ARK Invest Doubles Down on Crypto Stocks With $37M Bet Despite Market Slump

ARK Invest Buys $21M Bullish (BLSH) and $16M Robinhood (HOOD) Stocks

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest has doubled down on crypto-linked stocks, snapping up Bullish and Robinhood shares even as the sector faces steep declines.

According to Tuesday’s trade disclosures, ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) picked up 356,346 shares of Bullish worth $21.2 million and 150,908 shares of Robinhood valued at $16.2 million. The move follows ARK’s massive $172 million Bullish buy last week, signaling unwavering confidence in the company after its high-profile NYSE debut.

ARK Invest Keeps Buying Despite the Dip

ARK has been aggressively adding Robinhood stock for three straight sessions, grabbing $14 million worth on Monday and another $9 million last Friday. This marks a sharp reversal from 2024, when ARK was forced to sell Robinhood holdings due to SEC exposure limits.

But the timing is bold. On Tuesday, Bullish fell 6.09% to $59.51 (down another 3.24% after hours) while Robinhood slipped 6.54% to $107.50 with further post-market losses.

Crypto Equities Face Sector-Wide Pressure

The buys come during a broad crypto-equity sell-off. Major players like Coinbase, Galaxy Digital, MicroStrategy, and Circle also posted heavy losses. The Nasdaq Composite slid 1.46%, reflecting fading optimism after last week’s rate-cut hype.

For Cathie Wood, however, the pullback looks like a buying opportunity. ARK’s latest moves suggest the firm is betting big on a long-term rebound in crypto and fintech stocks.

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Breaking ! MicroStrategy Equity Policy Change Sparks Investor Fury Trust in Saylor at Risk

MicroStrategy equity policy change removing the 2.5x mNAV safeguard has angered investors, raising concerns about dilution and leadership credibility.

MicroStrategy Faces Backlash From Investors Over New Equity Policy

Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) is under fire after scrapping its long-standing 2.5x mNAV issuance rule, sparking outrage from shareholders who feel betrayed.

The controversial decision removes a safeguard that prevented the company from issuing stock below 2.5 times its net asset value, a rule designed to protect investors from excessive dilution. Saylor defended the move as necessary to give MicroStrategy greater flexibility amid a shrinking Bitcoin premium, but many argue it represents a broken promise.

Investor Outrage Over MicroStrategy Equity Policy

The harshest criticism came from WhaleWire CEO Jacob King, who accused Saylor of “pulling the rug” and lying to investors. He noted that MicroStrategy’s premium collapsed from 3.4x to 1.6x since late 2024, making the new rule convenient for Saylor’s strategy. Other investors echoed similar frustrations, recalling that Saylor had recently reaffirmed the safeguard during an earnings call just weeks ago.

Industry voices like Adam Simecka and Daan Crypto Trades highlighted the dilution risks and warned that the so-called “Saylor bid” to fund Bitcoin buys via stock issuance could now resume unchecked.

Bigger Risks Ahead

Critics also raised alarms about wider risks: further dilution, falling investor trust, and overexposure to Bitcoin’s volatility. One analyst wrote that the change could “erode long-term shareholder value and put downward pressure on the stock price.”

The backlash ultimately reflects a growing divide: Saylor’s uncompromising Bitcoin-first vision versus shareholder demand for transparency and protection.

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Bullish IPO Raises $1.15B in Stablecoins A Historic First for Markets

Bullish IPO raised $1.15B in stablecoins, marking the first public listing settled onchain with USDC, EURC, RLUSD, and more.

Bullish IPO Raises $1.15B in Stablecoins

Bullish (NYSE: BLSH), the digital asset platform backed by billionaire investor Peter Thiel, has raised $1.15 billion from its IPO, with proceeds settled entirely in stablecoins.

The company made its Wall Street debut on August 14, 2025, in one of the year’s most anticipated listings. Demand for shares was huge, with subscriptions 20x oversubscribed, pushing the stock up 84% on day one. However, early volatility followed as the share price dipped 2.16% in pre-market, trading at $62.00 today.

Stablecoins Take Center Stage in Bullish IPO

Bullish said most of the funds were minted on Solana and settled in USDC and EURC, custodied exclusively by Coinbase. Other stablecoins used included SocGen’s CoinVertible series, Paxos’ Global Dollar and PayPal USD, World Liberty’s USD1, Agora Dollar, and AllUnity’s EURAU.

In a notable first, Ripple USD (RLUSD) on the XRP Ledger was also part of the settlement mix. Ripple congratulated Bullish on “the successful IPO,” calling it a milestone for onchain finance.

Why This Matters for Stablecoins

Chief Financial Officer David Bonanno highlighted stablecoins as “one of the most transformative use cases for digital assets,” stressing their role in fast and secure global transfers, particularly on Solana.

By collaborating with multiple issuers, Bullish positioned itself as a pioneer in integrating stablecoins into capital markets, making this IPO the first-ever public listing fully settled onchain.

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KindlyMD Buys 5,743 Bitcoin Worth $679M After Merger

KindlyMD has purchased 5,743 Bitcoin worth $679M after its merger, marking its entry into corporate BTC treasury management through Nakamoto Holdings.

KindlyMD Buys 5,743 Bitcoin Worth $679M After Merger

Salt Lake City-based healthcare provider KindlyMD, Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA) has entered the crypto space with a massive first purchase of Bitcoin, acquiring 5,743 BTC worth $679 million.

The acquisition was carried out by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nakamoto Holdings, and represents the company’s first major move since completing its recent merger.

Details of the BTC Acquisition

According to the press release, the deal was completed at an average price of $118,204.88 per BTC, totaling $679 million.

The purchase was funded through Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) financing, ensuring a strong capital base without relying on debt.

CEO’s Vision: BTC as a Corporate Reserve Asset

KindlyMD CEO and Chairman David Bailey highlighted the company’s conviction in Bitcoin:

“This acquisition reinforces our conviction in BTC as the ultimate reserve asset for corporations and institutions alike.”

Bailey also unveiled a long-term goal to accumulate one million BTC as part of its new treasury strategy, positioning Bitcoin as central to the future of global finance.

Nakamoto BTC Treasury Program

The purchase was made under KindlyMD’s Nakamoto BTC Treasury program, designed to provide a transparent and reliable vehicle for institutional Bitcoin storage.

This move aligns with a growing corporate trend where firms add BTC to their balance sheets as a store of value and hedge against market volatility.

Industry Context

KindlyMD joins other major corporate players that view BTC as a strategic asset. Notably, Strategy Inc., which pioneered this trend, now holds over 600,000 BTC worth $53.5 billion, according to Arkham.

By combining its healthcare services expertise with a bold Bitcoin treasury strategy, KindlyMD positions itself as both a healthcare provider and a financial innovator in the evolving digital asset space.

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Breaking ! Ethereum Faces Sell Pressure from Foundation Wallet, Bulls Eye $10K

Ethereum slips after a Foundation-linked wallet sold $33M ETH, but strong institutional demand and bullish technicals keep optimism alive.

Ethereum Faces Sell Pressure from Foundation, Yet Bulls Persist

Ethereum is under pressure this week as a Foundation-linked wallet sold thousands of ETH, sparking concerns among traders. Despite this, strong institutional accumulation and bullish technical patterns are keeping long-term optimism intact.

Foundation Wallet Sells $33M ETH

Blockchain tracker Lookonchain flagged wallet 0xF39d, tied to the Ethereum Foundation, for offloading 7,294 ETH ($33.25M) in just three days at an average of $4,558.

August 13: Sold 2,795 ETH
August 15: Sold 1,300 ETH ($5.87M)
Three-day total: 6,194 ETH at ~$4,578 average

Notably, the same wallet previously purchased 33,678 ETH in 2022 for $1,193 each, showing a history of smart accumulation and timing.

Ethereum trades at $4,412.54, down 0.32% on the day.

Market Drivers Add Volatility

The selloff coincided with U.S. inflation data that beat expectations. July’s PPI rose 3.3% YoY, cooling hopes of Federal Reserve rate cuts. At the same time, the U.S. Treasury confirmed it has no immediate plans to add BTC or ETH to reserves, further dampening sentiment.

Still, institutional demand balanced the selling:

SharpLink Gaming added 130,000 ETH, lifting its holdings to 728,804 ETH ($3.38B).
BitMine bought 28,650 ETH (~$130M), raising its stash to 1.17M ETH ($5.1B).

Technicals Point to Bullish Setup

Crypto analyst Ether Wizz highlighted that ETH’s current structure mirrors its 2017 rally. Back then, ETH consolidated before breaking its 50-week SMA, triggering a major bull run.

The same pattern is emerging in 2025, with ETH holding above its moving average. Wizz forecasts a run to $10,000 this cycle, stating:

“It is a crime to believe that ETH has topped.”

Outlook

While Ethereum faces short-term pressure from Foundation-linked sales, the combination of institutional accumulation and technical strength suggests the long-term uptrend remains intact.

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Insane ! Pi Hackathon 2025 Opens Registration with 160K Pi in Prizes

Pi Network opens registration for Pi Hackathon 2025 with a 160K Pi prize pool. Developers can compete until October 15 to build utility-focused apps for the Pi ecosystem.

Pi Hackathon 2025 Registration Opens with 160K Pi Prize Pool

Pi Network has officially opened registration for Pi Hackathon 2025, offering a massive 160,000 Pi prize pool to developers building apps for the ecosystem. The event, organized by the Pi Core Team, began registrations on August 15 and will officially kick off on August 21.

Participants will have until October 15 to submit their projects, with a midpoint check on September 19 for progress reviews and feedback.

160K Pi Prize Pool and Rewards

The prize pool of 160,000 Pi will be shared among up to eight winning teams:

🥇 1st Prize: 75,000 Pi
🥈 2nd Prize: 45,000 Pi
🥉 3rd Prize: 15,000 Pi
🎖 Honorable Mentions: Up to five teams will receive 5,000 Pi each

Rewards will only be distributed to participants who pass Pi’s KYC verification.

How to Participate

Teams can include unlimited members, and projects will be judged on:

Utility (real-world use cases for Pi)
User experience & design
Accessibility for everyday people
Value to the Pi community

Developers are encouraged to use:

Pi App Studio
Brainstorm app
Developer Portal
AI tools to speed up app creation

The Pi Core Team emphasized:

“We’re looking for creative, utility-focused web apps that address real user needs, support the use of Pi cryptocurrency, and are intuitive and accessible.”

Submission Requirements

All projects must be uploaded to the Pi Developer Portal and include:

An official submission form
A demo video showcasing the app
Optionally, developers can use the PiOS license to make their work open-source for collaboration.

Outlook

The hackathon represents Pi Network’s push toward expanding its ecosystem with utility-driven apps that go beyond mining. With significant rewards and open participation, Pi Hackathon 2025 is set to spotlight real-world use cases for Pi cryptocurrency.

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7 Reasons Ethereum: South Korean Investors Are Betting Big on Ethereum Stocks Over Big Tech

South Korean Investors Dump Big Tech for Ethereum Stocks

South Korean retail investors are switching up their portfolios, ditching major U.S. tech names like Tesla, Apple, and Alphabet in favor of Ethereum (ETH)-related stocks — and the numbers show it’s not just a passing trend.

Why BitMine is the Hot Pick

The biggest winner in this shift? BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) — a U.S.-listed firm backed by billionaire Peter Thiel. Once a Bitcoin miner, BitMine now focuses entirely on Ethereum and holds an impressive $5.32B worth of ETH, making it the largest corporate ETH holder in the world. It’s even hinted at issuing up to $20B in stock to buy more ETH.

Since early July, Korean investors have poured roughly $259–269M into BitMine shares, making it Korea’s most popular foreign stock. The buzz is fueled by the recently passed GENIUS Act, which gives stablecoins a clearer legal framework, boosting ETH sentiment. The fact that BitMine’s chairman, Tom Lee, has Korean heritage adds an emotional pull for local buyers.

Other ETH-related stocks are riding the wave too — Robinhood, Coinbase, and SharpLink Gaming (which holds over 728,800 ETH) are all seeing major demand. SharpLink’s stock alone has skyrocketed over 126% since July.

Big Tech on the Chopping Block

Meanwhile, Korean investors are offloading their “Magnificent Seven” holdings — dumping $770M in Tesla shares, $230M in Apple, and $177M in Alphabet last month. High valuations, underwhelming earnings, and uncertainty over U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump are pushing them away from U.S. tech.

Experts think the Ethereum-stock craze could continue short term, but warn that global economic instability might slow overall foreign stock purchases.

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5 Insane Reasons DeepSeek’s R2 Delay Shows Huawei Chips Aren’t Ready Yet

China’s AI scene just hit a speed bump. DeepSeek, the AI company behind the R1 model that dropped in January, had been hyping its next-gen R2 — but now it’s officially delayed. The reason? Huawei’s chips couldn’t handle the full training process.

Beijing wanted DeepSeek to use Huawei’s Ascend processors instead of Nvidia’s GPUs to cut U.S. tech reliance. Sounds good on paper, but in practice, training R2 on Ascend hit technical walls — instability, slow inter-chip connections, and weaker software compared to Nvidia’s gear.

So, DeepSeek had to pivot: Nvidia chips for training, Huawei chips for inference (the part where AI actually answers questions). This workaround meant pushing the R2 launch from its original May target.

DeepSeek’s Tough Reality Check

Huawei even sent engineers to help make Ascend work, but the model still wouldn’t train properly. On top of that, labeling the massive dataset for R2 took longer than expected. Meanwhile, rivals like Alibaba’s Qwen3 are already shipping powerful new models — and ironically, Qwen3’s training methods borrow ideas from DeepSeek itself.

AI experts say it’s only a matter of time before Chinese chips can compete for training tasks, but for now, U.S. GPUs still rule. Nvidia even struck a deal with the U.S. government to share China profits in exchange for selling its H20 chips there again.

DeepSeek might still drop R2 in the coming weeks, but the delay shows one thing loud and clear — in the AI arms race, hardware bottlenecks can be just as critical as algorithms.

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Breaking ! Peter Schiff Pushes $1.1B Tokenized Gold Plan, Says It Beats Bitcoin

Peter Schiff Backs $1.1B Tokenized Gold Plan, Slams Bitcoin

Economist and outspoken gold advocate Peter Schiff is doubling down on his belief that tokenized gold is blockchain’s best application, taking aim at Bitcoin in the process.

$1.1B Gold-Backed Tokenization Initiative

Schiff’s remarks came after Streamex, a Solana-based tokenization platform, shared that only $1.7B worth of gold is currently tokenized just 0.008% of gold’s $22 trillion market cap. Schiff responded on X, calling gold “the best monetary asset to tokenize” and claiming it improves on gold’s qualities while avoiding Bitcoin’s flaws.

The project he’s backing is a $1.1 billion gold-backed treasury plan by BioSig Technologies (NASDAQ: BSGM) in partnership with Streamex. Announced in July, the funding includes a $1B equity line of credit and $100M in senior secured convertible debentures at a 4% interest rate. The capital will be used to expand a real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform and issue shares over 36 months.

Why Schiff Says Gold Beats Bitcoin

Schiff argued that tokenized gold solves “all the problems Bitcoin can’t” — offering global access, 24/7 liquidity, high security, and lower entry barriers for investors. He also suggested tokenized gold could replace U.S. dollar stablecoins entirely, providing a digital currency backed by a tangible asset.

This strong institutional push into gold tokenization marks another step in the broader digital asset market’s search for stable, asset-backed alternatives to both Bitcoin and fiat-pegged stablecoins.

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3 Insane Reasons Pump.fun’s $33M Buyback Is Sending PUMP Token Skyrocketing

Pump.fun’s $33M buyback pushes PUMP token up 15% in 24 hours, reinforcing its lead in the Solana memecoin launchpad space.

It just gave the PUMP token community a reason to celebrate. The Solana-based memecoin launchpad has pulled off a massive buyback spree, snapping up $8.42 million worth of PUMP in the past week alone. That’s a huge 97.29% of its weekly revenue — and it’s working. The token price spiked over 15% in 24 hours, trading at $0.004053 according to CoinMarketCap.

This isn’t a one-off move either. Since the program began, Pump.fun has bought back a total of $33.61 million in PUMP, cutting into the circulating supply. That’s roughly 0.741% of its whopping 1 trillion total tokens — and the scarcity effect is real.

Pump.fun’s Memecoin Domination

Pump.fun isn’t just playing defense. On August 11 alone, it launched 26,836 new tokens, grabbing a 73.6% market share of all memecoins created that day, according to Dune Analytics. This puts it way ahead of rivals like LetsBonk and Bags, cementing its position as the go-to platform for memecoin creators on Solana.

Buybacks aren’t new in finance both stock and crypto markets have used them to prop up value for decades. But Pump.fun’s aggressive approach has caught analysts’ eyes, with some saying PUMP could break through higher resistance levels if the momentum holds.

For now, Pump.fun is turning the “memecoin wars” on Solana into its personal victory lap and if they keep this up, PUMP might just be the token to watch in 2025.

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