Weekly Trends
This week marked a decisive turning point for cryptocurrencies with Jerome Powell’s intervention at the Jackson Hole symposium, signaling a monetary policy shift from the Federal Reserve. The anticipated monetary easing sparked a spectacular surge in digital assets, with Bitcoin breaking through $117,000 and Ethereum reaching a new all-time high near $4,866. This bullish momentum occurred amid massive short liquidations totaling over $629 million across the crypto market. Fortune
News
1. Ethereum reaches new all-time high following Powell’s statements
Ethereum surged nearly 15% in 24 hours to reach a record $4,866 on Coinbase Friday, surpassing its previous November 2021 peak. This exceptional performance came after Jerome Powell hinted that interest rate cuts could arrive as soon as September. CoinDesk
Analysis — Ethereum’s breakthrough illustrates institutional capital rotation toward altcoins, supported by record ETF¹ flows of $2.9 billion this week. This dynamic suggests growing maturity in the digital assets market alternative to Bitcoin. The Currency Analytics
In brief — Ethereum confirms its status as the preferred institutional alternative with reinforced capitalization and prospects of $15,000 by end-2025.
2. Bitcoin jumps to $117,000 on rate cut expectations
Bitcoin gained over 4% to reach $117,300 on Bitstamp after Jerome Powell suggested that monetary policy adjustment might be warranted. This rise triggered the liquidation of $379.88 million in short positions, including $56.4 million specifically on Bitcoin. Cointelegraph
Analysis — The technical breakout above $117,000 confirms the resumption of the bullish trend according to analysts. Michael van de Poppe notes that « the uptrend is back, » paving the way for fresh all-time highs. Cointelegraph
In brief — Bitcoin regains its bullish momentum with targets at $145,000 confirmed by several analysts for 2025.
3. Final resolution of Ripple vs SEC lawsuit with $125 million fine
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals approved the joint motion from Ripple and the SEC to dismiss their respective appeals, definitively ending the lawsuit that lasted since December 2020. Ripple will pay a $125 million fine, confirming that XRP sales on public exchanges do not constitute securities². Reuters
Analysis — This resolution establishes a major legal precedent for the US crypto industry, clarifying the regulatory status of digital assets. XRP gained 13.7% following this announcement, reflecting the removal of regulatory uncertainty. Binance Square
In brief — The end of the Ripple-SEC lawsuit marks a historic victory for cryptocurrency regulatory clarification in the United States.
4. Ethereum ETFs break all records with $2.85 billion inflows
Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded record net inflows of $2.85 billion for the week of August 11-15, with BlackRock ETHA leading with $2.32 billion. These flows surpass Ethereum’s net issuance since the Merge³, demonstrating exceptional institutional demand. Binance
Analysis — These massive inflows, equivalent to 500,000 ETH, exceed the 456,723 ETH issued by the network since the Merge. Standard Chartered forecasts Ethereum could reach $7,500 by year-end thanks to this institutional accumulation. ForkLog
In brief — Institutional appetite for Ethereum via ETFs confirms its transformation into a mainstream digital store of value.
5. Jackson Hole: Powell paves the way for monetary easing
Jerome Powell surprised markets with an accommodative speech at the Jackson Hole symposium, abandoning the inflation « catch-up » strategy and now prioritizing employment. The Fed chairman stated that « the changing balance of risks might justify adjusting our policy stance, » signaling a likely rate cut in September. Coin Tribune
Analysis — This strategic reversal marks a major inflection point in US monetary policy. Markets now price in a 71% probability for a 25 basis point cut in September, favoring risk assets. CoinGape
In brief — Powell’s dovish pivot⁴ catalyzes a rotation toward high-beta assets like cryptocurrencies.
6. Massive $629 million liquidations following crypto rally
The sudden crypto market recovery triggered the liquidation of $629.48 million in positions, affecting 150,217 traders. Ethereum led with $193 million in short liquidations, followed by Bitcoin with $56.4 million. Cointelegraph
Analysis — These massive liquidations demonstrate the surprise effect of Powell’s speech and traders’ excessively bearish positioning before Jackson Hole. The short position reset clears the market for healthier upside. Cointelegraph
In brief — The major short position cleanup paves the way for a new bullish phase freed from technical resistance.
7. Institutional adoption: 83% plan to increase crypto exposure
According to Coinbase’s 2025 State of Crypto report, 83% of institutional investors plan to increase their cryptocurrency exposure this year, while 76% are considering investing in tokenized assets⁵ by 2026. This trend is supported by improved custody infrastructure and ETF approvals. World Ecomag
Analysis — This acceleration in institutional adoption is accompanied by growing demand for stablecoins⁶, with 72% of SMBs ready to adopt crypto with greater regulatory clarity. The GENIUS Act on stablecoins strengthens this dynamic. ChainUp
In brief — Cryptocurrency institutionalization accelerates, transforming the sector from a speculative asset class to a pillar of professional portfolios.
8. SEC’s Project Crypto launches new regulatory era
Paul Atkins, SEC Chairman, announced « Project Crypto, » an initiative to modernize securities laws to foster capital formation in digital asset markets. This regulatory overhaul aims to « enable America’s financial markets to move on-chain⁷. » Latham & Watkins
Analysis — This regulatory paradigm shift, directly resulting from Trump’s executive order to make America the « crypto capital of the world, » marks a break from the previous repressive approach. 38 US states are currently working on 131 crypto bills. World Ecomag
In brief — The SEC’s Project Crypto opens a new era of innovation and institutional adoption in the United States.
Strategic Outlook
The Fed’s monetary inflection creates a particularly favorable macroeconomic environment for cryptocurrencies in the coming months. The anticipated September rate cut should fuel a new wave of liquidity toward alternative assets, with Ethereum particularly well-positioned thanks to its exceptional ETF flows. Fortune
The resolution of the Ripple-SEC lawsuit establishes a more predictable legal framework for the industry, allowing projects to innovate with less regulatory uncertainty. This clarification should accelerate the development of decentralized financial infrastructure and adoption by traditional institutions, particularly in cross-border payments. Crypto Briefing
Good News
Ethereum ETFs have surpassed the network’s net issuance since the Merge, demonstrating that institutional demand now exceeds new token creation. This structural deflationary dynamic, combined with ETH burning mechanisms, could transform Ethereum into a deflationary asset, strengthening its appeal as a digital store of value. Standard Chartered projects a target price of $7,500 by year-end 2025, while Fundstrat even mentions $15,000. ForkLog
Acknowledgements
Thank you for your reading and excellent week.
Brief’s Glossary
- ETF¹ : Exchange-Traded Fund, allowing investment in cryptocurrencies through traditional financial markets.
- Securities² : Financial instruments subject to strict SEC regulations, implying transparency and registration obligations.
- Merge³ : Ethereum’s transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake in September 2022, reducing new token issuance.
- Dovish pivot⁴ : Monetary policy shift toward more accommodation, favoring interest rate cuts.
- Tokenized assets⁵ : Digital representation of traditional assets (real estate, bonds) on blockchain, enabling fractionalization and trading.
- Stablecoins⁶ : Cryptocurrencies whose value is pegged to stable assets like the US dollar, used for payments and reserves.
- On-chain⁷ : Transactions and financial operations executed directly on blockchain, without centralized intermediaries.
Strat Finance Advisory 