HKU's move to accept Bitcoin for tuition could accelerate digital currency adoption in education, enhancing Hong Kong's virtual asset hub status.

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Reddit's shift in royalties to artists may enhance creator incentives but could limit platform-driven NFT innovation and community growth.

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El Salvador's move highlights growing concerns over quantum computing's potential to disrupt cryptographic security in financial systems.

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Grayscale filed S-1s for Polkadot and Cardano ETFs, expanding its altcoin lineup after earlier 19b-4 filings with Nasdaq and NYSE Arca.

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The lawsuit's dismissal may bolster investor confidence in the company's Bitcoin strategy, despite past unrealized losses and market volatility.

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Bitcoin Magazine

Google’s Android Lockdown: Are You Really in Control of Your Phone?

Android, Google’s mobile operating system, announced on August 25 that it will be requiring all app developers to verify their identity with the organization before their apps can run on “certified android devices.”

While this might sound like a common sense policy by Google, this new standard is not just going to be applied to apps downloaded from Google Play store, but all apps, even those “side loaded” — installed directly into devices by side-stepping the Google Play store. Apps of the sort can be found online in Github repositories or on project websites and installed on Android devices directly by downloading the installation files (known as APKs). 

What this means is that, if there is an application that Google does not like, be it because it does not conform to its policies, politics or economic incentives, they can simply keep you from running that application on your own device. They are locking down Android devices from running applications not with their purview. The ask? All developers, whether submitting their apps through the Play store or not, need to give their personal information to Google. 

The decision begs the question, if you can not run whatever app you want on your device without the permission of Google, then is it really your device? How would you respond if Windows decided you could only install programs from the Microsoft app store?

The move has of course made news in tech and cyber security media and caused quite a stir as it has profound consequences for the free and open web. For years, Android has been touted as an open source operating system, and through this strategy has gained massive distribution throughout the world with users in developing countries where Apple’s “walled garden” model and luxury devices are not affordable.

This new policy will tighten up controls over applications and its developers, and threatens the freedom to run whatever software you like on your own device in a very subversive and legalistic way. Because of Google’s influence over the Android variety of phones, the consequences of this policy are likely to be felt by the majority of users and devices, throughout the world.

Android justifies the policy change with concerns about the cyber security of their users. Malicious apps side-loaded into devices have led to “over 50 times more malware” Android claims in their announcement blog. As a measure of “accountability,” and with the council of various governments throughout the world, Android has decided to take a “balanced approach,” and the language couldn’t be more Orwellian. 

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety” – Benjamin Franklin

Put in simpler terms, Google is looking to collect the personal information of software developers, centralizing it in its data centers alongside that of all of its users, in order to “protect” users from hackers that Google can’t seem to stop today in the first place.

After all, if Google and Android could actually keep personal user data secure in the first place, this would not be a problem, right?

Google’s solution to user data leaks is to collect more user data, ironically enough, in this case the data of developers who use the Android platform. A remarkable leap of logic, lazy and fundamentally decadent, a sign that they’ve lost their edge and arguably truly forgotten their now scrubbed “don’t be evil” motto.

Information Wants To Be Free

The reality is that Google finds itself trapped by a dilemma set up by the nature of information and the digital age, to quote the 90’s cypherpunk Steward Brand, “information almost wants to be free”.

Every hop that personal data, like your name, face, home address or social security number, makes throughout the internet is an opportunity for it to get copied and leaked. As your information moves from your phone, to a server in your city to another server in a google datacenter, every hop increases the likelihood that your data gets hacked and ends up on the dark web for sale. A thorny problem when user data is the primary business model of a giant like Google who processes it and sells it to advertisers who  in turn create targeted ads. 

We can measure the veracity of Brand’s information principle by looking at two fascinating statistics, which not too many people seem to talk about oddly enough. The first is the absurd amount of data hacks that have taken place in the last 20 years. For example, the Equifax Data Breach in 2017, affected 147 million Americans, and the National Public Data Breach of 2024 affected over 200 million Americans leading to leaked data including social security numbers which likely ended up for sale in the dark web.

While legendary hacks like that of the Office of Personal Management of the U.S. government, compromised a large amount of the U.S. Government officials at the time, including everything from social security numbers to medical records.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that a majority of Americans have had their data hacked and leaked already, and there’s no easy way to reverse that. How does one change their face, medical history or social security number after all?

The second statistic, which no one seems to connect to the first, is the rise of identity theft and fraud in the United States. Did you know that in 2012, 24 billion dollars’ worth of identity theft were reported? Twice as much as all other forms of theft combined that same year. Business Insider reported at the time from Bureau of Justice statistics that “identity theft cost Americans $24.7 billion in 2012, losses for household burglary, motor vehicle theft, and property theft totaled just $14 billion.” Eight years later that number doubled, costing Americans $56 billion in losses in 2020. Both of these trends continue to grow to this day. It may indeed already be too late for the old identity system which we still rely so heavily on. 

Generative AI adds fuel to the fire, in some cases trained in leaked user data with examples of image models able to create high quality images of humans holding fake IDs. As AI continues to improve, it is increasingly capable of fooling humans into thinking they are talking to another human as well, rather than a robot, creating new attack vectors for identity fraud and theft.

Nevertheless, Google insists that if we just collect a bit more personal user data, maybe then the problem will just go away. Convenient for a corporation whose main business model is the collection and sale of such data. Has any other corporation done more damage to civilian privacy than Google btw? Facebook I suppose. 

In Cryptography We Trust

Now to be fair to the 2000’s Web2 tech giants the problem of secure identity in the digital age is not easy to solve. The legal structures of our societies around identity were created long before the internet emerged and moved all that data to the cloud. The only real solution to this problem now is actually cryptography, and its application to the trust that humans build in their relationships in the real world, over time.

The 90s cypherpunks understood this, which is why they invented two important technologies, PGP and webs of trust. 

PGP

PGP invented in 1991 by Phill Zimmerman, pioneered the use of asymmetric cryptography to solve this fundamental problem of protecting user data privacy while also enabling secure user authentication, identification and secure communication.

How? It’s simple actually, by using cryptography in a similar way as Bitcoin does today to secure over a trillion dollars of value. You have a secure ‘password’ and keep it as secret as possible, you don’t share it with anybody, and your apps use it carefully to unlock services but the password never leaves your phone. We can do this, it works, there’s even custom made hardware to lock down precisely this kind of information. The person or company you want to connect with also creates a secure ‘password’, and with that password we each generate a public address or digital pseudonymous ID. 

The company encrypts a message with their password and your public address and sends you a message. Well thanks to the magic of cryptography, you can decrypt that message with your password and the company’s public address. That is all we need to secure the web. These public IDs do not have to reveal any information about you and you could have one for every brand or identity you have online. 

Webs Of Trust

But there is also the question of reputation, how do you know that the company you are trying to connect with is who they claim to be? In cyber security this is called a man in the middle attack, where a malicious third party impersonates who you actually wish to connect to. 

The way cypherpunks solved this problem in the 90s was by developing the concept of webs of trust, through real world ceremonies called ‘signing parties’.

When we meet in person, we decide that we trust each other or affirm that we already know and trust each other enough to co-sign each other’s public IDs. We give each other a cryptographic vote of confidence — so to speak –  weighed by our brand or publicly known nym. This is similar to giving a follow to someone on a public forum like X.com, It is the PGP equivalent to saying ‘I’ve met Bob, I recognize XYZ as his public ID, and I vouch that he is real’.

While this sounds tedious, antiquated and like it would never scale to the whole world, technology has advanced a great deal since the 90’s, in fact this fundamental logic is how the internet is sort of secured today.

Remember that green lock that used to be displayed on every website? That was a PGP-like cryptographic handshake between your computer and the website you were visiting, signed off by some ‘certificate authority’ or third party out on the internet. Those certificate authorities became centralized custodians of public trust and like many other institutions today probably need to be decentralized.

The same logic can be applied to the verification and authentication of APKs, by scaling up webs of trust. In fact in the open source world, software hashed into a unique ID derived from the data of the software, and that hash is signed by developer PGP keys to this day. The software hashes, PGP public IDs and signatures are all published alongside software for people to review and verify. 

However if you don’t know whether the PGP public ID is authentic, then the signature is not useful, since it could have been created by an impersonator online. So as users we need a link that authenticates that public ID as belonging to the real world developer of the app.

The good news is that this problem can probably be solved without having to create a global surveillance state giving all our data to the Googles of the world. 

For example, if I wanted to download an app from a developer in eastern europe, I likely won’t know him or be able to verify this public ID, but perhaps I know someone that vouched for someone that knows this developer. While I may be three or four hops away from this person, the likelihood that they are real suddenly goes up a lot. Faking three or four hops of connection in a web of trust is very expensive for mercenary hackers looking to score a quick win. 

Unfortunately, these technologies have not been adopted widely, beyond the high tech paranoid world,  nor gotten as much funding as the data mining business model of most of the web. 

MODERN SOLUTIONS

Some modern software projects recognize this logic and are working to solve the problems at hand, making it easy for users to leverage and scale cryptographic webs of trust. Zapstore.dev for example is building an alternative app store secured by cryptographic webs of trust using Bitcoin compatible cryptography, the project is funded by OpenSats, a non profit that funds open source Bitcoin related software development.

Graphene, an Android operating system fork that’s become popular among cyber security enthusiasts, has also implemented an alternative app store that addresses many of these issues without having to DOX app developers, and serves as a high security operating system, looking to solve many of the privacy and security issues in Android today.

Far fetched as it may seem, cryptographic authentication of communication channels and digital identities is the only thing that can protect us from personal data hacks. Entropy and the security created from randomness via cryptography is the only thing AI can not fake. That same cryptography can help us authenticate ourselves in the digital age without having to share our personal data with every intermediary out there, if we use it right.

Whether this new policy by Android is sustained, or whether enough public outcry can stop it and better solutions do get popularized and adopted remains to be seen, but the truth of the matter is clear. There is a better way forward, we just have to see it and choose it.

This post Google’s Android Lockdown: Are You Really in Control of Your Phone? first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Juan Galt.

Bitcoin Magazine

The Ethics of Immutability

A common refrain has emerged in the Bitcoin community: fix the money, fix the world. While there is every reason to be optimistic about Bitcoin’s impact on society it is not enough to rely on lines of code to fix our world. Rather, in this essay on the ethics of immutability, I argue that fixing oneself is the true revolution, and in turn, collectively, as actors in this global network, we are the revolution of change.

Bitcoin was designed to be decentralized, censorship-resistant, open source and unconfiscatable, qualities that set it apart from traditional banking and financial infrastructure. Bitcoin’s architecture means that no central authority can arbitrarily seize funds or block transactions on the network. The transparent, permissionless nature of its code allows anyone to participate without needing approval from intermediaries or gatekeepers. It empowers individuals to transact and store value beyond the reach of censorship, monetary debasement and financial repression by governments and banks.

These attributes have led many to view Bitcoin not just as a new form of money, but as an instrument of freedom in the digital age. In “On Revolution,” Hannah Arendt states 

“the life of a free man needed the presence of others. Freedom itself needed therefore a place where people could come together.” 

It is my hope that the coming together just might be a global, decentralized monetary network.

The framework and means by which we can serve as the instantiation of digital freedom has already been given to us — the actions of Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s creator.

As Bitcoiners we often ask ourselves, “What does it mean to be a Bitcoiner?” Generally, responses include simply holding bitcoin, sending transactions, believing in the value of sound money, running a node or any combination thereof. 

Of course, these are necessary but insufficient, I argue, to be a Bitcoiner. One is not a Christian simply because one owns a Bible. Beliefs, and more importantly, one’s actions are necessary to uphold the ethos of Bitcoin. The community has not given enough credence to the fact that Satoshi gave up exorbitant wealth and fame so that we could freely take part in this network. It is this legacy and what it means for the users of Bitcoin that I explore in this paper. We must carry on this spirit of Satoshi by respecting and promoting the freedom of others, if we are to truly fix the world. 

The Immutability Legacy of Satoshi Nakamoto

By walking away, Satoshi Nakamoto embodied the principle that Bitcoin was meant to belong to its community, not to its creator or a central authority. Equally striking is Satoshi’s decision to remain anonymous. To this day, the true identity of Satoshi is unknown, and the creator’s forum posts and emails never revealed personal details. This anonymity was very much in line with the Cypherpunk ethos that influenced Bitcoin’s development, a culture that values privacy and letting ideas speak for themselves rather than relying on authority. Satoshi himself was explicit about avoiding any cult of personality. When a media frenzy in 2014 led to the mistaken “doxxing” of a Californian man (Dorian Nakamoto) as Bitcoin’s founder, the real Satoshi seemingly resurfaced online just to post the message, “I am not Dorian Nakamoto.” Beyond that clarification, the inventor never sought fame or credit. 

One of the most powerful symbols of Satoshi Nakamoto’s legacy is the fact that he never cashed in his bitcoin holdings. It is estimated that Satoshi mined roughly 1 million BTC (bitcoin) in the early days of the network. Remarkably, none of those coins have ever been moved or spent — they remain sitting untouched on the blockchain. At today’s market value, that stash would make Satoshi one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. Yet the creator chose to leave that fortune alone. We do not know for certain why Satoshi never spent his coins. But the effect of this abstention has been profound. By not profiting from his invention, Satoshi demonstrated integrity and belief in the project’s long-term vision. Almost like a relic or monument on the blockchain, those unspent coins have become a reminder of his contribution and prove that the founder did not seek personal enrichment.

In the Bitcoin community, this fact is often cited to underline the purity of Bitcoin’s origins. The monetary system Satoshi created was decentralized and fair, giving early adopters an opportunity by not allowing the creator to abuse any special advantage. Satoshi actively gave up certain freedoms (like the freedom to cash out riches or the freedom to bask in fame) for the sake of Bitcoin’s success and credibility. This personal sacrifice set a powerful ethical example and established many of the values the Bitcoin community still holds dear: decentralization, open participation, neutrality and the idea that principles matter more than individual gain.

Satoshi’s coins, sitting untouched on the ledger, are an immutable timestamp of those values, reminding us that the founder’s commitment to freedom was not just in words but in deeds. This legacy invites us to reflect on the kind of community Bitcoin was meant to foster, and it provides a real-world segue into broader philosophical questions about freedom and responsibility, which, as Bitcoiners, we must consider as the instantiation of Bitcoin’s embodiment of freedom.

Bitcoin and the Concept of Freedom

What do we mean by “freedom,” especially in a social context? Philosophers have grappled with this question for centuries. One particularly illuminating perspective comes from the 20th-century existentialist Simone de Beauvoir, whose work “The Ethics of Ambiguity” (1947) explores the nature of freedom and the ethical responsibilities it entails. Beauvoir’s insights can help us draw parallels between Bitcoin’s ethos and a broader philosophy of reciprocal freedom and autonomy.

A key idea in Beauvoir’s ethics is that freedom is a shared, interdependent condition. She rejects the notion that freedom is simply the ability for an isolated individual to do anything they please. Instead, true freedom is “a positive and constructive process” that inevitably involves other human beings. One person’s freedom is enhanced by the freedom of others, and curtailed when others are oppressed. I cannot be truly free, she argues, if I live in a world where others are enslaved or silenced, because I exist in a human world of relationships and my own possibilities are intertwined with those of my fellow human beings. The authors of “Resistance Money” proclaim this ethos in their words:

“Cypherpunk code empowers individuals. But, with money, writing code is not enough. For money is, as we’ve seen, a network good. Bitcoin isn’t DIY money – do it yourself. It is, DIT – do it together. Using bitcoin means joining users in supporting resistance money for those who need it, with or without permission or cooperation of authorities.”

This logic of reciprocity means that we each have a responsibility to strive for the freedom of all, not just our own personal freedom. Beauvoir famously writes that the freedom of others must be respected and they must be helped to free themselves — how one might be freed by the ability to use a censorship-resistant monetary network, for example. It is not enough to refrain from coercing others; an authentic ethics calls us to actively support and expand the freedom of those around us. This could mean educating those who lack knowledge, fighting against unjust political structures that oppress people or working to alleviate poverty and other conditions that limit an individual’s opportunities. Freedom, in Beauvoir’s conception, is inherently social and cooperative. 

This philosophy resonates strongly with the ethos of open source, decentralized networks like Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s value proposition is not just that, “I individually control my money,” but also that everyone can participate as equals under the same rules. Contrast that structure with the status quo of Cantillon effects whose default is to embrace moral hazard. 

The Bitcoin network becomes more secure and useful as more people use it (more nodes, more miners, more liquidity), which is an illustration of freedom being mutually reinforcing. Rather than viewing freedom as a zero-sum game, modern thinkers like Beauvoir see it as inherently social and mutually enhancing, an insight that can apply to a monetary network as well. A decentralized currency works precisely because it is open and accessible to all; my financial freedom is bolstered by others joining and expanding the network effects. As more users adopt bitcoin, it becomes harder for any one authority to censor transactions for anyone — network decentralization is a form of reciprocal empowerment for its users. This reflects Beauvoir’s point that a person’s freedom can only extend itself by means of the freedom of others. 

True freedom is therefore reciprocal and we can see an analogue in Bitcoin’s philosophy: If a participant in the network (say a miner or node) tries to censor or cheat others, they undermine the very system that guarantees their own financial autonomy. Indeed, Bitcoin’s consensus rules make it so that acting to censor or double-spend will only harm the attacker — honest nodes will reject invalid blocks, and the attacker wastes resources. The network is structured to reward cooperation (following the rules) and make interference futile. While Beauvoir was talking about human rights and ethical relations, the parallel is that freedom to transact, like freedom of speech, works best when universally upheld. No one is truly “free” in a monetary sense if a central authority can freeze their account on a whim. Importantly, preventing others from transacting (for example, lobbying to censor certain addresses or users) would eventually jeopardize one’s own security and freedom on the network. 

It is important to acknowledge my words have not been written in the years following WWII; that despite the current tumult, American life is not likely to see a full-scale kinetic war as we did in the past century. 

We must then ask ourselves, what does revolution look like when there is no oppressor? And what does reciprocal freedom mean in 21st-century American life? While one could argue, like Arendt, that we live under an oligarchy, fiat as an economic system has no king or dictator to overthrow. A contemporary view of freedom warrants a dynamic approach to answering this question. Challenging oppression when there is no king is akin to technological creative destruction — a process not necessitating brute force but replacing the system from without.

American life is dominated by systems of oppression that tacitly affect our freedoms. It is futile to contrast the year 2025 to a century ago where a question of freedoms could more easily break down into simple positive and negative binaries. Rather, the restrictions to one’s freedoms in contemporary American life become more nebulous. Again, rendering questions such as: What freedoms are restricted when paid advertising affects our purchasing habits, social media controls the algorithms, processed foods affect our cognition, Citizens United lessens our influence in our democracy or for our current purposes when a financial and economic system decreases purchasing power and concentrates wealth by design? 

We live at a time of tremendous abundance and security, so it is easy to slip into passive engagement with community and political life; it is easy to slip into the way of being of a serious man (Beauvoir’s archetype of a person who avoids the responsibility of reciprocal freedom by following strict values as if they were fixed truths making them prone to justifying harmful actions in the name of their “sacred” cause). 

de Beauvoir’s also introduces a moral imperative: Solidarity in the pursuit of freedom. It’s not enough to avoid doing harm; we are called to get involved and work to change conditions that deny others their freedom. She observed that authentic ethics entails helping others expand their scope of action and choice. This could be read (in our context) as a call to support technologies or movements that empower people who have been excluded from traditional systems. Consider how Bitcoin has been used by dissidents, journalists or citizens in countries with capital controls and hyperinflation. Because Bitcoin is censorship-resistant and borderless, it allowed, for example, WikiLeaks to receive donations in 2010 when PayPal and banks (under government pressure) blocked funds. It has helped people in Venezuela or Zimbabwe bypass destructive monetary policies and hold savings in a currency that their rulers cannot debase. 

During the Russian-Ukraine war in 2022, Bitcoin donations were sent directly to Ukraine when traditional channels were constrained, a demonstration of the network’s neutrality and availability. It has also provided a way for migrant workers and refugees to carry and send assets when the banking system shuts them out.

All these cases reflect individuals reclaiming freedom in the face of oppression or hardship, aided by a global community of Bitcoin users and developers who maintain the network. To draw a parallel to Beauvoir: Those who contribute to Bitcoin’s development or adoption in repressive environments are, in a sense, helping others to free themselves. They are engaging in a form of solidarity that aligns with the ethical vision Beauvoir puts forth — a “concrete commitment to the freedom of our fellow men,” as she described it, which means actively standing against structures that limit others’ autonomy. Viewing Bitcoin through Beauvoir’s existentialist lens highlights the idea of reciprocal freedom. Bitcoin works as a system of augmented freedom not because it lets an individual escape society, but because it creates a new kind of society, one built on voluntary participation, equal rules and mutual empowerment rather than top-down control. It exemplifies the principle that my financial freedom is inextricable from yours. It challenges the community to uphold not only their own rights, but the rights of others, keeping the network open and accessible. As Beauvoir insisted, freedom gains meaning only when we devote ourselves to defending and enlarging the freedom of all.

Beauvoir’s sentiment is echoed in José Ortega y Gasset’s, “The Revolt of the Masses,” who calls us to understand that

“every destiny is dramatic, tragic in its deepest meaning. Whoever has not felt the danger of our times palpitating under his hand, has not really penetrated to the vitals of destiny, he has merely pricked its surface.”

While Ortega y Gasset applies this sentiment to the perceived treachery of his mass man it is nonetheless a statement of considerable importance. Beauvoir asks us to will ourselves free, in order to free others. The possibility of doing so is only met when the will seeks an understanding of the destiny of others, including the mass man. We understand the ambiguity of our own nature and destiny but freedom lies in the taking-on of the ambiguity of others.

The uncertainty of our nature is further illuminated by Craig Warmke in his paper, “Bitcoin Behind the Veil,” where he examines Bitcoin through John Harsanyi’s “veil” analysis. Warmke asks the question: “If you could not choose, [and were born again], in which kind of world would you prefer to live: a world with bitcoin, like our own, or a world without bitcoin, one like ours but where bitcoin had never been invented?” In our world where over half of the population lives under an authoritarian regime your chances of Western abundance and freedom is the flip of a coin, so the logical answer to his question is, “yes,” I would prefer to live in a world with bitcoin. 

Warmke’s argument is not simply a thought experiment, it is a call to action when we see the destiny of others, by mere chance, was not our own. We must then ask, what, if any, responsibility we, as Bitcoiners bear, to offset chance, and what does that mean for our lives — our immutability?

The Ethics of Immutability

One of Bitcoin’s defining technical features is the immutability of its blockchain ledger. Once a block of transactions is confirmed and added to the chain, it becomes effectively tamper-proof; the record is permanent. This idea of an unchangeable record of actions provides a rich metaphor for thinking about life, legacy and moral responsibility — a responsibility toward upholding and empowering the freedom of others. We might ask: If your life’s choices were encoded like transactions in an immutable ledger, would you be proud of the record? Are our actions, in a sense, etched in time as part of our legacy, and how does that influence the way we choose to live?

The notion of an “immutable essence” versus the possibility of a dynamic being has long been debated. Existentialist thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre argued that for human beings, “existence precedes essence.” By this, Sartre meant there is no predefined, unchanging soul or nature that determines what we are; rather, we continuously create ourselves through our choices and actions. We are, in Sartre’s words, “condemned to be free,” wholly responsible for shaping our identity and values in the absence of any fixed template given by God or nature. We define ourselves through our choices and actions. This emphasis on freedom and authenticity means that moral commitment is something we choose and enact, not something imposed by an immutable essence or fate. Every action contributes to the “ledger” of who we are. Sartre even suggested that in choosing for oneself, one should consider that they are, in a way, choosing an example for all humanity, a bit like every transaction you broadcast to the blockchain becomes part of a public history that others can see. 

Now, contrast this with other philosophical or religious views that do posit an immutable core to the self. In Plato’s philosophy and in many spiritual traditions, there is the idea of a soul, something fundamentally stable and divine in a person that persists through change. Plato, for instance, considered the soul immortal and unchanging in its essence. Some religious perspectives hold that salvation or enlightenment is about realizing one’s eternal, unchanging true nature. In such views, moral improvement might be seen as uncovering or manifesting an already existing goodness. On the other hand, there are also views that stress transformation, the idea that one must become something different.

Finally, at the opposite extreme, philosophies like Buddhism and David Hume’s empiricism deny any fixed self at all: They argue that the self is an illusion, a series of fleeting states with no enduring essence. Buddhism teaches anātman, “no-soul” that clinging to the notion of an immutable identity is a source of suffering, and liberation comes from recognizing the impermanence of all components of the self. Why do these abstract views matter in our context? Because they frame an ethical question: How should we live and engage with the world around us? If you believe you have an immutable soul, perhaps you strive to keep it pure and untarnished — you might act in ways that “timestamp” only what you would want eternally associated with you. (Think of a virtuous person wanting to leave a legacy as pristine as Satoshi’s untouched coins on the blockchain). 

If instead you believe that identity is something you create, then every choice is like mining a new block — an opportunity to add to the chain of your life in a meaningful way. And if you believe there is no permanent self, you might focus on the present consequences of actions rather than any lasting record, or you might find meaning in contributing to something larger (like how in Bitcoin, individual nodes come and go, but the ledger persists, similarly one might say individual lives are transient, but good deeds can have enduring effects beyond the self). 

The concept of blockchain immutability prompts a thought experiment: What if our deeds truly could not be erased or forgotten? In reality, of course, human memory and history are fallible. But increasingly, in the digital age, we do have a kind of permanent memory (the internet never forgets, and the Bitcoin blockchain literally never forgets transactions). 

This imposes a new kind of moral transparency; it recalls the philosopher John Locke’s discussion of personal identity. Locke argued that it is continuous consciousness (memory of one’s actions) that constitutes personal identity even if the substance (the soul or body) changes, as long as consciousness of past actions persists, the person remains the same. He gave a famous scenario: If consciousness could be transferred from one soul to another, the person would go with the consciousness, not with the soul: 

“If consciousness can actually be transferred from one soul to another, then a person can persist, despite a change in the soul to which her consciousness is annexed.” 

In other words, for Locke the moral self is essentially the record of what you’ve thought and done — your “ledger” of consciousness. This idea dovetails intriguingly with the blockchain metaphor: Personal identity might be seen as a chain of memories and actions, an ongoing accumulation of “blocks” (experiences) linked by the awareness of them. An immutable ledger of one’s transactions is an externalization of memory; a permanent consciousness of certain actions. Thus, one could say that morally, we are (or ought to be) the sum of our remembered deeds. If we imagine those deeds are unalterable and public, it could encourage living in such a way that you don’t have to hide or erase anything. 

The concept of immutability calls us to an ethics of accountability as well. It suggests that integrity is about owning one’s past and working to build on it rather than cover it up. The idea of immutability relates to how we consider legacy and mortality. Ernest Becker, in “The Denial of Death,” spoke of people’s desire to achieve something that outlasts them, a “heroic” quest to create an immortal legacy in the face of our mortal lives. In a poetic sense, Bitcoin’s ledger gives everyone the chance to have a tiny immortal legacy: an address with some coins that might live on forever in the chain, or an inscription in a transaction (some have even embedded messages in Bitcoin’s blockchain). Of course, those are just data. But it raises a question of what kind of immortality really matters. The existentialist view would say the only immortality we can genuinely attain is to have our actions positively influence others and become part of the human story. To paraphrase, the only justification for our existence is whatever significance our actions have on the lives of others. Or as one contemporary actor puts it,

“If you are not making someone else’s life better, you are wasting your time.”

An immutable record by itself is meaningless unless what is recorded has value. So, while the Bitcoin network ensures that a transaction is remembered, it does not tell us what those transactions ought to be. That remains an ethical choice. The “ethics of immutability” might then mean: live in such a way that if your deeds were permanently recorded for all to see, they would represent the person you truly want to be. Live so that the “timestamp” of your life’s work has integrity and, in the spirit of Satoshi, is in service to others. Recognize that, unlike a blockchain, a human life is finite, which lends urgency to acting authentically and courageously now, rather than assuming one can always rewrite or delay.

There is no editing the chain after the fact. Reflecting on immutability connects to questions of personal identity and moral responsibility. Bitcoin’s unalterable ledger is a technological mirror of the philosophical idea that our actions, once done, become part of the tapestry of history and of who we are. Whether one leans more toward the view of a fixed inner soul or a self that is continuously created, in both cases one must confront the consequences of choices. The blockchain model tilts toward Locke and Sartre: You are your record (because there’s no secret essence, only evidence of what you’ve done). That perspective can inspire an ethic of honesty, transparency and consistency. It calls us to make each decision count, to uphold principles even when no one is watching, because on the Bitcoin network, in a sense everyone is always watching. It challenges us to leave behind a legacy that, like Bitcoin’s genesis block with its famous timestamp (“Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks”), captures a principled stand for others to remember. The immutability of Bitcoin’s blockchain, metaphorically applied, invites us to strive for an immutable core of values, not in the sense that our character never changes, but that our commitment to certain ethical principles remains unwavering and is evident in our actions.

Bitcoin and a Call to Action

Exploring the philosophy behind Bitcoin and freedom is not a mere intellectual exercise; it has practical implications for how Bitcoiners choose to act. The convergence of ideas we have discussed — Satoshi’s legacy of selflessness and Beauvoir’s ethic of helping others to be free, and the metaphor of living transparently and intentionally — all point toward a modern call to action: to live in alignment with principles of freedom, authenticity and solidarity. 

Protecting and promoting freedom for others: If we take to heart Beauvoir’s dictum that “the freedom of other men must be respected and they must be helped to free themselves,” then a clear implication is to support systems and policies that expand people’s autonomy. In the context of finance and technology, this could mean contributing to open source projects, like Bitcoin, that give individuals more control over their own information and money. It could mean standing against censorship, not only in money but in speech and access to information. For example, technologists might develop censorship-resistant communication tools like Nostr inspired by the same spirit as Bitcoin. Advocates might push for legal protections for encryption and against financial surveillance that disproportionately harms dissidents or marginalized groups. Educators and community leaders can work to demystify technologies like Bitcoin for the general public (since knowledge is power), helping people understand how to use these tools is a way of freeing them from reliance on authorities. In short, actively helping others achieve greater freedom could involve anything from teaching a neighbor how to secure their digital privacy, to supporting human rights organizations that use Bitcoin to aid activists under authoritarian regimes. The key is the mindset of solidarity: recognizing, as Beauvoir did, that my freedom flourishes when I devote myself to the freedom of all. Bitcoin’s community, at its best, has exemplified this through global outreach, establishing Bitcoin circular economies, translations of educational material and donations in crises. 

Building legacy through action: While the Bitcoin blockchain is immutable, our lives are not, which is a good thing. We can change, improve and adapt. The ethics outlined here encourages authentic transformation rather than complacency. Beauvoir admired those who remained passionate and engaged with improving the human condition rather than those who sunk into cynicism and apathy. In the Bitcoin world, this is analogous to the builders and educators who are constantly trying to make the ecosystem better and more accessible, versus speculators who might treat it as a mere get-rich-quick scheme. The call to action is to be the former. 

Simone de Beauvoir wrote that authentic ethics demands “a concrete commitment” to others and to values, and that one should stand against conditions that oppress or hinder other people, and work to change those conditions. As Bitcoiners, “opting out” simply masquerades as action, but Bitcoin is only revealed through action with and for others. In our context, action could include political activism for civil liberties, economic activism like promoting financial literacy or inclusion or technological activism such as contributing to decentralized protocols that counter monopolies.

For instance, individuals inspired by Bitcoin’s success might support other open source efforts in secure communication, or advocate against laws that seek to weaken encryption. They might join local initiatives to support people unbanked or underbanked, showing them alternatives like Bitcoin or simply helping them gain access to any banking since the goal is expanding choice. It is worth noting the Bitcoiners who are fulfilling this call to action already: Anita Posch who is educating thousands in Africa about Bitcoin, Hermann Vivier and Luthando Ndabambi who have created a Bitcoin circular economy in their small South African community, L0la33tz‘s privacy advocacy, Andreas Antonopoulos whose early Bitcoin advocacy was vital to Bitcoin adoption, Alex Gladstein’s tireless efforts with the Human Rights Foundation, among so many more.

Giving a Damn: Satoshi’s legacy and Bitcoin are a call to action to fix ourselves. It was not only the benevolent acts of Bitcoin’s creator that placed this duty upon us but also the understanding that just as the architecture of money has now undergone an upgrade we, too, can seek this for ourselves. While I commend and am excited to have witnessed what this has meant for many Bitcoiners over the years, who have sought ways of improving their lives through health and financial security, betterment must not stop there, as Beauvoir and others have shown us. Yes, one may be seeking perfection of mind and body but without action we risk being buoys on the waves. While foundational, not going beyond one’s betterment, is no more impactful on society than the isolated and solitary monk seeking nirvana.

The only way to gain true freedom; to not be subject to or affected by (a particular undesirable thing), is to not have to rely on a third party in the first place. If freedom means a lack of outside influence on your autonomy, then by default there is an increase in personal responsibility for your choices. Individual rights should not be inversely related to individual responsibility. So it is, in fact, the duty of reciprocal freedom we have to each other and to our communities. We must look toward a new version of ourselves if we are to seek a new version of economy and society, for we are the actors in this new paradigm. Bitcoin invites us to look at discarding traditional ways of thinking and analyzing our world. If we can imagine a new form of money, we can also imagine a new body politic: the absence of Right versus Left. We can imagine what giving, compassion and philanthropy means through the lens of Bitcoin — “free and ready to stretch out toward a new future.” Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon, so too is revolution always and everywhere a human phenomenon — not simply a technology. 

We are reminded that freedom is not a given, nor is the promise of Bitcoin — “a freedom can not will itself without willing itself as an indefinite movement.” It must be continually defended and expanded through our choices. Each of us, like a node in a decentralized network, has a role to play in upholding the freedom of the whole. By remaining anonymous and not cashing out, Satoshi asked to not be placed on a pedestal; instead, it is up to us, the users, to carry the mission forward. And as Beauvoir would insist, that mission is meaningless unless it is done for everyone’s benefit. The authenticity of our cause will be judged by whether we indeed make life freer for others, especially the least free. Our words and actions can live on as an immutable ledger in the minds of others, an obvious conclusion, but one whose full weight and impact is not understood until you consider your own legacy. In other words, the ledger that embodies action is the ledger that lives in the memories’ of others forever.

In practice, let this translate into everyday actions: supporting policies that enhance privacy rights, teaching someone about personal financial sovereignty, resisting the temptation to engage in censorship or discrimination, and building technologies that resist coercion. As we do so, we should keep asking ourselves the hard questions Beauvoir posed: 

“Am I really working for the liberation of men? Isn’t this end contested by the means I use to attain it?”

This reflective attitude guards against fanaticism and ensures that freedom as an ideal is not used to justify new forms of oppression. In Bitcoin’s context, it means balancing idealism with humility and constant re-examination of our own aims, a balance that can be struck through pause and reflection. The majority of us are not entrepreneurs or developers, but we can will others free by giving them a voice to be heard not — stifled or contested in the moment. To validate someone else’s lived experience is to give the freedom of consciousness — of identity, upon which all other positive freedoms must build.

Bitcoin’s creation, by an anonymous person who never sought wealth or power, is a profound gesture toward freedom. Our community, if we resist ossifying into dogma or tribalism, can continue that gesture. But if it becomes a tool for exclusion, greed or ideological purity, it betrays its promise to be infinitely more than what it would be if it were reduced to being what it is. Bitcoin is ethically meaningful only when it serves as a movement toward freedom, especially for those previously denied it. Our conclusion is to see Bitcoin not simply as a financial asset or a mere technical development, but as part of a broader ethical project: building a world where individuals can transact, speak, create and live according to their own will and conscience, limited only by the equal freedom of others. Achieving this will require intentional living, courageous action and an unyielding commitment to both innovation and freedom. 

The tools are in our hands; the ledger is before us. The next blocks, the next pages of our own history and Bitcoin’s, will be written by what we choose to do now.

BM Big Reads are weekly, in-depth articles on some current topic relevant to Bitcoin and Bitcoiners. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine. If you have a submission you think fits the model, feel free to reach out at editor[at]bitcoinmagazine.com.

This post The Ethics of Immutability first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Mark Stepheny.

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Eric Trump Said The Bitcoin Price Is Definitely Going To $1 Million At Bitcoin Asia

Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and son of U.S. President Donald Trump, made bold predictions about bitcoin’s future price trajectory during his appearance at the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong on Friday, telling attendees that the Bitcoin price will “definitely” reach $1 million.

“There’s no question bitcoin hits $1 million,” Eric Trump declared during a panel discussion with David Bailey, citing surging institutional demand and its limited supply as key drivers for the astronomical price target. The Bitcoin price currently trades around $110,000, having risen 18% this year, but still remains well below Trump’s ambitious forecast.

Eric Trump’s appearance at the two-day Hong Kong event, which attracted more than 20,000 attendees—triple last year’s numbers—highlighted the growing global influence of the Bitcoin industry and the Trump family’s deepening involvement in it.

During his talk, Trump also praised China’s role in the Bitcoin and crypto ecosystem, calling the nation a leading force in Bitcoin and crypto despite Beijing’s ban on crypto trading since 2021.

The comments come as the Trump family has significantly expanded its Bitcoin and crypto ventures over the past year. Eric Trump and his brother Donald Trump Jr. co-founded American Bitcoin, a mining operation that is approximately 20% owned by the Trump brothers and the remainder by Hut 8. The company recently raised $220 million and is planning a September Nasdaq debut through its merger with Gryphon.

Eric Trump emphasised the dramatic shift in U.S. crypto policy under his father’s administration, claiming more progress has been made on Bitcoin and crypto in the seven months since President Trump’s return to office than in the previous decade. “We went from 0 to 100 instantaneously,” he said, describing America as “winning the digital revolution” thanks to strong political backing and institutional support from Wall Street firms, sovereign wealth funds, and retirement accounts.

Trump also highlighted his involvement with Japanese Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet, where he serves on the board of advisors. He praised the company’s president and CEO, Simon Gerovich, during his panel discussion, reflecting the growing international network of Bitcoin-focused enterprises.

Eric Trump’s bullish Bitcoin price prediction reflects growing institutional confidence in its long-term prospects, and the Bitcoin Asia conference underscored Hong Kong’s rising role in the global Bitcoin landscape.

This post Eric Trump Said The Bitcoin Price Is Definitely Going To $1 Million At Bitcoin Asia first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vivek Sen.

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Historic First: U.S. Government Posts GDP Data on Bitcoin Blockchain

The U.S. government has officially begun publishing gross domestic product (GDP) data on public blockchains. According to Bloomberg, the Commerce Department’s announcement on Thursday brings blockchain into the core of America’s economic reporting, making GDP available on nine networks including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

Commerce officials emphasized that the blockchain rollout is not a replacement for traditional economic data releases, but rather “another avenue” for distribution, according to Bloomberg. The move, however, carries significant symbolic weight, as it effectively places the government’s seal of approval on technology once viewed with deep skepticism in Washington.

“The entire administration has embraced this,” said Mike Cahill, chief executive officer of Douro Labs, who confirmed he has been working with the Commerce Department on the initiative for the past two months. “With today’s announcement we are now in a world where government data lives on blockchains, and market participants can participate in real time.”

The blockchain initiative involves posting cryptographic hashes of GDP data, which serve as digital fingerprints to verify the information’s integrity. While limited in scope initially, Commerce Department officials confirmed that President Donald Trump’s administration intends to expand the program further, Bloomberg reported.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spearheaded the project, telling Trump earlier this week that statistics would be issued via blockchain “because you are the crypto president.” Lutnick has previously suggested reshaping GDP reporting by removing the impact of government spending.

The initiative reflects a sharp departure from the prior administration. Under former President Joe Biden, regulators adopted a cautious stance toward crypto, often clashing with exchanges and imposing restrictions on digital assets. In contrast, Trump has moved quickly to integrate Bitcoin into government policy. Since taking office, he has created a U.S. Bitcoin reserve, stockpiled coins such as Ether and Solana, signed legislation regulating stablecoins, and appointed crypto-friendly regulators who ended enforcement actions against Coinbase.

Trump’s family has also deepened its presence in the digital asset space, backing ventures such as World Liberty Financial. The industry’s growing political clout is evident: crypto firms donated heavily to Trump’s reelection campaign and contributed over $133 million to super PACs supporting pro-crypto candidates in 2024, according to OpenSecrets.

By leveraging public blockchains, the Commerce Department joins other agencies experimenting with crypto technology. The Department of Homeland Security has considered blockchain for airport passenger screening, while California’s DMV has digitized car titles on crypto, according to Bloomberg.

As Trump positions himself as the “crypto president,” the adoption of blockchain for GDP distribution signals a profound shift in U.S. economic policy—and further cements Bitcoin as a powerful political and financial force in Washington.

This post Historic First: U.S. Government Posts GDP Data on Bitcoin Blockchain first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Nik.

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Nunchuk Wallet Brings Programmable Bitcoin To Everyone With Miniscript Support

Today Nunchuk Wallet releases support for fully generalized Miniscript use, bringing a degree of flexibility and control to their users not seen before. 

For those unfamiliar with Miniscript, it is a policy language invented by Core developer and former Maintainer Pieter Wuille to make the creation of customized Bitcoin scripts easier and safer. Miniscript takes the most commonly used pieces of Bitcoin script, i.e. signature locks, timelocks, hashlocks, etc. and creates a “higher level” programming language for users to create custom scripts. 

This higher level language is designed to be safely analyzable and composable, meaning that once users create a customized script they can be sure that it will behave exactly how they expect it to. 

Nunchuk provides two basic templates users can use, simply needing to fill in the keys they wish to use in the wallet. One is a decaying multisig, where after a timelock expires less keys are required to spend in order to ensure that key loss does not result in losing funds. The other is an expanding multisig, where over time other keys can sign for a transaction beyond the core key set. I.e. initially a 2-of-2 is required, but after a timelock a third key can sign instead. 

In addition to these basic templates, more advanced users can import any custom Miniscript template they have created themselves.

Miniscript templates can be applied to both Native Segwit wallets as well as Taproot wallets. 

Out of the gate, the following hardware wallets will support Native Segwit Miniscript: Coldcard, Tapsigner, Blockstream Jade, and Ledger. 

The following will support Taproot Miniscript: Coldcard and Ledger. 

MuSig2 use with Miniscript will be limited to software only keys for the time being. 

Nunchuk’s end-to-end encrypted communication function has full support for Miniscript templates, allowing collaboration between users in constructing and using template based wallets. 

In addition, Nunchuk has compiled a 101 Technical Guide for users who wish to make use of Miniscript in their wallets. For those more inclined to dive into the nuts and bolts themselves, here is also a website put together by Pieter Wuille with a breakdown of Miniscript itself and some basic tools. 

This post Nunchuk Wallet Brings Programmable Bitcoin To Everyone With Miniscript Support first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Shinobi.

The following is a guest post and opinion from Slavik Baranov, CEO at STON.fi Dev.

From Gaming Phenomenon to Financial Ambition

In 2024, the TON blockchain became one of the most talked-about ecosystems in crypto — not because of a groundbreaking DeFi protocol, but thanks to the meteoric rise of viral tap-to-earn games on Telegram. Titles like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin drew millions virtually overnight, pushing daily active wallets to nearly 2 million by September.

The surge proved TON can onboard users at a pace few blockchains can match. But it also exposed the fragility of hype-driven adoption: many players came for quick rewards and left when incentives ended. Speculative capital — fluid and opportunistic by nature — followed the same path.

Games showed TON’s reach. But they were never meant to be the foundation of a financial revolution.

The Lasting Impact of the Hype Cycle

The post-game cooldown wasn’t a collapse; it was a reset. In January 2024, before the gaming boom, TON averaged 26,000 daily active wallets. After the dust settled, activity stabilized at 100,000–200,000 — a multiple of its pre-hype base.

Even more importantly, developer and user inflows seeded growth across the ecosystem. The number of DeFi protocols on TON rose from 35 to 67 in 2024 — a 91% increase. This expansion reflects a gradual shift in focus from short-lived promotions to enduring financial infrastructure.

Building TON’s DeFi Landscape

TON’s DeFi sector now spans token swaps, staking, and lending. In early 2024, EVAA launched as the first lending protocol. By late summer, AMM protocol STON.fi had reached nearly $400 million in liquidity. Today, the leaders by total value locked (TVL) are the liquid staking protocol Tonstakers and the swap protocol STON.fi, reflecting user preference for core, high-liquidity services.

Fueled by gaming-related excitement, total value locked (TVL) across the network peaked at $1.1 billion in July 2024. But as incentive programs ended, TVL declined to around $600 million by early 2025 and now stands near $400 million.

These movements suggest that part of TON’s liquidity was influenced by short-term market dynamics. Funds tended to flow in during periods of attractive yields and gradually taper off as those opportunities diminished.

By the end of 2024, TON had nearly 38 million addresses, yet new wallet creation fell sharply — from 724,000 daily in autumn to just 33,000 in early 2025. Meanwhile, staking emerged as a safe haven: around 790 million TON are currently staked, concentrating liquidity in lower-risk, base-layer protocols.

Why the Revolution Hasn’t Happened Yet

Compared with Ethereum or Solana, TON’s liquidity depth and range of products are still developing. Part of this difference stems from its underlying design. TON’s architecture was created with massive scalability in mind, leading to technically elegant but more complex infrastructure for developers.

Smart contracts on TON use a low-level language, and many core components require building from the ground up, which may have contributed to a more gradual pace of DeFi development in its early years.

The trade-off? Low-level development can produce more efficient, resilient solutions over time. TON’s core team is actively reducing friction for builders, paving the way for faster growth.

Another factor is ecosystem dependence on Telegram. On one hand, this integration gives TON direct access to over 1 billion users and tangible utility — since 2024, Telegram channel owners have been able to receive ad revenue payouts in TON. On the other hand, it creates a single point of exposure: any disruption in Telegram instantly impacts TON.

For now, many average users still see Telegram mini-apps as casual games rather than financial tools. Without broadening beyond entertainment use cases, TON’s appeal to institutional capital remains constrained.

Unlocking TON’s DeFi Potential

The path forward is clear: expand beyond hype cycles and deliver mass-market financial services seamlessly integrated into the Telegram experience.

This could mean:

• Frictionless payments — sending crypto in a Telegram chat as easily as a text message.
• Everyday utility — paying for goods, services, or restaurant bills in TON-based tokens.
• Accessible lending — offering microloans and credit solutions in regions underserved by banks.

If executed well, these use cases could transform TON from a viral gaming phenomenon into a primary interface for global crypto adoption.

Signals of Institutional Confidence

Institutional investment is already validating TON’s potential. In March 2024, major players including Sequoia Capital, Draper Associates, Kingsway, CoinFund, Ribbit, and Skybridge invested in Toncoin.

In January 2025, Zodia Custody (a subsidiary of Standard Chartered) announced support for TON’s Jetton token standard, enabling banks and large investors to securely hold and manage TON assets. And in July 2025, The Open Platform — a developer of Telegram-based protocols and apps built on TON — secured $28.5 million at a $1 billion valuation from leading funds Ribbit Capital and Pantera Capital.

Conclusion: From Potential to Reality

The explosive growth of 2024 proved that pairing Telegram’s reach with blockchain’s capabilities can move markets. But true transformation will come only when TON evolves from a hype-fueled onramp into a robust financial ecosystem.

The fundamentals are in place: a growing developer base, improving infrastructure, and unprecedented distribution through Telegram. If TON’s DeFi sector can simplify the user experience and deliver essential, in-demand services where users already are, it won’t just participate in the future of digital finance — it could help define it.

The post Is TON’s DeFi ready to lead a true financial revolution? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

U.S. tech stocks came under pressure on Friday, driven by concerns about the rapid pace of investment in AI and a series of disappointing earnings reports in the semiconductor sector. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.2%, closing out a week in which the tech-heavy index struggled to maintain recent highs.

Semiconductor sector hit hard

Among the notable tumblers, Marvell Technology plunged nearly 19%, resembling Bitcoin’s early days, after revealing that its data center revenue had failed to meet market expectations.

The stock was downgraded from “buy” to “neutral” by Bank of America in response to these earnings. Meanwhile, Nvidia, whose market capitalization makes it the largest listed semiconductor company globally, dropped 3.3% on Friday.

The company flagged ongoing uncertainty in its sales to China, largely due to U.S. export restrictions impacting its AI chips.

For the week, Nvidia shares fell 2.1%, marking their steepest weekly decline since May. Broader weakness in chipmakers dragged the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index to its lowest point since mid-April.

The S&P 500 also retreated, down 0.6% for its largest single-day drop of the month, though it still managed to finish August up 1.9%. The tech stocks selling is likely attributed to investors taking profits near month-end, especially after a hot August when technology shares led markets to record levels.

Tech stocks overheated and China uncertainties loom

Despite the hundreds of billions of dollars of investment already poured into data centers fueling generative AI projects like ChatGPT, actual revenues in this space remain relatively modest.

According to Morgan Stanley, generative AI products from major cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google brought in about $45 billion last year.

Marvell, a key supplier of custom semiconductors to these companies, has faced additional headwinds, including trade tensions and questions around its growth prospects. Its shares, which had previously surged on the AI hardware boom, have slumped more than 40% since the beginning of 2025.

Nvidia, meanwhile, awaits clarification from the U.S. government regarding a deal to resume H20 chip exports to China, with the administration set to collect a revenue share from those sales.

Chinese authorities have discouraged local firms from buying Nvidia’s technology, ramping up efforts to support domestic alternatives. Cambricon, a leading Chinese AI chipmaker, recently posted record profits and claimed advancements that bring its products closer to Nvidia’s standards, sending its stock price soaring.

Shares in U.S.-based Super Micro Computer, a vital part of Nvidia’s supply chain, fell 5.5% after reporting internal accounting challenges.

Bitcoin price slumps further into the weekend

While tech stocks and AI-linked companies face their own market turbulence, Bitcoin has not been immune to broader risk-off sentiment.

Bitcoin’s price fell below $108,000 on Saturday, heading into the weekend, down nearly 7% for the week and at its lowest point since July.

Selling has accelerated as investors react to persistent uncertainty around U.S. monetary policy, sticky inflation, and weakening labor market data.

The post US tech stocks under pressure as AI growth shows signs of cooling appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Recent data from Bitcoin and gold ETFs revealed a departure from historical trends this month: instead of flows moving in opposite directions as they normally do, both Bitcoin and gold experienced outflows at the same time.

This rare correlation speaks volumes about the current macroeconomic environment and shifting investor psychology. Bitcoin outflows didn’t benefit gold, and until the Fed’s path is clearer, both assets remain under pressure.

Bitcoin outflows, hard assets are feeling the pain

Traditionally, when investors pull money out of Bitcoin, gold, the ultimate safe-haven asset, sees a surge in inflows, and vice versa. That’s because Bitcoin and gold are seen as alternative stores of value and hedges against traditional financial market risks.

Investors often view them as uncorrelated assets because their prices and demand don’t typically move in tandem with stocks or bonds. However, each asset appeals to different risk appetites and market conditions

Not so this month. Bitcoin ETFs recorded six straight days of outflows, draining nearly $2 billion in late August alone. Meanwhile, outflows from major gold ETFs, such as GLDM, also spiked, with $449 million exiting in just one week.

Despite record Bitcoin outflows and a broader crypto market pullback, Bitcoin ETFs rebounded toward the end of August, with a four-day inflow streak through the pullback. Gold ETFs also saw net inflows during the last days of August 2025, tracking a similar rebound as Bitcoin ETFs, and suggesting a possible change in investor sentiment as the month closes.

Macro uncertainty rules

The backdrop for this unusual behavior is a cocktail of economic crosswinds: uncertainty around Federal Reserve monetary policy, persistent inflation, and signs of a softer labor market. With the Fed’s next move unclear, Bitcoin and gold may not be especially attractive to investors seeking clarity or certainty.

Sticky inflation keeps the Fed hawkish, yet waning job growth undercuts confidence in further rate hikes.

This uncomfortable limbo leaves markets in a risk-off posture, where both speculative and defensive assets struggle to gain traction.

Waiting for the Fed’s next move

Bitcoin, often dubbed “digital gold,” inflows are stalling right now because investors aren’t feeling risk-on. Yet gold, which typically shines in periods of heightened fear, is also not benefiting from Bitcoin outflows.

Inflation concerns and shifting rate expectations are undermining gold’s historic safe-haven narrative. Instead of moving in opposition, both assets faced outflows as investors either shift to cash, seek higher-yielding alternatives, or wait for the Fed’s next move.

Until monetary policy direction becomes clearer, both Bitcoin and gold may continue to face headwinds. Macro investors value certainty, and, at the moment, ambiguity reigns.

This lethal combination makes it difficult for investors to predict whether rates will rise, a recession is coming, or inflation will surge again, leading to broader uncertainty across financial markets.

For now, Bitcoin outflows aren’t benefiting gold, and both assets are caught on the sidelines, waiting for the Fed to declare a new direction.

The post Bitcoin outflows aren’t benefiting gold; both assets feel the pressure appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The debate about Bitcoin as a method of payment versus a store of value is ongoing. With prices consistently above $100k, the relentless push from ETF issuers and Bitcoin treasury companies, and the inevitable institutionalization of the space, using Bitcoin for small payments seems more alien than ever.

But is Jack Dorsey right in saying that Bitcoin fails if it’s only a store of value and not used for payments?

Bitcoin as a method of payment

Bitcoin was fundamentally created as a means of payment, a real form of electronic cash for private, peer-to-peer transactions, while its store of value status appeared later as an added benefit. As BitVM creator Robin Linus states:

“Bitcoin’s purpose is payments—store of value is just a neat byproduct.”

Over time, the dominant narrative around Bitcoin has shifted heavily toward “digital gold” and institutional investment, and many influential voices, like Dorsey and Linus, argue this misses the project’s original spirit and shortchanges its long-term relevance. Linus reinforced the historical perspective, declaring:

“The cypherpunk vision was clearly electronic cash for private, peer-to-peer payments. The ‘digital asset’ narrative came later from others. Strange that this is even controversial”.

Dorsey doubled down on his statement, saying:

“I think it has to be payments for it to be relevant on the everyday, otherwise, it’s just something you kind of buy and forget and only use in emergency situations or when you want to get liquid again. So I think if it doesn’t transition to payments and find that everyday use case, it just gets increasingly irrelevant. And that’s failure to me.”

Satoshi’s words leave no doubt

Satoshi Nakamoto’s very first communications, emails, and the infamous Bitcoin whitepaper make it clear that Bitcoin is about e-cash, currency, money, and payments. His intentions for Bitcoin as a method of payment are unambiguous.

In early emails with Adam Back in 2008, Satoshi described Bitcoin as a breakthrough method for building peer-to-peer electronic currency, referencing previous digital cash projects and focusing on payments.

He wrote about proof-of-work as a way to enable currency on a distributed timestamp server, making the intent for payments crystal clear.

Changing narratives: from currency to asset

Over the years, the narrative has shifted. Institutionalization arrived in the form of ETFs, “Number Go Up” (NGU)-focused marketing, and conversations about Bitcoin as a portfolio hedge.

While bringing liquidity and broader acceptance, these changes have arguably moved the ecosystem away from solutions that benefit everyday people and real-world payment use cases; a divergence from Satoshi’s vision.

While Bitcoin’s rise as a store of value has been notorious, it has overshadowed its true foundation in private, peer-to-peer, digital payments.

Some of the project’s strongest voices, Dorsey, Linus, Swan, and even Satoshi himself, remind the community that genuine, universal utility depends on embracing Bitcoin as money in action, not just money in storage.

Bitcoin Audible host Guy Swann called for a serious public debate, tagging the likes of Dorsey and Linus, and other influential Bitcoin community members like Michael Saylor, Saifedean Ammous, and Adam Back:

“I want the best here who will bring real arguments. Not just taglines, moral posturing, and quotes from the whitepaper.”

Relegating Bitcoin to a mere store of value risks losing the original vision and utility that once set it apart. The future of Bitcoin as a method of payment depends on a community willing to challenge prevailing narratives and restore focus on payments and real-world adoption.

The post Bitcoin is for payments; store of value is ‘just a neat byproduct’: BitVM creator appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitfinex-backed Plasma announced a strategic partnership with EtherFi on Aug. 29, positioning the stablecoin-focused neobank as a day-one launch partner for the blockchain’s mainnet beta.

EtherFi will transfer over $500 million from its Ethereum (ETH) staking vault to Plasma’s platform, providing liquidity for stablecoin-backed yield strategies.

The collaboration integrates EtherFi across Plasma’s DeFi ecosystem, providing users with additional collateral options for lending and borrowing while offering access to ETH-backed yield products.

Plasma’s announcement emphasized how the partnership complements both platforms’ objectives in the stablecoin infrastructure space. The protocol stated:

“Stablecoins give everyone, everywhere permissionless access to the financial service of saving money safely and reliably.”

EtherFi is the sixth-largest DeFi protocol, with a total value locked of over $11 billion as of Aug. 29. The protocol reached an all-time high of nearly $12.6 billion on Aug. 14.

Stablecoin-focused infrastructure

Plasma operates as a Bitcoin sidechain with full Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, engineered specifically for stablecoin payments and cross-border transactions.

The platform offers zero-fee USDT transfers through a dual-validator architecture that processes gasless transactions.

Recent market activity demonstrates significant institutional interest in Plasma’s approach. The platform raised $1 billion in deposits within 30 minutes during its June expansion, with 70% of funds concentrated among the top 100 wallets according to analytics firm Sealaunch.

Initial deposits in June totaled $500 million, with over 1,100 participating wallets.

Further, Plasma is backed by high-profile names. The protocol $24 million funding round attracted backing from Framework Ventures, Bitfinex, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino.

DeFi ecosystem integration

The EtherFi partnership extends beyond simple vault migration. Plasma users will be able to leverage EtherFi’s liquid staking tokens as collateral while accessing stablecoin features, including custom gas tokens and confidential transactions.

Additionally, the partnership positions both platforms to capture the growing demand for stablecoin infrastructure as the sector surpasses a total supply of $280 billion.

Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes recently noted that EtherFi is one of three DeFi protocols that could capture significant value from the expansion of US dollar-pegged stablecoins.

EtherFi’s commitment to move $500 million in ETH staking assets represents confidence in Plasma’s technical architecture and market positioning within the expanding stablecoin ecosystem.

The post Bitfinex-backed Plasma secures EtherFi partnership with $500 million ETH vault integration appeared first on CryptoSlate.

A Bloody End to August 2025

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are feeling the heat. BTC has dropped to nearly $110K, while ETH slipped below $4,360 amid a $15 billion options expiry and the looming monthly close. Traders are calling this a manipulation play by whales to flush out leverage, but the fear is real: could BTC actually break below the $100K psychological line in September 2025?

Options Expiry and Market Games

Historically, big expiry days create sharp, sudden dumps as market makers hedge positions and force liquidations. With BTC open interest sky-high, the timing of this sell-off is no coincidence. Similar setups in past cycles (2017, 2021) show that once expiry passes, markets often stabilize—but only after a brutal shakeout. September could open with this same scenario, leaving traders on edge.

Macro Picture: Global Liquidity is Rising

Despite the panic, there’s a powerful bullish force lurking in the background. Global M2 liquidity just hit a new all-time high, and Bitcoin has historically followed liquidity growth with a slight lag. The divergence we’re seeing now—liquidity pumping while BTC dips—suggests that this correction may only be temporary and that September’s early weakness could set up a stronger rebound later in the month.

September 2025: Bearish Start or Bullish Setup?

Traditionally, September is one of Bitcoin’s weakest months. Post-halving years have seen messy Q3 action before big Q4 rallies. The first days of September may extend the current weakness, with BTC at risk of testing the 107K–103K zone and ETH targeting $4,100–$4,050 if selling pressure continues.

But if BTC reclaims 113.5K–116K, and ETH recovers 4.45K–4.60K, the market could flip fast, turning September into the launchpad for a strong Q4 rally.

What Traders Should Watch

• Bearish Break: BTC slips under 109K, confirming targets at 107K → 103K. ETH risks a slide to 4.10K.
• Bullish Reclaim: BTC breaks 116K, ETH clears 4.60K, confirming renewed momentum.
• Liquidity Signal: Rising M2 suggests that dips in September may be short-lived—positioning matters more than panic.

The headlines may scream crash, but history says this looks more like a shakeout during September rather than the end of the bull cycle. Yes, Bitcoin could briefly flirt with the $100K level in September 2025, but the macro liquidity wave is still pointing higher. If the month starts bearish, the bigger picture remains: Q4 could be the rally that nobody wants to miss.

Solana’s price is hovering around the $200 mark just as the U.S. Federal Reserve faces one of its toughest decisions of the year. The July PCE inflation report showed that prices are still rising faster than the Fed’s target, yet traders are betting heavily on a September rate cut. This mix of sticky inflation, labor market concerns, and market optimism is creating the perfect storm for crypto volatility. For Solana, a coin that thrives on liquidity shifts, the Fed’s next move could decide whether it breaks higher toward $240 or slips back into consolidation.

Solana Price Prediction: Inflation Still Sticky. Why It Matters?

The July PCE report confirmed inflation is still running hotter than the Fed’s long-term goal. Headline PCE stayed steady at 2.6%, but the core PCE moved up for the third straight month, now sitting at 2.9%. That may not look alarming on its own, but the persistence is exactly what central bankers fear: inflation that refuses to cool despite tight policy.

For crypto traders, this creates a paradox. On one side, inflation sticking above target usually argues for higher rates. On the other, Powell and the Fed have hinted that labor market weakness may outweigh inflation concerns. This tug-of-war makes the September FOMC meeting especially important for Solana’s price trajectory.

Solana Price Prediction: Solana Consolidates Near Resistance

Looking at Solana price daily chart, SOL is trading around $203, hovering just under the $212 resistance level marked by the upper Bollinger Band and pivot resistance cluster. The Fibonacci retracement shows key levels at $198 (support) and $220 (major breakout zone). Momentum has been positive since mid-July, with SOL recovering from the $160 zone, but recent candles show hesitation just below resistance.

The 20-day SMA around $193 provides strong support, suggesting buyers are stepping in on dips. If SOL price holds this level, it sets the stage for another push higher. A clean breakout above $212–$220 could trigger a move toward $240, with $260 as the next extension target.

Market Bets: Traders Are Ahead of the Fed

Despite sticky inflation, the CME FedWatch tool shows traders pricing in an 87% chance of a cut in September. That’s a strong vote of confidence in the Fed’s willingness to pivot. The market is effectively saying: “Yes, inflation is higher, but the Fed will prioritize growth and jobs.”

For Solana, this is bullish in the near term. Rate cuts mean cheaper capital, weaker dollar strength, and more speculative flows into high-growth sectors like crypto. But the danger is clear: if the Fed disappoints by signaling only one cut or a slower pace, risk assets could unwind sharply.

Fed’s Balancing Act: Inflation vs. Jobs

Powell’s comments last week already opened the door to a cut, citing a weakening job market. The Fed now faces a credibility test. Cut too soon and inflation may flare back up. Delay too long and unemployment could rise faster than expected. This balancing act injects volatility into every risk asset — and crypto is always first in line to react.

For Solana traders, the jobs report next week becomes a make-or-break catalyst. Weak data strengthens the bull case for a September cut, adding fuel to SOL’s rally. Strong data muddies the waters, potentially keeping Solana price stuck in its $200–$212 range.

Solana Price Prediction:Why Solana Specifically Reacts Strongly?

$Solana isn’t just another altcoin — it’s one of the most liquidity-sensitive Layer 1s. Institutions, funds, and retail alike treat it as a high-beta proxy for risk-on appetite. When liquidity is abundant, Solana price tends to outperform Ethereum in percentage gains due to its smaller market cap and volatility profile. Conversely, when liquidity tightens, SOL price often sells off harder.

That’s why the PCE report and Fed outlook matter more for $Solana than most. It’s the kind of coin that amplifies macro sentiment, and in a rate cut environment, it could become one of the top beneficiaries.

Chart Meets Macro: What’s Next for SOL Price?

The chart shows SOL price consolidating just under $212 resistance. This lines up perfectly with the macro uncertainty — the market is waiting for confirmation. A dovish Fed and weak jobs report could be the double trigger that breaks SOL above $220, opening the door to $240 and $260.

On the other hand, if the Fed tones down cut expectations, SOL could test $190 again, with downside risk toward $175. Macro pressure will decide whether this is a healthy consolidation or a failed breakout.

The July PCE numbers confirm one thing: the Fed’s job isn’t done, and traders are betting on a pivot that may come with caveats. For $Solana, this environment creates both opportunity and risk. If liquidity returns in September, $SOL is poised to rally aggressively past $220. But if the Fed pushes back against market expectations, Solana could slip back to its support levels.

The signs are all here. $Bitcoin is losing momentum, altcoins are bleeding, and BlackRock along with Wall Street whales are quietly exiting. While retail still believes in “to the moon” narratives, the market is already shifting into the final stage of the cycle. Let’s break down the 5 biggest reasons why the crypto crash is underway.

1. BlackRock and Whales Are Selling

The exit has already started. BlackRock isn’t just buying anymore — they’ve begun daily selling, unloading positions onto retail. This is how every cycle ends: whales don’t announce the top, they simply rotate out slowly while retail keeps buying.

2. Smart Money Has Left the Table

The traders who made life-changing gains have already rotated into stablecoins like $USDT. They’ve secured profits and left the market, leaving retail investors as the exit liquidity. By the time most realize it, the door will already be closed.

3. Classic Cycle Top Indicators Are Flashing

The signals are impossible to ignore:

• Bitcoin trading volume is dropping
• Altcoins are failing to follow BTC pumps
• Funding rates are extremely positive
• On-chain wallets are moving coins to exchanges

Every one of these indicators points to a market top.

4. The Retail Trap Is Wide Open

Narratives at the peak are louder than ever:

• “Bitcoin to $500K”
• “Altcoins 100x next month”
• “ETF inflows never stop”

This is exit liquidity marketing. Retail is sold the dream exactly when whales are selling their bags.

5. Altcoins Will Get Wiped Out

History repeats itself every cycle:

• When Bitcoin stalls → alts bleed
• When Bitcoin dumps → alts collapse

Majors typically lose -50%, while small caps fall -90%. It’s the same brutal script, and it’s already starting to play out.

How to Survive the Crash

Don’t wait for the perfect top. Scale out, sell into strength, and rotate profits into stablecoins like $USDT or $USDC. Hold dry powder for the crash and re-enter when fear dominates, not greed.

Dogecoin price is back in the spotlight after reports that Elon Musk’s personal lawyer, Alex Spiro, is chairing a new Dogecoin Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) aiming to raise $200 million. On top of that, Bit Origin has already secured $500 million to build a corporate Dogecoin treasury. With institutional-style vehicles emerging for DOGE price, the question now is whether this momentum can lift prices above their current consolidation around $0.21.

Dogecoin Price Prediction: What the DAT Announcement Means for Dogecoin?

Digital Asset Treasuries are becoming a major crypto narrative. Inspired by MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin accumulation strategy, new firms are raising large sums to buy and hold altcoins like Solana, SUI, and Toncoin. Dogecoin entering this arena is significant because it transitions DOGE from being seen purely as a memecoin into a treasury-backed digital asset.

If the Dogecoin DAT does launch and successfully raises even a portion of its $200 million target, it could create steady demand for DOGE, similar to how Michael Saylor’s strategy fueled Bitcoin’s rally. Combined with Bit Origin’s $500 million commitment, we are looking at a potential $700 million liquidity injection into Dogecoin’s ecosystem. For a $32 billion market cap coin, this would not go unnoticed.

Chart Analysis: Support and Resistance Levels

Looking at the daily Dogecoin price chart, DOGE price is trading around $0.214, down 3% in the last 24 hours. The Bollinger Bands are tightening, signaling that volatility could spike soon. Key resistance sits near $0.236, which aligns with the upper Bollinger Band. Breaking above this level could open the door to $0.25 and eventually $0.30 if volume supports the move.

On the downside, support rests near $0.20, and below that, Fibonacci levels suggest $0.18 and $0.15 as critical zones to watch. A breakdown under $0.20 without treasury momentum could drag DOGE price back into bearish territory, especially with pivot supports around $0.17 and $0.12.

Institutional Interest: A Game-Changer?

What makes this development different from typical Dogecoin price hype cycles is the institutional angle. Instead of relying on retail memes and social media, DOGE is now tied to structured investment strategies. This aligns Dogecoin with broader digital asset narratives and could give it legitimacy in markets that once dismissed it as a joke token.

Grayscale’s push to list a Dogecoin ETF further reinforces this shift. If approved, it would allow traditional investors to gain exposure to DOGE through regulated financial instruments. Pair this with Musk’s influence and his recent comments that “fiat is hopeless,” and the stage is set for renewed speculative demand.

Dogecoin Price Prediction: Short-Term vs Long-Term Outlook

In the short term, $DOGE remains range-bound between $0.20 and $0.24. A treasury launch or ETF approval could quickly push it to $0.30–$0.35, levels not seen since July’s rally. If the DAT successfully raises capital and starts accumulating, DOGE could target $0.50 later in 2025, especially if Bitcoin resumes its upward trend.

Long term, if corporate treasuries actually become a trend in $Dogecoin similar to Bitcoin, the coin could see sustainable accumulation. This would transform DOGE from a meme-driven asset into a treasury-backed digital store of value, potentially paving the way toward $1 over the next market cycle.

Dogecoin’s short-term outlook hinges on the $0.20 support and $0.24 resistance. But the emergence of DATs and corporate treasuries for DOGE could be a structural shift, moving the coin beyond memes into serious institutional adoption. If momentum builds, Dogecoin may be preparing for its next big leg up.

XRP just erased more than $10 billion in market cap in a single day, dropping 5% as technical weakness and macroeconomic uncertainty weighed heavily on the token. The decline pushed XRP price below the $3 psychological threshold to $2.84, underperforming the broader market’s 3.35% drop. Let’s break down what’s really happening here and where XRP could go next.

XRP Price Prediction: Why Did XRP Crash Below $3?

The selloff was triggered by two major forces. First, technical breakdown: XRP failed to hold its $3.05 support and sliced through the $3 floor, which was a key psychological and Fibonacci level. Once that gave way, sellers piled in and momentum shifted rapidly downward.

Second, sentiment around an XRP spot ETF turned shaky. While CME XRP futures open interest climbed above $1 billion at record speed—a bullish sign—the optimism was tempered by wider market risk aversion and regulatory ambiguity. Traders are unsure whether approval will come quickly, and that hesitation fed into selling pressure.

Analyst Calls: From Bullish to Bearish

On-chain analyst Ali Martinez had initially projected a fast recovery to $3.70, but reality caught up quickly. By August 28, Martinez aligned his outlook with the market, noting XRP was retracing toward $2.83 as expected. That shift from bullish optimism to bearish confirmation underscores how fragile XRP sentiment has become.

The market now views $2.70 as the more realistic short-term target, rather than the $3.70 rally Martinez once highlighted.

Macro Headwinds: The US Economy and Trump’s Tariffs

Layered on top of XRP’s chart weakness are macroeconomic shifts that ripple across all risk assets. US GDP grew at 3.3% in Q2, stronger than first reported, driven by business investment and trade. Yet, the growth comes in the shadow of President Trump’s escalating trade wars. Tariffs are starting to push inflation back into the picture, which Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged at Jackson Hole.

Traders are betting on a Fed rate cut next month, but if tariffs keep inflation sticky, the Fed could hesitate. That uncertainty has left crypto markets in limbo. A resilient US dollar and rising Treasury yields weigh on XRP because risk appetite shrinks whenever monetary policy feels unpredictable.

Technical Breakdown: Where Are the Key Levels?

Looking at the daily chart, XRP price is sitting just above $2.84 support, which coincides with the 0.236 Fibonacci retracement zone. The Bollinger Bands are contracting, signaling reduced volatility, but price is hugging the lower band—a bearish continuation setup.

Key levels to watch:

• Immediate support: $2.83–2.84 (current zone). A break here opens the door to $2.70 (0.382 Fibonacci).
• Stronger support: $2.35–2.40 (0.5 retracement). A deeper flush could test $2.10 (0.618 retracement).
• Resistance: $3.05 and $3.30. Bulls need to reclaim these levels to shift momentum.

Momentum indicators are showing weakness, and with sellers in control, downside risks outweigh upside potential for now.

XRP Price Prediction: What’s Next?

In the short term, XRP price looks vulnerable to a further slide toward $2.70, especially if ETF uncertainty drags on and macroeconomic jitters remain unresolved. If that level breaks, a deeper correction to $2.35 is likely before buyers step back in.

On the flip side, if Fed policy turns more dovish in September and ETF sentiment stabilizes, $XRP could attempt to reclaim $3.05. Only a decisive close above $3.30 would revive hopes for a return to the $3.70 range flagged by Martinez earlier.

XRP price is at a crossroads. The technical chart shows weakness, and the fundamental backdrop—regulatory uncertainty, ETF hesitation, and global trade tensions—adds to the pressure. Until $XRP reclaims $3.05 with strong volume, the path of least resistance remains down, with $2.70 as the next key magnet for price action.

A Florida man sentenced to 47 years in prison for orchestrating a string of violent home invasions got extra time for attacking a witness.

The fake ID marketplace VerifTools allegedly sold fake documents for as little as $9 in cryptocurrency, authorities said.

A new proposal from Ethereum and Google developers seeks to make the blockchain the bedrock of the AI agent economy.

Eric Trump, son of U.S. President Donald Trump, shared why there's "no question" to him that Bitcoin will rise to a price of $1 million.

Bitcoin has dropped 3.77% on average each September since 2013. With the month approaching, traders are already positioning for what could be another seasonal selloff.

Top Shiba Inu executive has reacted to recent SHIB price crash

Shibarium sees over 4 million drop in daily transactions

After troubling August, Stellar may eventually align more with bulls in September

Ripple's RLUSD can be traded on XRP Ledger DEX thanks to clawback amendment

Bitcoin price is still in free fall with analysts pointing out possible bottom price

The last days of August 2025 will be crucial for crypto investors. With Bitcoin trading at just above $113,000 and the altcoins starting to move upwards, analysts and the Reddit community are highlighting three names – XRP, Cardano, and MAGACOIN FINANCE. Collectively, they represent an amalgamation of institutional strength, technical setups, and presale momentum that is creating a market buzz this week.

XRP’s Institutional Momentum

XRP is picking up momentum across global markets. XRP is trading at $2.90 with a market cap of $172.5 billion. The token price increased by 5.5% over the last 24 hours, driven by whale accumulation and strong demand on South Korea’s Upbit exchange. Ripple’s cross-border settlement networks, which offer cheaper and faster transactions than SWIFT, remain integral to powering adoption across banks and payment providers.

XRP indicators point to resistance at $3.10 after 62.87 RSI reading. Forecasters suggest that a move towards $3.65 could occur in Q4 2025 if regulatory clarity deepens. If institutional credibility with limited upside is your goal, XRP is a top pick this week.

Cardano’s Technical Breakout

Cardano (ADA) is rising, at $0.8771, with market cap of $31.3 billion. A breakout of a bull flag pattern allowed ADA to cross its 50-day moving average. Targeting $1.60 – $1.75 should therefore be considered that’s a 100 – 150% rally.

Ecosystem fundamentals remain solid. The long-term outlook of Cardano (ADA) looks bright due to the scalability upgrade Hydra, speculation around ETF approval and ongoing partnerships across Africa. The energy-efficient Proof-of-Stake design of the network, and its developer-friendly architecture make it attractive for sustainable adoption, though DApp development is slower.

Why MAGACOIN FINANCE Stands Out

MAGACOIN FINANCE presale is creating a FOMO like never before! The project is quickly becoming one of the most closely watched early-stage projects of 2025, particularly on Telegram and Reddit. MAGACOIN FINANCE has already raised significant funds and investor demand is regularly exceeding what is available to them. MAGACOIN FINANCE isn’t another meme coin. It combines culturally relevant branding with a solid roadmap, catering to both retail and bigger investors.

Testing of smart contracts by a major Blockchain company has added trust. Meanwhile, the team’s transparency and limited supply before the listing have contributed to its scarcity-driven momentum. Analysts state that it is similar to infrastructure giants XRP and Cardano but is a speculative play that has defined milestones indicating its potential to outlast a hype cycle.

Market Buzz and Strategy

The diversity of narratives expected in 2025 is showcased in this week’s watchlist. XRP ensures institutional-grade security, Cardano emphasizes technical growth, and MAGACOIN FINANCE strategies early speculative access.  Traders balance their portfolio between established networks and presale-driven opportunities, as shown by the two.

Conclusion

The top cryptos to watch this week — XRP, Cardano, and MAGACOIN FINANCE — illustrate how different layers of the market are aligning. XRP rides the wave of institutional adoption, Cardano breaks out technically, and MAGACOIN FINANCE taps into FOMO-driven presale energy. For investors seeking to capitalise on both stability and asymmetry, this mix could define the next stage of the altcoin rally.

To learn more about MAGACOIN FINANCE, visit:

Website: https://magacoinfinance.com
Access: https://magacoinfinance.com/access
Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance
Telegram: https://t.me/magacoinfinance

The post Top 3 Cryptos to Watch This Week — XRP, Cardano, and a FOMO-Driven Presale Fuel Market Buzz appeared first on Blockonomi.

When investors look at long-term crypto charts, the consistent conclusion is that Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) remain the anchors of any portfolio. They are proven stores of value with liquidity, and they will continue to play that role for years. However, history shows that the real asymmetric returns often come from early exposure to utility projects before mass adoption. Analysts are now pointing toward Mutuum Finance (MUTM) as the token that feels like stepping into Bitcoin (BTC) in 2011 — a low price entry with catalysts designed to create multi-year demand. For anyone asking is crypto a good investment for the long term, the answer depends on securing exposure to projects like this at presale levels.

Structural Mechanics That Will Build Multi-Year Demand

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is building a lending and borrowing protocol with two distinct tracks. P2C pools will handle blue-chip crypto coins and stablecoins, creating predictable yields for conservative lenders. Alongside this, P2P lanes will allow borrowers and lenders to negotiate directly on interest rates, terms, and partial fills. Settlement will run through smart contracts, guaranteeing collateral enforcement and security. Every deposit in the system will generate mtTokens, which will serve as receipts that can be staked in designated contracts. Those who stake will earn MUTM rewards, and these rewards will be funded through protocol-generated revenue that will be used to repurchase tokens from the open market. This buyback and redistribution cycle will lock in permanent demand for MUTM over time, forcing upward price pressure as utilization scales.

To understand the long-term potential, consider the numbers. An early-phase backer who invested $5,000 at $0.01 secured 500,000 MUTM. At a long-term target of $3.50, this position will be worth $1,750,000 — a net profit of $1,745,000. For a new long-term believer entering Phase-6 today, the math is equally compelling. A $2,000 allocation at $0.035 will secure 57,000 MUTM tokens. At the $3.50 target, that holding will be worth $200,000 — a net profit of $198,000. These examples highlight the asymmetric payoff of small, early allocations. While Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) will continue compounding steadily, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) offers tactical exposure that can recreate early BTC-style returns by compressing growth into multi-year cycles of adoption, Layer-2 integration, and buyback-supported demand.

The presale of Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is already demonstrating significant traction. The total token supply is 4 billion, and Phase 6 has generated around $15.14 million so far. The current token price is $0.035, and there are already over 15,850 holders engaged. Of the 170 million tokens allocated to this phase, 30% has already sold out. To reinforce security and credibility, a CertiK audit of Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has been conducted through manual review and static analysis, producing a Token Scan Score of 95.00 and a CertiK Skynet Score of 78.00. 

Social traction is growing quickly, with more than 12,000 followers already active on Twitter. The audit timeline was officially requested on February 25, 2025, and revised on May 20, 2025, underscoring the project’s ongoing commitment to transparency and compliance.

Roadmap Sequencing That Will Compound Utility And Valuation

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has carefully sequenced its roadmap to drive sustained adoption and valuation growth over multiple years. Phase 7 will mark the next presale step, lifting the price to $0.040. After the presale closes, the beta release will arrive at token listing, allowing users to access live lending and staking immediately. The introduction of Layer-2 scaling will then expand throughput, lower transaction costs, and make the platform attractive to higher-volume traders. Every cycle of borrowing and lending will generate protocol revenue, which will be used for ongoing MUTM buybacks. Those buybacks will fund rewards for mtToken stakers, creating a recurring incentive loop that will strengthen long-term token demand.

Visibility will expand further once expected Tier-1 exchange listings bring MUTM into wider market discovery. This progression — presale completion, beta release, Layer-2 rollout, buybacks, staking, and expected Tier-1 listings — represents a compound roadmap that will lock in both utility and value accrual. Analysts emphasize that these milestones are precisely the type of sequencing that builds conviction for long-term investors looking beyond the immediate cycle of crypto fear and greed index signals.

Final Words

To ensure strong engagement and adoption during presale, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has launched a $50,000 USDT CertiK bug bounty program with tiered rewards. This initiative will bring in security researchers to stress test the codebase, reinforcing safety for participants. Alongside this, a $100,000 giveaway campaign, offering ten winners $10,000 worth of MUTM each, will expand community participation and awareness. Both programs are designed to draw attention and create a base of committed early adopters ahead of listing.

The clock is ticking, however. Phase 6 is already 30% sold out, and once it closes, Phase 7 will raise the token price by 15% to $0.040. For long-term investors comparing options on crypto charts, the decision is clear: locking in an allocation at today’s price level secures maximum asymmetry. Just as early Bitcoin (BTC) believers saw life-changing returns from modest entries, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is positioned to deliver transformative outcomes for those who secure exposure during presale.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

The post What Crypto to Invest in Long Term? Analysts Say This $0.035 Altcoin Feels Like Buying BTC Back in 2011 appeared first on Blockonomi.

A growing number of analysts are highlighting Aptos and Arbitrum as altcoins with room to grow in the future. Analysts predict that both tokens, which are currently trading below $5, could yield a 20x return on investment in the upcoming cycle.

Through partnerships with stablecoins and quick adoption, Aptos has been gaining traction, while Ethereum’s Layer-2 scaling race is still being led by Arbitrum. In addition to these names, analyst conversations are beginning to mention emerging plays like MAGACOIN FINANCE as investors look for the high upside opportunities as the market recovers.

Aptos Price Prediction 2025 — Growth from Stablecoins and Partnerships

Aptos has been building momentum quickly in 2025. The network added over 500,000 new accounts this year and processed millions of transactions through Japan’s EXPO2025 digital wallet, helping it reach mainstream audiences. Monthly active users have consistently stayed above 10 million, showing that adoption isn’t just a spike — it’s holding strong.

Partnerships are also fueling growth. Aptos teamed up with Bitso to power cross-border stablecoin payments across Latin America, while Wyoming chose the blockchain to launch its FRNT state-backed stablecoin.

On the tech side, upgrades like the Raptr consensus protocol and Block-STM V2 could push speeds to 160,000 transactions per second, making Aptos a serious player in global payments and DeFi.

Arbitrum ROI Forecast 2025 — Layer-2 Expansion Continues

Arbitrum has been strengthening its ecosystem with zero-knowledge proof integrations, Circle’s USDC Gateway, and the debut of Wyoming’s FRNT stablecoin. Governance and tech upgrades such as ArbOS 40 “Callisto” and the Timeboost system are making the network more secure and efficient, while revenues from transaction ordering now support the DAO treasury.

With plans for over 100 Orbit chains and more than 40 currently operational, Arbitrum is growing in the DeFi, gaming, and AI domains. Analysts note that at under $5, Arbitrum offers one of the most compelling entry points for exposure to Ethereum scaling solutions.

Investors’ Demand Sends MAGACOIN FINANCE Up 

Meanwhile, MAGACOIN FINANCE is making news rounds as investors double down on the project. While activities around the project were previously moderate, recent data show a significant uptick in transaction volume.

Indeed, thousands of investors now have MAGACOIN FINANCE on their watchlist. At the same time, the project is earning multiple mentions from analysts as one of the tokens that could deliver a 20x return to early investors. With attention around the project going up, many predict MAGACOIN FINANCE may be one of the tokens that shape the rest of 2025.

The Bottom Line

Sentiment around Aptos and Arbitrum remains bullish. Analysts expect the two tokens to rise on their infrastructural strength and rising global partnership portfolio. With both tokens still under $5, many traders are flagging them as candidates for 20x ROI upside. But only if market momentum accelerates.

Along the same line, MAGACOIN FINANCE is earning the spotlight too, as it captures investors as a long-term opportunity.

To learn more about MAGACOIN FINANCE, visit:

Website: https://magacoinfinance.com

Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance

Telegram: https://t.me/magacoinfinance

The post Aptos and Arbitrum Under $5 — Analysts Predict These Altcoins Could Deliver 20x ROI Upside appeared first on Blockonomi.

Every bull cycle, traders chase the best crypto to buy, the tokens with both momentum and long-term potential. For years, giants like SOL and XRP have dominated the conversation, each commanding massive communities and market caps.

Yet, while these heavyweights continue to grind higher, a new player is capturing attention for its explosive upside. Layer Brett (LBRETT), a fresh Ethereum Layer 2 memecoin, is currently in crypto presale and already being tipped as the next 100x contender.

Why investors are eyeing alternatives to Cardano and Dogecoin

SOL has proven itself as one of the fastest Layer 1s, powering a booming DeFi and NFT ecosystem. XRP, meanwhile, made a huge comeback after gaining regulatory clarity in 2024, cementing its role in cross-border payments. Both assets remain pillars of the market, but their massive valuations make 100x returns highly unlikely.

That’s why many eyes are shifting toward Layer Brett. As a low-cap Ethereum Layer 2 project, it combines meme-driven energy with real blockchain utility, offering the kind of growth runway that established giants like SOL and XRP simply can’t match anymore.

The Layer 2 edge

High gas fees and network congestion remain Ethereum’s biggest flaws. During heavy activity, fees can jump to $10–20, frustrating everyday users. Layer Brett bypasses this by running on Layer 2, cutting fees down to pennies and enabling near-instant transactions. It’s an ERC-20 token anchored to Ethereum’s security but free from its bottlenecks, making DeFi and staking accessible to a wider audience.

Compare that to SOL, which offers speed but has faced questions over outages, or XRP, which focuses on cross-border payments but lacks robust staking incentives. Layer Brett isn’t competing with their scale; it’s carving out a space as a meme-born, utility-driven Layer 2 project with viral appeal.

Why LBRETT is the best crypto to buy right now

The presale is actually an on-ramp to massive rewards. Early adopters can stake their tokens immediately with APYs reaching the thousands, thanks to the efficiency of Layer 2 scaling. By contrast, neither SOL staking nor XRP holdings come close to this kind of short-term yield.

Here’s why traders are piling in:

• Ethereum Layer 2 advantage: Fast, cheap, scalable.
• Early presale access: Buy before listings drive the price higher.
• High-yield staking rewards: Earn immediately at rates legacy coins can’t match.
• Meme energy, real utility: Viral culture fused with real blockchain tech.

Built with transparent tokenomics (10 billion fixed supply) and gamified staking, Layer Brett has more in common with serious Layer 2s like Optimism or Arbitrum than with hype-driven meme coins. It’s a meme token designed to grow, reward, and scale, available only for $0.005.

The bigger picture: Diversification pays

SOL and XRP remain blue-chip cryptos, but they’re no longer the place for outsized returns. Analysts believe Layer Brett could deliver the type of exponential growth smaller-cap projects are known for.

With the crypto bull run 2025 looming, diversifying beyond the usual suspects is critical. That’s why people are looking to get on LBRETT and jump from the XRP and SOL train.

Conclusion: Don’t miss early entry

Every cycle has its breakout star. This time, the best crypto to buy may not be another billion-dollar giant like SOL or XRP, but a leaner, faster, meme-powered upstart. Layer Brett is still in presale, but not for long. Early entry means higher staking rewards and maximum upside.

Secure your LBRETT today, and position yourself in what could be the most exciting 100x dark horse of 2025.

Presale: LayerBrett | Fast & Rewarding Layer 2 Blockchain

Telegram: Telegram: View @layerbrett

X: (1) Layer Brett (@LayerBrett) / X

The post Best Crypto to Buy Late 2025: Analysts See Layer Brett Outperforming Solana and XRP With 125x Gains appeared first on Blockonomi.

Every market cycle, investors hunt for the best altcoins to buy now, the ones that combine upside potential with fresh technology. For years, Cardano (ADA) and Dogecoin (DOGE) have been household names in crypto. Both have huge communities and billions in market cap.

But while Cardano and Dogecoin still command attention, a new project is capturing the spotlight. Layer Brett (LBRETT), an Ethereum Layer 2 memecoin, is in crypto presale and already offering high-yield staking rewards that legacy tokens simply can’t match.

Why Layer 2 gives Layer Brett the edge

Using Ethereum Layer 1 during peak hours is expensive and slow, with gas fees spiking to $20 or more. That’s where Layer Brett comes in. Built on Layer 2, it processes transactions off-chain while anchoring security to Ethereum. The result is lightning-fast confirmations and fees that cost pennies.

By comparison, Cardano (ADA) continues to build on academic foundations, but adoption has been slower than many expected. DOGE thrives on cultural momentum, yet it lacks scalable infrastructure or native staking. Layer Brett combines the best of both worlds: viral meme energy with cutting-edge Layer 2 performance.

Why Cardano and DOGE are struggling to excite investors

Cardano (ADA) once inspired confidence with its peer-reviewed research and ambitious roadmap. Yet the token trades under $1, far below its $3.10 all-time high in 2021. Despite upgrades and partnerships, ADA has struggled to deliver consistent price action that excites retail investors.

Meanwhile, Dogecoin (DOGE) remains a community favorite, sitting at around $0.22 with a market cap of over $33 billion. But even with its meme power, DOGE is still far below its 2021 high of $0.73. Without major developments or new features, Dogecoin relies largely on celebrity endorsements and social media trends for momentum.

This stagnation is why traders are looking toward Layer Brett. As a low-cap crypto gem with staking and utility baked in from the start, it offers a growth story that ADA and DOGE no longer can.

What makes LBRETT different

Here’s why Layer Brett is standing out in a crowded market:

• Ethereum Layer 2 advantage: Fast, low-cost, scalable transactions secured by Ethereum.
• Early presale access: One meme token is available for only $0.005.
• Massive staking incentives: Early adopters can stake immediately with APYs in the thousands.
• Meme energy, real utility: Viral appeal fused with legitimate blockchain scaling.

Why the community is backing Layer Brett

Investors tired of waiting on Cardano (ADA) or hoping for Dogecoin (DOGE) to reclaim old highs see LBRETT as a fresh alternative. It’s not about speculation alone; it’s about being part of an ecosystem where staking, NFTs, and community incentives are already in play. Buying and staking is simple: connect MetaMask or Trust Wallet, pay with ETH, USDT, or BNB, and start earning.

With Ethereum Layer 2 adoption projected to soar into the trillions by 2027, Layer Brett has the infrastructure and meme power to lead. It’s the blend of fun and function that ADA and DOGE no longer provide.

Conclusion: Don’t miss the presale

The next bull run won’t reward hesitation. While Cardano and Dogecoin remain established names, their upside is limited compared to the potential of a project just starting its journey. Layer Brett offers presale access, enormous staking rewards, and a scalable framework that could define the meme-powered DeFi era.

The crypto presale won’t last forever. Don’t sit on the sidelines while others secure their LBRETT. Get in early and join the movement designed to outpace ADA and DOGE in 2025.

Presale: LayerBrett | Fast & Rewarding Layer 2 Blockchain

Telegram: Telegram: View @layerbrett

X: (1) Layer Brett (@LayerBrett) / X

The post Best Altcoins to Buy Now: Layer Brett Outpaces Cardano and Dogecoin With Massive Staking Incentives appeared first on Blockonomi.

Binance has released its August 2025 market report, showing that digital assets continue to perform strongly this year. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is up 9.9% since January, adding over $600 billion despite an early decline in Q1.

The exchange attributes the recovery to global monetary conditions. Notably, global money supply grew at its fastest pace since 2021, making more capital available for markets. At the same time, the U.S. central bank stopped reducing liquidity, even though it still signaled caution.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Drive Market Strength

According to the report, Bitcoin and Ethereum remained the leading assets in 2025. Ether (ETH) rose by about 36%, the highest among major tokens, while bitcoin (BTC) advanced nearly 18% during the same period.

One key factor behind this momentum was U.S. spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which attracted over $28 billion in net inflows. Binance’s report added that possible approvals of altcoin ETFs could provide further liquidity and expand participation.

ETF demand and treasury allocations also pushed Bitcoin dominance from 40% to 65.1% earlier in the year. The share later eased to 57.2%, pointing to a rotation of capital into alternative assets.

Ethereum followed a different trend, with staking reaching 35.8 million ETH after the Pectra upgrade and growing institutional adoption. With nearly 30% of ETH locked, Binance described the effect as a liquidity squeeze that may strengthen its long-term position.

Wider Market Shifts and On-Chain Growth

Along with the momentum in Bitcoin and Ethereum, stablecoin supply expanded by 35% to $277.8 billion. The increase shows broader adoption across markets as well as in payment and settlement use cases.

Institutional participation increased as well, with public companies now holding 1.07 million BTC, or 5.4% of the supply. Strategy remains the largest holder, while ETH corporate treasuries jumped 88.3% in a single month to 4.36 million ETH.

On-chain activity kept pace with these trends. Decentralized exchanges captured 23.1% of spot activity and 9.3% of futures volumes in 2025. DeFi lending also expanded, with total value locked rising 65% to nearly $80 billion.

The report also highlighted progress in tokenized equities. The market reached $349 million this year, with daily volumes consolidating around $145 million amid clearer regulation and participation from traditional brokers.

The post Crypto Market Momentum Extends Into Q3 2025: Binance Report appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Stablecoin reserves on centralized exchanges have climbed to a new record of $68 billion, even as supply growth has slowed. The latest milestone, recorded on August 22, was driven by $53 billion in USDT holdings and $13 billion in USDC balances.

According to a report by the on-chain aggregator CryptoQuant, this marks a clear break from earlier records. The new total surpasses the previous peak of $59 billion set in February 2022, when BUSD had a larger role. Reserves have since more than doubled from their October 2023 low, boosted by a $28 billion increase after Donald Trump’s election victory.

Cooling Momentum in Stablecoin Liquidity

Rising stablecoin balances are often viewed as a signal of strong market liquidity. They provide the funds necessary for asset purchases, making them a key factor in supporting price activity across digital assets.

However, despite record levels on exchanges, the broader expansion of stablecoin supply has shown signs of slowing. Since November 2024, net additions have softened, with only $1.1 billion in recent inflows compared to $4–$8 billion increases in earlier months.

CryptoQuant notes that this weaker supply expansion reduces the strength of liquidity conditions for crypto markets. In previous cycles, rapid stablecoin growth aligned with notable price rallies, especially in Bitcoin and other major assets.

Consequently, periods of strong inflows typically reflect new capital entering the ecosystem. The current slowdown suggests that less fresh money is moving into stablecoins, which may limit the pace of further market advances.

Tether’s Growth Slows Despite Market Dominance

Tether continues to dominate exchange reserves, but its pace of growth has eased in 2025. Over the last 60 days, USDT supply expanded by $10 billion. This is less than half of the $21 billion increase recorded at the end of 2024.

The slowdown is reflected in the latest figures, which also came in slightly below the 30-day moving average, signaling a deceleration in capital inflows. CryptoQuant interprets this as reduced momentum in one of the market’s largest liquidity sources.

Even so, the report concludes that liquidity remains supportive, though not as strong as in late 2024. Looking ahead, if supply expansion continues to cool, markets may move toward consolidation. Renewed issuance, however, could still trigger another round of bullish momentum.

The post Stablecoin Reserves on Exchanges Hit $68B While Supply Growth Slows appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The cryptocurrency market experienced the adverse consequences of Trump’s tariffs against essentially every other country in April, or at least the threat, resulting in massive price declines to multi-month lows.

Although the POTUS has continued to impose such taxation on some nations while reducing the rates for others, more controversy arose on Friday when the US Court of Appeals ruled that the tariffs are illegal.

Illegal Tariffs?

The strike against Trump’s tariffs could be particularly painful for his presidency, given their significance in his foreign policy. After all, the 47th US President has threatened every country, including many allies, with imposing some sort of taxation if they fail to give in on his trade demands.

Despite the controversy surrounding the tariffs, there’s a strong argument that Trump has emerged as a winner in negotiations with most country leaders.

However, the US appeals court ruled on Friday that most “reciprocal” tariffs are illegal. Some of the nations that were hit with such were China, Mexico, and Canada.

The court, in a 7-4 decision, rejected Trump’s argument that the tariffs were permitted under the Emergency Economic Powers Act. Instead, the ruling called them “invalid as contrary to law.”

The POTUS was quick to respond, posting on this social media platform that “all tariffs are still in effect,” adding that the court’s ruling was “incorrect.”

Impact on Bitcoin and Crypto?

Aside from the ruling itself, the timing was also quite controversial. It came out just 30 minutes after the futures markets closed on Friday, and Wall Street will not open until Tuesday due to the national holiday on Monday.

This is interesting:

The US Court of Appeals has ruled President Trump’s global tariffs to be illegal 30 minutes AFTER futures closed.

And, the ruling came out ahead of Labor Day weekend, when markets will be closed for the next 3 days.

Is this a coincidence?

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) August 29, 2025

While this may have spared Wall Street from extreme volatility, the cryptocurrency market is always open. It doesn’t close on weekends or on holidays. Moreover, investors tend to overreact and engage in extreme panic selling when the crypto market is open and such impactful news goes live.

However, this hasn’t been precisely the case so far. BTC is indeed in the red on a weekly scale, but that transpired even before the court’s ruling. Nevertheless, there could be a long-term impact on the asset class.

Most experts tend to believe that if the court’s ruling is valid and there’s less global economic pressure from fewer tariffs, then riskier assets like bitcoin and the altcoins could benefit. Reduced tariffs typically stimulate economic recovery and higher liquidity, which could mean price strength for BTC.

Unlike many companies that could be directly taxed through Trump’s tariffs, bitcoin is exempt, so the ruling shouldn’t affect its fundamentals as an asset class on its own.

The post US Court Rules Trump Tariffs Illegal: What’s Next for Bitcoin’s Price? appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin’s recent rally has seemingly slammed into a wall, with the asset dropping over 6% this week to hover near $108,500.

The slide has the market asking one question: Is the bull run finally over? And one prominent analyst is sounding the alarm with a grim forecast.

Bearish Breakdown

On August 29, crypto commentator Klarck made a dire assessment of BTC’s state of health, predicting the OG cryptocurrency is headed for $90,000, a move that would also obliterate altcoins.

“Market has FINALLY reached its PEAK. $BTC is heading to $90k – ALTs will lose ~90%. Disagree? Be ready to lose everything,” the analyst warned.

He pointed to a massive $2.7 billion whale sell-off that sparked a cascading liquidation bloodbath exceeding $900 million, predominantly from leveraged positions, as the initial trigger. Additionally, he claimed that institutional players like BlackRock are leading the charge to exit, leaving optimistic retail investors as “exit liquidity.”

His thesis is rooted in what he calls a “textbook cycle top scenario.” Key indicators are flashing red: trading volume is drying up, funding rates remain excessively high, and BTC is being dumped on exchanges at an accelerating rate.

However, the market watcher’s most chilling claim is that the timeline is set. Based on historical halving cycles stretching back eight years, he gives the market approximately 30 days before a final, devastating “bull trap” and subsequent collapse.

Klarck isn’t alone in his caution. Fellow analyst Doctor Profit echoed his sentiment in part, highlighting a critical red flag: “Today, the charts scream the same warning again! Bearish divergences on the weekly chart!” And with BTC slipping more than 12% off its all-time high above $124,000 set just 16 days ago, the fear may feel justified to some.

Further firing up the debate is a recent suggestion by another analyst, Cryptobirb, that the cycle is already 93% complete, with a “grand finale” window between late October and mid-November 2025. That lines up eerily with Klarck’s own 30-day warning.

Conflicting Signals

But not everyone’s buying the apocalypse narrative. Crypto trader Mr. Wall Street insists that bears are celebrating too soon. “Bulls are still in control… shorts being triggered way too early,” he argued, projecting BTC to run toward $145,000 before any real bloodbath.

Meanwhile, influencer Kyle Chassé is hyping up research suggesting BTC could skyrocket to $190,000 by Q3, citing ETF demand and institutional inflows.

The post $90K Bitcoin Meltdown Looming? Analyst Rings Alarm as Whales Flee appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Ripple has been trading sideways against both USDT and BTC after its strong rally back in July. With Bitcoin’s recent pullback, concerns are growing among investors that the broader bull market could be fading, which in turn raises the risk of XRP also heading lower.

Technical Analysis

By Shayan

The USDT Pair

On the daily timeframe of the USDT pair, the market has been consolidating in a relatively tight range, forming a symmetrical triangle pattern. This type of structure usually signals that a decisive move is on the horizon, as price coils up before expanding again.

Currently, the bias leans slightly to the downside, as the triangle appears weaker with each retest of support. If sellers gain momentum, the next major level to watch will be the $2.70 support zone. This level has already acted as an important pivot in the past, so another breakdown could set the stage for a sharper selloff.

Adding to the bearish case, the RSI is currently holding below the 50 midpoint, which is a clear indication that momentum is favouring the sellers. As long as the RSI remains subdued, the probability of a breakdown below $2.70 is higher than a bullish rebound.

If that breakdown occurs, the market could continue to slide until it reaches the lower boundary of the broader ascending channel. Of course, this outlook would only shift if market dynamics change suddenly in favor of the bulls, with stronger buying activity stepping in to push the price out of the triangle to the upside.

The BTC Pair

On the XRP/BTC chart, the price has also been consolidating, holding above a major support area. July’s surge, however, managed to push the market out of a long-term descending channel, which has tilted the broader structure to the bullish side.

The RSI sitting near the neutral 50 level reflects uncertainty, as traders appear to be waiting for a decisive move. If the 2,500 SAT support holds, the market could attempt another rally targeting the 3,000 SAT zone. But if 2,500 SAT fails, the price would likely fall back inside the old channel, opening the door for a drop toward 2,000 SAT. Such a move would confirm a bearish reversal and add further pressure on XRP holders.

The post Ripple Price Analysis: XRP Coiling Pattern Signals Explosive Next Step appeared first on CryptoPotato.