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- A Silent Mover Just Exploded 64%—Here's Why Quiet Markets Are Getting Loud
A Silent Mover Just Exploded 64%—Here's Why Quiet Markets Are Getting Loud
Benjamin Vitáris
September 03, 2025
In partnership with
Spot ETFs are shifting. DeFi lending is institutional now. And the US just quietly opened the door to regulated crypto trading—before Congress even voted.
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Market-Moving News
This week wasn't about price—it was about positioning.
Regulators greenlit spot trading, banks are eyeing stablecoin yield via DeFi, and capital is pouring back into Bitcoin while ETH bleeds out.
Smart money isn't waiting for the headlines to catch up.
Policy
SEC and CFTC Join Forces to Greenlight Spot Crypto Trading on Registered Exchanges
In a rare show of alignment, the SEC and CFTC issued a joint statement supporting spot crypto trading on registered US exchanges.
Both agencies said their platforms can facilitate spot crypto assets under existing rules—with guidance.
This marks a sharp departure from the uncertainty of the Gensler era. Trump-era appointees Paul Atkins (SEC) and Caroline Pham (CFTC) are now pushing to make the US a global crypto hub.
The regulators invited entities like DCMs, FBOTs, and NSEs to engage with their staff.
These discussions are intended to help trading venues meet "fair and orderly market" standards for crypto spot assets.
The announcement didn't name specific cryptocurrencies but opened the door to "certain spot crypto asset products." The message: come talk to us—we're open for business.
Project Crypto (SEC) and the crypto sprint (CFTC) are part of a coordinated response to President Trump's directive.
The administration wants the US to move fast, with or without Congress.
Legislation is still coming, but this guidance signals that firms no longer need to wait. The agencies are now providing regulatory cover for registered platforms ready to trade spot crypto.
This shift gives registered firms immediate clarity and legitimizes spot trading outside of ETF wrappers.
For investors, it hints at a near-future where Coinbase-style venues could operate with full regulatory blessing—unlocking new market access and deeper liquidity.
DeFi
DeFi Lending Jumps 72% as Institutions Embrace RWAs and Stablecoins
DeFi lending protocols are exploding in value as institutions pour into tokenized RWAs and stablecoins. Total value locked in DeFi lending jumped 72% YTD, reaching $127 billion.
Protocols like Maple Finance and Euler saw 586% and 1,466% growth, respectively. Institutional-grade products like Aave's Horizon are accelerating this shift.
Horizon allows borrowers to use tokenized real-world assets as collateral for stablecoin loans.
This turns passive assets like private credit and Treasurys into yield-bearing DeFi capital.
Tokenized private credit now represents $15.9B of the $27.8B RWA total, per RWA.xyz. US Treasurys follow with $7.4B on-chain.
Major DeFi protocols are integrating these RWAs for more complex financial operations.
However, Moody's has warned of new risk pathways, especially if Treasurys are used for leveraged DeFi trades.
Institutional adoption of yield-bearing RWAs is converting traditional finance into programmable collateral.
It's a shift that could transform DeFi into the backbone of next-gen credit markets.
Institutional appetite for stablecoin lending and tokenized RWAs is bringing real-world scale to DeFi.
For investors, this means the next wave of yields may come from DeFi protocols backed by US Treasurys—not just altcoins and hype.
Poll: If crypto became the global reserve currency, what happens first? |
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ETFs
Bitcoin ETFs Attract $333M as Investors Exit Ethereum for 'Digital Gold' Safety
Spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $332.7M in a single day, led by Fidelity and BlackRock.
Meanwhile, Ethereum funds saw $135M in outflows—reversing last month's inflow dominance.
Fidelity's FBTC brought in $132.7M, followed by BlackRock's IBIT with $72.8M. Grayscale, Ark, and Bitwise also saw inflows, suggesting broad institutional support.
In contrast, Ethereum funds like Fidelity's FETH lost nearly $100M.
This came after ETH funds posted $3.87B in inflows in August, compared to Bitcoin's $751M in outflows.
Bitcoin's "digital gold" narrative is making a comeback. Kronos Research CIO Vincent Liu said BTC is regaining its role as a macro hedge amid global instability.
With gold at record highs, investors are seeking hard assets with asymmetric upside. Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed as the safer crypto—especially in choppy markets.
Crypto investment products as a whole are rebounding, with $2.48B in weekly inflows. Still, the investor rotation is clearly favoring BTC over ETH in the short term.
Bitcoin's ETF resurgence shows that macro uncertainty is reviving the digital gold thesis.
If safe-haven appetite holds, BTC may outperform ETH as institutions rotate toward perceived security and scarcity again.
Coin Leaderboard
Crypto Pulse
Low-cap momentum is stirring again, with Jelly-My-Jelly leading the pack on a nearly 28% breakout.
While institutions load up on Bitcoin and Ether, nimble traders are chasing alpha in corners the spotlight hasn't hit—yet.
RICE AI (RICE) $0.1213 (+64.01%)
RICE soared 64.01% after breaking out of a multi-day sideways range, topping today's Crypto Pulse leaderboard.
Purple Pepe ($PURPE) $0.00005622 (+40.39%)
$PURPE posted a 40.39% rally in the last 24 hours, securing the second spot in today's top movers.
LOFI (LOFI) $0.01919 (+37.69%)
LOFI snapped a month-long downtrend with a strong 37.69% surge, signaling renewed momentum.
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Future Forward
Real trades are born where boredom lives. The ones that matter don't flash—they simmer.
While everyone watches the stage, the next act is slipping in through the side curtain. If your eyes are open now, you're not chasing—you're scouting.
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Crypto Know-How: What Is the Ethereum Foundation?
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is a nonprofit that helps guide Ethereum's growth, but it doesn't control it.
Think of it like a support team—not a CEO—for the Ethereum ecosystem.
It funds core research, ecosystem grants, and developer tools that keep Ethereum running and evolving. It also helps coordinate upgrades and security improvements across the network.
The Foundation isn't the only team building Ethereum—it's just one of many contributors. Independent developers, companies, and DAOs all pitch in, but EF sets the tone and fills in the gaps.
Funding comes from Ethereum's early days, including the ETH it still holds. When EF sells some ETH, it's usually to fund long-term development—not to time the market.
Everything Else
Galaxy Digital tokenized its Class A shares on Solana via Superstate's Opening Bell platform, preserving SEC-registered equity rights on-chain.
Treasury BV raised $147M from Winklevoss Capital and others to acquire 1,000+ BTC and pursue a reverse listing on Euronext Amsterdam.
World Liberty burned 47M WLFI tokens after a sharp post-launch selloff, with plans for ongoing buyback-and-burns to support price.
The Ethereum Foundation plans to sell 10,000 ETH (~$43M) over several weeks to fund R&D, grants, and donations via centralized exchanges.
OKX was fined $2.6M by the Dutch central bank for operating without registration in the Netherlands before the MiCA regime took effect.
That's the pulse this week: regulation is catching up, DeFi is scaling up, and capital is rotating fast. If you're paying attention now, you're already ahead of most.
Best Regards,
— Benjamin Vitaris
Crypto Intel