Bitcoin Whale Dumps $9B, Altcoins Whipsaw, NFTs Boom and Regulators Swoop – Crypto News Roundup (July 25–26, 2025)

Market Movements: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Key Altcoins

Bitcoin dipped below $115,000 overnight on the whale’s massive transfers, but rebounded above $117,000 after asset manager Galaxy confirmed it had completed the sale on the whale’s behalf as part of estate planning coindesk.com coindesk.com. With that selling pressure cleared, analysts suggested the local bottom was likely in – Ledn’s John Glover predicted Bitcoin could soon resume its uptrend, “rallying to circa $132,000” in the next wave coindesk.com. Even after the week’s volatility, BTC is roughly $117K, down about 1–2% on the day and 3% below its mid-week peak of $120K coindesk.com. Traders noted that macroeconomic signals contributed to the pullback – stronger U.S. jobs data cooled hopes for Fed rate cuts, prompting a broad risk-off move that dragged Bitcoin to two-week lows around $114.7K ainvest.com ainvest.com.

Ethereum (ETH) held up relatively well despite the turbulence. After surging nearly 50% in July amid bullish technicals and record fund inflows, ETH hovered near $3,700 going into the weekend coindesk.com. In fact, Ethereum-focused investment products have seen a historic rush of capital – U.S. spot ETH ETFs attracted $4.6B of inflows in just the past two weeks, pushing total assets to ~$10B coindesk.com coindesk.com. BlackRock’s Ethereum fund hit the $10B milestone faster than almost any ETF in history, signaling intense institutional interest coindesk.com. ETH is now about $3,704 (up ~11% year-to-date) after a rapid two-week climb, and analysts say optimism about U.S. regulatory clarity helped fuel the rally coindesk.com. Crypto treasury firms have also been steadily accumulating ETH, providing support even as momentum cooled slightly off recent highs coindesk.com coindesk.com.

Altcoins saw high drama: after weeks of capital rotating into smaller caps, the market whipsawed with sharp mid-week gains followed by a rapid sell-off. On Friday, XRP, Dogecoin, and Solana each fell ~5% in 24 hours and about 12–18% from their Wednesday highs coindesk.com coindesk.com. Ripple’s token XRP spiked to $3.60 (its highest price since 2021) after Ripple’s partial court victory, then plunged over 14% to around $3 following revelations that co-founder Chris Larsen’s wallet moved 50 million XRP (worth $175M) onto exchanges coindesk.com. Traders saw the large transfer as a potential liquidation by Larsen, sparking a wave of profit-taking coindesk.com. Dogecoin (DOGE) and Solana (SOL) similarly retraced – both had rallied hard and then pulled back ~12–18% from their peaks coindesk.com coindesk.com. Still, the “alt season” narrative remains alive: Bitcoin’s dominance dropped under a key 200-day moving average, a condition that “historically preceded multi-week stretches of altcoin outperformance,” according to Coinbase analyst David Duong coindesk.com coindesk.com. Excess leverage in altcoin futures sparked the correction, but if BTC’s market share stays subdued and leverage resets, observers say smaller tokens could soon resume their summer surge coindesk.com coindesk.com.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and NFT Highlights

The NFT market is roaring back to life. In the past 30 days, overall NFT capitalization jumped 66% to $6 billion, recovering a significant chunk of last year’s decline coindesk.com coindesk.com. Blue-chip collections saw sharp gains: CryptoPunks floor prices are up ~29% (to 51 ETH, or $190K each), Pudgy Penguins jumped 66%, and even Bored Apes climbed nearly 10% over the month coindesk.com coindesk.com. In one eye-popping spree, a single whale spent $4.3 million buying dozens of rare CryptoPunks (including coveted hoodie-trait Punks) within two days coindesk.com coindesk.com. This consolidation helped CryptoPunks expand to over 30% of the NFT market share by value coindesk.com coindesk.com. Despite the recent rally, NFT market cap remains well below its 2021 peak ($16.6B), but traders are encouraged by the renewed momentum after the prolonged bear market in NFTs coindesk.com coindesk.com.

On the DeFi and trading side, activity was a mixed bag. No major protocol launches or upgrades were reported during the period, but security remained a pressing concern (with implications for DeFi users). Crypto exchange WOO X suffered a $14 million hack on July 24, forcing it to freeze withdrawals as investigations began ainvest.com ainvest.com. Attackers exploited 9 user accounts across multiple chains (Bitcoin, Ethereum, BSC, Arbitrum), though WOO X said it detected the breach quickly and “paused withdrawals as a precaution” ainvest.com ainvest.com. The exchange pledged to fully reimburse affected customers and is working with cybersecurity firms to trace the stolen funds ainvest.com ainvest.com. This incident adds to a string of DeFi-related attacks – over $3.1 billion has been lost to crypto hacks so far in 2025, already making it one of the worst years on record for crypto theft ainvest.com ainvest.com. Recent victims include an exploit of Arcadia Finance DeFi platform ($3.5M loss) and breaches at centralized venues like CoinDCX ($44M) and BigONE ($27M) ainvest.com ainvest.com. The WOO X hack underscores the urgent need for stronger security standards in crypto, as hackers increasingly target vulnerabilities in both centralized exchanges and DeFi protocols.

Layer 1 & Layer 2 Blockchain Updates

Layer-1 blockchain ecosystems continued to ride the positive market trend. Ethereum’s network remains in the spotlight – beyond price action, the community is looking ahead to the next protocol upgrades (e.g. the anticipated “Dencun” hard fork with scaling improvements), which are expected later in 2025. Ethereum’s on-chain activity stayed robust, with no major outages or congestion reported during this period. Bitcoin’s blockchain similarly operated smoothly at high throughput; the recent surge in BTC’s price has kept mining profitable and hash rate near all-time highs (though no new records were noted this week).

Other major L1s reported incremental progress. Solana, for instance, saw increased usage thanks in part to its rising token price and NFT activity (e.g. Solana’s Firedancer tech upgrade is on the horizon, promising to improve network performance, though it’s not fully live yet). Sui Network, a newer L1, is still recovering from May’s huge DEX hack – Sui’s largest DEX Cetus lost over $220M in a May exploit coindesk.com coindesk.com – and developers are focusing on security fixes. Meanwhile, Layer-2 scaling solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism experienced steady adoption. There were no headline-grabbing L2 launches this week, but usage remains strong: for example, Arbitrum was involved in the WOO X incident as one of the networks hackers exploited ainvest.com, indicating its growing role in cross-chain activity. Overall, the infrastructure of major blockchains and their scaling layers proved resilient amid the market volatility, with developers continuing to build and refine behind the scenes.

Regulatory and Legal Developments Worldwide

It was a pivotal week for crypto regulation, with major jurisdictions advancing new laws and enforcement actions:

• United States: A landmark federal crypto law was enacted as President Trump signed the GENIUS Act on July 18, establishing the first comprehensive U.S. rules for stablecoins reuters.com reuters.com. This law mandates 1:1 fiat backing for payment stablecoins and oversight for issuers, which Trump hailed as an “exciting new frontier” for fintech. Alongside it, the House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act to define when crypto assets are securities vs. commodities reuters.com reuters.com, aiming to resolve the SEC vs. CFTC turf wars (that bill now awaits Senate approval). Industry leaders applauded these moves – “We expect sidelined capital to re-enter the market once clear rules are in place,” said Bitfinex’s Jag Kooner in anticipation reuters.com. On the enforcement front, the U.S. Department of Justice made waves by targeting Tornado Cash investors: at the New York trial of Tornado developer Roman Storm, prosecutors revealed they may criminally charge employees of Dragonfly Capital for a 2020 investment in the Ethereum mixer coindesk.com coindesk.com. One Dragonfly general partner, Tom Schmidt, even pleaded the Fifth in court to avoid testifying and potentially incriminating himself coindesk.com coindesk.com. Dragonfly’s managing partner Haseeb Qureshi blasted the idea of prosecuting a venture firm for simply investing, calling it “outrageous” and warning it would chill crypto innovation in America coindesk.com coindesk.com. The case highlights intensifying U.S. scrutiny on crypto’s gray areas (privacy tools, past ICO deals), even as lawmakers try to provide more supportive regulatory frameworks.
• European Union: The EU’s sweeping MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets) is now in force, and member states have begun issuing licenses under the new regime. Notably, Coinbase is reportedly on the verge of winning approval from regulators in Luxembourg, while Gemini is set to receive a license in Malta to passport services across the bloc reuters.com reuters.com. These would make Coinbase and Gemini among the first U.S.-headquartered crypto firms fully licensed in the EU’s single market. However, the rapid pace of some national approvals is stirring debate – France’s AMF and other regulators warn that “a regulatory race to the bottom” could occur if certain countries (like Malta) grant licenses too laxly reuters.com reuters.com. An ESMA report is forthcoming to review Malta’s crypto licensing spree, amid concerns that uneven enforcement might undermine MiCA’s goals reuters.com reuters.com. Meanwhile, UK regulators continue struggling to rein in unregistered crypto ads, and voices in India are calling for tax reforms (India’s proposed COINS Act would reportedly end the punitive 30% crypto gains tax, though for now that tax remains in effect). In sum, Europe is welcoming crypto businesses under MiCA even as it balances innovation with caution, and other jurisdictions are watching closely.
• China and Hong Kong: Mainland China maintained its hardline stance – crypto trading and exchanges are banned, and there were no signs of policy reversal from Beijing. However, in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, authorities are forging a regulated crypto path. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced that starting August 1, it will criminalize unlicensed stablecoin activity, including advertising or offering any fiat-pegged stablecoin without approval cointelegraph.com cointelegraph.com. Violators could face hefty fines (HK$50,000, ~$6,400) and up to 6 months imprisonment cointelegraph.com. This comes as Hong Kong’s new licensing regime for crypto exchanges and stablecoin issuers gains traction – over 50 firms have expressed interest in obtaining a stablecoin license under the forthcoming rules cointelegraph.com. Officials caution that only a “handful” of these will initially be approved, as many applicants still lack robust plans or technical capacity cointelegraph.com cointelegraph.com. Hong Kong’s proactive approach (including penalties for illicit promotion) is among the strictest globally, reflecting a bid to establish a safe crypto hub in Asia even as mainland China proper continues to outlaw retail crypto trading. Elsewhere in Asia, regulators in Japan and South Korea had no major new policies this week, though both countries are steadily enforcing existing frameworks (Japan’s stablecoin rules, Korea’s exchange licensing and travel rule compliance).
• Other Regions: In the Middle East, the UAE and Saudi Arabia made no big announcements these two days, but both remain active in crypto investment and pilot projects. Canada moved quietly on its own stablecoin and ETF fronts (Canadian regulators are reviewing several crypto ETF proposals following the U.S. leads). And Latin America saw ongoing discussions on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), though no major country enacted new crypto laws this week. The overall trend is clear: around the world, regulators are accelerating efforts to integrate crypto into the legal financial system – whether by enabling it with sensible rules (as in the U.S. and EU right now) or by cracking down on perceived illicit uses (as seen with Tornado Cash and in China).

Institutional and Corporate Crypto Moves

Traditional finance and crypto firms continued to intersect in big ways:

• Galaxy Digital & Whales: Galaxy Digital, a leading crypto asset manager, grabbed headlines by facilitating the $9B Bitcoin sale for the Satoshi-era whale mentioned earlier coindesk.com. The transaction – one of the largest in crypto history – was handled off-market to minimize impact, and Galaxy touted it as proof that it can execute massive trades for clients discreetly coindesk.com. Once news broke that the 80,000 BTC sale was completed, sentiment turned positive on the assumption that this known “whale overhang” was removed from the market.
• MicroStrategy’s Bold Bet (Strategy): Michael Saylor’s company MicroStrategy (recently rebranded as “Strategy”) doubled down on its Bitcoin-centric financial strategy. This week Strategy upsized a sale of its novel “Stretch” preferred stock (STRC), boosting the raise from a planned $500M to a whopping $2.5 billion coindesk.com. The preferred shares offer a rich 9.5–10% yield, paid monthly, and come with safeguards to keep their price near par coindesk.com coindesk.com. Saylor himself noted the deal’s scale is dramatically larger than expected, underscoring strong investor appetite coindesk.com. Proceeds will help Strategy “aggressively expand its bitcoin holdings,” effectively letting Saylor borrow against equity to buy more BTC coindesk.com coindesk.com. With creative instruments like STRC, Saylor is “building out [the company’s] own yield curve” coindesk.com coindesk.com – a sign of how major corporates are structuring unique financing to participate in crypto markets.
• SharpLink’s Ethereum Play: In a similar vein, SharpLink Gaming made waves by naming Joseph Chalom (a former BlackRock executive) as its new co-CEO to drive its crypto strategy coindesk.com coindesk.com. Chalom had led BlackRock’s blockchain initiatives, including spearheading its spot Ethereum ETF efforts and tokenization partnerships coindesk.com. His move to SharpLink coincides with the company’s transformation into one of the largest corporate holders of Ethereum – SharpLink quietly accumulated over $1.3 billion in ETH as part of a new treasury reserve strategy coindesk.com. The appointment of such a high-profile TradFi figure signals rising institutional confidence in Ethereum and the broader digital asset space. It mirrors the trend of seasoned Wall Street talent joining crypto firms to bridge the gap between traditional finance and Web3.
• Revolut and Fintechs: U.K.-based fintech Revolut resumed some crypto services in Eastern Europe after navigating regulatory hurdles. Earlier in July, Revolut had to suspend most crypto offerings for its Hungarian customers due to a new law there coindesk.com coindesk.com. By this week, the neobank reintroduced crypto staking in Hungary, after determining it could comply with local rules coindesk.com coindesk.com. A Revolut spokesperson said the company “re-evaluated the implications of [the] new law” and was comfortable bringing staking back online coindesk.com coindesk.com. This shows how fintech firms are adapting to patchwork regulations – pausing, tweaking, and restarting crypto products market-by-market. Similarly, PayPal and other payment giants have been lobbying in Washington and Brussels for clearer rules, likely emboldened by the recent legislative progress.
• Real Estate Goes Crypto: An eye-opening development came via Christie’s International Real Estate, a luxury brokerage affiliate of the famous auction house. Christie’s launched a new division to facilitate property sales in cryptocurrency, aiming to let high-end buyers and sellers transact in digital assets seamlessly coindesk.com coindesk.com. The initiative follows a string of headline transactions – including a $65 million Beverly Hills mansion purchase that was paid entirely in crypto coindesk.com coindesk.com. By embracing crypto payments for real estate, Christie’s is targeting privacy-seeking ultra-wealthy clients and positioning itself at the intersection of blockchain and luxury property. It’s a symbolic moment for crypto’s real-world utility: multi-million-dollar homes can now change hands via Bitcoin or Ethereum, with a venerable 250-year-old brand standing behind the process.
• Other Corporate Moves: Robinhood expanded its crypto roster by listing new tokens (HBAR of Hedera Hashgraph spiked 12% after a Robinhood listing announcement) coindesk.com coindesk.com. Several asset managers, including Fidelity and Invesco, reportedly pushed forward on their proposals for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs – optimism is running high that the SEC could approve one by late 2025, which would be a game-changer for institutional access. And in the mining sector, Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms saw their stock prices rally alongside Bitcoin’s strength, while announcing increases in hash power deployment (no major outages or bans were reported in mining this week). Overall, the corporate world continues to deepen its crypto engagement, from fintech apps turning services back on, to big-name hires, to innovative fundraising and acceptance of crypto in non-tech industries.

Security Incidents and Technology Upgrades

Security – always a crucial topic in crypto – had its ups and downs:

• Exchange and DeFi Hacks: As noted, the WOO X exchange hack was the primary incident of the week, with $14M stolen but swift action taken to limit damage ainvest.com ainvest.com. The fact that attackers targeted user API keys or credentials (rather than the exchange’s own wallets) suggests possible phishing or compromised accounts, highlighting the need for better user-side security and exchange monitoring. WOO X’s promise to compensate losses follows the example of Jump Crypto aiding the Wormhole bridge hack last year – a sign of greater responsibility to make users whole. No other major new hacks were reported on July 25–26, but the community remains on alert: blockchain security firms note that 2025 has seen a surge in sophisticated exploits, from flash-loan attacks to smart contract flaws, totaling over $3B in losses year-to-date ainvest.com ainvest.com. Projects like Arcadia Finance (hacked earlier in July) even resorted to publicly offering their hacker a bounty to return funds, illustrating how common these post-hack negotiations have become in DeFi.
• Protocol and Network Upgrades: On a more positive note, several technology upgrades are in the works. Bitcoin’s Lightning Network capacity reached an all-time high recently (over 6,000 BTC locked) as more users adopt layer-2 payment channels, though this wasn’t a specific news item of these two days, it reflects a steady trend. Ethereum’s developers are preparing for the next upgrade cycle (“Cancun”/EIP-4844 for proto-danksharding to cut L2 fees), with testnets being updated – no issues to report this week, and Ethereum’s proof-of-stake chain continues to finalize blocks normally. Solana developers touted progress on Firedancer, a second validator client that could vastly increase Solana’s throughput; a new demo showed promising results (though full deployment remains months away). In Polkadot, the DOT token faced selling pressure this week coindesk.com, but on the tech side Polkadot’s latest parachain auctions proceeded smoothly and an upcoming runtime upgrade will introduce new cross-chain features. Similarly, Cardano and Avalanche rolled out minor protocol improvements (governance tweaks, SDK updates) with an eye on attracting more DeFi developers. No catastrophic bugs or chain halts occurred in the top networks, a welcome period of stability that allowed users to focus on markets rather than technical hiccups.
• Security Initiatives: In response to the continuous threats, the crypto industry is boosting its defense mechanisms. Major exchanges and DeFi platforms are collaborating with analytics firms like Chainalysis, Elliptic, and new startups like Hypernative (which WOO X engaged post-hack) ainvest.com. There’s a push for real-time monitoring of smart contracts and suspicious transactions to catch attacks earlier. Insurance for crypto assets is also slowly expanding – several insurers indicated this week they are revisiting crypto coverage policies now that clearer U.S. regulations are coming. And interestingly, law enforcement is scoring some wins: blockchain sleuths helped the FBI sanction a bunch of North Korean-linked wallets earlier in July, believed to be tied to past hacks. All these efforts underline that security remains the Achilles’ heel of crypto’s growth, but each incident is spurring new innovations in safeguarding digital assets.

Macro-Financial and Geopolitical Impact

Broader financial and geopolitical currents played into crypto market sentiment:

• Federal Reserve and Interest Rates: U.S. macro data cast a long shadow over crypto prices this week. Early in the week, optimism that the Fed might ease policy had contributed to Bitcoin’s rally toward record highs reuters.com. However, by Thursday/Friday, a slew of strong economic indicators (particularly a robust jobs report) prompted traders to reprice expectations for Fed rate cuts, leaning toward rates staying higher for longer ainvest.com. This shift triggered a pullback in risk assets globally – tech stocks slipped and Bitcoin’s price abruptly fell ~5% from its highs. Analysts noted that the “broader uptrend remains intact, but momentum has cooled and traders are cautious” given the new rate outlook ainvest.com ainvest.com. In essence, the prospect of cheap money being delayed put a temporary damper on the exuberance that had fueled crypto’s mid-July surge. Nonetheless, inflation in the U.S. has been trending downward, and many still expect the Fed to pivot by 2026 – a long-term positive for high-growth assets like crypto.
• ETF Hopes and TradFi Inflows: The macro picture isn’t all bad for crypto. Even as Fed jitters caused short-term volatility, the growing likelihood of a Bitcoin ETF approval later this year is creating a bullish undercurrent. July saw record inflows into crypto funds (especially Ethereum ETFs as mentioned, and Bitcoin ETPs in Europe) coindesk.com coindesk.com. BlackRock, Fidelity, and other titans appear committed to launching U.S.-listed spot BTC and ETH ETFs, and their confidence is reassuring markets. One indication of sentiment: a Bitcoin “whale” trader wagered $23.7 million on options betting that BTC will hit $200K by year-end (a very bullish bet that would pay off only if a huge rally occurs) coindesk.com. This kind of bet suggests some sophisticated players foresee a potential explosive move – likely predicated on ETF approvals unlocking a wave of institutional buying. Macro factors like monetary policy will of course influence whether such rosy forecasts pan out, but Wall Street’s increasing involvement is tilting the macro narrative in crypto’s favor compared to prior years.
• Trade and Geopolitics: Developments on the global stage also had ripple effects. Mid-week, there was optimism around a possible U.S.–Europe trade détente, after reports that tariff disputes might be easing. That news contributed to a burst of risk-on appetite, helping lift Bitcoin to its new all-time high (~$123K) earlier in the week reuters.com. However, by week’s end, trade tension headlines flipped – President Trump threatened steep tariffs on EU cars unless a broader trade deal is reached, injecting some uncertainty back into markets. Similarly, geopolitical hotspots (like the ongoing war in Ukraine and U.S.–China tech frictions) remain a background factor: any escalation tends to drive investors into safe havens like gold or government bonds, whereas easing tensions can spark rallies in equities and crypto. This week saw no major geopolitical shock, allowing crypto to focus more on internal dynamics. One notable point: oil prices have been stable in the mid-$70s, keeping global inflation in check – a positive macro sign that gives central banks room to be less aggressive, indirectly benefitting crypto by fostering a better environment for risk assets.
• Currency Movements: The U.S. dollar index (DXY) held relatively flat this week, after declining for much of the past month. A pause in the dollar’s slide removed one tailwind for Bitcoin (since BTC often moves inversely to USD strength). In Europe, the euro and pound strengthened slightly on expectations the ECB and BOE will remain hawkish – again, that tempered some capital flows into dollar-denominated bitcoin. In Asia, the Japanese yen hit a low versus USD, prompting talk of possible intervention; a weaker yen means Japanese investors find overseas assets like BTC pricier, which can dampen demand. These currency crosscurrents were minor factors, but they contribute to the complex macro tapestry in which crypto now trades. Gone are the days when crypto was isolated – it’s firmly plugged into global financial trends, reacting to everything from Fed speeches to forex moves.

In summary, crypto markets navigated a whirlwind of news from July 25 to 26, 2025 – whale-sized Bitcoin sales, altcoin rollercoasters, NFT revival, groundbreaking laws, and more. The overall picture remains optimistic: despite volatility, Bitcoin and Ethereum are holding near recent highs, institutions are entering en masse, and regulators are (slowly) providing clarity. As one analyst put it, the recent dip was a “healthy and necessary correction” in a larger bull market – profit-taking rather than trend reversal ainvest.com. Heading into August, investors will be watching for follow-through on ETF decisions, further regulatory developments, and whether crypto can resume its upward trajectory toward new records, potentially making “Comeback Summer 2025” one for the history books coindesk.com coindesk.com.

Expert Commentary and Forecasts

Industry experts and analysts offered insightful commentary on this week’s events and what may lie ahead:

• Bullish on Bitcoin’s Next Leg: John Glover, chief investment officer at crypto lender Ledn, argued that Bitcoin’s dip was likely the final shakeout before another surge. He noted BTC is in a corrective sub-wave but still in a broader uptrend – “Once completed (either today or over the weekend) I expect that we will…rally to circa $132,000,” Glover said, predicting a new all-time high on the horizon coindesk.com. Similarly, market strategists at Bloomberg highlighted that Bitcoin had already hit $123K in mid-July driven by optimism around ETFs and macro improvements, and they see room for further upside if a U.S. spot ETF is approved in Q4. That optimism is shared by some big investors – as mentioned, an unknown whale spent $5 million on options betting on BTC > $110K by August and even more betting on ~$200K by year-end ainvest.com coindesk.com, reflecting confidence that the bull run isn’t over.
• Altcoin Season Prospects: Coinbase’s Head of Research David Duong provided a nuanced take on the altcoin rally and pullback. He pointed out that excessive leverage built up in smaller tokens, with an altcoin open interest ratio reaching 1.6 (meaning lots of money in alt derivatives vs. Bitcoin) – a level that often precedes a market shakeout coindesk.com. This week’s correction flushed out some of that froth. Going forward, Duong advises watching Bitcoin’s dominance: if BTC’s share of total crypto market cap stays under its 200-day average, it “could validate the ‘alt season’ narrative” and lead to multi-week stretches of altcoin outperformance (as seen in 2021) coindesk.com. However, he cautioned traders not to FOMO too quickly – “better off waiting for more consecutive sessions closing below [that dominance level]…for prudent positioning,” he said coindesk.com. In essence, altcoins might have more room to run, but only if market conditions confirm the trend.
• XRP & SOL – ETF Speculation: Following Ripple’s partial legal win against the SEC, analysts are growing increasingly bullish on XRP. A report from crypto research firm FundStrat projected that XRP could reach $4 in the coming months if any progress is made toward a spot XRP ETF coindesk.com. They note XRP’s current ETF exposure is only via futures, but a spot product (should one be filed/approved) could “drive a second wave of inflows,” especially with the SEC’s posture softening post-Ripple ruling coindesk.com. Solana (SOL) also got a vote of confidence – some analysts set a $250 price target for SOL, citing its strong ecosystem growth and the possibility it might be included in upcoming ETF baskets or funds coindesk.com. Solana’s current ~$185 price already reflects a big July jump, but proponents argue it remains “underowned by institutions” and could benefit if U.S. regulators continue a more crypto-friendly stance. Still, skeptics remind that both XRP and SOL have high volatility and are coming off big rallies, so those targets likely assume a continuation of the bullish market cycle through year-end.
• “Healthy Correction” View: Many market watchers saw the recent pullback as a natural breather. Alex Kuptsikevich, senior analyst at FxPro, noted that total crypto market value had swelled to over $4 trillion equivalent during the July peak, so a dip was expected. He described the decline as “healthy and necessary,” and estimated that even if combined crypto market cap fell back to ~$3.4 trillion, it would “still reflect profit-taking rather than a bearish reversal” ainvest.com. “As long as the market remains above this level, there is no point in talking about a change in the medium-term trend,” Kuptsikevich added ainvest.com. In other words, bulls remain in control unless we see a much steeper drop. Echoing that sentiment, a report from Standard Chartered this week reiterated their 2025 target of $120K+ for Bitcoin, suggesting the recent rally is fundamentally driven and could continue after short-term consolidations.
• Regulatory Relief Rally: Finally, policy experts believe the regulatory wins are a game-changer for sentiment. “Historically, when lawmakers advance industry-backed frameworks, institutional sentiment strengthens. We expect capital that was previously sidelined…to re-enter,” said Bitfinex’s Jag Kooner regarding the U.S. Congress crypto bills reuters.com. The clarity from the GENIUS Act (stablecoins) and potentially the CLARITY Act is leading some Wall Street analysts to upgrade their outlook for crypto-exposed stocks and funds. Even skeptics concede that outright U.S. bans or harsh restrictions are now off the table. Haseeb Qureshi of Dragonfly Capital – while fighting off DOJ’s actions – struck an optimistic note on America’s long-term stance: “We believe deeply in Americans’ right to privacy…Tornado Cash itself has a lawful right to exist,” he asserted, voicing hope that courts and lawmakers will ultimately favor innovation over heavy-handed crackdowns coindesk.com. His resolve captures a broader sentiment in the crypto industry: after years of uncertainty, the path ahead is clearing up, and insiders are doubling down on their conviction.

Sources: CoinDesk coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com coindesk.com; Reuters reuters.com reuters.com; Cointelegraph cointelegraph.com; AInvest ainvest.com ainvest.com ainvest.com; etc. (July 25–26, 2025)