Weekly Update: 15th of August
What happened between the 7th and 15th of August?
- Bitcoin and Ethereum reached new highs this week with Ethereum leading the way, driven by over 1 billion in institutional inflows into spot ETFs. Read more
- Trump allows Bitcoin in 401(k) pensions giving investors access to a regulated 12 trillion dollar retirement channel for long-term crypto exposure. Read more
- Ripple and SEC ended their multi-year case, XRP is not a security, and Ripple strengthens its position with a strategic stablecoin platform acquisition. Read more
- Bullish raised 1.11 billion in its IPO attracting institutional investors like BlackRock and ARK with a strong focus on regulated crypto infrastructure. Read more
Bitcoin and Ethereum reach new highs
Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of over $124,000 this week, while Ethereum surged past $4,700 for the first time since December 2021. These price movements were largely driven by institutional inflows into spot ETFs, with Ether ETFs alone attracting over $1 billion in net inflows in a single day. BlackRock and Fidelity led the charge with $640 million and $277 million respectively.
Notably, Ethereum received five times more inflow than Bitcoin that day. In the days that followed, Ethereum ETFs continued to outperform, indicating a clear shift in investor preference compared to previous months. Shortly after the new highs, the market corrected as the Producer Price Index (PPI) came in higher than expected. The rise of costs for producers may lead to higher inflation numbers, which in turn may lead to delayed rate cuts.
Bitcoin now allowed in 401(k) retirement plans
President Trump signed an executive order this week allowing US 401(k) retirement plans to include crypto in their portfolios. This opens access to a retirement market estimated at $12 trillion. Both institutional and retail investors can now gain Bitcoin exposure through regulated pension structures.
Experts note this could mark a structural shift in capital allocation within traditional frameworks. Pension advisors, however, continue to warn about volatility, high costs, and liquidity limitations. While large allocations are not expected immediately, early movers are beginning to take positions, and careful entry strategies are anticipated.
Ripple vs SEC case officially concluded
After more than five years, the legal dispute between Ripple and the SEC has officially come to an end. Both parties withdrew their appeals, leaving the 2023 ruling intact. As a result, XRP is not considered a security on secondary markets, providing much-needed regulatory clarity.
XRP’s price responded with a 5 to 10 percent rally. Bloomberg analysts now assign significantly higher odds to the approval of an XRP ETF. The conclusion of the case also enables Ripple to accelerate its international expansion. In line with that strategy, Ripple acquired the stablecoin platform Rail this week for $200 million.
Bullish IPO draws institutional capital
Crypto exchange Bullish completed a successful listing on the NYSE with an initial valuation of approximately $5.4 billion. The IPO raised $1.11 billion at an offering price of $37 per share. Shares opened at $90, peaked at $118, and closed around $68.
Major investors such as BlackRock and ARK Invest participated with commitments of up to $200 million. The offering highlights growing institutional interest in regulated crypto infrastructure. Bullish targets professional market participants, with a clear focus on liquidity, transparency, and robust risk management.
In other digital assets news
- Total value locked (TVL) in DeFi platforms has increased to roughly $170 billion and is trending toward its all-time high of $214 billion.
- Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has announced plans to launch its own blockchain later this year.
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