Market Pulse: Early August Insights

Ethereum rallied. Solana followed. Institutions started circling. Some called it the alt season. Others warned of euphoria. The data split opinions: one chart said “breakout,” another said “wait.” But the capital moved anyway. Altcoins reacted more sharply than Bitcoin. The Alt Season Index hit a five-month high. This might not be a full rally, but it could be the start of something quieter, more selective. The signs are there, and if you’re paying attention, now’s the time.

Gainers & Losers

The past fortnight has been a tale of two very different group chats. In one, Bio Protocol and Polyhedra Network are toasting a 70% leap each, while Treasure floats in with a smug +65%. In the other, Vine Coin is down 54%, quietly leaving early and insisting it was just nice to get out of the house.

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What Moved the Market

The War Is Officially Over

After nearly four years of legal back-and-forth, Ripple and the SEC have quietly called it a day. A joint brief was filed; the appeals are over. Everyone can go home now. Ripple’s lawyer marked the moment with a short statement: “End of story.” XRP responded by ticking up 11%.

Bitcoin Rises After Trump Pension Order

Bitcoin crossed $117,000 after Trump signed an order on pension reform. It asks regulators to explore adding crypto and other alternatives to 401(k) plans. The SEC will review investor rules. The Department of Labor will lay the groundwork. A policy shift, softly spoken, but potentially huge.

USDC Becomes Top Crypto Salary Token

More crypto workers are now paid in crypto: up from 3% to nearly 10% in a year, according to Pantera Capital. Stablecoins make up over 90% of those payments. USDC leads with 63%, overtaking USDT.

500% in 4 Months? Some Say It’s Coming

Ether is sitting near $4,000. Quiet on the surface, but analysts are watching closely. Michaël van de Poppe says he’s “all-in” on altcoins, expecting potential gains of 200–500% by October. The ETH/BTC ratio has risen over 38% in the past month, hinting at a shift back toward risk.

Others urge caution. Historically, Q3 hasn’t been kind to ETH. Recently, the ETH price broke $4,000, and over $800M in shorts were wiped out. Some believe the rally is over. Others think it hasn’t even started.