Bitcoin News Today: Crypto Market Plummets 2.4% Amid U.S. Bitcoin Policy Uncertainty

The cryptocurrency market experienced a broad downturn on August 15, 2025, with over 90 of the top 100 digital assets declining in value within a 24-hour period. The market capitalization of cryptocurrencies fell by 2.4%, reducing the total value to $4.12 trillion. Despite the widespread decline, trading volume remained elevated at $267 billion, the highest in recent days [1].

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, both recorded significant losses. BTC dropped 2.4%, trading at $119,043, while ETH fell 2.3% to $4,647. Dogecoin (DOGE) suffered the largest single-coin decline among the top ten, losing 6% to $0.2307. Cardano (ADA) followed with a 4.9% drop, and Binance Coin (BNB) recorded the smallest loss at 1%. Among the top 100 coins, only six posted gains, with Provenance Blockchain (HASH) leading with a 7.8% increase [1].

The market's decline came amid shifting U.S. government commentary on Bitcoin. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent initially stated that the U.S. government would not acquire Bitcoin for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, but later reversed his position, suggesting the administration was "exploring budget-neutral ways" to acquire more BTC. This inconsistent messaging introduced uncertainty into the market, influencing investor sentiment [1].

Analysts from Bitunix noted that BTC had previously broken above a descending trendline, reaching $124,500 before retreating. The current price of around $119,000 remains above a critical "bull–bear pivot" level of $116,300. According to the analysis, the price could either test key resistance levels at $124,600 or potentially fall toward $115,000 [1].

Despite the short-term volatility, institutional demand for digital assets remains strong. U.S. BTC spot ETFs recorded inflows of $230.93 million on Thursday, with cumulative inflows reaching $54.99 billion. Similarly, U.S. ETH ETFs saw $639.61 million in inflows, bringing the total to $12.73 billion. These figures suggest continued institutional confidence in the market [1].

Kyle Chassé, founder of MV Global, highlighted the broader trend of Bitcoin’s growing role in the global financial system, noting that regulatory clarity and institutional adoption are key drivers. He forecasts that BTC could surpass $250,000 by the end of 2025, driven by network effects and the increasing influence of institutional investors [1].

Meanwhile, the crypto fear and greed index declined sharply to 59 from 68, indicating a shift toward investor caution. The market has moved into a "neutral" sentiment zone, with traders closely watching for new signals that could dictate the direction of the broader market [1].

Looking ahead, analysts expect a potential altcoin season as September approaches, particularly with rising institutional demand for Ethereum. Coinbase Institutional suggested that macroeconomic developments, including potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts and regulatory advancements, could support a broader market rally [1].

In the regulatory sphere, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delayed its review of two Solana ETF applications until October 16, providing additional time to evaluate proposals from Bitwise and 21Shares. This extension reflects the ongoing scrutiny of new crypto-related financial products and underscores the importance of regulatory clarity for market stability [1].

Source: [1] Why Is Crypto Down Today? – August 15, 2025 (https://cryptonews.com/news/why-is-crypto-down-today-august-15-2025/)