Volatility dominated the crypto markets between August 18–24, 2025. Bitcoin (BTC) started strong near $118,000 but dropped to $112,481 on August 20 after U.S. inflation data triggered $1B+ in liquidations. A brief recovery to $116,929 on August 21 wasn’t enough to hold ground, and BTC closed the week lower at $114,460 (–3%), trimming its market cap from $2.33T → $2.30T.
The real star was Ethereum (ETH). After dipping to $4,080 mid-week, ETH surged nearly 15%, smashing its all-time high by closing around $4,866–$4,905 on August 23–24. This run, fueled by Powell’s dovish Jackson Hole speech hinting at September rate cuts, also highlighted ETH’s massive 250% rebound since April lows.
Ethereum ETFs confirmed the rotation: following $580M outflows pre-speech, inflows exploded to nearly $600M in the final days of the week bringing total August inflows to $2.8–$2.96B and pushing ETF holdings above 6.4M ETH. ETH is now leading institutional adoption momentum, while BTC consolidates.
Dropped 7x in 30 days, eroding investor confidence.
Bearish momentum intensified by lack of catalysts.
$EDGE (–29%)
Traders locked profits after 4x rally last week.
Correction phase as volume normalized.
$HOME (–21%)
Sharp decline due to massive volume drop.
Liquidity thinning accelerated sell pressure.
$SAROS (–20%)
Rejected 4 times at $0.40 level.
Failed breakouts triggered sell-offs.
$KTA (–14%)
Price hovered close to ATH.
Heavy profit-taking capped further upside.
Closing Thoughts
This weekly crypto update underscored a sharp divergence: Bitcoin steadied but trended lower, while Ethereum broke its ATH on institutional inflows and Powell’s policy optimism. Altcoin rotations continued, with selective projects like $NEON and $QTUM surging while others corrected on profit-taking.
Going into late August, the market’s key focus will be:
Can ETH sustain above $4,800–$5,000?
Will BTC defend $114K as support?
And will Powell’s policy optimism be enough to trigger a broader altcoin breakout in September?
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Bitcoin perform this week?
Bitcoin (BTC) started near $118,000 but fell to $112,481 on August 20 after $1B+ liquidations. It recovered to $116,929 briefly, then closed at $114,460 (–3%), trimming its market cap from $2.33T to $2.30T.
Why did Ethereum surge to new highs?
Ethereum (ETH) dipped to $4,080 mid-week but surged nearly 15% to $4,866–$4,905 by August 23–24. Powell’s dovish Jackson Hole speech and rate-cut expectations fueled the rally, marking a 250% rebound since April lows.
What role did ETFs play in Ethereum’s momentum?
After $580M outflows earlier in the week, Ethereum ETFs saw nearly $600M inflows post-speech. Total August inflows reached $2.8–$2.96B, pushing ETF holdings above 6.4M ETH, underscoring institutional adoption momentum.
Which altcoins were the top gainers?
$NEON (+129%) – Boosted by Samsung settlement update and investor accumulation.
$QTUM (+48%) – Staking rewards and yield narrative attracted inflows.
The market shows a clear divergence: Bitcoin is consolidating, while Ethereum leads with institutional inflows and ATH momentum. Key focus points are whether ETH sustains above $4,800–$5,000, if BTC defends $114K, and whether Powell’s optimism sparks an altcoin breakout in September.
