Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (August 20) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ethereum price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$113,687, a 1.6 percent decline in 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$112,647, while its highest was US$115,789.
Bitcoin price performance, August 20, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Bitcoin continued its consolidation as investors awaited signals from the Federal Reserve ahead of Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech. The decline mirrored a wider crypto pullback, fueled by liquidations and bearish sentiment. Despite short-term pressure, data shows long-term holders remain confident in Bitcoin’s outlook.
Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$4,216.39, down by 2.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$4,074.50, and its highest valuation was US$4,311.87.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$181.14, down by 0.3 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$1176.13, while its highest level was US$182.90.
- XRP was trading for US$2.89, down 4.1 percent in the past 24 hours, and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest was US$2.86.
- Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.48, down by 2.5 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.42, while its highest was US$3.64.
- Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.8572, down 7.9 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$0.8449, while its highest was US$0.9454.
Today’s crypto news to know
Bitcoin and Ether ETFs shed nearly US$1 billion, Fear & Greed index slips to “Fear”
Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw a wave of investor withdrawals this week, totaling nearly US$1 billion in just three days.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$533 million in outflows on Tuesday (August 19), more than quadruple Monday’s figure. Ether ETFs also faced steep losses, with outflows jumping from US$200 million on Monday to US$422 million the next day.
Together, the two assets have seen US$1.3 billion in withdrawals since last Wednesday, coinciding with price declines of 8.3 percent for Bitcoin and 10.8 percent for Ether.
Investor sentiment in the crypto market has turned sharply negative following three straight days of heavy ETF outflows.
The widely followed Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped to 44 on Wednesday, slipping into the “Fear” category for the first time in weeks. The index tracks volatility, market momentum, and trading activity to gauge overall mood, and its decline reflects mounting concerns over recent price drops.
Fed supervision chief pushes for Crypto integration
Michelle Bowman, the US Federal Reserve’s new vice chair for supervision, signaled strong support for crypto adoption in her first major policy speech on the subject.
Speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Bowman argued that banks risk becoming irrelevant if they fail to embrace digital assets, calling for a “clear, strategic regulatory framework” tailored to crypto rather than relying on outdated banking standards.
Bowman, who was nominated by President Donald Trump and sworn in two months ago, will play a central role in shaping US rules for stablecoins under the GENIUS Act.
In her remarks, she highlighted tokenization’s potential to reduce costs and improve financial efficiency, while stressing that regulators must distinguish digital assets from traditional instruments. She even suggested Fed staff should be allowed to hold small amounts of crypto to gain hands-on experience, likening it to learning how to ski by actually putting on skis.
‘We stand at a crossroads: we can either seize the opportunity to shape the future or risk being left behind,’ Bowman said.
South Korea halts new crypto lending amid investor losses, regulatory scrutiny
South Korea’s financial watchdog has ordered domestic crypto exchanges to stop offering new lending products, citing rising risks and investor losses.
The Financial Services Commission (FSC) confirmed that exchanges must suspend fresh lending operations until official guidelines are finalized.
Existing contracts, including repayments and maturity rollovers, will be allowed to continue in the meantime.
The decision follows reports of forced liquidations, with one exchange seeing over 3,600 users lose funds out of 27,600 participants in just a month, representing roughly US$1.1 billion in trading volume. Regulators also flagged cases of Tether-based lending that triggered unusual selling pressure on the stablecoin.
The FSC said it will carry out inspections and take enforcement action against platforms that fail to comply.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.