Crypto news

While retail traders were resting, institutional players continued reshaping the industry landscape. The night and morning of August 11 brought a series of landmark events, from a multi-billion-dollar AI deal to fine-tuning the largest bitcoin ETF. Meanwhile, the market itself showed surprising calm, signaling consolidation ahead of a possible impulse.

Market in numbers: sideways without panic

Bitcoin (BTC) held around $63,980 by 08:40 Moscow time. The night session moved within a narrow range of $63,800–$64,100, confirming a lack of decisive sentiment among both bulls and bears. Ether (ETH) traded near $1,874, staying in the $1,868–$1,880 corridor after a recent pullback from $1,928.

Altcoins in the top 10 showed minimal volatility. Hyperliquid (HYPE) led gains with a 2.12% increase, while Solana (SOL) rose 1.04%. BNB, in contrast, slipped slightly by 0.52%.

Among the top 100 assets, Curve DAO Token (CRV) stood out, surging 10.8%. Internet Computer (ICP) and Lighter (LIT) also delivered impressive results, gaining 7.84% and 6.62%, respectively. At the opposite end was the Audiera token (BEAT) with a collapse of 51.2%, followed by Canton (CC) and Cardano (ADA) with declines of 6.25% and 4.94%.

ETF flows: bearish tilt, but with nuances

Spot bitcoin funds recorded outflows of $144.67 million over the day, while ether products lost $14.59 million. However, investors continue to diversify: Solana funds attracted $8.83 million, and HYPE funds $2.74 million. This confirms the trend of seeking alternative growth stories beyond the two largest coins.

Over the past 24 hours, exchanges liquidated positions of 68,722 traders totaling $201.08 million. The largest liquidation order hit Hyperliquid—a BRENTOIL oil contract worth $10.55 million. This serves as a reminder that crypto exchanges are penetrating deeper into traditional asset classes.

AI and infrastructure: a new era of partnerships

The key news was a $9.1 billion agreement between AI developer Anthropic and bitcoin miner Riot Platforms over 20 years. Anthropic will receive 191 MW of computing capacity at Riot's facility in Rockdale, Texas, with plans for full launch by June 2028. Two five-year extension options could raise the total contract value to $16.1 billion. This is a clear signal: AI companies are willing to pay a premium for guaranteed energy and infrastructure, opening new revenue streams for miners.

Hayes' macro scenario: yen rescue as a trigger for BTC

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes presented an unconventional scenario for yen strengthening that could turn "bullish" for bitcoin. In his logic, Japan could pledge U.S. Treasury bonds in exchange for dollars via the Fed's FIMA repo facility, then sell them to buy yen. If the $60 billion counterparty limit is raised, the Fed's balance sheet would expand, and the resulting dollar liquidity would become a positive factor for BTC, gold, and ETH. Given that the Japanese government and the GPIF fund hold around $1.37 trillion in such bonds, the potential for liquidity issuance is significant.

BlackRock lowers the entry barrier

BlackRock executive Robert Mitchnick announced a reduction in the minimum threshold for in-kind operations in the bitcoin ETF from $25 million to $1 million. Now, an investor with $1 million in bitcoin can exchange them for shares of the IBIT fund through authorized participants. Additionally, he unveiled the BITA fund, targeting returns of 15–19% with lower volatility and limited upside potential for bitcoin. This is a step toward attracting more conservative capital.

My view: The Anthropic-Riot deal is not just a corporate agreement but confirmation that mining infrastructure is becoming a strategic asset for tech giants. BlackRock's lowering of the ETF entry threshold, in turn, enhances liquidity and accessibility for mid-sized investors. Combined with a potential macro stimulus from the Fed, the market looks ready to break out of its current range, but a clear trigger is needed. For now—sideways, where the patient accumulate positions.