Market Movement:

  • Bitcoin's price passed $112K, showing a relief bounce as traders liquidate shorts.
  • XRP traded in a narrow 2% range from $2.81 to $2.87 during the 24h session.

Key Events:

  • Ripple expanded its RLUSD stablecoin to Africa, with a supply exceeding $700 million.
  • Large wallets accumulated roughly 340M XRP (~$960M) over the past two weeks.

Trading Signals:

  • Total transaction volume across the XRP Ledger reached 2.15B XRP on Sept. 1.
  • Bitcoin's single-day hash rate hit an all-time high of 1.279 zettahash per second (ZH/s).

Narrative Shifts:

  • Sectors like DeFi (+2.69%), GameFi (+2.55%), and Meme (+2.44%) posted solid gains.
  • Analysts remain split on XRP's long-term outlook, with potential upside toward $7–$13.

Risk Alerts:

  • CredShields reported $2.72B vanished in 56 hacks during H1 2025, highlighting security issues.
  • Miners face ongoing struggles with rising energy costs and lower rewards post-halving.

Opportunities:

  • MemeCore surged 35% and Keeta (KTA) rose 13.82%, indicating strong performance in the meme sector.
  • Analysts suggest Bitcoin bulls are trying to push the price above $112,500.

Flows & Positioning

Ripple Expands RLUSD Stablecoin to Africa with $700M Supply

Ripple has announced the launch of its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), in Africa, partnering with local institutions like Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. This expansion aims to provide businesses across the continent with access to a stable digital dollar for cross-border payments and liquidity solutions, with RLUSD's supply exceeding $700 million on Ethereum and the XRP Ledger.

The stablecoin's utility extends to treasury operations, remittances, and serving as collateral for trading tokenized assets. This move aligns with the growing trend of stablecoins becoming a more efficient alternative to traditional payment systems, particularly in emerging markets where currency reliability is often a challenge.

Institutional Bitcoin Custody Services Resume Amid ETF Demand

U.S. Bank has restarted its cryptocurrency custody services, specifically targeting institutional investment managers with a focus on Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs. This service, previously paused, is now available through the bank's Global Fund Services division and is supported by NYDIG as the sub-custodian.

The resumption of these services reflects a renewed regulatory clarity and increasing demand for institutional-grade cryptocurrency solutions. With Bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs) attracting nearly $38 billion over the past year, the market is witnessing a significant shift towards regulated access to digital assets.

Whale Accumulation and Market Movements in XRP and Ethereum

In the XRP market, large wallets have accumulated approximately 340 million XRP, valued at around $960 million, despite a significant liquidation of $1.9 billion by institutions since July. XRP's trading range has remained tight, indicating a potential buildup for a breakout above the $3.00 resistance level.

Meanwhile, Ethereum has seen a notable increase in bearish options activity, contrasting with substantial institutional inflows into new spot Ethereum ETFs. This divergence highlights a cautious sentiment among traders, with Ethereum's perpetual open interest declining as some investors hedge against potential price drops.

Market Implications of Institutional Activity and Price Dynamics

The recent surge in institutional interest, particularly in Bitcoin and Ethereum, underscores a broader trend of digital asset adoption among traditional financial entities. As U.S. Bank re-enters the custody space, this could signal a more significant shift towards mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

Additionally, the accumulation patterns observed in XRP and Ethereum suggest that while there may be short-term volatility, the long-term outlook remains bullish, particularly as institutions continue to position themselves for potential price appreciation in the coming months.

Corporate & Capital Markets

Trump Sons’ American Bitcoin Stock Surges, Boosting Wealth by $1.5B

Shares of American Bitcoin, co-founded by Eric Trump and backed by Donald Trump Jr., surged as much as 110% in early trading before closing up 14% after its all-stock merger with Nasdaq-listed Gryphon Digital Mining. This surge increased their paper wealth by more than $1.5 billion, giving the company a market value of about $7.7 billion at a peak price of $14.52.

American Bitcoin Plans $2.1 Billion Stock Sale

American Bitcoin, formed through mergers with Hut 8 and Gryphon Digital Mining, plans a $2.1 billion stock sale to buy more Bitcoin and mining equipment. The firm experienced significant volatility during its Nasdaq debut, initially jumping over 80% before losing its gains amid multiple trading halts.

BitMine Acquires $65 Million in ETH

BitMine purchased another $65 million in ETH on Thursday, as chairman Tom Lee expressed expectations for Ether to eventually reach $60,000.

Aria Raises $15 Million at $50 Million Valuation

Aria has raised $15 million in combined seed and strategic funding rounds to bring intellectual property onchain, achieving a valuation of $50 million.

Utila Triples Valuation with $22 Million Series A Extension

Utila, a crypto infrastructure provider focused on stablecoins, has nearly tripled its valuation in six months following a $22 million Series A extension round.

Ecosystem Movers

Solana's Strong Performance and Market Dynamics

Solana (SOL) has emerged as a leading performer in the crypto market, trading around $211, which marks a 33% increase from early August lows. This performance positions SOL as one of the best performers in the CoinDesk 20 Index over the past month, gaining 34% against Bitcoin (BTC) and 14% against Ethereum (ETH) since mid-August. Analysts attribute this rally to a broader rotation into altcoins, with liquidity shifting from BTC to second-tier tokens like SOL and XRP, indicating a potential long-term trend in capital flows towards these assets. Sergei Gorev, head of risk at YouHodler, noted that corporate investors are increasingly interested in large, liquid projects like SOL, which could sustain its upward momentum.

Australian Retirement Funds' Crypto Exposure

Australian self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) held approximately A$3.02 billion (US$1.9 billion) in cryptocurrencies as of June 2025, but recent data indicates that these funds largely missed the significant digital asset rally earlier this year. Despite crypto balances doubling in early 2024, they have since flattened, with traditional asset classes like listed shares, cash, and property remaining the dominant allocations. This cautious approach reflects the inherent design of SMSFs, which prioritize stability over speculative investments.

XRP's Technical Setup and Market Activity

XRP has been trading within a narrow range of $2.81 to $2.87, with large wallets accumulating approximately 340 million XRP (~$960 million) over the past two weeks. This accumulation occurs despite institutions liquidating around $1.9 billion since July. Analysts are divided on XRP's future, with some predicting a bullish breakout towards $7–$13 while others caution against fading momentum below significant resistance levels. The total transaction volume across the XRP Ledger reached 2.15 billion XRP on September 1, more than double the typical daily activity, indicating heightened interest and activity in the asset.

Tokenized Stocks and Market Innovations

In a notable development, Coinbase is set to join the tokenized stocks trend, which could have positive implications for Ethereum. This move follows the launch of tokenized US stocks on Ethereum by Ondo Finance, expanding access to equities trading for non-US investors. These developments highlight the growing interest in tokenized assets and the potential for increased liquidity and trading volume in the crypto markets, particularly as traditional financial instruments become integrated with blockchain technology.

On-Chain & Network

Solana Community Approves Alpenglow Upgrade with 98% Support

The Solana community has overwhelmingly approved the Alpenglow upgrade, with 98.27% of SOL stakers voting in favor of the proposal. This upgrade marks a significant technical transformation for the Solana network, indicating strong community support for future developments and enhancements to the platform's capabilities. The voting results showed only 1.05% against and 0.36% abstaining from the vote, reflecting a high level of engagement among stakers in the decision-making process.

Ondo Finance Launches Tokenized U.S. Stocks and ETFs on Ethereum

Ondo Finance has introduced its tokenized equity platform, Ondo Global Markets, which allows non-U.S. investors to access over 100 U.S. stocks and ETFs on-chain. This initiative is backed by real securities held at U.S.-registered broker-dealers, enabling 24/7 trading and fractional ownership of these assets. The platform aims to enhance liquidity and accessibility for global investors while ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks that restrict U.S. users from participating.

ArbitrumDAO Launches $40 Million DeFi Renaissance Incentive Program

ArbitrumDAO has initiated its DeFi Renaissance Incentive Program (DRIP), allocating up to 24 million ARB tokens to stimulate decentralized finance growth on the Arbitrum network. This program is designed to incentivize innovative DeFi use cases, focusing initially on leveraged looping strategies for yield-bearing ETH and stablecoins. The first season of DRIP will reward users for borrowing against a curated set of collateral types, enhancing liquidity and capital efficiency across the ecosystem.

Consensys’ Ethereum L2 Linea to Launch 72 Billion Tokens

Consensys is set to launch its Ethereum Layer 2 network, Linea, along with a total supply of 72 billion LINEA tokens. This launch is part of a broader strategy to support ecosystem growth, with 85% of the token supply allocated to various initiatives aimed at enhancing the Ethereum ecosystem. The project has already seen early trading activity, although initial market reactions have been cautious, with the token experiencing a significant price drop shortly after its pre-market trading began.

Macro & Policy

World Gold Council Plans Digital Overhaul of $900B Gold Market

The World Gold Council is set to develop a digital form of gold, termed "pooled gold interests" (PGIs), aimed at modernizing London's $900 billion physical gold market. This initiative will allow investors to purchase fractional ownership in gold bullion, with testing involving major banks and trading houses scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025. CEO David Tait emphasized the necessity of digitization for gold to expand its market reach and to standardize financial products used in other markets for application in the gold sector. Notably, gold prices have surged to a record high of over $3,550 per ounce, doubling in value over the past two years amid increasing geopolitical tensions.

U.S. Bank Resumes Bitcoin Custody Services Amid Regulatory Clarity

U.S. Bank, the fifth-largest bank in the U.S., has restarted its Bitcoin custody services for institutional investment managers after a prolonged pause due to regulatory uncertainties. Initially announced in 2021, the service will now include support for Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and is aimed at registered or private funds. This move reflects a growing acceptance and adaptation to the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies.

Federal Reserve to Host Conference on Stablecoins and DeFi

The U.S. Federal Reserve is organizing a significant conference on payments innovation scheduled for October 21, 2025. This event will focus on critical topics such as stablecoins, decentralized finance (DeFi), artificial intelligence, and tokenization, bringing together policymakers, financial institutions, and technology leaders. Fed Governor Christopher Waller highlighted the urgency of adapting to rapidly changing financial technologies, indicating the Fed's increasing interest in digital assets and their potential to reshape payment systems.

Russia Implements New Cash Controls Impacting Crypto Trading

Effective September 1, 2025, Russia has enacted a law that allows banks to limit ATM withdrawals to $600 (50,000 rubles) over a 48-hour period if transactions are deemed suspicious. This legislation aims to combat financial fraud but poses significant challenges for cryptocurrency trading, particularly affecting small exchange offices and peer-to-peer platforms that heavily rely on cash transactions. Experts warn that these new restrictions could disrupt the crypto trading landscape in Russia.

Concerns Over Bullish Crypto Exchange Valuation Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

Analysts at Compass Point have initiated coverage of the crypto exchange Bullish, which recently debuted on the New York Stock Exchange, assigning it a neutral rating with a price target of $45—approximately 16% below its current trading price. The analysts expressed concerns regarding Bullish's ability to penetrate the U.S. market effectively, citing the lack of progress on the CLARITY Act, which aims to clarify the jurisdictions of the SEC and CFTC. Additionally, New York's restrictive BitLicense is seen as a potential barrier to market entry.

Ripple's SEC Lawsuit Outcome Influenced by Community Support

Crypto lawyer John Deaton has stated that the "XRP Army" significantly impacted the outcome of the SEC lawsuit against Ripple. He argues that any claims denying the community's influence are either ignorant or misleading, highlighting the importance of grassroots support in legal battles within the crypto space.

Security & Incidents

$2.72B Vanished in 56 Hacks

CredShields’ H1 2025 Web3 Security Report revealed that $2.72 billion vanished in 56 hacks. The report highlights significant issues with exchanges and access control.

Bithumb Outage Affects Customers

The South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb experienced an outage that took the platform offline for 100 minutes on September 2. The outage began PM KST and was attributed to computer system-related problems, not an external hacking attempt.

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