Ethereum price surges 6% to $2,800 as shorts suffer amid $500M crypto liquidation

  • Ethereum’s price rose 6% to above $2,800, driven by Bitcoin’s rally to $112,000 and optimism around ETH whale activity.
  • The gains came as over $500 million in leveraged positions, including $139 million in ETH, were liquidated.
  • Institutional interest and increased buying could drive Ethereum’s price higher.

Ethereum (ETH) rose a decent 6% in 24 hours to reach highs above $2,800, with the top altcoin buoyed by a broader market rally.

This is after Bitcoin (BTC) soared to a new all-time high above $112,000.

However, the sharp price movements triggered widespread liquidations, with over $500 million in leveraged positions wiped out across major exchanges.

Most of these were shorts, with cryptocurrencies rising alongside stocks on Wednesday.

Ethereum hits $2,800 as crypto sees market momentum

Ethereum’s climb to $2,821 in early trading on Thursday came as Bitcoin’s breakout above $112k lifted the broader digital assets space.

It’s this bullish sentiment that has ETH price up more than 6% and on the cusp of a breakout above $3,000.

According to data from CoinGecko, Ethereum’s trading volume spiked by 69% to over $29.8 billion, reflecting heightened market activity.

Apart from a broader market upswing, ETH is benefiting from regulatory developments and the anticipation of what is next for the top altcoin.

Whales and institutions are aggressively buying ETH, with Abraxas Capital withdrawing 29,741 ETH worth $81 million from crypto exchanges Binance and Kraken.

Lookonchain shows the transactions occurred within the last 12 hours.

Another wallet withdrew over 25k ETH tokens worth over $70 million from Kraken.

Notably, SharpLink Gaming, a company that holds over 205,634 ETH worth over $575 million, added to its haul with another 5,072 ETH worth over $13.5 million.

Over $500 million in liquidation signals market volatility

As Bitcoin and Ethereum rallied, the broader crypto market experienced over $500 million in liquidations, largely impacting leveraged traders who were caught off guard by the sharp price moves.

Data from Coinglass shows that total liquidations surged 285% in the past 24 hours, reaching over $538 million.

The bulk of the losses came from short positions, as traders betting against the market’s upward momentum faced significant losses.

Ethereum alone accounted for $156 million in liquidations, with $139 million of that tied to short positions, according to Coinglass.

Despite the liquidations, market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with institutional inflows into crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and stablecoin reserves signaling sustained demand.

As Bitcoin continues to set new benchmarks, Ethereum’s role as a foundational blockchain for decentralized applications ensures its relevance in the evolving crypto landscape.

Currently, the Ethereum price has a key support zone near $2,500.

Meanwhile, a symmetrical triangle pattern suggests upward potential and is eyeing the $2,850 resistance.

If price breaks above $3k, it could target the $4k and all-time high levels.

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Bitcoin hits record high of $112,055; crypto stocks rally in response

Bitcoin has once again smashed through its previous records, surging past the $112,000 mark for the first time in its history to set a new all-time high on July 9.

The milestone represents a significant achievement for the leading cryptocurrency as it continues to recover from the market aftershocks of US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and solidifies its position in an evolving financial landscape.

As the broader crypto market continues its recovery, Bitcoin (BTC) hit a new record high of $112,055 on Tuesday. This fresh peak surpasses the previous all-time high of $111,970.17, which was set on May 22.

The digital asset has been trading in a volatile range since then, with the area around the $110,000 level proving to be a significant psychological and technical barrier.

Over the past several weeks, each time Bitcoin’s price neared this level, it was met with a combination of profit-taking from existing holders and increased pressure from short-sellers.

This latest decisive break suggests a new wave of bullish momentum has taken hold.

The journey of Bitcoin, first introduced in a 2008 white paper by its pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has been remarkable.

Launched in 2009 as the world’s first decentralized cryptocurrency, it has grown to become the largest digital asset, with a current market capitalization of $2.18 trillion.

At the time of this report, Bitcoin accounted for nearly 65% of the total crypto market capitalization of $3.4 trillion.

From crossing the $100 mark in April 2013 to the $1,000 mark in November of that same year, its path has been marked by staggering growth.

It first hit the $10,000 level in November 2017 and reached a memorable peak of $69,000 in November 2021.

Following President Trump’s victory in his second presidential election, it set a new all-time high of $76,999 in early November 2024, before crossing the landmark $100,000 target in early December 2024.

The institutional bedrock: a maturing market

A key factor underpinning Bitcoin’s current strength is its growing acceptance within the traditional financial system.

With the Trump administration signaling its validation of Bitcoin through its plan to create a strategic US Bitcoin reserve, and with the continued institutional adoption led by Wall Street giants such as BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), the “king coin” appears to have found a more secure home, at least for now, within the US financial ecosystem.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, a prime example of this institutional integration, now currently owns 3.5% of the total supply of Bitcoin.

The success of this and other spot Bitcoin ETFs has had a profound effect on institutional investment and has likely influenced the broader market optimism.

A quiet build-up, a bullish setup?

While the new all-time high is a headline-grabbing event, some market watchers have noted that the build-up to this moment has been relatively slow and quiet, which they interpret as a potentially bullish setup for what’s to come.

“Crypto feels so quiet, [while] bitcoin is ready to move,” wrote Charlie Morris, chief investment officer at ByteTree, in a recent report.

Morris pointed out that Bitcoin’s volatility has been steadily declining, a pattern that has historically preceded large upward price movements.

This sentiment was reflected in the performance of crypto-related stocks. Shares of Strategy (MSTR) were higher by 4.4%, trading at $414, just a few dollars shy of its highest level in 2025 (though still well below its record high of $543 set late last year).

Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) was ahead by 5%, and Bitcoin miners MARA Holdings (MARA) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) were both up by roughly 6%, all riding the wave of Bitcoin’s record-breaking achievement.

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Donald Trump Jr. backs social media startup aiming to become a crypto powerhouse

  • Trump Jr. invests $4M in crypto-focused startup Thumzup despite minimal revenue.
  • Thumzup allocates up to 90% of liquid assets to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

  • Eric Trump joins crypto-heavy Metaplanet; both brothers advise Dominari Securities.

Donald Trump Jr. has sparked fresh interest with a $4 million stake in Thumzup Media Corp., a little-known Los Angeles startup navigating the crowded world of social media and advertising tech.

Thumzup, which pays everyday users to promote brands on Instagram, hasn’t made much noise financially as it reported just $151 in revenue and over $2 million in losses in the first quarter of 2025.

Still, the company has become a curious symbol of a rising trend: businesses stockpiling cryptocurrency as part of their corporate strategy.

Trump Jr.’s 350,000 shares’ worth move seems less about short-term earnings and more about backing a new kind of digital play.

Thumzup’s board has greenlit a bold shift in strategy: allowing up to 90% of the company’s liquid assets to be held in Bitcoin.

As of early July, the company held 19.106 BTC, roughly $2.1 million at current market value.

While the “Bitcoin treasury” playbook has been popularized by companies like MicroStrategy, Thumzup appears to be taking it a step further.

After raising $6 million in a recent private funding round, the board gave the go-ahead to diversify its crypto holdings to include Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ripple, and USD Coin.

Company leaders say the expanded portfolio is designed not just to hedge against Bitcoin’s volatility, but also to tap into the broader upside of the crypto market.

It also opens the door for accepting crypto payments from Thumzup’s growing base of over 1,000 advertisers.

Trump family’s growing interest in crypto

The Trump family is making deeper inroads into the crypto world.

Both Donald Trump Jr. and his brother Eric are advising Dominari Securities, the firm that led Thumzup’s recent funding round and began investing in a Bitcoin ETF earlier this year.

Eric has also taken a seat on the board of Metaplanet, a Japanese company that pivoted from the hospitality business to becoming a major Bitcoin holder.

At the same time, Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, recently locked in $2.3 billion in funding, much of it reportedly aimed at Bitcoin-related investments.

The Trump family’s deepening ties to cryptocurrency mark a sharp shift from their earlier stance. Once a vocal skeptic, former President Donald Trump now says he wants to make the US the “crypto capital of the world.”

For the Trumps, embracing crypto isn’t just about financial opportunity, it’s also a strategic move to connect with a growing base of digital asset enthusiasts and stay relevant in a fast-changing economic landscape.

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Elon Musk’s tweet reignites interest in Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) memecoin

  • Elon Musk’s tweet has triggered a sharp rally in Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) memecoin.
  • PNUT trading volume has also surged over 150% to $273 million.
  • Analysts predict a potential 654% breakout for PNUT.

Elon Musk has once again ignited a crypto market frenzy, this time by reviving interest in an unlikely memecoin, Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT).

A single post on X, formerly Twitter, triggered a sharp rally in the price of the Solana-based token, causing both volume and open interest to surge in a matter of hours.

The coin, previously flying under the radar, soared after Musk made a veiled yet sarcastic remark referencing a controversial incident involving a squirrel named Peanut and a broader jab at US authorities.

The viral tweet by Elon Musk that sent PNUT flying

The sudden spike in PNUT’s price came shortly after Musk posted on X, expressing his frustration that no one from Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged list had been arrested, while also referencing the euthanisation of a squirrel named Peanut.

His mention of Peanut reignited sympathy and outrage from a previous incident during the Biden presidency, when the squirrel was reportedly taken from its owner and put to sleep, sparking widespread backlash and recurring mentions by Musk.

In his latest post, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO once again used the word “Peanut,” a move that historically precedes market reactions among memecoin enthusiasts.

This particular tweet caused the PNUT token to leap over 10%, peaking at $0.235 before slightly pulling back to around $0.2193.

Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) volume spikes as traders pile in

Speculative interest exploded shortly after Musk’s post, with PNUT’s daily trading volume surging by over 150% to reach $273 million.

This dramatic increase highlights the strong influence Musk continues to wield over digital assets, especially low-cap, narrative-driven tokens.

Open interest in PNUT futures also rose by 14%, hitting $132 million, suggesting that traders are becoming increasingly bullish about the coin’s short-term trajectory.

The trading frenzy comes despite the fact that PNUT has no formal utility, roadmap, or protocol backing — its popularity rests entirely on its meme appeal and Elon Musk’s unpredictable support.

Analyst predicts massive upside potential for PNUT

At the time of writing, Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) was trading at $0.2193, reflecting a modest gain of 1.3% over the past 24 hours but still far below its all-time high of $2.44 recorded in November 2024.

The coin’s price has fluctuated within a daily range of $0.2128 to $0.2386, with its seven-day range stretching from $0.2104 to $0.2536.

Despite the recent rally, the token remains down more than 90% from its peak, though it has gained over 580% from its all-time low of $0.03187.

While some observers dismissed the rally as another short-lived meme coin bubble, technical analysts have started taking notice of PNUT’s price action.

Crypto analyst Javon Marks shared his outlook on X, projecting a potential 654% rally that could see the token break out toward a target of $1.7907.

According to Marks, key indicators suggest that bullish momentum remains intact, setting the stage for further gains if sentiment holds.

This forecast, though speculative, has attracted fresh attention from retail traders eager to ride the next meme coin wave.

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South Korea’s crypto reform plans offer tax cuts and funding access to companies

  • The move would give digital asset firms access to tax breaks and state funding.
  • Dunamu paid ₩24 billion in taxes after losing venture status in 2018.
  • Policy is part of President Lee’s pro-crypto economic strategy.

South Korea is moving to formally recognise crypto businesses as venture companies, a decision that could give the industry access to tax relief, government-backed loans, and startup funding for the first time.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has introduced a proposal to reclassify virtual asset firms, removing them from a list of restricted industries that includes gambling and nightlife.

If passed, the policy would reverse a long-standing rule that has blocked crypto startups from the country’s thriving venture ecosystem.

This legislative push follows years of regulatory exclusion, with one major flashpoint in 2018. Dunamu, the parent company of crypto exchange Upbit, lost its venture status and was forced to pay ₩24 billion ($18 million) in taxes.

Dunamu challenged the decision in court but lost, highlighting the financial consequences of South Korea’s previous stance.

The ministry now says it wants to acknowledge the innovative and entrepreneurial qualities of crypto companies, bringing them in line with other emerging technology sectors.

New law aligns with Seoul’s broader pro-crypto pivot

The proposal marks a significant departure from previous policy. Until now, crypto-related businesses have been grouped with sectors barred from receiving government support.

The proposed revision would remove virtual asset firms from this restricted category, allowing both new and existing startups to register as venture businesses without risking their certification.

The ministry argues that the new framework will expand South Korea’s venture ecosystem and promote growth in the blockchain and crypto industries.

Public feedback on the draft law is being collected until 18 August 2025, signalling the beginning of a formal legislative process.

If enacted, it would enable crypto firms to access the same support tools—such as tax cuts, subsidies, and loan guarantees—that are currently available to other recognised startups.

The change could also benefit companies that already hold venture status and want to expand into crypto, which previously risked losing their designation if they added digital asset operations to their business models.

President Lee’s crypto policies begin taking shape

The venture company proposal is one of several initiatives under President Lee Jae Myung’s new administration. Since taking office last month, Lee has made digital assets a cornerstone of his economic strategy.

His government is supporting the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exploring a won-based stablecoin, and reviewing the ongoing ban on institutional trading of cryptocurrencies.

Major South Korean banks are already responding. Some have filed trademarks for stablecoin products, while others are working on blockchain infrastructure and digital wallet services.

Industry legitimacy and investment may follow

The proposed legal amendment could have wide-reaching effects beyond tax incentives.

Recognising crypto firms as venture companies may lend credibility to an industry that has long operated on the fringes of formal finance in South Korea.

Greater legitimacy could attract institutional investors, encourage new business formation, and reduce compliance-related friction.

It may also align South Korea with other markets advancing similar policies, such as the European Union’s MiCA framework and Japan’s reforms to allow limited crypto fundraising.

With venture-backed crypto projects potentially gaining access to bank loans and innovation grants, the ecosystem may see accelerated development and a stronger foothold in South Korea’s broader tech economy.

Public submissions on the proposal are currently open, with final decisions expected later this year.

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