Traders eye $117k as BTC holds above $110k; Check forecast

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin climbed above $112k briefly on Wednesday after adding over 1% to its value.
  • Traders are optimistic that BTC will reclaim the $117k resistance level soon.

BTC tops $111k as market sentiments improve

The cryptocurrency market had a rough start to the week, with BTC dropping below the $110k level on Monday. However, the sentiments have improved, with Bitcoin briefly climbing above $112k on Wednesday.

At press time, BTC is trading at $111,907 and could rally higher soon amid positive sentiment in the market. August saw BTC set a new all-time high, but it has struggled since then. Analysts are now looking ahead to September and what the month will offer for the leading cryptocurrency.

In an email with Coinjournal, Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets, YouHodler, stated that the key macro catalysts for crypto heading into September remain U.S. inflation, interest rate policy, and labor market data. The interaction of these factors will largely shape overall risk sentiment and, in turn, the trajectory of both traditional and crypto markets.

While discussing how these events will affect the market, Lienkha stated that,

The recent sell-off reflects a combination of macro conditions and long-term positioning by large holders. We are entering the later stages of the current medium-term bullish cycle, which naturally encourages early investors, particularly those who have held Bitcoin for 10 years or more, to realize significant profits. By contrast, more recent whale entrants are likely to adopt a longer-term horizon, prepared to hold through one or even several future cycles. Overall, while whale activity has contributed, the dominant driver remains macro factors such as yields and shifting expectations around Federal Reserve policy.

BTC eyes $117k despite market volatility

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient, thanks to Bitcoin’s underperformance in recent days. However, the market could turn around soon as the momentum indicators improve.

The RSI of 49 shows that BTC is no longer experiencing heavy selling pressure, with the MACD lines set to confirm a switch to a bullish bias. If the recovery continues, BTC could climb above the 4H TLQ at $113,850 before rallying higher to reclaim the $117k resistance.

BTC/USD 4H Chart

However, the momentum remains bearish, and BTC could face further selling pressure. If that happens, BTC could drop below $110k again and retest the $107k support level.

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Aave’s new Horizon allows institutions to borrow stablecoins using real-world assets

  • The platform facilitates stablecoin loans backed by institutional funds and tokenized Treasurys.
  • Horizon bridges TradFi and DeFi with 24/7 institutional-level borrowing.
  • AAVE gained 12% the previous week.

Aave Labs has launched an advanced platform that enables institutions to borrow stablecoins using real-world assets (RWAs) like collateralized loan debts and US Treasury.

The Horizon borrowing tool marks a key step toward integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi).

Meanwhile, it reflects Aave’s thriving lending market with institutional-grade products that combine DeFi’s efficiency and transparency with the compliance that top financial players seek.

Commenting on the development, Aave founder Stani Kulechov said:

Horizon is built for the growth of tokenized real-world collateral, enabling lending and borrowing at an institutional scale. Horizon delivers the infrastructure and deep liquidity that institutions require to operate on-chain, unlocking 24/7 access, transparency, and more efficient markets.

Businesses and large-scale investors can use Horizon to borrow stablecoins like Ripple’s RLUSD, Aave’s GHO, and USDC using real-world assets like real estate and tokenized US Treasurys as collateral.

How Horizon works

The new platform leverages Aave V3’s permissioned version.

Aave Labs launched the upgraded Aave version three network to serve as its leading lending protocol.

Meanwhile, Horizon enables institutions to interact with the blockchain industry without regulatory obstacles.

All borrowers need to do is deposit tokenized securities, including funds, as collateral and borrow USDC, GHO, and RLUSD.

Notably, stablecoin issuers will handle compliance, determining qualified participants and which assets they can interact with.

Furthermore, Horizon ensures a permissionless stablecoin market, allowing the DeFi landscape to remain composable and connected 24/7.

The timing matters

Horizon’s launch comes as tokenized RWA gains traction as the next phase of blockchain innovation.

Leading businesses, government bonds, and private equity are navigating tokenization to make illiquid assets tradable and more accessible.

Aave will gain increased utility and liquidity as individuals use traditional assets to secure stablecoin loans.

Furthermore, they can free up funds without offloading their long-term holdings, while enjoying blockchain’s 24/7 settlement perks.

Also, Aave DAO can generate additional revenue through Horizon’s undertakings.

Such moves cement Aave’s position as a top player in DeFi lending.

Stablecoins have seen increased traction since the US regulated the sector, and Aave looks ready to pioneer the closely-watched financial revolution.

AAVE price outlook

The alt trades at $327 after gaining more than 12% within the past week.

AAVE has dipped from the August 23 peak of $376 amidst the broader market decline.

Its short-term structure reflects bear dominance, with a 1% price decline in the past 24 hours.

AAVE’s 24-hour trading volume is down 25%.

That reflects faded trader enthusiasm in the digital token.

The 3H MACD highlights dwindling momentum with red histograms.

Also, the Relative Strength Index signals seller control.

Broad market downturn contributes to AAVE’s short-term bearishness.

Crypto analyst and trader Alex Clay highlights a monthly pattern that can propel the altcoin to $1,000 if confirmed.

That would mean an approximately 200% gain from AAVE’s current market price.

However, continued ecosystem development and broader market bull run remain essential for such a rally.

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Mantle price outlook: recovery ahead or more bearish pressure for MNT?

  • Exchange listings on Coinbase and Bybit temporarily lifted the price of Mantle (MNT).
  • MNT’s price has bounced from a key support at $1.23 amid neutral technical signals.
  • Strong TVL and stablecoin growth support Mantle’s long-term outlook.

The price of Mantle (MNT) cryptocurrency has been on a sharp decline for the past week, dropping by over 19%.

However, the token has seen some relief today, rising by over 3% following some major exchange listings.

But the question on the trader’s mind is whether this marks the end of the bearish correction or is it just another break on the bearish pullback.

Exchange listings halt weekly drop

MNT’s recent price uptick comes in the wake of strategic exchange integrations, particularly on Coinbase International and Bybit.

The launch of perpetual futures on Coinbase, combined with Bybit’s EU Launchpool offering, has injected fresh momentum into the market.

Bybit alone accounts for roughly 37% of MNT’s daily trading volume, with VIP perks and a 250,000 USDT prize pool encouraging retail participation.

These listings have temporarily stemmed the weekly decline, demonstrating the power of exchange-driven liquidity in supporting token demand.

Despite this short-term relief, some traders have already taken profits following the new listings, contributing to a continued week-over-week dip of nearly 15%, as noted in recent social media commentary.

However, while exchange promotions can create sudden buying surges, the sustainability of this recovery remains uncertain, especially as open interest on Coinbase futures has declined post-launch.

Mantle (MNT) price analysis

Technically, Mantle has bounced from the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement around $1.14 after a 19% weekly decline.

Mantle price analysis

Technical indicators, including an RSI of 55.48 and a slightly bearish MACD histogram, suggest neutral momentum with room for short-term volatility.

The immediate resistance lies near $1.40, close to MNT’s April 2024 all-time high, and a failure to break above this level could maintain the bearish pressure.

Looking at the broader Mantle ecosystem, the Total Value Locked (TVL) has surged to $460.04 million, fueled by its liquid staking solution mETH, which has become the fourth-largest liquid staking token with $1.69 billion in TVL.

Stablecoin adoption within the Mantle network has also grown significantly, hitting a record $713.8 million, highlighting strong capital inflows and growing DeFi activity.

These technicals and fundamentals point to underlying support for the token, even amid short-term corrections.

MNT price outlook moving forward

Looking ahead, the outlook for Mantle (MNT) balances cautiously between optimism and caution.

On the bullish side, the network’s institutional products, such as the MI4 fund with over $218 million in assets, demonstrate growing confidence from professional investors.

Further adoption is anticipated through Bybit’s continued integration, the beta launch of the UR banking app, and Mantle’s transition toward zero-knowledge rollups aimed at enhancing scalability and security.

However, short-term traders should be wary of profit-taking dynamics and potential dips below the $1.23 support level, which could trigger further declines to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement near $1.12.

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Decoding Google’s Layer-1 blockchain: what it means and what we know

  • GCUL enters private testnet, aiming for 2026 commercial rollout.
  • Python-based smart contracts enhance developer accessibility.
  • Google-CME partnership tests 24/7 settlement for payments and collateral.

Google Cloud has officially stepped into the blockchain infrastructure space with its Layer-1 platform, Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), which entered a private testnet phase in late August 2025.

The move positions Google as an emerging competitor in the institutional blockchain market, offering neutral, high-performance distributed ledger technology designed for financial institutions and payment providers.

GCUL supports Python-based smart contracts, making it more accessible for developers and enabling sophisticated on-chain programmable logic.

What it means for financial services and blockchain adoption

Google’s GCUL is designed to serve as a neutral infrastructure layer, tackling a key challenge in existing blockchain ecosystems, where financial firms often hesitate to build on networks controlled by competitors.

For instance, stablecoin issuers like Tether typically avoid blockchains developed by rivals such as Circle, while payment providers like Adyen have been cautious about adopting Stripe’s blockchain solutions.

By maintaining neutrality, GCUL could drive broader institutional adoption, allowing any financial institution to develop blockchain applications without competitive conflicts.

The Google-CME Group partnership, announced publicly in March 2025, underpins GCUL’s early development and testing.

CME Group has completed initial integration and testing, focusing on using the blockchain to enable 24/7 settlement of collateral, margins, and fees, with the potential to reduce costs and improve liquidity.

Full testing with market participants and the commercial rollout of services are expected in 2026.

Google’s blockchain addresses the surging demand for stablecoin transactions and faster payment solutions.

According to a study cited by Google, stablecoin volumes tripled in 2024, reaching $5 trillion in organic transactions, while total volumes climbed to $30 trillion globally.

The report highlighted that fragmented payment systems continue to drive high costs and inefficiencies in cross-border trade, with potential global GDP losses projected at $2.8 trillion by 2030.

GCUL aims to tackle these challenges by providing a transparent, low-latency transaction infrastructure.

What we know about GCUL’s technology and market position

Technically, GCUL features Python-based smart contracts, supporting flexible and widely adopted programming standards.

The platform is built not only to streamline payments but also to function as an infrastructure hub for capital markets, enabling native commercial bank money on-chain and supporting agentic payment capabilities.

Google plans to expand GCUL across its broader cloud ecosystem, granting access to a wide network of institutional partners and developers.

Compared with other emerging Layer-1 blockchain projects, such as Stripe’s Tempo and Circle’s Arc, Google emphasizes GCUL’s role as a neutral player in financial infrastructure.

While Stripe’s blockchain prioritizes payment app performance and Ethereum compatibility, and Circle’s platform focuses on stablecoin transactions, foreign exchange, and capital markets applications, GCUL is designed as a more open, less vertically integrated Layer-1 solution, enabling interoperability across competing institutions.

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