Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Whales Shift $2.5B to Ethereum as BTC Reaches New 2025 Low

Bitcoin fell below $111,000 in late August, marking a significant retreat from recent all-time highs amid growing market uncertainty. Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView revealed volatile price swings, with BTC/USD reaching as low as $107,000—the lowest level since early July. This decline triggered a wave of long liquidations, with CoinGlass reporting $640 million in crypto liquidations within 24 hours. Traders and analysts remain divided, with some anticipating a retest of the $100,000 level while others look for consolidation before the next upward move [1].

The slide in Bitcoin's price coincided with a notable shift in market leadership. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, surged to a record $4,946.81 on August 24—its highest since 2021. Unlike Bitcoin, which has shown signs of exhaustion, Ethereum has gained strength from sustained demand and regulatory tailwinds. Bitmine Immersion Technologies, an ether treasury company chaired by Wall Street economist Tom Lee, added $45 million worth of ether to its holdings. Analysts attributed the strength in Ethereum to growing institutional adoption, including the use of ether for staking and its inclusion in corporate treasuries [3].

Corporate Bitcoin treasury strategies also played a role in the recent market dynamics. Metaplanet, a Japanese company, announced an additional purchase of 103 BTC, valued at $11.7 million, bringing its total holdings to 18,991 BTC worth approximately $2.2 billion. The company’s acquisition was partially funded by the exercise of stock acquisition rights, which diluted existing shareholders. Metaplanet’s inclusion in the FTSE Japan Index as a mid-cap entity marked a pivotal milestone for corporate Bitcoin adoption and could potentially attract institutional capital through passive flows [2].

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s whale activity came under scrutiny as large investors rotated from BTC to ETH. A single entity sold around 22,769 BTC, worth $2.59 billion, and reinvested in 472,920 ETH, valued at $2.22 billion. This move highlights the ongoing distribution of Bitcoin by long-term holders, a process that analysts like Vijay Boyapati described as a "healthy" monetization event. With 2,000 addresses holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC—Glassnode data indicates a new high for August—market watchers are closely monitoring the balance of power among whale and smaller hodler segments [1].

The Federal Reserve’s upcoming data releases will be critical in shaping the economic outlook. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, a key inflation metric, will be released in late August and is expected to influence expectations for rate cuts in September. Following a surprise dovish pivot by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole symposium, the market priced in a nearly 90% probability of a 0.25% rate cut at the September FOMC meeting. While some analysts cautioned against overestimating the impact of a single rate cut, the broader economic backdrop—marked by a slowing labor market and potential inflationary pressures from tariffs—remains a focal point [6].

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[1] BTC bull run over at $111K? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week (https://cointelegraph.com/news/btc-bull-run-over-at-111k-5-things-bitcoin-this-week)

[2] Bitcoin Price Drops Below $112000 As Metaplanet ... (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/bitcoin-price-drops-below-112000-as-metaplanet-announces-to-buy-11-7m-worth-of-bitcoin)

[3] Ether erases gains from Jackson Hole rally after hitting new ... (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/24/crypto-market-today.html)

[4] Ethereum News: As ETH Soars, Analyst Explains Why ... (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/24/as-eth-breaks-above-usd4-900-analyst-sums-up-crypto-market-btc-is-exhausted-eth-isn-t)

[5] Ether, Ethereum's coin, breaks 2021 all-time high (https://www.axios.com/2025/08/24/ether-all-time-high)

[6] Fed Chair Jerome Powell signals path to rate cuts in ... (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jerome-powell-jackson-hole-speech-interest-rate-federal-reserve)