Crypto and stocks sideways as markets await possible hints at rate moves

Team Luno

August 22, 2025 · 24 minute read

🏦 Wait and see – Investors await Powell’s speech at the central bank conference.

📉 Bitcoin mainly sideways – slips 0.1%.

📈 ETH up – Ethereum bucks the trend, up 1%.

😐 Neutral markets – Fear & Greed Index sits in Neutral; RSI steady in the middle.

Crypto and stock markets remain largely unchanged since this time yesterday, as many investors await the outcome of the central bank conference today, where Fed Chair Jerome Powell is set to deliver a speech. The key question is how much he will reveal about the Fed’s plans for interest rates at its September meeting, where many investors expect a cut for the first time since the pause.

Bitcoin has inched down by 0.1% overnight, while the broader US stock market is following a similar trend. The outlier this morning is Ethereum (ETH), which has added 1% overnight, a green light in an otherwise red day for markets.

Other indicators reflect investors’ hesitation to make big moves ahead of Powell’s remarks. The Fear and Greed Index hovers in Neutral, while the Relative Strength Index sits near the middle, between oversold and overbought territory.

Many analysts don’t expect Powell to give much away today, given the politically charged backdrop, with Trump pressuring the Fed to lower rates. Either way, the big question is: how will markets react, or have they already priced it in?

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.84  trillion, down 0.11% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $113,009 down 0.22% in the last 24 h.
Daily high: $113,827
Daily low: $112,023

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.4% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↘️

The Nasdaq 100 is down about 0.46% overnight.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 46/100, in Neutral.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 46, sitting between oversold and overbought.

Data is correct as at 22 August, 10:08 GMT.

*Investing in cryptocurrency may result in the loss of capital. This information should not be construed as a solicitation to trade. All opinions, news, research, analysis, prices or other information is provided as general market commentary for information purposes only and is not investment advice or recommendation. Luno always advises you to obtain your own independent financial advice before investing or trading in cryptocurrency.

21 August

📉 Fed minutes – show concern over labour market weakness and inflation.

📊 Bitcoin in the green – up 0.2%, while US indexes dip on Nvidia’s drag.

🚀 Altcoins outperform – SOL +3.8%, DOGE and LINK up 4-6%.

The Fed’s minutes from its July meeting, released yesterday, highlighted concerns over a weakening labour market and ongoing unease about creeping inflation. The general consensus among central bankers was that the current cautious approach was the right one, despite two members pushing for an immediate rate cut.

Crypto and stock markets showed little reaction to the release. Bitcoin (BTC) modestly recovered with a 0.2% price increase, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 dipped slightly overnight, still reeling from Nvidia’s share price slide the day before. Nvidia remains the heaviest-weighted stock in both indexes.

Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has climbed to 49, where 30 signals oversold conditions and 70+ signals overbought territory. Altcoins saw some notable moves overnight, though. Solana (SOL) gained more than 3.8%, while Dogecoin (DOGE) and Chainlink (LINK) each posted 24-hour returns of between 4–6%.

All eyes are now on the Jackson Hole central bank conference tomorrow, where Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to speak. Investors are waiting to see if he provides clarity on September’s policy direction.

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.87  trillion, up 1.11% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↗️

Price: $113,876 up 0.22% in the last 24 h.
Daily high: $114,723
Daily low: $112,460

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.24% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↘️

The Nasdaq 100 is down about 0.58% overnight.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 45/100, in Neutral.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 49, sitting between oversold and overbought.

Data is correct as at 21 August, 04:25 GMT.

Newsmaker

Wyoming the first US state to issue its own stablecoin

One month after the US government passed the GENIUS stablecoin Act, the state of Wyoming has issued its own stablecoin, called the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT).
The stablecoin could make instant tax refunds and real-time disaster relief possible, and allow for public payroll systems that settle in seconds.
“For years, Wyoming has been the leading state on blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital asset regulation, passing over 45 pieces of legislation since 2016,” Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said in a release. “The mainnet launch of the Frontier Stable Token will empower our citizens and businesses with a modern, efficient, and secure means of transacting in the digital age.”
FRNT will be available to buy on Solana through US crypto exchange Kraken, Wyoming’s domiciled digital asset exchange.

20 August

📉 Crypto slips – Bitcoin down 1.3%, Fear & Greed Index edging toward Fear.

📊 ETH ETFs – US spot ETH ETFs now hold ~5% of supply, showing strong institutional demand.

🏦 Fed minutes – July inflation surprise dampens hopes for a September rate cut.

🦅 Powell in focus – Jackson Hole speech on Friday could signal a more hawkish Fed stance.

Crypto and stock markets continue to dip following last week’s historic highs. Bitcoin is down another 1.3% overnight, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 has also slipped by a similar margin. The Fear and Greed Index is now hovering just above Fear after this week’s lacklustre performance. Still, institutional appetite remains strong. The Block reports that US spot ETH exchange-traded funds (ETFs) now hold about 5% of all ETH supply, while others continue to add Bitcoin to their treasuries.

In macro news, investors are awaiting the release of the Fed’s July meeting minutes later today. Hopes for a near-certain interest rate cut in September have dimmed after July’s wholesale inflation numbers came in higher than expected. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been relatively quiet in the lead-up to this closely watched event, but all eyes are on whether he will reveal more during his speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, the annual central bank conference, on Friday.

Market watchers say uncertainty around Powell’s upcoming remarks are already unsettling stocks. “It seems like folks are hedging a little going into Jackson Hole, thinking Powell might be more hawkish than markets currently appreciate,” James Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial Group, told Reuters. Tech stocks like Nvidia faced heavy selling pressure yesterday, dragging down indices such as the Nasdaq 100, where they carry significant weight.

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.82  trillion, down 1.34% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $113,503 down 1.32% in the last 24 h.
Daily high: $115,789
Daily low: $112,647

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.59% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↘️

The Nasdaq 100 is down about 1.39% overnight.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 45/100, in Neutral.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 41, approaching oversold territory.

Data is correct as at 20 August, 08:07 GMT.

Newsmaker

Fed Chair Powell’s upcoming Jackson Hole speech

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell faces mounting market expectations ahead of his speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on 22 August, with investors seeking clarity on the central bank’s interest rate trajectory amid mixed economic signals.
“Markets are still wholly convinced that the Fed will cut rates by 25bp at the upcoming FOMC meeting in September and follow that up with at least one other cut in October or December,” Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist for Capital Economics, commented to Yahoo! Finance. Ashworth expects Powell to caution at Jackson Hole that a “modestly restrictive policy stance remains appropriate,” as the Fed chair did in his press conference following the July policy meeting.

19 August

↔️ Crypto flat – Bitcoin steady at $115K, broader market slightly in the red.

📊 Sentiment shift – Fear & Greed in Neutral; RSI drops closer to oversold levels.

🌍 Geopolitical watch – Trump signals support for Ukraine in peace talks with Russia.

🏦 Central bank focus – Investors await Powell’s Friday speech and Fed minutes for rate clues.

It’s wait-and-see mode among crypto and stock investors, with both risk-on markets virtually unmoved since this time yesterday. Bitcoin is coasting around $115,000, while the broader crypto market cap has slipped 0.3% over 24 hours. The Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 remain flat compared to yesterday.

The Fear and Greed Index now sits firmly in Neutral territory, with the Bitcoin Relative Strength Index, a closely watched crypto sentiment tracker, falling overnight to 38. That’s closer to the oversold threshold of 30, a level many watch as a potential signal for trend reversals.

Financial markets are also digesting talks between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy, where Trump pledged to support Ukraine’s safety if a peace deal with Russia were reached.

Adding to the mix, the central bank symposium on Friday will gather central bankers, economists, policymakers, and journalists to discuss global economic and monetary issues. Investors will be watching Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech closely for any hints on expected September rate cuts. Market commentators remain divided, with some calling for a more cautious approach. The minutes from the Fed’s July meeting, due tomorrow, could also provide clues, giving investors plenty to weigh this week.

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.87  trillion, down 0.33% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $115,063 down 0.15% in the last 24 h.
Daily high: $116,996
Daily low: $114,733

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.001% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↗️

The Nasdaq 100 is up about 0.001% overnight.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 53/100, in Neutral.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 38, approaching oversold territory.

Data is correct as at 19 August, 08:20 GMT.

Newsmaker

Saylor’s Strategy buys 430 BTC for $51.4 million

Bitcoin treasury firm, Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, bought another 430 Bitcoin bringing its total holdings to 629,376 BTC, bought for roughly $46 billion.
The company paid an average of $119,666 per bitcoin in its latest investment round.

“Five years after its first bitcoin purchase in 2020, Strategy now holds about $72.4 billion in BTC at current prices, acquired at an average $73,320 per coin for a total outlay of roughly $46.2 billion, including fees, co-founder and executive chairman Michael Saylor shared on Aug. 18. The stash leaves the company sitting on about $26.2 billion in paper gains,” The Block reports.

18 August

📊 Hot PPI surprise — Producer prices rose more than expected, raising inflation concerns.

🦉 Jackson Hole central bank conference — Analysts expect Fed Chair Powell to wait and watch rather than signal bold moves.

💸 Crypto pullback — BTC down 2.2%, ETH down nearly 5% after strong gains.

📉 Stocks softer — S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 start the week slightly in the red.

Crypto and stock markets start the week on a cautious note after last week’s hotter-than-expected Producer Price Index (PPI) numbers caught investors and analysts off guard. PPI measures the average change in prices that producers receive for their goods and services, essentially wholesale inflation. When it comes in high, it suggests rising costs for businesses, which can eventually trickle down to consumers and fuel broader inflation. The report has cast doubt on the Fed’s next move in September, when many expect the US central bank to cut rates by 0.25%. Some now say it may not be the done deal many anticipated.

The big event of the week is a central bank conference in the US on Friday, where Fed Chair Jerome Powell will deliver a closely watched speech. In the past, Powell has used this platform to hint at future monetary policy direction. But given concerns about the lingering inflationary effects of US tariffs, he may keep his comments vague. “Odds are that he will be more of an owl—waiting and watching—than either a hawk or a dove,” Yardeni Research noted on Sunday, as reported by Fortune.

Bitcoin (BTC) is down 2.2% overnight, while Ethereum (ETH) is in the red by almost 5% after its blistering run in recent weeks. It’s a similar story across the board, with only a few outliers posting gains over 24 hours.

US stock markets are also slightly weaker, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 marginally in the red this morning.

Will Powell give investors more clarity on Friday? Or will he, as some analysts suggest, keep September’s rate decision shrouded in ambiguity? Big questions for the week ahead.

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.88  trillion, down 2.95% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $115,322 down 2.08% in the last 24 h.
Daily high: $118,514
Daily low: $115,133

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.29% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↘️

The Nasdaq 100 is down about 0.51% overnight.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 56/100, in Neutral.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 56, in neutral territory.

Data is correct as at 18 August, 07:07 GMT.

Newsmaker

Harvard’s endowment invested $116 million in Bitcoin trust

The Harvard Management Company bought 1.9 million shares of iShares Bitcoin Trust, valued at $116.7 million in the second quarter of 2025, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The endowment also went large on gold ETFs, buying 333,000 shares of SPDR Gold Trust, valued at $101.5 million.
“Since the money supply has expanded dramatically around the world, especially since the pandemic, some investors are looking at gold and cryptocurrencies as a store of value,” Rutgers Business School professor John M. Longo wrote in a statement, according to the Harvard Crimson.

15 August

📉 PPI spike — Biggest monthly increase in wholesale inflation since June 2022.

💸 BTC and others dip — Bitcoin hit a new all-time high before pulling back.

💎 ETH hangs onto gains — Ethereum still up 18% over the last week.

⚖️ Neutral sentiment — Fear & Greed Index shifts back to neutral.

📊 US stocks flat — S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 moving sideways.

Bitcoin, and the broader market, has dipped since yesterday as investors digest a new Bitcoin all-time high, a Cardano breakout, and an Ethereum almost-high. While the broader market is down more than 2% overnight, Bitcoin remains in the green over seven days, while Ethereum is up 18% over the same period, reflecting the crypto’s remarkable run over the last few weeks on the back of the ETH treasury narrative gaining momentum among institutional investors. The pullback has pushed the Fear and Greed Index back into Neutral sentiment among investors.

US stock markets are flat this morning in the wake of unexpectedly high Producer Price Index (PPI) data, the biggest monthly increase since June 2022. PPI serves as an indicator of inflation at the wholesale level and is one of the indicators the Fed looks at when considering where to go with interest rates.

This ties in with worries about how the Trump administration’s tariff policy could impact inflation. “The fact that PPI was stronger than expected and CPI has been relatively soft suggests that businesses are eating much of the tariff costs instead of passing them onto the consumer,” Clark Geranen, chief market strategist at CalBay Investments, told CNBC. “Businesses may soon start to reverse course and start passing these costs to consumers.” A high PPI means producer costs are rising faster than usual, which can signal building inflation pressure and make the Fed more likely to keep rates high or raise them. Investors will now cast their attention to the outcome of the 20-21 August Fed meeting, which could provide more information about potential future rate cuts.

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $4.04  trillion, down 2.43% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $118,907 down 2.94% in the last 24 h.
Daily high: $121,967
Daily low: $117,574

📈 S&P 500 ↗️

SPY is currently up about 0.03% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↘️

The Nasdaq 100 is down about 0.07% overnight.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 59/100, in Neutral.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 43, in neutral territory.

Data is correct as at 15 August, 07:44 GMT.

Newsmaker

US wholesale inflation comes in hot

The producer price index jumped 0.9% in July, compared with the Dow Jones estimate for a 0.2% gain. It was the biggest monthly increase since June 2022.
PPI tracks price changes for goods and services sold by producers, while CPI measures price changes paid by consumers.
Following the release, market-implied odds of a September cut decreased but only slightly, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, CNBC reports.
“The large spike in the Producer Price Index this morning shows inflation is coursing through the economy, even if it hasn’t been felt by consumers yet,” wrote Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management. “Given how benign the CPI numbers were on Tuesday, this is a most unwelcome surprise to the upside and is likely to unwind some of the optimism of a ‘guaranteed’ rate cut next month.”

14 August

🚀 Bitcoin ATH — BTC tops $124,000, setting another all-time high.

💎 Ethereum nears record — ETH inches closer to its $4,800 peak.

📈 Institutional inflows — ETH ETFs see $2.3B inflows this week alone.

💵 Rate cut expectations — Traders see September Fed cut as almost certain.

Not to be outdone by the action in altcoin markets, Bitcoin marked another all-time high yesterday, setting the bar above $124,000. The new high for the market-cap leader aligns with strong momentum across the broader crypto market this morning: Ethereum (ETH) is up another 2% overnight and nearing its all-time high of around $4,800, set in November 2021; Solana (SOL) is up another 3%, trading above $200; and Cardano (ADA) has surged 16%, trading just shy of $1. There are too many others to mention.

Against this backdrop, institutional momentum continues, with ETH ETFs seeing massive inflows. As James Butterfill, Head of Research at CoinShares, noted on the surge of money flowing into ETH exchange-traded products: “Ethereum inflows this week continue to build to huge levels — US$2.3bn week-to-date and US$10.5bn year-to-date. We aren’t seeing much spillover into other altcoins outside XRP and Solana at present.”

The markets are increasingly betting on a rate cut at the Fed’s 17 September meeting. As Reuters reports: “Traders see a Fed rate cut on September 17 as a near certainty, according to LSEG data, and even lay around 7% odds on a super-sized half-point reduction.”

Commenting to the newswire, Kyle Rodda, an analyst at Capital.com, said: “For the markets, it’s not even a matter of if the Fed cuts interest rates in September, it’s a question of how much.”

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $4.14  trillion, up 1.92% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↗️

Price: $121,666 up 1.75% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $124,128
Daily low: $119,618

📈 S&P 500 ↗️

SPY is currently up about 0.32% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↗️

The Nasdaq 100 is up about 0.04% overnight.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 68/100, in Greed.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 50, in neutral territory.

Data is correct as at 14 August, 08:25 GMT.

Newsmaker

Spacex Bitcoin holdings top $1 billion

Elon Musk’s Spacex Bitcoin holdings topped $1 billion as the original crypto climbed to new highs yesterday.
Data from Arkham Intelligence shows that the aerospace company currently holds 8,285 valued at around $1.02 billion. The company reduced its holdings by 70% SpaceX in 2022.
“Markets had anticipated July’s CPI to tick up slightly to 2.8% from June’s 2.7%,” Paul Howard, senior director at crypto market maker Wincent, told The Block. “Instead, the figure held steady despite inflationary pressure from tariffs. This outcome is bullish for BTC and ETH, as it increases the likelihood of a potential US rate adjustment.”

13 August

💎 Ethereum nears ATH — ETH came within $200 of its $4,878 record, up 7% overnight.

🚀 Solana surges — SOL jumps over 12% in the past 24 hours.

📉 Rate cut hopes rise — Stable US inflation strengthens expectations for September cuts.

Before we get to the latest US inflation numbers, let’s first look at the momentum building in Ethereum (ETH), which in the last 24 hours came within $200 of hitting a new all-time high. This comes on the back of an increase in public companies pursuing an ETH treasury strategy, raising capital to invest large amounts in ETH for their balance sheets. The original smart contracts crypto is currently trading at $4,635, up more than 7% overnight. For perspective, Ethereum’s all-time high is roughly $4,878, set four years ago in November, and its daily high yesterday was around $4,674. Will it push beyond this level today? An Ethereum competitor, Solana (SOL), is also surging, up more than 12% this morning.

As Ethereum and others rally, the Bitcoin market continues to look for clear direction after its numerous all-time highs in July. The market-cap leader is trading just shy of $120,000 this morning, up 0.7%.

US stock markets posted fresh all-time highs alongside stable inflation data from the US yesterday, matching investor expectations. Analysts say this also supports the narrative that the Fed could feel comfortable enough to start lowering interest rates during its September meeting. Will this provide more tailwinds for crypto and stock markets?

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $4.06  trillion, up 2.31% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↗️

Price: $119,323 up 0.24% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $120,203
Daily low: $118,252

📈 S&P 500 ↗️

SPY is currently up about 1.13% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↗️

The Nasdaq Composite index is up about 1.13% overnight.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 63/100, in Greed.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 47, in neutral territory.

Data is correct as at 13 August, 07:53 GMT.

Newsmaker

US inflation comes in stable, in line with investor expectations

The latest inflation numbers from the US showed that inflation rose 2.7% in the year to July, the same as in June. The data was in line with market expectations.
“Analysts said the relatively contained pace of price rises could bolster the case for the US central bank to lower borrowing costs to support the economy as job growth slows,” The BBC reports.
“In the short-term, markets will likely embrace these numbers because they should allow the Fed to focus on labor-market weakness and keep a September rate cut on the table,” Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, commented to the news publication,

12 August

Bitcoin (BTC) pulled back yesterday from $122,000 to trade around $119,000 this morning. It’s the second time since 14 July that the market-cap leader has hit a price ceiling around this level, a so-called double top in technical analysis, generally considered a short-term bearish chart pattern. Ethereum (ETH) remains in the green but has pumped the brakes slightly, trading around $4,300 this morning.

Spot ETH ETFs saw their biggest net inflow day ever on Monday as the original smart contracts crypto continues to show strong long-term momentum: it’s now up more than 18% over the past 7 days, and more than 45% over the past 30 days.

The broader crypto market is seeing declines, though, some steeper than others, especially among smaller caps.

As for stock markets, US stocks are marginally in the red this morning, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both down.

Today’s US CPI report is a big one to watch for equity and crypto investors, with economists forecasting a 0.2% month-over-month increase and a 2.8% annual increase for July, according to Dow Jones estimates. There’s also drama involving President Donald Trump and another US financial institution, this time with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Trump removed BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer without naming a clear replacement, after data showed a surprise weakening in the US jobs market last month. Reuters reports that further politicisation of these data releases “could exacerbate concerns about CPI data collection.” Against this backdrop, the Fed will meet on 20–21 August to decide the way forward on interest rates, which could set the tone for the September meeting, where a rate cut is widely expected – generally considered a positive development for crypto and stock markets.

Top movers over 24 hours

↗️ Tron (TRX): +1.8%

↗️ Bitcoin Cash (BCH): +2.6%

↗️ Lido DAO (LDO): +1.8%

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.97  trillion, down 1.77% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $119,143 down 2.18% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $121,687
Daily low: $118,364

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.25% since yesterday’s close.

📈 Nasdaq 100 ↘️

The Nasdaq Composite index is down about 0.3% overnight.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 60/100, in Greed.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 44, in neutral territory.

Data is correct as at 12 August, 08:35 GMT.

Newsmaker

Spot ETH ETFs see biggest day of inflows on record

Spot Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their biggest day of net inflows ever on Monday, with flows across all funds totalling $1.01 billion, according to Cointelegraph.
The publication reports that on-chain data platform Token Terminal noted that Ethereum remained the dominant chain for tokenised assets, accounting for about 58% of all tokenised assets across all chains. Assets staked on Ethereum also surpassed the $150 billion milestone for the first time.

11 August

🟠 Bitcoin breakout attempt – BTC up 2.5% overnight, trading above $120,000.

💎 Altcoin strength – Ethereum above $4,200; Lido DAO and Layer Zero rally.

📊 Market sentiment shift – Fear and Greed Index back in Greed territory.

📅 Key macro trigger – US inflation data tomorrow could set the week’s tone.

Crypto markets are off to a good start this week, with Bitcoin (BTC) up 2.5% overnight and trading above $120,000 after struggling to break through this level for weeks. Ethereum (ETH) is gaining momentum above $4,200, while others like Lido DAO (LDO) and Layer Zero (ZRO) have also surged overnight. The momentum has pushed the Fear and Greed Index firmly back into Greed territory.

It’s unclear what exactly jolted markets this morning. Some point to strong tech stock earnings last week, but attention now turns to the US inflation report due tomorrow. Analysts say the latest CPI reading could set the tone for the week, with the Federal Reserve watching to see how the economy is responding to Trump’s tariff wars, and whether a September rate cut is still on the table, as investor expectations suggest. Will Bitcoin break above the benchmark of roughly $123,218 this week? Will altcoins keep outperforming the market-cap leaders? It’s an interesting development to watch.

Top movers over 24 hours

↗️ Lido DAO (LDO): +15%

↗️ Layer Zero (ZRO): +28%

↗️ Litecoin (LTC): 3.95%

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $4.03  trillion, up 2.% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↗️

Price: $121,590 up 3.02% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $122,227
Daily low: $117,983

📈 S&P 500 ↗️

SPY is currently down about 0.78% since yesterday’s close.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 62/100, in Greed.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 70, in neutral territory.

08 August

📈 Bitcoin nears $117,000 – as Fear & Greed Index edges into “Greed” territory.

🚀 XRP jumps 11% – after Ripple’s five-year SEC battle comes to a close.

🌟 Stellar (XLM) rallies 15% – gaining over 70% in 30 days.

🏦 Trump opens door – for US pension funds to invest in alternative assets like crypto.

As the Fear and Greed Index continues to push into “Greed” this week, Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader crypto market are up significantly over the past 24 hours. The market-cap leader is now trading just below $117,000, while Ethereum is approaching the key $4,000 level, gaining more than 5% overnight. XRP is the biggest mover, jumping 11% after Ripple Labs, the issuer of XRP, finally concluded its five-year legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Further down the market cap list, some altcoins are posting outsized gains. Stellar (XLM) is up more than 15% overnight, bringing its 30-day rally to over 70%.

The rally coincides with news from the US: President Donald Trump is expected to open the door for pension funds to include “alternative assets” in their portfolios. If it happens, it could open crypto to massive amounts of new capital.

Top movers over 24 hours

↗️ Stellar (XLM): +15%

↗️ Lido DAO (LDO): +15%

↗️ Chainlink (LINK): +14%

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.87  trillion, up 2.95% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↗️

Price: $116,113, up 1.86% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $117,596
Daily low: $114,764

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.08% since yesterday’s close.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 59/100, bordering on Greed.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 58, in neutral territory.

Data is accurate as at 07:35 GMT, 08 August.

Newsmaker

Trump plans to allow crypto into pension plans

US president Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order which would allow 401k pension plans to include so-called alternative assets such as Bitcoin.
The order will direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to facilitate the use of alternative assets in 401k plans and other retirement accounts.
“The order would mark a major shift in retirement investments, opening up the traditionally staid industry to more speculative and sometimes illiquid investments. Typically, most 401k participants are offered a mix of stock or bond funds or index products in which to invest,” Yahoo! Finance reports.

07 August

🟢 Ethereum recovery: ETH is bouncing back from last week’s dip.

🤗 Greed creeping in: The Fear and Greed Index is moving closer to “Greed” territory.

🚀 Pol (POL) surges: Up 8% overnight and 28% for the month, one of the few assets in the green this week.

📈 Stocks improve: Nasdaq and S&P 500 climb following positive tech earnings.

Crypto markets are ticking higher this morning, with Ethereum notably continuing to claw back losses from last Friday’s dip across equity and crypto markets. Sentiment also seems to be improving, with the Fear and Greed Index edging closer to “Greed” after spending a few days in “Neutral.”

Bitcoin remains in a sideways pattern following new highs in July, entering what crypto analytics firm Glassnode describes as a low-liquidity “air gap” between $110,000 and current levels. “Opportunistic buying has emerged, but the market is yet to reclaim key resistance levels,” the firm noted in its latest newsletter.

In altcoins, among the standout movers is Pol (POL), up 8% overnight and now showing monthly gains of 28%. It’s one of the few crypto assets in the green over the past seven days.

Stock markets are also mostly in the green, buoyed by continued strong financials from major tech firms. The Nasdaq rose 1.2% overnight, while the S&P 500 added 0.7%.

Top movers over 24 hours

↗️ Pol (POL): +8.2%

↗️ Maker (MKR): +5.2%

↗️ Starknet (STRK): +4.1%

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.73  trillion, up 0.1% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↗️

Price: $114,768, up 0.54% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $115,663
Daily low: $113,794

📈 S&P 500 ↗️

SPY is currently up about 0.73% since yesterday’s close.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 54/100, indicating a neutral sentiment among investors.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 52, in neutral territory.

Data is accurate as at 07:57 GMT, 07 August.

Newsmaker

ETH treasury momentum continues

Another public company has adopted an Ethereum (ETH) treasury strategy, wherein companies buy large amounts of ETH to add to their treasury holdings.
The latest is Cosmos Health, a Nasdaq-listed healthcare firm, who has reportedly secured up to $300 million in financing to invest in ETH.

“Our entry into the digital asset space is not a short-term pivot, but part of a broader commitment to innovation,” Greg Siokas, CEO of Cosmos Health, said in a company press release. “We are confident that the size and flexibility of this facility should position us to deliver long-term, sustainable value for our shareholders.”

06 August

📉 Crypto flat: Bitcoin and Ethereum remain unchanged, with overall market cap down just 0.3%.

📊 Stocks cool off: Biggest names in US stock market dip after a brief rally; AMD and Rivian report today.

🌍 Tariff tensions: Trump threatens steep new tariffs, including 250% on pharma from India.

Markets remain largely unchanged this morning. Bitcoin (BTC) has barely moved, and the broader US stock market has cooled off after yesterday’s spike, which analysts say was driven by strong quarterly results from some of the S&P 500’s biggest names. The total crypto market cap is down just 0.3%, with both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) showing minimal 24-hour changes.

It’s a similar story in equities. Big names like Meta (META), Tesla (TSLA), and Microsoft (MSFT) are in the red this morning after spending Monday in the green. More earnings are expected today from AMD (AMD) and Rivian (RIVN), with McDonald’s (MCD) and Disney (DIS) reporting tomorrow.

Two key narratives are weighing on both crypto and equities: renewed tariff threats and weaker-than-expected economic data. Donald Trump stirred markets yesterday by floating new tariff threats against India, including possible pharmaceutical tariffs as high as 250%. Meanwhile, the ISM Services Index, a key gauge of US economic activity, flatlined in July, fueling talk of stagflation. Which events could knock markets out of the current sideways drift?

Top movers over 24 hours

↗️ Pol (POL): +4.4%

↗️ The Graph (GRT): +1.3%

↗️ Immutable (IMX): +1.3%

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↘️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.73  trillion, down 0.33% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $114,214, down 0.08% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $114,988
Daily low: $112,770

📈 S&P 500 ↘️

SPY is currently down about 0.49% since yesterday’s close.

🥳 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 52/100, indicating a neutral sentiment among investors.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 54, in neutral territory.

Data is accurate as at 07:22 GMT, 06 August.

Newsmaker

US state tripled exposure to BTC, filing shows

The State of Michigan Retirement System tripled its Bitcoin exposure, reporting 300,000 shares of the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, in the second quarter.

That’s an increase from 100,000 shares previously reported, according to a 13F form filed Monday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to Decrypt.
“Pension funds operate based on rules around the circulating market cap of any asset, potential upside, and max drawdowns, Ganesh Mahidhar, investment professional at Further Ventures, told the publication. “In other words, through careful monitoring of Sharpe ratios, Bitcoin has been on that radar for a while now, and that is what we see being reflected in these purchases.”

05 August

⏩ Sideways action: Bitcoin trades flat while Litecoin pops 8%, with Solana and Ethereum also in the green.

📈 Stocks gain: S&P 500 jumps 1.5% after strong earnings from Palantir and others.

🔍 Eyes on August: Investors look to economic data for hints on future Fed moves.

Bitcoin (BTC and others continue to move sideways this morning, with the market-cap leader slightly in the red by less than a percentage point. Litecoin (LTC) is bucking the trend, gaining as much as 8%, with Solana (SOL) and Ethereum (ETH) also trading in the green.

In contrast, the US stock market has rebounded from yesterday’s sharp losses, with the S&P 500 up more than 1.5% on the back of strong quarterly earnings from Palantir and others. Palantir’s (PLTR) stock rose 4% after the company reported revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time.

Both stock and crypto markets dipped on Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave a rather hawkish press briefing, reiterating the Fed’s cautious stance and noting no obvious signs of economic stress that would justify cutting rates soon.

Whether August’s economic indicators shift the Fed’s stance remains to be seen, but investors will be watching closely for clues on where markets may head next.

Top movers over 24 hours

↗️ Litecoin(LTC): +9.3%

↗️ Pol (POL): +4.5%

↗️ Uniswap (UNI): +4%

🌍 Total crypto market cap ↗️

The global crypto market cap is approximately $3.72  trillion, up 1.06% over the past 24 hours.

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ↘️

Price: $114,110, down 0.76% in the last 24 h
Daily high: $114,869
Daily low: $113,582

📈 S&P 500 ↗️

SPY is currently up about 1.4% since yesterday’s close.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stands at 52/100, indicating a neutral sentiment among investors.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The 14-day RSI for BTC is approximately 40, in neutral territory.

Data is accurate as at 07:55 GMT, 05 August.

Newsmaker

Spot-crypto contracts could soon trade on registered futures exchanges in the US

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is exploring whether to allow trading of spot crypto asset contracts, contracts closely tied to the current price of an underlying crypto asset, on futures exchanges registered under the CFTC, known as Designated Contract Markets (DCMs), according to The Block.

It’s not spot trading as you see on regular crypto exchanges. These would be listed contracts that settle in or mirror the spot price, traded under commodities rules within DCMs.
Stakeholder feedback is open until August 18 to refine how these digital asset contracts should be structured and traded under CFTC rules

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