Day: July 21, 2025

Bank of America Rules Out U.S. Recession, Expects No Fed Rate Cuts in 2025

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

In a recent report, Bank of America (BofA) stated that the U.S. economy remains resilient, supported by strong consumer spending and persistent inflation in goods.

Bank of America

As a result, the bank does not expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates for the remainder of the year. It also warned of the dangers of monetary policy decisions influenced by the political climate.

BofA now projects that the U.S. will avoid a recession in 2025, and that the Fed will keep interest rates steady throughout the year, despite ongoing political and financial uncertainty linked to the presidential election cycle.

“The latest data reinforce our view that the U.S. economy will avoid a recession and the Fed will not cut rates this year,” analysts said in a note published Monday.

Persistent Inflation and Strong Spending

The bank highlighted that consumer spending remains robust and that goods-related inflation continues to be sticky. According to the report, the retail control group—a key input for GDP calculations—rose 0.5% month-on-month in June, while the food services category increased 0.6%.

[[SPX-graph]]

Political Pressure and Inflation Risks

BofA also cautioned against monetary decisions influenced by political considerations. “Cutting rates to help fund the government deficit is probably one of the worst reasons to do so,” the analysts wrote, in reference to recent criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell by President Donald Trump.

“This kind of political noise unnecessarily raises the bar for rate cuts,” the report stated. Premature easing, it warned, could unanchor inflation expectations, weaken the dollar, increase credit risk, and steepen the yield curve.

Outlook for the Coming Weeks

Looking ahead, BofA expects a modest increase in jobless claims for the week ending July 19 and anticipates stable housing market data. However, it forecasts a sharp 11% monthly decline in durable goods orders, with the report set to be released this Friday.

Cryptocurrencies Surge After Passage of Key U.S. Legislation; Bitcoin Nears Record High

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

Bitcoin began the week on a positive note, posting a mild 0.3% gain over the past 24 hours, consolidating after a brief pullback that followed its all-time high reached on July 14.

Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) and leading altcoins extended their rallies, with some notching weekly gains of nearly 25%.

As of Monday morning, BTC trades at approximately $118,935, according to Binance. Ethereum rose 2.4% to $3,819, marking its highest level since mid-December 2024 and up 24.9% for the week.

[[BTC/USD-graph]]

Institutional Flows Favor Ethereum

Ethereum continues to attract institutional capital, largely driven by the BlackRock ETH ETF, which has seen consistent inflows. Analysts note a marked accumulation trend and growing confidence in ETH, particularly as stablecoin adoption rises—likely fueling demand for Ethereum’s network.

Altcoins also joined the rally:

  • Ripple (XRP): +2.8% to $3.59 (+19.5% weekly)
  • BNB: +4.1% daily to $775.90
  • Solana (SOL): +6.0% daily and +14.8% for the week

Regulatory Breakthroughs in the U.S.

Last week, the U.S. Congress passed the GENIUS Act, becoming the first comprehensive legislation regulating stablecoins. Two additional bills—CLARITY and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act—are also on the horizon, both seen as pivotal for future crypto valuations.

The CLARITY Act aims to define legal frameworks for digital commodities, DeFi protocols, and token classification.

The Anti-CBDC Act seeks to block the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC), citing concerns over privacy and surveillance.

Trump Administration Backs Crypto Expansion

In his second term, President Donald Trump has emerged as an outspoken advocate for Bitcoin. Reports indicate he is preparing an executive order that would allow $9 billion from U.S. retirement savings to be invested in alternative assets, including crypto, gold, and private equity.

In addition, corporate giants like Walmart and Amazon are reportedly exploring the issuance of their own stablecoins, aiming to lower transaction costs and improve payment efficiency.
Outlook: A Defining Moment for Crypto?

Market strategists call this a potential “watershed moment” for the crypto industry. With growing institutional support, regulatory clarity on the horizon, and positive legislative momentum, investor confidence appears to be rebounding.

The alignment of legislative, institutional, and retail support suggests we could be entering a new era of mainstream crypto adoption.

How Has Trump’s Cryptocurrency Bill Affected the Market?

Posted on by Timothy St. John

On Thursday, the GENIUS Act was approved by the House of Representatives, and on Friday, Trump signed the bill into law, and the cryptocurrency market has been absolutely wild since then.

The GENIUS Act is designed to make stablecoins easier to access.
The GENIUS Act is designed to make stablecoins easier to access.

The GENIUS Act makes stablecoins easier to access and more widely available, and Trump’s approval of that act has caused cryptocurrency prices to skyrocket. The value of Bitcoin (BTC) has probably changed the least compared to other coins, but Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP (XRP) have all seen more than 20% increases since Friday.

[[BTC/USD]]

Crypto values have not seen this kind of dramatic surge since Trump was elected to the office of the presidency. Now that he has made good on several of his crypto campaign promises, investors are excited about what will come next. There is tremendous potential behind this seemingly simple government Act.

How GENIUS Changes Cryptocurrency

What this Act does for stablecoins is open them up to the public and make investors feel safer about using them. That will have a knockdown effect on the entire industry, and investors realize that.

Once stablecoins become easier to use cryptocurrency will be more widely used and should become more commonplace. Many people currently use stablecoins as a stepping stone to other cryptocurrencies, buying the stablecoins and holding them until they are ready to buy other types of digital coins.

That is because stablecoins tend to hold their value, as they are tied to another currency, usually fiat currency like the U.S. dollar. Several coins are tied to the dollar at this moment, including USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT). The GENIUS Act makes it even easier for investors to do this, ensuring that the path between fiat currency and a digital coin like Bitcoin is less convoluted and more accessible.

There is concern that the bill will help the Trump family’s own stablecoin and that the reason this type of crypto bill was passed was to do just that. Trump and his family own a 60% stake in World Liberty Financial, the parent company behind the USD1 stablecoin. 

 

OPEN Stock Doubles Then Falls, Still Up 800% in July on Reddit-Fueled Rally, $10 Next?

Posted on by Skerdian Meta

With shares up nearly 800% in July amid speculative fervor, Opendoor Technologies has gained prominence thanks to a startling retail-driven rally.
Continue reading “OPEN Stock Doubles Then Falls, Still Up 800% in July on Reddit-Fueled Rally, $10 Next?” →

German DAX Index Steadies Amid Trade Tensions, Hints at Bullish Continuation

Posted on by Skerdian Meta

Markets were largely rangebound on Monday, with DAX nearly unchanged, as investors digested political developments and shifting trade narratives ahead of the August 1 deadline. Continue reading “German DAX Index Steadies Amid Trade Tensions, Hints at Bullish Continuation” →

Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Nets $2.12B Inflows as Price Eyes $4,110 in Bullish Breakout

Posted on by Maham Arslan

Ethereum (ETH) is the institutional favorite in a record breaking week for crypto funds. According to CoinShares, ETH pulled in $2.12 billion in institutional inflows last week—its highest weekly total ever. That’s more than double its previous record of $1.2 billion and close to Bitcoin’s $2.2 billion.

This bullish momentum pushed total digital asset inflows to $4.39 billion and global crypto assets under management (AUM) to an all time high of $220 billion. It’s the 14th consecutive week of net inflows into digital assets, a clear sign of strong and sustained institutional interest.

Ethereum’s year to date inflows now total $6.2 billion—more than its full year 2024 total. Notably this has pushed ETH’s share of total crypto AUM to 23%—a significant rotation into Ethereum heavy portfolios.

ETH Price Up 54% in a Month, Targets $4,110

Ethereum’s price is following the institutional inflows. ETH is currently at $3,807 up 1.54% in the last 24 hours with a daily trading volume of $44.8 billion. In the last month ETH is up 54% driven by investor positioning and the growing optimism around an Ethereum spot ETF.

From a technical perspective ETH is trending inside an ascending channel on the 2 hour chart. The price is above the 50 EMA at $3,604 and the 100 EMA at $3,411. The next level is $3,832—a horizontal resistance that if broken could trigger a move to $3,974 and possibly $4,110.

Key levels to watch:

  • Upside Targets: $3,832, $3,974, $4,110
  • Support Zones: $3,684 (channel support), $3,534 (50 EMA), $3,383 (swing low)

Momentum indicators are getting overbought so the rally might take a breather before resuming. But the trend is still bullish unless price breaks the lower channel.

By region, U.S. funds pulled in $4.36 billion, U.S. is still the leader in crypto capital markets. Switzerland had $47.3 million, Australia had $17.3 million and Hong Kong had $14.1 million. Brazil and Germany were the only ones with outflows of $28.1 million and $15.5 million respectively.

Ethereum Price Chart - Source: Tradingview
Ethereum Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Other altcoins also benefited:

  • Solana (SOL): $39 million
  • XRP: $36 million
  • Sui (SUI): $9.3 million

Exchange traded products (ETPs) reflected this, BlackRock and Grayscale had strong ETH ETF demand. Ark Invest, Fidelity and ProShares had minor outflows.

XRP Surges 120% to $3.55 as RLUSD Stablecoin, ETF Demand Fuel Rally

Posted on by Maham Arslan

Ripple’s XRP token went up on Monday, July 21 to $3.55—a 120% increase from its April low of $1.61. The rally started on June 22 and accelerated after former President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law. This law benefits Ripple Labs whose RLUSD stablecoin meets all the regulatory criteria outlined in the new law.

RLUSD was introduced in December 2024 and has quickly gained traction in the market. Its market cap is now over $520 million and closing in on PayPal’s PYUSD. Analysts point to RLUSD’s transparency and secure custodianship by Bank of New York Mellon as the reasons for its growing trust.

The GENIUS Act seems to be a turning point for XRP, validating Ripple’s regulatory strategy and expanding use cases in its ecosystem.

ETF Demand and Wall Street Interest

Investor appetite for XRP is also visible in the ETF market. The Teucrium 2x XRP ETF which was launched three months ago is still attracting institutional capital with AUM nearing $500 million. This is a sign of increasing Wall Street interest in altcoin exposure.

The demand for XRP ETFs is setting the stage for potential inflows into spot XRP ETFs if they get approved by the US SEC. Meanwhile the futures market is showing bullish conviction with XRP open interest hitting a record $10.8 billion from below $500 million earlier this year.

XRP Investment Trends:

  • AUM in 2x XRP ETF: Approaching $500 million
  • RLUSD market cap: Over $520 million
  • XRP futures open interest: $10.8 billion

XRP/USD Technical Indicators Point Up

On the technical front XRP is trading above its 50-day and 200-day EMAs and is in a strong bullish trend. The daily chart is forming a cup-and-handle pattern which is a continuation signal for traders.

XRP Price Chart - Source: Tradingview
XRP Price Chart – Source: Tradingview
  • Cup base: $1.61
  • Cup rim: $3.40
  • Target: $5.20 (52% above current levels)XRP must hold above $3.00 to stay bullish. Below that and the trend is broken.

Key Points:

  • XRP up 120% to $3.55 from $1.61
  • RLUSD $520M
  • ETF AUM $500M; futures $10.8B
  • $5.20 target

Bitcoin ETFs Add $2.39B in Weekly Inflows as Holdings Hit $152.4 Billion

Posted on by Maham Arslan

US spot Bitcoin ETFs continued to rise, with $2.39 billion in inflows for the week ending July 18. This is the 6th consecutive week of gains, with total inflows now at $10.5 billion. The 12 ETFs have brought in $54.75 billion since inception and hold $152.4 billion of Bitcoin, 6.5% of the total BTC market cap.

The week’s inflows were strong:

  • Monday: $297.4 million
  • Tuesday: $403 million
  • Wednesday: $799.4 million
  • Thursday: $522.6 million
  • Friday: $363.45 million

BlackRock’s IBIT led the way with $2.57 billion in inflows. VanEck’s HODL and Grayscale’s BTC followed with $31 million and $41.9 million respectively. While Bitwise, Invesco, Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree added $35 million, this was offset by $290.8 million outflows from Grayscale’s GBTC, Ark 21Shares’ ARKB and Fidelity’s FBTC.

Ethereum ETFs Surge with $2.18B Inflows

While Bitcoin ETFs were big in volume, Ethereum ETFs were the momentum story. US listed spot ETH funds saw $2.18 billion in inflows, a 140% increase from the previous week and the biggest inflow week since launch.

ETH ETF inflows are now 10 weeks of positive net flows and over $5 billion. As investor sentiment shifts towards altcoins, Ethereum is benefiting from the liquidity dynamics.

Nate Geraci, market analyst noted that spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have brought in nearly $25 billion in 2025, institutional demand is growing.

BTC and ETH Price Trends

Despite the massive ETF inflows, Bitcoin price dropped 2.2% for the week and is hovering just below $120,000. Analysts say it’s profit taking near all time highs and a temporary cool off.

Bitcoin Price Chart - Source: Tradingview
Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Ethereum on the other hand rallied 25% and reclaimed the $3,800 level for the first time since December. The big divergence has sparked renewed interest in ETH led altcoin rotations as market participants are diversifying away from Bitcoin’s slow price action.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bitcoin ETFs: $2.39B weekly inflow, 6-week streak
  • Ethereum ETFs: $2.18B weekly inflow, 140% weekly increase
  • BTC down 2.2%, ETH up 25% in past 7 days

Nasdaq Reaches New Highs; Stock Market Ignores Tariff Threats

Posted on by Timothy St. John

As premarket trading began on Monday, the stock market indices ticked higher, with Nasdaq continuing its five-day streak of record highs.

Nasdaq rises on the power of strong stocks that are not hindered by new tariffs.
Nasdaq rises on the power of strong stocks that are not hindered by new tariffs.

The Dow Jones index has not changed much over the last week, but it is still climbing as trading begins for the new week. The S&P 500 gained 0.06% the previous week and is climbing slightly in the pre-trading session for Monday. The big winner is the Nasdaq Composite index, though, with a 0.3% gain for Monday so far after days of consecutive all-time highs.

Nvidia and Microsoft Soar

Nasdaq has scored win after win over the last week, riding high thanks to excellent stock performance from Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT), among others. But these two companies in particular have done very well in recent weeks, notching record highs on the stock market and dramatically increasing their market caps.

Nvidia’s management expects $45 billion in revenue for the second fiscal quarter of 2025 alone. For the first quarter, they earned $44.1 billion, which was an increase of about 69% from the previous year. The company does not expect that kind of growth at this point, but they do anticipate being able to outpace their competition and to continue to profit admirably from strong AI chip demand.

Microsoft has done nearly as well in recent weeks, when comparing stock growth. The company’s stock is down 0.69% over the last 24 hours, but it is performing much better over the long term. In the last month, MSFT has added 4.11%, bringing its stock price to $506.61 for Monday. That is nearly an all-time high for this stock which has only grown in value in 2025. Profit and revenue are both up for the company, and they have experienced significant success off of their AI investment.

Stock Market Not Bothered by Tariff Talks

Throughout the first half of 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has caused the stock market to fluctuate wildly with his tariff orders. As he levied stiff taxes against goods from Mexico, Canada, China, and other important trade partners, the stock market has reacted by dipping severely with each new tariff added. Then, as Trump pulls back on the tariffs or reaches an agreement with a country, the stock market rebounds.

Even though Trump is still issuing new tariffs for a number of countries, we are not seeing the same kind of impact on the stock market. It looks like the market indices are barely being affected by the new tariff threats.

That is great news for the market, as it shows resilience, and it demonstrates that investors are not as worried as they were earlier in the year about new tariffs. They have likely learned that Trump talks big with his threats and then pulls back when his targets are willing to negotiate.

Investors are likely expecting something similar to happen to these latest tariffs, but that is not the only factor keeping the stock market stable right now. It should be noted that many of the countries that Trump is targeting with his new tariffs are smaller trade partners whose impact on U.S. businesses is significantly smaller than the countries that he targeted earlier in the year.

Investors should expect the market to react more strongly to other factors from this point and be less bothered by new tariff threats.