Bitcoin News Today: Institutional Buyers Double Down as Bitcoin Tests $118K Bullish Threshold

Bitcoin’s price has retreated to levels near $115,000 amid heightened macroeconomic concerns and market volatility, marking a temporary pullback from the $124,496 all-time high seen earlier this month [1]. Despite this correction, the broader institutional buying trend remains robust, with two major corporate entities—Strategy and Metaplanet—announcing significant Bitcoin acquisitions in early August [3]. Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed company, purchased an additional 775 BTC for approximately $93 million, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 18,888 BTC, valued at around $2.18 billion [3]. Meanwhile, Michael Saylor’s Strategy company acquired 430 BTC for $51.4 million, further expanding its Bitcoin treasury to 629,376 BTC, with a total acquisition value of $46.15 billion [3].

The recent price dip was attributed to a wave of profit-taking and forced liquidations triggered by heightened concerns over inflation and potential delays in Federal Reserve rate cuts. According to Coin Glass data, over $530 million in long positions were liquidated across the cryptocurrency market in the 24-hour period following the July inflation report [1]. Both Bitcoin and ether saw notable declines, with Bitcoin falling 1.1% to $116,394.87 and ether dropping 2.5% to $4,354.00 [1].

Analysts are closely watching the $118,000 level as a potential catalyst for a bullish reversal. On-chain metrics such as the MVRV Z-Score suggest that Bitcoin may be approaching a trend shift, with the MVRV ratio currently positioned just below its 70-day SMA [5]. A breakout above $118,000 could confirm renewed bullish momentum and potentially open the door to higher liquidity zones near $122,000, where numerous short positions remain concentrated [4]. This level is also aligned with historical CME gap patterns, with many analysts suggesting that BTC is likely to revisit the $117,000 region before a decisive move higher [4].

Corporate accumulation continues to be a key driver of Bitcoin’s institutional adoption. Over 200 public companies now hold Bitcoin in their treasuries, with firms like Strategy and Metaplanet implementing sophisticated financial strategies to fund additional purchases [3]. Strategy has announced a tactic of issuing shares to fund Bitcoin acquisitions when its modified Net Asset Value (mNAV) falls between 2.5x and 4.0x, while aggressively pursuing new buys when mNAV exceeds 4.0x [3]. These developments reflect a growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term asset class and a hedge against macroeconomic uncertainties.

Despite short-term volatility, U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs have recorded substantial net inflows, with $547 million in inflows for Bitcoin funds and $2.9 billion for ether funds over the past week [1]. These figures underscore continued demand from institutional and retail investors alike, even as the price consolidates near key support levels. Looking ahead, the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium and jobless claims data are expected to provide further clarity on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, which could influence Bitcoin’s trajectory in the near term [1].

Bitcoin currently trades near $115,000, with analysts and traders monitoring whale activity and accumulation patterns for signs of renewed bullish momentum. The market’s ability to break above $118,000 will likely determine whether this consolidation phase leads to a new rally or a more prolonged correction [4].

Source: [1] crypto-market-today (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/18/crypto-market-today.html) [2] how-a-13-gamestop-purchase-turned-into-a-115000-bitcoin-jackpot (https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/08/47299686/heres-how-a-13-gamestop-purchase-turned-into-a-115000-bitcoin-jackpot) [3] bitcoin-price-slides-below-115000-as-strategy-and-metaplanet-buys-additional-bitcoin (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/bitcoin-price-slides-below-115000-as-strategy-and-metaplanet-buys-additional-bitcoin) [4] bitcoin-btc-price-prediction-bitcoin-targets-118k-as-mvrv-signals-bullish-shift-in-market-cycle (https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/bitcoin-btc-price-prediction-bitcoin-targets-118k-as-mvrv-signals-bullish-shift-in-market-cycle) [5] why-118k-might-be-bitcoin-s-next-pivotal-level (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1064020-20250824) [6] hints-fresh-bitcoin-purchases-as-all-time-high-retest-looms (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/michael-saylor-hints-fresh-bitcoin-210350259.html)