now emerging on the 4-hour Heikin Ashi chart, hinting at a potential shift in momentum that could favor the bulls in the near term. One of the most compelling signals comes from the price action itself, as DOT is currently pressing up against a major resistance level. This resistance is being tested alongside a noticeable uptick in trading volume, suggesting that market participants are increasingly interested and possibly positioning for a larger move. The combination of volume growth and price compression typically indicates that a breakout could be imminent. GodstarPL highlighted that the breakout target lies at $4.75, which would represent a 25% increase from current levels. For this move to gain traction, the analyst noted that confirmation is crucial. Specifically, DOT needs to secure a close above the $3.80 mark to validate the bullish breakout scenario and invite further buying pressure. On the downside, strong support has been identified around $3.55. This level is acting as a safety net for bulls, and a failure to hold above it could temporarily delay any upward movement. However, as long as this support holds, the setup remains favorable for an upside breakout. In summary, Polkadot is in a tight squeeze between support and resistance, with bullish reversal signals flashing on key timeframes. A breakout above $3.80 could pave the way for a strong rally toward $4.75, while the $3.55 level will be critical in maintaining bullish momentum. Thriving Not Surviving: Polkadot’s Breakout Potential Unfolds GodstarPL concluded that if current support levels continue to hold, the price of Polkadot could be poised for a powerful move into the $5 zone in the near future. The technical setup suggests that DOT isn’t merely consolidating, it’s building strength for what could be a substantial breakout. In the analyst’s view, DOT is not just weathering market conditions; it’s positioning itself for significant upside. With bullish signals aligning and momentum improving, DOT appears ready to shift from survival mode to a phase of growth and potential outperformance. As of the time of writing, DOT is trading at around $3.62, with a market capitalization exceeding $5.8 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of over $382 million.

Log in to today's North American session recap for August 1, 2025. All eyes were on the Non-Farm Payrolls number, with its release sending markets in all-around chaos. You can check our post-release Market check right here. Markets had been trading in paradise territory since the end of the Israel-Iran conflict, leading to a renewed uptrend in global Equity indices. The reasons were more than valid: Earnings have been very strong, sentiment relative to tariffs and their outcomes got uplifted (with the pricing in of many US trade deals) and data kept surprising to the upside. However, there had been some cracks in the past week, with a powerful sell-the-news reactions to Trade Deals, a strong rally in the USD which has left some Participants behind, and the Dow Jones faking out on its all-time highs – a bizarre sign for the backbone of the US Economy. This, combined with continued all-time highs provided a recipe for a volatile session – All majors are up against the USD (after its ceaseless rally this week) and Equities are down between 1.30% (Dow Jones) to 2.85% for the EuroStoxx. Read More: Markets Weekly Outlook – US Services PMI, Bank of England rate decision and Canadian/NZ EmploymentDaily Cross-Asset performance Cross-Asset Daily Performance, August 1, 2025 – Source: TradingView Pure risk-off session like Markets haven't seen in a while – Gold and Bonds up while everything else is down. Metals actually offer a decent picture of what can be seen as diversification from other regular asset classes, with most typically traded metals up on the session (they also had a very rough week all around). Ethereum and Nasdaq are the particularly strong losers of today's session. Next week should be very volatile. A picture of today's performance for major currencies Currency Performance, August 1 – Source: OANDA Labs The JPY is easily the largest winner of the day, up 2.30% against the Greenback! The latter on the other hand got hammered from the weaker US Data. Risk-Currencies also did not perform very well due to the risk-off session. The Euro notably saw a strong relief rally (up 1.35% vs the USD today). Earnings Season: Who is releasing their numbers on Monday Earnings Calendar for August 4th – Source: Nasdaq.com There's no big names except for Palantir and BioNTech on Monday. A look at Economic data releasing in Monday's session For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. Except for the Caixin Services PMI data (for China) and the New-Zealand PMIs, the Market will mostly focus on the consequences of today's NFP release. Expect high volatility throughout Monday and next week. Safe Trades and good weekend! 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.

XRP’s recent performance has been relatively strong against Bitcoin in the past month. Over the past few weeks, the XRP/BTC pair has been quietly pushing up above the 0.00002100 level and challenging long-standing horizontal resistance levels. Amid this movement, a new technical analysis from crypto analyst JayDee has stirred controversy on social media, with the suggestion that XRP may soon go on an explosive rally against Bitcoin before suffering a catastrophic 90% crash. Final Biblical Move To Send XRP/BTC Surging According to JayDee, XRP is entering the final phase of its multi-year structure against Bitcoin, and a dramatic breakout could be imminent. “$XRP is on the verge of having its FINAL BIBLICAL MOVE against $BTC in the coming months,” he wrote. As shown in a monthly candlestick timeframe chart of the XRP/BTC pair, which the analyst shared on the social media platform X, XRP/BTC is currently sitting around a resistance zone after escaping a long-term descending triangle back in December 2024. A thick green box shown in the chart below suggests that the next move may be a rapid surge, which could see the XRP/BTC pair trade for as high as 0.00007. At the time of writing, XRP/BTC is trading at 0.00002649. Therefore, an increase to 0.00007 will represent a 164% increase from the current levels and put the pair trading at levels not seen since mid-2019. The green target zone will likely come into play once resistance at 0.00002700 is cleared with enough volume for XRP. A strong factor that could see XRP outperforming Bitcoin by such a massive amount is if Spot XRP ETFs are finally launched in the US. Supporting this view is a bullish crossover forming on the Stochastic RSI, which is circled on the chart. The momentum indicator is currently sitting just above the 60 line, which is another sign that the pair could be on the verge of a sharp move higher. Once this bullish cross is confirmed, the rally would be massive and go along the line of many traders expecting an intense upside in a short period of time. However, the expected price overperformance of XRP against Bitcoin comes with a twist; this euphoric phase won’t last long. The Predicted 90% XRP/BTC Crash Analyst JayDee warns that what comes after this final Biblical XRP/BTC move could be devastating for most XRP holders. “Right before HISTORICAL 90% crash that will wipe out most investors,” he added. The predicted crash is shown in the chart image above with a massive blue arrow pointing downward into a pink zone located between $0.000009 and $0.000007. According to the structure, this drop would return XRP/BTC to retest its long-term ascending support trendline, which has held since 2017. A 90% crash in the XRP/BTC pair could happen if XRP experiences a severe price breakdown below $3 and $2. Alternatively, XRP could underperform and drive the ratio downward even without a sharp XRP price decline if Bitcoin regains dominance and begins setting multiple new all-time highs.

Week in review: Volatile week between Trade Deals, the FOMC Meeting and the Non-Farm Payrolls report The week kicked off with a risk-positive tone as headlines around a Euro–US trade breakthrough triggered a sharp gap higher in global markets. As a result, the US Dollar caught a strong bid, with the Euro and Yen notably losing ground amid improving US trade positioning and capital rotation into USD assets. Midweek, the FOMC held rates steady as expected, but the tone was less dovish than markets hoped. With no signal for a September cut, rate futures quickly repriced, sending the Dollar even higher and pressuring risk assets globally. The move extended a USD run that was already in motion. The Dollar Index, which touched 97.20 last Wednesday, ripped through the 100 handle, peaking near 100.20 by Friday morning. That strength started to shake broader markets, especially in FX, commodities, and rate-sensitive sectors. Dollar Index 4H Chart, August 1, 2025 – Source: TradingView Then came the NFP report. A messy release with mixed revisions sent shockwaves across asset classes. Bonds and gold rallied hard on safe-haven flows, while equities took a hit as traders digested the combo of slowing growth and hawkish policy repricing. It seems that the Goldilocks conditions for stocks have found some resistance. Read More: Markets react sharply after the major NFP missEarnings Season The strong Earnings season kept on providing good results, with notable tenace releases from 4 of the Magnificent 7 including Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft. This has kept boosting the Nasdaq and S&P 500 towards their most recent all-time highs before the mood got dampened by this morning's data. The Week Ahead: Less market-moving than last week, but emphasis on US Services PMIs and the Bank of England rate decision Last week was a composed salad of key data, particularly for the US – Between ADP employment, the July FOMC, GDP, Core PCE, and finally this morning’s NFP. Now, Markets are on edge going into the weekend after a reality check that things are not all so easy in the end. Firms face the consequences of the Trump Administration’s policies, which will keep influencing the data as the August 1 deadline bell rings. Asia Pacific Markets - US/China Trade Talks pursue, NZ employment data This week saw the further pushback of US-China trade talks for 90 more days, leaving Markets awaiting again for more concrete developments between the Strongest nation and the World's largest manufacturer. In terms of key data for APAC nations, we will be expecting the Caixin Services PMIs (Monday evening) and the Inflation Data (Friday evening) from the Middle Kingdom. NZD traders will await their Employment numbers on Tuesday end-afternoon and some more key releases with Wednesday's RBNZ Inflation Expectations survey for Q3. AUD traders will also have to attentive to the Australian trade balance numbers, also releasing on Wednesday evening. Economic Data from Europe, UK and the US The EU will not provide much high-tier data for Markets, so traders will have to look elsewhere for Euro movement – Focus on US Dollar demand (or lack thereof) if you want to get a clear picture of FX flows. For the US, the most important data of the week is expected on Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. with the ISM Services PMI release (consensus 51.5, previous 50.8). The Bank of England notably releases their rate decision on Thursday August 7th morning, with a cut from 4.25% to 4% largely expected. CAD traders will have to take a look for three important data points next week: the Canadian Trade Balance (releasing on Tuesday), both Services and Manufacturing PMIs releasing on Wednesday and finally, the Canadian Employment data on Friday. Don't forget the key Earnings that Equity markets are awaiting with names like Mcdonald's, Palantir, Disney and Pfizer. For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. (High-tier data only) Safe Trades and enjoy your weekend as next week should be another rollercoaster! 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.

Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) has started a second stage of dewatering Kamoa-Kakula, Africa’s largest copper operation, but increased its production cash cost forecast by 12%. Two submersible pumps have arrived on the site near Lubumbashi in far southeast Democratic Republic of Congo after earth tremors triggered flooding in May, the company said Wednesday in a statement. Two more pumps are due next month in the $70 million plan for draining eastern Kamoa-Kakula by the end of this year. “The company will provide an update on Kamoa-Kakula’s recovery plan and ramp-up to steady-state operations over the medium term in September, as well as 2026/2027 production and cost guidance,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Andrew Mikitchook said in a note Thursday. “Management’s goal is to return Kamoa-Kakula to similar throughputs as previously planned by 2027.” Ivanhoe’s updated projections for C1 cash costs – now pegged at $1.90–$2.20 per lb. copper for 2025, up from the previous estimate of $1.70–$1.90 per lb. – aligns with analyst expectations due to the operation’s current reliance on lower-grade (about 3% copper) ore from stockpiles, Mikitchook added. The analyst expects higher-grade (about 5%) ore from Kamoa-Kakula’s eastern section to become available by mid next year. Concentrator feeds “Operational recovery plans at Kamoa-Kakula are proceeding to plan and will provide access to assess ore from the workings that can be mined to feed the phase one and two concentrators,” founder and executive co-chairman Robert Friedland said in a news release. Ivanhoe’s Toronto-traded shares fell almost 1% on Friday to C$10.73, bringing the year-to-date loss to 37%. It has a market capitalization of C$14.5 billion. Q2 results Despite disruptions, Ivanhoe’s financial results for the second quarter ended June 30 largely met analyst forecasts. The company reported adjusted earnings before interest, tax, debt and amortization of $123 million and net profit of $35 million. Ivanhoe wrapped up the second quarter with $672 million in cash and equivalents. Quarterly copper production reached 112,009 tonnes, generating net cash flow of $169 million from revenues of $875 million. Full-year production guidance remains at 370,000–420,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, reflecting a roughly 28% decrease from initial expectations due to the incident. Kamoa-Kakula produced a record 437,147 tonnes of copper last year. In its first three and a half years, the complex has generated about $4.7 billion in operating cash flow. Earthquake Mining at Kamoa-Kakula’s eastern section was halted on May 20 due to seismic-induced flooding. Initial dewatering using nine pumps started on June 2, reducing water inflow by about 3,700 litres per second and enabling mining to resume at the western section by June 7. By mid-June, western Kamoa-Kakula mining rates had recovered to about 300,000 tonnes per month, with both concentrators running at 80–85% capacity.