Spot ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) logged their fifth straight day of outflows this week, shedding $952 million in total and over $787 million in the four-day week alone.

The withdrawals followed a record-setting August when spot ether ETFs pulled in $3.87 billion even as bitcoin ETFs saw $751 million in net outflows, according to SoSoValue data.

Friday accounted for the sharpest decline, with $446.71 million leaving these ETH-linked funds. Spot bitcoin ETFs, in contrast, posted $246.4 million in net inflows over the past week. The contrast is notable, as funds investing in the flagship cryptocurrency saw $751.1 million in net outflows last month.

Ether has climbed more than 16% over the past month, though it slipped 1.8% in the last week now trading just below $4,300. The cryptocurrency has been benefitting from the GENIUS Act passing into law, which restricted stablecoin issuers from paying interest and provided clarity which could lead to greater institutional investment.

Its recent drawdown is likely related to a broader return from risk assets. That came after weak U.S. jobs data furthered expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this month, along with growing fears of a recession.

Traders are now weighing an 89% chance of a 25 bps rate cut, and an 11% chance of a 50 bps cut according to the CME’s FedWatch tool.On Polymarket, odds of a 50 bps rate cut are at 12%.

The cooling data , coupled with growing concerns surrounding economic uncertainty and geopolitical risks, has also seen the price of gold top the $3,600 mark for the first time.

Bitcoin hovered around $105,100 on June 14, down 0.22% over the past 24 hours as traders digested geopolitical tension. Price action remained relatively tight, with BTC moving within a $2,090 range from $104,220 to $106,135. The largest moves occurred overnight in Asia trading, where Bitcoin briefly dipped below $104,200 before rebounding on high volume.

Much of the recent volatility has been driven by developments in the Middle East. The Israel-Iran war, which some analysts fear could spread to other parts of the Middle East, combined with trade tensions between the U.S. and some of its key trading partners, has unsettled risk markets. More than $1.1 billion in crypto liquidations were recorded during the initial wave of conflict headlines, though bitcoin has shown resilience in the aftermath.

Traders appear to be leaning bullish in the medium term, as BTC continues to hold a pattern of higher lows despite intraday wobbles. Profit-taking near $106,000 capped upside momentum, but support near $105,000 continues to draw buyers on dips. Market participants are watching this range closely, particularly as safe-haven demand and risk sentiment remain intertwined.

While short-term headlines continue to drive volatility, the broader structure suggests BTC is consolidating rather than reversing. If support around $104,950 holds, Bitcoin may attempt another push above $106,200.

Technical Analysis Highlights

• BTC traded in a $2,090 range from $104,182 to $106,272 over the past 24 hours.
• A key bounce occurred at $104,182 with 15,342 BTC traded during the recovery.
• Resistance formed near $106,200 amid consistent profit-taking.
• A rising trendline of higher lows remains intact.
• Psychological support at $105,000 is holding for now.
• Recent price range: $104,875 to $105,202 in the last hour.
• A sharp dip below $105K at 07:19 reversed quickly, with $105,200 acting as near-term resistance.
• Final 15-minute candles showed minor exhaustion, but volume patterns suggest accumulation on dips.

Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.

Gold price is nearing its all-time high at $3,433, further fueling its up-and-to-the-right rally in 2025, as escalating tensions in the Middle East drive investors toward traditional safe-haven assets.

The surge in gold price reflects not only geopolitical uncertainty but also a broader shift in global reserve strategies. The ECB reported last week that gold had overtaken the euro in 2024 as the world’s second-most important reserve asset, driven by record purchases by central banks.

Over the past month, the spot gold price has climbed nearly 5%, rebounding from a mid-May low of around $3,123 and gaining 1.6% overnight, pushing it above $3,400 and close to its April all-time high of $3,500. For the year so far, gold is up more than 30%, making it one of the best-performing asset classes in 2025.

Geopolitical uncertainty is driving gold price higher

The primary catalyst for gold’s recent gains is the escalation of tensions in the Middle East following Israel’s military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. Markets have grown increasingly nervous about the potential for broader regional conflict and prompting a flight to safety, as investors pile into gold.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 679.83 points and the S&P 500 dropped 1.13%, as the price of oil soared by 7%  in a single day, the largest intraday move since the early days of the Ukraine war. Despite an initial tumble, Bitcoin recovered to $105,000 at the time of writing, showing relative stability.

Higher oil prices are expected to drive up costs for gasoline and diesel, adding to inflationary pressures that are already a concern for central banks and consumers alike and enhancing gold’s appeal as a hedge against inflation and economic instability.

Gold overtook the euro among reserve assets in 2024

Gold’s rise to become the world’s second-largest reserve asset in 2024, surpassing the euro, is a sizable development in global finance. According to the latest data from the ECB report, the U.S. dollar remains dominant with a 46% share of global reserves, followed by gold at 20% and the euro at 16%.

The shift reflects a long-term trend of central banks diversifying their reserves away from traditional currencies in response to geopolitical risks and concerns over the weaponization of the dollar.

Central banks have been net buyers of gold for three consecutive years, with annual purchases exceeding 1,000 tonnes, double the pace of the previous decade. Demand is expected to continue, stoking the bullish case for gold and prompting everyone’s favorite gold bug, Peter Schiff, to comment:

“Gold is close to a new record high, but the $GDX is already trading at its highest level since Sept. 2012. The fact that gold mining stocks are now leading the metal is a sign that this gold bull market has kicked into a higher gear, as is the recent breakout in silver. Got gold?”

Gold’s performance in 2025 reinforces its appeal as a safe-haven asset, with prices close to all-time highs and its new status as the world’s second-largest reserve asset. Meanwhile, while Bitcoin continues to hold steady, the world’s number-one crypto has yet to displace gold as the ultimate hedge in turbulent times.

Solana (SOL) remains under pressure as macroeconomic headwinds—particularly renewed tariff concerns — rattle investor confidence.

The token is now hovering around $154.50 after establishing a tight trading range between $152.33 and $158.06, reflecting a 3.76% swing in the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk Research’s technical analysis data model.

Although higher lows had previously suggested resilience, SOL slipped from $156.74 to $154.86 in a single hour, breaking beneath its mid-April uptrend channel.

Derivatives data reflects bearish sentiment: open interest in SOL futures is down 2.47% to $7.19 billion, while long liquidations surged to $30.97 million, indicating pressure on leveraged positions. Short liquidations remain minimal, reinforcing the downside bias.

Still, institutional interest remains evident. Circle’s recent $250 million USDC mint on Solana has added liquidity and cemented the chain’s stablecoin leadership, with 34% of all stablecoin volume now routed through the network. Additionally, SOL Strategies’ $1 billion validator fund signals sustained long-term confidence in the protocol’s scalability, even as short-term price action falters.

Technical Analysis Highlights

• SOL established a 5.73-point range ($152.33–$158.06), indicating a 3.76% intraday swing.
• Earlier price action traced a clear ascending channel with solid support near $152.80, supported by heavy accumulation.SOL hit a session high of $158.06 during the 19:00 hour on strong volume, signaling earlier bullish momentum.
• A reversal unfolded in the early morning hours, with SOL falling from $156.74 to $154.86 on increased selling.Selling pressure peaked between 01:53–01:54, with over 74,000 units traded in a sharp burst.
• Short-term momentum turned bearish as lower highs and weaker volume defined the final trading stretch.As of writing, SOL is consolidating near $154.50, suggesting price stability but with downside risk if volume doesn’t improve.

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