Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Bitcoin is consolidating just above the $60K region after a volatile first half of 2026 that saw the asset collapse from its January highs near $96K. The recent rebound off the June lows has restored some short-term optimism, but the price is now stalling directly beneath a heavy confluence of moving-average resistance.

Whether this becomes the start of a genuine trend reversal or simply another lower high inside the broader downtrend will likely be decided over the next several sessions.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, BTC remains capped below both its 100-day and 200-day moving averages, which are converging near the $70K zone and still slope downward. This is a sign that the higher-timeframe trend has not yet flipped bullish.

Since dropping from $96K in January, Bitcoin has carved out a sequence of lower highs, with the April and May recovery stalling around $82K before rolling over into the June and July low near $58K. However, the asset has since printed a series of short-term higher lows relative to the broader structure amid a clear bullish divergence with the RSI, and the market has reclaimed the $64K mark.

A sustained close above the confluence of moving averages and the $74K supply zone would be the first real evidence that the downtrend is losing control, potentially opening the door toward the prior resistance zone near $82K.

On the downside, failure to build on this recovery would put the $60K zone back in focus as the immediate support. A breakdown below that level would expose the major demand region around $54K, which remains the key higher-timeframe floor.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart The 4-hour chart shows a cleaner picture. Bitcoin bottomed inside the $58K-$60K demand zone in late June and has been climbing steadily within a rising wedge pattern, printing higher lows along the lower trendline.

That advance carried price into the $65K–$67K resistance cluster formed by June highs. However, the latest candles show a rejection from this area, with the price breaking the wedge to the downside and slipping back toward $64K.

The RSI has also cooled from overbought territory near 70 down toward the 40 zone, reflecting fading momentum rather than outright bearish pressure. A rebound and reclaim of the recent highs around the $67K zone would support a push toward $72K–$74K, while continued rejection and decline here would validate the rising wedge breakdown and likely send the price back to retest the $58K support area, which, as things stand, is the more probable scenario.

Sentiment Analysis Looking at Bitcoin’s spot average order size, large whale orders have dominated the tape through the entire decline and subsequent recovery since June. This is a marked shift from the retail-heavy order flow seen back in December 2025 near the $90K region.

This metric tracks the size distribution of executed spot orders, distinguishing retail-sized trades from large block orders typically associated with institutional or high-net-worth participants. Persistent big-whale activity through a drawdown generally signals accumulation rather than capitulation, since larger players tend to scale into weakness rather than chase strength.

The continued presence of big whale orders through both the $58K low and the recovery above $64K suggests accumulation has been underway at these depressed levels. If this behavior persists as price approaches the $72K-$74K resistance, it would lend credibility to the case for a deeper structural reversal. A sudden shift back toward retail-dominated flow near resistance, by contrast, would be a caution flag worth watching, and could point to another potential decline in the coming weeks.

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Altcoins

25 July 2026 | 11:32 Hyperliquid has returned to a level that could determine whether its broader recovery structure remains intact.

Key Takeaways HYPE has slipped below the 50% retracement of its spring advance. The token is testing its 100-day moving average near $56.7. Recovering $57.6 could support a rebound toward $62. A confirmed loss of the current support zone would expose $53. HYPE trades near $57 at the time of writing after slipping beneath the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement close to $57.6. That level marks the midpoint of the token’s advance from approximately $38 to $77.

The pullback has brought price directly to the 100-day simple moving average near $56.7. Together with the psychological $57 level, it forms the final visible support zone before the deeper 0.618 Fibonacci retracement near $53.

Daily Hyperliquid technical price chart with Fibonacci levels / Source: TradingView The 100-Day Average Is the Immediate Test HYPE has already broken below the rising trendline that supported its advance from the June low. It also trades beneath the 50-day simple moving average near $64 and has formed a sequence of lower recovery highs since approaching $77.

The same support zone was already under pressure a day earlier, as ETF demand weakened while HYPE tested this crucial level.

The 100-day average is therefore the clearest remaining measure of medium-term support. An intraday move beneath it would carry less weight than a completed daily candle, particularly while price remains close to the 50% retracement.

A close back above the current support zone would show that buyers are still defending half of the spring rally. Acceptance below it would indicate that the correction is extending into a deeper part of the Fibonacci range.

A Recovery First Needs to Reclaim $57.6 The first sign of stabilisation would be a move back above the 0.5 retracement near $57.6.

If that level is recovered, the next resistance sits around $62, corresponding with the 0.382 retracement. This area previously acted as support and could now attract sellers looking to exit during a rebound.

Beyond $62, the falling 50-day average near $64 is the more important barrier. Until HYPE recovers it, an advance from the current level would remain a relief bounce inside a weakening structure rather than a confirmed trend reversal.

The next major resistance above the moving average is the 0.236 retracement near $67.8. Reclaiming that area would begin to challenge the sequence of lower highs established since June.

Price Level Technical Role $57.6 The midpoint of the spring rally and the first level HYPE needs to reclaim. $56.7 The 100-day moving average supporting the current price zone. $62 Former support and the first meaningful resistance on a rebound. $64 The falling 50-day average separating a relief bounce from a stronger recovery. $53 The 0.618 retracement and the next major support below the current zone. A Daily Close Below the 100-Day Average Exposes $53 A completed candle beneath the 100-day average and the wider $57 shelf would weaken the remaining medium-term support structure.

The next measured level is the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement near $53. A move there would mean HYPE had surrendered more than 60% of its advance from $38 to $77.

Buyers could still attempt to form a base around that level, but a weak reaction would place the 0.786 retracement near $46.5 back into focus. Reaching that area would unwind most of the spring rally and return price much closer to its origin.

The Daily Close Will Confirm the Next Move The chart is no longer best described through a triangle because the trendlines that formed it have already been broken. The cleaner structure is defined by the current $56.7–$57.6 decision zone, resistance at $62 and deeper support at $53.

It also does not provide a valid 200-day moving average because HYPE lacks sufficient trading history, because its newer token. For now, the 50-day and 100-day averages, together with the Fibonacci grid, provide the relevant technical framework.

Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and isn’t financial advice. Technical levels reflect chart conditions at the time of writing, not price predictions – HYPE is a newer, highly volatile asset. Always do your own research before trading. Methodology:
Price levels are based on the daily HYPE/USD chart on Coinbase via TradingView, captured July 25, 2026. Author

Kosta has reported on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain infrastructure since 2020, bringing over six years of hands-on experience in the crypto industry built through daily tracking of markets, trends, and emerging blockchain developments. Specializing in Bitcoin on-chain analysis, institutional ETF flows, and digital asset price action, his work at Coindoo has been cited by other news agencies and consistently covers market developments with a focus on data-driven reporting across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Over the years, Kosta has contributed to multiple crypto media outlets in different regions, authoring over 6,000 articles across the sector. His reporting spans cryptocurrency markets and the broader fintech industry, tracking not only price action but also the technological and regulatory forces shaping the ecosystem. To support his analysis, Kosta actively leverages on-chain data and metrics from leading platforms such as Santiment, Glassnode, and CryptoQuant, enabling deeper, evidence-based market insights. He believes in the power of transparency and the data that underpins the blockchain ecosystem. His academic background in Marketing Management from Denmark further complements his analytical approach, adding a strong understanding of communication strategy and content positioning to his work.

Will history repeat in August with another leg down?

Although it was stopped at its monthly peak of $67,000 earlier this week, July has gone quite favorably for the primary cryptocurrency for now, showing a double-digit surge from its early low of under $58,000 to roughly $65,000 as of press time.

However, popular analyst Ali Martinez brought up a painful historical pattern suggesting that the bears are about to return in August.

Good July, Bad August? We know that historical performance rarely translates into successful price predictions. However, BTC’s moves in July have largely aligned with almost all previous Julys. As such, the warning from Martinez should be taken under careful consideration. The analyst noted that investors should “enjoy the current rally,” but stop and take a look at the seasonal trend.

He added that every single August since 2022 has been in the red, which is confirmed by data from CoinGlass. This streak of four consecutive Augusts with retracements brought some violent declines, such as the 14% drop in 2022 and the 11.3% dip a year later.

If we go back further in history, though, we can see that there have been some quite promising exceptions during the eighth month of the year. Back in 2013, BTC rose by 30%, while the 2017 edition brought a massive 65% surge. However, only three out of the last 12 Augusts have been in the green.

Bitcoin Monthly Returns. Source: CoinGlass Weakening Support Fellow analyst Rekt Capital also weighed in on BTC’s performance in July but outlined a different perspective. He acknowledged that the cryptocurrency has risen by double digits (even though his percentage differs from the one on CoinGlass), but argued that it’s a “far cry from previous rebounds.”

This is because even though bitcoin has defended the $60,000 support and now sits at around $65,000, the double-digit price pump in July came after a significantly more painful June, in which the asset tumbled by more than 20%. Consequently, the 11%-14% surge now can’t even offset the previous month’s losses. The analyst determined that this is a clear sign of “progressively weakening support over time.”

You may also like: Here’s Why Bitcoin Dipped Below $64K Today Bitcoin’s Sharpe Ratio Signals an ‘Optimal’ Spot Accumulation Window Analyst: Bitcoin Stuck Near $65K Because Capital Is Flowing to AI #BTC

The upcoming Monthly Candle Close is slowly approaching

And as things stand Bitcoin has only rallied +14.5% from the ~$60k historical demand area

That’s a far cry from previous rebounds which is a sign of progressively weakening support over time$BTC #Crypto #Bitcoin https://t.co/Hu8UEadXjI pic.twitter.com/9K4cgPJQNl

— Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) July 24, 2026

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is up 9% in July, but crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen said the gains are likely temporary and August and September could erase them, just as they did in 2018 and 2022.

Why Cowen Says Bitcoin Is Stuck Between Two Key LevelsCowen said in a youtube video that Bitcoin is ping-ponging between the bear market resistance band above and the 200-week moving average below, with neither level breaking convincingly in either direction. 

Every approach to the resistance band has produced a rejection, and every dip toward the 200-week moving average has produced a bounce.

He said this setup mirrors 2018 almost exactly. Both years saw a low in February, a retest of that low in late June, and then a July countertrend rally. 

The key difference is volatility — in 2018 the range was about 40% wide, while in 2026 it is only about 20%, making this a quieter, slower version of the same pattern.

What History Says About July Rallies in Midterm YearsCowen tracked Bitcoin’s July returns across every midterm year and found the pattern consistent. 

In 2022, Bitcoin gained 20% in July before August and September wiped out those gains. 

In 2018, it gained nearly 40% in July before the same thing happened. Even where July was slightly negative, like 2014, the weakness still arrived in the months that followed.

He said the window for Bitcoin to stay strong is likely closing within two to four weeks, with August and September historically the months where the summer bounce gives way to renewed selling pressure.

What Needs to Happen for the Pattern to BreakCowen said the S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) is the key variable Bitcoin is waiting on. In 2018 and 2022, stocks topped in August or September and then dropped 10% to 20%, pulling Bitcoin down with them and forming the cycle low. 

He said that stock market correction has not happened yet, which is partly why Bitcoin has not broken down either.

His base case is that the S&P 500 tops in August or September, drops, Bitcoin follows, and the market cycle bottom forms from that level. 

If Bitcoin has not broken down by the end of the year, he said he would treat that as time-based capitulation and shift his view toward a new bull market beginning.

He put the theoretical cycle low around late November, noting that is why the ITC conference he is hosting is scheduled for that window.

Image: Shutterstock

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TLDR Yellow metal declined approximately 1% Thursday following Wednesday’s two-week peak Geopolitical turmoil in Middle East drove crude prices upward, intensifying inflation worries Upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting dominates precious metal market attention Market participants remain uncertain about potential additional rate increases Bargain hunters continue accumulating positions despite elevated interest rate environment Precious metal valuations retreated Thursday following their climb to a two-week summit during the prior session. New York futures contracts declined approximately 1% to $4,110 per troy ounce during morning trade.

Gold Aug 26 (GC=F) The downturn materialized after the yellow metal gained roughly 3% across the preceding two trading days. Bargain-seeking investors had entered the market even as strengthening U.S. Treasury yields applied downward pressure on the commodity.

Spot gold decreased 0.1% to $4,127.99 per ounce around 5:31 GMT. Futures contracts fell 0.5% to $4,130.62. Both silver and platinum registered modest gains during the session.

Middle East Turmoil Elevates Energy Costs Intensifying regional conflict in the Middle East continues to maintain inflation anxieties. The United States and Iran demonstrated minimal indication of resuming diplomatic discussions as tensions escalated further.

BREAKING: The next phase of the war may be imminent. Israel has reportedly entered its highest state of military readiness after being notified by Washington that the United States is preparing a major expansion of operations against Iran, according to Kan.

The report says U.S.…

— The Iranian Letter (@TheIranianzg3z) July 23, 2026

Strikes targeting petroleum tankers in the Red Sea occurred for the first occasion since hostilities erupted in late February. Yemen’s Houthi faction assumed responsibility for these assaults.

The Red Sea represents a critical pathway for Saudi Arabian petroleum shipments. The disruptions contributed to oil valuations reaching multi-week summits, prompting markets to recalibrate inflation projections.

Higher oil prices amplify inflation expectations. This holds significance for gold since it elevates the probability that the Federal Reserve maintains restrictive monetary policy for an extended duration.

Elevated rates amplify the opportunity cost associated with holding gold, which generates no income. This dynamic typically pressures valuations downward.

Fed Meeting in Focus Market participants are closely monitoring next week’s Federal Reserve policy gathering. The monetary authority is broadly anticipated to maintain current rate levels this month.

Nevertheless, financial markets are incorporating expectations for at least one additional rate increase before year-end. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has provided limited clarity regarding future policy direction, amplifying uncertainty.

Investors display divided opinions regarding the timing of potential additional tightening. This ambiguity is maintaining gold within a consolidation range near present levels.

Despite rate-related headwinds, certain buyers have been expanding their gold allocations. ANZ analysts observed that non-commercial net long exposures have risen to their most elevated level since January.

Capital flowing into gold-backed exchange-traded funds has similarly accelerated. ANZ indicated some investors appear to be deploying gold as protection against elevated equity market valuations.

The institution highlighted that dip-buying activity has supported gold even as energy market developments suggest a more hawkish policy environment.

Gold has maintained positioning above the $4,000 threshold this week, a psychologically significant level monitored by market participants. The commodity experienced a sharp decline from its January record earlier this year.

The subsequent critical level under trader scrutiny is resistance approaching $4,200. Whether gold can generate sufficient upward momentum to test that barrier will likely hinge on Federal Reserve communication next week.

Bitcoin’s latest rally has carried the asset back into an area where sellers have previously regained control. The coming sessions should reveal whether this recovery has enough strength to continue or if another rejection is waiting around the corner.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, BTC has extended its recovery into the $65.5K-$66.7K supply zone after successfully reclaiming the descending trendline that had capped the price action for weeks. While this breakout represents a notable improvement in market structure, the broader trend remains constrained beneath the declining 100-day moving average, with the 200-day moving average positioned even higher.

The current resistance zone also coincides with a previous distribution area, increasing the likelihood of seller activity around current levels. A decisive daily close above $66.7K would strengthen the bullish case and expose the next resistance around $72K-$74K.

On the downside, the former breakout area near $63K-$64K now serves as the first demand zone. As long as BTC holds above this region, buyers remain in short-term control. Losing this support would shift attention back toward the broader demand zone around $58K-$59.5K, where the latest impulsive rally originated.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart The 4-hour chart highlights a clear shift in momentum after Bitcoin broke above the descending trendline and rallied directly into the overhead supply zone around $65.5K-$66.7K. The market is now consolidating beneath resistance after rejecting the upper boundary of the range.

This pause appears consistent with profit-taking rather than a confirmed trend reversal, especially since the previous resistance trendline has already been reclaimed. If buyers manage to absorb the current supply, a breakout above $66.7K could trigger another impulsive leg higher.

However, failure to sustain current levels would likely result in a pullback toward the $63K-$64K demand zone, which aligns with the recently broken trendline and could serve as the next area for buyers to defend before another attempt higher.

Sentiment Analysis The one-year Binance liquidation heatmap shows a notable concentration of short-side liquidity around the $88K region, standing out as one of the largest untouched liquidity pools above the current market price.

From a market structure perspective, this aligns with the broader idea that Bitcoin may eventually be drawn toward that liquidity. However, until price sweeps the $90K cluster and successfully establishes acceptance above it, it is difficult to argue that the higher-timeframe trend has fully transitioned into a bullish market.

As a result, the current recovery should still be viewed with caution. Although the technical structure has improved over the short term, every bullish leg can still be interpreted as corrective within the broader bearish context until the major overhead liquidity is cleared and price stabilizes above that region.

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TL;DR

U.S. spot XRP ETFs now hold a record 1.47% of total supply worth $1.04 billion, with institutions front-running the CLARITY Act's Senate deadline ahead of the Aug. 7 recessGrayscale's Zach Pandl says Bitcoin has outgrown its four-year halving cycle, pointing instead to the Fed's July 28–29 meeting as the market's next real catalystAFX Trade, Verus Bridge and B² Network lost a combined $35.56 million in three separate DeFi exploits, with Verus hit twice in three months by the same unresolved bugU.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs logged a seven-day, $1 billion inflow streak as Kazakhstan launches state-backed mining and Circle brings USDC to 20 million Kakao and Toss users in KoreaXRP leaves exchanges for ETF vaults ahead of decisive Senate voteU.S. spot ETFs have removed a record 1.47% of XRP's total supply from market circulation. According to the latest SoSoValue data as of July 23, 2026, the funds now hold 977.41 million tokens worth a combined $1.04 billion.

Institutional accumulation is accelerating as the deadline for the CLARITY Act approaches in the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers have about two weeks left to reach a consensus on digital asset oversight rules before Congress leaves for its traditional August recess, which begins on Aug. 7.

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Expectations of long-awaited regulatory clarity are prompting funds to methodically purchase the underlying asset on the spot market and isolate it in custodial wallets, completely removing those coins from exchange circulation.

The price context only underscores the confidence of major players. XRP is currently trapped inside a descending channel near $1.1338, hovering around local support at $1.1158 with a neutral RSI reading of 54.82.

Total inflows in US Spot XRP ETFs since the start of Q3 2026, Source: SoSoValueThe gap between the total amount historically invested in the ETFs, $1.49 billion, and their current net asset value of $1.04 billion clearly shows that the funds are sitting on unrealized losses. Nevertheless, institutional holders are not cutting their losses and continue to maintain positions primarily through Bitwise, which has recorded $501 million in net inflows, and Franklin Templeton, with $416 million.

Although daily activity within the ETFs remains moderate at around $10.9 million in trading volume, the removal of nearly 1.5% of the XRP supply is reducing the depth of exchange order books. If the Senate manages to pass the CLARITY Act before the Aug. 7 recess, a surge in buyers will encounter an obvious shortage of liquidity on the spot market.

Why Grayscale no longer believes in Bitcoin halving cyclesThe leading cryptocurrency has outgrown the training wheels of the halving cycle and now lives by the adult rules of Wall Street, according to Grayscale Research head Zach Pandl, who has urged investors to erase Bitcoin's "four-year cycle" charts from their boards.

In his view, crypto has finally transformed into a mature macroeconomic asset that listens to the Federal Reserve rather than the miners' calendar.

At this point in the cycle, crypto skeptics would usually expect a deep plunge. The traditional theory predicted that Bitcoin would fall below $25,000 by autumn following last year's record high of $126,000. Instead, the coin is currently holding firmly near $65,800, down a relatively modest 48% from its peak by crypto-winter standards.

Bitcoin macro correlation chart (2012–2026), Source: GrayscalePandl therefore believes that, provided the U.S. economy remains resilient, the market bottom may already be behind us.

The foundation of this shift can be seen in macroeconomic charts from Bloomberg and Coin Metrics. Since 2014, Bitcoin's price bottoms have closely coincided not with supply reduction dates, but with declines in the ISM Manufacturing Index and peaks in U.S. two-year Treasury real yields.

The main event of the week is now the Federal Reserve meeting scheduled for July 28–29. Interest rates are currently being held at 3.50%–3.75%. If the regulator officially confirms a pause and rules out further increases, Bitcoin will receive a clear path toward growth, further cementing its status as the leading barometer of global liquidity.

'Black Thursday' for DeFi: Three crypto protocols hacked for $35.56 millionIt was a truly stormy morning for the decentralized finance market, as three projects were targeted by hackers one after another. AFX Trade, Verus Bridge and B² Network found themselves at the center of the exploits, with total losses reaching $35.56 million.

The hackers ruthlessly targeted the industry's main weak points: cross-chain bridge vulnerabilities and compromised administrative keys. 

The largest blow hit the AFX Trade protocol on Arbitrum, where attackers drained $24.15 million in USDC stablecoins from its custodial bridge. The project team responded immediately by suspending operations, bringing cybersecurity heavyweights SlowMist and Zellic into the investigation and offering the hacker a deal. 

The attacker will be allowed to keep 30% of the stolen amount as a legitimate bounty if the remaining 70% is returned.

On-chain message from AFX Trade to the hacker, Source: ArbiscanMeanwhile, the Verus–Ethereum cross-chain bridge has fallen into the same trap again, turning its exploits into an ongoing series. The hacker used an old repeated-import vulnerability, withdrew 3,816 ETH worth around $7.55 million and is already laundering the funds through the Tornado Cash mixer.

The irony is that the project was already exploited through a similar method in May. In July, the team triumphantly returned the recovered funds to the liquidity pools, only to suffer another identical exploit by July 23 after failing to fix the critical bug in the code.

This appears related to the previous Verus Ethereum Bridge incident in May 2026: same bridge contract, same entry path, and same bug class.

However, this is a new tx with a different attacker and loot wallet.https://t.co/FWGcnHJbzP

— Blockaid (@blockaid_) July 23, 2026 The L2 project B² Network on BNB Chain suffered the smallest loss of the three, although it was still substantial. Its staking contract was targeted, allowing attackers to steal $3.86 million before developers closed the vulnerability.

To the team's credit, it quickly contained the problem and immediately promised to fully compensate affected users from its own reserve funds.

While B² Network prepares the repayments and AFX waits for the hacker's response, the day has once again demonstrated that bridges remain the weakest link in crypto. Hackers have again proved that taking millions out of code is easier than attracting those millions in the first place, while users have once more been reminded who usually pays to close such holes.

Crypto market outlook: Bitcoin ETF inflow streak reaches $1 billion amid sovereign reserve formation and expansion in AsiaInstitutional capital is stabilizing the market, as a seven-day inflow streak into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs has brought in $1 billion, offsetting recent selling pressure.

While Bitcoin remains in a range just below the key technical barrier at $65,500, the long-term trend is shifting toward the nationalization of mining and the deeper integration of stablecoins into Asian payment ecosystems.

Key checkpoints:

ETF momentum accelerates: After a prolonged period of outflows, U.S. spot Bitcoin funds have recorded a seven-day green streak, bringing around $1 billion into the market, while BlackRock and Fidelity remained the traditional leaders.Bitcoin tests a technical reversal: The leading cryptocurrency is being squeezed into a narrowing range, trading at $65,495 after encountering a long-term descending trend line. The nearest support has formed at $63,800, while a break above the $67,433 point-of-control level is required to trigger an aggressive bullish scenario.BIP-110 faces rejection from miners: The controversial proposal to temporarily restrict the Ordinals and Runes protocols by imposing an 83-byte limit on the OP_RETURN field is losing its chances of success. Despite developers' attempts to clear blocks of spam, only 1.1% of miners have expressed support for the update, effectively eliminating the risk of a hard fork.State-backed mining takes root: Kazakhstan has officially introduced fixed electricity tariffs for licensed miners for 10 years in exchange for transferring part of the mined BTC to the central bank's national reserve. The country has joined El Salvador and Bhutan in pursuing a strategy of sovereign cryptocurrency accumulation.USDC enters Korean super apps: Stablecoin issuer Circle has signed agreements with technology giants Kakao Group and Toss to deploy blockchain-based settlements. The integration will provide more than 20 million active users in South Korea with legal access to digital assets.End of an era for a legendary derivatives exchange: BitMEX, which helped pioneer leveraged cryptocurrency trading in 2014, will completely cease operations on Sept. 23, 2026. The phased closure of positions will begin on Aug. 26. You Might Also Like

Pi Network activated Protocol v25 on July 22, its latest major upgrade of 2026, yet PI stalled below $0.10 after a rally carried the token briefly beyond that level.

The result echoed earlier upgrades. Recent protocol releases drew trader interest but failed to produce a lasting price gain.

Pi Coin’s Rally Stalls Amid Protocol Upgrade PI slipped to an all-time low of $0.0705 on July 14. It recovered through the following week, briefly spiking to an intraday high of $0.103 on July 19, but failed to hold the level

Buyers positioned into the July 22 upgrade, a dated catalyst that gave the market a clear event to trade around. Both price and volume increased before the release landed.

Pi coin has since eased back toward $0.0918, unable to reclaim the $0.10 level it briefly tagged. 

Pi Network Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto MarketsVolume tells the same story. Daily volume rose to $33.7 million on July 20, then fell to about $18.5 million on launch day and has been lower since. Buyer interest thinned as the event passed.

Protocol v24 followed a similar pattern in June. PI posted modest gains ahead of the upgrade, only to resume its downtrend.

Why the Pi Network Upgrade Struggles to Move PriceProtocol v25 introduces BN254 cryptography and Poseidon hashing, the building blocks for building modern zero-knowledge applications. The Pi Core Team also shipped a redesigned mining app for its 60 million Pioneers.

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Pi Mainnet Blockchain has now been upgraded to Protocol 25.

Also, the Clarity Act is ready to be passed; Trump has agreed to the ethics requirement in the updated draft which bans all federal officials including the President from issuing or sponsoring digital assets for profit pic.twitter.com/bfuIN4XBsG

— Woody Lightyear 𝛑 (@WoodyLightyearx) July 22, 2026 The improvements are real, yet the price response was muted. The answer lies in broader market forces and PI’s own supply.

Exchange flows show little sign of forced selling. Tracked exchange wallets recorded a net outflow of about 260,000 PI over 24 hours, a minor move against balances near 540 million PI.

The pressure sits further out. According to PiScan, roughly 1.71 billion PI, worth about $157 million, is scheduled to unlock over the next 12 months, with the heaviest single month near 432 million PI in December 2027.

That steady release meets a thin market, capping rallies regardless of upgrade news. The same overhang blunted earlier releases.

Development news drives short-term bounces, while unlock supply sets the ceiling. Whether v25 can convert utility into demand remains the open question for the weeks ahead.

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Key Takeaways Table of Contents

Key TakeawaysGeopolitical Turmoil Sparks Energy Market Volatility and Inflation ConcernsUpcoming Federal Reserve Decision Creates Additional Market UncertaintyPrecious Metals Rally Extends Beyond GoldGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Gold surged past $4,130 per ounce midweek, posting a 1.3% single-day gain Escalating Middle East conflict, including US military action against Iran and Houthi shipping disruptions, fueled safe-haven buying Crude oil prices broke through $90 per barrel, intensifying inflation concerns before the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting The central bank is anticipated to maintain current interest rates while potentially indicating prolonged restrictive policy Other precious metals rallied alongside gold, with silver jumping more than 4% in the previous trading session Gold is currently trading above the $4,130 mark as escalating Middle East hostilities prompt a flight to traditional safe-haven assets, despite persistently high US dollar valuations and Treasury yields.

Gold Aug 26 (GC=F) Geopolitical Turmoil Sparks Energy Market Volatility and Inflation Concerns Gold futures advanced 1.5% to reach $4,137 during Wednesday’s trading session. This upward movement followed a substantial 2% surge in the prior session, marking the precious metal’s most impressive weekly performance in more than ninety days.

Military activity concentrated around critical maritime chokepoints, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea corridor, continues to generate anxiety in global energy markets. In a notable development, three Saudi Arabian oil tankers reversed course in the Red Sea following a blockade declaration by Houthi militants.

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed over the past 72 hours.

Tracking data shows activity nearly vanishing outside Iran’s shipping lane, while attacks on commercial vessels continue to be reported.

In plain English: the world’s most important oil…

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 22, 2026

As a direct consequence, oil prices surged beyond the $90 per barrel threshold. This development maintains upward inflationary pressure and creates additional complexity for Federal Reserve policymakers.

President Donald Trump issued threats targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Iran’s government responded with warnings that such military action would trigger broader regional escalation.

While Trump indicated Washington’s willingness to engage in diplomatic negotiations with Tehran, American military forces conducted their eleventh consecutive night of strikes in the region.

Upcoming Federal Reserve Decision Creates Additional Market Uncertainty The Federal Reserve’s policy committee convenes next week. Market consensus anticipates no adjustment to the current rate structure, though investors remain alert for any indication that elevated rates might persist if energy-linked inflation continues.

Elevated interest rates typically present challenges for gold investment, given the metal generates no income or dividends. However, gold’s resilience in the current environment suggests safe-haven demand is sufficiently robust to counteract this traditional headwind, according to market observers.

Tony Sycamore, a market analyst with IG, noted that gold‘s ability to maintain strength against dollar appreciation and climbing yields indicates investors are reasserting the metal’s protective portfolio role. He suggested improved retail positioning dynamics may also be contributing to support.

According to Sycamore’s technical analysis, preliminary evidence of a price floor is developing near the late-June support level of $3,942. A breakout above the early-July peak of $4,202 could establish momentum toward the 200-day moving average positioned around $4,494.

IG maintains a constructive outlook on gold provided prices remain above that critical late-June threshold.

Precious Metals Rally Extends Beyond Gold Silver prices increased 1.5% to $59.71 per ounce on Wednesday, building on the previous session’s 4% advance. Platinum gained 2.3% to reach $1,666.59.

From a technical perspective, gold confronts immediate resistance around $4,140, with a secondary barrier at $4,200. These price points represent the next critical challenges for bullish momentum.

Downside support is established near $4,020, with year-to-date lows situated around $3,950 providing additional cushion below current levels.

Gold has accumulated approximately 2.5% gains this week, with geopolitical uncertainty remaining the predominant catalyst for the rally.

Midnight (NIGHT) token price is up by 9% today, July 22, to trade at $0.021 at the time of writing. These gains come shortly after more than $13 million worth of NIGHT tokens were stolen in a hack on the Wanchain bridge that links Cardano to BNB Chain.

The hack pushed the price of NIGHT to an all-time low of $0.015, but an analyst now forecasts that the token could be on the verge of a massive recovery.

NIGHT Token Rallies as Analyst Eyes More Gains The NIGHT token crashed on July 21 after concerns emerged that the hacker who stole 515 million NIGHT from the Wanchain bridge hack would dump them in the market.

The resulting selling pressure pushed the price of NIGHT to $0.015, but analyst Crypto Dossier now says that this drop created a chance for traders to buy.

The analyst notes that the 39% increase from the record low price of $0.015 to $0.021 between July 21 and July 22 suggests that the NIGHT token is resilient and it could see more gains in the long-term.

“The community saw the dip as an opportunity, bought aggressively, and pushed it back up ~30% from the lows already… This kind of quick recovery shows real strength for the long term,” the analyst said.

This forecast comes after Midnight said it is in talks with exchanges to freeze the stolen NIGHT tokens, with such a move set to reduce the selling pressure.

Despite the optimism, NIGHT price is down by 98% from the all-time high of $1.81.

NIGHT Price Prediction as Bull Flag Pattern Forms The two-hour chart for the NIGHT token shows a bull flag. This pattern usually suggests that the price is cooling off after the recent gains.

This bull flag appeared as the price of NIGHT moved from $0.015 to $0.022. If the price closes above the obstacle at $0.022, it could gain by 63% and reach $0.0358.

The CMF reading of 0.13 suggests that the buying pressure is more than the selling pressure, and this could aid NIGHT token price in closing above the resistance of the bull flag.

However, if more traders sell to take profits, NIGHT price could move below the support of the bull flag at $0.021. This drop could invalidate the bull flag, and NIGHT could drop to the July 21 low of $0.019.

NIGHT/USDT: 2-hour Chart (Source: TradingView) The MACD line that is negative suggests that the momentum is still favoring bears despite NIGHT gaining by 39% from its all-time low of $0.015. This negative sentiment likely stems from escalating geopolitical tensions that are weighing on crypto prices.

NIGHT’s Open Interest Soars Amid Surging Short Bets Data from Coinglass shows that the open interest for the NIGHT token has increased by 10% today, July 22, to $23 million at the time of writing.

This OI has also climbed from $15 million on July 19 to $25 million on July 22, marking its highest reading since June 4.

NIGHT Token Open Interest (Source: Coinglass) The OI is likely rising because of short sellers who are opening new positions to bet that the price of NIGHT token might drop again. This rise in short sellers is shown by the funding rate that has a reading of -0.021.

The long/short ratio for the NIGHT token has also dropped to 0.52 on Binance, which shows that there are more short sellers than long buyers.

This suggests that despite analysts flipping bullish that NIGHT might recover after the recent crash, futures traders are predicting that the token will crash.

XRP's latest rally appears to be backed by growing conviction among large holders. 

On-chain data provided by analytics firm Santiment shows that whales have steadily increased their positions while smaller retail wallets continue to exit the market.

Wallets holding between 100,000 and 100 million XRP have increased their combined holdings by 2.8% over the past five weeks. 

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During the same period, wallets holding less than 0.01 XRP reduced their balances by 5.2%. There is a clear divergence between institutional-scale investors and the smallest retail participants.

Essentially, large investors were buying the dip while XRP was trading in a relatively weak range between roughly $1.05 and $1.12. 

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According to CoinGecko data, XRP has climbed more than 3% over the past week, recently reclaiming the $1.16 level.

XRP has historically tended to follow the behavior of large whales instead of small retail wallets, according to Santiment. 

Bullish momentum Whale accumulation is a bullish signal, but, of course, it is not a guarantee that XRP will continue higher. Large holders can accumulate for many reasons, and macro conditions, ETF flows, and broader crypto market sentiment are still the key factors that could make or break the rally. 

Recent data shows that XRP spot ETFs recorded $5.09 million in net inflows on July 21 after $2.27 million on July 20 and $6.10 million on July 16. This came after a brief period of outflows earlier this month.

Meanwhile, as reported by U.Today, there are various notable technical developments on the XRP Ledger. Validators are expected to vote within the coming weeks on one of the network's most significant upgrade packages to date.

The proposed amendments would introduce batch transactions and confidential transfers. Additional improvements include enhancements to the ledger's Multi-Purpose Token (MPT) standard. 

Key Highlights XRP surpassed the critical $1.13 barrier and currently trades near $1.15, posting a 3.38% gain in the past day White House officials secured a deal on ethics language for the CLARITY Act, improving crypto market sentiment XRP ETF products attracted $2.49 million in net inflows within 24 hours, pushing total inflows to $1.49 billion Technical analyst Ali Charts declared a confirmed breakout, identifying $1.30 as the subsequent price objective Relative Strength Index stands at 78.46, indicating overbought territory, while crucial support zones rest between $1.10 and $1.12 XRP has climbed to $1.15 following a decisive push through a resistance threshold that market participants had been monitoring intently. The upward movement represents a 3.38% increase across the preceding 24-hour period.

XRP Price Market analyst Ash Crypto shared via X that XRP had successfully escaped a 66-day descending trend pattern, characterizing the development as constructive for token holders. This technical shift has sparked fresh interest among market participants.

Technical analyst Ali Charts similarly highlighted the breakthrough, publishing a chart accompanied by the declaration “BREAKOUT CONFIRMED!” while designating $1.30 as the subsequent significant price objective. The $1.13 threshold, previously marked by Ali Charts as critical resistance, has now transitioned into a support floor.

Legislative Developments Strengthen Market Outlook The cryptocurrency sector received additional positive momentum from regulatory developments. Reports indicate the White House has finalized an agreement concerning ethics language within the CLARITY Act, legislation aimed at creating more defined federal guidelines for digital asset regulation.

Journalist Eleanor Terrett disclosed that administration officials distributed revised legislative text to senior Senate Republicans. Crypto commentator John Squire (@TheCryptoSquire) conveyed the update on X, suggesting the modified language may be published imminently. This advancement eliminates an obstacle that had previously impeded negotiations.

Market observers have suggested a potential $2 price target for XRP should accumulation persist in conjunction with regulatory progress. Bitcoin appreciated 2% to reach $66,310 throughout the identical trading session, contributing to broader market strength.

ETF Capital Flows Surpass $1.49 Billion Mark XRP exchange-traded products registered $2.49 million in net capital inflows on July 20, with Bitwise’s offering pacing all competitors. Bitwise maintains the highest aggregate assets among available XRP ETF products at $320.82 million.

Source; SoSoValue Total cumulative inflows throughout all XRP ETF products have achieved $1.49 billion. Aggregate net assets currently stand at $1.02 billion, accounting for 1.46% of XRP’s complete market capitalization. Overall daily transaction volume reached $11.67 million.

Blockchain analytics from TradingView reveal the On-Balance Volume metric trending upward following an extended period of decline, indicating accumulation patterns are progressively materializing.

Outstanding contracts in XRP derivatives markets have climbed to approximately $2.6 billion, ascending in tandem with price appreciation. CoinGlass statistics demonstrate that both long and short positions have experienced recent liquidations, reflecting active portfolio adjustments.

Critical support zones requiring attention include $1.12 and $1.10. A sustained close beneath $1.07 would compromise the existing bullish structure. The RSI measurement of 78.46 positions XRP within overbought parameters, potentially constraining near-term upward momentum.

Bitcoin is trading at $66,259 as of Tuesday morning, up 1.3% over the past 24 hours and roughly 6% since bottoming near $62,517 earlier this week, according to CoinGecko data. Ether has climbed alongside it, trading at $1,930.83, up 0.4% on the day and 3.3% over the past week, marginally outperforming bitcoin's seven-day gain of 2.5%.

The move extends a rally that began last week on the back of soft U.S. labor market data, and has picked up further this week on renewed optimism that Congress may finally advance crypto market structure legislation before its August recess.

The CLARITY Act, which would establish a federal framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the SEC and CFTC, passed the House by a 294-134 vote in July 2025 and was advanced by the Senate Banking Committee in a 15-9 vote in May. Since then it has stalled, with Democratic senators including Angela Alsobrooks and Ruben Gallego withholding support over the bill's ethics provisions.

Reports this week of a potential compromise on those ethics terms have revived hopes that a floor vote could happen before the recess, a deadline lawmakers and industry groups have flagged as critical: missing it risks pushing the bill into next year, when its prospects would likely worsen.

Macro conditions have added a second tailwind. A weaker-than-expected June jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy adding only 57,000 positions against consensus estimates of roughly double that, combined with recent comments from Federal Reserve officials suggesting AI-driven productivity gains could help ease inflation, have strengthened bets that the Fed will cut rates later this year. Softer inflation prints in the weeks since have reinforced that view, adding to the risk-on backdrop that has lifted bitcoin, ether and other major tokens together.

Trading volume has moved with the price. Bitcoin's 24-hour volume sits at $31.68 billion, up roughly 1% on the day, while ether's has risen more sharply, up 11% to $11.7 billion. Both remain well below bitcoin's all-time high of $126,080 set in October 2025 and ether's all-time high of $4,946.05 set last August, with bitcoin still down 47% and ether down 61% from those peaks respectively.

Whether the rally holds likely depends on whether the Senate actually schedules a CLARITY Act vote in the coming days, and whether upcoming economic data continues to support the case for a Fed cut. A stalled vote or a hotter-than-expected inflation reading could just as quickly take the momentum back out of the market.

The reported progress on the CLARITY Act is perhaps the most surprising.

July has been historically a positive month for bitcoin and this edition hasn’t disappointed so far. The cryptocurrency began the month on the wrong foot, dipping below $58,000 for the first time in nearly two years, but it rebounded swiftly in the following weeks.

Earlier today, it rocketed past $66,000 for the first time in over a month, gaining over $8,000 since that July 1 low. Here are some of the possible reasons behind it.

Whale and ETF Accumulation As June was coming to an end and it became known that it would be a highly painful month for the asset with a nosedive of over 20%, we outlined several factors that had to change in July for a price resurgence. One of them was the ETF inflows. The financial vehicles went on a violent eight-week withdrawal-only streak, which was finally snapped a couple of weeks ago.

Moreover, investors continued to pour funds into the ETFs, which ended two weeks in the green in a row for the first time in months. July 20 extended the streak as the funds attracted almost $227 million.

The second major reason for the price revival is whale behavior. Data shared by CryptoQuant indicated that large market participants holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC increased their 60-day net accumulation to roughly 66,700 units, which is close to the recent record seen a month ago.

“This is the cohort’s strongest accumulation reading since February 17, when net accumulation briefly exceeded 106,000 BTC.”

News From the US The third reason has a more macro scent. It came a week ago when the US CPI numbers for June were announced, showing softer-than-expected inflation rates. BTC rallied immediately after the news went live as lower inflation reduced the pressure on the Fed to hike interest rates. Similar market conditions are regarded as beneficial for risk-on assets like bitcoin.

Last but perhaps most importantly at the moment comes a development on the CLARITY Act. After the odds of approval dropped toward 30% just days ago, reports emerged that the White House had agreed on an ethics package for the key legislation and sent the language to certain Senate republicans for further validation.

You may also like: Bitcoin Has Exited Capitulation Regime as Momentum Rebuilds: Analysts Bitcoin and Risk Assets Under Pressure as 30-Year Yields Push Above 5% What Does $2.3B Stablecoin Exodus From Binance and Bybit Mean for Bitcoin Although the details are still scarce, industry experts believe this is a major step in the right direction for the bill, and it increases the chances for a 2026 approval.

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) rallied above $66,000 to its highest level in over a month, as a technical trifecta that has historically marked every major cycle bottom flashed on the monthly chart.

What Is The Macro Bottom Signal Showing?Crypto analyst Ali Martinez identified three conditions on Bitcoin’s monthly chart that have aligned at every major cycle bottom since 2015.

The three signals:

Monthly RSI dropping to approximately 43.65 Chande Momentum Oscillator cooling to around -71 Price testing the 50-month moving average Last month, Bitcoin’s correction to $58,000 triggered all three simultaneously for the first time since December 2022.

How Has This Signal Performed Historically?The trifecta has appeared three times before, each time marking a durable accumulation zone rather than a precise price floor:

2015 — Signal printed at $235 in March. Price briefly dipped to $162 before an 8,300% expansion followed 2019 — Signal triggered at $3,333 in January, just above the $3,124 absolute low set a month prior, preceding a 1,911% rally 2022 — Signal fired at $16,270 in December near the 50-month moving average, launching a 675% rally Ali Martinez noted that on-chain metrics including MVRV and CVDD still point to a potential cycle bottom between $40,000 and $50,000, leaving open the possibility that price sweeps lower before the next leg higher. 

The technical signal historically printed slightly above the absolute bottom rather than at the exact low.

What Is Driving Tuesday’s Rally?Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett reported Monday that President Donald Trump agreed to a crucial ethics provision for the crypto market structure bill, with the specific language shared with a group of Senate Republicans. 

The ethics provision has been the primary obstacle blocking Senate passage for months.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs added $227 million in net inflows on July 20, marking the fifth consecutive day of positive flows, according to SoSoValue data. That pushed the five-day total to roughly $727.3 million.

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Key Takeaways Jefferies shifted its stance on Datadog (DDOG) from Buy to Hold on July 21, 2026, expressing concerns over valuation following a remarkable 94% year-to-date surge While analyst Brent Thill increased his price target from $210 to $280, he noted the investment opportunity has “largely played out” The company commands approximately 18x EV/CY27 revenue, representing a significant 4-turn premium compared to competitor Snowflake (SNOW) In its Q2 earnings preview, Jefferies highlighted Amazon, Microsoft, and Atlassian as top picks while expressing skepticism about Palantir Corporate insiders have divested $378.2 million in shares during the past three months without any recorded purchases Shares of Datadog experienced a roughly 2% decline in premarket hours on July 21 following Jefferies analyst Brent Thill’s decision to downgrade the stock from Buy to Hold.

Datadog, Inc., DDOG

With DDOG surging 94% since the beginning of the year, Thill’s analysis suggests the low-hanging fruit has already been harvested. Before the announcement, shares were changing hands at prices substantially exceeding Jefferies’ previous target.

Importantly, this rating change doesn’t reflect pessimism about Datadog’s underlying operations. Thill actually elevated his price objective from $210 to $280. His concern centers on valuation having outpaced the fundamental narrative.

Trading at approximately 18x EV/CY27 revenue, DDOG maintains a substantial 4-turn premium versus Snowflake. According to Thill, this pricing structure provides “little cushion for any execution slippage.”

The company’s momentum has been impressive. Revenue expansion reaccelerated from 25% in Q1 2025 to 32% in Q1 2026, providing substantial momentum behind the stock’s appreciation. Jefferies’ investment premise regarding DDOG as an artificial intelligence winner and market leader has materialized, at least through the first half of 2026.

Stretched Multiples Draw Scrutiny The price-to-earnings ratio currently registers at 674.87x. This extraordinary figure isn’t an error—it demonstrates how aggressively the market is pricing anticipated future expansion.

DDOG earns a GF Score of 83 out of 100, achieving a flawless 10/10 rating for growth metrics. However, its profitability assessment stands at merely 4/10, a shortcoming that becomes more significant when valuations reach these elevated levels.

Jefferies indicated it would consider adopting a more positive stance if presented with a more attractive entry opportunity. This suggests the firm maintains confidence in the company’s long-term prospects, just not at present pricing.

Executive Stock Sales Merit Attention Corporate insiders have liquidated $378.2 million in company shares over the last three months. Zero insider purchases have been documented during this timeframe.

While such asymmetric selling activity doesn’t necessarily foreshadow problems, it warrants consideration in conjunction with the downgrade.

Jefferies’ comprehensive Q2 preview characterized the market as transitioning from universally defensive positioning toward a more fundamentals-oriented environment.

The investment bank reported that its exclusive partner surveys revealed robust cloud infrastructure demand and persistent capacity constraints, justifying optimistic estimate revisions across hyperscaler and infrastructure investments.

However, Jefferies warned that market expectations have risen substantially and investment opportunities are “more nuanced where positioning and multiples are stretched.” This characterization applies particularly well to DDOG’s current situation.

Jefferies identified Amazon, Microsoft, and Atlassian as its favored investments approaching earnings season. The firm also adopted a bearish position on Palantir, pointing to increasingly difficult comparisons and intensifying competitive pressures.

Thill’s updated $280 price objective implies approximately 14% upside from where DDOG traded prior to the downgrade announcement.

Bitcoin is holding near $66,000 and technical signals suggest the broader market may be entering a new phase. A break above current resistance opens the path toward $72,000 to $73,000 in the near term, with $80,000 a possibility if the 200-day moving average gives way.

The Altcoin SetupAfter months of sideways accumulation, altcoins are beginning to break daily downtrends. The pattern forming across the altcoin market total cap chart is a bullish reversal flag rather than a continuation of the bear move, suggesting the next leg could add over $100 billion to altcoin market capitalization from current levels.

Ethereum is leading the rotation out of Bitcoin dominance, a historically positive sign for the broader altcoin market. Important levels across major altcoins:

ETH: Entry zone $1,700 to $1,800, targets at $2,200 then $2,400SOL: Entry zone $76 to $78, targets $88 then $98XRP: Breaking out, target push toward $1.40AVAX: Currently in the entry zone, targets $7.50 then $8.30Chainlink: Longer-term spot entry at $10 to $11, could take several weeksSUI: Breaking out, target $1.00, representing approximately 31% upsideDogecoin: Daily close confirmation still pending, target area around 10 cents higher over coming weeksCardano: Early stages, watching for a larger trend break that could target 40 centsBroader Market StructureShort-side liquidations at the $66,000 level have largely been wiped out, with a smaller cluster forming around $62,000. Analysts watching liquidation maps say the absence of a large concentration of short positions above current prices is a constructive sign, as it removes a potential ceiling on the rally.

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Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) surges 7% in the past 24 hours, but derivatives data shows the move is being driven by a leveraged short squeeze rather than whale-backed accumulation.

What Is The Van Rossem Hard Fork And Why Does It Matter?

Cardano activated the Van Rossem hard fork on Saturday, moving the mainnet to protocol version 11, according to CoinDesk. 

The upgrade lowers smart contract execution costs and lays the groundwork for Ouroboros Leios, a scaling upgrade expected later in 2026 that aims to sharply increase the number of transactions Cardano can process.

The more consequential change is who approved it. For the first time in Cardano’s history, the upgrade was initiated, debated, and ratified entirely through the network’s on-chain governance system rather than directed by Input Output, the engineering firm that built the blockchain. 

Delegated representatives voted 78.97% in favor, clearing the 60% threshold required for passage.

For ADA holders, the shift means owning a token on a network where holders have a formal vote in its direction rather than taking what the founders decide to ship.

Is The Rally Built On Solid Ground?Retail traders are aggressively long on ADA, with account ratios on Binance and OKX both sitting above 2.0, meaning more than twice as many retail accounts are betting on the upside than the downside.

However, larger players are not as convinced. Top trader accounts lean bullish but their position ratio of 0.96 puts them close to neutral, suggesting whales are not driving this move with conviction.

Open interest climbed 11.5% and volume surged 71% according to Coinglass, with short positions dominating the liquidations. That combination points to a short squeeze pushing price higher rather than fresh capital flowing in from bigger buyers.

Cardano Price Breakout Targets $0.20 After Triangle BreakADA breaks above a symmetrical triangle that compressed price since the June low. 

The RSI bullish divergence that printed in June has now activated, with RSI at 55.95, its strongest reading since April.

ADA reclaimed the 20-day EMA at $0.1671 and now faces the 50-day EMA at $0.1772 as the next resistance. 

A confirmed daily close above $0.175 with the candle body outside the triangle validates the breakout, with the measured move targeting $0.2 to $0.2045. Losing $0.1671 flips the breakout into a fakeout.

Key levels for ADA: $0.1772 — 50-day EMA, immediate resistance to clear $0.2045 — 100-day EMA and measured move target on confirmed breakout $0.1671 — 20-day EMA, support that must hold $0.1650 to $0.1700 — triangle breakout retest zone on any pullback Photo via Shutterstock

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Cardano’s 7% Pop Looks Like Bait, and the Pros Aren’t Biting

Key Takeaways Ethereum maintains position above the critical $1,825 support zone following a decisive break of resistance, with bullish targets set at $2,500 U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded their second consecutive week of positive flows, accumulating $105.44 million in net inflows Aggregate assets under management in Ethereum ETFs climbed to $9.97 billion, approaching the significant $10 billion threshold The ETH/BTC trading pair is challenging the upper limit of a 12-month downward channel Market analyst Ali Charts identifies $1,850 as the critical support level that must hold for a rally toward $2,300 Ethereum is currently changing hands near $1,865 following a notable rebound from its June bottom around $1,505. Throughout July, the digital asset has established a pattern of ascending peaks and troughs, leaving market participants focused on whether momentum can carry prices beyond the $2,000 threshold.

Ethereum (ETH) Price The nearest overhead resistance barrier is positioned at $1,900. Successfully breaching this level would place the psychologically significant $2,000 milestone directly in view, representing a previous supply zone that buying pressure must overcome to validate the ongoing recovery trend.

Should ETH maintain its footing above $1,825 while continuing to establish progressively higher lows, market analysts project a potential advance toward the $2,465-$2,620 range. The extended bullish objective zone is mapped between $2,500 and $2,620.

Market analyst Ali Charts indicated that should Ethereum be constructing a double bottom pattern, the $1,850 level represents a critical support threshold. Ali Charts emphasized that maintaining this floor would open the door to a subsequent rally targeting $2,300.

Technical analyst Ted Pillows observed that ETH has successfully recaptured its 6-month descending trendline and that the weekly MACD indicator has reversed into bullish territory. He highlighted that prominent investor Tom Lee alongside various institutional players continue accumulating positions, suggesting that sustained support at $1,850 may fuel an additional 10% upward move.

Institutional Capital Returns Via ETF Channels U.S. spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds captured $105.44 million in net positive flows during the week concluding July 17, building on the prior week’s $84.42 million intake. This marks a reversal from five straight weeks of net redemptions that occurred between mid-May and the end of June.

Source: SoSoValue Total cumulative net inflows across all Ethereum ETF products now register at $11.08 billion. Combined assets held by these funds reached $9.97 billion, positioned just beneath the $10 billion benchmark.

BlackRock’s ETHA product dominated inflows, attracting $31.68 million on July 17 by itself and currently overseeing $5.22 billion in net assets, representing over half of the entire U.S. spot Ethereum ETF marketplace. Fidelity’s FETH contributed an additional $5.05 million during the same period.

Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: Momentum Shift Emerging The ETH/BTC ratio is currently testing the upper constraint of a yearlong descending channel formation near the 0.0285-0.029 BTC range. The pair bounced from long-term support around 0.0262 BTC, and a confirmed breakout above resistance could propel it toward 0.030 BTC initially, with 0.032 BTC as the subsequent target.

A durable upward movement in the ETH/BTC ratio would likely catalyze positive momentum throughout the broader Ethereum ecosystem and associated tokens.

Examining the weekly chart, the Relative Strength Index hovers around 40, demonstrating recovery from oversold territory but remaining beneath the neutral 50 threshold. On the daily timeframe, RSI has advanced to 58.

The $1,800 level has emerged as the primary support zone to monitor. BlackRock’s ETHA fund registered $31.68 million in single-day inflows on July 17, representing the latest session with published data.

Altcoins

21 July 2026 | 11:00 Ethereum is approaching the psychologically important $2,000 level after extending its recovery from the June low near $1,505. The altcoin trades around $1,930 at the time of writing after 2% daily gains, while continuing to form higher lows inside an ascending channel.

The level ahead is more than a round-number barrier. Three separate technical resistances converge in the same area, making the next reaction particularly important for the short-term structure.

Institutional demand also remained supportive. After two consecutive weeks of net inflows, US spot Ethereum ETFs opened the new week with another $38.09 million on Monday, July 20, led by BlackRock’s ETHA with approximately $34.31 million, per SoSoValue. The continued inflows strengthen the recovery backdrop, although one positive day does not confirm a lasting trend.

Ethereum is not advancing alone. According to CoinMarketCap, over the past 24 hours, HYPE gained approximately 2%, Solana rose 2.3% and XRP added 1.8%, showing that the move forms part of a broader recovery across major altcoins rather than an ETH-only breakout.

Three Resistance Levels Meet Near $2,000 The first obstacle is the 100-day simple moving average, currently positioned near $1,985. ETH remains below this longer-term trend measure despite already reclaiming the faster 50-day average.

The same area also contains the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement of the wider decline and the upper boundary of the rising channel that has guided the recovery since early July.

When several technical levels overlap, traders often treat the zone as stronger resistance than any individual indicator would provide on its own. A temporary rejection or consolidation near $2,000 would therefore not immediately invalidate the recovery.

Momentum remains constructive, with the daily Relative Strength Index near 65. That shows improving demand without placing ETH clearly above the traditional overbought threshold of 70.

Daily Ethereum price chart / Source: TradingView What Happens if Ethereum Is Rejected? The first support to monitor sits around $1,920, close to the recently reclaimed horizontal resistance and the lower half of the rising channel.

If buyers defend that area, ETH could consolidate before attempting another move through $2,000. Holding $1,920 would also preserve the current sequence of higher lows.

A daily break below that level and the channel support would weaken the immediate bullish setup. Attention would then shift toward the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement near $1,870, which previously acted as resistance before the latest advance.

The next major support below that area is near $1,730, where the 50-day moving average currently sits. A move that deep would represent a more substantial deterioration in the recovery structure.

A Breakout Still Needs Confirmation A move above $2,000 alone would not fully confirm the breakout. ETH would need to remain above the resistance cluster and successfully retest it as support.

That sequence would show that sellers around the 100-day average and the Fibonacci level had been absorbed. It would also move Ethereum outside the current ascending channel, increasing the possibility of a broader advance toward the next horizontal resistance near $2,100.

Until that confirmation appears, $2,000 remains the main decision area. A rejection would keep the recovery intact as long as $1,920 holds, while a confirmed breakout would mark a stronger shift in Ethereum’s medium-term structure.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Author

Kosta has reported on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain infrastructure since 2020, bringing over six years of hands-on experience in the crypto industry built through daily tracking of markets, trends, and emerging blockchain developments. Specializing in Bitcoin on-chain analysis, institutional ETF flows, and digital asset price action, his work at Coindoo has been cited by other news agencies and consistently covers market developments with a focus on data-driven reporting across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Over the years, Kosta has contributed to multiple crypto media outlets in different regions, authoring over 6,000 articles across the sector. His reporting spans cryptocurrency markets and the broader fintech industry, tracking not only price action but also the technological and regulatory forces shaping the ecosystem. To support his analysis, Kosta actively leverages on-chain data and metrics from leading platforms such as Santiment, Glassnode, and CryptoQuant, enabling deeper, evidence-based market insights. He believes in the power of transparency and the data that underpins the blockchain ecosystem. His academic background in Marketing Management from Denmark further complements his analytical approach, adding a strong understanding of communication strategy and content positioning to his work.

PUMP is up by 18%, hovering at the $0.0019 mark. Daily trading volume has skyrocketed by 750%. Pump.fun (PUMP) token hit a two-month high after a trader, Ansem, disclosed a new position, buying in with 1,500 $SOL worth $115K and sharing his investing thesis. The asset has surged over 18%, trades at $0.001950, with its trading volume exploding 750% to $202.54 million. 

Trader 0xbf73 followed the move by opening a 10x long on 764.14M $PUMP worth $1.53M, with a liquidation price sitting at $0.0016194. When leveraged traders start copying influencer buys at 10x, the stakes on both sides of the trade go up significantly.

PUMP is up 41% over the last month, and this move pushed it to the edge of the $0.0020 resistance level. A clean break above it opens the path toward $0.0021, where reclaiming that level alongside the 200-day EMA would confirm bullish momentum and set up a potential run toward $0.0022.

Moreover, as the token is approaching the top of its channel, the TD Sequential is close to printing a sell signal. Resistance, trend exhaustion, and elevated supply overhang are all converging at the same level. 

PUMP’s sustained breakout and successful retest above the channel would flip that setup entirely. A break below $0.0018 and momentum unravels fast. The next move at this resistance level will define whether this is a breakout or just an influencer-driven spike. 

PUMP Technical Outlook: Where Is the Next Move Headed? When the MACD line is trading above the signal line with both lines positioned above the zero line, the PUMP market is in a prime bullish phase. The broader macro trend is upward, and the short-term buying momentum is accelerating faster. 

The price is actively making higher highs and higher lows. Any minor intraday pullbacks are short-lived. Buyers consistently step in before the price can retest deeper support levels. Resistance levels are vulnerable to breaking out as the underlying momentum favours the bulls.

An RSI reading of 70.36 signals an overbought market state driven by strong bullish momentum. Crossing above the critical 70 indicates that buyers have pushed prices aggressively higher, causing short-term gains to heavily outweigh losses. 

While this demonstrates undeniable buying power, it also flags that PUMP is entering overextended territory. While bullish momentum remains strong, opening new long positions above 70 yields an unfavourable risk-reward ratio until the price consolidates or pulls back.

Crypto Market Highlights

Momentum Compression Builds for Solana (SOL): Which Way Will the Next Move Go?

Content Writer | Crypto Enthusiast | Bridging Literature and Blockchain

Solana (SOL) is at a critical point that could signal a buying opportunity, with a potential rise to $93.

As seen in the 4-hour chart below, SOL continues to consolidate in a rising channel, with the lower boundary set at $76. Maintaining prices above this level would signal a buying opportunity, with a potential rebound to $93.

Source: X

Why the next target for Solana could be $93According to Ali, several on-chain metrics support this theory:

In the past week, fewer SOL tokens have been deposited into exchanges for selling. The reduction in selling pressure has also set up a stronger macro price floor for SOL at around the $75 mark.

Additionally, as that week ended, spot SOL ETF flows turned positive, recording $948,200 for the week ending July 17.

Even more, the number of new Solana addresses has risen by 0.5 million since July 18, indicating increasing network activity.

Source: CoinGlass

Key levels to watch forSOL faces a major volume barrier between the $76 and $85 mark on the UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD). Users traded about 125 million SOL in this region, making $85 the next ceiling to break through if SOL should target $100 and beyond. 

Breaking below the $70 mark would turn the trend bearish, exposing the coin to a deeper correction near the next highly traded URPD baseline of $53.

Just recently, a hacker managed to drain $1.65 million from a Solana cross-chain bridge protocol. While highlighting the inherent security vulnerabilities in on-chain bridges, the event had little to no impact on SOL, with the coin gaining 2.2% in the past 24 hours to trade at $77.43 at press time.

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