Cryptocurrency News — Thursday, August 28, 2025. First Altcoin ETF (XRP) Approved in the U.S., Bitcoin on the Brink of New Records, Ethereum Stabilizes Above $5000, Altcoins Continue to Rally. Institutional Investments, Growth of the DeFi Segment, and Proactive Global Regulation Support Further Growth of the Crypto Market.
The cryptocurrency market is holding near historical highs by the end of August. Investors maintain a strong appetite for risk, buoyed by a favorable macroeconomic backdrop – notably signals of potential monetary policy easing in the U.S. – and a stable influx of institutional capital. The flagship Bitcoin, after reaching a record over $124,000, underwent a healthy correction and is currently consolidating around $120,000, still significantly higher than at the beginning of the year. Ethereum recently surpassed the psychologically important level of $5,000, reflecting an increased inflow of investments into altcoins.
Bitcoin: Consolidation Before the Next Surge
After hitting a new all-time high of approximately $124,000 on August 14, Bitcoin pulled back to about $112,000 as large investors took profits. However, this decline turned out to be short-lived: just a few days later, BTC recovered most of its losses and is now trading around $118,000–$120,000, only a few percentage points lower than the peak. The limited supply of BTC (capped at 21 million coins) following the recent halving continues to favor bulls, creating a scarcity of the asset amid steady demand. Major players seized the opportunity during the correction to accumulate coins; for instance, through the BlackRock ETF, approximately 3% of the total Bitcoin supply has been accumulated, vividly illustrating the scale of institutional demand. Experts note that holding current positions increases the chances of a swift surge to new heights – a confident breakout above $125,000 could pave the way for levels of $150,000 and beyond by the year's end.
Ethereum: Holding Positions Above $5000
The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ethereum (ETH), is confidently rising amid the overall bullish market trend. In August, ETH gained around 25%, and this week its price reached a new all-time high – Ether rose to approximately $4,950, becoming the first to surpass the $5,000 mark. This impressive leap was driven by a combination of factors: overall investor optimism, softened rhetoric from the U.S. Federal Reserve, and a redistribution of funds from Bitcoin into riskier assets. The launch of the first spot Ethereum ETFs in the U.S. also provided a significant influx of capital into Ether, with some days seeing inflows into ETH funds surpass those into Bitcoin funds. Enhanced institutional interest, alongside the expansion of the ecosystem (Ethereum serves as the foundation for most DeFi and NFT projects), has allowed Ether to strengthen its market share. Currently, Ethereum is holding above the psychological threshold, although analysts warn of potential increased volatility – after rapid growth, some traders may opt to take profits.
Altcoins: Rally Across the Broad Market
In addition to the heavyweights in the cryptocurrency market, other major cryptocurrencies are showing significant growth. XRP (Ripple) has surpassed $3 for the first time in years following Ripple's legal victory over the SEC; Solana (SOL) has climbed above $200 after resolving last year's issues and is once again attracting investor attention; and Binance Coin (BNB) has reached a new high of approximately $900 due to the expansion of the Binance ecosystem. Other leaders include Cardano (ADA), which is benefitting from regular network updates, and meme coin Dogecoin (DOGE), whose price surged sharply in a wave of euphoria, propelling it back into the top 10. The mass influx of capital into altcoins has reduced Bitcoin's share of the overall market capitalization to approximately 54%, confirming the midst of an "altseason."
Institutional Investments and Crypto ETFs
The explosive rally of 2025 is bolstered by the growing participation of institutional investors. Major financial companies around the world have launched products related to digital assets, notably Bitcoin and Ethereum-based ETFs that significantly enhance access to cryptocurrencies for a broader range of investors. Particularly noteworthy is the success of the BlackRock spot Bitcoin ETF – less than two years since its inception, around 3% of the total BTC supply has been accumulated through it, making this fund one of the largest holders of Bitcoin. The massive appetite from Wall Street indicates that for many investors, the question is no longer "whether to invest in cryptocurrencies," but rather "what portion of their portfolio to allocate to them." The widespread participation of "big money" is making the market more liquid and mature, gradually reducing its volatility. In 2025, institutional investments have become one of the key drivers of the crypto rally, significantly strengthening the market.
DeFi: A New Dawn for Decentralized Finance
The total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols has surpassed $160 billion – the highest since 2021. Leading staking, lending, and decentralized exchange services have regained user trust, accumulating tens of billions of dollars anew. A new driver has been the trend of tokenizing real assets – the issuance of tokens backed by traditional assets (debts, real estate, etc.) is attracting institutional players into DeFi. Technological improvements (such as the implementation of Layer 2 solutions in Ethereum) have reduced fees and simplified access to decentralized applications. Despite the risks associated with smart contract vulnerabilities, DeFi has once again become an integral part of the crypto economy, offering investors alternative sources of yield outside of the traditional banking system.
Regulation and Global Adoption
In 2025, authorities in many countries took significant steps towards embracing the crypto industry, reducing uncertainty for market participants. In the U.S., President Donald Trump's administration officially allowed cryptocurrencies to be included in 401(k) pension plans, expanding citizens' long-term investment opportunities. Additionally, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the launch of an altcoin-based ETF for the first time – XRP – setting a precedent for the market and signaling further expansion of available instruments. In Europe, since late 2024, the unified MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation has been in effect, establishing common rules for cryptocurrency circulation across all EU countries – major exchanges are now obtaining licenses, enhancing market transparency and investor trust. Similar steps are being taken in Asia and the Middle East: Hong Kong is licensing crypto exchanges to serve retail investors starting in 2025, while Dubai is attracting blockchain companies with progressive regulations. Major financial corporations are also continuing to implement crypto technologies: PayPal has launched the PYUSD stablecoin, and Visa and Mastercard are testing cryptocurrency transactions, while several global banks are offering digital asset custody services to their clients. These trends reflect the integration of cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system, reducing regulatory risks for investors and opening new business opportunities.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) – The first and largest (~55% market share, capitalization ~$2 trillion) cryptocurrency. Limited supply amidst high demand makes BTC a scarce asset. In 2025, Bitcoin reached an all-time high, remaining the main indicator of the industry.
- Ethereum (ETH) – The leading smart contract platform. In the summer of 2025, Ether reached a new all-time high (~$4,900), solidifying its position as a key altcoin.
- Tether (USDT) – The largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The supply of USDT exceeds $80 billion, providing high market liquidity.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – The token of the Binance exchange and its blockchain. Used for fee payments; in 2025, the price of BNB reached ~$900 (an all-time high).
- Ripple (XRP) – The token of the Ripple platform for quick international payments. Following the company’s legal victory (in the U.S.), XRP (~$3) has returned to the highs of 2018 and is back in the top 5 of the market.
- USD Coin (USDC) – The second largest stablecoin (issuer – Centre consortium), fully backed by a dollar reserve. Noted for its high transparency; with a capitalization of around $30 billion.
- Cardano (ADA) – A smart contract platform with a scientific approach to development. Thanks to network updates and rising applications, ADA remains in the top 10, although its price (~$0.90) is far from its historic peak.
- Solana (SOL) – A high-speed blockchain with low fees, competing with Ethereum in DeFi and Web3. In 2025, SOL recovered from the 2022 crisis and approached record levels (>$200).
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – The iconic "meme coin" with unlimited supply. Thanks to community support and endorsements from celebrities, DOGE remains among the leaders; on the wave of market growth, its price has surged significantly again.
- Tron (TRX) – The token of the Tron platform for decentralized applications and digital content. Low fees have made the Tron network one of the main platforms for issuing stablecoins, allowing TRX to stay in the top 10.
