PANews, August 31 - According to SoSoValue data, the crypto market pulled back after consecutive gains. The previously strong Meme sector fell 4.19% over the past 24 hours. Within the sector, OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) dropped 10.55%, Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) fell 10.44%, and Pump.fun (PUMP) declined 12.40%.
In other sectors, the Layer 2 sector fell 0.04% over 24 hours, with Polygon (POL) down 7.98%, though Mantle (MNT) remained relatively resilient, rising 5.84%. The CeFi sector declined 1.71%, with OKB (OKB) down 4.09%. The Layer 1 sector fell 1.97%, with Solana (SOL) down 3.35%. The PayFi sector dropped 2.10%, while Monero (XMR) rose 4.54% intraday. The DeFi sector fell 2.26%, while Uniswap (UNI) bucked the trend with a 9.31% gain.
Crypto sector indices reflecting historical sector performance showed that the ssiMeme, ssiAI, and ssiNFT indices fell 4.42%, 3.29%, and 3.12%, respectively.
Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) have paused their gains after facing a slight pullback last week following their recent massive gains. BTC trades around $77,900 on Monday, and ETH faces selling pressure near the key $2,500 resistance level. Meanwhile, XRP corrects and finds support around a key level that could determine its next directional move.
Bitcoin consolidates following a massive rally in recent weeksBitcoin price trades at $77,893 on Monday, maintaining a bullish near-term bias as it holds well above the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) clustered between roughly $69,700 and $72,300.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 69 hovers just below overbought territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains positive, hinting that upside momentum is still constructive but becoming stretched.
On the topside, the next notable resistance aligns with the horizontal barrier at $85,000.
On the downside, initial demand appears around the 200-day EMA at $72,254, then the 50-day EMA at $69,681, followed by the 100-day EMA at $68,887; below these, deeper support emerges at the previously charted horizontal levels of $66,500 and $62,300.
BTC/USDT daily chartEthereum faces rejection near $2,500 markEthereum price trades at $2,421 on Monday, holding a bullish near-term bias as price remains comfortably above the key EMAs. The 50-day EMA at $2,101, together with the 100-day EMA at $2,037 and the 200-day EMA at $2,161, forms a broad underlying demand zone that reinforces the constructive structure while ETH consolidates near recent highs.
Momentum remains supportive, with the RSI hovering around 66 and avoiding extreme overbought territory, while the MACD stays in positive territory, hinting at sustained but moderating upside pressure.
On the topside, immediate resistance is seen at the horizontal barrier near $2,500, ahead of a more significant cap at $3,000, where profit-taking could intensify if bulls extend the rally.
On the downside, initial support sits around the 200-day EMA at $2,161, followed by the 50-day EMA at $2,101 and the 100-day EMA at $2,037, which should cushion deeper pullbacks. A break below the psychological $2,000 level would expose the distant structural floor at $1,505, while sustained trading above the clustered moving averages keeps the broader bullish tone intact.
ETH/USDT daily chartXRP finds support near 200-day EMAXRP price trades at $1.350 on Monday, maintaining a broadly bullish near-term bias as it holds above the 50-day and 100-day EMAs at $1.204 and $1.209, respectively. However, the pair is now testing the 200-day EMA at $1.351 as immediate support, capping further downside for now.
The RSI around 59 suggests constructive but not overextended momentum, while the positive MACD reading with a small positive value hints at waning yet still supportive bullish pressure after the recent sharp rally.
On the topside, initial resistance sits at the horizontal level of $1.900.
On the downside, the first meaningful support appears at the 200-day EMA at $1.351, followed by the $1.300 horizontal level, ahead of a supportive cluster formed by the 100-day EMA at $1.209 and the 50-day EMA at $1.204. At the same time, a deeper structural floor sits at the $1.000 handle.
As long as XRP stays above the $1.300 area, the technical backdrop would continue to favor consolidation with potential for renewed upside attempts toward the recent high around $1.699 and beyond the $1.900 mark.
XRP/USDT daily chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Cryptocurrency prices FAQs Token launches influence demand and adoption among market participants. Listings on crypto exchanges deepen the liquidity for an asset and add new participants to an asset’s network. This is typically bullish for a digital asset.
A hack is an event in which an attacker captures a large volume of the asset from a DeFi bridge or hot wallet of an exchange or any other crypto platform via exploits, bugs or other methods. The exploiter then transfers these tokens out of the exchange platforms to ultimately sell or swap the assets for other cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. Such events often involve an en masse panic triggering a sell-off in the affected assets.
Macroeconomic events like the US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates influence crypto assets mainly through the direct impact they have on the US Dollar. An increase in interest rate typically negatively influences Bitcoin and altcoin prices, and vice versa. If the US Dollar index declines, risk assets and associated leverage for trading gets cheaper, in turn driving crypto prices higher.
Halvings are typically considered bullish events as they slash the block reward in half for miners, constricting the supply of the asset. At consistent demand if the supply reduces, the asset’s price climbs.
The total crypto market cap fell to $2.68 trillion, down 1.0% over 24 hours, as Bitcoin slipped to $77,664.88 and Ethereum dropped to $2,417.73, with the sell-off tracking an escalation in the U.S.-Iran tensions over the weekend.
What Triggered the Drop
U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in southern Iran on Sunday, after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM spokesperson Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said the strike was intended to protect civilian mariners and commercial shipping in the strait, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
The IRGC confirmed the strike caused casualties among its forces and said it would retaliate, according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB. According to reports, Sunday’s strike was the first publicly acknowledged U.S. attack on Iranian forces in nearly a month, coming as the Trump administration has been navigating a fragile ceasefire in the broader conflict that began in February 2026.
Market Snapshot
Total market cap: $2.68 trillion, down 1.0%24-hour trading volume: $62.13 billionBitcoin: $77,664.88, down 0.8% in 24 hoursEthereum: $2,417.73, down 2.0% in 24 hoursXRP: $1.35, down 3.4% in 24 hours, though still up 8.4% over 7 daysSolana: $101.73, down 3.6% in 24 hoursHyperliquid: $80.40, down 3.9% in 24 hoursWhy Geopolitical Risk Hits Crypto
Renewed military action in the Strait of Hormuz raises the risk of disrupted oil shipping and broader regional escalation, conditions that typically push investors toward traditional safe havens and away from higher-risk assets like crypto. The IRGC’s stated intent to retaliate adds further uncertainty, since previous rounds of this conflict have seen Iran respond to U.S. strikes with missile and drone attacks on American military installations in neighboring countries.
What to Watch Next
Markets will likely stay sensitive to any signs of Iranian retaliation or further U.S. military action in the coming days. A contained response could allow crypto to stabilize near current levels, while a broader escalation risks deeper losses across risk assets as investors price in a longer disruption to Gulf shipping and oil markets.
Story Ends Here
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Bitcoin (BTC) is up roughly 24% in August, its largest monthly advance of 2026. This month’s rally lifted the asset from the $60,000s to briefly over $80,000.
However, three warning signs now emerge: exchange balances, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, and spot demand have all turned less supportive during the closing days of August.
Bitcoin (BTC) 1 Month Price Chart. Source: BeInCrypto MarketsFollow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Bitcoin Warning Signs Build as Binance Reserves Hit a 2026 HighBinance’s Bitcoin reserves have climbed to roughly 687,000 BTC, the highest level recorded in 2026, according to CryptoQuant data. Reserves dropped near 617,000 BTC in late April before reversing. The build then accelerated through August, as Bitcoin rallied.
Traders usually move coins onto an exchange to sell, hedge, or post collateral. Therefore, a rising balance during a rally makes more supply immediately available for sale.
The number alone proves nothing. Wallet reorganizations, custody shifts, and market-making transfers also lift exchange balances.
Still, that supply now sits on the largest venue while shrinking exchange stablecoin reserves leave less idle cash ready to absorb it.
“A yearly high in Binance reserves near major resistance is a warning sign. The next move above $80,000 will likely depend on whether spot and ETF demand can absorb the additional supply potentially available to the market,” XWIN Japan wrote.
ETF Inflow Streak Breaks as Weekly Demand HalvesMeanwhile, US spot bitcoin ETFs posted a $201.8 million net outflow on August 28, according to SoSoValue data. That red session ended nine consecutive days of inflows, which came as Bitcoin recorded its largest weekly dollar gain on record.
Other major products stayed green on the same day. Ethereum (ETH) funds drew $102.18 million, while XRP (XRP) and Solana (SOL) products added $26.2 million and $18.08 million.
Weekly flows cooled as well. Net inflows fell 51.8% to $924.5 million in the week ending August 28, down from $1.92 billion.
One negative session does not confirm a reversal. However, ETF flows are a major source of demand for Bitcoin, and that may be thinning.
Leverage, Not Spot Buying, May Be Driving the MoveFinally, analyst Crypto Rover argued that the weekend advance lacked spot participation.
“BTC is moving higher over the weekend while spot CVD remains almost flat, suggesting leverage is driving the move. Last time we spotted this same setup, Bitcoin dumped from $81K to $77K,” the post read.
Spot cumulative volume delta (CVD) tracks the balance between aggressive buyers and sellers in spot markets. A flat CVD during a rally can suggest that derivatives or leveraged positions, rather than strong spot demand, are driving the move.
Not every analyst reads the setup that way. GSR’s Andy Baehr has framed the $80,000 breakout as a new market regime built on ETF demand and short liquidations.
Seasonality offers thin comfort. September has averaged a 3.08% loss for Bitcoin since 2013, Coinglass data shows, the weakest average month of the year.
Bitcoin Monthly Returns Table Showing September Seasonality. Source: CoinglassRecent years cut the other way. The last three Septembers all closed green, including gains of 5.16% in 2025 and 7.29% in 2024.
The coming sessions should show whether spot and ETF buyers can absorb the coins now parked on Binance.
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When seven defendants, including members of classified IDF and police units, were indicted by Israeli authorities in April 2026 on charges of bribery, theft, and money laundering, the case had a distinctly modern twist. The alleged proceeds, exceeding 50 million NIS (roughly $13 million), weren’t stashed in Swiss bank accounts or hidden behind shell companies. They were laundered through cryptocurrencies.
The case is part of a broader pattern that Israeli law enforcement has been scrambling to contain. Organized crime networks across the country are increasingly turning to Bitcoin and Tether (USDT) to move dirty money, finance drug deals, and obscure the paper trail that traditional banking would otherwise leave behind.
The crypto laundering playbook Tether, the dollar-pegged stablecoin, has become particularly popular among these networks. Its price stability makes it more practical than Bitcoin for large-value transfers.
In 2025, a robbery case in Herzliya illustrated just how embedded crypto has become in criminal operations. Assailants stole $650,000 worth of Bitcoin and Tether from a victim, then laundered the funds through exchanges including HTX and Kyrrex.
Some Israeli organized crime figures also have historical ties to the Crypto Capital Corp collapse, a case involving an estimated $850 million connected to cocaine trafficking where payments were made in cryptocurrencies.
Law enforcement’s counter-offensive Israeli authorities signed a contract worth 9 million shekels with Chainalysis, the blockchain analytics firm, to gain access to advanced tracing tools and training.
Tether itself has been cooperating with Israeli authorities. In May 2025, Tether froze over 10 million USDT tied to a fraud investigation at the direct request of Israeli law enforcement.
An Israeli Supreme Court ruling has further strengthened this approach, establishing that police can seek wallet freezes from foreign token issuers.
Cross-border complications The seizure of crypto wallets and cash worth over 50 million NIS in the April 2026 case represented a significant win. When funds flow through exchanges registered in different countries, each with its own regulatory framework and appetite for cooperation, tracing and recovering assets becomes an exercise in international diplomacy as much as criminal investigation.
Some of the crime groups under scrutiny have been linked to cross-border cocaine trafficking operations that utilize various crypto exchanges. The funds might originate in Israel, pass through an exchange in one jurisdiction, get converted through a mixer or decentralized protocol, and end up in a wallet controlled by a supplier on another continent.
Tether transactions on networks like Tron, which has become a favored rail for illicit USDT transfers globally, can be harder to track depending on the tools available and the cooperation of the underlying network. However, Tether’s centralized structure — the same feature that allows it to freeze wallets — means any USDT can theoretically be frozen by its issuer at any time, a risk that Bitcoin, with no central authority, doesn’t carry.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, plans to accept Ethereum and Tether alongside Bitcoin as loan collateral once Russian regulators permit their public circulation, according to TASS.
The bank is preparing to offer crypto-backed loans to corporate clients after successfully testing the model with mining firm AO Intelion Data last year. It is also working on crypto custody services as digital assets take on a larger role in Russia’s financial system and cross-border trade.
Anatoly Popov, deputy chairman of Sberbank’s management board, said the bank is prepared to adapt its existing products once the legislation comes fully into force.
Popov said Sberbank had anticipated the regulatory changes and already gained practical experience working with crypto. The bank plans to gradually expand its digital-asset products under the new rules, including lending secured by crypto holdings.
Bitcoin will be part of the bank’s collateral offering, while Ethereum and Tether could be added in the future. Popov said those assets would become eligible after the Bank of Russia authorizes them for public circulation and the remaining provisions of the new regulation take effect.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Russia’s largest lender, Sberbank, is preparing to expand lending secured by digital assets. The bank expects Bitcoin to remain central, while Ethereum and Tether could join later.
The expansion depends on regulatory approval and the full implementation of Russia’s new digital asset framework. Sberbank is also preparing existing banking products for the updated rules.
Anatoly Popov, deputy chairman of Sberbank’s management board, confirmed the direction ahead of the Eastern Economic Forum. He said the bank already has practical experience working with cryptocurrency.
“We prepared for this in advance, and we already have practical experience working with cryptocurrency,” Popov said.
Sberbank Expands Crypto-Backed Lending Strategy Sberbank intends to continue developing loans secured by digital assets once the new rules become fully effective. The bank has already tested the model with corporate clients.
A previous pilot involved mining company AO Intelion Data and used self-mined cryptocurrency as collateral. That transaction gave Sberbank experience with lending against digital assets.
Popov said the bank would adapt its existing products as legislation comes fully into force. The lender also plans to expand the range of eligible collateral gradually.
“We plan to accept not only Bitcoin but also Ethereum and the stablecoin Tether as collateral,” Popov said.
However, Ethereum and Tether would only become eligible after approval from the Bank of Russia. Public circulation must also be allowed under the final rules.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT Could Enter Corporate Lending Bitcoin is expected to remain part of Sberbank’s crypto collateral offering. Ethereum and USDT could be added after regulators establish the necessary framework. The proposed model would allow corporate borrowers to pledge digital assets while receiving conventional financing. Borrowers would therefore avoid selling their crypto holdings immediately.
Sberbank is also developing custody services as digital assets gain a larger role in Russia’s financial system. These services could support institutional use of crypto within regulated banking channels.
The lender’s approach reflects a broader shift toward controlled digital asset use rather than unrestricted retail adoption. Meanwhile, Russia continues to permit selected crypto activity under tighter supervision.
Concurrently, the cross-border trade has also increased demand for digital asset infrastructure. Russian institutions have explored crypto settlement methods as access to traditional payment routes remains constrained.
Russia Tightens Crypto Oversight as Banking Use Expands Russia’s crypto framework is becoming more structured as banks prepare new products with Federal Law No. 282-FZ taking effect on September 1, 2026.
The law introduces reporting requirements for residents holding digital assets through foreign platforms and offshore structures. Residents must report balances, transaction turnover and qualifying foreign holdings.
The final framework does not require residents to submit private keys or raw wallet credentials. Instead, the reporting system focuses on financial information and offshore exposure.
At the same time, the Bank of Russia has expanded enforcement tools linked to suspicious crypto activity. The regulator flagged about 2,600 wallets during the first half of 2026.
Those wallets were added to compliance systems used by banks and law enforcement agencies. The system does not freeze blockchain addresses directly. Instead, banks can identify linked accounts, payment processors, and fiat access points. Consequently, restrictive measures can then be applied within Russia’s banking system.
For more on crypto compliance, check our Best Crypto Compliance Companies and KYC Providers for Web3 Enterprises
Sberbank Plans to Accept Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT as Loan Collateral August 30, 2026 10:00 AM
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Russia’s largest bank is preparing to broaden its crypto-lending business. Sberbank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov said the lender plans to accept Bitcoin as collateral for loans and to eventually add Ethereum and Tether’s USDT, according to TASS. The move would extend the bank’s earlier pilot work with digital assets, though the wider offering still hinges on approval from the Bank of Russia. The comments signal that the bank intends to make digital-asset-backed borrowing a more regular feature of its business rather than a limited experiment.
Bitcoin First, Ethereum and USDT Later Popov said Sberbank intends to further develop lending backed by digital assets, with Bitcoin the first crypto asset accepted as collateral. Ethereum and USDT would follow only after the Bank of Russia permits their public circulation, a condition that has not yet been met. The central bank retains authority over which digital assets may circulate publicly in Russia, which is why the Ethereum and USDT components remain conditional. Popov did not specify when the broader set of collateral would become available.
A Gradual Rollout Under Russia’s New Rules The bank already has practical experience working with crypto assets, Popov said, and will adapt its existing products while gradually expanding the offering once Russia’s new regulatory framework for digital assets fully takes effect. Sberbank has been preparing for this shift for months, having previously outlined a planned off-chain crypto trading system and a crypto wallet as the country’s digital-currency law cleared its final hurdles. The phased approach mirrors how Russian regulators have rolled out crypto rules, testing them in stages before widening access.
What It Means for Crypto-Backed Lending Accepting bitcoin and stablecoins as loan collateral would deepen the overlap between Russia’s traditional banking sector and digital assets. It suggests Sberbank, which serves a large share of the country’s retail and corporate customers, views crypto collateral as a lasting product rather than a one-off experiment. Even so, the announcement is a statement of intent: the Bank of Russia has yet to authorize public circulation of Ethereum and USDT, leaving the final scope and timing of the lending product open. Sberbank has not said how large the lending book might become or which borrowers would qualify first.
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Nicholas Otieno is a fintech writer specializing in cryptocurrency markets. Since 2019, he has written articles to educate readers about cryptocurrency and its substantial positive impact on global prosperity. Nicholas is a Bitcoin holder, believing firmly in its fundamentals. His work has been featured in publications such as Finance Magnates, Blockchain.News, Bitcoin Magazine, Coincub, and among others. When he's not writing, Nicholas enjoys performing domestic tasks, spending time with friends, listening to music, and watching football.
Sber, Russia’s largest bank, is preparing to broaden its crypto-backed lending services by accepting Tether’s USDt and Ether as collateral, in addition to Bitcoin. This move was outlined by Sber’s Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov, as the country prepares for a new regulatory framework surrounding digital assets.
Sber’s expansion plansSber intends to update its current crypto lending products in response to the upcoming crypto law, which grants a clearer regulatory structure for digital assets in Russia. Popov noted that the bank will gradually extend its offerings, introducing USDT and Ether as collateral options once the Bank of Russia authorizes their public trading.
Currently, Sber provides Bitcoin-backed lending services. By adding Tether and Ether, the bank aims to diversify collateral options for customers who use crypto assets to secure loans. These updates are expected to take place as the legal environment for digital assets in Russia evolves and as the necessary regulatory approvals are granted.
Regulatory landscape in RussiaRussia is transitioning to a regulated crypto market following the signing of a new law by President Vladimir Putin on August 4. The core provisions of this legislation are scheduled to take effect on September 1. The law designates the Bank of Russia as the authority responsible for determining which crypto assets may be publicly traded on regulated exchanges within the country.
On August 11, the Bank of Russia proposed allowing Bitcoin, Ether, and USDT for regulated trading. The central bank stated that these assets satisfy requirements such as sufficient market capitalization, stable trading activity, and more than five years of price history on international exchanges.
Mini dictionary: Sber is the largest bank in Russia, majority-owned by the Russian government, providing financial services including retail and corporate banking, investment, and digital finance.
AssetCurrent StatusProposed StatusBitcoin (BTC)Accepted as collateralRemains acceptedEther (ETH)Pending approvalTo be accepted upon approvalUSDT (Tether)Pending approvalTo be accepted upon approvalPerspective on the digital rubleWhile Sber is moving forward with broader crypto collateralization, its approach to the digital ruble, Russia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), has been more reserved. Sber’s Chief Financial Officer Taras Skvortsov recently commented on market interest in the CBDC ahead of its countrywide launch on September 1.
Skvortsov stated that outside the Bank of Russia, there is minimal enthusiasm for the digital ruble, with retail, corporate, and financial sector clients generally showing no strong demand for the CBDC.
The digital ruble is slated for a gradual introduction, but Sber, as a leading state bank, has noted lukewarm reception among its clients, reflecting uncertainty regarding the CBDC’s adoption on a broader scale in Russia.
Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is preparing to expand crypto-backed lending beyond Bitcoin, planning to accept Ethereum and Tether’s USDT as collateral for loans. The move comes as Russia prepares new crypto market rules, but Sberbank’s overall offering still depends on approval from the Bank of Russia.
Sberbank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov said the bank plans to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT as collateral for loans.
“We plan to accept not only Bitcoin but also Ethereum and the stablecoin Tether as collateral.”
However, customers cannot immediately use all three assets as collateral. Popov said Sberbank will add ETH and USDT after the Bank of Russia allows them for public circulation.
The bank plans to adapt its existing products as Russia’s new crypto rules take effect and then gradually expand the assets available for secured lending.
Bitcoin Loan Pilot Already Tested the ModelSberbank is not starting from scratch. The bank already tested crypto-backed lending with Russian mining company Intelion Data in December 2025.
The pilot involved a corporate loan secured by cryptocurrency mined by Intelion. Sberbank used its custody infrastructure to hold the collateral during the loan period.
That experience gives the bank a working model for handling crypto as security for a traditional loan.
The planned expansion would allow the same basic idea to cover Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT, subject to the regulator’s rules.
Russia’s New Crypto Rules Set the FrameworkThe plans come as Russia prepares to bring its new regulated crypto market framework into force on September 1, 2026. The Bank of Russia will decide which cryptocurrencies can be traded through regulated channels.
The central bank has already proposed Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT for regulated exchange trading, using factors such as market size, trading activity and trading history in overseas markets.
For non-qualified investors, the framework includes a 300,000-ruble annual purchase limit per intermediary, subject to passing a required knowledge test. Crypto payments for goods and services inside Russia will remain prohibited.
For now, Sberbank’s BTC-backed lending model is the foundation, while ETH and USDT remain dependent on regulatory approval and the final lending rules.
Story Ends Here
Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
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Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, is preparing to expand its cryptocurrency-backed loan products. The bank plans to accept Ethereum (ETH) and Tether (USDT) as collateral for loans in addition to Bitcoin (BTC) in the future.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Sberbank Deputy Chairman of the Board Anatoly Popov said the bank will continue to develop loan products secured by digital assets. Popov noted that Sberbank already has practical experience working with crypto assets.
Popov stated that once the new regulatory framework prepared in Russia fully comes into effect, the bank will adapt its existing products to the new rules and gradually expand its cryptocurrency-related services.
Ethereum and USDT Could Be Added Alongside Bitcoin According to Sberbank’s plan, the bank will not be limited to Bitcoin for digital asset-backed loans. Ethereum and the dollar-backed stablecoin Tether are also targeted to be accepted as collateral in the future.
However, the plan’s implementation will depend on regulatory approval. Popov added that, in particular, the Russian Central Bank would need to allow ETH and USDT to be publicly circulated in order for them to be used as collateral.
*This is not investment advice.
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Sberbank plans to accept Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Tether (USDT) as loan collateral, deputy chairman Anatoly Popov told TASS on Friday.
Russia’s largest lender wants the coins as security, not as money. Paying with crypto in Russia remains banned when the country’s digital currency law takes effect on September 1.
Collateral is Legal, but Spending is NotA Russian company can pledge Bitcoin to a bank, but it still cannot buy a coffee with it. Popov said Sberbank prepared for the rule change early and already handles digital assets. However, he made the expansion conditional.
“We plan to accept not only Bitcoin but also Ethereum and the stablecoin Tether as collateral… after the Central Bank, of course, allows them for public circulation,” local media reported.
President Vladimir Putin signed the law on August 4. The Bank of Russia published its first approved list a week later. Only three coins cleared the screen.
Regulators wanted size, high daily turnover, and at least 5 years of price history on foreign exchanges. Bitcoin, ether and USDT passed. Nothing else did, and the regulator is clear about the rest.
Crypto cannot be used in payments within Russia. Only exporters and importers get a carve-out for crypto payments in foreign trade.
No Rate, No Date, No Term SheetWith the key rate standing at 14% as of August 28, money is expensive in Russia, and that number explains the demand. A miner can sell coins and lose the upside, or pledge them and pay interest.
Meanwhile, ordinary Russians will not get the option. Russia’s new crypto law caps non-qualified investors at 300,000 rubles (roughly $3,632) of crypto per year per intermediary. Corporate borrowers face no such ceiling.
Popov disclosed no loan-to-value ratio, interest rate, or launch date. He tied everything to permissions the central bank has not yet issued.
What exists today is smaller. Sber closed a crypto-backed lending pilot in December 2025 and targets a digital depository by December 1.
Notably, however, USDT is the quiet outlier, sitting at $0.9999, while Bitcoin moves every day. One coin needs a thin haircut, the other a deep one.
If a borrower defaults, Sberbank must sell those coins inside a country where spending them is illegal.
The broader cryptocurrency market maintains a constructive tone, with Bitcoin (BTC) sustaining gains above $78,000 on Thursday. The US July Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index inflation came in higher than expected on Wednesday, suggesting that inflation remains elevated. SPX6900 (SPX) and VeChain (VET) recorded double-digit gains over the last 24 hours, emerging as top performers.
US July PCE data hits 3.7%US July Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index inflation was released at 3.7% on Wednesday, higher than the market’s expectation of 3.6%. This suggests elevated inflation, but expectations for a September rate hike continue to fade, with markets pricing in a 38% probability of a 25-basis-point move in the next review cycle, down 55% from a month prior, according to CME FedWatch Tool data.
FedWatch tool. Source: CME GroupScarce assets like Gold and Bitcoin struggle to advance their rally above the key levels of $4,700 and $80,000, as previously reported by FXStreet.
Bitcoin’s recovery struggles to surpass $80,000Bitcoin trades around $78,700 at press time on Thursday, maintaining a bullish near-term bias as price holds well above both the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $68,195 and the 200-day EMA at $72,859.
The pair is consolidating just above the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $77,489, measured from $82,850 to $57,800, suggesting strong underlying demand ahead of the cycle-high resistance at $82,850.
Momentum remains firm, with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) staying in positive territory and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering in overbought conditions near 78, hinting that the advance is stretched.
Looking up, a sustained push higher would bring the key resistance at the 100% Fibonacci retracement at $82,850 into focus, where profit-taking could slow the current bullish leg. Beyond this zone, the 127.2% Fibonacci extension level at $91,374 could serve as the next bullish target.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.On the flip side, initial support is seen at the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $77,489, followed by a broader demand cluster around the 200-day EMA at $72,859. Deeper pullbacks would expose the 50% retracement at $70,325 and the 50-day EMA at $69,200.
SPX and VET rally risks capitulationSPX6900 trades at $0.6167, extending a strong bullish phase after reclaiming territory well above both the 50-day and 200-day EMAs at $0.3822 and $0.4066. This configuration suggests a firmly supportive trend backdrop.
Momentum appears stretched, with the RSI holding deep in overbought territory near 85, and the MACD average lines maintaining a positive slope, hinting at robust but potentially overextended upside pressure.
SPX must surpass the 50% retracement level of $0.7097 to extend its rally toward the $1.00 psychological threshold. The 78.6% Fibonacci retracement near $1.3835 marks a progressively higher target if buyers stay in control.
SPX/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, the 200-day EMA at $0.4066 and the 50-day EMA at $0.3822 form a key support cluster, reinforced by the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $0.3832.
VeChain trades near $0.0064 on Thursday, holding a constructive near-term bullish bias. At the time of writing, VET edges 2% lower on the day, following an 18% rise the previous day.
VeChain remains capped below the 200-day EMA at $0.00702 and holds well above the 50-day EMA at $0.00507. From a technical perspective, the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement of the $0.00812-$0.00425 downswing, at $0.00707, aligns with the 200-day EMA resistance, where a confirmed breakout could extend the rally toward $0.00812.
Momentum remains strong, with the RSI hovering in overbought territory near 75 and the MACD turning positive, suggesting that upside pressure persists.
VET/USDT daily price chart. On the downside, initial support is seen at the 50% retracement at $0.00587, with deeper demand clustered around the 50-day EMA at $0.00507 and the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $0.00495.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
PONS's market cap briefly rebounded to cross $350 million, trading at $0.352 at press time.
According to GMGN market data, PONS' market capitalization has briefly rebounded to surpass $350 million, with its current price standing at $0.352.
9 minutes ago
Fireblocks Custody moved 30 million USD1 tokens to Binance over the past 15 hours.
According to monitoring by Onchain Lens, Fireblocks Custody transferred 30 million USD1 tokens to Binance again over the past 15 hours. Note: USD1 is a stablecoin backed by a Trump-associated project.
9 minutes ago
Iran's Foreign Ministry: Vows to Resolutely Respond to Any Military Aggression by the Enemy
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that Iran's armed forces launched an attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan in retaliation for the U.S. strike on Iran's Larak Island. The ministry emphasized that Iran's armed forces will not hesitate to exercise their inherent right to self-defense and will take appropriate, resolute responses to any military aggression by the enemy. The U.S. strike on parts of Larak Island violated Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and constituted a clear violation of the UN Charter. It called on the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General to fulfill their duties to maintain international peace and security and hold the aggressor accountable. Iran's Foreign Ministry also stated that the U.S. and all parties supporting its military operations bear full responsibility for the consequences of the escalating situation. It further noted that the U.S. base in Jordan was used to launch and support the attack on Larak Island, adding that the U.S.'s new act of aggression, along with the ongoing impacts of its maritime blockade and economic war against Iran, are the full responsibility of the U.S. and all parties involved in planning and executing the relevant actions. Earlier reports showed that Tasnim News Agency cited Iran's military as claiming to have launched dozens of drones at the UAE's Al Minhad Air Base. Separately, Iran's state television reported that the Iranian military carried out a drone attack on the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE earlier on Monday.
9 minutes ago
Latest Assessment by US VCs After China Visit: AI Capabilities Need to Cross the Pacific Twice to Be Sold to US Clients
Beating AI Insight News Brief: U.S. venture capital firm Dimension spent a week in China, visiting AI labs, investors, and founders, then wrote a 5-page internal letter to its limited partners (LPs). The firm previously conducted research in Shanghai last year; this trip covered Beijing and Shanghai, with the goal of recalibrating its assessment of China’s AI sector. A key finding highlighted is that China’s open-weight models have entered the production pipelines of U.S. AI companies. For example, Cursor’s Composer 2 was further trained on Kimi K2.5, while legal AI firm Harvey’s Tenet model underwent post-training on Kimi K3. Dimension summarized this cross-Pacific value chain as a "two-way trans-Pacific flow": U.S. labs first train cutting-edge models, Chinese labs absorb these capabilities and release open-weight models, then U.S. application companies further train on the Chinese models to build products sold to U.S. enterprises. However, despite surging usage, revenue has not accrued proportionally to Chinese model firms. Dimension summed this up in one sentence: "China is getting Western workloads, not Western revenue." Open-weight models can be deployed across multiple platforms, with U.S. inference firms like Fireworks, Baseten, and Modal capturing the bulk of service fees. Chinese models drive down costs, ultimately benefiting U.S. cloud providers, inference platforms, and AI application companies as well. Dimension’s final assessment is that it is no longer feasible to simply split China and U.S. AI into two separate systems. Hardware like chips is being decoupled: the U.S. faces constraints from power and grid infrastructure, while China lacks advanced chips. Yet models, data, inference services, and software frameworks continue to flow across borders. Debating "which side is winning the China-U.S. AI race" in simplistic terms no longer reflects the real industrial chain.
9 minutes ago
Midday close of A-shares: The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.2%, and the ChiNext Index dropped 1.29%.
This morning session of A-shares saw the three major indexes open lower, rebound in volatile trading, then retreat toward the end of the session. By midday close, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.2%, the Shenzhen Component Index dropped 1%, and the ChiNext Index declined 1.29%. The AI corpus sector moved higher amid volatility. The combined turnover of Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses in the morning session was approximately 1.31 trillion yuan, a decrease of around 112.1 billion yuan from the same period of the previous trading day.
9 minutes ago
Hyperliquid launches PONS perpetual contract, now trading at $0.33.
According to official announcements, Hyperliquid has launched Pons (PONS) perpetual contracts, with a maximum leverage of up to 3x. The current mark price is 0.32999, and the contract open interest stands at $524,866. The current funding rate for the PONS contract is -0.0823%.
Recent rapid advancements in quantum computing technology have brought the quantum threat back to the forefront of security concerns for cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin.
Therefore, many altcoin developers, especially Bitcoin developers, have started working on quantum resistant technology.
One of these altcoins is Tron, and its founder, Justin Sun, made statements regarding Bitcoin and Tron’s quantum roadmap.
Speaking at the ‘Bitcoin Asia 2026’ conference in Hong Kong, Justin Sun said that the TRON network is planned to be made resilient against quantum computing attacks by the end of the year.
Quantum Resistant Infrastructure Work Continues for TRON! Justin Sun stated that TRON has been working on quantum resistivity technology for about a year.
Sun stated that a quantum-resistant address system was implemented in the test network in the first half of 2026, and that the network is continuing to be prepared against future security threats that quantum computers may pose.
Sun also stated that he plans to switch to a quantum-resilient network by the end of this year.
“Tron is proactively improving its quantum computing response technology and plans to upgrade Tron to a quantum-resistive network by the end of this year.”
The Process for Bitcoin is More Complex! In contrast, Sun said that Bitcoin’s process of developing solutions against quantum threats could take longer.
Sun noted that Bitcoin has a highly decentralized ecosystem involving miners, cryptocurrency exchanges, WBTC, and many other stakeholders, which makes reaching a consensus on a common solution difficult.
*This is not investment advice.
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After its explosive August breakout, XRP is trying to create an entirely new market structure, but the most recent candles indicate that the initial phase of the rally has already cooled. After briefly hitting about $1.70 during the first breakout, XRP is currently trading close to $1.42. The technical picture as a whole is still much stronger than it was earlier in August, despite the significant rejection from that local high.
XRP crosses multiple thresholdsMost significantly, XRP is still trading above the daily chart's four major moving averages. The 200-day moving average is especially significant; it is currently at $1.35. Since XRP spent the majority of 2026 below this indicator, its recent rise above it is a significant technical shift.
XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewThe breakout structure does not change into another transient price spike as long as XRP stays in the $1.35–$1.40 range. Shorter moving averages offer much less support. The 50-day and 100-day averages are roughly $1.20 and $1.13, respectively, while the 20-day EMA is close to $1.24. After the quick rally, XRP is now somewhat extended, so further consolidation would not necessarily harm the bullish setup. Volume bolsters the move's importance as well.
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The breakout coincided with one of the biggest volume expansions the chart had seen in months. But as XRP entered consolidation, volume subsequently decreased, indicating that the initial surge of aggressive buying has abated. After recently rising above 80, RSI is still high at about 69.
Although the pullback from overbought territory is positive, it also suggests that momentum is returning to normal. The immediate resistance on the upside is $1.50. The route toward $1.60 and the most recent $1.70 peak could be reopened by a daily close above that level. However, another vertical rally is not necessarily required for XRP.
Long way for SHIBUnlike XRP, Shiba Inu has not yet completed the most significant portion of its technical reversal, despite having made significant progress since its August lows. After a strong move toward $0.00000620, SHIB is currently trading at about $0.00000530. The 200-day moving average, which is close to $0.00000572, is still above the token despite the rally pushing it well above its short- and medium-term moving averages.
SHIB/USDT Chart by TradinViewThe main technical challenge is now at that level. The rejection around $0.00000600–$0.00000620 demonstrates the need for caution in the current situation. Although buyers were able to break through the previous August range and momentarily challenge the long-term trend indicator, they were unable to sustain the advance.
Since then, SHIB has consolidated around $0.00000530. However, the underlying structure has improved. The 50-day average is close to $0.00000468, the 100-day moving average is close to $0.00000497, and the 20-day EMA is close to $0.00000499. The token now has a significant support cluster around $0.00000470–$0.00000500, as SHIB is trading above all three.
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Another positive signal comes from volume. Sharp increases in trading activity accompanied both of August's major rallies, but the most recent decline was accompanied by a drop in volume. This lessens the threat of the retreat compared to a large-scale sell-off. Additionally, momentum has stabilized without collapsing.
After momentarily entering overbought territory during the breakout, the daily RSI is currently at 58. As a result, SHIB can make another upward attempt without immediately running into the same momentum extremes. The critical level remains between $0.00000572 and $0.00000600. The current recovery could become a wider trend reversal if the 200-day moving average is reclaimed and held, with $0.00000620 as the next obvious target.
Can Stellar maintain the recovery?After an explosive comeback from the $0.155 area, Stellar is trying to maintain its most recent recovery, but XLM has reached the area of the chart where resistance becomes much harder to overcome. After briefly rising above $0.22 during the August rally, XLM is currently trading at about $0.184.
XLM/USDT Chart by TradingViewA significant portion of that spike was eliminated by the subsequent retracement, but buyers have so far kept the price from returning to its pre-breakout range. The 200-day moving average, which is currently at about $0.190, is the most immediate challenge.
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During the rally, XLM momentarily crossed this indicator but was unable to establish support above it. Because of this rejection, the main resistance zone is the $0.190–$0.200 range. The structure would be greatly enhanced by a strong daily close above $0.20, which might also bring $0.22 back into focus.
However, XLM has established a useful concentration of support below the current price. The 20-day EMA and 50-day moving average are close to $0.178 and $0.177, respectively, while the 100-day moving average is located around $0.182. As a result, a comparatively dense support zone is formed between $0.176 and $0.182. Maintaining that cluster is crucial.
The current retracement may continue to be a consolidation after the breakout rather than the start of another decline if buyers defend it. Momentum has already decreased significantly. After rising above 70 during the rally, RSI has fallen toward 54, eliminating most of the short-term overheating. Since the initial breakout surge, trading volume has also decreased.
Bitcoin makes a key reversalIn just a few days, Bitcoin went from about $63,000 to almost $80,000, making one of its strongest technical moves in months. Although the breakout has significantly improved the structure of Bitcoin, momentum is still severely stretched as the market enters a crucial resistance zone.
BTC/USDT Chart by TradingViewAfter briefly rising above $80,000, Bitcoin is currently trading around $79,360. The rally started with a clear breakout from the narrow range of $62,000 to $65,000 that dominated most of July and August. More significantly, during the advance, Bitcoin crossed all of the major moving averages displayed on the daily chart.
The most significant development is represented by the 200-day moving average close to $72,060. Since Bitcoin had been below this indicator for several months, the move through it represented a significant long-term technical improvement. The 50-day and 100-day moving averages are still at roughly $68,300 and $66,750, respectively, while the 20-day EMA has also accelerated toward $71,300.
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Although the gap between the spot price and those averages also shows how quickly BTC has moved, this arrangement provides Bitcoin with a significant support structure below its current price. RSI confirms that concern. Right now, the indicator is firmly in overbought territory, at about 77.
The current resistance zone is between $80,000 and $82,000. This region has already begun to produce resistance and coincides with Bitcoin's May local peak.
One of the biggest technical obstacles still standing would be removed by a clear breakout above $82,000, which could lead to much greater upside. The first area to watch is $76,000–$77,000 if Bitcoin fails there.
A deeper correction toward $72,000 would represent a more significant retest of the recently recovered 200-day average. Bitcoin's structure is now clearly stronger, but after an advance of about $17,000, either a clean breakout supported by fresh volume or consolidation below $82,000 will likely be necessary for further gains.
Bitcoin, XRP, Stellar, and Shiba Inu each experienced notable price swings, with several coins testing key technical thresholds following strong summer recoveries.
Bitcoin surges to multi-month highs but faces resistanceBitcoin staged one of its sharpest rallies in months, climbing from around $63,000 to nearly $80,000 in a brief span. This move broke Bitcoin free from a narrow trading range between $62,000 and $65,000 that had persisted through much of July and August. As the rally gathered momentum, Bitcoin decisively moved above its most significant daily moving averages.
The 200-day moving average, now at approximately $72,060, served as a major hurdle after Bitcoin spent several months trading below it. Surpassing this level marked a pivotal shift in the coin’s technical structure. The 50-day and 100-day averages have also been left behind, currently near $68,300 and $66,750, with the 20-day EMA rising to about $71,300. This group of indicators provides a substantial support cluster below Bitcoin’s spot value.
Currently changing hands at about $79,360, Bitcoin finds itself in an overbought zone, with the relative strength index (RSI) at 77. Immediate resistance is concentrated between $80,000 and $82,000, correlating closely with the coin’s May local peak. Observers indicate that breaking above $82,000 could unlock further upside, while a pullback to $76,000–$77,000 or even a retest of $72,000 is possible if sellers take control.
Right now, the indicator is firmly in overbought territory, at about 77. The current resistance zone is between $80,000 and $82,000.
LevelBitcoin PriceCurrent price$79,360200-day MA$72,060Resistance zone$80,000–$82,000Support (20–100 MA)$66,750–$71,300XRP maintains key supports after rallyXRP made headlines with an August breakout that sent the token as high as $1.70. Following a pullback, XRP now trades around $1.42, still well above levels earlier in the summer. Technically, XRP’s structure remains robust as it continues to trade above the daily chart’s four major moving averages. Its 200-day moving average now sits at $1.35, representing an important long-term indicator that had capped the price for much of 2026.
Shorter-term moving averages, including the 20-day EMA at $1.24, the 50-day at $1.20, and the 100-day at $1.13, provide additional support but are less decisive factors at the moment. Trading volume spiked during the initial rally then tapered off as XRP began consolidating, suggesting the initial phase of aggressive buying has cooled. The RSI, which had spiked to over 80, has now pulled back to 69.
A daily close above $1.50 would open the path for a move towards $1.60 and potentially the recent $1.70 peak. However, traders view additional consolidation in the $1.35–$1.40 range as a healthy development for now.
Shiba Inu and Stellar face key resistance zonesShiba Inu has shown improvement since its August lows, surging to $0.00000620 before settling around $0.00000530. Despite recovering above several short- and medium-term moving averages, SHIB remains under the 200-day average near $0.00000572. Overcoming this level remains SHIB’s main technical hurdle, with the $0.00000600–$0.00000620 range acting as immediate resistance. The recent decline in volume suggests that the pullback does not amount to a large-scale sell-off, while the RSI now stands at 58, giving the token room for another rally attempt.
For Stellar (XLM), the August recovery took the price from a low of $0.155 to an intraday peak above $0.22, before correcting back to about $0.184. The 200-day moving average at $0.190 is currently the key resistance, with a daily close above $0.20 considered essential to reestablish the upward trend. Below the spot price, support rests around the 20-day EMA and the 50- and 100-day moving averages in the $0.176–$0.182 range.
Momentum indicators confirm that both SHIB and Stellar have retreated from overbought levels. For Stellar, RSI has fallen from above 70 to 54, reducing the threat of near-term overheating. As both coins consolidate, traders are watching volume trends and support clusters for signs of the next major directional move.
Mini dictionary: Relative strength index (RSI) is a technical momentum indicator that measures the speed and change of price movements, typically used to identify overbought or oversold conditions.
Charles Schwab said Thursday it will add Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink to its retail crypto platform, and SOL rose 12.9% to lead the ten largest tokens. Ethena gained 21.9% after its research team proposed routing 95% of net revenue into ENA buybacks.
Bitcoin traded above $80,000 on Thursday as Charles Schwab told clients it will widen the list of tokens available in Schwab Crypto accounts, giving Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink access to a retail brokerage that has offered only bitcoin and ether since May.
The three named tokens outpaced the two Schwab already carries. SOL gained 12.9%, Chainlink 5.5% and Avalanche 3.6%, against 2.1% for bitcoin and 1.5% for ether. U.S. spot Solana ETFs have taken in $1.23 billion since launch and drew $3.6 million on Wednesday.
Bitcoin last changed hands at $80,020, up 2.1% over 24 hours and 10.4% over seven days, after trading between $78,294.85 and $80,793.49, CoinGecko data shows. It closed at $79,018 on Wednesday and had not settled above that level in the prior five sessions. Ether was at $2,504, up 1.5% on the day and 8% on the week. XRP added 6% to $1.46; Solana rose 12.9% to $109.13; BNB gained 1.6% to $710.12. Total crypto market value stood at $2.79 trillion, up 2.22% over 24 hours, on $99.4 billion of volume, with bitcoin dominance at 57.6%.
Among the 100 largest tokens, 71 are neither stablecoins nor tokenized funds or commodity tokens, and 63 of those rose on the day. Across the 150 largest, 16 non-stablecoin tokens declined.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index read 71, or greed, on Thursday, against 65 on Wednesday and 41 on Aug. 18, according to Alternative.me.
Three New TickersSchwab said in a press release on Thursday that Solana, Avalanche and Chainlink will become available in Schwab Crypto accounts in the coming months. The platform has carried bitcoin and ether since its rollout in May, which The Defiant covered at launch.
"These additions are consistent with our approach to provide clients with access to familiar cryptocurrencies backed by an ecosystem of education, tools, resources, and support to make informed decisions about how crypto might fit into their broader investing goals," said Joe Vietri, Head of Digital Assets at Charles Schwab.
The release gives no date and no client or asset figures. Schwab has separately told advisors it is targeting mid-2027 for spot trading and custody in its registered investment advisor channel, which The Defiant reported this year.
SOL traded between $96.47 and $109.67 over 24 hours on $7.43 billion of volume, its market value at $63.7 billion. Chainlink was at $11.89, up 5.5% on the day and 11.7% on the week. Avalanche was at $7.50, up 3.6% and 4.5%.
Ethena Wants 95%Ethena's research team posted a proposal to activate the ENA fee switch on the Ethena governance forum at 1:59 p.m. UTC on Thursday, and ENA rose 21.9% to $0.1669 on $1.79 billion of volume, its largest one-day gain among the 150 biggest tokens after VeChain.
The post ties the size of the buyback to the supply of Ethena's synthetic dollar. "the share of protocol revenue directed to ENA buybacks increases at each USDe circulating supply milestone," it reads. Once the first milestone is reached, "95% of the net revenue from each of these business lines...would be directed to ENA buybacks." The named business lines are USDe savings, whitelabel stablecoins and a third the post calls Ethena [X].
Buybacks do not begin on approval. "These milestones will be subject to an ENA tokenholder vote, which will follow immediately after this post," the proposal says, and no vote link had been posted in the thread as of Thursday afternoon.
USDe circulating supply stands at $4.05 billion, DefiLlama data shows, against the ">$6bn" supply threshold, one of three conditions the Risk Committee set in its November 2024 fee switch parameters. Ethena holds $4.49 billion of total value locked and generates $310 million of annualized fees, of which $5.3 million currently reaches the protocol as revenue.
The Defiant covered the first attempt to switch on the fee in September 2025 and Wintermute's original call for revenue sharing.
Solana Validators VoteSolana's first on-chain validator governance vote covers three proposals filed to the Solana Foundation's governance repository: SGP-0001, a Solana constitution authored by Nick Almond of Jito and Tushar Jain of Multicoin; SGP-0002, which raises the disinflation rate from -15% to -30% and cuts emissions by about 18.9 million SOL over six years; and SGP-0003, which endorses a base inclusion fee plus a fully burned resource fee.
The repository's stated policy requires no minimum turnout and sets passage at two-thirds of For plus Against stake, with a three-epoch voting period. The governance FAQ states a one-third quorum and counts abstentions in the denominator. No tally has been published.
Solana Company, the Nasdaq-listed treasury vehicle, disclosed its positions on Aug. 21: for SGP-0001, against SGP-0002 and against SGP-0003. "We strongly believe that institutional adoption is a critical driver of Solana's growth, and institutions make decisions based on consistent, predictable structures," Chairman and CEO Joseph Chee said in the statement.
DeFi Development Corp. said Thursday morning it bought about 19,000 SOL at an average $98.14, taking its holdings to roughly 2,333,432 SOL and SOL equivalents, according to its release. The purchase is worth about $1.9 million.
Hedges Roll Off FridayBitcoin options expire on Deribit on Friday, and one market maker says the hedging around that expiry has been adding to the advance.
"Around $6.4bn of Bitcoin options settle on Deribit on Friday, with max pain near $69,000 and spot some 13% above it. Most of the open interest is in calls, so the desks that sold them have been buying spot to stay hedged as price rises. That buying isn't a view on the market, it's an obligation, and it has been adding to the move rather than capping it," said Martin Lee, Market Insights Lead at DWF Labs, in emailed comments.
"The larger event is still the September quarterly, which carries around 65% more open interest and expires in the same week as the Senate's procedural vote on the market structure bill and the Fed decision," Lee said.
Lee's note also said core PCE arrives Friday. The Bureau of Economic Analysis published the July report on Wednesday. The PCE price index rose 0.2% on the month and 3.7% over 12 months, and the core index rose 0.2% and 3.3%, according to BEA.
The Defiant could not independently confirm the $6.4 billion notional or the $69,000 level. A partial read of Deribit's public order book summary for the Aug. 28 expiry showed larger open interest in puts than in calls.
The Kansas City Fed's Jackson Hole symposium runs Aug. 27-29 on the theme "Financial Innovation: Implications for Payments and Policy." The bank has not published a program or speaker list.
Polymarket put the odds of no change at the Sept. 15-16 meeting at 68% and a quarter-point increase at 31%, against 1.1% for a cut, on $54.7 million of volume. Senate cloture on the CLARITY Act ripens Sept. 15, and The Defiant reported this month that traders had pushed passage odds into 2027.
ETFs Keep BuyingU.S. spot bitcoin ETFs took in $232.2 million on Wednesday, bringing the week to $884.1 million, according to Farside Investors. BlackRock's IBIT accounted for $200.8 million of Wednesday's total and Grayscale's GBTC lost $50.4 million. Spot ether ETFs took in $192.4 million on Wednesday and $487.8 million over the three sessions. Thursday's figures publish after the U.S. close.
Spot Solana ETFs took in $3.6 million on Wednesday, down from $32.2 million on Tuesday and $33.5 million on Monday. Cumulative net flow into the six funds stands at $1.23 billion.
DeFi total value locked rose 1.91% over 24 hours to $88.94 billion, DefiLlama data shows. Stablecoin supply grew 0.78% over seven days to $303.9 billion and 0.41% over 30 days, adding roughly $2.4 billion on the week.
Treasury yields were little changed. The 30-year closed at 5.18% on Wednesday and the 10-year at 4.66%, against 5.23% and 4.70% on Monday, Treasury data shows. The two-year held at 4.19%. Thursday's rates publish after the close. The S&P 500 rose 0.72% to 7,730.99 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.57% to 26,541.35. The SPDR Gold Shares ETF added 0.27%.
VeChain Runs Without NewsTokenPrice24h7dVeChain (VET)$0.007230+24.1%+41.3%Ethena (ENA)$0.1669+21.9%+55.6%Official Trump (TRUMP)$2.57+15.8%+54.8%Solana (SOL)$109.13+12.9%+25.5%Lighter (LIT)$3.73+12.4%+40.6%Ribbita by Virtuals (TIBBIR)$0.2743+9.9%+19.1%VeChain was the largest gainer among the 100 biggest tokens, and no dated announcement accompanied the move. The most recent post on VeChain's site is dated Aug. 6 and covers VIP-255, an upgrade the project calls Interstellar that packages 11 Ethereum improvement proposals; voting on it ran Aug. 10-17 and the activation block is set for September. VTHO, the gas token minted by holding VET, rose 8.2% over the same 24 hours against VET's 24.1%.
Official Trump rose 15.8% with no project news. The token is 96.5% below the $73.43 it reached in January 2025 and set a record low of $1.37 on Aug. 13.
Lighter's LIT extended its run to 40.6% over seven days. Founder Vladimir Novakovski holds one of the 43 seats on the CFTC's Innovation Advisory Committee, which met for the first time on Aug. 20; the agency has published nothing since a readout on Aug. 21, and neither Lighter nor the CFTC has announced a U.S. perpetuals offering. Lighter processed $16.15 billion of perpetual volume over seven days against $633 million of total value locked, third among perpetual DEXs behind Hyperliquid and Aster.
Kamino's KMNO rose 19.6% and Cash Cat 18%, both outside the 150 largest tokens.
Stacks Gives BackTokenPrice24h7dStacks (STX)$0.2531-5.2%+80.6%Bitway (BTW)$0.3985-3.5%+0.7%JUST (JST)$0.09696-3.5%-9.1%Canton (CC)$0.1121-3.1%+11.8%Beldex (BDX)$0.08014-1.2%-1.8%HTX DAO (HTX)$0.051693-0.9%-2.4%Stacks was the largest decliner among the 150 biggest tokens after an 80.6% week, alongside Falcon Finance's FF at 5.8%. No adverse announcement accompanied the decline. Stacks said Thursday that HashKey Cloud will take part in the first Bitcoin Staking Genesis Bond, and announced BitGo support for sBTC on Tuesday and Fordefi custody on Monday.
"HashKey Cloud brings the largest institutional staking operation in Asia into Bitcoin Staking, and that is exactly the kind of participant the Genesis Bond is built for," said Muneeb Ali, Founder of Stacks. "Institutions want their Bitcoin to earn Bitcoin without giving up custody or moving it off the base layer."
The Genesis Bond launches around Sept. 10 and starts at Bitcoin block 966,350, according to Stacks. Dual stacking ends at the same block. Restaking participation stood at 88% of STX after the PoX-5 upgrade went live on July 31.
Canton, the largest token to fall, has no announcement dated this week. JUST and HTX DAO, both on Tron, were down over seven days as well.
Prices and market data as of 4:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 27, 2026.
Grayscale’s research arm warned this week that Bitcoin’s correlation with gold has climbed above 50%, a shift the asset manager frames as the return of the debasement trade.
The finding marks a sharp reversal from recent years, when Bitcoin frequently traded in step with growth stocks rather than hard assets.
How Grayscale Measured Bitcoin’s Shift Toward GoldIn a recent note, Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl reported that Bitcoin’s 90-day correlation with gold rose from near zero at the start of the year to above 50%. Over the same period, its correlation with the Nasdaq 100 slipped from more than 60% to roughly 33%.
Pandl said the shift may reflect renewed investor focus on Bitcoin’s scarcity, monetary independence, and role as a store of value, according to Grayscale’s ongoing research series. He stopped short of offering any specific price target tied to the finding.
“…As fiscal imbalances grow and investors reassess the long-term purchasing power of fiat currencies, Bitcoin can serve as a scarce, liquid alternative alongside gold. That combination of scarcity and differentiated return drivers can make Bitcoin a compelling addition to a modern diversified portfolio,” Grayscale Head of Research said.
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Bitcoin’s Correlation Is Shifting Toward Gold. Source: GrayscaleThe debasement trade refers to the argument that hard, supply-capped assets tend to appreciate as fiat currencies lose purchasing power over time.
That framing has gained traction as US federal debt has passed $40 trillion, with persistent fiscal deficits renewing attention on scarce alternatives to cash.
Why the Gold Correlation Shift MattersGold has already been on an extended bull run this year, reinforcing the narrative that investors are rotating toward traditional hedges against currency weakness.
Bitcoin’s rising correlation with gold, rather than tech stocks, suggests at least part of that flow may now be extending into digital assets as well. Pandl argued that Bitcoin and other scarce digital assets may be entering a more favorable market regime under these conditions.
Grayscale’s broader research this year has repeatedly linked Bitcoin’s price action to the debasement trade, including a January note that described the asset’s disconnect from currency weakness amid regulatory uncertainty.
“…Unchecked government debt growth undermines the credibility of fiat currencies and drives investors to seek out alternative stores of value like physical gold and certain cryptocurrencies—in digital assets we think the so-called “debasement trade” will primarily benefit Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Zcash…,” Pandl noted.
The finding, however, describes a company’s research view rather than a realized market outcome. Correlation measures how assets have moved together in the past, not where prices will head next, and a 90-day rolling window can shift quickly if market conditions change.
Bitcoin’s relationship with both gold and stocks has changed meaningfully within a single calendar year before, and Grayscale itself has highlighted periods when Bitcoin tracked tech stocks far more closely than precious metals.
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Grayscale believes that the evolution of US debt would favor Bitcoin, Ether, and Zcash. These three cryptos could benefit from significant demand for assets independent of fiat currencies. Indeed, this theory arises as federal debt has just exceeded 40 trillion dollars. However, it does not represent a current projection. A rate increase triggered by the US financing needs would also penalize the crypto ecosystem in the short term.
In Brief Grayscale bets on Bitcoin, Ether, and Zcash against the rise of US debt. US public debt exceeds 40 trillion dollars, increasing concerns about monetary dilution. Treasury bond buybacks support liquidity, without reducing the causes of debt. The rise in debt could favor cryptos long-term, but high rates risk penalizing them short-term. Grayscale selects BTC, ETH, and ZEC The research head at Grayscale, Zach Pandl, presented this analysis on August 26. For him, an uncontrolled increase in public debt can weaken confidence in national currencies and encourage investors to seek other stores of value.
He explains the selection by Grayscale as follows :
In cryptos, we believe that the hedge against monetary dilution will primarily benefit Bitcoin, Ether, and Zcash.
The characteristics of the chosen assets are as follows :
Bitcoin has a maximum supply capped at 21 million BTC ; Ether is used to pay for transactions and to secure Ethereum ; Zcash combines a limited supply of 21 million ZEC with optional confidential transactions. This hedge against monetary dilution (debasement trade) constitutes a strategy aimed at acquiring rare assets to protect against the loss of purchasing power of currencies. Historically, this theory concerns gold. Grayscale believes that some cryptos now fulfill a similar function.
However, the three cryptos do not have the same specifics. Indeed, Bitcoin and Zcash apply a predetermined issuance, while Ether does not have an absolute cap. Its supply mainly depends on new emissions granted to validators and the burning of part of the fees.
Predefined scarcity does not guarantee price stability either. Therefore, BTC, ETH, and ZEC remain volatile. Their progress also depends on available liquidity, regulation, institutional flows, and investors’ risk appetite.
Treasury buybacks do not necessarily reduce this liability Total US public debt exceeded 40 trillion dollars on August 18. Of this amount, nearly 32,266 billion dollars are held by the public while 7,782 billion dollars correspond to claims among various federal structures.
The US Treasury released, a few days later, an increase in its long-term bond buybacks. From September 9, the cap will rise from at least 2 to 4 billion dollars per transaction for securities with maturities between 10 and 30 years.
With these acquisitions, the Treasury can withdraw older, less liquid bonds and continue issuing new securities. They facilitate operations on the secondary market and reduce some yield tensions.
However, this transaction does not equate to debt repayment. The Treasury statement explicitly describes the measure as support for the bond market’s liquidity. It does not rectify the budget deficit nor the gap between federal expenditures and revenues. Grayscale considers then that these buybacks address the symptoms but not the root cause of the problem.
Debt supports Grayscale’s thesis without guaranteeing a rise The Congressional Budget Office projects a federal deficit of 1,900 billion dollars for the current 2026 fiscal year. This amount would reach 3,100 billion in 2036 if current legislative regulations generally remain unchanged.
Public debt held by the public could simultaneously rise from 101% of GDP in 2026 to 120% in 2036, according to CBO projections. Thus, interest-related charges would justify a significant part of this evolution.
This progression may consolidate the search for rare assets. It may also create the opposite effect in the short term. If the abundance of bond issuances keeps yields at a high level, risk-free investments become more attractive and capital cost increases. Investors may then reduce their exposure to cryptos.
Scheduled for November 4, the next US Treasury quarterly announcement will clarify the progress of the buyback program. Bond yields, the dollar, and flows to crypto products will help verify if the scenario indicated by Grayscale is truly beginning to materialize.
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Luc Jose A.
Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
Bitcoin has begun moving more closely with gold and less like a technology stock, according to Grayscale research published on Aug. 27, as renewed concerns about U.S. debt and fiscal deficits revive the “debasement trade.”
Summary
Bitcoin’s 90-day correlation with gold rose above 50% after starting the year near zero overall. Its Nasdaq 100 correlation fell to roughly 33% from more than 60% previously, Grayscale reported. U.S. gross federal debt crossed $40 trillion on August 18, according to Treasury Department data. Correlation measures co-movement, not causation, and can change quickly across different observation periods and markets. Pandl argued renewed scarcity demand could favor Bitcoin but presented no guaranteed price forecast publicly. Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl said Bitcoin’s 90-day correlation with gold has climbed above 50%. The measure stood barely above zero at the beginning of 2026.
Over the same period, Bitcoin’s correlation with the Nasdaq 100 fell from more than 60% to approximately 33%. Pandl argued that the change may show investors reconsidering Bitcoin as a scarce monetary asset rather than treating it primarily as a high-risk technology investment.
The figures describe recent price relationships, not permanent characteristics. Grayscale did not claim that rising federal debt directly caused the correlation change or guarantee that Bitcoin will continue following gold.
Bitcoin-gold correlation points to changing market behavior A correlation of 100% would mean two assets moved perfectly together, while zero would indicate no consistent relationship. A reading above 50% suggests a moderate positive relationship during the measured period.
Bitcoin’s rising gold correlation therefore means the two assets have moved in the same direction more frequently during recent sessions. It does not mean their returns, volatility or drawdowns were equal.
Grayscale: Bitcoin’s correlation with gold rises above 50% as “debasement trade” returns
Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl said Bitcoin’s 90-day correlation with the Nasdaq 100 has fallen from over 60% to roughly 33%, while its correlation with gold has risen from near… pic.twitter.com/gJjTcAYaFH
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 28, 2026 Gold has a longer history as a reserve asset and monetary hedge. Central banks hold it directly, and its price generally moves less sharply than Bitcoin. Bitcoin remains exposed to cryptocurrency leverage, exchange flows, regulation and changes in investor risk appetite.
The 90-day window also matters. Correlations can produce different readings when calculated across 30 days, one year or an entire market cycle. A sharp market event can materially change a short rolling measurement.
Pandl framed the current shift as a possible “regime change,” rather than a confirmed structural break. Sustained evidence would require Bitcoin’s relationship with gold to remain elevated across longer periods and varied market conditions.
Nasdaq correlation falls as the AI trade weakens For much of the previous year, Bitcoin moved alongside high-growth technology companies during an artificial intelligence-driven rally. Lower interest-rate expectations and abundant liquidity supported both crypto assets and the Nasdaq 100.
That relationship has recently weakened. A fall in the 90-day correlation from above 60% to about 33% indicates Bitcoin has become less tightly linked to large technology stocks, according to Grayscale’s research.
The shift coincided with a period in which bond markets became volatile and investors reassessed long-term U.S. borrowing costs. Bitcoin recovered from $62,679 on Aug. 17 to approximately $79,500 on Aug. 21, producing a 27% five-day advance.
As crypto.news previously reported, the rally coincided with Treasury buyback changes and heavy spot ETF demand. Short liquidations and a weaker dollar also contributed, making it difficult to assign the move to one macroeconomic factor.
Bitcoin subsequently surrendered part of that gain. The pullback showed that stronger gold correlation does not remove the asset’s short-term volatility.
U.S. debt revives the Bitcoin debasement trade The debasement trade describes demand for assets perceived as resistant to declining fiat-currency purchasing power. Gold has traditionally filled that role, while Bitcoin’s fixed issuance limit has created a digital alternative.
Bitcoin has no central issuer and carries a maximum supply of 21 million coins. Its issuance schedule is transparent, although its market price remains highly variable.
U.S. gross federal debt crossed $40 trillion on Aug. 18, reaching approximately $40.05 trillion, according to Treasury data. The total reached about $40.10 trillion by Aug. 25.
The Congressional Budget Office projects a $1.9 trillion federal deficit for fiscal 2026. It expects annual deficits to expand under current law as interest costs, mandatory spending and borrowing requirements increase.
Grayscale argued that persistent deficits and higher long-term yields could encourage investors to seek scarce assets outside the government monetary system. That is an investment thesis, however, and does not prove that debt growth will automatically lift Bitcoin.
BlackRock has made a similar case. In related coverage, its digital-assets head said rising U.S. debt strengthens Bitcoin’s long-term investment case, while cautioning that the asset’s performance depends on several market drivers.
What could confirm or reverse the correlation shift The next evidence will come from Bitcoin’s behavior during renewed stress in stocks and bonds. Continued gains alongside gold while technology shares weaken would support Grayscale’s interpretation.
A simultaneous decline with the Nasdaq during a broad risk-off event would instead suggest that Bitcoin still behaves primarily as a volatile risk asset. ETF flows, dollar strength, real yields and derivatives positioning may also affect that relationship.
Investors must also watch whether the Bitcoin-gold correlation remains above 50% as the 90-day calculation adds new observations. Rolling correlations can reverse even when the broader fiscal backdrop remains unchanged.
Pandl said Bitcoin and other scarce digital assets “may be entering a more favorable regime.” The wording makes the outlook conditional. It describes a possible allocation shift, not a confirmed price trajectory.
For now, the data show that Bitcoin has recently behaved less like the Nasdaq 100 and more like gold. Whether that marks a durable monetary role will depend on performance across a longer period than one 90-day window.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Bitcoin has surged above $80,000 in recent days. While some analysts argue this rise signals an early bull run, the latest assessment comes from Grayscale Research Head Zach Pandl.
Zach Pandl, discussing the correlation between Bitcoin and gold, noted a remarkable shift in Bitcoin’s behavior in the markets.
At this point, Pandl noted that Bitcoin’s 90-day correlation with gold had risen from near zero at the beginning of the year to over 50%, while its correlation with the Nasdaq 100 had fallen from over 60% to approximately 33%.
According to Pandl, this shift indicates that investors are beginning to re-approach Bitcoin not just as a high-risk technology asset, but as an asset with scarcity, monetary independence, and a store of value.
Loss Trading is Back on the Agenda! Pandl stated that one of the key factors behind the strengthening relationship between Bitcoin and gold is the US fiscal outlook.
According to Pandl, the US federal debt exceeding $40 trillion, ongoing budget deficits, and rising long-term Treasury bond yields are reigniting investor concerns about the dollar’s long-term purchasing power. In this environment, “depreciation trading,” which refers to a shift towards scarce assets to hedge against currency devaluation, is gaining prominence again.
In this context, Pandl points out that Bitcoin stands out as a scarce asset that can be valued alongside gold in such an environment, due to its lack of a central issuer, transparent supply rules, and a maximum supply limited to 21 million units.
The Grayscale executive concluded by adding that current macroeconomic conditions could create a more favorable market environment for Bitcoin and other scarce digital assets.
*This is not investment advice.
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Bitcoin has broken back above $80,000, turning the crypto market into a full-volume arena once again. The rally has spilled into major altcoins, with Solana among the standout performers and BNB holding near the $700 mark. Bitcoin recently reached a three-month high above $80,000, while Solana has also posted a sharp recent advance, giving fresh fuel to the altcoin season 2026 narrative.
But the biggest opportunity may not always be sitting at the top of the leaderboard. Apeing is building anticipation before its upcoming crypto presale, with the whitelist now open and limited spots available. The project is expected to launch in the coming weeks, while early-to-mid September is being discussed as a possible timeframe rather than a confirmed date. With Stage 1 planned at $0.0001 and a projected listing price of $0.01, $APEING is creating serious early-stage attention before the wider market gets its shot.
Apeing Whitelist Gains Momentum Ahead of the Crypto Presale Table of Contents
Apeing is entering the market at a stage where early positioning is the entire story. The upcoming crypto presale is not live yet; instead, the project is currently accepting whitelist registrations ahead of launch. Joining the whitelist is designed to provide early access to the upcoming token offering and email updates about official launch timing. That direct communication gives potential participants a clearer route to verified project information instead of relying on scattered social posts or market rumors.
The numbers are where the excitement really starts to accelerate. Stage 1 is planned at $0.0001, with limited tokens expected to be allocated during the earliest phase, while the stated listing target is $0.01. That difference represents a theoretical 100x increase, or approximately 9,900% upside before fees and other considerations. Some promotional materials describe the opportunity as potentially delivering over 10,000% ROI, but that figure is a projection, not a guarantee. The appeal of $APEING comes from getting positioned before launch rather than chasing a move after it has already happened.
How to Join the Apeing Whitelist To join the Apeing Whitelist, visit the official website and complete the registration form using verified project links.
Check your email for confirmation and launch updates. Stage 1 is planned at $0.0001 with limited allocation. The projected listing price is $0.01. The official launch date has not been confirmed. Early-to-mid September is only a rumored timeframe. Registering early may help you receive updates before the official launch.
BNB ($BNB): The $700 Level Keeps Traders Watching BNB remains one of the crypto market’s major established assets, supported by the broad BNB Chain ecosystem and extensive utility across decentralized applications, trading, and blockchain services. On August 26, BNB was trading around the high-$690s to low-$700s, keeping the token near a psychologically important price zone. Its recent strength has placed BNB firmly among the large-cap cryptocurrencies attracting attention as market sentiment improves.
For anyone checking the BNB price today, the key question is whether buyers can sustain the latest momentum and push beyond nearby resistance. A successful move above major resistance could strengthen the bullish case, while rejection could lead to another period of consolidation. With strong ecosystem activity and established market liquidity, BNB remains a major asset to monitor as altcoin season 2026 develops.
Solana ($SOL): A Fresh Rally Sparks New Price Predictions Solana continues to command attention as one of the leading high-performance blockchain networks. Its fast transaction speeds, growing developer ecosystem, and expanding presence across decentralized finance, applications, and other blockchain sectors have helped SOL remain a major altcoin. The token recently moved above the $100 area, adding fresh momentum to an already closely watched asset.
That rally has reignited the Solana price prediction debate, with traders watching whether SOL can establish lasting support around recently reclaimed levels. Sustained buying pressure could keep the bullish narrative alive, while a sharp rejection could bring increased volatility. As altcoin season 2026 develops, Solana’s combination of network activity, ecosystem growth, and market momentum keeps SOL firmly on the radar.
Conclusion: Could Apeing Be the Crypto Presale to Watch? BNB, Solana, and Apeing each bring something different to the table. BNB offers established utility and deep market liquidity, while Solana combines a major ecosystem with renewed price momentum. Apeing is taking the early-stage route, building its community and whitelist before its upcoming crypto presale begins. That creates three distinct crypto narratives as investors look toward altcoin season 2026.
Apeing’s whitelist is currently open, with limited Stage 1 allocation planned at $0.0001 and a projected $0.01 listing target. The theoretical upside is substantial, but it remains a projection rather than a promise of returns. With the launch expected in the coming weeks and early-to-mid September only a rumored timeframe, joining the whitelist now provides access to early information before the official launch. The countdown may not have an official date yet, but the $APEING story is already gaining momentum.
For More Information: Website: Visit the Official Apeing Website
Telegram: Join the Apeing Telegram Channel
Twitter: Follow Apeing ON X (Formerly Twitter)
Frequently Asked Questions about the Crypto Presale What is the Apeing crypto presale? Apeing’s upcoming crypto presale is a planned token launch currently preceded by a whitelist phase. The whitelist offers early access information and email updates regarding launch timing and participation opportunities.
How can someone join the Apeing Whitelist? Interested participants can join by completing the official Apeing whitelist registration process. Registration is intended to provide early access information and email updates as the project moves toward its upcoming launch.
What is the Apeing Stage 1 price? The planned Stage 1 price for $APEING is $0.0001, while the projected listing price is $0.01. These figures indicate potential upside but do not guarantee future market performance.
Is BNB a good coin to watch during altcoin season 2026? BNB remains an established cryptocurrency with significant ecosystem utility, liquidity, and market recognition. Its recent strength around the $700 level keeps it firmly on the radar as traders monitor altcoin season 2026.
What is the latest Solana price prediction? Solana’s recent move above $100 has renewed bullish price discussions. Future performance will depend on market conditions, ecosystem activity, liquidity, investor demand, and whether SOL can sustain its latest momentum.
Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.
Charles Schwab, one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, has introduced a framework dividing five major digital assets based on their roles and risk profiles in investment portfolios. Adam Lynch, director of global equity research at Charles Schwab, outlined the firm’s approach, emphasizing the distinct functions and risk levels of each cryptocurrency.
Asset categorization in the Schwab crypto strategySchwab’s digital asset strategy positions Bitcoin and Ethereum as core portfolio components. Lynch characterized Bitcoin as a “classic debasement hedge,” highlighting its use in scenarios where fiat currency faces declining purchasing power. He noted that concerns about inflation and currency debasement justify Bitcoin’s presence in diversified investment portfolios.
Ethereum, though also discussed in relation to themes of currency debasement, is credited by Lynch as having broader functionality within the blockchain ecosystem. He pointed to Ethereum’s ability to support decentralized applications and smart contracts, distinguishing it from Bitcoin’s primary role as a store of value.
In contrast, Lynch classified Solana, XRP, and Hyperliquid as higher-volatility assets within the Schwab approach. He suggested these coins serve as complementary allocations, with their greater price fluctuations positioning them as higher-risk investments compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Lynch explained, “Each asset category in our strategy serves a unique role. We do not treat cryptocurrencies as a single, undifferentiated asset class.”
Schwab’s strategy differentiates between core assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and higher-volatility options such as Solana, XRP, and Hyperliquid, aiming to create diversified exposure while managing risk.
This tailored asset division reflects Charles Schwab’s broader philosophy of employing asset-specific investment theses and not viewing the crypto market as a monolith.
Expansion of digital asset offeringThe evolution of Schwab’s crypto strategy aligns with continued platform development. The company recently announced the addition of Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink to its crypto trading offerings. This move expands the available assets and provides clients with more choices beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Solana, Avalanche, and Chainlink are each prominent blockchain protocols, with Solana known for its high-speed, low-cost transaction network; Avalanche notable for its customizable blockchain infrastructure; and Chainlink serving as a leading decentralized oracle network.
Mini dictionary: Hyperliquid is a decentralized perpetual trading protocol that offers zero-gas, instant transactions and utilizes off-chain order books for improved speed and efficiency compared to traditional on-chain decentralized exchanges.
Recent filings show Goldman Sachs holds the largest reported institutional position in Solana ETFs, investing $88 million. However, reporting requirements do not capture all institutional holders, suggesting real Wall Street exposure to Solana could be higher.
AssetCategoryRecent Schwab ActionBitcoinCoreDirect trading enabledEthereumCoreDirect trading enabledSolanaHigher volatilityAdded to platformAvalancheHigher volatilityAdded to platformChainlinkHigher volatilityAdded to platformXRPHigher volatilityStrategic assetHyperliquidHigher volatilityStrategic assetMarket context and recent price movesSchwab’s updated crypto strategy arrives amid heightened volatility in cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin’s price fell below $77,000 after US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh delivered hawkish comments at the Jackson Hole conference, signaling a potential tightening of monetary policy and the likelihood of interest rate hikes.
With inflation in the United States remaining above the central bank’s 2% target for 65 consecutive months, forecasts of an imminent easing in monetary policy have become less likely. Warsh’s consistently hawkish stance since taking office has contributed to persistent uncertainty in financial markets.
Charles Schwab’s strategy, which attributes unique roles to each cryptocurrency, seems to be a response to both structural developments in the digital asset space and ongoing macroeconomic pressures from monetary authorities.
George Town, Cayman Islands, 25th August 2026, ChainwireBy Chainwire
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THORChain, a decentralized exchange, announced the launch of THORChain 3.20, an upgrade introducing native support for Monero (XMR) and Zcash (ZEC) swaps.
Until now, moving between privacy coins such as XMR or ZEC and the crypto market has required users to rely on centralized exchanges, custodial services, or additional intermediary steps. With THORChain 3.20, users can natively swap XMR and ZEC against assets including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and stablecoins directly through THORChain.
No wrapped versions of XMR or ZEC are required. Users do not need to create an account or hand custody of their assets to a centralized entity. This is a significantly more direct route between privacy-focused cryptocurrencies and the most widely used assets in crypto.
For Monero holders, access to the broader crypto market has become an increasingly important issue as XMR continues to be removed or restricted by centralized exchanges. THORChain’s integration provides an alternative based on native assets and self-custody rather than requiring users to deposit their coins with an exchange.
The release is one of THORChain’s most significant upgrades to date. In addition to Monero and Zcash integration, version 3.20 introduces several broader changes to the protocol, including Protocol-Owned Liquidity (POL) and the new Stable Reserve, alongside renewed support for Solana, Base, and BNB. The Stable Reserve introduces stablecoin-to-stablecoin swaps with no liquidity fees, and Protocol-Owned Liquidity gives THORChain additional mechanisms for deploying protocol capital across the network.
The move builds on THORChain’s core proposition of allowing users to exchange native cryptocurrencies across otherwise disconnected blockchain networks without handing control of their assets to an intermediary.
THORChain already enables native cross-chain swaps across assets including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The addition of privacy-focused networks expands that model into an area of the crypto market where decentralized access has been far more limited until today.
About THORChain
THORChain is a decentralized exchange that enables users to swap native digital assets across different blockchain networks without relying on wrapped assets or centralized custodians. It allows users to exchange assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported cryptocurrencies while maintaining a self-custodial experience.
Following its listing on Binance derivatives, the token "牛来" extended its strong run, with its market capitalization surging past $140 million to reach a new all-time high.
According to GMGN market data, after launching on Binance Futures in the evening, BSC-based meme coin "Niu Lai" has shown strong performance, with its market cap briefly surging past $140 million to hit an all-time high. It is now trading at $130 million, up over 159% in the past 24 hours, with a 24-hour trading volume of $63.6 million. BlockBeats reminds users that most meme coins have no real use cases, experience significant price volatility, and caution is required for investments.
5 hours ago
Serenity intensifies its bullish stance on Macronix: DDR3 price hikes have far exceeded sell-side expectations, average selling price (ASP) revised up to double sequentially, and operating leverage is fully unlocked.
Serenity published a report analyzing the sell-side research on ESMT (Jinghao Ke, stock code 3006). In March, South China Securities projected ESMT’s Q2 DDR3 4Gb contract price would rise around 50% quarter-on-quarter, while Fubon Securities forecast DRAM prices would increase 40% quarter-on-quarter. By August, South China Securities had revised ESMT’s Q2 aggregate ASP upward to a 105% to 113% quarter-on-quarter rise, explicitly stating DDR3’s price increase was “significantly better than expected”. Serenity argues that the price hike in niche memory chips is no longer just a revenue story, but a major profit amplifier, with operating leverage stretched to an extreme. Powerchip’s wafer costs may double in the second half of the year, and customers’ willingness to absorb cost pass-through has far exceeded expectations. ESMT’s single-month net profit in July was around $109 million, far exceeding earlier model assumptions. Roughly annualized, this values the stock at as low as a 1.9x P/E ratio. DDR3 is mainly used in products like IP cameras and hard drives. Memory chips account for a very small share of customers’ total bill of materials (BOM), so even a few dollars more per chip is far cheaper than the cost of redesigning and re-certifying products, making demand relatively inelastic. The consensus view is that peers are shifting production capacity to high-value products like HBM and DDR5, leading to structural tightening in DDR3 and DDR2 supply.
5 hours ago
Analysis: BTC marks the third time in history of significant underperformance relative to the Nasdaq, with both prior instances seeing strong, independent rallies.
Analyst Rekt Fencer has published a 3-day ratio chart of Bitcoin (BTC) and the Nasdaq, marking three major drawdowns: roughly -84.9% in 2018, -80.7% in 2022, and the current -54.3% in 2026. The analyst pointed out that after Bitcoin underperformed the Nasdaq by such wide margins in the prior two instances, it went on to post very strong independent rallies, with prices surging sharply thereafter. With the current ratio dropping significantly again, history may repeat for the third time: the bottom is approaching, and BTC will regain strength going forward.
5 hours ago
Perspective: On-chain retail Bitcoin (BTC) activity has hit a two-year high, and the minor pullback appears more like position rotation rather than a market top.
CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost stated that on-chain retail Bitcoin activity has reached a two-year high. The current slight pullback from the $80,000 level is more of a rotation than a market top, Bitcoin’s medium-term demand remains strong, and investor demand for the cryptocurrency has increased by 17.4% over the past 30 days.
5 hours ago
Trump: Will Fill U.S. National Strategic Petroleum Reserve With Venezuelan Oil
US President Trump announced that the United States will fill its national strategic reserve with Venezuelan oil, and the process to replenish the reserve to full capacity will begin soon.
Bitcoin (BTC) has flipped into a new bull market regime, according to CryptoQuant, after its Bull Score surged from 30 to 80 in a single week. The firm calls it the fastest reversal in a year.
One hurdle remains before the shift becomes official. Bitcoin must close above its 365-day moving average, which sits near $83,000 today.
Bitcoin just entered a new bull market.
Bull Score: 30 → 80 in a week, the fastest flip in a year.
$83K is the only thing left standing in the way. pic.twitter.com/7nD1bb14QM
— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) August 25, 2026 Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
A 24% Rally Rebuilds the Bitcoin Bull Market CaseBitcoin has climbed 24% since Monday, August 17, touching an intraday peak of $81,272 on Binance. That marks its highest level since May 15, 2026. At press time, BTC traded near $79,224, up 1.9% over 24 hours, according to BeInCrypto market data.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: TradingViewTwo macro catalysts drove the move. The US Treasury said it will double long-term bond buybacks to at least $4 billion per operation from September 9. Markets also rallied after Trump’s Bitcoin purchase hint suggested Washington may buy BTC directly.
CryptoQuant’s Bull Score, a composite of 10 on-chain and market metrics, now reads its most bullish since October 6, 2025, when Bitcoin traded at $124,000. Eight of the 10 inputs currently flash green.
CryptoQuant Bull Score Index chart. Source: CryptoQuantDemand data supports the shift. Apparent spot demand is growing at its fastest monthly pace since late December. Spot and futures demand are also expanding together for the first time since early October 2025. BeInCrypto recently examined similar crypto demand signals that had yet to confirm
“Market regime has switched to Bull for Bitcoin. Basically all metrics are pointing to the initial phase of a new bull market… Bitcoin’s price still has to cross above its 365-day MA ($83K today) for the bull market to be ‘officially’ confirmed,” Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant, added, suggesting that the data looks constructive but incomplete.
Overheating Signals Cloud the $83,000 Confirmation TestThe same report warns that the market looks stretched in the short term. Trader unrealized profit margins spiked to 20.5%, the highest since June 2025.
Meanwhile, whales realized a record $614 million in profits on August 20. Exchange inflows for BTC, Ethereum (ETH), and XRP have also jumped, a pattern that often precedes selling pressure.
Bitcoin Bull Score Signals Including Inter-Exchange Flow Pulse. Source: CryptoQuantBroader risk appetite also leans bullish, with asset managers holding nearly $375 billion in long S&P 500 futures, close to record highs. Their emerging and developed market exposure also sits at or near records.
Institutional investors are extremely bullish worldwide:
Long positioning in the S&P 500 futures among asset managers is up to ~$375 billion, near its highest level on record.
This is just ~$20 billion below the peak posted in May 2026.
Since April 2025, bullish bets by asset… pic.twitter.com/gVxKLJhlvm
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) August 25, 2026 The rally follows Bitcoin’s strongest weekly close since 2024. Confirmation now depends on a decisive close above $83,000. The other question is whether rising exchange inflows deliver the correction Moreno flagged.
Stacks [STX] is up more than 23%, leading all top 100 cryptos by market cap in terms of daily gains. The altcoin broke from a descending channel last week, thanks to a broader crypto market rebound.
Stacks, a Bitcoin [BTC] Layer 2 solution, is benefiting from the surge in prices of BTC. Bitcoin broke the $80,000 wall, prompting market-wide strength.
The continuous expansion of Bitcoin’s utility, especially the staking feature, has driven Stacks’ prices. In fact, the social mentions of STX increased by 31.7% this week, as per LunarCrush. Here is why:
Decoding Stacks’ network usage Recently, Stacks announced that self-custodial Bitcoin staking would go live with the Genesis Bond on the 10th of September. The upgrade allows holders to earn BTC-denominated yield while their coins stay in Bitcoin’s base layer under their own keys.
Thus, Bitcoin holders will finally get productive capital without giving up custody or leaving BTC’s security models.
As a result, network usage has spiked as participants embrace this BTC utility. The Total Value Locked (TVL) slowly increased from $83 million to $102 million in six days.
However, DEX volume more than doubled in the same period. It grew from $960K to $2.18 million, as per DefiLlama.
Source: DefiLlama To reinforce this spike in network usage, Chain Fees told a story. They increased by almost 10x, from $339 to $3,139, indicating network congestion.
On top of the fundamental upgrades, chain activity data indicates STX prices may continue rising. Is the technical outlook in agreement?
Can STX bulls print a new YTD high soon? After the trend channel breakout, the uptrend hinged on staying above $0.2260, which is the support level coinciding with the 200-day EMA. Usually, staying above it means that the market structure is bullish.
However, previous STX crypto price prediction analysis indicated that $0.26 was a crucial level for STX’s rally. It stood as a key supply zone but has been truly tested by bulls who are determined to breach it. The previous $0.17 supply zone was easily taken out.
For STX to surpass this year’s peak at $0.4019, which is 38% away from current prices, it needs to clear the $0.26-$0.30 zone. Interestingly, the momentum is present and growing, with a reading of 0.1497.
Source: STX/USDT on TradingView Otherwise, if bears at the $0.30 supply zone outweigh bulls, STX may revert to its current mean position at $0.2260. If the 200-day EMA breaks down, it may invalidate the current bullish market structure shift.
Final Summary Stacks rallied over 23%, leading daily gains among the top 100 cryptos by market cap, thanks to the expanding utility of Bitcoin. STX flipped the 200-day EMA into support, but bulls were struggling to break the $0.30 supply zone.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Stacks is teasing another institutional participant joining its Bitcoin staking program this week, building on momentum from a protocol upgrade that lets big players earn yield on BTC without ever giving up custody of their coins.
The announcement, shared on social media, follows the platform’s PoX-5 upgrade that went live on July 29, 2026, and the onboarding of UTXO Management as the inaugural institutional staker back in late May. With a Genesis Bond launch expected in late August, Stacks appears to be stacking up commitments at a deliberate pace.
How Bitcoin staking on Stacks actually works Bitcoin holders lock their BTC on Layer 1 using a timelock script, meaning the coins never leave the Bitcoin blockchain. They then pair that locked Bitcoin with a small amount of STX, Stacks’ native token, creating what the protocol calls a “protocol bond.” The Bitcoin stays under the holder’s control the entire time.
The yield target sits at roughly 3% APY in BTC, paid out over six-month periods. That return comes from miner bids through the Proof-of-Transfer mechanism, not from lending or rehypothecation. The initial institutional capacity has been capped at approximately 3,000 BTC during what Stacks calls a “managed bootstrap phase.”
The PoX-5 upgrade and institutional infrastructure The PoX-5 hard fork passed its governance vote with over 99.99% approval in July 2026. The upgrade was codified through two Stacks Improvement Proposals, SIP-044 and SIP-045, and activated on July 29 to coincide with a Bitcoin block milestone.
Stacks integrated with Fireblocks in June 2026 to handle institutional custody requirements. UTXO Management, the asset management arm of Nakamoto Inc., became the first institution to commit BTC to the program on May 28, 2026, locking a portion of its Bitcoin holdings while keeping them on Layer 1.
Why institutions care about BTC-denominated yield The Genesis Bond, expected to launch in late August 2026, will serve as the first formal institutional Bitcoin bonding event on the platform, giving institutions a clear entry point with defined terms.
The cadence of announcements — one inaugural staker in May, infrastructure integrations in June, a protocol upgrade in July, and now a second institution ahead of the Genesis Bond in August — suggests Stacks is executing a deliberately sequenced rollout designed to build confidence before scaling up.
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Stacks’ growing role in Bitcoin DeFi could strengthen demand for STX, positioning the token as a high-potential Bitcoin investment.
Summary
STX draws demand from Stacks network fees, BTC rewards through Stacking, and potential Bitcoin Staking capacity. Stacks positions STX as a higher-beta Bitcoin play, with token demand linked to Bitcoin-native apps, Stacking, and future staking. STX’s investment case rests on growing Bitcoin activity on Stacks, with network utility and Bitcoin Staking driving potential demand. The strongest crypto investment cases usually begin with a simple question: what creates demand for the token beyond speculation?
For STX crypto, the answer comes from a growing set of roles tied to Stacks (STX), a Bitcoin layer built for smart contracts and Bitcoin-native financial applications. STX pays network fees, participates in the Proof of Transfer consensus system, can earn rewards paid in BTC through Stacking, and is set to serve as the capacity asset for Stacks’ proposed self-custodial Bitcoin Staking product.
That combination places the STX token in a different category from assets whose utility depends mainly on governance or incentive emissions. Its investment case rests on whether Stacks can attract more Bitcoin capital and activity, then translate that growth into recurring demand for STX. That gives STX a potential role as a higher-beta Bitcoin play. Its price can respond to changes in the broader Bitcoin market while adding exposure to the growth of Bitcoin-native applications on Stacks. This can amplify upside when both narratives strengthen, but it can also increase downside volatility.
The opportunity is large, but execution remains the key variable. Bitcoin currently carries a market capitalization of roughly $1.32 trillion, while Stacks has about $86 million in DeFi total value locked and STX trades at a market capitalization of roughly $300 million. Bitcoin Staking, arguably the most important future demand driver in the STX thesis, was still operating on a private testnet as of July 16, 2026.
What STX actually does in the Stacks economy Stacks extends Bitcoin with smart contracts and financial applications while using Bitcoin as its settlement layer. STX is the native asset that keeps that economy operating.
Its utility can be divided into three main functions.
The first is transaction fees. Every transaction executed on Stacks requires STX, including swaps, lending activity and smart-contract interactions. That creates a straightforward relationship between network activity and demand for the token as gas.
The second is Stacking, the network’s existing mechanism for earning BTC rewards. STX holders can temporarily lock their tokens and participate in the Proof of Transfer system, or PoX. Stacks miners commit BTC while competing to produce blocks and receive newly issued STX rewards. The BTC committed by miners is then distributed to eligible Stackers.
That structure separates Stacking from many conventional proof-of-stake models. The rewards paid to Stackers come in Bitcoin rather than newly issued STX. New STX issuance still exists, but Stacking rewards themselves come from the BTC that miners commit through PoX.
The third function is still being developed. Under the proposed Bitcoin Staking system, BTC holders would create protocol bonds by locking BTC on Bitcoin Layer 1 and pairing it with an STX commitment worth approximately 5% of the BTC position. STX would therefore determine how much Bitcoin Staking capacity a participant can access.
Together, those roles give STX three distinct sources of potential demand: network transactions, existing Stacking participation and future Bitcoin Staking capacity.
In May this year, UTXO Management allocated BTC to Bitcoin Stacking on Stacks as its inaugural institutional participant. The integration enables institutional BTC holders to earn BTC-denominated yield without moving assets off the Bitcoin base layer.
Stacks also attracted early backing from investors including Union Square Ventures, Digital Currency Group, Lux Capital, Winklevoss Capital and Naval Ravikant. STX exposure is available through the Grayscale Stacks Trust, while 21Shares operates a physically backed Stacks ETP that incorporates Stacking rewards. STX is also currently included among assets tracked in the Coinbase 50 Index category.
Those products do not guarantee adoption or price appreciation. They do, however, provide investment and custody routes that many smaller tokens lack.
STX tokenomics offer strengths, but supply is not fixed Any serious STX price prediction needs to address the supply side rather than focusing only on potential demand.
One favorable feature is the limited gap between reported circulating supply and current total supply. CoinMarketCap recently reported approximately 1.815 billion STX in circulation, while market data providers showed market capitalization and fully diluted valuation at nearly identical levels. That means STX does not currently carry the kind of large reported circulating-to-total-supply gap often associated with future venture or team token cliffs.
At the same time, describing STX as having a fully fixed or fully distributed supply would be inaccurate.
STX has no hard maximum supply. The network continues issuing tokens through its mining reward schedule, and supply parameters can change through the Stacks Improvement Proposal governance process. The Stacks Foundation also notes that separate ecosystem treasury emissions were introduced through SIP-031.
An indicative comparison shows why headline inflation figures need context:
AssetIndicative annual issuance or inflationImportant contextSTX~1.45% base miner issuanceExcludes separate treasury emissions and possible future PoX-5 changesETH~0.52% gross issuance reference rateNet supply growth can fall below zero because transaction fees are burnedSOL~3.82% protocol inflationJune 2026 rate cited in current Solana governance researchBTC~0.82% estimated issuanceFixed issuance schedule continues declining through programmed halvings How STX generates BTC yield, and Bitcoin staking changes the demand equation The most established utility behind STX is its ability to generate Bitcoin-denominated rewards through Proof of Transfer.
Unlike a staking system that creates more of the same token to reward participants, PoX connects two different assets. Miners compete for the right to produce Stacks blocks by committing Bitcoin and receive STX block rewards plus transaction fees. Eligible STX Stackers receive BTC from that miner activity.
Stacks says the mechanism has distributed more than 4,200 BTC to stakers since the network launched PoX in January 2021. The figure demonstrates that BTC-denominated rewards are not merely a planned feature; although actual returns for individual participants vary with miner commitments, the amount of STX participating and the chosen Stacking method.
The current Stacking dashboard recently displayed a reward APY of about 7.17%, based on the previous full cycle, alongside more than 581 million STX locked. That rate changes between cycles and should not be treated as a guaranteed return.
Bitcoin Staking would expand the same economic system to BTC holders.
In its planned self-custodial configuration, participants would lock Bitcoin directly on Bitcoin Layer 1 using a timelock while retaining control of their keys. They would then pair the BTC with STX worth approximately 5% of the Bitcoin position. Stacks currently targets around 3% annualized BTC yield during the bootstrap phase, although realized returns can vary with miner economics and available reward capacity.
For the STX token, the approximately 5% pairing requirement is the central feature.
At a Bitcoin price of roughly $65,960, 5,000 BTC entering protocol bonds would represent about $330 million in Bitcoin. A 5% STX requirement would correspond to approximately $16.5 million in STX value.
A live DeFi economy gives STX another source of demand STX combines exposure to the broader Bitcoin cycle with token-specific demand from activity on Stacks. That combination can make it a higher-beta expression of Bitcoin: improving Bitcoin sentiment may support STX alongside the wider market, while growth in Stacking, Bitcoin Staking and Stacks-based finance can add a separate source of demand. The same dynamic can produce greater volatility when either side of the thesis weakens.
The Bitcoin Staking thesis becomes more relevant if incoming capital has somewhere productive to move after reaching Stacks.
That ecosystem already exists, although it remains small relative to major smart-contract networks. DeFiLlama currently tracks roughly $86 million in Stacks DeFi TVL. Zest Protocol accounts for about $68.5 million of that figure, making lending one of the network’s largest existing use cases.
Zest reports around 800 BTC deposited and says it has processed more than 1,500 liquidations without bad debt. Its Stacks market allows assets including sBTC, STX and liquid-staked STX to serve as collateral for borrowing.
Stacking DAO provides liquid Stacking products that allow STX holders to retain DeFi liquidity while participating in Stacking strategies. DeFiLlama recently recorded approximately $13.8 million in value locked in the protocol.
For STX holders, the important connection is not simply that these applications exist. Every onchain transaction across that economy requires STX for network fees.
A larger lending market means more transactions. More trading activity means more transactions. More stablecoin use, liquid Stacking, and Bitcoin-focused financial products also add network activity. That gives STX a demand channel that operates separately from the protocol-bond mechanism.
STX powers the Stacks economy today and is designed to provide capacity for Bitcoin Staking as the network expands.
FAQ What is STX and what is it used for?
STX is the native token of Stacks. It pays transaction fees across the network, can be locked through Stacking to participate in the Proof of Transfer system and earn BTC rewards, and is expected to serve as the paired capacity asset for Bitcoin Staking protocol bonds.
How do investors earn yield with STX?
STX holders can participate in Stacking, either independently or through supported pools and services. Proof of Transfer distributes BTC committed by Stacks miners to eligible participants. Holders can also use liquid Stacking products and other DeFi applications, although those strategies introduce additional smart-contract, market and protocol risks.
Is STX a good investment?
The answer depends on an investor’s risk tolerance and view of Stacks adoption. The fundamental case includes existing network utility, BTC-denominated Stacking rewards, substantial STX participation in Stacking, established investment products and a proposed Bitcoin Staking mechanism that could create direct token demand. Risks include ongoing token issuance, governance changes to emissions, STX price volatility, relatively modest current DeFi activity and the fact that self-custodial Bitcoin Staking has not yet launched on mainnet.
What does it mean to call STX a higher-beta Bitcoin play?
It means STX may make larger price moves than Bitcoin in either direction. Its price is sensitive to the broader Bitcoin cycle, but it also reflects expectations around activity and adoption on Stacks. When Bitcoin conditions and Stacks adoption improve together, those two forces can amplify demand for STX. When sentiment weakens, its smaller market capitalization and liquidity can also contribute to sharper declines.
How does Bitcoin Staking affect STX demand?
Under the current design, a Bitcoin Staking protocol bond requires BTC to be paired with STX worth approximately 5% of the Bitcoin position. That means greater BTC participation would require greater STX capacity. The paired STX would also remain locked during the approximately six-month bonding period, potentially reducing immediately usable supply while the bonds remain active.
Where can you buy STX?
STX trades on major centralized exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Upbit and KuCoin. Availability, trading pairs and regulatory restrictions differ by jurisdiction, so investors should check the requirements of their chosen platform before purchasing.
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Copper futures settled at $6.71 per pound on Comex on Tuesday, the highest closing price in the metal’s history. The debasement trade is lifting metals and crypto together.
The trade describes investors rotating into scarce assets on bets that US debt management will erode the dollar. Gold, silver, and Bitcoin (BTC) are all climbing on the same fear.
Copper (XCU), Gold (XAU), and Silver (XAG) Daily Charts. Source: TradingViewTreasury Buybacks Revive the Debasement TradeSeptember copper futures ended the day at $6.71, up roughly 1.6%, according to Trading Economics. Market data firm Barchart had flagged the contract as on course for its strongest closing price in history during the session.
Supply strain explains part of the move, with reports indicating that London Metal Exchange stockpiles fell 14% since late July to 214,550 tonnes. Chile also trimmed its output forecast for a second straight quarter, and an outage at Indonesia’s giant Gresik smelter tightened the market further.
Those shortages powered copper’s record-breaking run earlier in August. The monetary backdrop has since taken over as the main driver.
The US Treasury last week doubled its maximum bond buyback size to at least $4 billion from $2 billion. Critics read the expanded buyback program as stealth easing that shifts pressure onto the currency.
The dollar index sits near three-month lows after its third losing week in four. Gold, meanwhile, traded around $4,666 an ounce and is tracking its best month since 1999. The metal has risen for five straight weeks, gaining more than 5% last week alone, while silver held near $69.
Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Hsueh sees room for a push to $4,800, which would extend gold’s three-month high.
“The government’s financial condition is at an inflection point,” Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio indicated.
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Bitcoin Rides the Same Wave Toward $80,000Bitcoin has moved in lockstep with the metals. BTC trades near $78,900, up about 0.23% in 24 hours, according to BeInCrypto Markets data.
Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: BeInCryptoThe largest cryptocurrency briefly topped $81,000 earlier on Tuesday, its strongest level since May. Its 22% jump last week ranked as its sharpest three-day rally in years.
The Treasury announcement also caught bearish traders off guard. CoinGlass data showed more than $4 billion in short positions liquidated during the breakout.
Stephen Coltman, head of macro at asset manager 21Shares, told CNBC the buyback mattered more for its message than its size.
“The [signaling] effect was very powerful.”
Therefore, one policy decision now anchors three separate rallies. Copper adds a supply squeeze, gold adds central bank credibility fears, and Bitcoin adds a short squeeze on top.
Whether the run continues may depend on the dollar’s next move. Traders will watch upcoming Treasury buyback operations for any sign the pressure on the currency deepens or fades.
Key Takeaways HOOD shares climbed 8.2% to reach $112.09 on Tuesday, propelled by Bitcoin’s recovery and increased retail investor engagement Speculation surrounding potential elimination of U.S. day-trading restrictions enhanced outlook for transaction-based revenue expansion Event contracts have emerged as Robinhood’s most rapidly expanding segment, with Bernstein analysts projecting annual volumes could reach $1 trillion by 2030 Second-quarter results exceeded forecasts with earnings per share of $0.62 versus $0.44 consensus, while revenue climbed 32.5% annually to $1.31 billion Analyst consensus stands at Strong Buy with mean price objective of $123.58, suggesting approximately 10% potential appreciation Shares of Robinhood Markets (HOOD) experienced an impressive 8.2% rally on Tuesday, finishing the session at $112.09, as cryptocurrency market strength, favorable regulatory prospects, and robust business expansion combined to elevate the stock.
Robinhood Markets, Inc., HOOD
Bitcoin momentarily surpassed the $80,000 threshold during trading hours, sparking renewed retail enthusiasm for cryptocurrency investments. Such price movements typically generate substantial trading volume increases across Robinhood’s platform, where digital assets represent a significant revenue component.
Another major driver was growing anticipation that American financial regulators might eliminate the existing day-trading restriction, which limits transaction frequency for smaller account holders. Should this regulation be removed, retail trading activity could experience significant expansion, delivering a meaningful uplift to Robinhood’s transaction revenue streams.
Mizuho’s Dan Dolev observed that the cryptocurrency recovery appears sustainable. He highlighted reduced leverage throughout the ecosystem, robust ETF capital flows, and emerging indicators of retail investor reengagement. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds attracted approximately $1.9 billion in fresh capital during the preceding week, marking the strongest momentum since late 2025.
Dolev explicitly identified Robinhood as his preferred selection within the sector, emphasizing its commanding retail market position and substantial operating leverage characteristics.
Event Contracts Accelerating Growth Chief Executive Vlad Tenev has characterized prediction markets as Robinhood’s most rapidly expanding revenue stream. Bernstein research anticipates prediction market transaction volume could approach $240 billion during 2026 and potentially expand to approximately $1 trillion on an annual basis by decade’s end.
Such expansion potential has captured significant market interest. The platform is simultaneously entering tokenized equity trading while launching Robinhood Ventures Fund II, which provides everyday investors exposure to early-stage private enterprises.
The equity’s 50-day moving average currently registers at $101.13, with HOOD trading comfortably above this technical indicator, confirming the positive near-term momentum.
Strong Quarterly Performance Supports Rally Robinhood’s latest quarterly disclosure, released July 29, provided investors with substantial fundamental support. The firm delivered earnings per share of $0.62, considerably surpassing the $0.44 analyst estimate. Revenue totaled $1.31 billion, representing 32.5% year-over-year growth and marginally exceeding the $1.29 billion projection. Net profit margin reached 42.01%.
Current analyst projections anticipate full-year earnings per share of $2.03 for Robinhood.
Sanford C. Bernstein elevated its price objective to $160 in July, maintaining an outperform designation. Deutsche Bank increased its target to $113 with a buy recommendation. The prevailing consensus among 21 covering analysts stands at Moderate Buy, with a mean price target of $120.52.
Regarding insider transactions, Director Meyer Malka acquired 250,000 shares at $80.74 during June. Chief Executive Vladimir Tenev divested 375,000 shares at $116.17 in July through a previously established Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement.
The Street’s Strong Buy consensus, derived from 15 buy recommendations and three hold ratings issued over the past quarter, reflects an average price objective of $123.58.
Bitcoin approached the $81,000 level on Thursday before pulling back, continuing a strong week driven by optimism around upcoming regulatory and monetary policy events.
Price action and market sentimentThe largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization traded at $80,236 in New York after reaching an intraday high of $80,793. Bitcoin has risen more than 2% over the past 24 hours and gained 10% in the past week.
Bulls appear energized ahead of the annual Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, as the market awaits signals from the Federal Reserve. The Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index climbed to 71, categorizing current sentiment as “greed,” a level that often precedes periods of increased market volatility.
Market momentum remains strong as the Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index rises to 71, reflecting heightened optimism ahead of key policy discussions.
Bitcoin’s recent run began last week, supported by a wave of positive regulatory developments and new policy announcements from Washington.
Upcoming Fed speech and policy backdropThe Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is set to host its annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where central bankers, policymakers, and academics from around the world will convene to discuss “Financial Innovation: Implications for Payments and Policy.”
Kevin Warsh, recently appointed as Chair of the Federal Reserve, is scheduled to deliver his first major speech at the event on Friday. Warsh is known for his previous remarks favorable to Bitcoin, and many in the industry are watching for any insights on digital assets or potential interest rate guidance.
President Donald Trump, who nominated Warsh, has called for lower borrowing costs since last year. However, Warsh has signaled resistance to immediate rate cuts. Historically, Bitcoin has tended to perform well in environments where interest rates decline, as risk-on sentiment strengthens and the appeal of non-yielding assets like Bitcoin and gold increases.
The Kansas City Fed noted that the 2026 symposium aims to address the dramatic surge in financial innovation and new payment technologies, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
Mini dictionary: Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, an annual conference organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, is a key gathering where global central bankers and economists discuss important policy issues impacting financial markets and the broader economy.
Crypto regulation and fiscal movesMomentum in Bitcoin has also been fueled by recent regulatory developments. Although the vote on the anticipated crypto Clarity Act was delayed until September, President Donald Trump described the bill last week as a “very, very powerful” piece of legislation and called for lawmakers to advance its passage. The proposed act aims to clarify how digital assets are classified in the U.S., distinguishing whether they are securities, commodities, or payment stablecoins—a distinction long sought by industry participants.
In addition, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to double the department’s long-dated bond buybacks. The move resulted in a decline in bond yields, which in turn reduced the opportunity cost of holding assets that do not generate interest, such as Bitcoin, and supported a broader shift toward riskier investments.
EventImpact on BitcoinJackson Hole Fed meetingAnticipation of key policy signals for digital currenciesCrypto Clarity Act (vote delayed)Increased regulatory optimism, with possible market clarityTreasury bond buybacks doubledLower yields, bolstering appetite for non-yielding assets like BitcoinWith these developments converging, Bitcoin continues to display significant volatility and notable gains, as both retail and institutional investors watch for signals from policymakers and regulators in the coming days.
The US-Canada trade war took a sharp turn on August 24, 2026. President Donald Trump threatened to double tariffs on all Canadian vehicles, auto parts, and steel to 50%, effective January 1, 2027.
The move came just two days after talks collapsed and Washington imposed fresh 50% levies on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods.
Bitcoin (BTC) briefly dipped on the news before rebounding above $79,000, flashing its now-familiar role as a macro hedge amid geopolitical stress.
Talks Collapse, Tariffs Land, Canada Declares Trade War Intensive US-Canada negotiations broke down late on August 21–22, 2026. The proposed deal would have cut US tariffs on Canadian cars and light trucks from 25% to 15%, and halved steel and aluminum duties to 25%.
However, the two sides could not agree on treatment of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and the window closed.
Within hours, Washington activated 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion in Canadian goods, covering wine, dairy, cement, hockey equipment, and electronics, under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
The measures covered roughly 5% of Canada’s annual US-bound exports. This mirrors earlier tariff escalations, such as the 12.5% global tariffs that rattled Bitcoin earlier in 2026, though the market’s reaction this time proved far more contained.
Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended talks, recalled negotiators, and vowed to retaliate ‘dollar for dollar.’
Retaliatory tariffs, targeting US steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp, paper, and electronics, are set to kick in on September 8, 2026.
Carney described the situation plainly: ‘You’re at war when you get attacked. We got attacked.’ Canada became only the second country, after China, to formally retaliate against Trump’s tariff regime.
On August 24, Trump escalated further via Truth Social. He threatened to raise tariffs on all Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts, and steel to 50% starting January 1, 2027, doubling the existing 25% auto rate.
He stated Canada ‘will be treated like a State no longer.’ Ford and Stellantis shares fell 3.2% and 4.7% respectively on the announcement.
The North American auto supply chain is deeply integrated. Canadian-built vehicles, including certain Toyota, Honda, GM, and Ford models, cross the US-Canada border multiple times during production.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has signalled readiness to leverage Canada’s energy and critical minerals if the US-Canada trade war deepens. No new talks are currently scheduled.
Bitcoin Holds Firm as Macro Hedge Narrative Gains Ground Bitcoin’s response was notable for its restraint. BTC slipped from above $79,000 to around $78,200 immediately following Trump’s Truth Social post. Buyers stepped in quickly.
The price recovered above $79,000 and reached an intraday high near $79,900, putting $80,000 within striking distance.
As of August 25, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $80,542, up 4.56% over 24 hours and 25.90% over the past seven days. Its market cap stands at approximately $1.619 trillion, with a 24-hour volume of $56.98 billion.
The recovery stands in contrast to earlier tariff episodes. In February 2026, BTC lost the $65,000 level as new global duties approached.
This time, the coin entered the announcement from a position of strength, aided by the US Treasury’s bond buyback expansion.
Bitcoin’s rise above $78K on Treasury buyback signals had already set a firmer macro floor before the tariff shock hit.
The US-Canada trade war is testing Bitcoin’s dual identity. In the short term, BTC correlates with risk-off sentiment, falling when equities sell off sharply.
Over a longer horizon, it behaves more like a non-sovereign store of value, especially when trade disruptions signal fiscal or currency stress.
For context, Trump’s earlier 25% EU auto tariff move produced a comparable equity drawdown with a milder BTC dip, a pattern now repeating with Canada.
Investors are watching supply-chain inflation signals, the USD index, and whether Canada’s September 8 retaliation triggers a fresh round of risk-off pressure.
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The U.S. government has transferred a small amount of Bitcoin seized from Alameda Research’s Binance.US accounts three years ago, renewing attention on how federal agencies will handle the remaining assets.
Summary
The transferred Bitcoin came from Alameda-linked accounts seized from Binance.US three years ago. Arkham reported the transaction but did not identify it as a sale. Earlier Alameda-linked transfers sent nearly $2.9 million in seized crypto through government-controlled wallets. Federal rules generally restrict sales of Bitcoin placed in the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Arkham Intelligence reported the transaction on Aug. 26, describing the amount as small and tracing the Bitcoin to Alameda accounts on Binance.US that U.S. authorities seized three years earlier.
The blockchain analytics firm did not publish the amount in its indexed post or identify the receiving address. Arkham also did not say that officials had sold the Bitcoin, leaving the transaction’s purpose unconfirmed.
“The US Government just moved a small amount of Bitcoin that had been seized from Alameda accounts on Binance US, 3 years ago,” Arkham said.
Arkham then asked whether the government would begin liquidating the remaining Bitcoin connected to Alameda. The question was not tied to an announcement from the Department of Justice, the Treasury Department, or another federal agency.
The Bitcoin transfer does not confirm a sale Moving Bitcoin between addresses records a change in custody or location on the blockchain, but the transaction alone does not show whether the asset has been sold. A transfer to another government wallet may involve custody, accounting, or security management, while movement to an exchange can make a future sale possible without proving one occurred.
The destination is especially important because federal agencies have regularly used Coinbase Prime to store and manage seized digital assets. Coinbase’s institutional platform offers both custody and trading services, meaning a deposit there can support several purposes.
In July, U.S. government-linked wallets transferred nearly $297 million in seized Bitcoin and Ether to Coinbase Prime. The transaction included about 3,940 BTC and 30,014 ETH tied to separate enforcement cases, according to earlier transaction coverage.
Bitcoin connected to Ryan Farace, an online drug dealer known as “Xanaxman,” and the closed BTC-e exchange formed part of the July transfer. Ether linked to a separate money laundering case also moved to Coinbase Prime.
No public blockchain record can show whether an exchange deposit resulted in an executed trade unless additional evidence reveals a conversion or movement of the sale proceeds. The same limitation applies to the latest Alameda-linked Bitcoin transaction.
Alameda assets have moved several times in 2026 Federal wallets have processed other seized assets tied to Alameda and FTX during 2026, providing a record of how authorities have handled smaller token holdings.
In May, Arkham said the government moved about $1.89 million in Render, Uniswap, The Sandbox, Mask Network, and Axie Infinity tokens to Coinbase Prime. The analytics firm traced the tokens to approximately $13 million in Alameda assets seized from Binance accounts more than three years earlier.
Another transaction followed in June, when government-controlled wallets transferred nearly $984,000 in FTX- and Alameda-linked cryptocurrency. At least $768,000 of the total went to Coinbase Prime, as crypto.news reported at the time.
Arkham said the June assets would go to the FTX estate to help repay creditors. The transaction included Chainlink and several smaller tokens, while the remaining amount moved through addresses connected to the same seized asset group.
Federal wallets had also moved more than $33 million in Alameda-linked cryptocurrency in December 2024. According to an Arkham report, the batch included about $18 million in Ether, $13 million in BUSD, and smaller amounts of Wrapped Bitcoin, Shiba Inu, and Axie Infinity.
Arkham said the 2024 assets moved to a newly created address and noted that no official purpose had been announced. The firm presented creditor distributions, wallet consolidation, and asset management as possible explanations rather than confirmed reasons for the transfers.
U.S. reserve rules limit some Bitcoin sales President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order established the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and directed the Treasury Department to fund it with Bitcoin finally forfeited through criminal or civil proceedings.
Under the order, Bitcoin deposited into the reserve cannot be sold and must remain a U.S. reserve asset. A recent Bitcoin reserve explainer estimated that the federal government held approximately 198,000 BTC as of mid-2026, although public trackers produce different totals based on the addresses and legal categories they include.
The White House order does not place every seized coin under an absolute ban on disposal. It allows agencies to return assets to verified victims, comply with court orders, support law enforcement operations, and meet requirements under federal forfeiture laws.
Legal status, therefore, determines how a particular holding can be handled. Bitcoin that has been finally forfeited and transferred into the reserve receives different treatment from property still involved in a court case, creditor recovery process, or victim compensation plan.
The White House also created a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile for forfeited assets other than Bitcoin. Treasury has more room to manage or sell tokens held in the stockpile, while the order gives Bitcoin placed in the reserve a general no-sale policy.
No federal agency has said whether the Bitcoin moved on Aug. 26 had entered the reserve, remained assigned to the FTX recovery process, or fell under one of the order’s exceptions.
FTX creditors remain tied to the seized assets Alameda Research operated as the trading firm associated with FTX before the exchange collapsed in November 2022. Federal prosecutors later said FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried used customer deposits to finance Alameda’s operations, investments and loan repayments.
The Justice Department said Bankman-Fried misappropriated billions of dollars deposited by FTX customers and gave Alameda access to the funds. A federal jury convicted him in November 2023 on seven counts, including wire fraud, securities fraud conspiracy, commodities fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.
In March 2024, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced Bankman-Fried to 25 years in prison. The Justice Department said the sentence included forfeiture of more than $11 billion, while prosecutors placed FTX customer losses at more than $8 billion.
The U.S. government has moved a small amount of Bitcoin seized from Alameda Research accounts on Binance.US about three years ago, with the transaction involving roughly 0.0048 BTC worth about $377.
Summary
The U.S. government moved about 0.0048 BTC seized from Alameda accounts on Binance.US roughly three years ago, according to Arkham. Arkham raised the possibility of further Alameda Bitcoin movements but did not identify the latest transaction as a sale or liquidation. Government wallets have moved larger amounts of seized FTX and Alameda assets this year, including funds previously sent to Coinbase Prime. No federal agency has confirmed whether the transferred Bitcoin is tied to creditor repayments, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve or another forfeiture process. Arkham Intelligence reported the transfer in an Aug. 27 post on X, saying the Bitcoin had been seized from Alameda accounts held on Binance.US three years earlier. The blockchain analytics firm did not describe the transaction as a sale or provide evidence that the government had begun liquidating the remaining Bitcoin tied to Alameda.
“The US Government just moved a small amount of Bitcoin that had been seized from Alameda accounts on Binance US, 3 years ago,” Arkham wrote.
Alongside the transfer, Arkham asked whether the government would begin liquidating the rest of Alameda’s Bitcoin. The firm framed the potential liquidation as a question, while no U.S. agency has announced plans to sell the remaining assets.
Arkham’s accompanying dashboard showed the transaction leaving a wallet labeled as belonging to the U.S. government. The monitoring platform also showed government-linked addresses holding about 324,552 BTC at the time, with the Bitcoin valued at roughly $25.5 billion.
U.S. government Bitcoin transfer follows earlier Alameda movements The small Bitcoin transaction comes after federal wallets moved a much larger group of seized assets connected to Alameda and collapsed crypto exchange FTX earlier this year.
In June, crypto.news previously reported that the government moved seized Alameda funds worth nearly $984,000, with blockchain data from Arkham showing most of the assets being transferred to Coinbase Prime.
Around $768,000 of the funds reached Coinbase Prime, while the transactions involved assets recovered from wallets associated with FTX and Alameda. The transfers included cryptocurrencies seized following the collapse of FTX and the subsequent federal cases involving the companies.
Arkham said at the time that the seized assets were intended for the FTX estate as part of the process of returning recovered funds to creditors. The government-controlled wallets involved in those transactions held several digital assets, not only Bitcoin.
The Aug. 27 transaction was far smaller. Arkham’s interface showed approximately 0.0048 BTC leaving the government-linked address, putting its value below $400 when the transaction was recorded.
No destination identified in Arkham’s X post was described as an exchange deposit for liquidation, and the analytics firm did not state that the transfer represented the beginning of a government sale.
Seized Bitcoin faces different rules under the U.S. reserve The status of government-controlled Bitcoin has received more attention since President Donald Trump established the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through an executive order in March 2025.
Under the federal framework, Bitcoin that has been finally forfeited to the government can be transferred into the reserve and held as a government asset. Bitcoin deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is subject to a no-sale policy under the executive order.
A June examination of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve found that the federal government held an estimated 328,372 BTC at the time, although the figure included assets spread across government agencies and subject to different legal statuses.
The distinction between seized and finally forfeited assets remains part of the government’s reserve accounting. Seized cryptocurrency can still be subject to court proceedings, victim restitution or other claims, while finally forfeited Bitcoin can become government property available for transfer into the reserve.
White House digital asset adviser Patrick Witt said in May that officials had made progress on the legal and custody structure required to manage government Bitcoin. He described the work as a “breakthrough” in getting the reserve legally structured and ensuring that the assets could be properly safeguarded.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also told senators in June that the administration remained committed to the reserve while officials worked through rules for an asset class that presented new legal and operational questions.
Federal agencies are still working through Bitcoin custody Questions over which federal department has authority to manage government Bitcoin persisted after the reserve was established.
By July, administration officials were still examining control of seized Bitcoin, including whether the Treasury Department had sufficient legal authority to hold and manage the assets as part of a federal reserve.
Trump’s March 2025 executive order named Treasury as the department responsible for establishing and administering the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Commerce later emerged in discussions over how the reserve could be managed, while custody, audits and congressional authority remained under consideration.
The reserve framework has also distinguished between holding Bitcoin already owned by the government and acquiring additional coins. The executive order established a policy for Bitcoin obtained through criminal and civil forfeitures and called for strategies that could allow additional acquisitions without imposing incremental costs on taxpayers.
A separate U.S. Bitcoin reserve blueprint reported in June described two legislative routes under discussion in Congress. Sen. Cynthia Lummis backed the BITCOIN Act, while Rep. Nick Begich supported the American Reserve Modernization Act as lawmakers considered rules governing government Bitcoin holdings and possible future acquisitions.
The American Reserve Modernization Act included a 20-year holding requirement for Bitcoin placed in the reserve and directed officials to study budget-neutral methods for potential additional acquisitions. The legislative work remained separate from Bitcoin that could still be subject to forfeiture proceedings or creditor claims.
Alameda assets remain tied to FTX recovery proceedings Alameda Research was the trading firm closely connected to FTX before the exchange collapsed and entered bankruptcy in November 2022. Federal prosecutors later accused FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried of using Alameda to divert billions of dollars belonging to exchange customers.
A New York jury convicted Bankman-Fried in November 2023 on seven fraud and conspiracy counts stemming from the collapse. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced him to 25 years in prison in March 2024.
In June 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld Bankman-Fried’s conviction and sentence, rejecting arguments that restrictions imposed during his trial had prevented him from presenting a complete defense.
The appeals court also rejected his challenge to prosecutors’ case over the movement of FTX customer funds into Alameda. Bankman-Fried has remained in federal custody following the ruling.
Separate bankruptcy proceedings have continued to determine how recovered FTX and Alameda assets are distributed to creditors. Government transfers involving seized Alameda assets have previously been connected to that recovery process, including the nearly $984,000 moved in June.
Arkham did not say the roughly 0.0048 BTC transferred on Aug. 27 was part of a creditor distribution, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve transaction or a planned liquidation. Its post identified the Bitcoin as having been seized from Alameda’s Binance.US accounts and asked whether additional government-controlled Alameda Bitcoin could be moved next.
The native token of Sui, a next-generation Layer-1 blockchain, continues to attract attention with its bullish weekly structure, even after a failed attempt to break resistance levels. Traders are closely monitoring support zones as SUI maintains the potential for a significant recovery.
Analyst points to major upside if support holdsSUI is currently priced at $0.7386, registering a 6.43% drop in the last 24 hours amid a 24-hour trading volume of $476.35 million. Its total market capitalization stands at $3 billion.
Crypto analyst Sui Insiders reported that SUI bounced from a long-term weekly trendline after an initial breakout attempt faced rejection. This retracement has set up possible accumulation opportunities for traders, with key support identified at $0.72. If selling pressure increases, traders may look to $0.64 and the long-term $0.57 weekly low as further support levels.
Sui Insiders noted that while the breakout failed, the underlying bullish setup for SUI remains active, and a dip to $0.57 could enable a shakeout of weaker holders, paving the way for stronger buyers to enter the market.
If SUI stabilizes above these supports and successfully reclaims the weekly trendline, the analyst indicated that the price could target $2, implying a potential 257% upside from current levels.
Price LevelRole$0.72Initial support$0.64Secondary support$0.57Key weekly low$2.00Target if bullish recoveryKuCoin Web3 Wallet integration expands Sui accessKuCoin Web3 Wallet, part of the KuCoin ecosystem, announced its support for Sui mainnet tokens. This development allows users to manage Sui-compatible assets and interact with a range of dApps built on the Sui blockchain.
A spokesperson from KuCoin Web3 Wallet described the integration as a step toward seamless asset management and direct participation in the Sui ecosystem, highlighting reduced barriers for users exploring decentralized finance (DeFi) and cross-border payment solutions on Sui.
With Sui assets now live in the KuCoin Web3 Wallet, users can experience efficient access to financial applications across the Sui network.
Sui’s underlying architecture emphasizes scalability and rapid transaction speeds, targeting adoption in sectors requiring efficient and secure financial infrastructure.
Mini dictionary: Sui, a Layer-1 blockchain project developed for high throughput and instant settlement, focuses on decentralized applications and payments, offering a suite of developer tools for building secure, scalable services in the Web3 space.
Market outlook remains cautious amid broader trendsDespite network expansion and bullish predictions, SUI’s price has trended downward, reflecting caution across the broader crypto market as Bitcoin’s momentum has cooled.
Traders are expected to focus on whether SUI can defend the $0.72 support and eventually break the weekly trendline resistance to advance toward the $2 mark. A failure to sustain these levels could see SUI drop to $0.64 or $0.57.
The recent KuCoin integration is anticipated to lower entry barriers for new users, supporting further adoption and activity on the network as blockchain technology evolves.
Core Lightning has confirmed multiple security vulnerabilities in its Bitcoin Lightning Network software and has urged node operators to install an upcoming security update or temporarily run their nodes offline.
Summary
Core Lightning confirmed several vulnerabilities after reviewing a large number of AI generated CVE reports. Node operators were urged to install the security update, with offline mode offered as a temporary option for those awaiting an upgrade. Running a node offline stops Lightning payments and routing while allowing the daemon to continue monitoring the Bitcoin blockchain. Core Lightning has not disclosed the flaws’ severity, CVE identifiers or any evidence of exploitation or related losses. Core Lightning said Thursday that its developers had been reviewing a large number of AI-generated Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures reports and confirmed that several submissions identified real problems requiring fixes.
The project advised operators to upgrade as its main recommendation. Operators who have not installed the security release can restart Core Lightning with the –offline option, which prevents the node from connecting to peers and stops payments from entering, leaving or routing through it.
Core Lightning initially described the offline setting as a protective measure while fixes were being prepared, but later clarified that operators should prioritize upgrading once the patched software is available.
Technical details about the newly confirmed vulnerabilities have not been made public. Core Lightning has not disclosed their severity, assigned public CVE identifiers or reported evidence that attackers have exploited the flaws.
Core Lightning nodes can remain active without routing payments Using the –offline setting allows the Core Lightning daemon to remain active while disconnecting the node from the Lightning Network.
Under the configuration, a node does not accept incoming peer connections or attempt to reconnect with existing peers. Payments therefore cannot move through the affected node while the operator waits to install the security update.
Core Lightning said operators should not simply stop the software because an active daemon can continue following the Bitcoin blockchain and respond if another party force-closes a Lightning channel.
A fully stopped node cannot perform the same monitoring while it remains offline. Channel counterparties can publish transactions to Bitcoin when channels are closed, making continued blockchain monitoring part of normal Lightning node operations.
Once operators have installed the patched version, Core Lightning said they should remove the –offline option before restarting normally. Leaving the setting enabled after the upgrade would keep the node disconnected from its peers and prevent it from sending, receiving or routing Lightning payments.
The recommendation applies while developers address vulnerabilities found during their review of AI-generated security submissions. Core Lightning has not publicly described which components are affected or what conditions would be needed to exploit the confirmed flaws.
The project also has not disclosed whether all supported software versions are affected, leaving operators dependent on the upgrade instructions accompanying the security release.
New Core Lightning vulnerabilities follow earlier DoS fixes The newly confirmed problems are separate from denial-of-service vulnerabilities disclosed earlier this year that could remotely crash Core Lightning nodes.
Two related flaws involved memory exhaustion inside separate Core Lightning daemons. One affected connectd, the component handling peer connections, while another affected gossipd, which processes network information used by Lightning nodes.
In the connectd case, a remote peer could trigger unbounded memory use and eventually cause an out-of-memory crash. The issue was patched before the latest vulnerability warning.
Another flaw allowed a remote peer to flood gossipd with channel update messages, causing an internal map used for unknown short channel IDs to continue consuming memory until the machine became unresponsive or crashed.
Both problems relied on resource exhaustion, while Core Lightning has not said whether the newly confirmed vulnerabilities involve similar components or attack methods.
Security fixes requiring node operators to install updated software have also appeared elsewhere in Bitcoin infrastructure this year. In May, crypto.news previously reported that Bitcoin Core disclosed a bug that could allow miners to remotely crash vulnerable nodes.
Tracked as CVE-2024-52911, the issue affected Bitcoin Core releases after version 0.14.0 and before version 29.0. Developers had already fixed it in Bitcoin Core 29.0, released in April 2025, before publicly disclosing the vulnerability in May 2026.
The bug involved Bitcoin Core’s script interpreter during block validation. A specially constructed invalid block could cause a node to access data after the relevant memory had been freed, potentially crashing the software. Bitcoin Core said remote code execution was possible but unlikely because of restrictions on block data.
Bitcoin software projects have continued patching node risks A separate Bitcoin Core privacy flaw was addressed in June through the 31.1rc1 release candidate, alongside changes covering blockchain validation, wallets, networking and MuSig2 security.
The privacy problem affected PrivateBroadcast, a feature designed to reduce the information exposed when transactions are first transmitted. Developers released the fix before the next stable Bitcoin Core version and asked users to test the release candidate before production deployment.
Lightning implementations have faced software-specific problems before as well. In June 2023, operators of Lightning Labs’ LND implementation were warned against upgrading to version 0.16.3 because of a memory leak.
The problem caused the software’s memory use to increase over time and could eventually crash a node. Operators who had already installed LND 0.16.3 were advised at the time to downgrade to version 0.16.2 while developers addressed the issue.
Another Lightning security issue emerged later in 2023 when developer Antoine Riard described replacement cycling attacks that could be used against Lightning payment channels. Riard subsequently stepped back from Lightning Network development after arguing that the problem required changes beyond short-term mitigations.
Riard said at the time that no replacement cycling attacks had been observed or reported in the wild during the preceding 10 months, while a functional test existed for exercising an affected Lightning channel against the Bitcoin Core mempool.
The vulnerability involved replacing an unconfirmed transaction under specific conditions, potentially interfering with the transaction sequence used to protect funds in Lightning channels. Riard said existing mitigations could make attacks harder but did not consider them a permanent solution.
Core Lightning has withheld details of the latest flaws For the current Core Lightning vulnerabilities, operators have received protective instructions before technical disclosure of the underlying bugs.
The project has said several AI-generated CVE submissions were valid, but it has not published the affected functions, attack paths or conditions needed to reproduce the issues.
No losses or successful attacks have been reported in connection with the newly confirmed flaws based on Core Lightning’s disclosure so far.
Operators who have not yet upgraded were instead instructed to use –offline while keeping the daemon running, allowing the software to continue tracking Bitcoin for channel-related transactions without participating in Lightning payments.
After installing the security update, Core Lightning said operators using the temporary configuration must remove –offline to reconnect their nodes to peers and resume normal payment and routing activity.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Hawkish comments by Powell lift rate hike bets, sending spot gold down over $120 intraday.
After Fed Chair Waller delivered remarks on curbing inflationary pressures, market bets on Federal Reserve interest rate hikes rose sharply, the U.S. dollar strengthened, and precious metals including gold came under heavy selling pressure. As of press time, spot gold fell 2.6% on the day, dropping more than $120 to $4,480 per ounce, and hit a weekly low of $4,464 during the session. Independent analyst Tai Wong noted: "Chair Waller made clear that inflation has not seen a substantial slowdown, and emphasized that the Fed 'still has work to do'—a statement that triggered a sharp sell-off in the gold market. While this may still be a communication strategy of 'much ado about nothing', it is enough to make the market view the September meeting as a deadlocked situation where the odds of a rate hike and a pause are evenly matched." Waller’s remarks are his most explicit public statement to date acknowledging that further interest rate hikes may be needed to ease price pressures. In his speech, he pointed out that if policymakers cannot be confident that core inflation is steadily returning to the 2% target, the Fed "still has work to do." As a result, traders quickly ramped up their bets on a September rate hike. For other precious metals: Spot silver fell 3.63% to $66.77 per ounce; spot platinum turned from gain to loss on the day, down 0.27% to $1,841.9; spot palladium’s gain narrowed to 5.05% at $1,418.3.
7 hours ago
The Fed’s Goolsbee: Inflation Has Persisted Longer Than Expected
Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said inflation driven by clearly overheated demand is difficult to resolve, has lasted longer than expected, and the focus must remain on determining whether inflation is merely temporary. He noted he has no strong views on the number of FOMC meetings and does not believe there is a conflict between the policy goals of the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury.
7 hours ago
NVIDIA-backed AI cloud provider Lambda plans to raise $1 billion in private short-term debt, with the funds earmarked for purchasing GPUs to lease to Microsoft.
AI cloud service provider Lambda, which is backed by NVIDIA, has raised approximately $1 billion in private short-term debt, with the funds earmarked for purchasing computing power chips to support its partnership project with Microsoft. An anonymous source familiar with the matter revealed that the transaction was led by JPMorgan Chase, and the debt was pitched to private placement investors. The source further noted that the proceeds will be used to acquire NVIDIA GPU graphics cards, which will subsequently be leased to Microsoft.
7 hours ago
The yield on the 5-year U.S. Treasury rose to 4.48%, the highest level since February 2025.
U.S. 5-year Treasury yield climbs to 4.48%, hitting its highest level since February 2025.
7 hours ago
All positions held by Maji have once again fallen into unrealized losses; the trader has cut losses and closed their long PUMP positions.
According to monitoring by TradingBeats (formerly Hyperinsight), the address holdings of crypto figure "Brother Ma Ji" (Huang Licheng) have once again slipped into unrealized losses. Currently, his long position of 34,900 ETH with 25x leverage carries an unrealized loss of $1.06 million; his long position of 155,000 HYPE with 10x leverage is down $237,000. He just stopped out his long PUMP position for a $103,400 loss, and after liquidating his long BTC position via stop-loss for a $237,000 loss, he re-established a long BTC position of 100 coins with 40x leverage.
A Supply Cap Built in Bitcoin's Image@Coredao_Org has structured the supply of its native token with a clear nod to Bitcoin. According to Core's official documentation, this parallel is deliberate, positioning the network as a Bitcoin-aligned layer-1 blockchain that borrows sound-money principles from the original protocol.
New supply enters the market exclusively through block rewards paid to the validators who produce each block.
Annual Steps, Not Four-Year HalvingsWhere Bitcoin cuts its miner reward in half roughly every four years, Core takes a different approach. At the network's roughly three-second block time, that interval lands close to once per year, making each reduction far smaller than a Bitcoin halving but more frequent.
The design is intended to keep validator incentives intact over the long term rather than creating sharp supply shocks every few years.
On top of the declining emission curve, Core has also incorporated a burn mechanism. However, Core is in the process of moving away from permanent burns.
The combined effect of a hard cap, a gradually declining emission rate, and active supply management gives Core a layered approach to monetary policy, one designed to balance long-term network security with predictable scarcity.
Sources
Core White Paper v1.0.7: Tokenomics
Core DAO Official Documentation: CORE Token Overview
Reflexivity Research: Core DAO Overview
