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Crypto Bulletin – Week 403

It was a particularly quiet week in the world of cryptocurrencies, both in terms of markets and news. Bitcoin is trading slightly higher compared to last week, but without leaving its current consolidation channel. This behavior may seem somewhat disappointing while gold, on the other hand, continues to set new records. The main altcoins, however, are managing to stand out.

This muted performance over the week has not diminished the optimism of several analysts. Tom Lee, managing partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors, recently reaffirmed his bullish stance on Bitcoin’s trajectory. According to him, the cryptocurrency could reach the symbolic $200,000 mark by the end of the year. This outlook rests mainly on the possibility of an interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve, scheduled for its September 17 monetary policy meeting. Lee believes that digital assets, like Ethereum, are highly sensitive to monetary decisions, making this date a potential turning point. At the time of his comments, Bitcoin was trading just above $112,000, below its record high of more than $124,000 set the previous month. The recent pullback was driven by macroeconomic uncertainties, notably persistent inflation and concerns about the U.S. economy. Despite these hurdles, Lee maintains that the trend remains favorable and that a Fed pivot could reignite upward momentum.

Tom Lee is no stranger to ambitious forecasts. In the past, some of his calls have been correct about overall market direction, even if his timelines were not always met. For example, in 2018 he predicted Bitcoin would reach $125,000 before 2022, while in reality, it peaked at around $47,000 that year after briefly touching $69,000 in 2021 before crashing. Historically, periods of lower interest rates have largely benefited the crypto market due to greater liquidity in financial markets. However, the Fed has so far resisted political pressure, notably from Donald Trump, to cut rates, preferring to keep them elevated to curb inflation. Should monetary easing materialize, it could give Bitcoin fresh momentum and, according to Lee, allow it to reach unprecedented heights.

Gemini, the exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, is preparing to go public and has secured significant backing: Nasdaq plans to invest $50 million in the company at the time of its IPO. According to Reuters, the investment will be made via a private placement and aims to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two entities. As the deal is not yet officially announced, it could still change depending on market conditions. This collaboration opens the door to promising synergies. Gemini’s institutional clients will gain access to Nasdaq’s Calypso platform for trading collateral management, while Nasdaq users will benefit from Gemini’s custody and staking services. Such complementarity aims to boost Gemini’s attractiveness amid growing competition in the crypto sector.

As part of its IPO, Gemini plans to offer nearly 16.7 million Class A common shares, priced between $17 and $19 each. The goal is to raise more than $300 million, which would make Gemini the third publicly traded crypto exchange in the U.S., after Coinbase and Bullish. The stock is expected to begin trading under the ticker GEMI on Nasdaq this Friday. However, Gemini’s financial situation raises concerns. The firm reported a net loss of $282.5 million for the first half of 2025, compared to $41.4 million the year before. Its adjusted results also shifted from a $32 million profit to a $113.5 million loss. In 2024, Gemini posted a $158.5 million loss on $142.2 million in revenue. These difficulties contrast with its ambitious plans, but the company is banking on its brand and the sector’s momentum to ensure a successful listing.

At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to Vladimir Putin, claimed that the United States is using gold and cryptocurrencies to reduce its massive $35 trillion debt. According to him, Washington is attempting to rewrite the rules of these markets to restore confidence in the dollar, while shifting the burden of this strategy onto the rest of the world. Kobyakov suggested that the U.S. could convert part of its debt into stablecoins, then devalue it to start afresh. He summarized this approach by stating that the debt could be “placed in the crypto cloud, devalued, then erased,” presenting it as a threat for those who view digital assets as a promising alternative.

This perspective fits into a broader debate: some industry figures believe the U.S. debt crisis could actually benefit cryptocurrencies. Leaders such as Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong argue that this dynamic could pave the way for Bitcoin’s adoption as a global reserve currency. In the U.S., regulation is also leaning toward greater integration, with the recent passage of the GENIUS Act, which sets out a framework for the issuance and use of stablecoins. Despite its criticism, Russia is also exploring these technologies. A state-owned weapons manufacturer is developing a ruble-backed stablecoin, set to launch on the Tron blockchain. Moreover, while Moscow banned crypto payments in 2022, it has since become more open to digital settlements, particularly for international trade and wealthy investors. This ambivalence highlights the strategic role that cryptocurrencies and stablecoins now play in global economic rivalries.

CoinShares, a European digital asset manager based in Jersey, has announced its plan to go public in the U.S. via Nasdaq, through a deal with Vine Hill Capital Investment Corp. The transaction values the company at around $1.2 billion pre-money and marks a milestone for a firm managing nearly $10 billion in assets. Until now listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, CoinShares plans to delist there once its U.S. IPO is completed. For Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO and co-founder of CoinShares, this is more than just a change of listing venue. He views it as a strategic shift to strengthen the company’s global leadership ambitions, amid a U.S. regulatory environment increasingly favorable to the crypto sector. The move follows the acquisition of Valkyrie Funds last year, which strengthened CoinShares’ presence in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

This U.S. listing comes amid a broader wave of crypto firms going public. Recent examples include Bullish, backed by Peter Thiel, which debuted on the New York Stock Exchange, and Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, which had a highly successful IPO in June. Other companies like Gemini and Figure Technologies are also preparing to follow suit. The current political climate, marked by Donald Trump’s strong support for the industry, is fueling this trend. The U.S. president has launched several personal ventures in the digital asset space, including his own Solana-based meme coin and a platform called World Liberty Financial. His sons are also involved, holding shares in American Bitcoin, a mining company that recently went public on Nasdaq, initially soaring over 80% before retreating, highlighting the sector’s volatility.

SOL Strategies, a Canadian company specializing in Solana treasury and infrastructure, has received approval to list its common shares on Nasdaq. The firm expects to begin trading on September 9 under the ticker STKE. It will remain listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under HODL but will delist from the U.S. OTCQB Venture Market, with those shareholders automatically transferred to the Nasdaq listing. For CEO Leah Wald, this milestone represents a strategic step: it opens access to deeper capital markets, enhances institutional visibility, and fosters new partnerships. For investors, it promises greater liquidity, broader participation, and the credibility associated with Nasdaq.

The firm intends to leverage this listing to expand its Solana validator operations and attract more institutional interest. As of August 31, SOL Strategies held 435,064 SOL worth about $89 million, along with more than 3 million staked SOL valued at roughly $741 million. This makes the company the third-largest publicly traded SOL treasury holder, behind Upexi and DeFi Development Corp. On the market side, the announcement sparked an immediate reaction: HODL shares on the Canadian exchange jumped nearly 20% to 10.21 CAD (around $7.37). This momentum adds to strong financial performance, with annualized quarterly revenue reaching $8.7 million in Q2 2025, up from $3.5 million at the end of 2024. For Wald, the Nasdaq listing places SOL Strategies alongside the most innovative public companies and underscores its ambition to secure a leading role in the crypto ecosystem.

Strategy Inc., led by Michael Saylor (formerly MicroStrategy), announced another massive Bitcoin purchase: 1,955 BTC for $217.4 million, at an average price of $111,196 per coin. With this acquisition, the company now holds 638,460 BTC worth about $71.5 billion, maintaining its position as the largest publicly traded corporate Bitcoin holder in the world. The purchase came just days after Strategy was denied inclusion in the S&P 500 index, a spot that went instead to Robinhood, whose stock jumped 7%, while Strategy’s fell nearly 3% in after-hours trading. Despite this setback, analysts like QCP Capital highlighted Bitcoin’s resilience, as it held above $110,000 throughout.

The purchase was funded through the company’s at-the-market share offering program, which sold over 591,000 common shares for roughly $200.5 million, supplemented by $16.9 million in preferred stock sales. According to SEC filings, Strategy now boasts a Bitcoin yield of 25.8% year-to-date for 2025. This move aligns with a broader wave of institutional accumulation. Japan’s Metaplanet, for example, added 136 BTC worth $15.2 million, bringing its holdings to over 20,000 BTC. Meanwhile, El Salvador marked the fourth anniversary of its Bitcoin legal tender law by adding 21 BTC to its reserves. Altogether, corporate Bitcoin treasuries now exceed one million BTC, forming an increasingly solid base of buyers to support the market.

Bitcoin briefly crossed $113,000 ahead of Tuesday’s Wall Street open, sparking renewed optimism among traders who see it as a potential step toward retesting all-time highs. After holding the $110,000 support over the weekend, the asset regained both its 20-day simple moving average and the critical $112,000 level, which many analysts view as positive signals for a new upward phase. Michaël van de Poppe drew parallels with gold, which has recently set fresh records, suggesting Bitcoin could follow a similar trajectory. Other traders, such as Crypto Tony, confirmed that crossing $113,000 makes for a favorable entry point into long positions. Still, not everyone shares this enthusiasm: some, like Ted Pillows, warned about weak spot-market demand, raising doubts about the sustainability of the rebound.

Order books show a concentration of sell orders just above current levels, extending up to $114,500, which could form a significant technical barrier. Analysts note this area may attract high-leverage short positions, potentially stalling momentum. Despite these hurdles, macroeconomic conditions may provide support: the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates next week, a move that many believe could fuel renewed bullish momentum and bring Bitcoin back to its highs. Even so, analysts caution that a pullback to support zones remains a constant possibility in such a volatile market.

The presented information is as of August 9th, 2025, unless otherwise indicated and is provided for information purposes only. The information comes from sources that we believe are reliable, but not guaranteed. This statement does not provide financial, legal or tax advice. Rivemont Investments are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information or for any loss or damage suffered.