What sparked the sudden crypto market surge?

  • Crypto market cap has rebounded above $4T after Fed rate-cut signals.
  • Bitcoin reserve proposals boost confidence in digital assets.
  • Ethereum and Chainlink lead altcoin rally with double-digit gains.

The cryptocurrency market has staged a remarkable rebound, with total market capitalisation climbing more than 5% in the past 24 hours to reclaim the $4.01 trillion level.

Ethereum (ETH) has emerged as the standout performer among the top ten digital assets by market cap, soaring by 13.12%.

Chainlink (LINK) has also drawn attention with a rise of 10.37%, showing strong investor appetite for altcoins as momentum builds across the sector.

Fed shift fuels optimism

One of the biggest drivers behind the surge came from comments by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium.

Powell signalled that economic conditions may justify an interest-rate cut in September, reversing the hawkish stance that had weighed on markets for months.

Traders quickly interpreted this as a dovish pivot, sparking renewed appetite for risk assets.

Bitcoin (BTC) surged from local lows of $111,658 to above $116,000 within minutes of Powell’s remarks, setting the tone for the broader crypto market.

Lower interest rates generally encourage investors to move capital into higher-yielding assets, and cryptocurrencies are often prime beneficiaries of such flows.

The dollar weakened on Powell’s comments, adding to bullish sentiment across digital markets.

This macro backdrop provided the ideal setup for both Bitcoin and altcoins to rally in tandem, lifting total market capitalisation firmly back into the $4 trillion range.

Bitcoin reserves narrative builds

Another key factor has been the growing momentum around the idea of governments holding Bitcoin as a strategic reserve.

Most recently, the Philippines has introduced a bill to create a Bitcoin reserve, following similar proposals in the United States.

This development reinforced the narrative of Bitcoin’s institutional role in global finance and gave investors another reason to build exposure.

Market observers note that such proposals carry symbolic weight, even before they become policy.

They demonstrate that Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed not just as a speculative asset but as part of a broader macroeconomic conversation.

This narrative helped underpin the recovery in Bitcoin’s price while supporting the rally in altcoins tied to sovereign and institutional themes.

Altcoins take the spotlight

While Bitcoin’s rebound grabbed headlines, much of the excitement has come from the altcoin space.

The Altcoin Season Index has climbed sharply, reflecting a rotation of capital from Bitcoin into higher-beta assets.

ETH has broken through key resistance levels, while the likes of LINK have posted impressive gains.

Solana (SOL) and Binance Coin (BNB) have also posted strong gains, with traders positioning for extended rallies if momentum continues.

This rotation indicates a willingness among investors to take on more risk, a trend often seen during bullish phases of the market.

Although derivatives open interest has fallen, suggesting cautious leverage, spot buying has remained robust.

The move into altcoins highlights growing confidence that the rally is not confined to Bitcoin alone but is part of a broader recovery story.

Crypto market outlook

The sharp recovery in the crypto market underscores how sensitive digital assets remain to global economic cues.

Powell’s dovish shift, coupled with rising momentum behind Bitcoin’s reserve narrative, created the perfect storm for a swift surge.

The alignment with equity markets, particularly the Nasdaq-100, further amplified the move, as correlations between crypto and traditional risk assets strengthened.

For now, the return of the market cap above $4 trillion offers a strong signal of resilience. With altcoins leading gains, investors are watching closely to see whether the rally extends or faces resistance at higher levels.

However, much will depend on whether the Fed follows through with an actual rate cut in September and whether the Bitcoin reserve debate gains traction in the coming weeks.

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Powell puts September rate cut on the table as Bitcoin rises 2% and Fed odds swing to 90%

  • Bitcoin rises 2% to $114,200 after speech.
  • Ether rebounds 8% after 12% correction.
  • US stocks gain 1%, yields drop to 4.27%, gold up 0.6%.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell shifted the market narrative on Friday by signalling that a September rate cut is under active consideration, a move that quickly altered expectations across global financial markets.

Speaking at the Kansas City Fed’s Economic Symposium in Jackson Hole, Powell highlighted that downside risks to employment are rising and could accelerate in the form of layoffs and higher unemployment.

This shift in tone sent shockwaves through both traditional and digital markets, with Bitcoin, equities, bonds, and gold all responding within minutes of his remarks.

Bitcoin rebounds 2% after recent 10% slide

Bitcoin (BTC) climbed about 2% to $114,200 following Powell’s comments, reversing part of a steep decline earlier in the week.

The cryptocurrency had touched a record high above $124,000 roughly a week ago when market confidence in a September rate cut was near 100%.

However, as expectations cooled to 69% in the hours before Powell’s address, Bitcoin slumped nearly 10% to $112,000.

Data from CME FedWatch showed that immediately after Powell’s speech, the probability of a September rate cut jumped back to nearly 90%.

This surge in confidence provided support to digital assets, which had been under pressure from fading hopes of imminent monetary easing.

Ether bounces 8% after 12% correction

Ethereum (ETH) experienced sharper volatility than Bitcoin in the same period.

The coin corrected by about 12% after nearly reaching its all-time high, reflecting a deeper pullback in speculative tokens.

However, ETH bounced nearly 8% following Powell’s remarks, highlighting how sensitive cryptocurrencies remain to Federal Reserve signals.

The rebound suggests that traders are still positioning around policy expectations, with Ether’s sharper swings reflecting higher risk sentiment.

Stocks, bonds, and commodities follow suit

Traditional markets mirrored the move in digital assets.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 3% in the days leading up to Powell’s speech as investors priced in fewer chances of a rate cut.

However, following the shift in tone, US stocks gained more than 1%.

Treasuries also rallied, with the 10-year yield falling six basis points to 4.27%.

The US dollar index declined about 0.5%, while gold prices climbed 0.6%, reflecting a broader move into assets that typically benefit from looser monetary policy.

Risk markets show heightened sensitivity to Fed signals

In the days leading up to Jackson Hole, traders had positioned cautiously, expecting Powell to maintain a hawkish stance.

This contributed to selling pressure across risk markets, particularly in crypto.

The reversal in tone not only revived expectations of a September cut but also underscored the fragility of investor sentiment.

The developments highlight how closely risk assets remain tied to the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.

Bitcoin’s correction and subsequent bounce, along with Ether’s deeper pullback and recovery, show that digital markets are moving in lockstep with Fed communications, while stocks, bonds, and commodities reflect similar dynamics.

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TON gains momentum with $780 million treasury and Ledger staking integration

  • Verb holds $713 million in Toncoin and $67 million in cash reserves.
  • Ledger Live integration allows TON staking from just 10 tokens.
  • TON Sharpe ratio turned positive in August, indicating momentum.

The Open Network (TON) has seen a surge in institutional and retail interest, marked by a series of developments that could strengthen its position in the cryptocurrency market.

A new $780 million treasury declaration by Verb Technology Company, an expanded staking service via Ledger Live, and improving on-chain indicators are creating conditions that some analysts suggest may fuel the blockchain’s next major growth phase.

These events follow an earlier $558 million private placement and Telegram’s exclusive adoption of TON for its applications, highlighting the scale of resources and demand converging around the network.

Verb Technology shifts strategy with $780 million treasury

Verb Technology Company announced treasury assets exceeding $780 million, which include $713 million in Toncoin and $67 million in cash.

The company, soon to be renamed Ton Strategy Company, became the first publicly traded entity to use Toncoin as its primary treasury reserve asset.

The disclosure came just days after the firm’s $558 million private placement earlier this month, supported by more than 110 institutional and crypto-native investors. Most of the proceeds were directed into Toncoin purchases.

Verb has also stated it aims to accumulate over 5% of TON’s circulating supply while steadily increasing Toncoin per share through reinvested cash flows, staking rewards, and treasury management.

Ledger Live expands access to TON staking

In parallel, staking service provider P2P.org revealed the launch of native TON staking within Ledger Live.

This development makes staking accessible to millions of Ledger hardware wallet users, providing secure and non-custodial participation in the network.

The validator-led solution marks the first of its kind inside Ledger Live. It lowers the minimum entry requirement to 10 TON, a significant reduction from the native 300,000 TON threshold.

Users benefit from institutional-grade security standards after audits by Quantstamp and Trail of Bits.

The integration also enables staking or unstaking with activation and withdrawal times as short as 36 hours, while returns are currently tracking around 4.7% annually.

On-chain indicators reflect strengthening market position

Data from CryptoQuant shows TON’s Sharpe ratio flipped from negative to positive in August, signalling an improvement in risk-adjusted returns.

This is historically seen as a measure of sustained momentum.

Alongside this, metrics such as daily active addresses are showing growth, adding to the perception of building traction across the network.

Crypto analyst Crash posted on X that TON could be the driver of the next wave of crypto wealth, stating, “The next fresh class of crypto millionaires will be made on TON. Not Solana or Ethereum.”

Telegram integration boosts TON’s mainstream use

Beyond financial and technical growth, Telegram has integrated TON as the exclusive blockchain for Mini Apps, wallets, and payments across its platform, which has more than one billion users worldwide.

This step provides TON with exposure unmatched by most other layer-1 blockchains, anchoring it firmly in the mainstream digital ecosystem.

The combination of a substantial treasury base, broader retail staking access, and integration into one of the world’s largest messaging platforms positions TON for sustained expansion.

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Ripple partners with SBI Holdings to distribute RLUSD stablecoin in Japan

  • They have signed an MOU to distribute the stablecoin in Japan via SBI VC Trade.
  • RLUSD is a licensed asset, backed by US dollar deposits, reliable reserves, and government bonds.
  • The stablecoin is set to debut in Japan in early 2026.

Blockchain firm Ripple has revealed a key development with its long-standing partner SBI Holdings, a leading financial services conglomerate in Japan.

The duo has inked a memorandum of understanding to launch and distribute Ripple USD in Japan.

They will leverage SBI’s certified crypto exchange, SBI VC Trade Co., for the Japanese market to access RLUSD.

The official press release indicates that RLUSD will launch in Japan in early 2026.

That presents a key step toward enriching financial options available to institutions, retailers, and enterprises that rely on legitimate digital currencies.

Commenting on the integration, SBI VC Trade CEO Tomohiko Kondo stated:

The introduction of RLUSD will not just expand the option of stablecoins in the Japanese market, but is a major step forward in the reliability and convenience of stablecoins in the Japanese market, and an important step in further accelerating the convergence of finance and digital technology.

Stablecoins’ next growth phase

Stablecoins have thrived in 2025, especially after the United States approved the highly anticipated GENIUS law.

Today, these backed digital tokens boast nearly $300 billion in market cap, and experts forecast continued growth, targeting trillions.

While traders interested in price stability fueled the initial wave of stablecoin adoptions, institutional demand and utility appear to drive phase two.

Coinbase has listed World Liberty Financial’s USD1, which has seen explosive growth since its March 2025 launch.

Meanwhile, RLUSD fits there as it prioritizes utility and institutional transactions.

Also, its compliance-first strategy elevated its industry appeal. Ripple publishes attestations from third-party auditors (each month) to guarantee transparency.

Ripple USD boasts unwavering stability, backed by short-term government bonds, US dollar deposits, and other monetary equivalents.

The compliance and transparency set RLUSD ahead of many existing stablecoins.

Ripple Vice President of Stablecoins Jack McDonald emphasized that their collaboration with SBI focuses on building a compliant and trusted financial future. He added:

This distribution in Japan with SBI VC Trade is a culmination of that work. RLUSD is designed to be a true industry standard, providing a reliable and efficient bridge between traditional and decentralized finance. We are confident that this partnership will not only drive stablecoin utility in Japan but also set a new benchmark for the entire market.

RLUSD’s outlook

Ripple’s stablecoin boasts over $666 million in market cap, with a daily volume of $70 million signaling notable user activity.

RLUSD received a vital boost recently after Bullish confirmed using the stablecoin for its successful $1.15 billion initial public offering (IPO) in the US.

Now, RLUSD braces for the Japan launch in early 2026. Success could boost trust in the stablecoin among institutions, enterprises, and regulators across Asia.

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Ether could face volatility as markets eye Powell at Jackson Hole

Key takeaways

  • ETH is trading above $4,300, up by less than 1% in the last 24 hours.
  • Investors will focus on Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole later today. 

Ether remains resilient despite bearish market conditions

The cryptocurrency market has been volatile since the start of the week, and more volatility is expected over the next few hours. Traders are bracing for potential volatility ahead of Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium.

Bitcoin continues to trade around $113k while Ether is trading above $4,300, up by less than 1% in the last 24 hours. Ether’s resilience can be attributed to JPMorgan’s recent report that revealed that spot ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) pulled in $5.4 billion in July, matching bitcoin ETFs. On the other hand, Bitcoin funds have since seen modest outflows, while ether vehicles continue to draw capital.

According to the bank, the SEC approval of in-kind redemptions for ether ETFs is expected to lower costs, boost liquidity, and further strengthen Ether’s positioning against Bitcoin. 

Ether could dip below $4,200 if Powell’s speech comes hawkish

The FOMC minutes released on Thursday revealed hawkish bias by the Federal Reserve, with analysts not expecting the apex bank to cut rates by next month. The market’s performance in the near term could be dictated by Powell’s speech later today. 

The ETH/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Ether has lost 7% of its value over the last seven days. The RSI of 51 shows that Ether is neutral, while the MACD lines suggest a bearish undertone. 

ETH/USD 4H Chart

At press time, ETH is trading at $4,314 per coin. If the daily candle closes above the $4,232 support, ETH could extend the recovery toward its next daily resistance at $4,488. An extended bullish run would allow it to aim for its yearly high at $4,788.

However, with the broader market still bleeding, Ether could face a correction if its daily support at $4,232 fails. This could extend ETH’s decline toward its next support level at $3,946.

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