Bitcoin just bounced off a local low under $112K and is climbing back toward $116K — and depending on who you ask, it’s either:

About to dive harder...
or
Gearing up for a new all-time high.

So, how do you make money in a market that’s stuck in indecision?

Let’s break down 5 ways to profit from Bitcoin’s current setup, whether it rips or dips.

1. Trade the $116.5K “Magnet” Level

Analysts are calling $116,500 a key short liquidation zone — meaning lots of over-leveraged short traders will get wiped if BTC pushes through.

🧠 How to earn: Trade the breakout. Set tight stop-losses below $114K and target $118K+ if momentum builds. Keep it clean and leverage-light — don’t get greedy in chop.
2. Long Volatility (Yes, It’s Back)

Bitcoin’s recent moves from high to low this month are barely 3.6%. Historically, that’s low — the average monthly swing is closer to 10%.

🧠 How to earn: Load up on volatility strategies — consider straddles or strangles using options (if you're experienced), or just position for both scenarios: scale in on dips and have a sell target ready for pumps.
3. Follow the Whales — or Trade Against Them

Whales are moving big chunks of BTC to exchanges. Over 40,000 BTC hit exchanges on August 1, mostly at a loss — a sign of fear or a smart move to bait buyers?

🧠 How to earn: Watch whale ratios. When they spike and prices dip, it often signals a short-term bottom — smart money sells into strength, not weakness. Time your entries during these moments of panic.
4. Ride the Rate Cut Narrative

Markets are now pricing in a 0.25% interest rate cut in September. Lower rates = more liquidity = good for risk assets like BTC.

🧠 How to earn: Front-run the Fed. Position before the rate cut. Buy the rumor, sell the news. Expect increased inflows to Bitcoin if real yields drop.
5. 🪙 Stack & Hold When Retail Panic Sells

With short-term holders panic-dumping and whales de-risking, this might be your ideal stacking window — especially if BTC drops to $110K or below again.

🧠 How to earn: DCA (dollar-cost average) into dips. Ignore the noise. BTC remains fundamentally strong, and selling into fear has rarely aged well long-term.
Bonus: Don’t Forget the August Effect

Historically, Bitcoin makes its biggest moves in August — both crashes and rallies. Traders who sit out during this month usually miss volatility (and opportunity).

TL;DR: The market may be shaky, but opportunities are everywhere right now — whether you trade, stack, or just monitor macro moves.

Want signals, charts, or volatility breakdowns? Let me know — I’ve got plenty to share.

Stay sharp. Volatility = income (if you play it right).

Price Action Breakdown
After running the lows with a clear Sell Side Liquidity Sweep, BTC quickly reversed and printed a Market Structure Shift (MSS). This marked the first real sign that the market might be ready to transition from weakness into strength.

Retracement Zone
Price is now retracing into a very interesting area — the overlap of a Bullish Fair Value Gap, an IFVG, and the Golden Pocket. When multiple imbalances and Fibonacci levels line up like this, it often builds a high-probability zone where institutions look to re-accumulate positions before the next move higher.

Upside Target
If this area holds and buyers step in, the next logical draw on liquidity sits above Buy Side Liquidity. That pool of stops acts like a magnet, and with the prior lows already cleaned, the path of least resistance could be higher.

Invalidation
On the other hand, a failure to hold inside the Golden Pocket would weaken this bullish narrative. A clean break below the sweep low would suggest that this rebound was only temporary relief before further downside.

Final Thoughts
This setup is all about how price reacts inside the retracement zone. If we see strength here, the run toward Buy Side Liquidity is very much in play. If not, patience will pay, as deeper levels will likely come into focus.

What’s your take — do you see this zone holding, or are you expecting another flush?

Bitcoin may only reach the $150,000 mark once two major whales finish selling, according to David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin holding company Nakamoto.

Bailey said in an X post on Tuesday that the “only reason” Bitcoin is not already at $150,000 is due to selling pressure from two large holders.

“Once they’re slain (1 down, 1 halfway there)… up only,” Bailey wrote.

Whale Activity Pressures Bitcoin

Bitcoin is currently trading at around $110,240, down nearly 3% over the past month. A move to $150,000 would represent a 36% increase from current levels.

Large whale transactions have rattled the market in recent weeks:

On Aug. 21, a whale sold around $4 billion worth of Bitcoin, rotating into Ether after holding for more than five years.

On Aug. 24, another whale sold 24,000 BTC worth $2.7 billion, sparking a flash crash that liquidated $500 million in leveraged positions.

Analysts See Upside Beyond $150K

While Bailey points to $150,000 as the next major milestone, other analysts are even more bullish.

Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, sees a greater than 50% chance of Bitcoin reaching $140K–$150K before the next bear market.

Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, projects Bitcoin could trade between $150K–$180K by the end of 2025.

Arthur Hayes (BitMEX co-founder) and Tom Lee (Fundstrat co-founder) have both suggested Bitcoin could rise to $250K before year-end.

Market Sentiment

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index recently slipped into “Fear” before returning to a neutral reading of 49 this week, reflecting ongoing uncertainty as whale selling and macroeconomic factors weigh on sentiment.

Wall Street’s been sleeping on $T for too long…
After weeks in a clear downtrend, AT&T is showing serious signs of a reversal setup within this falling channel.

Watch how price is bouncing off the lower trendline with strong volume support — a classic accumulation signal.
Break above this descending resistance, and we could easily see momentum carry it back toward the $27–$30 range.

Remember, fear shakes out weak hands — conviction brings rewards.

NOTE - Chart breakdown inspired by WallStMessiah on twiter
If you’re watching $T, drop your thoughts below — breakout or fakeout?

The Trump family–linked DeFi platform World Liberty Financial (WLFI) just dropped a governance proposal that could redefine its tokenomics.

The Proposal

100% of protocol-owned liquidity (POL) fees (from Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana) would be used to:

Buy WLFI tokens from the open market.

Permanently burn them.

Goal: shrink circulating supply, reward long-term holders, and strengthen the tie between platform usage → token scarcity.

“All-in on burning” → no split with treasury reserves.

Quote from WLFI governance:

“This program removes tokens from circulation held by participants not committed to WLFI’s long-term growth, effectively increasing weight for long-term holders.”

Why It Matters

Direct feedback loop: More protocol use → more fees → more burns → more scarcity.

Immediate impact: Could offset sell pressure after a brutal 36% crash from launch highs.

Long-term signal: Shows the team is prioritizing holder value optics over treasury flexibility.

️ Risks & Concerns

Unclear burn impact: Fee volumes aren’t disclosed, so the scale of buybacks is uncertain.

No treasury buffer: With 100% of fees burned, what happens if the protocol needs emergency capital?

Optics vs reality: Buyback-and-burn looks bullish, but if usage slows, the burn becomes negligible.

Big unlock hangover: A recent unlock released 24.6B WLFI tokens into circulation, boosting the Trump family’s stake to $5B. Hard to burn your way past that level of dilution.

Token Snapshot

Supply: 27.3B circulating / 100B total.

Market Cap: $6.6B.

Price: Down ~36% from $0.331 peak → $0.229 at time of writing.

🧨 The Bigger Picture

This could be the first step in a wider buyback strategy, potentially using other revenue sources beyond POL fees. But for now, WLFI is betting its survival on optics: fewer tokens in circulation + a narrative of “burning short sellers.”

Takeaway

WLFI is trying to turn a rocky launch (and massive token unlock) into a long-term scarcity play.

If protocol adoption grows, buyback-and-burn could provide real deflationary pressure.

If usage stagnates, the burn will be symbolic at best — while governance risks leaving the treasury underfunded.

Question for the forum: Is WLFI’s “all-in burn” a smart alignment with holders — or just a smokescreen to distract from the massive founder unlocks?

Elon’s posts have short-term power, but are they sustainable?

FLOKI rebounded 30% after Musk’s video

Social media boosts can be fleeting

Long-term recovery depends on adoption and community, not just tweets

Still, for now, Floki is back in the spotlight thanks to Musk.

#FLOKICoin #CryptoUpdates #ElonMusk #Blockchain

The fight for encryption is also a fight for trustless systems.
Web3’s guiding principle — truth by verification, not authority — depends on encryption that is universal and uncompromised.

Technologies like zero-knowledge proofs and proof-of-personhood show that it’s possible to balance privacy and accountability without creating backdoors.
If we weaken encryption for “lawful access,” we weaken it for everyone — and lose the very trust Web3 was built to restore.

We don’t protect privacy because we have something to hide.
We protect it because we all have something to protect.

The AI crypto market is booming, projected to grow from $3.7B in 2024 to $46.9B by 2034. Tools like Grok 4 turn market news into actionable trading signals.

Real-time sentiment analysis: bullish, bearish, or neutral.

DeepSearch filters noise, highlighting what truly matters.

Works across web, X, and mobile apps.

Advanced tip: Cross-reference news sentiment with on-chain data and technical indicators. For example, if Grok 4 flags bullish news on Solana while RSI shows oversold conditions, you could set up a buy signal.

AI alone isn’t enough—combine it with charting and portfolio trackers to reduce risk and maximize edge.

Cybersecurity firm SentinelLABS is warning about an ongoing scam using old, legitimate-looking YouTube accounts to promote a so-called crypto trading bot — which actually contains a weaponized smart contract designed to drain wallets.
Scam Details

How it works:

    Video promotes a “profitable trading bot” and shares smart contract code.

    Victim deploys the contract → attacker’s wallet address is hidden as a trading address.

    Once the victim funds the contract, the attacker can withdraw all assets.

Entry point: Victims are told to deposit at least 0.5 ETH (~$1,829) to cover gas and “ensure big profits.”

Stolen so far: Over 256 ETH (~$939K). Largest wallet: 244.9 ETH.

How They Build Trust

Using aged YouTube channels with histories of posting crypto news, investing tips, and pop culture content.

Possible purchased accounts (old YouTube channels are openly sold on Telegram/search engines).

Some videos appear AI-generated to scale faster.

Negative comments are deleted; fake testimonials flood the comment section.

Red Flags & Takeaways

Unverified trading tools promoted on social media = high risk.

“Too good to be true” returns are almost always scams.

Never deploy or fund contracts you haven’t fully reviewed.

Use trusted dev resources and peer review before interacting with on-chain code.

Bottom line: This scam works because it targets greed + trust in established platforms. Always verify the code and the source before sending funds.

Has anyone here seen these videos in their YouTube recommendations lately?

AI-powered deepfake scams are emerging as a significant threat. Criminals create realistic videos or voice clones of executives and influencers to trick users into sending funds. High-profile cases include a deepfake Elon Musk video in 2024 that convinced an 82-year-old to invest $690,000.

Fake crypto support scams are also increasing. Scammers impersonate customer support on X, Telegram, and fake websites to steal sensitive information or funds. The May 2025 Coinbase data breach exposed personal information that scammers used to target victims, urging them to share security codes, 2FA details, or transfer assets to fraudulent wallets.

Bitcoin has kicked off September (historically its worst month) with fresh volatility, testing local lows and sparking a battle between dip buyers and short sellers.

Key Developments

New local lows: BTC dropped to $107,270, briefly rebounded toward $110K.

Short targets: Many traders eye a flush toward $100K–$94K (psychological level + CME gap).

ETF outflows: August saw $750M in net withdrawals from U.S. Bitcoin ETFs — the second-worst month on record.

Institutional slowdown: Buying has dropped to its weakest pace since April, even as demand still covers ~200% of daily miner supply.

Macro headwinds:

Labor Day holiday closed U.S. markets.

Tariff chaos after a federal court ruled Trump overstepped in imposing duties.

Fed expected to cut rates on Sept 17 (90% probability of a 0.25% cut).

🪙 Traders’ Playbook

CrypNuevo’s map:

$112K–$115K → short liquidations stacked.

$100K → key psychological support with long bids.

$94K → possible wick target to clear stops + close CME gap.

Liquidity zones: Order books show demand reappearing at $105K, $102.6K, and $100K.

Gold vs BTC

Gold at $3,489/oz, close to ATH, fueled by inflation fears + rate cut bets.

Historically, September is gold’s second-strongest month — while Bitcoin usually struggles.

Peter Schiff (as always): “Gold breakout is very bearish for Bitcoin.”

️ Seasonality Check

Average September return for BTC: –3.5%.

Even in bull markets, September rarely delivers fireworks.

This year marks the first post-halving “red” August, challenging the classic 4-year cycle thesis.

️ Big Picture

Bull case: ETF demand still > miner supply; any short squeeze above $112K–$115K could trigger fast upside.

Bear case: Seasonal weakness + institutional pullback + macro uncertainty could open the door to $100K or below.

Wild card: Fed’s September meeting. Liquidity injections from rate cuts could flip the narrative fast.

Question for the forum: With September’s track record, are you stacking bids at $100K–$94K or betting on a short squeeze back to $115K+ before the Fed?

Further investigation revealed overlaps between 0x_Leo and based16z:

Both accounts previously discussed Aster DEX and PUMP meme coin, hinting at possible coordination.

ZachXBT refused to investigate, citing lack of provided evidence like chat logs or transaction proof.

At press time, neither 0x_Leo, based16z, nor KuCoin responded, leaving questions about the $1.4M transfer unresolved.

OpenAI is exploring ambitious new revenue streams:

AI cloud services: selling compute capacity to companies and individuals.

Consumer devices and robotics: following the acquisition of Jony Ive’s io, including a palm-sized AI device.

Scientific discovery: via OpenAI for Science, details forthcoming.

Altman also noted the company could fund its plans through equity or additional loans, signaling bold growth ambitions despite not yet owning a full data center network.

Although no wallets were compromised, Ledger warned users to stay alert for phishing attempts that could follow the data exposure. Criminals often use leaked contact information to impersonate support teams or send convincing scam messages, a tactic seen in past incidents across the industry.

The episode highlights a broader challenge facing crypto companies, where third-party service providers can become attack vectors. Similar data breaches have previously led to phishing campaigns targeting users of major platforms like Coinbase, Binance, and Trezor, underscoring that operational security extends far beyond the wallet itself.

A new joint report from Binance Pay and crypto travel platform Travala shows that travelers paying with crypto aren’t just early adopters — they’re big spenders with high loyalty.
Key Findings

Crypto bookings 2024: $80M (up from $45M in 2023)

Average booking value: $1,211 (crypto) vs. $469 (fiat) → 2.5x higher

LTV boost: Crypto users are 3x more valuable over time due to longer stays & repeat bookings

Repeat rate: 57% more likely to book hotels again with crypto

Why the Difference?

Many crypto travelers work remotely or in Web3, enabling frequent, flexible travel

Borderless payments = no FX lines, no foreign transaction fees, instant settlement

Airline integrations with crypto saw a 40% booking boost in 2024 (Triple-A report)

Macro Context

Crypto ownership growing at a 99% CAGR

65% of holders want to use it for payments

Travala accepts 141+ cryptocurrencies for flights, hotels, and tours (BTC, USDC, USDT, etc.)

️ Industry Trend

Crypto payments started with high-end goods (luxury fashion, watches, cars) but are now moving into mainstream retail and travel. Even fast food chains like Steak ’n Shake are in — though on-chain BTC payments can still face high fees & delays, making off-chain solutions like Binance Pay more practical for now.

Takeaway: Crypto travelers are a premium customer segment — higher spend, stronger loyalty, and faster adoption of new payment rails. For travel and hospitality businesses, ignoring this market could mean leaving serious money on the table.

Would you pay for travel with crypto if it meant faster booking and no FX fees — or would you stick to fiat for the rewards points?

Surprisingly, early economic data suggests that jobs most exposed to AI may actually be benefiting. A 2026 forecast from Vanguard found that the 100 occupations most affected by AI automation are outperforming the rest of the labor market in both job growth and real wage increases.

The report concludes that mastery—not avoidance—of AI is becoming a competitive advantage. While high-profile layoffs at major tech firms helped fuel the “AI is taking jobs” narrative, the underlying reality appears more complex: companies are reallocating resources toward growth areas, and workers who integrate AI into their skillsets are making themselves more valuable, not replaceable.

Analysts say the Digital Markets 50 Index could accelerate institutional adoption of tokenized benchmarks, attracting ETF issuers and digital custody providers seeking hybrid exposure. It also underscores growing integration between traditional finance and blockchain networks.

The launch comes amid a rebound in crypto-linked equities this year. Robinhood (HOOD) has surged 290% year-to-date, Coinbase (COIN) is up 51%, and MicroStrategy (MSTR) rose 13%. Bitcoin miners Marathon Digital (MARA) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) gained 17.6% and 105%, respectively.

Drinkwater added, “Independent, transparent standards remain essential as digital markets evolve. This index helps define how traditional and decentralized finance can operate side by side.”

Just one day after Aave became the first DeFi protocol to hit $60B in net deposits across 14 networks, scammers have launched a large-scale phishing campaign via Google Ads.
Quick Context

Milestone: Aave’s deposits tripled over the past year — from ~$18B (Aug 2024) to $60B now.

Price: AAVE currently at ~$304.15.

Attack vector: Fake Aave investment platform ads appearing in Google search results.

How the Scam Works

User clicks the malicious ad → redirected to a fake Aave site.

Site prompts them to connect their wallet.

Once connected, attackers can drain all funds from the wallet — irreversible.

Important: Loss figures aren’t confirmed yet, but reach is high due to Google Ads’ scale.
Protect Yourself

Always verify URLs before connecting wallets or sending funds.

Use tools like Revoke.cash to remove suspicious approvals.

Move funds immediately from compromised wallets — and never reuse them.

Disconnect your wallet from any suspicious sites.

Bottom line: Milestones attract attention — and not just from traders. Scammers are getting more sophisticated, using legitimate ad networks to hit big audiences. Double-check before you click.

Has anyone here actually seen these fake Aave ads in search results?

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, has claimed the top spot in Multipolitan’s Crypto-Friendly Cities Index, edging out traditional heavyweights like Hong Kong and Zurich.
Rankings Highlights (2025 Report)

1️⃣ Ljubljana – Slovenia
2️⃣ Hong Kong & Zurich (tie)
4️⃣ Singapore
5️⃣ Abu Dhabi

Sydney lands in 10th place, notable for having the most crypto ATMs in the group.

Madison, Wisconsin is the only city in the Americas to make the cut (tied for 11th).

How They Measured It

Criteria included:

Regulatory frameworks & tax environment

Crypto & digital infrastructure

Retail adoption rates & crypto ATM density

GDP per capita, housing affordability, and internet speeds

High concentrations of ATMs and strong retail adoption boosted scores.
Slovenia’s Crypto Edge

Wealth Concentration Index leader – avg. Slovenian crypto owner holds ~$240,500 in assets

Second place: Cyprus (~$175K)

Hong Kong: ~$97,500

US ranks 17th (~$23,300)

Ljubljana also benefits from MiCA (EU’s crypto regulation) and a growing blockchain ecosystem — including Blockchain Alliance Europe HQ and projects like Blocksquare, which recently partnered to tokenize $1B in US real estate.

Takeaway: For crypto entrepreneurs and nomads, Ljubljana offers a rare mix of EU regulatory clarity, high adoption rates, and deep local crypto wealth — enough to dethrone global fintech powerhouses.

Would you base your crypto business or trading operations in a smaller but highly ranked city like Ljubljana — or stick to big-name hubs like Singapore or Hong Kong?

Industry analysts say the intersection of AI and crypto payments is fueling adoption. A study by Reown and YouGov highlights that embedding digital assets in everyday transactions with AI improves usability and trust. Google’s Agent Payments Protocol, developed with Coinbase, allows AI agents to autonomously make stablecoin transactions. Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz predicts AI agents may become the largest users of stablecoins in the future. Rezolve AI’s acquisition of Smartpay positions it at this growing intersection of digital payments and AI-driven commerce.