Bitcoin price is showing positive signs above $115,000. BTC is now consolidating and might rise further if it clears the $116,500 resistance zone.

• Bitcoin started a fresh increase above the $115,000 zone.
• The price is trading near $115,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
• There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $116,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
• The pair might start another increase if it clears the $116,200 zone.

Bitcoin Price Holds Gains

Bitcoin price started a fresh upward wave above the $112,500 zone. BTC managed to climb above the $113,500 and $114,200 resistance levels.

The bulls were able to push the price above $115,000 and $116,000. The price traded as high as $116,743 and recently started a consolidation phase. There was a minor decline below $116,000. The price even spiked below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent move from the $110,815 swing low to the $116,743 high.

Bitcoin is now trading near $115,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Besides, there is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $116,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $116,000 level. The first key resistance is near the $116,200 level. The next resistance could be $116,750. A close above the $116,750 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $117,500 resistance level. Any more gains might send the price toward the $118,500 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $118,800.

Another Drop In BTC?

If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $116,200 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Immediate support is near the $114,900 level. The first major support is near the $113,750 level or the 50% Fib level of the recent move from the $110,815 swing low to the $116,743 high.

The next support is now near the $113,000 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $112,500 support in the near term. The main support sits at $110,500, below which BTC might decline sharply.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $115,000, followed by $113,750.

Major Resistance Levels – $116,200 and $116,500.

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Chainalysis is extending its support for the XRP Ledger and the new coverage goes beyond the native token. Customers now get more ways to follow token activity and check transactions. With Chainalysis adding this extended support, users now have stronger ways to interact with one of the most active blockchains in the market.

Chainalysis Expands Coverage For XRP Ledger

In its announcement, Chainalysis explained that automatic token support now includes fungible tokens such as IOUs, non-fungible tokens under the XLS-20 standard, and multi-purpose tokens, also known as MPTs. MPTs operate like Ethereum’s well-known ERC-1155 tokens. The update means many different kinds of assets on the XRP Ledger are now covered.

The company also shared that more than 260,000 tokens are already supported. As developers create more tokens on the blockchain, the total number increases daily, showing the steady activity and expansion of the XRP Ledger.

Chainalysis added that customers can now use its KYT (Know Your Transaction) service to monitor these tokens. KYT gives real-time alerts, continuous tracking, and compliance checks. Chainalysis KYT now keeps a close eye on a wide range of XRP Ledger assets, making activity on the network easier to monitor and safer to engage with.

Stronger Tools For Compliance And Investigations

Chainalysis also highlights that its expansion links directly to the company’s main investigative products. The extended coverage is now available through Reactor, the platform designed for in-depth transaction reviews and its entity screening services. 

Customers can now use the Chainalysis Reactor tool and entity screening products with XRPL tokens. They can visualize transactions in detail and act quickly if they notice risks. Customers can now track token flows, see how money moves, and identify signs of suspicious activity. 

Chainalysis noted that the XRP Ledger is well-known for facilitating fast and low-cost cross-border transactions, making it one of the most trusted blockchains today. The network has handled more than 3.3 billion transactions across over 90 million blocks. 

Its native token remains among the top digital assets by market value and is supported by a large global community. The Ledger itself continues to show strong performance. Nearly 200 validators worldwide support it, which are independent nodes that confirm transactions, with Ripple named as a key contributor. 

The Chainalysis update will make oversight on the XRP Ledger easier at a time when the number of tokens is skyrocketing. Customers can now use its Reactor tool to check XRPL tokens, follow how funds move, and help keep the network secure.

With the latest support from Chainalysis, the ledger becomes even more transparent, and customers now have safer and stronger ways to follow the growing number of tokens that developers are adding to the blockchain. 

Featured image from DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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The market is on the verge of exiting the consolidation stage, with Shiba Inu, XRP and Cardano being on verge of their local formations that should boost volatility and push either asset into their next stage.

Shiba Inu at crossroads

With price action indicating the possibility of a significant breakdown, Shiba Inu is at a crucial crossroads. The token is stuck inside a narrowing triangle and is currently trading at about $0.0000123, but the overall structure is bearish.

Due to buyers’ inability to maintain momentum above resistance levels, each bounce has been weaker than the last. The consistent drop in trading volume is the most concerning indication. Volume has been declining since early August, which suggests that traders’ interest and involvement are waning.

Declining volume during consolidation frequently precedes strong breakouts in cryptocurrency markets, however, since SHIB is already under pressure, the likelihood of a breakdown rather than a recovery is higher.

Technically speaking, SHIB will encounter resistance right away in the range of $0.0000130-$0.0000132, and then the 200-day moving average close to $0.0000139. Every upward attempt has been capped for weeks at these levels. Support for the downside is located just above $0.0000120. The next target might be $0.0000110 or even $0.0000100, a level that runs the risk of adding another zero to SHIB’s valuation if it significantly breaks below this.

Additionally, a classic indicator of deteriorating market structure, the descending trendline from the recent highs, is still forcing lower peaks. Bearish momentum will probably prevail unless SHIB can break out above that line with significant volume. That is, there is a genuine chance of oblivion.

In addition to possibly correcting further, SHIB runs the risk of becoming irrelevant for traders seeking stronger momentum plays if support gives way while volume keeps declining.

XRP’s last test

It appears that XRP is nearing a final stand at its current price. The token is currently trading at about $2.83, just above the 100-day EMA at $2.77, which serves as the crucial line of defense. If XRP is unable to maintain this zone, it may fall toward $2.50 and ultimately the psychological $2.00 level.

The symmetrical triangle pattern that had been supporting the price since mid-August is clearly broken in the chart. XRP was forced below the lower trendline by sellers, and although it has stabilized for the time being, momentum is still brittle. A clear close below $2.77 would validate the bearish trend.

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The pattern in the volume adds to the uncertainty. The steady decline in trading volume is frequently an indication that sellers are worn out, and that bearish pressure is abating. However, low volume can also indicate fund outflows and disinterest, making XRP more susceptible to steeper drops when liquidity evaporates.

XRP has some breathing room for a recovery, as the RSI, which is currently hovering around 44 and reflecting neutral-to-weak momentum, does not yet exhibit any bullish divergence. Regaining $2.95-$3.00 is crucial for bulls. Strength would only be indicated by a persistent return above $3.00, which would pave the way for $3.10-$3.20.

XRP might still bounce back and reenter a consolidation range if support remains at the 100-day EMA. But if it fails, sentiment quickly shifts against it, making the path to $2.00 much more likely. This is a make-or-break situation for XRP investors for the time being.

Cardano’s patience

Cardano is putting its holders’ patience to the test once more. After weeks of losing momentum, the token is currently trading at a pivotal level, with bulls finding it difficult to maintain control. According to the short-term technical picture, the 100-day EMA and the crucial $0.80 support zone are both in the vicinity of ADA.

There is still hope for a recovery in ADA despite the negative undertones. The $0.80 area has previously shown itself to be resilient, serving as a base for several recoveries. Buyers can continue on their current trajectory toward $0.90 and $1.00 if they can defend this level once more.

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A psychological shift would be signaled by a breakout above $1, which might draw momentum traders and investors who had been sidelined back into the market.

However, volume trends are not very promising. Everyday trading activity has decreased, indicating a general decline in enthusiasm. This makes ADA susceptible because, when markets turn risk-off, a lack of conviction can hasten downward pressure. However, these quiet periods frequently come before explosive moves, so the next sessions are very important.

The indecision is highlighted by the RSI, close to 48, which is in neutral territory and does not indicate oversold or overbought conditions. This implies that ADA has some leeway.

In general, the market is struggling, as there isn’t much of bearish support coming in and the majority of investors are bracing themselves for multiple breakdowns, especially if Bitcoin fails to deliver in the next few weeks.

The following is a guest post and analysis from Vincent Maliepaard, Marketing Director at Sentora.

2025 has marked a turning point for XRP, combining explosive price gains with transformative shifts in its core narrative. In July, the token hit an all-time high of $3.58, propelled in part by decisive legal victories. Beyond price action, Ripple’s launch of the RLUSD stablecoin has gained significant traction, and the network is now doubling down on expanding XRP’s footprint in the DeFi ecosystem.

The foundation of XRP’s breakout was laid when the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Ripple, removing a significant regulatory overhang that had suppressed institutional interest for years. This legal resolution as well as the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly policy framework, including the GENIUS Act, catalyzed a broader bull market across digital assets.

The token has also benefited from a strategic revaluation as institutional investors engaged in speculative rotation toward under-owned large-cap cryptocurrencies, recognizing XRP as a legitimate capital layer rather than a speculative trading vehicle.

This thesis was reinforced by Ripple’s launch of the RLUSD stablecoin in late 2024, which quickly scaled to a $600 million market cap and demonstrated real-world utility in driving adoption momentum. The ecosystem expansion has continued with the launch of the XRPL EVM sidechain, enhancing interoperability and smart contract functionality, while anticipation builds around the potential approval of an XRP ETF that could further accelerate institutional adoption.

Let’s dive in for a breakdown of XRP’s growth and momentum, new players in the ecosystem and XRP’s breakthrough in DeFi.

XRP’s Growth and Momentum

XRP’s concentration dynamics reveal a mature institutional ownership structure that mirrors traditional financial assets, with the top 10 wallets controlling approximately 41% of circulating supply, expanding to 50% among the top 20 holders and over 70% within the top 100. This concentration pattern indicates institutional capital allocation rather than retail speculation, which supports XRP’s evolution into an institutional asset class.

The token’s transformation from a previous cycle laggard to a favorite gained significant validation through Coinbase’s integration. In July, the exchange launched cbXRP, a wrapped token backed 1:1 by XRP specifically designed for cross-chain functionality. This infrastructure development immediately unlocked new use cases, with Moonwell becoming the first major DeFi protocol to support cbXRP, enabling community members to lend and borrow the wrapped token within the platform’s DeFi ecosystem.

Growth of cbXRP on Moonwell has been steady, gradually growing to over $1.2 million in liquidity since its launch in June. While this may be far from XRPs typical multi-billion dollar headlines, it marks an important milestone in XRP’s DeFi journey.

These developments signal a fundamental shift in how traditional exchanges and DeFi protocols are positioning XRP, moving beyond simple trading solutions. The combination of concentrated institutional ownership, enhanced technical infrastructure through wrapped tokens, and expanding lending markets demonstrates that XRP is experiencing adoption momentum as capital flows increasingly recognize its utility as a cross-border settlement layer and institutional-grade digital asset.

Expanding into DeFi

The expansion of XRP into decentralized finance represents a natural progression for what Gabriel Halm of Sentora describes as a blockchain that has “successfully established itself as a digital payment network,” with DeFi development being “an intuitive next step in creating a comprehensive finance ecosystem for XRP.” This evolution addresses a critical gap in XRP’s utility, as the token historically lacked the fundamental DeFi primitives.

Flare Network has emerged as one such infrastructure provider for XRPFi, through the introduction of FAssets—which upon launch, enables XRP holders to convert their tokens into FXRP, a wrapped version of XRP. This operates in a non-custodial, trust-minimized framework which uses smart contracts for cross-chain verification.

Upcoming Yield Opportunities for XRP in DeFi

While users can currently earn a modest yield (around 0.1% currently) by supplying cbXRP on Moonwell, significantly higher returns may be on the horizon with the upcoming launch of the Firelight Protocol on Flare.

Firelight aims to bring economic security and yield generation to the XRP ecosystem, much like how EigenLayer has unlocked additional staking yield for Ether. By leveraging staked XRP for economic security, Firelight’s architecture could enable innovative DeFi applications—such as on-chain insurance—that were previously not feasible.

As Hugo Philion, Co-Founder of Flare Network, explains:

“Firelight offers on-chain XRP yield opportunities, both for institutions and retail holders, improving capital efficiency for XRP and further bolstering its utility.”

Looking Ahead

XRP’s growth story is shifting from short-term price cycles to long-term structural evolution. The convergence of regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and DeFi expansion, driven by platforms like Base, Moonwell, Flare, and Firelight, broadens XRP’s utility and potentially establishes it as a yield-bearing asset.

While it may not yet be a dominant force in DeFi, these developments could strengthen XRP’s role as a bridge between traditional finance and emerging on-chain opportunities.

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However, the price of BTC appears to have returned to its sluggish pattern of action over the weekend, dropping to around $115,000 on Saturday, August 23. According to the latest on-chain data, the BTC price might be stuck in this phase of muted action in preparation for its next move.

BTC Market Activity Wanes — What’s Next For Price?

In a new post on social media platform X, Alphractal revealed that the Bitcoin market seems to be shaping up for the next big move in the coming weeks. This projection is based on the 30-Day Active Supply metric, which measures the number of unique coins that moved at least once over the past month.

The 30-Day Active Supply metric functions as a thermometer of the market interest in BTC, indicating both overheated and cool market conditions. When the metric rises, it suggests the inflow of fresh capital circulating and stronger investor activity.

Historically, increases in the Bitcoin 30-Day Active Supply have often coincided with price tops and bottoms, especially as investors are inclined to move their coins around during times of extreme greed or fear. Hence, a rise in the metric can be associated with a potential market reversal.

Meanwhile, a drop in the Bitcoin 30-Day Active Supply metric signals calmer market conditions with hesitation among investors, typically after periods of high stress or enthusiasm. When fewer coins are on the move and supply is relatively stable, a tightening effect takes place in the market.

According to data from Alphractal, the Active Supply indicator shows that the Bitcoin market has witnessed a cooldown in activity in recent weeks. The on-chain analytics firm added that the slowdown in the market activity could mean that the BTC price is preparing for the next big move.

With an improving macroeconomic environment, the Bitcoin price appears to be consolidating within a narrow range beneath its all-time high. Hence, a sudden spike in activity could see the market leader enter a new expansion phase, with the potential to hit new highs.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC sits just above the $115,000 mark, reflecting an almost 2% decline in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the premier cryptocurrency is down by more than 2% in the last seven days.

Amid the persisting sell-offs faced by the broad crypto market, BlackRock has also joined the trend. 

In a move that has sparked reactions from the crypto community, data from on-chain tracking platform LookOnChain has revealed BlackRock’s sale of large portions of its Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings.

According to the data, BlackRock has collectively moved over $366 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum from its exchange-traded funds to a wallet on Coinbase Prime. The move, which is uncommon for the investment giant, happened on August 20 as the crypto market bloodbath continues.

While BlackRock has yet to clear speculations regarding the major transaction today, a leading crypto fund was spotted moving 1,885 BTC worth about $111.66 million and 59,606 ETH worth $254.43 million to the leading crypto trading platform, Coinbase Prime.

Did BlackRock just sell?

The investment giant, which is renowned for consistently recording daily streaks of inflows, has broken the trend today with a massive amount of outflows recorded in both of its ETF products.

Although the nature of the major transaction was not clearly stated, such large-scale transfers to exchanges have often been interpreted as potential sell-offs.

As such, it appears that BlackRock may be taking profits amid recent market volatility, as the market has continued to record massive price declines led by Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Nonetheless, the transaction has fueled speculation among traders about whether this signals the start of a broader institutional offloading of crypto holdings, as BlackRock is renowned as a leader in crypto institutional engagements.

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While the major move was executed at a time when investors have seen their crypto bets suffer notable losses, market participants are watching closely to see whether this sell activity could trigger further downside pressure on BTC and ETH prices.

Oftentimes, large institutional transfers of this size have had noticeable short-term market impacts on the performance of the cryptocurrency involved; however, they can also be part of broader strategic redistribution of the portfolio rather than an attempt to exit the market.

Nonetheless, the prices of BTC and ETH have continued to decrease after the major transaction was noticed, sparking curiosity among investors if there was still hope for a broader market rebound.