Strategy MSTR$93.02 has pushed back against MSCI’s proposed methodology for identifying “non-operating companies,” which could result in the largest bitcoin treasury company being removed from the index provider’s global equity indexes.

Strategy said on X, “Digital assets are assets. Index providers should measure markets, not decide which assets companies are allowed to own,” Strategy said. “MSCI’s proposal puts it out of step with regulators, markets, and its own customers. Bitcoin doesn’t need MSCI. Neither does Strategy.”

The latest consultation replaces an earlier proposal focused specifically on companies with significant digital asset holdings. Applying the new financial-ratio screen using May 2026 data would have resulted in the removal of Strategy, Metaplanet and uranium holder Yellow Cake from the MSCI ACWI IMI.

The response follows Strategy’s formal objection in December 2025 to MSCI’s previous proposal, which would have excluded companies whose digital assets represented at least 50% of total assets.

Strategy argued at the time that it is an operating company, not an investment fund or passive bitcoin vehicle, pointing to its software business, active treasury operations and bitcoin-backed credit instruments. It described the 50% threshold as arbitrary and urged MSCI to maintain neutral index standards.

MSTR is lower by 4.3% on Friday as bitcoin dips to $62,600.

Uniswap price has fallen nearly 20% over the past seven days to $3.23 as a head-and-shoulders breakdown, weak capital flows, and cascading long liquidations intensified selling pressure.

Uniswap price extends its breakdown toward $3.20

According to data from crypto.news, Uniswap (UNI) price fell as low as $3.17 on Aug. 14 before recovering slightly to $3.23. The token was down almost 7% on the daily candle and nearly 20% over seven days, extending a decline that began after its early-August peak near $4.59.

The daily chart shows UNI giving back most of the rally that started from the June 11 low of $2.32. Sellers pushed the token below the 78.6%, 61.8%, and 50% Fibonacci retracement levels at $4.10, $3.72, and $3.46, respectively.

UNI is now testing the 38.2% retracement at $3.19. The level carries added importance because it sits near the lower end of the token’s March-to-May trading range, where buyers previously stepped in around $3.10–$3.20.

A daily close below $3.19 would weaken that support and expose the 23.6% Fibonacci level at $2.86. Continued selling could then send the token toward the psychological $3.00 mark or the June swing low at $2.32.

The latest daily candle also shows little evidence that buyers are absorbing the decline. UNI opened near $3.48, briefly reached $3.53, and then fell to $3.17, leaving the token close to its session low.

Bear-bull power stood at -0.791, its weakest reading on the displayed daily chart. A deeply negative reading indicates that sellers are forcing the price farther below its short-term average rather than merely responding to a temporary pullback.

Daily Stochastic RSI readings of 0.00 and 0.54 place UNI deep in oversold territory. Such a reading can precede a relief rebound, but oversold conditions alone do not confirm that the decline has ended while price continues to record lower highs and lower lows.

Head-and-shoulders pattern confirms a bearish reversal

Crypto analyst Crypto With Gopal identified a head-and-shoulders pattern on UNI’s 4-hour chart in an Aug. 12 post on X. According to the analyst, the right shoulder failed around $4.20 before the token broke below the pattern’s neckline near $3.90.

The formation began with a left shoulder below $4.00, followed by a head near $4.60 and a lower right shoulder around $4.20. Price subsequently lost the rising neckline that had supported the July advance.

Crypto With Gopal placed the pattern’s downside target near $3.00. UNI has since fallen from approximately $3.53 at the time of the post to around $3.23, bringing the projected level within 7% of the current price.

The 4-hour chart supports the bearish pattern. UNI formed a sequence of lower highs after the Aug. 1 peak, initially losing $4.00 before falling through $3.80, $3.60, and $3.45. A brief attempt to stabilize around $3.50 failed on Aug. 14 and was followed by another sharp leg lower.

Aroon Down stood at 92.86% on the 4-hour timeframe, while Aroon Up registered 0%. The separation indicates that recent lows are forming much more frequently than recent highs, keeping the short-term trend pointed downward.

Chaikin Money Flow was also negative at -0.28. The reading shows that trading volume has been concentrated during periods when UNI closed near the lower end of its candles, a sign that capital continues to leave the market.

UNI liquidations could amplify volatility

CoinGlass’ three-day liquidation heatmap shows that UNI’s decline accelerated as the price moved through several areas containing leveraged positions. The token fell from above $3.80 on Aug. 11 to nearly $3.20 by Aug. 14, with sharp drops appearing around $3.60, $3.45, and $3.35.

The heatmap suggests that liquidity previously concentrated near $3.45 was cleared during the latest sell-off. UNI briefly moved below $3.20 before stabilizing around $3.23, where nearby liquidation bands appear smaller than the clusters left above the market.

Larger concentrations remain between approximately $3.45 and $3.55, followed by brighter bands around $3.60–$3.65. Because price can move toward areas containing heavily leveraged positions, a recovery into these zones could trigger short liquidations and produce a faster rebound.

However, the same clusters may also act as resistance. Traders who bought before the breakdown could use a return toward $3.45 or $3.60 to reduce exposure, adding spot supply as leveraged shorts face pressure.

Another large liquidity band sits near $3.68, while additional concentrations extend toward $3.80. UNI would need to reclaim the $3.45 Fibonacci midpoint and then hold above $3.72 to begin repairing the damage visible on the daily chart.

Below the current price, liquidation liquidity is thinner, although smaller bands appear between $3.10 and $3.20. A clean breakthrough through that area could allow the price to travel more quickly toward the $3.00 target identified in the head-and-shoulders setup.

Key UNI price levels traders are watching

The immediate support range lies between the daily low of $3.17 and the 38.2% Fibonacci level at $3.19. Holding this area could allow UNI to attempt an oversold bounce toward $3.40–$3.45, where the first notable liquidation cluster and former support are located.

A move above $3.45 would put $3.60–$3.65 in focus. Reclaiming that range would clear a dense group of liquidation levels, although the 61.8% retracement at $3.72 would remain the stronger technical barrier.

For the bullish case to gain credibility, UNI would need to close above $3.72 and recover the broken neckline near $3.90. The $4.10 Fibonacci level and the failed right shoulder around $4.20 would then become the next resistance points.

The bearish case remains active while UNI trades below $3.45. A daily close under $3.17 would open the path toward $3.00 and $2.86, while a loss of $2.86 would expose the June recovery base between $2.32 and $2.40.

For U.S. investors, UNI remains available through crypto trading platforms rather than U.S.-listed spot exchange-traded funds, leaving the token more dependent on direct spot demand and offshore derivatives liquidity. The chart therefore offers no ETF flow buffer comparable to Bitcoin or Ethereum when leveraged selling accelerates.

Crypto remains a niche option for payments across the euro area, according to a new survey by the European Central Bank (ECB) that tracks what businesses actually accept at the point of sale. Despite years of mainstream experimentation and the growth of digital payments more broadly, the ECB found that only a tiny share of merchants take crypto assets, including stablecoins.

In the ECB’s survey on companies’ cash use, just 0.2% of online merchants accepting goods and services online said they take crypto assets. Cash continues to dominate among businesses with physical sales locations, with 92% of companies accepting it, and mobile payment options continuing to expand quickly.

Key takeaways

• Crypto acceptance is extremely limited: the ECB reports 0.2% of euro area businesses accepting crypto for online purchases.
• Cash still leads at physical locations, accepted by 92% of businesses with point-of-sale outlets.
• Mobile payments are the main growth area for in-person transactions, rising to 68% acceptance in 2026 from 36% in 2024.
• Crypto and stablecoins show little traction at physical points of sale, staying below 1% in both 2024 and 2026.
• Merchants prioritize customer demand and security when choosing payment methods, with consumer preference cited as the top factor.

A euro area snapshot: cash holding firm while mobile rises

The ECB based the findings on interviews with 8,205 businesses across all 21 euro area countries. The sample includes retailers, restaurants and cafés, hotels, and arts, entertainment, and recreation venues. According to the ECB, Ipsos carried out telephone interviews from Feb. 23 to April 10.

While crypto remains close to the margins, other payment methods have moved meaningfully. At physical locations, mobile payments recorded the largest shift. The ECB’s figures show acceptance climbed to 68% in 2026 from 36% in 2024.

That rise is consistent with how customers increasingly transact in-store: the ECB notes that widely used mobile options include instant payments and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Where crypto sits: stablecoin and crypto acceptance stays under 1%

At physical points of sale, cash edged slightly higher—92% acceptance in 2026 compared with 90% in 2024. Physical card acceptance also increased modestly, moving to 88% from 87%.

By contrast, the ECB reported that crypto assets and stablecoins showed virtually no momentum. They remained below 1% acceptance at physical locations in both 2024 and 2026, suggesting that whatever progress the wider digital assets industry has seen has not translated into broad merchant adoption in euro area commerce.

The ECB also tracked other instruments. Acceptance of bank checks fell to 27% from 36%, underscoring that payments evolve unevenly across channels even as cash continues to retain the largest share of acceptance.

Why businesses choose payment methods—and why they don’t

The ECB survey highlights what drives merchants when deciding which payment options to support. Consumer preference was the most-cited factor, named by 26% of respondents. Security followed at 22%, while ease of handling came in at 15%.

The reasons for rejecting cash offer additional context for how businesses think about payment risk and practicality. Among companies that do not accept cash, weak customer demand was the most common explanation (36%), while the next-largest share pointed to difficulties related to depositing or withdrawing cash (35%). Security concerns were also mentioned by 29% of respondents.

While these responses relate specifically to cash, they help explain the broader merchant calculus: adoption tends to follow customer behavior and operational simplicity, with security and reliability shaping the risk assessment.

Country differences and the definition problem around “accepting crypto”

Merchant attitudes toward cash also vary widely across countries, and the same type of uneven adoption could be a challenge for crypto. The ECB reports that 51% of cash-accepting small and medium-sized enterprises in Cyprus said they may stop accepting cash, compared with 23% in Greece and 18% in Bulgaria.

For crypto, the ECB survey asked businesses whether they accept crypto assets or stablecoins. To anchor responses, it cited examples including Bitcoin, Ether, and Tether’s USDt (USDT).

However, there is a practical measurement issue. The ECB acknowledged indirectly that crypto payments can be structured so merchants receive settlement in traditional currency even when customers pay with crypto through certain services. The ECB’s survey, as described in the article coverage, does not clarify whether businesses should treat these arrangements as “accepting crypto.”

When Cointelegraph asked whether such conversions could affect reporting consistency and whether regulatory uncertainty could influence how firms answer, the ECB said it “prefer[s] not to speculate.” In response to a question about whether euro area merchants are permitted to accept crypto under European Union rules, the ECB stated it does not set payment regulation and pointed to the European Commission and national lawmakers.

That distinction matters for readers interpreting the data: low acceptance rates could reflect both limited demand and constraints tied to how payments are operationalized and classified—especially in a regulatory environment where businesses may still be cautious about compliance or reporting.

Digital euro work continues, but merchant reality stays unchanged

The ECB’s crypto findings arrive as the institution continues its work on a digital euro—a central bank digital currency intended to complement cash while preserving the euro’s role in payments. Earlier coverage from Cointelegraph noted the ECB is advancing accessibility for payment providers as part of that broader CBDC effort.

Yet the merchant data in this survey points to a more immediate reality: even as mobile payments accelerate and digital channels expand, crypto and stablecoins have not crossed the threshold into mainstream acceptance for most euro area businesses—at least as measured by the ECB’s survey.

For investors, traders, and builders, the key question now is whether euro area crypto adoption can move from isolated use cases to meaningful merchant integration. The ECB survey provides a useful baseline; the next watch should be whether mobile payment growth continues to crowd out alternatives like crypto, and whether future regulatory clarity—or new payment rails using tokenized settlement—changes how businesses decide what to accept.

On 13 August, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that GDP growth slowed to 0.4% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, down from 0.6% in the first quarter. The figure was in line with expectations, and the market reaction was relatively muted.

The interest-rate backdrop has also remained broadly unchanged for several weeks. On 30 July, the Bank of England kept its policy rate at 3.75%, while the ECB left its rate at 2.25% on 23 July. With both decisions largely priced into the market, the absence of fresh guidance from either central bank means that short-term EUR/GBP price action may be driven more by technical factors than by the latest macroeconomic data.

Technical Analysis of EUR/GBP

The second half of July saw a strong upward move in EUR/GBP, with the pair climbing from below 0.8460 to a peak near the current resistance level at 0.8586.

The rally was followed by a consolidation phase. Since the beginning of August, price action has gradually narrowed into a pattern resembling a symmetrical triangle, with the trading range becoming progressively tighter.

On Monday, 10 August, the pair broke below the lower boundary of the formation. EUR/GBP is currently trading beneath both the triangle’s lower trendline and the lower boundary of the current market profile at 0.8553, while testing the latter from below. If this retest is successful and the downside move gains momentum, the green support level around 0.8533 could become increasingly important.

A false breakout, however, would shift attention back towards the upside. In that scenario, the pair would face several technical barriers: the Point of Control (POC) at 0.8564, the upper boundary of the profile at 0.8580, and the key resistance level at 0.8586.

The RSI + MAs indicator currently shows readings of 48, 40 and 43. The bearish signal has failed to develop further, while the RSI has moved back into the neutral zone, suggesting that momentum remains inconclusive.

Key Takeaways

The attempted downside breakout has pushed EUR/GBP outside the profile in which the recent consolidation developed. The next directional move may depend on whether the pound receives additional support from the Bank of England as the central bank determines its subsequent policy course.

For now, the technical setup remains vulnerable to a false breakout, with the 0.8553 retest likely to be particularly important in determining whether sellers can maintain control or the pair returns to the consolidation range.

Trade over 50 forex markets 24 hours a day with FXOpen. Take advantage of low commissions, deep liquidity, and spreads from 0.0 pips (additional fees may apply). Open your FXOpen account now or learn more about trading forex with FXOpen.

This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin trades near $63,567 on Friday after rebounding from support around $62,300.
• BTC remains below its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs, preserving the broader bearish bias.
• The RSI at 46 and a negative MACD signal weak momentum despite the recent stabilization.

Bitcoin (BTC) shows signs of stabilization on Friday after recovering from a correction earlier in the week.

BTC trades around $63,567 after buyers defended the $62,300 support level on Thursday. Holding this area could provide the foundation for a short-term rebound, but the price remains below all its major Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs).

Weak momentum indicators and several resistance barriers above the current price suggest that any recovery may remain limited unless Bitcoin reclaims the $64,488–$66,604 region.

Bitcoin rebounds from $62,300 support

Bitcoin found support around $62,300 on Thursday before recovering to approximately $63,567 on Friday.

The rebound indicates that buyers remain active near the lower boundary of the current range. However, BTC continues to trade below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day EMAs, which are positioned between $64,488 and $72,035.

When the price trades below these major moving averages, they can act as dynamic resistance during recovery attempts. This structure suggests the broader trend remains bearish despite Bitcoin’s ability to defend short-term support.

A stronger reversal would require BTC to reclaim the 50-day EMA before challenging the higher resistance levels created by the longer-term averages.

Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index stands near 46, below the neutral level of 50.

The reading indicates that sellers maintain a slight advantage, although the indicator remains well above oversold territory. A move above 50 would suggest improving momentum and could reinforce the likelihood of a broader recovery.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence remains below its zero line, supporting the bearish outlook.

Together, the indicators show that downside pressure has eased but has not disappeared. Bitcoin needs stronger buying volume and a decisive move above nearby resistance to confirm a momentum shift.

BTC faces resistance at $64,488

The 50-day EMA at approximately $64,488 represents Bitcoin’s first significant resistance level.

A daily close above this moving average could strengthen the rebound and allow BTC to challenge the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level near $65,547.

Beyond that, the horizontal resistance at $66,500 and the 100-day EMA at $66,604 form a dense supply zone. Sellers may defend this region aggressively, particularly after Bitcoin’s recent correction.

If buyers overcome the $66,500–$66,604 range, the 50% Fibonacci retracement near $67,940 would become the next upside target.

A sustained move above $67,940 would substantially improve the short-term technical outlook, although the 200-day EMA near $72,035 would remain a major long-term barrier.

On the downside, initial support sits at the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level around $62,586.

The horizontal floor at $62,300 provides the next and more critical support. This level triggered Thursday’s recovery and remains essential to Bitcoin’s short-term outlook.

A daily close below $62,300 would invalidate the immediate rebound scenario and signal that selling pressure is strengthening.

Such a breakdown could expose Bitcoin’s broader support near $57,800, which marks the current cycle low. Buyers would likely attempt to defend this area because a sustained move below it could extend the wider bearish trend.

For now, holding above $62,300 keeps the possibility of a recovery toward $64,488 and $65,547 intact. However, Bitcoin must reclaim the major moving averages to demonstrate that bulls are taking control.

Key  takeaways

• SharpLink Gaming plans to stake $200 million worth of Ethereum through Lido.
• The allocation will be converted into wrapped staked ETH and held with Anchorage Digital.
• wstETH enables SharpLink to earn staking rewards while retaining access to DeFi liquidity.

SharpLink Gaming (SBET) plans to allocate $200 million worth of Ethereum to Lido as the company seeks to generate additional returns from its expanding ETH treasury.

The Ethereum will be staked and converted into wrapped staked ETH, known as wstETH. Anchorage Digital will provide institutional custody for the assets, according to SharpLink’s announcement on Thursday.

The allocation adds Lido to SharpLink’s wider staking and restaking strategy, allowing the company to earn Ethereum network rewards while maintaining greater flexibility over how it deploys its holdings.

SharpLink expands its Ethereum staking strategy

SharpLink is pursuing ways to increase the productivity of the ETH held on its balance sheet instead of leaving the assets idle.

Through Lido, the company will stake $200 million in ETH and receive wstETH in return. The token represents staked Ethereum and the rewards generated from participating in the network’s proof-of-stake validation system.

Unlike directly staked ETH, wstETH can be transferred, traded or used within compatible decentralized finance applications while the underlying tokens continue generating staking rewards.

The structure could allow SharpLink to earn a base Ethereum staking yield while retaining the option to deploy its wstETH across other protocols.

SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom described the allocation as an expansion of the company’s strategy to make its ETH holdings more productive. He said wstETH provides composability while allowing the company to maintain institutional risk standards.

SharpLink will custody the resulting wstETH with Anchorage Digital. The decision provides the company with a regulated institutional custodian while it increases its exposure to Ethereum’s staking and decentralized finance infrastructure.

Institutional custody is particularly important for corporate crypto treasuries because companies must manage operational, cybersecurity and governance risks alongside potential investment returns.

SharpLink did not disclose whether Anchorage Digital would also facilitate deployment of the wstETH into other DeFi platforms or whether the assets would initially remain in custody.

Technical forecast: LDO targets the $0.3370 resistance

The LDO/USD 4-hour chart remains bearish despite Lido rallying over the past few hours. However, the technical indicators suggest that the bulls could push the price higher in the near term.

The RSI of 57 is above the neutral 50, indicating that the bears are no longer in control of the market. The MACD lines also add further confluence to the bullish narrative.

If the rally persists, LDO could target the first major resistance at the $0.3370 level, which also coincides with the TLQ on the 4-hour timeframe.

An extended rally could allow LDO to reclaim the $0.4063 swing high for the first time since July 27.

However, if the bears regain control, LDO could retest last week’s low of $0.2716 in the near term.