Per CryptoQuant’s second September weekly report, Ethereum’s latest uptrend from about $1,400 in April to a high near $5,000 has unfolded alongside heavier allocations in funds and whale accumulation, a pullback in exchange deposits, and activity peaks across transactions, addresses, and smart-contract calls.

Ethereum trades below a realized price band of $5,200 while fund holdings and on-chain use hit records.

The report frames the next phase around whether price can clear the realized price upper band that capped prior advances.

According to CryptoQuant, Ethereum fund holdings, driven largely by U.S. spot ETFs, have reached 6.7 million ETH, nearly double since April. Addresses holding 10,000 to 100,000 ETH added roughly 6 million ETH over the same period, with this cohort now at 20.6 million ETH, a new high.

The “smart money” share embedded in those balances means a material portion of demand is already in place, compressing the room for momentum to do the heavy lifting without fresh flows. The charts on page 2 of the report show both the fund-holding curve and cohort balances making new peaks.

Staking has climbed in parallel.

The total ETH staked stands at around 36.2 million, up by roughly 2.5 million ETH since May. The rising validator count reduces circulating supply and supports a tighter float, yet it also sequesters capital that would otherwise meet new demand if price drifts or volumes thin out.

That mix of lower float and higher commitment from validators helps explain why spot market pressure can ease even when price consolidates.

On-chain throughput has expanded. Total daily transactions peaked at about 1.7 million on August 16, and active addresses reached roughly 800,000 on August 5, both new highs, per the network dashboards. Smart-contract calls surpassed 12 million daily for the first time, marking the heaviest programmatic use of the base layer so far.

Elevated usage across DeFi, stablecoin transfers, and token activity builds fee revenue and reinforces the settlement-layer role that underpins ETH’s cash-flow and utility narratives. If activity cools, volatility often follows as price discovers the correct multiple on lower throughput.

Spot-side supply pressure has eased.

CryptoQuant’s exchange-inflow series shows deposits to centralized venues falling from roughly 1.8 million ETH in mid-August to about 750,000 ETH per day after the early-September price high.

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Fewer coins moving to exchanges typically line up with thinner realized selling, which aids stability during retests. Low inflows can also coincide with quieter order books, so prices can travel more on smaller trades if a catalyst lands.

The technical fulcrum is the realized price upper band near $5,200. CryptoQuant plots that level as the region that repelled advances in 2020–2021 and again in early 2024. ETH trades around $4,400 in the report window, so the market sits one step below a threshold with a track record of pausing uptrends.

Clearing that zone would shift trading into territory where realized holders, on average, sit deeper in profit, and where supply forces depend more on whether newer inflows outpace long-dated distribution.

The flow picture offers a simple checklist for the weeks ahead.

Fund holdings are already at a record, so incremental net creations matter more than absolute size. Whale cohorts hold over 20 million ETH, so net additions from this group carry outsized weight versus retail churn.

Staking is at 36 million ETH, so any acceleration or slowdown in validator deposits will change the liquid float at the margin. Exchange inflows are subdued compared with August, so watch whether that series stays compressed or reverts as price revisits prior highs. All four lines are visible across the report’s holdings, staking, network, and inflow charts.

For valuation context, CryptoQuant ties the April-to-September advance to a dual engine of institutional participation and on-chain throughput. That framing pairs the top-down demand capture of ETFs with bottom-up settlement use across DeFi and tokens.

It also leaves room for periods where activity outruns price or vice versa. In those phases, realized bands and exchange-flow gauges help separate consolidation from distribution, especially when positioning is already heavy among large holders.

The near-term setup, therefore, revolves around whether ETH holds its footing into a second attempt at the realized band, with funds, whales, staking, and activity providing most of the signal on whether the cycle keeps its pace or pauses.

According to the report, the realized price upper band near $5,200 remains the level in focus.

Key points:

• Bitcoin nears three-week highs as US CPI data matches expectations.

• Plenty of market participants see Bitcoin heading higher as aresult, perhaps after a dip to trap late longs.

• CPI has seen BTC price fakeouts in recent months.

Bitcoin (BTC) saw telltale volatility at Thursday’s Wall Street open as US macro data furthered interest-rate cut odds.

CPI bullseye sees calls for Bitcoin going “higher”

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD spiking to $114,731.

The August print of the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in as expected, complementing a marked cooling of the Producer Price Index (PPI) the day prior.

While CPI was at its highest since January, the headline figure was instead initial jobless claims, which saw their largest numbers since October 2021 at 263,000 versus 235,000 expected.

Weekly jobless claims just hit 263,000. That’s the highest weekly number since October 2021. pic.twitter.com/5hoLBpNCEM

— Josh Schafer (@_JoshSchafer) September 11, 2025

Amid ongoing concerns about labor market weakness, bets of the Fed cutting rates at its Sept. 17 meeting only strengthened after the CPI release, with markets even seeing an 11% chance of the cut being more than the minimum 0.25%.

“Markets are now pricing-in 75 basis points of rate cuts by year-end,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter noted in a follow-up thread on X. 

“While CPI inflation continues to rise, the labor market is simply too weak to ignore. Next week will be a big week.”

Crypto commentators saw the case for higher prices next as Bitcoin passed $114,500 for the first time since Aug. 24.

“PPI much lower than expected, CPI as expected,” popular trader Jelle responded in an X post. 

“Conclusion: Inflation not as bad as expected – bring on the rate cut later this month. News now behind us, time to resume the scheduled programme: higher.”

BTC price risks repeating US inflation data trap

BTC price forecasts also stressed the importance of recent support reclaims.

Related: Bitcoin price can hit $160K in October as MACD golden cross returns

For fellow trader BitBull, flipping $113,500 from resistance to support was the key low-time frame event, which opened the door to a rematch with all-time highs.

$BTC has reclaimed a very crucial level.

The $113.5K level which acted as a resistance has now been flipped into support.

Now the next key level for Bitcoin is to reclaim $117K level, and a new ATH will be confirmed. pic.twitter.com/3QdrCtH4ho

— BitBull (@AkaBull_) September 11, 2025

Some perspectives nonetheless saw a fresh support retest coming before a return to price discovery.

Trader Skew argued that the market would attempt to trap and liquidate longs that entered on the CPI release.

“One more liquidation before higher,” part of an X post suggested, noting 2,000 BTC of liquidity appearing on exchange order books.

Crypto investor and entrepreneur Ted Pillows went further, suggesting that BTC/USD would copy previous CPI behavior to first rise then plumb fresh lows.

“In the last 3 CPI data releases, Bitcoin rallied before CPI data and dumped right after the data release,” he observed alongside an explanatory chart. 

“This time, BTC has rallied before today’s CPI data release, which means a dump could happen.”

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

MEXC, one of the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchanges, reported record growth in the second quarter of 2025 after rolling out a zero-fee campaign on high-demand futures pairs.

The bold strategy, designed to reduce barriers to entry and capture market momentum, comes as the broader digital asset market continues to embrace stablecoins amid broader crypto adoption.

Zero-Fee Push Aligns with Market Focus

According to the CoinGecko Q2 2025 Crypto Industry Report, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization rose 24% quarter-on-quarter, while the stablecoin market hit an all-time high of $243.1B. $USDC expanded by $1.4B in circulation, highlighting investor appetite for compliant, dollar-backed assets.

MEXC seized on the trend by eliminating trading fees on selected $USDC-margined futures pairs. The initiative gave traders cost-free access to fast-growing markets while positioning the exchange at the center of the industry’s shifting narrative.

By zeroing in on where the liquidity was flowing and removing cost friction, MEXC amplified user participation and market depth across key pairs.

Winners Among Trading Pairs

The exchange’s campaign produced notable winners across both mainstream and emerging assets:

• $TON/$USDC captured 42% market share in its category.
• $ETH/$USDT, the flagship mainstream trading pair, secured a 33% share.
• $ONDO/$USDC and $POPCAT/$USDC each posted more than 5% market share gains.

The results underscored how MEXC’s mix of blue-chip tokens, infrastructure plays, and high-risk meme coins allowed the platform to serve a broad spectrum of trading appetites.

$ETH and $TON attracted institutional-minded investors, while $POPCAT drew in speculative retail traders and meme coin degens chasing volatility.

From Meme Frenzy to Mainstream Focus

The strong quarterly performance also reflected a broader pivot in market psychology. In the first quarter, the meme coin market profited from tokens like Dogwifhat, Brett, and Book of Meme surging in popularity.

But as US regulators passed crypto-friendly rules and fostered a more welcoming blockchain framework, investors redirected their attention to infrastructure upgrades, DeFi applications, and regulatory-friendly assets in Q2.

MEXC’s zero-fee campaign mirrored this change in sentiment. By offering cost-free access to sectors aligned with the new narrative, the exchange effectively turned user preference into trading volume.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Growth

The zero-fee initiative not only lowered trading costs but also created a feedback loop of higher participation, deeper liquidity, and growing market share.

The campaign laid the groundwork for the exchange’s next phase of expansion, particularly in futures markets where competition among global platforms remains fierce.

With over 40M users spanning 170 countries, MEXC has built a reputation as one of the industry’s most accessible exchanges. The platform frequently lists trending tokens, provides promotional airdrops, and maintains one of the lowest fee structures in the sector.

Its focus on simplicity – under the motto ‘Your Easiest Way to Crypto’ – has helped it build a strong following among both retail traders and more seasoned investors.

Industry Context: Stablecoins and DeFi in the Spotlight

The emphasis on $USDC-margined pairs comes at a time when stablecoins are increasingly viewed as the backbone of the crypto economy. Beyond functioning as a liquidity layer, stablecoins are now integral to payment rails, cross-border settlement, and decentralized finance platforms.

The $243.1 billion stablecoin market cap milestone in Q2 reflects both resilience and evolution.

The sector is expanding not just in raw numbers but also in diversity, with compliant tokens like $USDC gaining traction alongside algorithmic and yield-bearing alternatives.

MEXC’s decision to highlight $ONDO/$USDC as part of its zero-fee campaign reflects how exchanges are now competing not just on volume but also on narrative alignment with emerging sectors.

DeFi has also continued to capture institutional interest, with projects like Ondo Finance ($ONDO) demonstrating new ways to bridge traditional financial instruments with blockchain technology.

MEXC Looks to the Future

The strong quarterly showing cements MEXC’s status as one of the most competitive exchanges in the futures market.

The zero-fee futures initiative may prove to be more than just a short-term promotional boost. By positioning itself as the go-to platform for traders chasing the most relevant narratives, the exchange has built a strategic foundation that could sustain growth well into 2026 and beyond.

As always, do your own research. This isn’t financial advice.

Authored by Bogdan Patru, Bitcoinist – https://bitcoinist.com/mexcs-zero-fee-futures-drive-q2-growth-stablecoins-defi

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

Key takeaways:

• Bitcoin needs a weekly close above $114,000 to avoid a deeper correction and reaffirm bullish strength.

• Failure to hold $112,000 and a bear flag breakdown could trigger drop to $103,700.

Bitcoin (BTC) may avoid an “ugly” correction to lower levels if BTC/USD ends the week above $114,000, according to traders and analysts.

Why Bitcoin price must reclaim $114,000

Bitcoin price is heading for its third consecutive week of losses, 11% below its Aug. 14 all-time high of $124,500, per data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView. 

Bitcoin dropped below the crucial level of $114,000, a level that has supported the price over the previous six weeks, as shown in the chart below. 

Related: Bitcoin megaphone pattern targets $260K as BTC price screams ‘oversold’

BTC price must flip this level into support to confirm the strength of the uptrend, according to trader and YouTuber Sam Price.

“Bitcoin bulls are defending $109K support nicely,” Price said in an X post on Thursday, adding:

“A weekly close above $114K would be big.”

The long wick below $109,000 signalled “solid buy pressure,“ suggesting that bulls are aggressively defending this support level.

Analyst Rekt Capital said that it was important for Bitcoin to reclaim $114,000 as support to avoid a prolonged correction period.

“Turning $114K into new resistance would prolong the pullback period,” the analyst said in a Thursday X post, adding:

 “This has been a cycle of downside deviation, so all it comes down to is Bitcoin Weekly Closing above $114K for bullish bias.”

Bitcoin bears want to pull price down to $103,000

As Cointelegraph reported, Bitcoin’s price outlook hinged on holding above $112,000. 

Similar sentiments were shared by MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe, who spotted Bitcoin trading at $112,800 on Thursday and said that the support at $112,000 was “crucial” for BTC price. 

“If Bitcoin can’t hold above $112K, we’ll probably face a very ugly correction across the board.”

Bitcoin had dipped below this support as of Friday, validating a bear flag on the four-hour chart, as shown.

A bear flag suggests a continuation of the bearish momentum, with sellers taking control.

Note that the price was rejected from the upper boundary of the flag, which is around $114,000, and has dropped below the lower boundary, which coincides with $112,000.

The measured move target from the pattern suggests a potential decline toward $103,700, representing a 6% drop from the current level.

The relative strength index remains below the mid-line, confirming the bearish momentum.

Liquidation data shows bid clusters all the way down to $104,000, suggesting that BTC price is likely to sink deeper to grab liquidity around this level. 

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-traders-btc-must-close-week-above-114k-to-avoid-ugly-correction/feed/ 0 55711 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cftc-clears-path-for-foreign-crypto-access-to-us-traders/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cftc-clears-path-for-foreign-crypto-access-to-us-traders/#respond Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:46:38 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cftc-clears-path-for-foreign-crypto-access-to-us-traders/

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has introduced a new set of rules that could allow international crypto exchanges to legally engage with US customers.

On August 28, the agency published an update to its registration framework for foreign commodity exchanges.

This update applies to both traditional and cryptocurrency markets. It outlines how overseas companies can receive approval to offer services to American users.

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Acting CFTC Chair Caroline D. Pham emphasized that this step addresses confusion created by past regulatory methods. Pham stated that the new policy provides companies with a clear path back into the American market.

She also referred to the update as part of the CFTC’s effort to meet the goals of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Under the previous regulatory environment, US-based exchanges were restricted in the types of services they could provide. For example, they faced limits on offering perpetual futures, leverage, and staking rewards.

As a result, exchanges such as Binance

$12.32B

, Bybit

$4.12B

, and Bitget

$4.5B

, which operate outside the US, have become leaders in the crypto derivatives market.

Pham also shared in a post on X that the CFTC’s decision could help reconnect global exchanges with US markets. She noted that this may influence how these markets evolve in the future.

The announcement came after Kristin Johnson revealed she would be stepping down from her position at the CFTC on August 26. What did she say? Read the full story.

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