Bitcoin Whale Rocks Crypto Markets

Camila Russo & Denis Omelchenko
August 25, 2025

gm, Defiers!

Today’s big story:

Crypto markets halt their rally after an OG Bitcoin whale dumped of thousands of BTC in the past few days

In other news:

BTC, ETH and altcoins slide on Monday
Galaxy report highlights crypto treasury companies now hold over $100B
Financial privacy hangs in “CBDC bill,” experts say
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📈 Markets in the Last 24 Hours

TICKER	VALUE	24H
Bitcoin	$112,468	-1.60 %
Ethereum	$4,589.41	-6.39 %
XRP	$2.96	-2.92 %
BNB	$864.64	-1.04 %
Solana	$196.76	-5.86 %

MessariPortals	MINDSHARE Rank	MINDSHARE % Change (7d)
		-20.82%
		151.07%
		-45.00%
Powered by Messari Portals

Today’s Big Story

Crypto markets turn red after Bitcoin whale sparks sell-off

gm Defiers!

Crypto markets cooled Monday, with (BTC) just above $111,000 and (ETH) sliding from its recent all-time high of $4,946 down to around $4,550 after an OG Bitcoin whale dumped tens of thousands of BTC on Sunday, triggering forced liquidations.

The total market capitalization dropped slightly to $3.92 trillion, down 2.9% from a week ago, according to CoinGecko. Bitcoin dominance is at 56.4%, with BTC’s market cap at $2.2 trillion, while Ethereum sits at 14% dominance with $548.8 billion in market capitalization.

Bitcoin dropped in a moment below $111,000 on Sunday after a whale sold 24,000 BTC via Hyperunit, triggering a cascade of forced liquidations. The whale’s rotation into ETH — over 416,000 ETH acquired — contributed to BTC’s $45 billion market cap plunge.

Other altcoins also felt the ripple: (XRP) slipped 2.9% to $2.93, (BNB) fell 1.1% to $854, and (SOL) dropped 4.5% to $196.

Surprisingly, Solana is among the most hit on the day even though Bloomberg reported Monday that Galaxy Digital, Multicoin Capital, and Jump Crypto are exploring raising $1 billion to create a Solana-focused digital asset treasury, with Cantor Fitzgerald leading the deal.

ETFs and Macro

Spot ETFs saw heavy outflows last week. Spot BTC ETFs posted about -$1.17 billion, the second-largest weekly outflow in spot BTC ETF history, and spot ETH ETFs saw -$237.73 million, the third-largest weekly outflow on record, per SoSoValue as of Monday, Aug. 25.

Those red figures helped neutralize what would have been a dovish read from Jackson Hole as Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks initially nudged markets toward a cut bet, but the weekend’s Bitcoin flash crash wiped out that momentum.

The result: ETF flows were negative, sentiment has turned more cautious, and while some traders are still holding bullish September BTC calls around $140,000, overall demand for new long positions has cooled after forced liquidations and hedge fund de-risking.

Analysts at Keyrock noted in a Monday research report prediction markets are now pricing in about an 80% chance of a 25 basis point interest rate cut in September, while a 50 basis point cut looks very unlikely at around 4%.

The shift shows markets leaning toward expectations of Fed easing, but the long-term end of the curve is less responsive as investors weigh possible rate cuts against inflation concerns.

The analysts say that in crypto, the low volatility shows traders are confident rather than careless, while stronger call activity in Ethereum suggests they are betting on medium-term gains. With some of the broader economic pressures easing, the market is starting to tilt toward a more positive risk environment.

Have a great Monday!

Denis, The Defiant staff reporter

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🎬WATCH

The $10 Trillion Question: Crypto's Biggest Cycle Yet with Ellio Trades

In the latest episode of The Defiant Podcast, we sit down with Ellio Trades, Co-Founder of BlackHole, the fastest-growing decentralized exchange on Avalanche. Ellio shares his insights on the current state of the crypto market, including whether we're entering a new altcoin season or witnessing a slower, more sustainable growth cycle. He dives deep into the maturation of the crypto space, the role of institutional investors, and why this cycle could be the most significant in crypto history.

Ellio also unpacks the innovative mechanics behind BlackHole, from its V3.3 DEX model to its focus on creating deep liquidity and sustainable revenue. He explains how BlackHole is reshaping the DeFi landscape and why Avalanche was the perfect ecosystem for its launch. Watch now to gain valuable insights on the future of blockchain, decentralized finance, and the next wave of crypto adoption.

Top News in the Past 24 Hours

Digital Asset Treasury Companies Drive New Wave of Corporate Crypto Holdings With over $100 billion in assets, corporations are increasingly diversifying their treasuries—holding not just Bitcoin (BTC), but also Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Ethena (ENA), and Sui (SUI). According to a Galaxy report, at least 98 companies since June 1 have announced plans to raise over $43 billion to buy various crypto assets. Public entities like Strategy, Metaplanet, and SharpLink Gaming are among the most notable players harnessing this trend. Why it matters: This marks a strategic shift in treasury management—companies are treating crypto not just as speculative bets but as potential value stores and operational tools.
Experts Say Financial Privacy Could Hang on Passage of H.R. 3838 House Republicans on August 21 introduced a provision—dubbed the “Anti‑CBDC Surveillance State Act”—into the defense policy bill H.R. 3838. It seeks to block the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to individuals, either directly or via intermediaries. An exception allows for permissionless, private currencies that preserve the privacy protections of physical cash. Why it matters: As the U.S. explores digital currency options, this legislation aims to preserve financial privacy and prevent digital money from becoming a tool of mass surveillance. Supporters argue it draws a firm line between empowering privacy or increasing government control over everyday transactions.
Crypto Markets Slide Following Bitcoin Whale’s Sales and ETF Outflows Crypto prices dropped sharply as a massive Bitcoin sell-off briefly pushed BTC below $111,000, halted Ethereum’s rally, and triggered $860 million in leveraged liquidations. Altcoins weren’t spared. At the same time, spot ETF flows turned negative last week. Why it matters: This episode exemplifies how concentrated selling—especially from a “whale” operator—can ripple through the entire crypto ecosystem.