According to local media reports, the Brazilian central bank had to abandon the decentralized element of the CBDC to deliver a solution in 2026, in part due to the immaturity of the privacy solutions presented. Brazilian CBDC to Ditch Blockchain in Effort to Launch in 2026 The Central Bank of Brazil aims to accelerate the […]

Brazilian Drex CBDC Drops Blockchain to Launch Next Year

Ethereum (ETH) has surged above the $4,000 mark for the first time since last 
December, signaling a strong return of bullish momentum. After several days of 
heightened volatility and market uncertainty, buyers have regained control, 
pushing prices to levels not seen in months. The breakout reflects a 
combination of improving market sentiment, robust fundamentals, and growing 
institutional interest in the leading smart contract platform. Related 
Reading: Bitcoin Futures Bias Turns Neutral As OI Net Position Hits Zero – 
Details On-chain data from CryptoQuant adds further fuel to the bullish 
narrative, showing that ETH exchange reserves continue to decline steadily. 
This trend suggests that investors — particularly large holders — are moving 
their coins off exchanges, reducing available liquidity in the open market. 
With demand for ETH rising across decentralized finance (DeFi), real-world 
assets (RWA), and staking activities, the conditions for a potential supply 
shock are forming. Market analysts point to this tightening supply, coupled 
with consistent buying pressure, as a catalyst for further gains. If the trend 
continues, Ethereum could start a sustained rally, bringing the next major 
resistance levels into focus. For now, traders are closely watching whether 
ETH can maintain its position above $4,000 and build a stronger base for a 
potential run toward its all-time highs. Ethereum Smart Money Drains Liquidity 
According to the latest data from CryptoQuant, only 18.8 million ETH remains 
on centralized exchanges — a historic low that underscores the growing 
scarcity of Ethereum in the open market. This is not the result of retail 
traders making small withdrawals. Instead, it reflects a deliberate move by 
institutional players and “smart money” to accumulate and secure large amounts 
of ETH off exchanges. This accelerated outflow is creating a clear supply 
squeeze. With fewer coins available for spot trading, upward price pressure is 
likely to build, especially if demand continues its current trajectory. The 
pace of accumulation suggests that these large holders are positioning for a 
long-term play, reducing market liquidity and setting the stage for 
significant price volatility to the upside. Adding to the bullish outlook, 
public companies are beginning to adopt Ethereum as part of their treasury 
strategies. Sharplink Gaming, for example, has recently purchased substantial 
amounts of ETH, joining a growing list of firms diversifying into digital 
assets. Meanwhile, increasing legal clarity in the United States is opening 
the door for broader adoption, lowering barriers for both institutional and 
corporate participation in the Ethereum ecosystem. Related Reading: Bitcoin 
Miners Avoid Forced Selling: BTC Sits 7.4% Above Last Difficulty Bottom These 
converging factors — institutional accumulation, reduced exchange reserves, 
and regulatory green lights — are forming a market environment unlike anything 
seen before in Ethereum’s history. If the trend persists, analysts expect the 
coming months to deliver unprecedented price action, fueled by a perfect storm 
of tightening supply and rising demand. In such conditions, Ethereum could not 
only sustain its position above $4,000 but also make a decisive push toward 
new all-time highs. ETH Breaks $4,000, Tests Key Weekly Resistance Ethereum’s 
weekly chart shows a decisive breakout above the $3,860 resistance level, 
pushing the price to $4,017 — its highest level since December 2024. This 
surge marks a 14.87% weekly gain, highlighting strong bullish momentum 
following weeks of accumulation and recovery from the $2,852 support zone. The 
current price action is supported by the 50, 100, and 200-week SMAs trending 
below the market, with the 50-week SMA at $2,726 reinforcing the strength of 
the long-term uptrend. Volume has also spiked significantly, indicating that 
the breakout is driven by real buying interest rather than speculative noise. 
Related Reading: XRP Whale Activity Signals Warning: Distribution Pattern 
Resurfaces If ETH sustains above $3,860 on the weekly close, the next major 
target is the all-time high region around $4,800–$4,900. However, historical 
patterns show that Ethereum often faces heightened volatility near 
psychological levels, and a short-term pullback toward the breakout zone 
should not be ruled out before a potential continuation. Featured image from 
Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Ethereum Exchange Balances Decline To 18.8M ETH: Smart Money Drains Supply

Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong (SCBHK), and HKT have 
launched Anchorpoint Financial Limited, a Hong Kong-based joint venture 
applying for a stablecoin issuer license under the city’s new regulatory 
regime. Anchorpoint Joint Venture Targets Licensed Stablecoin Issuance in Hong 
Kong Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), and HKT have formed 
Anchorpoint Financial […]

Animoca, Standard Chartered and HKT to Pursue Hong Kong Stablecoin License

VivoPower shares surged over 32% after announcing a $100 million plan to buy 
Ripple Labs shares, expanding its exposure to Ripple equity and XRP tokens.

VivoPower shares jump 32% on $100M Ripple buy plan to boost XRP treasury

Bitcoin price could surge in 2025 driven by global money supply growth, ETF 
adoption, and retail inflows.

These three catalysts will help Bitcoin break $122K

On August 7, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced an 
official close to its years-long legal dispute against Ripple Labs. The SEC 
and Ripple formally ended the case by filing a joint stipulation to dismiss 
their respective appeals in the Second Circuit. The following opinion 
editorial was written by Alex Forehand and Michael […]