Bitvavo’s chief risk officer Jeetan Patel says the process of securing a MiCA license “progressed efficiently.”

Crypto exchange Bitvavo receives MiCA license from the Netherlands

Bitcoin briefly climbed back above $100,000 this month, pushing close to the 
$108,000 level before a new pullback. The move looks strong on the surface. 
But based on reports from Glassnode, much of that surge came from traders 
using borrowed funds, not fresh buyers piling in. Related Reading: Stablecoin 
Skepticism Grows As IMF Official Challenges Their Money Role Speculative Bets 
Fuel Recent Rally According to on-chain data, late-June’s volume on Bitcoin 
futures stayed high as prices marched upward. Traders betting on short-term 
gains drove the market, even as the excitement behind the rally faded. Funding 
rates and the three-month futures basis both moved lower, signaling less 
bullish conviction. In other words, fewer people were making big, long bets on 
Bitcoin these days. Spot Market Remains Quiet Spot trading did not follow the 
futures boom. At its $111,910 peak in May, daily spot volume hovered around 
$7.65 billion. That’s well below the previous cycle highs, which topped $20 
billion on some days. Based on reports, new cash from retail or long-term 
holders stayed on the sidelines instead of flooding in. Institutional Buyers 
Still Adding Big firms did keep buying. This week saw Michael Saylor&#8217;s 
Strategy, Metaplanet and ProCap BTC together pick up about $1 billion worth of 
Bitcoin. At the same time, US-listed Bitcoin ETFs bought over $1.5 billion in 
fresh supply. Those steady purchases hint at genuine interest from 
institutions, even if short-term traders set the pace recently. Supply 
Tightness Could Drive Prices Glassnode now shows just 7 million BTC left 
freely available on exchanges. Roughly 14 million BTC are held by people who 
haven’t moved their coins in ages. That supply squeeze could support prices if 
demand holds up. But it also means any sudden sell-off might hit hard when 
exchange wallets run low. What Comes Next For Bitcoin All in all, the recent 
jump above $100,000 feels more like a sprint by margin players than a marathon 
fueled by new believers. Corrections often follow rallies driven by heavy 
margin activity. Yet, the ongoing buying by big companies and ETFs offers a 
buffer. If they keep at it, Bitcoin may need a breather now but could rally 
again later. Related Reading: TRUMP Token In Trouble? Over $4 Million 
Liquidity Exit Sparks Crash Fears As of June 28, Bitcoin traded at $106,500, 
down 0.85% on the day. Market watchers will be looking for a return of fresh 
spot demand or a stabilizing of futures bets before declaring the uptrend back 
on solid ground. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The $100K Mirage: Bitcoin’s Rally Not Backed By On-Chain Strength

Crypto cards now rival banks for everyday purchases in Europe, with nearly 
half of transactions under $12 and online spending far above the eurozone 
average.

Crypto cards outpace banks in micro-spending in Europe: Report

Vitalik Buterin warns that single digital IDs could erode pseudonymity, 
proposing pluralistic systems to safeguard privacy and fair access.

Vitalik introduces ‘pluralistic’ IDs to protect privacy in digital identity systems

Ethereum is showing signs of renewed strength, trading 75% above its April 
lows as bulls attempt to reclaim lost ground. Despite this impressive 
recovery, ETH still sits roughly 98% below its all-time highs, leaving 
significant room for growth if bullish momentum accelerates. Market sentiment 
is shifting, with many analysts and investors eyeing Ethereum as the leading 
candidate to spark the long-awaited altseason. Related Reading: Bitcoin Forms 
4-Year Inverse H&amp;S Pattern – Neckline Break Could Send It Parabolic Top 
analyst Ted Pillows recently shared a technical view suggesting that Ethereum 
has once again retested its lower channel — a pattern that has historically 
preceded explosive rallies in previous market cycles. In both 2017 and 2021, 
this same setup led to massive gains, and some believe this cycle could be no 
different. With macro conditions still uncertain but risk appetite growing 
across crypto markets, Ethereum’s price action is being closely watched. If 
the pattern holds, ETH could be on the verge of a powerful breakout that pulls 
the broader altcoin market along with it. Whether this becomes a historic 
launchpad or another consolidation phase remains to be seen, but for now, 
Ethereum is clearly at the center of attention. Ethereum Holds Key Support As 
Historic Pattern Signals Bullish Potential Ethereum is trading at a crucial 
technical level after reclaiming the $2,400 mark, where bulls and bears are 
locked in a tug-of-war. Buyers have managed to defend the key support zone, 
but upward momentum remains muted as broader market sentiment remains 
cautious. Geopolitical tensions and tightening macroeconomic conditions 
continue to shape risk appetite, making many investors hesitant to fully 
commit to high-beta assets like Ethereum. Still, the long-term setup is 
attracting attention from seasoned analysts. Pillows points to a recurring 
historical pattern that could define Ethereum’s trajectory in the coming 
months. According to his analysis, ETH has retested its lower trend channel 
once in each major market cycle, and each retest has preceded extraordinary 
rallies. In 2017, Ethereum surged 300x from this setup. In 2021, it delivered 
a 50x return. If history even partially repeats itself, a conservative 6x move 
would send ETH above the $10,000 mark. The setup is technically sound and 
aligns with the broader sentiment that Ethereum could lead the next altcoin 
rally, especially if Bitcoin breaks into price discovery. While uncertainty 
remains, ETH’s current position is a pivotal zone. If bulls manage to maintain 
structure and push toward range highs, the conditions for a breakout may soon 
align. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record High: 29.02% Of Supply 
Locked Signals Long-Term Conviction ETH Holds $2,400 Level But Faces 
Resistance Ethereum is consolidating around $2,422 after reclaiming the $2,400 
support zone, but the chart shows that bulls face significant resistance just 
above current levels. On the 12-hour timeframe, ETH has struggled to break 
above the 50- and 100-period simple moving averages, currently sitting at 
$2,518 and $2,536, respectively. This cluster of resistance has capped every 
recent attempt to move higher, reinforcing it as a short-term barrier that 
bulls must overcome to regain momentum. ETH&#8217;s failed breakdown below $2,200 
earlier this week now looks like a bear trap, as buyers stepped in 
aggressively to reclaim lost ground. Still, without a decisive break above 
$2,530, Ethereum remains vulnerable to another retest of the $2,300–$2,200 
support zone. Related Reading: Ethereum Fakes Out Bears – Altcoin Rally 
Depends On Key Level Breakout The 200-period SMA near $2,160 remains a key 
downside level to watch — if price fails to hold above it on future dips, 
bears could regain control. For now, Ethereum appears to be range-bound, 
caught between macro uncertainty and bullish hopes for an altseason. A 
breakout above $2,550 would confirm renewed strength and open the door for a 
push toward $2,800. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Ethereum Holds Critical Long-Term Channel – Next Move Could Be Parabolic

The recent inaugural NYC Digital Asset Summit Roundtable, hosted by Mayor Eric 
Adams, focused on New York City&#8217;s strategy for engaging with the blockchain 
sector. Key participant Joshua Maddox stressed the importance of public- 
private collaboration for scaling Web3 adoption. NYC Reopens Doors to 
Tokenization When New York City, a global financial nerve center, convenes a 
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