Tag: Market

  • The altcoin uprising: Ether, Solana, and BNB defy market fear as Bitcoin stalls

    The altcoin uprising: Ether, Solana, and BNB defy market fear as Bitcoin stalls

    The altcoin uprising: Ether, Solana, and BNB defy market fear as Bitcoin stalls

    • Major altcoins like Ether and Solana are strongly outperforming Bitcoin.
    • BNB, the token of BNB Chain, surged 6% to a new all-time high of 875.
    • Bitcoin’s market dominance is on the verge of hitting a new six-month low.

    In a stunning display of defiance, a powerful cohort of major altcoins staged a dramatic comeback on Wednesday, completely eclipsing Bitcoin and brushing off a wave of risk-aversion that sent traditional stock markets lower.

    The move signals a potential changing of the guard, as leadership in the digital asset space appears to be shifting, at least for now, from the king to its court.

    The rebellion was led by BNB, the native token of the BNB Chain, which blasted through to a fresh all-time high, surging 6% to hit 875.

    The ferocity of the rebound was just as palpable in the Ethereum market, where Ether (ETH) rocketed 7% from its overnight lows to 4,350, completely erasing all of Tuesday’s losses in a single, powerful move.

    Some market observers speculated the rally was fueled by ETH treasury firms strategically buying the dip.

    The strength was broad-based. Solana’s SOL gained a formidable 6.1%, also outpacing its recent decline, while tokens for ChainLink and AAVE put on even more impressive shows, soaring 10% and 7%, respectively.

    A king on shaky ground

    While the altcoin market was exploding with activity, Bitcoin was a sea of calm. The leading cryptocurrency advanced a modest 1.4% from its lows, trading just above 114,000.

    This tepid performance was more in line with the broader capital markets, where major stock indices like the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed in the red.

    This stark divergence is forcing a market-wide reassessment. The relative strength of altcoins during a period of fear is a notable and potentially significant signal.

    Bitcoin’s dominance—a key metric measuring its share of the total crypto market capitalization—is now teetering on the brink of a new six-month low.

    Historically, a sustained fall in Bitcoin’s dominance is the classic harbinger of an “altcoin season,” a period where smaller, riskier tokens take the lead.

    But before investors get carried away by dreams of repeating the wild, speculative rallies of past cycles, a crucial note of caution has been sounded.

    Analysts at ByteTree, led by Shehriyar Ali and Charlie Morris, warn that the rules of the game have fundamentally changed.

    “An alt season may be brewing, but it will not look like the wild rallies of the past,” their report stated. 

    Instead, it will be defined by selective, fundamentals-driven growth, rewarding quality projects and penalising those without substance.

    The message is clear: the era of blind speculation may be over. The current uprising is not lifting all boats equally.

    Instead, it appears to be a more discerning, mature rebellion, one that is selectively rewarding projects perceived to have genuine value and long-term potential.

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  • Crypto update: Bitcoin slips as analysts warn of ‘fragile’ market structure

    Crypto update: Bitcoin slips as analysts warn of ‘fragile’ market structure

    Bitcoin slips as analysts warn of 'fragile' market structure

    • Bitcoin and Ether prices are falling despite positive industry news.
    • A key disconnect exists between weak price action and strong fundamentals.
    • Glassnode warns of market fragility and stretched leverage in the short term.

    A profound and unsettling disconnect is cleaving the cryptocurrency market in two as the trading day begins in Asia.

    While a torrent of structurally bullish headlines points to a maturing and increasingly powerful industry, the price action on screen tells a story of weakness, fear, and retreat.

    This growing chasm between the long-term promise and the short-term pain has left investors caught in a tense tug-of-war.

    The immediate picture is painted in red. Bitcoin is down 3% in the past 24 hours, struggling to hold the line at $113,000.

    Ether is suffering even more, having shed 5.6% to land at $4,100, extending a week of bruising losses across the major digital assets. This persistent pullback is happening in the face of news that would, in any other environment, be sending prices soaring.

    The view from the charts: a structure of sand?

    For one camp of market observers, the current weakness is a simple function of a fragile and overextended market structure.

    In a recent report, the analytics firm Glassnode frames the decline as a textbook case of exhaustion: spot momentum is fading, leverage is dangerously stretched, and the pressure from profit-taking is building to a critical point.

    They warn that even the massive $900 million in inflows into U.S.-listed spot ETFs last week is not enough to sustain the rally on its own.

    Without a renewed wave of conviction buying in the spot markets, Glassnode argues, the market’s positioning remains acutely “vulnerable to deeper deleveraging.”

    A foundation of steel

    This pessimistic view, however, is far from universal. Another camp argues that fixating on the short-term price action is a classic case of missing the forest for the trees.

    The Singapore-based market maker Enflux, in a note shared with CoinDesk, contends that the industry is maturing at a pace that the charts are simply failing to capture.

    They see the weak price action as a temporary “disconnect” and urge traders to focus on the truly significant headlines: Google becoming the largest shareholder in miner TeraWulf, Wyoming launching a state-backed stablecoin, and Tether hiring a former White House crypto policy official. 

    These are not fleeting signals, Enflux argues; they are proof that serious capital and top-tier talent are aligning around a future that is institutional, regulated, and built to last.

    The divergence in tone is telling. One side sees a house of cards, the other sees the scaffolding of a skyscraper being erected.

    The shadow of the Fed

    This internal conflict is being amplified by a powerful external force: the Federal Reserve.

    The entire market is holding its breath ahead of the Fed’s FOMC minutes and, more importantly, Chairman Jerome Powell’s pivotal speech at the Jackson Hole symposium later this week.

    With economists from institutions like Bank of America warning that Powell may argue for holding rates steady amid sticky inflation, the easy-money hopes that have buoyed risk assets are beginning to fade.

    This macro uncertainty is forcing a reckoning in the crypto market, where the short-term fragility is clashing head-on with the long-term fundamental strength. The question now is which narrative will break first.

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  • Metaplanet adds 775 Bitcoin to treasury amid market pullback

    Metaplanet adds 775 Bitcoin to treasury amid market pullback

    Bitcoin consolidates below $120K; Analysts say Ethereum flows will guide next market move

    • Simon Gerovich said the company acquired the bitcoins at an average cost of $120,006 each.
    • Metaplanet began implementing its Bitcoin accumulation strategy in April 2024.
    • With the latest purchase, Metaplanet’s total bitcoin holdings have risen to 18,888 BTC, valued at about $1.94 billion.

    Metaplanet, a Japanese Bitcoin treasury company, has purchased an additional 775 BTC for roughly $93 million as part of its ongoing accumulation strategy.

    The firm disclosed the latest acquisition on Monday through a post by its president, Simon Gerovich, on X.

    Gerovich said the company acquired the bitcoins at an average cost of $120,006 each.

    With the latest purchase, Metaplanet’s total bitcoin holdings have risen to 18,888 BTC, valued at about $1.94 billion.

    The firm’s average purchase price now stands at $102,653 per bitcoin.

    Metaplanet began implementing its Bitcoin accumulation strategy in April 2024.

    The firm is currently the seventh-largest holder of Bitcoin globally, according to Bitcointreasuries data.

    In his post announcing the milestone, Gerovich noted the company’s growing treasury position and reaffirmed its commitment to the strategy.

    Metaplanet’s Q2 results

    The company also released its second-quarter financial results last week.

    Total revenue reached 1.2 billion yen ($8.4 million), representing a 41% increase from the previous quarter.

    Net income swung to a profit of 11.1 billion yen ($75.1 million), compared to a net loss of 5 billion yen ($34.2 million) in the first quarter.

    Metaplanet said it continues to project full-year revenue of 3.4 billion yen and operating profit of 2.5 billion yen.

    The company attributed this outlook to recurring income from cash-secured put premiums and its operational performance.

    Metaplanet stock under pressure

    Despite the upbeat earnings and treasury expansion, Metaplanet’s stock price fell 8.6% on Friday to close at 866 yen.

    On Monday, shares recovered slightly, rising 0.6% around midday in Japan, while markets were still open.

    Addressing the recent weakness, Gerovich acknowledged the disappointment among investors but stressed confidence in the company’s long-term approach.

    He said the firm’s bitcoin income generation business has expanded for three consecutive quarters, adding that recurring income provides resilience and flexibility to support future financing and treasury operations.

    Bitcoin price today

    The latest acquisition comes as bitcoin’s price faces volatility.

    The world’s largest cryptocurrency touched a new all-time high of $124,474 last Thursday before retreating 4% the same day.

    Over the weekend, it traded around the $117,300 level and was slightly lower at the start of the week, nearing key support at $116,000.

    If Bitcoin closes below that level, analysts note that the decline could extend toward its 50-day Exponential Moving Average of $115,031.

    A further break below could test the next support zone near $111,980.



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  • AAVE daily fees skyrocket 200%, signaling lending market recovery

    AAVE daily fees skyrocket 200%, signaling lending market recovery

    AAVE daily fees skyrocket 200%, signaling lending market recovery

    • Aave’s daily fees increased by around 200% within the last three months.
    • They hit multi-month peaks of over $3 million per day, indicating intensified borrowing.
    • The surge reflects reinvigorated DeFi lending interest.

    Aave continues to dominate the DeFi lending market, this time attracting attention with serious figures.

    CoinGecko data shows daily fees on the blockchain have increased by more than 200% since May.

    That signals amplified on-chain activity and soaring demand for decentralised liquidity.

    Most importantly, the statistics signal DeFi borrowing resurgences.

    The chart shows AAVE’s 24-hour fees were below $1.2 million in early May.

    It had surpassed 43 million as of the end of July, printing multi-month highs.

    Revenue saw a modest gain (still below $500K) compared to collected fees, but the increase reflected enriched platform profitability.

    Furthermore, the chart reflects significant dips and spikes in fee activity, which indicates healthy volatility.

    Such fluctuations suggest an active lending market with healthy utilisation, and not instability.

    Meanwhile, daily fees are the revenue engine for Aave.

    The prevailing trend signals emerging resurgences for the protocol that saw flattened activity early in the year.

    What’s driving Aave fees?

    Borrowing demand is at the centre of the surging daily fees in the ecosystem.

    Individuals pay interest whenever they borrow on Aave, and these payments account for the highest portion of the daily fees.

    Fee income increases when more users take loans, possibly to chase price actions or leverage yield opportunities.

    Also, the latest integrations have propelled fees.

    For instance, users have deployed more than $60 million into yield-generating opportunities via MetaMask’s Aave-powered Stablecoin Earn feature.

    Such streamlined plug-ins make it smooth for retailers to access lending markets, enriching demand for AAVE’s liquidity pools.

    Moreover, the latest stable Ethereum price actions have encouraged users to (directly) interact with dApps again.

    ETH has performed well over the past few sessions, even driving the “altcoin season” narrative.

    Fees and protocol activity have surged as participants borrow assets, including stablecoins, from Aave.

    AAVE price outlook

    The native token reflected the increase in on-chain activity with notable gains.

    It has gained approximately 60% since May 1 to press time levels of $263.

    That makes it one of the top-performing DeFi assets this cycle – a notable feat, as meme coins, L2s, and centralized narratives dominate the trends.

    Meanwhile, the rising fees will possibly boost revenue in the upcoming sessions.

    That would bolster sentiments around Aave and its native coin.

    Continued borrowing activities will likely help the protocol cement its status in the DeFi lending landscape, which would bolster AAVE’s utility and price gains.

    Analyst CW predicts short-term recoveries for the altcoin.

    He highlighted that AAVE’s nearest resistance zone is at $325, a nearly 25% increase from the market price.

    Also, experts remain optimistic about AAVE’s performance.

    For example, the BitMEX co-founder recently purchased significant amounts of the token via over-the-counter.



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  • Bitcoin consolidates below $120K; Analysts say Ethereum flows will guide next market move

    Bitcoin consolidates below $120K; Analysts say Ethereum flows will guide next market move

    Bitcoin consolidates below $120K; Analysts say Ethereum flows will guide next market move

    • The crypto rally has stalled, with Bitcoin struggling to challenge the $120K level as institutional investors take profit.
    • Institutional ETF inflows into Bitcoin have plunged by 80% this week to just $496 million, a sign of cooling demand.
    • Market focus is now shifting to Ether (ETH), with its capital flows seen as the key to the market’s next move.

    The powerful cryptocurrency rally is showing signs of fatigue, with Bitcoin struggling to challenge the $120,000 mark and key indicators pointing to a significant pullback from institutional investors.

    As the market enters a tense consolidation phase, observers say the focus is now shifting to Ether (ETH) and whether it has the strength to bring fresh capital back into the fold and reignite the bullish momentum.

    After briefly touching new all-time highs last week, the crypto market has entered a period of consolidation, and the underlying data is revealing some cracks in the bullish facade.

    Glassnode data highlights a dramatic cooling of institutional interest, with inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs plunging by a staggering 80% this week to just $496 million.

    This was accompanied by a sharp decline in ETF trading volume, which fell to $18.7 billion.

    Bitcoin’s spot market sentiment is also showing signs of weakening.

    The Relative Strength Index (RSI)—a popular technical indicator used to measure whether an asset is overbought or oversold—has been retreating sharply, underscoring a move away from previously overbought levels.

    Taken together, these signals point to a clear, albeit perhaps temporary, institutional withdrawal from the market, raising questions about the potential for further downside.

    A tense derivatives market: hedging and profit-taking on the rise

    Trading firm QCP Capital has noted similar tensions in the derivatives market.

    While funding rates for perpetual futures remain elevated at above 15%, suggesting that some traders are still maintaining aggressive long positions, recent flows indicate that large, sophisticated players are actively taking profits and hedging against potential downside.

    QCP, in its recent note, pointed out that a major ETH call fly (a complex options strategy) was recently unwound, while sizeable BTC put options were bought for protection.

    This is not the kind of market activity that typically supports a fresh leg up in a rally.

    Despite these cautionary signals, QCP remains broadly constructive on the market’s outlook.

    “Momentum, narrative strength, and macro tailwinds are still on our side,” the firm wrote in a recent update. “Hodlers and institutions will likely buy the dip, as we saw on Friday.”

    The Ethereum litmus test: consolidation, capitulation, or the next leg up?

    Market maker Enflux, however, isn’t sounding the alarm just yet. The firm views the current market conditions as a period of healthy consolidation, not a sign of impending capitulation.

    They note that spot and perpetual futures markets are essentially treading water, not bleeding out.

    The key to what comes next, according to Enflux, lies with Ethereum.

    “How institutional ETH flows evolve, and whether capital re-engages with alts, would likely guide the next leg of market structure,” the firm said in a note to CoinDesk.

    Ethereum now finds itself at the center of these diverging perspectives.

    If institutional investors, who have been stepping back from Bitcoin, decide to rotate their capital back into the crypto market through ETH, it could reignite the altcoin cycle and lift the entire market.

    If not, this period of consolidation could harden into something more prolonged and painful.

    For now, the rally has paused. Glassnode sees fragility in the current market structure. Enflux sees neutrality. QCP sees a hedged optimism.

    But all seem to agree that the next major breakout—or breakdown—will likely be sparked by how capital flows into and out of Ethereum materialize in the coming days and weeks.

    Broader market snapshot

    • BTC: Bitcoin is trading at $118,000, consolidating between channel support at $114,000 and resistance near its all-time high of $123,000.

    • A recent liquidity sweep below $116,000 and renewed supply from a reactivated whale wallet have stalled its bullish momentum, according to CoinDesk’s market insights bot.

    • ETH: Ethereum is trading at $3,783, holding a bullish inverse head-and-shoulders pattern that technically targets the $4,300 level.

    • However, neutral funding rates near multi-year resistance suggest trader caution, even as institutional accumulation continues.

    • Gold: Gold fell to a near three-week low, with spot prices down 0.7% to $3,313.57.

    • A recent US-EU trade deal has boosted risk sentiment and temporarily reduced the demand for safe-haven assets ahead of a busy week for corporate earnings and a key US Federal Reserve meeting.

    • Nikkei 225: Asian markets opened lower, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.61% as traders adopted a wait-and-see mode to determine if more regional trade deals can be struck.

    • S&P 500: The S&P 500 ended Monday’s session nearly flat, as the positive news of a US-EU trade deal failed to ignite a significant new rally in U.S. equities.

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  • BNB sets altcoin market abuzz amid major Wall Street treasury bets

    BNB sets altcoin market abuzz amid major Wall Street treasury bets

    BNB hits a new all-time high

    • BNB price rallied to new all-time highs amid major institutional interest.
    • After Nano Labs earlier in the day, CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: VAPE) and 10X Capital are eyeing up to $1.25 billion to buy BNB.
    • Initiative could see BNB price explode in coming days.

    BNB price soared to a new all-time high of $859 on Monday as an unprecedented institutional interest and strategic corporate investment bet in the digital asset emerged.

    With Nano Labs doubling down on BNB earlier in the week, it was another Wall Street firm that added to the frenzy of publicly traded companies eyeing BNB.

    That initiative is the plan to raise up to $1.25 billion for BNB by CEA Industries Inc. and 10X Capital – backed by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s YZi Labs.

    BNB price hovered around $847 at the time of writing.

    CEA Industries and 10X Capital’s takes bold BNB bet

    On Friday, CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: VAPE) and 10X Capital, backed by YZi Labs, announced a $500 million private placement.

    The companies are looking to establish the largest publicly-listed BNB treasury company in the U.S.

    The deal, which could reach $1.25 billion with exercised warrants, aims to acquire substantial BNB holdings, and will offer institutional and retail investors exposure to the BNB Chain ecosystem.

    Led by David Namdar, co-founder of Galaxy Digital, and Russell Read, former chief investment officer of CalPERS, the initiative comes as BNB stands out.

    The coin’s surge to a new all-time high puts these plans into sharper focus, bringing more attention to the cryptocurrency.

    “Treasury companies have proven to be the cleanest, most transparent gateway for institutions to access digital assets. With BNB powering hundreds of millions of users globally, this marks the right time for a well-capitalized BNB treasury company to enter the U.S. market,” said Hans Thomas, founder and CEO of 10X Capital.

    The PIPE has attracted over 140 subscribers, with both institutional and crypto-natives joining in.

    Apart from YZi Labs, others are Pantera Capital, GSR, Borderless, Arrington Capital, Blockchain.com, Kenetic, and Protocol Ventures.

    BNB, SOL, and XRP gains amid treasury strategies

    BNB’s price surge aligns with broader market enthusiasm for digital asset treasuries.

    Trading at $847 with a 4.6% daily gain and $3.9 billion in trading volume, BNB is eyeing a potential breakout to $1,000 or higher.

    Much of the upside comes amid a surge in BNB treasury commitments- efforts also seen across Solana, XRP and Ethereum.

    For BNB, such efforts include Nano Labs and Windtree Therapeutics, which recently revealed a $700 million commitment towards a BNB treasury strategy.

    Elsewhere, VivoPower International has launched an XRP-focused treasury, while Upexi and DeFi Development Corp have its eyes on SOL as a treasury asset.



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  • Market update: Bitcoin rises after US-EU announce framework trade agreement

    Market update: Bitcoin rises after US-EU announce framework trade agreement

    Market update: Bitcoin rises after US-EU announce framework trade agreement

    • Bitcoin (BTC) traded above $119,430 Monday, up 1.24%, after a US-EU trade deal was announced.
    • The US-EU deal sets a 15% tariff, avoiding a threatened 30% rate, and includes a $600B EU investment pledge.
    • Bitcoin’s realized market capitalization crossed the $1 trillion threshold for the first time, per Glassnode.

    Bitcoin (BTC) pushed higher in early Asian trading on Monday, trading above $119,430, as bullish momentum continued to build following a series of significant institutional milestones and a breakthrough trade agreement between the United of States and the European Union over the weekend.

    A transatlantic truce: US and EU strike a deal

    In a major development for global markets, US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a framework trade agreement at a summit in Turnberry, Scotland.

    The deal sets a 15% US import tariff on EU goods, a significant de-escalation that averts a previously threatened 30% rate.

    The agreement also includes a commitment for $600 billion in EU investment into US energy and defense sectors over the next three years, a move aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian fuel.

    However, existing tariffs on steel and aluminum will remain at 50% for the time being.

    This easing of transatlantic trade tensions has provided a positive backdrop for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

    Bitcoin is up 1.24% in early Asian hours, and the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) Index, a broad measure of the largest digital assets, has risen 2.37% to 4,099.18, extending its recent recovery.

    Bitcoin’s institutional bedrock deepens

    The positive macro news comes as Bitcoin continues to consolidate its recent gains, holding steady above the $118,000 mark after hitting a new record high of $122,700 last week.

    This powerful rally has triggered some predictable selling from long-term holders, while simultaneously drawing in new buyers and fresh capital, creating a dynamic market environment.

    A key indicator of the market’s growing maturity and value was highlighted by on-chain analytics firm Glassnode, which reported that Bitcoin’s realized market capitalization had crossed the $1 trillion threshold for the first time.

    This metric, which measures the total value of all Bitcoin based on the price at which each coin last moved on-chain, is seen as a more fundamentally grounded valuation than the simple market cap.

    Further evidence of the massive scale of institutional activity came to light on Friday, when Galaxy Digital announced it had executed a staggering $9 billion BTC transaction on behalf of a Satoshi-era investor.

    The sale, which involved 80,000 BTC, was reportedly part of an estate planning strategy and represents one of the largest single Bitcoin transfers in history.

    The fact that the market was able to absorb this massive sale without a significant price downturn is seen by many as a testament to how much of the Bitcoin supply is illiquid, held tightly by long-term “HODLers.”

    A market on the verge of a supply-shock rally, it seems, can readily absorb an extra $9 billion being placed up for sale.

    As Bitcoin’s price has climbed, its dominance, which measures its market share relative to the total crypto market, has edged down slightly to 60.98%. This suggests a modest rotation of capital into altcoins as traders’ risk appetite grows.

    The bullish sentiment is also being reflected in prediction markets. Polymarket bettors now give Bitcoin a 24% chance of hitting $125,000 before the end of July, an increase from 18% earlier in the week, as traders weigh the impact of these positive macro tailwinds and the growing on-chain conviction.

    Broader Market Snapshot

    • ETH: Ether is trading at $3,867.76, up 3%, amidst strong on-chain fundamentals.

    • A significant 28% of the total ETH supply is now staked, balances on exchanges are at eight-year lows (indicating a preference for holding over selling), and new buyer inflows are on the rise.

    • Gold: In a classic “risk-on” move, gold is down for a fourth straight day, trading around $3,335 in early Asia.

    • Despite its impressive 28% year-to-date gain, recent progress on US–EU and US–China trade deals is reducing the immediate demand for safe-haven assets ahead of this week’s US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

    • Nikkei 225: Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday, with investors also awaiting further details of ongoing US–China trade talks.

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  • US House passes three key crypto bills; market reaction muted as Bitcoin dips

    US House passes three key crypto bills; market reaction muted as Bitcoin dips

    US House passes three key crypto bills; market reaction muted as bitcoin dips

    • US House passed all three key crypto bills: the CLARITY Act, GENIUS Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.
    • Despite the “historic” legislative wins, crypto markets remained flat, with Bitcoin down 0.89% to $118,849.
    • The GENIUS Act (stablecoins) is the first major crypto bill to clear both chambers and is now on President Trump’s desk.

    The US House of Representatives has delivered a week of landmark legislative victories for the cryptocurrency industry, passing all three key bills aimed at providing long-sought regulatory clarity.

    However, in a striking display of market apathy, this historic breakthrough in Washington has been met with a collective shrug from crypto traders, with prices remaining largely flat.

    In what many industry proponents are calling a watershed moment, the US House has now passed the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.

    The CLARITY Act, which passed by a strong vote of 294 to 134, aims to establish clear guidelines for classifying digital assets as either securities under the purview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or as commodities under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

    The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which passed by a much narrower 219 to 217 vote, effectively bans the Federal Reserve from issuing or even testing a central bank digital currency without explicit Congressional approval. Both of these bills will now advance to the Senate, where their future remains uncertain.

    The most significant of the three, the GENIUS Act, which creates a regulatory framework for stablecoins, has already cleared both chambers of Congress. Having previously passed the Senate with a 68 to 30 vote, it sailed through the House this week with a decisive 308 to 122 vote.

    This bill is now on President Trump’s desk, making it the first major piece of crypto-focused legislation on track to become US law.

    Despite these monumental legislative achievements, the crypto markets have remained conspicuously unfazed. Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading at $118,849, down 0.89% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum (ETH) is hovering at $3,389, down 0.27%.

    The broader altcoin market has also been mostly muted. The one notable exception is XRP, which is up over 8% on the day, continuing a strong bullish run it has maintained throughout the week.

    The market’s tepid reaction is further evidenced by liquidation data. According to Coinglass, 150,169 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with total liquidations reaching nearly $490 million.

    The largest single liquidation was a $3.21 million ETH-USDT long position on the crypto exchange HTX, a sign of the choppy, directionless trading that has characterized the market.

    A tale of two markets: crypto stalls as Wall Street soars

    The crypto market’s indifference stands in stark contrast to the exuberance seen in traditional stock markets.

    Major US indexes surged to fresh record highs on Friday, as upbeat corporate earnings and stronger-than-expected economic data lifted investor sentiment.

    The S&P 500 jumped 0.54% to a new record close of 6,297.36, marking its ninth all-time closing high of the year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also hit its tenth record of 2025, climbing 0.74% to finish at 20,884.27, driven by strength in major tech stocks.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 229.71 points, or 0.52%, to close at 44,484.49.

    This rally in equities was supported by strong economic data, including a retail sales report for June that came in at 0.6%, beating expectations of 0.2%, and a drop in jobless claims, both signaling a still-resilient US economy.

    Strong earnings reports from companies like PepsiCo and United Airlines further boosted optimism as the second-quarter earnings season gets underway.

    This divergence highlights a curious moment in markets, where a significant, long-awaited regulatory victory for crypto has failed to generate the kind of bullish excitement currently being seen on Wall Street.

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  • Market update: Bitcoin consolidates near $117K

    Market update: Bitcoin consolidates near $117K

    Bitcoin pulls back; AI token sector market cap hits $29.6B

    • Bitcoin (BTC) is down 1.8% but trades above $117,800 as traders take profits after recent all-time highs.
    • AI-focused crypto tokens jumped 5% overnight as big tech firms like Google and Meta announced massive infrastructure investments.
    • Google plans a $25B data center investment; a Trump-led summit saw over $90B in AI/data pledges unveiled.

    Bitcoin has taken a slight breather as the East Asian business day gets underway, dipping 1.8% but still trading firmly above the $117,800 mark at the time of writing this article.

    This pause comes as some traders take profits after a powerful run that saw the leading cryptocurrency push through multiple all-time highs.

    While bullish sentiment remains strong, with some market participants calling for even higher price targets, seasoned observers are sounding a note of caution, warning that risks are building just as quickly as market enthusiasm.

    A rally on pause?

    The current market sentiment is a mix of unbridled optimism and underlying apprehension.

    There is a palpable belief among some that the recent rally is just the beginning, with bold calls for Bitcoin to reach $160,000, $200,000, or even higher.

    However, Lennex Lai, Chief Commercial Officer at the crypto exchange OKX, warns that this very enthusiasm could be a source of risk.

    “Across platforms, we’re seeing an increase in aggressive long positions and widening funding rates as ‘Crypto Week’ headlines boost sentiment,” Lai told CoinDesk in an interview via Telegram.

    He stressed that at these elevated levels, “risks can build quickly – escalation of trade tensions with the EU, Mexico, and other trading partners could trigger sharp corrections.

    Another risk is letting euphoria drive decisions.”

    Lai pointed to a slate of upcoming macroeconomic announcements that could sway global risk sentiment and set the tone for broader markets.

    These include the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) release, as well as the US Core Producer Price Index (PPI), retail sales figures, and consumer sentiment data.

    Echoes of past volatility and a cautious professional class

    Lai’s concerns echo the findings of a recent H1 2025 market report from K33 Research, which highlighted similar risks and volatility triggers earlier this year.

    The report noted that geopolitical turmoil and trade policy uncertainty have already driven significant market swings, including a sharp 30% correction that saw Bitcoin fall to $75,000 earlier in the year.

    The K33 report also observed that “Bitcoin struggled in this de-risking period but showed subtle hints of relative strength vs equities by outperforming equities in the aftermath of Liberation Day.”

    A key indicator of underlying caution among seasoned traders has been the historically low funding rates seen amidst rising prices.

    “Annualized funding rates averaged at 4.51% throughout the half-year, the lowest average half-year funding rate since December 31, 2022,” when the post-FTX crypto winter was at its coldest, the report stated.

    This suggests that while prices have been rising, professional traders have remained wary of abrupt market reversals.

    Lennex Lai emphasized the need for a disciplined approach in this environment. “In moments like this, smart traders focus on strategy over sentiment, using discipline to manage risk,” he continued.

    “The excitement at the top is real, but those who manage their entries, exits, and funding exposure carefully are best positioned for whatever comes next.” After all, he concluded, “strong momentum doesn’t mean the market is invincible.”

    AI tokens catch a bid as big tech doubles down on infrastructure

    While Bitcoin consolidates, a different corner of the crypto market is experiencing a significant rally. AI-focused crypto tokens jumped by 5% overnight, pushing the sector’s total market capitalization to $29.6 billion, according to data from CoinGecko.

    This move comes amidst a flurry of major announcements from U.S. tech giants regarding massive investments in AI and data infrastructure, sparking renewed investor enthusiasm in both traditional equity and digital token markets.

    Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest a staggering $25 billion into data centers and AI infrastructure across the PJM electric grid, the largest in the United States.

    The company also agreed to purchase 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power through a $3 billion deal with Brookfield. Not to be outdone, Meta is reportedly planning “hundreds of billions” in AI data center construction, including a multi-gigawatt facility in Ohio, codenamed “Prometheus.”

    These blockbuster announcements were strategically timed around a Trump administration-led summit at Carnegie Mellon University, where over $90 billion in AI, energy, and data infrastructure pledges were unveiled.

    This overwhelmingly bullish tone on AI, from both the government and private industry, appears to be spilling over into the crypto token markets, at least for now.


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  • Why is ZK proof altcoin Lagrange (LA) dropping amid a rally in crypto market

    Why is ZK proof altcoin Lagrange (LA) dropping amid a rally in crypto market

    Lagrange (LA) dropping as the crypto market rally

    • Lagrange (LA) drops 22% despite Binance listing and market rally.
    • LA price currently hovers near key support at $0.3902 after a sharp correction.
    • The recent price drop follows June’s 216% surge after Coinbase listing.

    Lagrange (LA), a zero-knowledge proof altcoin designed to power advanced blockchain computations, is experiencing a sharp price decline even as broader crypto markets enjoy a bullish momentum.

    The downturn comes at a time when major coins like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are climbing, leaving investors wondering why Lagrange is bucking the trend so dramatically.

    Although the project has been praised for its cutting-edge infrastructure, recent events seem to be reshaping market sentiment around the LA token.

    Binance listing triggered unexpected sell-off

    Just days ago, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, announced its official support for Lagrange (LA), listing the token on several of its services, including Binance Simple Earn, Convert, Margin, and Buy Crypto.

    Contrary to expectations, the news did not boost LA’s price; instead, it marked the beginning of a rapid downturn, with the asset plummeting from a seven-day high of $0.676 on July 9 to $0.416 within 24 hours.

    This decline continued into July 11, as Lagrange (LA) shed an additional 12.2% in daily trading, settling at $0.3996 despite the high trading volume of over $164 million.

    While exchange listings typically trigger price surges, some analysts suggest that the Binance announcement may have encouraged profit-taking from traders who had anticipated the news.

    A brutal 7-day correction

    The recent 7-day trend has not been kind to Lagrange, with its price tumbling by over 22%, placing it near a key support zone between $0.3902 and $0.4554.

    Lagrange price chart

    With broader market sentiment remaining positive, LA’s decline is unusual and hints at token-specific dynamics at play rather than market-wide weakness.

    Currently, the altcoin is hovering just above a crucial technical level at $0.3902, and failure to hold this support could lead to further downside.

    However, if buyers manage to regain control, analysts say a short-term rebound toward $0.4800 or even $0.5000 remains within reach.

    Notably, the decline follows a recent rally in June, when LA surged by over 216% after being listed on Coinbase, rising from $0.253 to $1.50 in just a day.

    That spike, while impressive, may have set the stage for a correction, especially with the token hitting an all-time high of $1.72 on June 6 before reversing course.

    Since then, LA has dropped nearly 77% from its peak, creating growing concerns among traders about the sustainability of its gains.

    This rapid boom-and-bust cycle has made LA a volatile token to watch, particularly for short-term traders navigating resistance and support zones.

    Where does Lagrange (LA) go from here?

    While Lagrange’s recent price trajectory is troubling for holders, the asset is approaching technical levels that could invite fresh buying interest.

    Should Lagrange (LA) maintain support above $0.3900, there is potential for a modest rebound in the short term, particularly if positive momentum from the broader market spills over.

    On the other hand, a breakdown below this level could lead to increased selling pressure, potentially pushing the token toward new lows.

    For now, investors are advised to watch market signals closely and weigh the risks of volatility against the project’s strong technological foundation.

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