Bitcoin Price Falls Below $113K Amid SEC Probe, AI Disappointment, and Tariff Worries

Bitcoin price dropped under $113,000 for the first time in two weeks, with SEC scrutiny, AI revenue fears, and new tariffs driving investor panic.

Bitcoin Price Dips Below $113,000 Amid SEC, AI, and Tariff Fears

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped below $113,000 on Tuesday, triggering over $100M in liquidations as regulatory pressure, AI doubts, and new U.S. tariffs spooked investors.

The dip came just days after Bitcoin touched an all-time high of $124,196 on August 14, raising questions about whether momentum in the bull cycle is slowing. At the time of writing, BTC traded at $113,632, down 1.12% in 24 hours, with daily trading volume of $72.7 billion, per CoinMarketCap data.

Why Bitcoin Price Dropped

The sell-off gained speed after the SEC reportedly began investigating alleged fraud and stock manipulation at Alt5 Sigma, a firm tied to a $1.5B deal with World Liberty Financial (WLFi), co-founded by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Market sentiment worsened as:

AI disappointment: MIT NANDA research showed 95% of AI pilots failed to deliver quick revenue, dragging the Nasdaq 100 down 1.5%.
Tariff fears: Washington’s new 50% import tariffs on 407 products increased inflation worries.
Overleveraged bets: Futures markets saw record open interest, leading to forced selling when BTC pulled back.
Options fear: Glassnode reported the 30-day delta skew spiking to 12%, its highest in four months, signaling traders rushing for downside protection.

Safe Havens & Outlook

With risk sentiment fading, UBS raised its gold forecast to $3,700 by 2026 as investors looked for safer assets. Still, analysts argue that Bitcoin’s long-term bull market remains intact and that short-term fear often overshoots fundamentals.

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Breaking ! Mark Cuban Warns Crypto IPOs (6% fall), Could End Up Like Memecoins After Bullish Stock Crash

Mark Cuban questions the future of crypto IPOs after Bullish shares plunge 6% post-listing, raising doubts about token-forward IPOs gaining wider trust.

Mark Cuban Questions Future of Crypto IPOs As Bullish Stock Drop

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban is casting doubt on the future of crypto IPOs after shares of Bullish (BLSH) slid more than 6% just a week after going public.

Cuban, who made his fortune during the dot-com boom and owns the Dallas Mavericks, has been a longtime supporter of blockchain projects like Polygon, Aave, and OpenSea. But after watching Bullish stumble during its highly anticipated debut, he took to X with a sharp post: “Will crypto IPOs be treated like a meme coin now?”

Bullish’s public listing was touted as a landmark for token-forward IPOs, which combine traditional stock offerings with digital asset exposure. The idea was to give investors access to web3 without directly holding tokens. But with prices already tumbling, Cuban’s concern highlights a bigger problem: investor sentiment still dominates this market segment.

Future of Crypto IPOs

For many analysts, Bullish’s performance is a warning shot. If volatility continues, future token-linked IPOs could struggle to gain traction with institutional players. Retail-driven swings have already shaken confidence, and Cuban’s cautious tone signals that even strong backers are rethinking the playbook.

For now, the fate of crypto IPOs may hinge on whether companies can prove they offer more than just hype.

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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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BlackRock Now Holds 735K Bitcoin Worth $86B, Surpasses Major Crypto Treasuries

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has expanded its Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings to record levels. Data from Arkham Intelligence shows its iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) wallets now control more than 735,000 BTC valued at $86 billion. Recent on-chain activity revealed multiple transfers of 300 BTC each, worth $37 million apiece, funneled through Coinbase Prime.

This marks a major increase from March 2025, when BlackRock was reported to hold 567,000 BTC valued at $47.8 billion. The rapid accumulation now places the firm among the largest Bitcoin holders globally, surpassing even MicroStrategy, which currently holds about 628,946 BTC worth $54.93 billion.

BlackRock’s crypto strategy extends beyond Bitcoin. Its Ethereum ETF (ETHA) wallets recently received deposits of 5,900 ETH alongside multiple 10,000 ETH transfers within just two days. Combined, these additions exceed $121 million, pushing the fund’s Ethereum holdings to over $14 billion.

The surge in BlackRock’s crypto exposure underscores the strength of ETF-driven adoption. Bitcoin ETFs remain among the most successful launches in financial history, attracting billions in trading volume since approval in 2024.

At press time, Bitcoin trades at $117,789, easing from its weekly high of $124,000. Despite modest weekend movements, BlackRock’s growing position highlights deepening institutional confidence in crypto assets.

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Bhutan Moves $92M in Bitcoin, Still Holds Over $1.15B in BTC

The Royal Government of Bhutan has once again moved a large portion of its Bitcoin holdings, raising eyebrows across the crypto market. Blockchain tracker Lookonchain reported that the country transferred 800 BTC worth $92.06 million into two new wallet addresses today.

The movement comes amid speculation that such transfers often precede sales, with some analysts suggesting the new addresses could be linked to a deposit at Binance. This marks the third significant transfer in two months. On August 5, Bhutan shifted 517 BTC ($59M) to crypto custodian Cobo Custody, while in July, on-chain analysts reported a 650 BTC transfer to Binance.

Despite these transactions, Bhutan’s sovereign investment arm, Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), still holds over 9,900 BTC. At Bitcoin’s current trading price of $115,565, the stash is valued at more than $1.154 billion.

Bhutan began acquiring Bitcoin as early as 2019, quietly building one of the largest state-owned crypto reserves. Beyond holding BTC, the government is integrating crypto into its economy, including launching a Binance Pay-powered tourism payment system and promoting green mining using its hydropower.

According to Bitcoin Treasuries, Bhutan ranks as the sixth-largest government Bitcoin holder, behind the U.S., China, the U.K., Ukraine, and North Korea.

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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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