Standard Chartered’s Hong Kong arm and Animoca Brands have launched a joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial, to develop a licensed Hong Kong dollar stablecoin.

Animoca and Standard Chartered form stablecoin venture in Hong Kong

Crypto exchange OKX has introduced Apple Pay for customers in the U.S. and 
EEA, enabling quick, secure crypto purchases with stored cards and biometric 
authentication. Crypto exchange OKX has unveiled Apple Pay as a new payment 
option for customers in…

OKX launches Apple Pay integration to simplify crypto purchases in US and EEA

Bitcoin is trading with renewed volatility after successfully pushing back 
into the previous price range above the $115,000 level. This move signals 
resilience from the bulls, who are showing strength following several days of 
panic selling and heightened fears of a deeper correction. Market sentiment, 
while still cautious, is improving as BTC buyers reclaim ground. Related 
Reading: XRP Whale Activity Signals Warning: Distribution Pattern Resurfaces 
According to CryptoQuant data, the % BTC price change since the last 
difficulty bottom indicator currently sits at +7.4%, placing it in the green 
zone. This metric is a valuable tool for assessing miner health and market 
stability. Historically, real miner capitulation phases occur when this 
reading drops into sustained negative territory between –10% and –30%, 
typically after a series of difficulty decreases. Such conditions force weaker 
miners to sell holdings under pressure, often contributing to market 
downturns. At present, Bitcoin’s position above zero on this indicator 
suggests the market has emerged from significant miner stress. This reduces 
the risk of forced selling from mining operations, providing a steadier 
backdrop for price action. While not yet in an euphoric phase, the current 
reading indicates a moderate but constructive environment — one that could 
allow BTC to build a stronger foundation for the next upward move. Bitcoin 
Miner Health Signals Neutral-to-Positive Market Backdrop Top analyst Axel 
Adler shared fresh data suggesting that Bitcoin’s miner health remains in a 
neutral-to-positive state. According to Adler, the price is currently above 
the last difficulty bottom level, meaning there is no capitulation among 
miners. This reduces pressure from forced sales by weaker mining operations, a 
dynamic that often adds selling pressure during market downturns. The current 
+7.4% reading on the “% BTC price change since last difficulty bottom” 
indicator points to moderate momentum. While this is a constructive signal, 
Adler noted that it is far from the euphoric conditions seen in past market 
peaks, when readings surged between +50% and +80%. Looking ahead, Adler 
outlined several key factors to monitor: Next difficulty adjustment during 
falling prices: This would be a warning sign, indicating potential stress for 
weaker miners. Hashprice/revenue per TH/s: Tracking miner profitability can 
confirm or refute whether the sector is under pressure. Miner reserves: An 
increase in selling during weak price action would be an early signal of 
mounting stress. The bottom line, according to Adler, is that the miner factor 
is not currently dragging the market down, but it is also not a strong bullish 
driver. Instead, it serves as a steady, supportive backdrop — as long as 
Bitcoin does not break sharply above the last difficulty bottom level with 
double-digit percentage gains or, conversely, drop below it. In this 
environment, BTC’s price action will depend more on demand-side catalysts and 
macroeconomic developments than miner-driven pressures. Related Reading: 
Bitcoin STH Realized Price Signals Fragile Support: Correction Risk 
Intensifies BTC Price Analysis: Testing Key Resistance Level Bitcoin’s 4-hour 
chart shows the price attempting to sustain gains after reclaiming the 
$115,724 support zone. Following a strong bounce from recent lows, BTC pushed 
above the 50-day (blue), 100-day (green), and 200-day (red) moving averages, 
signaling a short-term shift in momentum. Currently, BTC is consolidating 
around $116,585, with immediate resistance at $116,600–$116,700, aligned with 
the 100-day SMA. A breakout above this area could open the path toward the 
$118,000–$118,500 region, with the next major resistance at $122,077, the 
previous range high. On the downside, $115,724 remains a crucial support 
level. A failure to hold this could trigger a pullback toward $114,000, with 
stronger support near the $112,500 zone. Volume has been relatively modest on 
this rebound, suggesting that bulls need stronger participation to maintain 
upside momentum. Related Reading: Ethereum Bears Dominate Market Orders: 
-$418.8M Daily Net Taker Volume Signals Trouble The recent move above multiple 
SMAs is a positive short-term sign, but BTC is still trading within the 
broader range established in July. Until the price decisively breaks above 
$118K, the market remains in a consolidation phase, vulnerable to reversals if 
buying pressure fades. Maintaining support above $115.7K will be key for bulls 
aiming to test higher resistance levels in the coming sessions. Featured image 
from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin Miners Avoid Forced Selling: BTC Sits 7.4% Above Last Difficulty Bottom

Trump’s executive order opening 401(k)s to crypto has drawn a mix of praise, 
caution and criticism from industry leaders and skeptics alike.

Bitcoin likely to lead gains from Trump’s 401(k) crypto order

Trump’s move may change US retirement plans. Bitcoin could soon be part of 
your 401(k), and Wall Street is getting ready.

How Trump’s $9T executive order could let you add Bitcoin to your retirement plan

Industry experts believe that BlackRock could soon file to launch an XRP 
exchange-traded fund, following the latest resolution in Ripple’s legal battle 
with the U.S. SEC. In a X post on Aug. 8, former ETF Store president Nate 
Geraci suggested…