CRYPTO CODE
ETHEREUM TAKES CENTER STAGE
ETH SURGED PAST $4,700 ON THE
BACK OF EXPLOSIVE INSTITUTIONAL
INTEREST AND MOUNTING ADOPTION
IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR
MARKET OVERVIEW
WEEKLY PERFORMANCE
COMMUNITY SENTIMENT
AUGUST 8 - 14 2025
WEEK HIGHLIGHT
Ethereum Takes Center Stage
This week, Ethereum seized the spotlight across the crypto world.
ETH surged past $4,700 (its highest level in over a year) fuelled by a surge of
institutional interest and growing corporate adoption. Wall Street’s leading
strategists hailed Ethereum as the defining investment of the decade, spotlighting
its central role in DeFi, tokenization, and enterprise blockchain solutions.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS BEHIND THE RALLY
INNOVATION ON DISPLAY This week’s
Ethereum NYC 2025 showcased breakthroughs in Layer 2
scaling, seamless cross-chain interoperability, and
Ethereum rally
advanced zero-knowledge proof integrations, extending the was far more than
network’s technical lead.
a price event, it
COMMUNITY BUZZ represented broad
From Twitter threads to Discord channels, the Ethereum validation from
community exploded with analysis. Developers, influencers,
and DeFi founders debated network health, roadmap markets,
milestones, and the race toward ultra-scalable blockchain enterprises, and
infrastructure.
builders alike.
CORPORATE TREASURIES GO ETH
Several Fortune 500 firms revealed fresh Ethereum
All eyes now turn
allocations, cementing ETH’s dual function as both a store
of value and a utility asset. toward the
upcoming “Merge
INSTITUTIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
Multiple hedge funds and asset managers launched ETH- 2.0” upgrade and
focused investment vehicles this week, injecting the expanding
substantial “big money” into the market and propelling the
price surge.
real-world use
cases that could
DEFI TVL REBOUNDS
Total value locked in Ethereum-based DeFi climbed to
define Ethereum’s
nearly $83 billion. Uniswap, Aave, and MakerDAO drove next chapter.
much of this growth with protocol upgrades and enticing
yield opportunities.
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MARKET OVERVIEW & WEEKLY PERFORMANCE
This week set a bullish tone for crypto markets, propelled by fresh highs and shifting
sector leadership.
Bitcoin hit a new all-time high, briefly reaching $127,128 before some profit-taking brought
prices to close the week near $123,317. Volatility was elevated but orderly, with technical
indicators signaling strong momentum over various timeframes. The trend remains firmly
bullish with all moving averages showing upward trajectories.
Ethereum led the charge, surging more than 20% to close above $4,600. Trading volumes
for ETH soared by 60% week-over-week, driven by ETF inflows exceeding $1 billion and
growing institutional adoption. Ethereum’s performance significantly outpaced Bitcoin’s 7%
gain for the week, signaling a shift in market dynamics towards ETH and the decentralized
finance (DeFi) sector.
Among altcoins, notable gains came from Chainlink, which jumped 28%, Aave rising 15%,
and Solana climbing 14%. These surges were largely fueled by key protocol upgrades and
expanding ecosystems. The altcoin market showed signs of strength, with overall
sentiment nearing an equilibrium between Bitcoin and altcoins, though Bitcoin’s influence
remains slightly dominant.
The total crypto market capitalization increased to $3.87 trillion, reflecting a 1.9% gain
for the week fueled by persistent inflows and a positive risk appetite.
Overall trading volumes surged by nearly 50% across major assets, underscoring growing
market engagement.
Institutional investors remain key market drivers, particularly with record net inflows into
Ethereum ETFs. Macro factors such as inflation data and Federal Reserve rate speculation
continue to support risk assets like crypto. While some meme coins drew headlines,
notably Arctic Pablo Coin, the primary market momentum remained concentrated in large-
cap tokens.
Overall, this week’s market performance reflected broad optimism, bolstered by
institutional interest, innovative protocol upgrades, and robust Ethereum activity.
After the week’s volatility and a subsequent profit-taking phase, expect continued price
swings and close attention to macroeconomic indicators as the market seeks its next
direction.
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DEFI PROTOCOL UPDATES & TVL ANALYSIS
The DeFi sector experienced remarkable momentum this week, with total value locked
surpassing critical milestones and significant regulatory clarity boosting the entire
ecosystem.
TVL Breaks 40-Month Highs
DeFi total value locked surged past $156 billion, marking its highest level since April 2021
—an impressive 84% gain over the past four months. This milestone triggered widespread
discussion of a potential "DeFi summer" across crypto communities, as institutional and
retail interest converged on yield opportunities.
Leading Protocol Performance
Aave maintained its position as the dominant lending protocol, reaching an all-time high
TVL of $38.5 billion with a 2.6% weekly increase. The protocol's flash loan innovations and
multi-chain presence continue attracting institutional capital seeking sophisticated DeFi
strategies.
Lido, the top liquid staking platform, closely followed with $37.7 billion in TVL. The protocol
benefited significantly from the SEC's clarification on liquid staking tokens, which
confirmed these instruments are not securities—removing regulatory uncertainty that had
previously limited institutional adoption.
Emerging Protocol Highlights
NOTE Protocol led the week's percentage gainers with a spectacular 56.3% TVL surge to
$11.3 million, while LON posted a 32.8% increase to $2.8 million. These smaller protocols
demonstrated the appetite for diversified DeFi strategies beyond established blue-chip
options.
ZRC and Blur both gained 31.2% in TVL, with ZRC reaching $781.1 million and Blur hitting
$116.1 million. ZEUS advanced 27.7% to $33.4 million, while ETHFI added 22.9% to reach
$11.5 billion, showcasing strength across liquid staking derivatives.
Regulatory Catalyst
The SEC's August 5th statement on liquid staking provided crucial clarity, stating that liquid
staking activities don't require securities law disclosures. This regulatory green light
triggered immediate market reactions, with LDO gaining 12.3% and ETHFI up 5.4% in 24
hours following the announcement.
The clarification opened doors for institutional adoption, as firms can now confidently
offer liquid staking tokens within compliant frameworks. This regulatory certainty is
expected to accelerate the flow of institutional capital into DeFi protocols.
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DEFI PROTOCOL UPDATES & TVL ANALYSIS
Cross-Chain Activity
Beyond Ethereum's dominance, Solana, Avalanche, and Sui recorded double-digit TVL
growth as investors sought yield opportunities across different ecosystems. Sui's DeFi TVL
jumped 42% since the year began, with 564 million SUI tokens now locked—representing
16% of circulating supply.
Revenue and Earnings Growth
DeFi Technologies reported strong Q2 2025 results with $32.1 million in adjusted revenue,
highlighting the sector's maturation into a profitable business model. Valour's assets under
management reached $947 million by July 31st, a 23% monthly increase driven by
sustained institutional demand.
This week's developments signal DeFi's evolution from experimental protocols to mature
financial infrastructure, with regulatory clarity and institutional adoption driving the next
growth phase.
The combination of record TVLs, regulatory support, and robust protocol performance
suggests the sector is well-positioned for continued expansion.
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REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & POLICY NEWS
Groundbreaking regulatory clarity reshaped the U.S. crypto landscape, setting new
precedents for digital asset integration into traditional finance.
SEC's Project Crypto Transforms Market Structure
The Securities and Exchange Commission's "Project Crypto" initiative, announced by
Chairman Paul Atkins, marked a fundamental shift from enforcement-heavy approaches.
The framework includes clear rules for crypto distributions, custody, and trading, with
Atkins explicitly stating that "most crypto assets are not securities"—a significant
departure from prior positions.
Key developments include approval of in-kind creations and redemptions for crypto ETPs,
mixed Bitcoin-Ethereum products, and options trading on spot Bitcoin ETFs, dramatically
expanding institutional market access.
CFTC Launches Spot Trading Initiative
Acting Chairman Caroline Pham announced the CFTC's "crypto sprint," enabling spot crypto
trading on registered markets with leverage and margin under federal oversight. This
landmark decision allows retail access to regulated crypto derivatives for the first time,
with public comments due August 18th focusing on Bitcoin and Ethereum implementation.
Ripple-SEC Case Officially Closes
After nearly five years, Ripple and the SEC ended their legal battle with a $125 million
settlement, confirming XRP exchange sales are not securities transactions. This closure
eliminated regulatory uncertainty, triggering XRP's 4% rally and 208% volume increase as
institutional buyers returned.
UK Lifts Crypto ETN Ban
The Financial Conduct Authority reversed its 2021 retail crypto ETN ban, effective October
8th, acknowledging crypto markets have "evolved" and become "mainstream." This
positions the UK as a competitive crypto hub, allowing retail access to Bitcoin and other
digital currencies through regulated exchanges.
Legislative Progress
The CLARITY Act passed the House with bipartisan support (294-134), while the GENIUS
Act's stablecoin framework gained momentum. Internationally, FATF crypto standards
reached three-quarters of global jurisdictions, though compliance remains fragmented.
This week's regulatory breakthroughs represent the most significant policy developments
in crypto history, signaling maturation from experimental to institutional-grade
frameworks with clear pathways for mainstream financial integration.
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TECHNICAL ANALYSIS & KEY LEVELS
This week’s charts were lively but leaned bullish, setting clear lines in the sand for what
comes next.
BITCOIN
Bitcoin hit an all-time high near $124,500 before dipping to around $118,900. The RSI
topped 76 (overbought) then cooled to 54—enough room to run higher. Watch $116,000–
$117,000 as the first safety net, with $115,000 as rock-solid support. If BTC clears
$125,000, eyes turn to $130,000. Staying above the 50-day moving average (about
$114,600) keeps the uptrend intact, and volume on pullbacks shows buyers stepping in.
ETHEREUM
Ethereum tested its 2021 peak near $4,870, pushing past $4,650, $4,700, and $4,720
before peaking at $4,788. Key support sits at $4,480–$4,500 (the 50% retracement).
Above there, targets are $4,880 and then $5,000. ETH’s RSI hit 72 but held up,
confirming robust momentum without overheating. All moving averages point up,
suggesting little resistance once $4,870 is cleared.
ALTCOIN SEASON BUILDING
The Altcoin Season Index climbed to 44/100 from 32 last month, signaling growing
strength beyond Bitcoin. Chainlink broke above $24, Solana tested $200, and Aave
cleared its own hurdles—each on rising volumes, hinting that capital is rotating into
promising alternatives.
OVERALL MARKET
With the total crypto market cap at $3.87 trillion (up 50% in volume week-over-week),
the next big barrier is $4.2 trillion. The Fear & Greed Index sits at 62—optimistic but
not euphoric. Thursday’s pullback after inflation data shows profit-taking, yet the
market’s foundations remain healthy.
What to Watch
If Bitcoin holds above $116,000 and Ethereum stays above $4,500, the path toward new
highs stays clear. Drops below those levels would signal deeper corrections ahead.
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INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT & NEW DEVELOPMENTS
This week, crypto innovation ramped up across AI, modular blockchains, and real-world
tokenization.
AI MEETS BLOCKCHAIN
Six presale projects—Vault AI, Qubetics, Web3Bay, Cogni AI, Lightchain AI, and Solaxy—raised over
$50 million for AI-powered DeFi tools and decentralized compute networks. Lightchain AI’s new
“Proof of Intelligence” rewards AI computations instead of mining, cutting energy use and putting
compute to work.
MODULAR CHAINS TAKE OFF
Celestia’s data-availability network hit record volumes, and Polygon 2.0 rolled out ZK tech across
chains, making it easier to launch specialized blockchains. EigenLayer’s restaking lets ETH stakers
secure multiple services at once, boosting yields and cutting costs for new networks.
REAL-WORLD ASSETS GO DIGITAL
Upexi will tokenize its SEC-registered shares on Solana’s Superstate platform, while Gemini,
Kraken, and Bybit launched 60+ tokenized U.S. stocks for 24/5 trading. HSBC debuted tokenized
gold trading and Hong Kong issued green bonds on blockchain—bridging trillions in traditional
asset value to crypto rails.
LAYER 2 GROWTH
Base’s TVL hit $4.9 billion ahead of its baseapp launch, and Arbitrum added new DEX features—
proof that Ethereum’s scaling roadmap works. Solana saw institutional support too, with BIT
Mining building a $300 million SOL treasury and running validator nodes.
PRIVACY WITH ZK PROOFS
ZK-SNARKs use exploded on zkSync Era, Starknet, and Polygon zkEVM, enabling private smart
contracts while preserving transparency—key for enterprise and government adoption.
CROSS-CHAIN BRIDGES
Polkadot and Cosmos improved interoperability, letting assets and data flow seamlessly between
chains and powering more advanced decentralized apps.
STANDOUT NEW PROJECTS
Eclipse aims for a “Giga Scale VM” combining Solana speed with Ethereum security. Treehouse
launched decentralized fixed-income products, and Alliance Games rolled out Web3 game
infrastructure with AI and cross-chain support.
PREPARING FOR QUANTUM
Researchers outlined post-quantum cryptography for Bitcoin and other networks. Though
upgrades will be complex, early planning shows crypto’s commitment to long-term security.
These developments signal 2025 as the year crypto expanded beyond trading—transforming into a
mature, multi-tech ecosystem ready for real-world use.
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COMMUNITY SENTIMENT & SOCIAL TRENDS
This week’s buzz was all about Ethereum, healthy optimism, and maturing conversations.
ETH Steals the Show.
Ethereum’s share of crypto chatter jumped by 85%, capturing 18.6% of total mindshare
versus Bitcoin’s dip to 15.5%. That surge in discussions mirrored ETH’s price rally,
underlining how social sentiment often leads market moves.
BALANCED OPTIMISM
The Fear & Greed Index hit 62—optimistic but not euphoric—while traders debated “infinite
bid” momentum against potential highs around $122K BTC. This split view is typical at
turning points, signaling cautious confidence.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Twitter and Discord lit up with ETH-focused debates on institutional plays and Layer 2
breakthroughs. Altcoin fans declared “altseason is here” as that index climbed to 44/100,
boosting activity in Telegram and Reddit channels.
INSTITUTIONAL CONFIDENCE
MicroStrategy’s record BTC buys dominated headlines, shifting the narrative from crypto
as speculation to crypto as a legitimate treasury asset. Google searches for “Bitcoin
treasury strategy” spiked, reflecting growing retail confidence.
REGIONAL TRENDS
Asian markets buzzed ahead of regional conferences, especially in Tokyo and Seoul. In
Europe, UK investors celebrated the FCA lifting its crypto ETN ban, reigniting local interest.
DEV COMMUNITY ON FIRE
Ethereum’s GitHub saw 12% more commits, with teams racing to roll out Layer 2 and ZK
upgrades. DeFi devs hotly discussed liquid staking and real-world asset tokenization,
showing the industry’s evolution beyond simple trading.
CULTURAL SHIFT
Memes like “ETH summer” and “corporate HODL’ing” took hold, reinforcing longer-term
value narratives over quick wins. This maturing discourse points to a community focused
on sustainable growth, not just FOMO.
Overall, social metrics reveal genuine enthusiasm balanced by seasoned skepticism—an
ideal backdrop for continued, stable growth.
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UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW & KEY EVENTS
KEY LEVELS ON THE LINE
Bitcoin must hold $116K–$117K after Thursday’s dip to stay on track for $130K. A drop below
$115K could spark a deeper slide toward $110K.
Ethereum faces a make-or-break at $4,500–$4,600. Clearing $4,870 would open the door to
$5K–$5,500; a failure means a retest of $4,000.
BIG CONFERENCES AHEAD
BTCHEL in Helsinki (Aug 15–16) features Bitcoin luminaries like Adam Back—expect headlines
and institutional chatter.
Crypto 2025 in Santa Barbara (Aug 17–21) dives into zero-knowledge proofs and post-
quantum security—watch for breakthroughs that could shape protocols.
REGULATORY DEADLINES
CFTC spot-trading comments close Aug 18, a key step for regulated crypto derivatives.
Fed speeches remain critical after Thursday’s PPI surprise—any hawkish tone could dent rate-
cut hopes and crypto sentiment.
CORPORATE CATALYST DAYS
FTX begins its $1.9 billion creditor payout on Aug 15—funds returning to markets could fuel
another leg up.
SharpLink Gaming’s earnings call (Aug 15) may reveal major ETH-treasury moves.
DeFi Shifts
Curve Finance cuts token emissions below 5%, reshaping yield farming and CRV dynamics.
Lombard’s LBTC product starts earning BTC yield—watch if Bitcoin yield strategies catch on
more broadly.
MACRO WATCH
No big U.S. data due, but global PMI and inflation reports could jolt risk appetite—surprises
anywhere may ripple into crypto.
ALTCOIN SPOTLIGHTS
Sonic’s S token might see corporate buys, expanding altcoin adoption.
Injective plans pre-IPO stock trading in DeFi, a fresh twist on asset tokenization.
TECH VOLATILITY
Options expiry and futures settlements this week could stoke flashes of volatility—keep an eye on
gamma levels for potential price swings.
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Ethereum NYC events run through Aug 18, fueling ETH buzz. Mark your calendars for Bitcoin Asia
(Aug 28–29) in Hong Kong, the next major gathering.
With critical technical tests, high-profile events, and regulatory deadlines all converging, next week
could define whether crypto’s summer rally continues or pauses for a breather.
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