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ETHFI Rallies 25% in a Week, and Arthur Hayes Pays Up to Get Back In

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Ether.fi (ETHFI) Price Performance

Arthur Hayes has bought 1.9 million Ether.fi (ETHFI) tokens worth $1.17 million, returning to a position he walked away from earlier this year.

The BitMEX co-founder paid $0.62 per token. Onchain trackers put that entry well above the level where he last sold the same asset.

Arthur Hayes Chases ETHFI’s 25% Weekly Rally 

Hayes sold 265,461 ETHFI at $0.44 in April, collecting roughly $118,000 and booking a loss. His new entry sits about 41% higher per token.

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Onchain analytics account Lookonchain surfaced the purchase roughly four hours after it settled, flagging it as another case of selling low and buying high.

ETHFI has climbed 25.3% over the past week amid a broader market rally. This beats Bitcoin’s (BTC) 21.4% gain, although Ethereum’s (ETH) 27.8% advance still leads. However, the token sits about 93% below its March 2024 record of $8.53.

ETHFI trades at $0.631 at press time, up 11.1% over 24 hours, according to BeInCrypto data. Market cap stands at $649.7 million, ranking the token 92nd.

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Ether.fi (ETHFI) Price Performance
Ether.fi (ETHFI) Price Performance. Source: BeInCrypto Markets

The pattern of selling low and buying high is not new. BeInCrypto reviewed three wallets attributed to Hayes. Those wallets lost $2.47 million across 124 recorded trades between December 2023 and August 2026.

ETHFI accounted for $474,000 of those losses. Ethena (ENA) was the only profitable position, up $3.23 million.

For now, the ETHFI position sits marginally above water. Whether this trade breaks the pattern depends less on the entry than on whether Hayes holds through the next drawdown.

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Bitcoin ETF Inflows Reach $1.9B, Strongest Week Since Oct 2025

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Crypto Breaking News

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) posted their best weekly inflows in nearly 10 months, drawing close to $2 billion as Bitcoin’s price surged over the same period. According to SoSoValue data, the week ending Friday saw $1.92 billion in net inflows—the strongest result since early 2026.

The comeback in demand appears to have been broad rather than isolated. ETF analyst Nate Geraci said on Sunday that spot Ether ETFs also attracted roughly $700 million, with Bitcoin and Ether funds each posting their strongest weekly inflows since October 2025.

Key takeaways

  • US spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $1.92 billion in net inflows for the week ending Friday, their strongest weekly performance in nearly 10 months, per SoSoValue.
  • Bitcoin rose more than 20% over the week, briefly breaking above $79,000 after starting near $63,000, according to CoinGecko.
  • Despite last week’s rally, US spot Bitcoin ETFs remain down for 2026 with about $2.91 billion in net outflows so far.
  • BlackRock’s IBIT led the rebound with about $1.33 billion in net inflows across five consecutive trading days, according to Farside Investors.

Inflows rebound as Bitcoin accelerates

The latest ETF surge arrived after a stretch of uneven flows that had weighed on sentiment around the category. SoSoValue’s weekly figures show that capital returned quickly once spot Bitcoin gained momentum, with the week ending Friday delivering $1.92 billion in net inflows.

CoinGecko data cited in the report shows Bitcoin climbed more than 20% last week, moving from roughly $63,000 to briefly exceed $79,000 on Friday. That price strength matters because it often changes investor behavior at the margin—buyers become more willing to allocate into spot products when returns are visibly improving.

Geraci’s comments suggest the demand was not limited to Bitcoin alone. He said spot Ether ETFs drew about $700 million, and that both Bitcoin and Ether funds logged their strongest weekly inflows since October 2025.

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2026 still shows persistent outflows

While last week was a clear improvement, the broader picture for 2026 remains negative. The report notes that US spot Bitcoin ETFs are down overall by about $2.91 billion in net outflows so far this year.

Flow patterns have been especially weak around mid-year. The funds recorded their heaviest monthly outflows in June at $4.51 billion, following $2.43 billion in withdrawals in May. In contrast, August has turned more supportive, with $2.38 billion in net inflows through Friday, making it the strongest inflow month of 2026 to date.

That contrast is important for investors watching whether the ETF complex is transitioning from a sell-the-rally posture to a sustained buying trend. A single strong week can happen within a broader downcycle, but sustained monthly inflows would signal a more durable shift.

The October 2025 inflow cycle—and why comparisons matter

Earlier ETF strength also preceded a major market shock. During the last significant inflow wave in October 2025, the funds attracted $3.42 billion. The report links that period to the Oct. 10 crypto market crash, which it says triggered the largest liquidation event in the industry’s history—wiping out about $19 billion in leveraged positions within 24 hours.

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Bitcoin’s drawdown over the same broad interval provides additional context. Since Oct. 6, when the asset traded near $124,700, the report states Bitcoin has fallen roughly 38%.

These comparisons don’t imply a repeat outcome, but they do highlight a recurring dynamic: ETF inflows can accelerate during bullish price phases, yet high leverage in the broader market can still produce abrupt reversals. For traders and portfolio managers, the practical takeaway is that ETF flow strength should be assessed alongside overall market positioning and volatility, not treated as a standalone predictor.

IBIT drives the resurgence with shifting daily momentum

The rebound last week was heavily influenced by BlackRock’s IBIT. According to Farside Investors data cited in the report, IBIT accounted for about $1.33 billion in net inflows over five consecutive trading days.

The product’s daily flow profile also showed a noticeable ramp-up before cooling. The report states IBIT’s daily inflows rose from $160.2 million on Monday to $503 million on Thursday, before easing to $239.3 million on Friday.

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Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas characterized the flow sequence as a “classic Flipping the Bird pattern” and suggested it represented a bullish signal. While interpretations of daily flow patterns can vary, the market relevance is straightforward: when large allocations repeatedly enter an ETF on consecutive sessions, it often reflects active demand rather than a one-day reaction.

For readers tracking whether this week’s inflow surge is the start of a broader trend, IBIT’s trajectory is likely to remain a key point of observation—both in terms of whether consecutive inflow days persist and whether the category-wide momentum extends beyond one or two products.

Going forward, investors should watch whether August’s inflow strength continues and whether the weekly pattern holds in the coming sessions; the category is still net-negative for 2026 overall, so follow-through beyond a single standout week will be the clearest test of whether demand is truly regaining durability.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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BTC consolidates near $77,000 as traders take $1.72B in profits

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BTC consolidates near $77,000 as traders take $1.72B in profits

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin trades around $77,000 after gaining more than 23% last week, its strongest weekly performance since March 2023.
  • Investors realized $1.72 billion in profits on Friday, the highest daily total since November 2024.
  • US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $1.92 billion in weekly inflows, their strongest showing since October 2025.
  • BTC faces immediate resistance at $78,490 and $80,000, with additional upside targets at $81,059, $87,599 and $88,990.

Bitcoin is trading around $77,000 on Monday after surging more than 23% last week, its strongest weekly gain since mid-March 2023.

The rally followed the US Treasury’s announcement that it would expand its debt buyback operations, improving sentiment across cryptocurrency markets.

Strong institutional demand also supported the advance, with US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recording their largest weekly inflows since October 2025.

However, on-chain data suggests some investors are taking profits as BTC approaches the psychologically important $80,000 level.

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That selling activity could result in a temporary consolidation phase or a short-term pullback before Bitcoin attempts another move higher.

Bitcoin investors realize $1.72 billion in daily profits

CryptoQuant data shows Bitcoin holders realized approximately $1.72 billion in profits on Friday.

The figure marked the highest daily realized profit total since late November 2024. Last week’s rapid price increase moved many investors back into profitable territory, encouraging some holders to sell and secure their gains.

Historically, sharp increases in realized profits can precede a period of consolidation or a temporary correction as additional supply enters the market.

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The profit-taking does not necessarily signal the end of Bitcoin’s broader recovery. However, it does indicate that the market may face increased selling pressure near major resistance levels.

Despite the increase in profit-taking, Bitcoin’s underlying spot demand has improved. CryptoQuant’s apparent demand metric has moved into positive territory after remaining negative since late February.

The shift suggests net buying interest has strengthened, potentially providing support even as some investors reduce their positions.

A sustained improvement in spot demand would help offset selling pressure and support the case for a continuation of Bitcoin’s rally.

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However, traders will be watching whether buyers can maintain that momentum while BTC consolidates below $80,000.

Institutional investors played a significant role in last week’s price advance. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $1.92 billion in net inflows, according to SoSoValue data.

The figure represented the highest weekly inflow so far this year and the strongest since mid-October 2025.

Continued inflows could provide additional support for Bitcoin as it attempts to overcome nearby resistance.

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Conversely, a slowdown in institutional demand may make it more difficult for BTC to sustain its recent gains, particularly while short-term momentum appears stretched.

BTC caces immediate resistance at $78,490

Bitcoin recently tested the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at $78,490. The level is derived from the move between the August 2024 low near $49,000 and the October 2025 record high of $126,199.

A weekly close above $78,490 would strengthen the bullish technical outlook and could open the way toward the 50-week Simple Moving Average at $81,059.

Before reaching that level, Bitcoin must also clear the psychological resistance at $80,000.

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If buyers push BTC above both barriers, the next major upside target would be the 50% Fibonacci retracement level at $87,599.

The 100-week SMA near $88,990 represents another significant resistance level within the same price zone.

Bitcoin remains above its 200-week SMA at $64,571 following its recent breakout from a prolonged consolidation phase.

The weekly Relative Strength Index stands near 55, comfortably above the neutral level of 50.

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This reading suggests that momentum has improved without yet reaching an extreme on the weekly timeframe.

The weekly Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator also remains bullish after recording a positive crossover in mid-July.

Rising green histogram bars suggest that upward momentum continues to build. Together, these indicators support the possibility of additional gains if Bitcoin can overcome resistance between $78,490 and $81,059.

The daily chart presents a more cautious picture despite Bitcoin’s strong overall structure.

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BTC trades well above its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages, located at $66,786, $67,415 and $71,781, respectively.

However, the daily RSI has climbed to approximately 79, placing Bitcoin firmly in overbought territory.

Such readings do not automatically imply an imminent reversal, but they often indicate that a market may need to consolidate or retrace after a sharp advance.

The daily MACD remains positive, confirming that bullish momentum is still in place, although the strength of the recent move leaves BTC vulnerable to profit-taking.

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If Bitcoin pulls back, the 200-day EMA near $71,781 represents the first major technical support level.

BTC/USD4H Chart

The psychological $70,000 mark is another important area that could attract buyers if selling pressure increases.

A deeper decline would expose the 100-day EMA at $67,415 and the 50-day EMA at $66,786.

The nearby horizontal support at $66,500 strengthens that broader demand zone. If those levels fail, Bitcoin could fall toward the next major support area around $62,300.

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For now, BTC’s immediate outlook depends on whether buyers can absorb profit-taking and push the price above $78,490 and $80,000. A successful breakout would keep $81,059 and the $87,599 to $88,990 region in focus.

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Fed experiment shows how bitcoin rallies attract new crypto buyers

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Fed experiment shows how bitcoin rallies attract new crypto buyers


Households shown bitcoin’s prior-year return were 23% more likely to report owning crypto in a follow-up survey.

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XRP News: Price Rally, Take Profit or Let It Run?

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xrp logo

XRP has moved from under $1 to around $1.50 in less than two weeks, crowding news headlines with its rally. Now, is it time to bank gains into strength, or keep full exposure to a trade that is increasingly running on leverage rather than fresh spot demand?

XRP briefly touched $1.69 on August 22 before retreating toward the $1.50–$1.53 range. By August 23, the token was at $1.48, up 47.77% over seven days, with a market cap of $92.95 billion and $22.45 billion in daily volume.

Xrp (XRP)
24h7d30d1yAll time

The rally is also riding a strong market backdrop. Bitcoin climbed from $62K to $77K over the same window, while the crypto Fear & Greed Index reached 67, classified as Greed. XRP has simply moved much faster, with spot ETF inflows adding another layer of demand.

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The Overbought Signal and a Long Heavy Derivatives Book

Spot XRP ETFs recorded $18.38 million in net inflows on August 21, with Bitwise accounting for about $16.89 million. Weekly inflows approached $40 million, reportedly the strongest week for XRP ETFs since May. Cumulative net inflows are near $1.55 billion.

That gives XRP a legitimate spot demand story. The problem is that tens of millions in weekly ETF inflows remain small compared with a market cap above $90 billion. The rally, therefore, appears to be getting help from both real demand and increasingly aggressive derivatives positioning.

XRP is in the news after a 50% rally, but overbought signals and heavy leverage raise fresh profit-taking risks for investors.
XRP ETF, Coinglass

The technical picture adds another warning. One widely cited reading placed daily RSI near 85.4, deep into overbought territory, while other estimates put it between 70 and 83. Neither guarantees a reversal, but both show how far XRP has moved in a very short period.

Leverage tells the more concerning story. XRP futures open interest jumped 34.49%, or roughly $939 million, to about $3.66 billion over seven days. Binance positioning data showed 72.1% of accounts long versus 27.9% short.

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That is a crowded trade. Twenty-four-hour liquidations reached $70.74 million, with longs accounting for $54.68 million, or 77.3% of the total. Three-day liquidations reached $145.15 million, while the largest single wipeout hit $50.27 million on August 22.

Funding also remained positive at 0.01% every four hours, equivalent to an annualized rate near 24.94%. Longs are still paying a premium to stay in the trade even after taking heavy losses.

Short covering helped fuel the earlier move, too. At present, roughly $2.2 million in short positions are at risk as XRP pushed through $1.40 to $1.50. But forced short covering is less durable than unleveraged spot buying.

That makes taking some profit increasingly reasonable. A 20% to 30% trim around current levels would lock in part of the gain while retaining exposure to a possible move toward $1.65 to $1.70 and potentially $2.

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Forget The News, XRP Still Has a Structural Bull Case

The bullish case is not purely technical noise. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse joined the inaugural meeting of the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee alongside representatives from major financial institutions. He described the group as an “Olympic roster of crypto.”

That is notable for XRP, which spent years fighting an SEC enforcement action. Still, the committee seat is a policy forum role, not a court ruling or formal legal classification. The SEC’s new “Regulation Crypto Assets” proposal also does not settle the separate Ripple case.

The CLARITY Act remains another major variable. The legislation could classify XRP as a digital commodity under CFTC oversight, but political momentum does not guarantee passage. That uncertainty leaves the rally exposed to disappointment if expectations run ahead of reality.

RLUSD adds to the Ripple ecosystem story, with its market cap growing to roughly $2.1 billion from about $1.5 billion at the start of the year. However, apart from the news, this does not prove direct demand for XRP because the two assets serve different functions.

However, after a 50% rally in less than two weeks, taking something off the table is not the same as turning bearish. It simply means keeping exposure to the upside while making sure the market does not take back gains that are already there.

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Live updates: Bitcoin holds $77,000 as XRP, Zcash pull back after a big weekly rally

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Live updates: Bitcoin holds $77,000 as XRP, Zcash pull back after a big weekly rally


Bitcoin holds its gains near $77,000 after a 22% week, while last week’s biggest altcoin winners steady, with focus turning to Fed Chair Warsh’s Jackson Hole debut.

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Bitcoin ETFs Post Strongest Weekly Inflows Since October 2025

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Bitcoin ETFs Post Strongest Weekly Inflows Since October 2025

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows surged last week after months of uneven flows, with investors pouring nearly $2 billion into the products amid a surge in Bitcoin’s price.

Bitcoin ETFs recorded $1.92 billion in net inflows during the week ending Friday, marking their strongest weekly performance in nearly 10 months, according to SoSoValue data.

ETF analyst Nate Geraci said Sunday that spot Ether ETFs also attracted about $700 million. He added that Bitcoin and Ether funds each posted their strongest weekly inflows since October 2025.

The renewed ETF demand came amid Bitcoin jumping more than 20% last week, briefly surging past $79,000 on Friday after starting the week near $63,000, according to CoinGecko.

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Bitcoin ETFs remain in the red for 2026

Despite the latest surge, US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded about $2.91 billion in net outflows so far in 2026.

The funds saw their heaviest monthly outflows in June at $4.51 billion, following $2.43 billion in withdrawals in May. August has brought $2.38 billion in net inflows through Friday, making it the strongest month for inflows so far this year.

Monthly spot Bitcoin ETF flows since October 2025. Source: SoSoValue

During the last major inflow wave in October 2025, the funds attracted $3.42 billion. The October inflows preceded the Oct. 10 crypto market crash, which triggered the largest liquidation event in the industry’s history, wiping out roughly $19 billion in leveraged positions within 24 hours.

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Source: Quinten

Since Oct. 6, when Bitcoin traded near $124,700, its price has plummeted roughly 38%.

BlackRock’s IBIT flashes a “bullish signal”

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) was responsible for much of last week’s resurgence, attracting about $1.33 billion in net inflows across five consecutive trading days, according to Farside Investors data.

IBIT’s daily inflows rose from $160.2 million on Monday to $503 million on Thursday, before easing to $239.3 million on Friday.

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Source: Eric Balchunas

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas took to X to highlight what he described as a “classic Flipping the Bird pattern” in IBIT’s daily flows, adding that he viewed it as a bullish signal.

Magazine: We are so back! Bitcoin’s 23% rally on US debt policy: Hodler’s Digest

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Gate Releases Latest Proof of Reserves Report: Total Reserve Ratio Reaches 127%; Total Reserves Exceed $8.215 Billion

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Gate Releases Latest Proof of Reserves Report: Total Reserve Ratio Reaches 127%; Total Reserves Exceed $8.215 Billion

According to the official announcement, Gate has released its latest Proof of Reserves report. As of August 19, 2026, Gate’s total reserves increased to $8.215 billion, with an overall reserve ratio of 127%, remaining well above the industry security benchmark of 100%. The ample surplus reserves further strengthen the platform’s ability to withstand market volatility and potential liquidity risks, reflecting its robust asset management and risk control capabilities.

Reserve holdings for core assets continued to grow. BTC user holdings increased from 21,557 BTC in the previous report to 22,436 BTC, while Gate’s reserve holdings rose from 26,775 BTC to 27,550 BTC, representing an excess reserve ratio of 22.79%. ETH user holdings increased from 374,348 ETH to 375,429 ETH, while the platform’s reserve holdings grew from 456,798 ETH to 458,203 ETH, with an excess reserve ratio of 22.05%.

For stablecoins, total user assets across USDT, USDC, USD1, and GUSD increased from $1.336 billion in the previous report to $1.578 billion, while the platform’s corresponding reserves rose from $1.59 billion to $1.761 billion. This represents an aggregate reserve ratio of 111.63% and an excess reserve ratio of 11.63%.

In addition, major assets such as GT and XRP maintained reserve ratios well above the 100% benchmark, reaching 131.15% and 116.09%.

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Gate has consistently regarded asset security and transparent governance as fundamental to the platform’s long-term development. As one of the early platforms in the industry to advance proof-of-reserves transparency, Gate continues to improve its publicly accessible and verifiable reserve mechanisms. Through technologies and solutions including zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP), Merkle tree verification, hot and cold wallet management, and user asset snapshots, Gate enhances the transparency and verifiability of reserve disclosures. At the same time, Gate continues to strengthen its internal risk management framework, implementing multiple measures such as asset segregation, access control, and security audits to enhance asset security and operational management capabilities, supporting the platform’s long-term and stable operations.

Building on its robust security and infrastructure foundation, Gate continues to expand its product ecosystem and global asset services. The platform now serves more than 59 million users worldwide and supports trading in over 4,900 crypto assets and more than 12,800 stocks and ETFs, with its stock business spanning four major markets: U.S., Hong Kong, Korean, and Japanese equities. On this basis, Gate continues to expand its stock and related financial product offerings, including Pre-IPOs, IPO Access, and gStocks tokenized stocks, providing users with diversified investment options across different stages and asset classes.

Looking ahead, Gate will continue to advance the development of its proof-of-reserves transparency, security infrastructure, and risk management systems, while continuously optimizing its product ecosystem and global service capabilities around user needs. As digital assets and traditional financial markets become increasingly integrated, Gate will continue to explore more asset classes and trading scenarios, building a more open, diversified, one-stop asset trading and management experience for users worldwide through a transparent, secure, and efficient service framework.

Details can be found here.

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About Gate

Gate, founded in 2013 by Dr. Han, is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency and integrated financial services platforms. Serving over 59 million users globally, it supports trading across 4,900+ digital assets and 12,800+ stock assets, while providing access to a comprehensive range of TradFi assets, including metals, stocks, indices, forex, and commodities, delivering users a one-stop, multi-asset trading experience and blockchain-related services. As an industry benchmark, Gate was among the first platforms to implement 100% Proof of Reserves. Its ecosystem includes Gate Wallet, Gate Ventures, Gate for AI Agent, and a wide range of products and services.

For more information, please visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn| Instagram | YouTube

Disclaimer:

This content does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions. Note that Gate may restrict or prohibit certain services in specific jurisdictions. For more information, please read the User Agreement.

The post Gate Releases Latest Proof of Reserves Report: Total Reserve Ratio Reaches 127%; Total Reserves Exceed $8.215 Billion appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Why Silicon Valley’s Vision of the AI Future Should Worry You

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Why Silicon Valley’s Vision of the AI Future Should Worry You

What our eschatologies excuse 

Three tech leaders, three different pictures of humanity’s ultimate destiny—resignation, survivalism, apocalypticism. But I would assert that they share the same consequences. For one, in each version, the future isn’t something we build together. It’s something they get to build on our behalf. 

And notice who is left out of each version. Altman’s future has room for “great companies” and “expanding human capability,” but arguably less concern for the people whose jobs AI might make irrelevant in the process. Musk’s future may have some room for wealthy people who can book a seat on a colony ship but less for the rest of us. Thiel’s future has room for innovation, but little for those who want to question what we are innovating for and towards. In every case, the very people who have a stake in the future are not part of building that vision of that future.

This also helps explain why some tech bros seem so disinterested in philanthropy or profit-sharing. If you genuinely believe the human era is ending and something else is taking its place, it stands to reason you have no need to feel obligated to the people around you. Why invest in public health, or housing, or building a robust civil society, if the relevant future doesn’t include most of the people who’d benefit? Why fund a school, or fix a subway, or pay taxes toward anything you won’t personally need in twenty years? This eschatology doesn’t just fail to produce ethics. It actively excuses their absence. Empathy stops looking like a virtue and starts looking like a waste of resources on people who, in this version of the future, don’t really count.

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Term Finance Reports $8.5M Loss After Vault Governance Exploit

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Crypto Breaking News

Decentralized lending protocol Term Finance has reportedly suffered a major governance-related theft targeting its vault product, with security firms estimating losses of roughly $8.5 million. The incident centers on Term Meta Vaults—strategy vault contracts designed to allocate and manage assets—where an attacker allegedly gained control of governance and used it to drain funds.

PeckShield said the attacker extracted about 2,843 ETH and 1.68 million USDC. PeckShield’s post valued the ETH at approximately $6.87 million at the time of the reported drain, and stated that the USDC was converted into about 1.68 million DAI. CertiK reported a broadly similar figure, putting the total loss at around $8.5 million.

Key takeaways

  • Security firms estimate Term Finance’s vault theft at about $8.5 million, based on reported withdrawals of ETH and stablecoins.
  • The attack is described as a governance takeover: the attacker allegedly obtained voting power and passed proposals enabling vault control.
  • Term Labs says it has shut down Term Meta Vaults and revoked their DAO governance roles, aiming to stop further deposits while allowing withdrawals.
  • Earlier risk controls were already tightened after a prior 2025 oracle incident, but this new event again highlights governance as a critical attack surface.

Estimated losses and what was taken

Multiple blockchain security monitors aligned on the scale of the exploit. According to PeckShield’s alert, the attacker drained approximately 2,843 ETH and 1.68 million USDC from Term’s vault system. PeckShield also indicated that the USDC was traded into roughly 1.68 million DAI.

CertiK’s estimate matched the order of magnitude, placing the combined loss at about $8.5 million. The reported theft was especially significant relative to what Term had deployed in its vaults: DefiLlama data indicates the Term vault product held about $12.45 million prior to the incident, including nearly all of its roughly $8.8 million in Ethereum deposits.

Term Labs freezes vaults, claims core protocol markets were not affected

Term Labs responded by stating it had “irreversibly shut down all Term Meta Vaults” and revoked their DAO governance roles. The company said the move prevents additional deposits, while withdrawals remain open.

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In its statement, Term Labs said its investigation so far indicates the underlying Term protocol, along with its direct borrowing and lending markets, were not affected. The team also emphasized that it was still validating the full scope of impact, including whether any additional exposure exists beyond the vault contracts targeted in the incident.

Governance manipulation allegedly enabled vault control

Monitoring service Defimon said the attacker likely achieved control by cheaply acquiring a majority of a sparsely distributed governance token. Defimon reported that the attacker then used that control to submit proposals that allowed it to seize control of Term’s vaults.

Term has not confirmed how the attacker obtained voting power or which exact governance functions were used. That uncertainty matters for users and integrators because it points to gaps that may extend beyond a single contract bug—especially when governance frameworks can be influenced through token concentration, proposal mechanics, or voting wrappers.

Term’s vault contracts are built using Yearn V3 infrastructure. However, Yearn stated that the exploit relied on a custom governance wrapper and that the attack vector does not apply to standard Yearn vault setups. This distinction is important for builders evaluating whether “Yearn-based” automatically implies “protected by default” governance assumptions.

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Why this echoes a prior Term incident

This governance exploit comes after an earlier Term incident in April 2025, when an oracle error is reported to have triggered unintended liquidations totaling about 918 ETH. Term’s subsequent response included recovering about 556 ETH at the time, reducing its final loss to 362 ETH, and reimbursing affected users, according to a postmortem published by Term.

In the wake of that April 2025 episode, Term pledged third-party validation for critical updates and committed to greater governance transparency. The new theft suggests that, regardless of improvements to operational controls and monitoring, governance pathways can still become high-impact targets if attackers can acquire voting influence or exploit proposal execution flows.

At this point, the most actionable questions for stakeholders are whether Term’s remaining vaults and governance arrangements are fully isolated from the compromised mechanics, and how quickly Term can quantify any residual exposure. With the company already disabling Meta Vault deposits and revoking governance roles, attention should turn to the scope of affected contracts, the likelihood of partial recovery, and whether Term’s governance design will undergo further structural changes before the next round of vault operations resumes.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Jackson Hole Symposium, U.S. PCE prices, IREN earnings: Crypto Week Ahead

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Jackson  Hole Symposium, U.S. PCE prices, IREN earnings: Crypto Week Ahead


Your look at what’s coming in the week starting Aug. 24

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