Bitcoin News Today: Institutional Bets Push Bitcoin Higher Despite Volatility and Whale Exodus

VanEck maintains its $180,000 year-end Bitcoin price forecast despite recent market volatility, as CME basis funding rates surge to 9%, the highest level since February 2025 [4]. The investment firm has reiterated its bullish outlook, citing robust institutional demand as a key driver of Bitcoin’s recovery, even as volatility compresses and market speculation remains mixed. Exchange-traded products alone purchased 54,000 BTC in July, while Digital Asset Treasuries added 72,000 BTC during the same period [4]. This institutional activity, combined with CME basis rates reaching 9%, signals renewed speculative appetite among derivatives traders.

Bitcoin’s price movement has been volatile in recent weeks. After rebounding to $124,000 on August 13 from an early-August low of $112,000, the cryptocurrency slid back to approximately $115,000, marking an 8% decline from its record high [4]. Analysts attribute some of this price fluctuation to whale activity and market recalibration following U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s dovish comments at the Jackson Hole symposium. According to blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain, a whale wallet recently rotated part of its 100,784 BTC holdings into Ethereum, buying 62,914 ETH and establishing a 135,265 ETH derivatives long position [3]. This shift reflects broader market trends where high-value holders are selling BTC for ETH, favoring Ethereum’s potential driven by growing corporate reserves and upcoming staking approvals.

The broader market context suggests a complex interplay of factors affecting Bitcoin’s price. Seasonal trends, such as the “ghost month” from August 23 to September 21, have historically coincided with weaker Bitcoin performance, with an average decline of 21.7% since 2017 [1]. Analyst Roman Trading has warned that Bitcoin’s current rally may not reflect organic demand, with BTC/EUR failing to hit a new all-time high since 2024. This indicates that recent price gains are more closely tied to a weakening U.S. dollar than genuine market enthusiasm [1]. Furthermore, the post-ETF rally appears to be losing momentum, with higher-timeframe exhaustion resembling past distribution phases.

Despite these headwinds, some industry leaders remain optimistic about Bitcoin’s long-term potential. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has joined a growing list of executives predicting Bitcoin could reach $1 million by 2030, citing regulatory clarity and institutional adoption as key drivers. SOL Strategies CEO Leah Wald, while more conservative, projects a year-end price of $175,000, describing this as a modest forecast compared to other institutional estimates [4]. Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz, however, cautioned against near-term million-dollar price targets, noting that such levels would likely reflect a U.S. economic collapse rather than crypto success.

Bitcoin’s market dynamics are also being shaped by corporate adoption and institutional strategies. Japanese firm Metaplanet, for instance, recently purchased 103 BTC worth $11.7 million, bringing its total holdings to 18,991 BTC valued at $2.2 billion [2]. The company’s inclusion in the FTSE Japan Index as a mid-cap firm marks a significant milestone for corporate Bitcoin treasury strategies. Passive flows into the index could channel institutional capital into companies like Metaplanet, offering indirect Bitcoin exposure while integrating digital assets into traditional equity markets. This trend reflects a broader shift as more corporations adopt Bitcoin as part of their treasury operations.

Bitcoin mining remains a critical component of the ecosystem, though the industry faces increasing challenges. Executives from leading mining firms have highlighted the importance of low-cost energy and operational flexibility in maintaining profitability. Companies like IREN, Marathon, and Terawulf are exploring diversification into AI and data center operations to stabilize revenue amid tightening margins. For example, Terawulf recently signed a $6.7 billion lease-backed deal with Google to repurpose mining infrastructure into data center space [5]. As the mining industry evolves, the ability to adapt to shifting power dynamics and infrastructure demands will be crucial for long-term success.

Source:

[1] title1 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-holders-distribute-as-dollar105k-becomes-btc-s-last-stronghold)

[2] title2 (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/bitcoin-price-drops-below-112000-as-metaplanet-announces-to-buy-11-7m-worth-of-bitcoin)

[3] title3 (https://www.theblock.co/post/368060/bitcoin-under-112700-whale-migration)

[4] title4 (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vaneck-maintains-180k-bitcoin-forecast-135239843.html)

[5] title6 (https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2025/08/24/bitcoin-mining-faces-incredibly-difficult-market-as-power-becomes-the-real-currency)