Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | August 3 - August 9, 2025

Crypto Weekly Market Update

Table of Contents

Market Movements and Trends

• Crypto Weekly Recap

Banking and Regulatory Updates

• Trump signs order to open $12.5 trillion 401(k) market to crypto and private equity
• SEC exempts liquid staking tokens from securities regulations, boosting Ethereum ETF prospects
• SEC eases stablecoin rules; S&P assigns first credit rating amid Paxos compliance settlement
• Ripple and SEC settle legal battle; XRP price soars, ETF speculation surges

Corporate and Institutional Investments

• Block reports Q2 gross profit of $2.5 billion, Bitcoin holdings reach $1 billion amid strong growth
• Top 5 firms control $8.57B in ETH reserves
• Traditional finance invests $100 billion in blockchain from 2020 to 2024: Ripple research

Market and Adoption Trends

• Stablecoin transactions soar to $1.5 trillion in July, fueled by USDC and GENIUS Act approval
• Solana Mobile launches 150K Seeker smartphones, targeting $67.5M revenue

Crypto Exchanges and Platforms

• Coinbase taps $2B convertible bond market, unveils game-changing in-app DEX trading

Crypto Weekly Recap

Total crypto market cap: 3.89T

Crypto Fear & Greed Index: 67 (Greed)

BTC.D: 60.01%

Bitcoin:

• Weekly performance: +2.69%
• US Spot BTC ETFs: +$246.75M
• BTC rose from $112,700 to a weekly high of $117,627 on Thursday, currently trading at $117,400 in a "bullish cool down" period post-ATH.
• US spot BTC ETFs saw a reverse early outflows of -$529.37M Mon–Tue into +$776.12M inflows Wed—Fri, led by BlackRock and Fidelity.
• Sentiment turned after the Aug 7 White House order allowing 401(k) plans to invest in crypto, seen as a medium-term access catalyst.
• Gold import tariff news on Aug 8 sent futures to ~$3,534/oz with spreads over $100, while BTC stayed firm. Michael Saylor argued BTC is safer than gold, calling it the superior “digital gold” since it can’t be tariffed in cyberspace.
• Rate cut odds for the September Fed meeting climbed to ~90%, with JPMorgan forecasting four cuts starting next month, underpinning risk appetite.
• Short-Term Holder Realized Price held near $106K, with network and long-term holder cost bases at $51.3K and $36.5K, showing spot remains well above support levels.
• Whale and retail accumulation occurred into the $112K—$115K midweek dip, coinciding with the ETF inflow rebound.
• Market mood shifted from early-week risk-off to late-week risk-on as policy tailwinds, dovish rate bets, and inflows aligned.

Ethereum:

• Weekly performance: +19.15%
• US Spot ETH ETFs: +$326.83M 
• ETH stole the spotlight as it rose from $3,380 to $4,230, with a breakout above $4,000 late week.
• US spot ETH ETFs reversed a -$465.06M outflow on Mon; Tue—Fri inflows totaled ~$791.89M.
• Ethereum reached a record high of 1.74 million daily transactions on Wed, exceeding its previous peak from May 2021.
• SEC guidance confirmed certain liquid staking activities and staking receipt tokens are not securities, easing regulatory risk for ETH staking.
• White House order opened 401(k) plans to crypto, boosting long-term demand sentiment.
• Gold hit record highs Aug 8 amid tariff news, but ETH rallied alongside, signaling risk-on decoupling from safe-haven flows.
• Early-week dip faded as ETF inflow surge drove a technical break above $3,900—$4,000.
• CoinShares data (week ending Aug 4) showed $133M inflows into ETH, marking its 15th straight week of inflows, products despite broader market outflows.

Others:

• Philippines SEC targeted major crypto exchanges in a regulatory crackdown.
• Brazil planned a public hearing on a bill to establish a Federal Bitcoin Reserve.
• Binance worked with banking giant BBVA to let customers hold assets off-exchange.
• Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sought dismissal of the FTX estate’s $1.76B clawback lawsuit.
• KakaoBank signaled entry into South Korea’s stablecoin market amid regulatory pressure.
• China warned that Worldcoin-style iris data collection for crypto posed a national security threat.
• Metamask prepared to enter the $250B stablecoin market with ‘Metamask USD’ issued by Stripe.

Trump Signs Order to Open $12.5 Trillion 401(k) Market to Crypto and Private Equity

On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order allowing 401(k) funds to invest in cryptocurrencies and private equity, potentially unlocking a $12.5 trillion market for 90 million American savers. The order directs the Department of Labor to revise fiduciary guidelines, reversing Biden-era restrictions. Major asset managers like BlackRock plan crypto allocations of 5% to 20%. Following the announcement, Bitcoin rose 2.06%, trading above $116,900. Critics express concerns about exposing retirees to high-risk assets, while supporters argue for modernized investment options. The SEC and Treasury will develop new frameworks for integrating crypto into retirement accounts.

SEC Exempts Liquid Staking Tokens from Securities Regulations, Boosting Ethereum ETF Prospects

The SEC has confirmed that certain liquid staking activities, such as staking receipt tokens like stETH from Lido or JitoSOL from Jito, are not classified as securities, alleviating registration requirements. This guidance, part of Project Crypto, supports Ethereum ETF integration and may boost institutional adoption. Liquid staking currently holds nearly $67 billion in total value locked, with Ethereum representing about $51 billion. The SEC's shift towards exemptions and regulatory clarity, including recent approvals for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, signals a broader move to reduce compliance burdens and enhance market participation across decentralized finance.

SEC Eases Stablecoin Rules; S&P Assigns First Credit Rating Amid Paxos Compliance Settlement

In August 2025, U.S. regulators revised USD stablecoin oversight, with the SEC allowing certain stablecoins to be classified as cash equivalents. S&P Global assigned its first credit rating of 'B-' to Sky Protocol, highlighting risks like high depositor concentration and cybersecurity issues, with a stable outlook. Meanwhile, Paxos Trust Company faced a $48.5 million settlement over compliance failures linked to its BUSD partnership with Binance. This includes $26.5 million in fines and $22 million for compliance enhancements. Such developments mark a pivotal month for USD stablecoins amid evolving regulatory landscapes and credit assessments in the cryptocurrency market.

Ripple and SEC Settle Legal Battle; XRP Price Soars, ETF Speculation Surges

Ripple Labs and the SEC concluded their long-standing legal battle on August 8, 2025, agreeing to drop appeals, solidifying Judge Torres’ mixed ruling from July 2023. XRP's price surged over 7% to $3.27 following the news, celebrating what supporters deemed a vindication of the asset’s standing. Speculation about a U.S. XRP ETF increased, with approval odds estimated at 80%-95%. Additionally, Ripple announced a $200 million acquisition of Canadian stablecoin platform Rail, enhancing its payment services. CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized growth by integrating the USD-pegged RLUSD stablecoin into Rail’s infrastructure, aiming to advance digital payments.

Block Reports Q2 Gross Profit of $2.5 Billion, Bitcoin Holdings Reach $1 Billion Amid Strong Growth

Jack Dorsey's Block reported a 14% year-over-year increase in Q2 gross profit, reaching $2.5 billion. The company added 108 Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 8,692 BTC, valued at $1 billion, despite a $212.2 million remeasurement loss. Block's net income surged to $538.46 million, significantly up from $195.27 million in the previous year. In a shareholder letter, the firm raised its 2025 gross profit forecast to $10.17 billion, an increase from $9.96 billion, indicating positive growth prospects while maintaining a long-term investment outlook in Bitcoin to facilitate customer transactions.

Top 5 Firms Control $8.57B in ETH Reserves

According to strategicethreserve.xyz, as of Aug 9, the top five entities by ETH reserves collectively hold approximately 2.1M ETH worth roughly $8.85B, underscoring their significant influence in Ethereum’s strategic ecosystem. Bitmine Immersion Tech leads with 833.1K ETH ($3.51B), up 410.68% in 30 days. SharpLink Gaming follows at 521.9K ETH ($2.20B), gaining 153.82%. The Ether Machine holds 345.4K ETH ($1.46B), up 8.01%. The Ethereum Foundation maintains 232.6K ETH ($980.8M) despite a 4.47% decline. PulseChain Sac rounds out the top five with 166.3K ETH (~$701.3M), showing no change over the month. 

Traditional Finance Invests $100 Billion in Blockchain from 2020 to 2024: Ripple Research

According to a Ripple study, traditional financial institutions invested over $100 billion in blockchain infrastructure from 2020 to 2024. Key findings reveal that 65% of banks are exploring digital asset storage, with a focus on stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Emerging markets like the UAE and India lead adoption, exceeding the US and Europe. Over 90% of executives anticipate significant impacts from blockchain by 2028. Notably, investments peaked post-FTX collapse in Q1 2024, with banks aiming to modernize payment systems and reduce reliance on legacy technology. Two-thirds of surveyed banks plan to launch digital asset initiatives in three years.

Stablecoin Transactions Soar to $1.5 Trillion in July, Fueled by USDC and GENIUS Act Approval

In July 2025, on-chain stablecoin transaction volume surged to a record $1.5 trillion, up from $1.26 trillion in June and surpassing the previous high of $1.4 trillion in August 2024. Circle's USDC led the market, accounting for nearly 50% of the volume at $748 billion, followed by Tether's USDT at $420 billion and DAI at $261 billion. This increase was driven by Bitcoin's new all-time high over $123,000 and Ethereum nearing $4,000. The passage of the GENIUS Act on July 19 introduced regulatory clarity, fostering trust and encouraging institutional exploration of stablecoin use in financial services.

Solana Mobile Launches 150K Seeker Smartphones, Targeting $67.5M Revenue

Solana Mobile has launched its second-generation Seeker smartphone, shipping 150,000 units across 50+ countries, aimed at generating approximately $67.5 million in revenue. Priced between $450-$500, the Seeker features a MediaTek 8-core processor, 8GB of RAM, and Web3 functionalities, including Seed Vault Wallet integration. The device marks a significant step in decentralizing mobile economics, leveraging the TEEPIN technology framework. CEO Anatoly Yakovenko aims to rival Apple and Google by providing users with actual platform ownership and enhancing mobile crypto capabilities, such as offline token transactions and smart contract execution without blockchain delays.

Coinbase Taps $2B Convertible Bond Market, Unveils Game-Changing In-App DEX Trading

On August 5, 2025, Coinbase unveiled plans for a $2 billion private convertible senior notes offering—$1 billion due 2029 and $1 billion due 2032, with options for up to an extra $150 million per tranche—designed to raise funds for capped-call hedges, debt repurchases, acquisitions, and general corporate needs; shares dipped ~5-6% on the news and a Q2 revenue decline. Then on August 8, 2025, Coinbase launched in-app DEX trading for most U.S. users (ex-New York), enabling instant, fee-covered trades of Base-native tokens—expanding access from hundreds to potentially millions of decentralized assets.