📊 Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP post 25–30% gains in August
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP have all recorded significant gains through August 2026, with BTC rising nearly 25% and both ETH and XRP surging over 30% each.
The moves come as the broader crypto market staged a recovery, drawing renewed attention to the three largest assets by market cap heading into the final weeks of Q3 2026.
Whether the momentum holds through quarter-end remains an open question, as traders weigh the strength of the rally against broader market conditions.
💵 Argentina routes 94% of peso crypto trades into stablecoins
A new report from a16z crypto reveals that stablecoins now account for 94% of all peso-denominated crypto trading volume in Argentina — one of the highest adoption rates globally.
The finding points to a sustained preference for dollar-pegged digital assets among Argentine users, who continue to seek protection from local currency volatility. This trend persists even as Argentina's inflation rate has declined from recent peaks, with wallet downloads and stablecoin usage remaining resilient.
The data underscores how stablecoins are functioning less as a speculative instrument and more as everyday financial infrastructure in high-inflation economies — a dynamic increasingly cited in policy and investment discussions around global crypto adoption.
🟠 IMF Clears $140M for El Salvador, Confirms Bitcoin Buys Used No Public Funds
The IMF has confirmed that all Bitcoin added to El Salvador's official holdings since June 2025 was funded entirely through private donations, with no public money used for accumulation.
The confirmation came as part of a staff-level agreement covering the combined second and third reviews of El Salvador's 40-month Extended Fund Facility. Subject to IMF Executive Board approval and completion of agreed prior actions, the country is set to receive approximately $140 million — part of a broader $1.4 billion loan program. El Salvador has continued acquiring roughly 1 BTC per day.
The IMF's position marks a shift from a year ago, when the fund had stated the Bitcoin reserve total had not moved and was only shuffling coins between government wallets. The latest review clears a key compliance hurdle, with the fund now satisfied that Bitcoin accumulation has not drawn on public finances.
The broader crypto market added roughly $500 billion in August, pushing total market capitalization above $2.7 trillion as conditions improved sharply across the board.
Zcash posted the standout gain of the month at 82%, leading the altcoin recovery. The primary driver was macroeconomic policy — specifically, the U.S. Treasury's decision to double bond buybacks, supported by comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bitcoin also rebounded, moving toward year-end profitability after a difficult start to the period.
The August move underlines how sensitive crypto valuations remain to macro policy signals, with privacy-focused assets like Zcash capable of outsized moves during broader risk-on recoveries.
🟠 British man recovers 61 Bitcoin lost since 2014 exchange collapse
A UK investor has recovered 61 BTC — now worth approximately $5 million — after losing access to the coins when an early crypto exchange collapsed in 2014.
The original investment was just £1,500. Over 12 years, the holder pursued recovery efforts that ultimately succeeded, turning a modest early bet into a multimillion-pound windfall. He has said he plans to use the funds to buy a larger home.
The case highlights both the long-term value potential of early Bitcoin holdings and the real risks of exchange custody — a lesson that remains relevant as centralized platforms continue to dominate retail crypto access.
🟠 Bitcoin rallies as Fed's Waller backs rate pause
Bitcoin and broader crypto markets moved sharply higher after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller signaled he could support holding interest rates steady.
The rally triggered a significant short squeeze, with $415 million in short positions liquidated as prices moved against bearish bets. Stocks and crypto rose in tandem, reflecting the market-wide relief at the prospect of a rate pause.
Macro signals from the Fed continue to be a key driver of crypto price action, with any hint of policy easing quickly translating into risk-on sentiment across digital assets.