A major turning point in the cryptocurrency market driven by the full-scale entry of institutional investors and innovative technologies

 

Introduction

The cryptocurrency market continues to show active movement. From Bitcoin price trends to the emergence of new platforms, there have been a series of interesting developments across the industry. In this article, we will analyze the current market situation and future prospects in detail based on recent important news.

Because the author is Japanese, there may be errors in word spelling and grammar. We apologize for any errors.

Bitcoin Market Resilience Absorbs $9 Billion in Selling Pressure

Market Resilience Unshaken by Large-Scale Sales

As of July 29, 2025, the price of Bitcoin is hovering around $119,000. While this level is certainly impressive, what is more noteworthy is the remarkable stability the market is demonstrating at this price point.

Recently, a massive sale of over 80,000 BTC, amounting to over $9 billion, was executed through Galaxy Digital, a leading cryptocurrency financial services firm. The seller was a large investor who had held Bitcoin since around 2011, and the address that had remained dormant for approximately 14 years suddenly became active.

In a typical market, such a large-scale sale would likely lead to a significant price decline. However, while the Bitcoin market experienced temporary adjustments, it has maintained overall stability. This reflects the market's maturity and the presence of a robust demand base.

New Demand Structure Supported by ETFs

One of the factors supporting the stability of this market is the continuous inflow of funds into spot-based Bitcoin ETFs. On July 28, a net inflow of $157 million was recorded, marking the third consecutive business day of net inflows.

Notably, BlackRock's IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF), the world's largest asset management company, alone recorded a massive 147 million dollars in capital inflows. This brings the cumulative net inflow since IBIT's launch to a staggering 57.39 billion dollars.

Currently, the total net asset value of all Bitcoin spot ETFs stands at 153.1 billion dollars, with ETFs accounting for 6.52% of Bitcoin's total market capitalization. While this figure may not seem large, it indicates that institutional investors are steadily increasing their participation in cryptocurrency assets.

Improvement in the macroeconomic environment

Another factor supporting the price of Bitcoin is the improvement in the macroeconomic environment. With the conclusion of a new trade agreement between the US and the EU led by President Trump, concerns about the development of a trade war have been alleviated. This has eased investors' risk-off sentiment, which is also a tailwind for Bitcoin, a risk asset.

The Fear & Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, stands at 63, indicating a “greed” territory. This suggests that many investors are maintaining a bullish stance, and it is expected that optimistic sentiment will continue for the time being.

Ethereum ETF's impressive run with 17 consecutive days of capital inflows

Record-breaking consecutive inflows demonstrate market confidence

Alongside Bitcoin, the performance of the Ethereum spot ETF is also attracting attention. As of July 28, the Ethereum ETF has achieved a record-breaking 17 consecutive days of net inflows. On that day alone, it recorded net inflows of $65.14 million, indicating that the long-term trend of capital inflows is continuing.

This consecutive inflow record is not merely a temporary phenomenon but reflects investors' deep-rooted trust and expectations in the Ethereum asset class. The value of Ethereum as a platform, its smart contract functionality, and expectations for future upgrades are believed to be driving sustained investment demand.

BlackRock's presence

BlackRock's influence is also overwhelming in the Ethereum ETF market. The company's ETHA (iShares Ethereum Trust ETF) recorded a massive net inflow of $132 million on July 28, bringing the cumulative net inflow to $9.48 billion.

Meanwhile, Fidelity's Ethereum ETF, “FETH,” saw a net outflow of 49.23 million dollars on the same day, indicating intensifying competition among asset management companies. Investors appear to be actively moving funds between ETFs in search of more attractive fee structures and service offerings.

Currently, the total net asset value of all Ethereum spot ETFs stands at 21.53 billion dollars, with ETFs accounting for 4.71% of Ethereum's total market capitalization. While the scale is still smaller compared to Bitcoin ETFs, the growth pace is highly robust.

Renowned investor Ray Dalio recommends a 15% allocation

Warning from the founder of one of the world's largest hedge funds

Renowned investor Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds, has recommended a significant increase in the recommended allocation ratio of Bitcoin and gold in investment portfolios from the previous 1-2% to 15%. This statement has caused a major shock in the cryptocurrency industry.

At the core of Dalio's concerns is the “decline in currency value.” He points out that many Western governments, including the United States, are trapped in a “debt spiral,” forced to issue additional government bonds to repay their growing massive debts.

Distrust in fiat currencies and expectations for alternative assets

Under these circumstances, Mr. Dalio believes that it is inevitable that the value of fiat currencies issued by various countries will continue to decline in real terms. He also predicts that this issue is not limited to a single country, as many Western economies are facing similar challenges, and therefore there is a possibility of a coordinated decline.

In such an era of economic crisis, alternative assets like gold and Bitcoin can serve as effective diversification tools, he emphasizes. Especially with Bitcoin, it is establishing itself as “digital gold,” and expectations for its inflation-hedging functionality are growing.

The fact that influential investors like Dalio are taking such an active stance toward Bitcoin could significantly shift the traditional perception of Bitcoin as a speculative asset. It might mark a crucial turning point in encouraging institutional investors to make a full-scale entry into the market.

The tokenization of meme coins as a new innovation  

The emergence of the IP-backed platform “ip.world”

The cryptocurrency industry is constantly giving rise to new innovations, but one that has recently garnered significant attention is the IP-backed meme coin platform “ip.world.” Developed on the Story Protocol, this platform has sparked considerable buzz as an innovative attempt to financially back the value of internet culture.

Traditionally, countless pieces of content—particularly memes—that emerge and disappear online have possessed cultural influence and virality, yet quantifying their value and making them tradable has been challenging. ip.world aims to redefine such intangible cultural assets as “assets.”

IP Classification and Value Evaluation System

The platform classifies IP into two broad categories. One is “creator IP,” which refers to IP with a clear author or owner, such as viral memes and artworks. The other is called “community IP,” which represents a movement formed by a culture or group rather than a specific individual.

To objectively evaluate the value of each IP, the platform has introduced a proprietary metric called the “Viral Score.” This score is calculated in real time based on multiple data points, including social media engagement, reach (spread), trend indicators, and market influence. Users can visually track how the popularity of IP fluctuates over time through a time-series chart.

A New Form of Community Economy

Another noteworthy feature is the “feed function,” which aggregates all related content in one place. Users can instantly grasp how widely a particular meme has spread and in what context it is being discussed, without having to visit multiple social media sites.

A reward system has also been established, where points and unique “$IP” tokens are awarded as incentives for all contribution activities within the platform, including transactions, content remixing, information curation, and engagement. This system ensures that all participants involved in the creation and dissemination of cultural content can benefit economically.

MetaMask's new “Stablecoin Earn” feature demonstrates the evolution of DeFi

Direct earning opportunities within the wallet

With the spread of decentralized finance (DeFi), improvements in user interfaces are also steadily progressing. The latest example of this is the new “Stablecoin Earn” feature introduced by the cryptocurrency wallet MetaMask. This feature allows users to leverage the stablecoins stored in their MetaMask wallets to increase their assets through simple operations.

Traditionally, earning income through DeFi protocols required navigating multiple platforms and understanding complex operations. However, with “Stablecoin Earn,” users can access the feature directly within the MetaMask mobile app, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge.

Balancing Safety and Convenience

This feature allows users to deposit USDC, USDT, and DAI, which are representative stablecoins pegged to the US dollar, into the lending protocol Aave. Aave is one of the most trusted protocols in the industry, and security concerns are relatively low.

Currently, this feature is available on the Android mobile app, with plans to expand the service to iOS by the end of this week. The mobile-first approach aligns with current user behavior patterns and has the potential to further drive the adoption of DeFi.

The emergence of such integrated services reflects the maturity of the DeFi industry. By hiding technical complexity and providing an intuitive user experience, it is expected that more people will be able to benefit from DeFi.

Gaming Trends: New Developments for Guild of Guardians

Continued Growth of Blockchain Games

The fusion of NFTs and gaming is one of the most important trends in the crypto asset industry, but while many projects end up as temporary fads, projects that continue to provide content on an ongoing basis are rare. One such example is the blockchain RPG Guild of Guardians.

From July 30 to August 28, 2025, a new event titled “Festival of Flames” will be held over a four-week period. This event will feature limited-edition Guardians and skins, as well as limited-edition passes and new skill features.

The Reality of the NFT Economy

The Guild of Guardians NFT collection is issued on Immutable X, an Ethereum L2. At the time of writing, the floor price for Guild of Guardians Guardians is 0.00022 ETH, and the floor price for Guild of Guardians Avatars is 0.0027 ETH, both of which are relatively affordable.

These price levels reflect the project's focus on the enjoyment and practicality of the game rather than speculative elements. While high-priced NFTs can act as barriers to entry, the affordable pricing allows more players to participate in the game.

It will be worth watching how the trading volume of NFT collections changes following this new event. Continuous content updates and community activation are undoubtedly crucial elements for the long-term success of the project. 

Market Analysis and Future Outlook

Acceleration of Institutional Investor Participation

Based on the trends we have seen so far, the cryptocurrency market in 2025 is clearly entering a new phase. The most significant change is the acceleration of full-scale participation by institutional investors.

The continued inflow of funds into ETFs, the significant increase in recommended allocation ratios by prominent investors, and the market's resilience in absorbing a massive $9 billion selling pressure all point in the same direction. Cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, are gradually elevating their status from speculative assets to legitimate investment targets.

Continuing technological innovation

Meanwhile, technological innovation continues unabated. New concepts such as IP-backed platforms, improvements in the usability of DeFi services, and the continued development of blockchain games demonstrate that the industry's diversity and creativity remain healthy.

These technological innovations provide practical value beyond mere speculative trading. Each addresses different needs, such as the monetization of memes, the provision of easy revenue opportunities, and the delivery of entertainment content, thereby enriching the industry's overall ecosystem.

Consideration of Risk Factors

Of course, it is not all optimistic. Debt issues, as pointed out by Ray Dalio, certainly exist, and a deterioration in the macroeconomic environment could affect the cryptocurrency market. In addition, various risk factors such as changes in the regulatory environment, technical issues, and market manipulation must also be considered.

In particular, for new platforms and services, it is important to verify their technical maturity and security. Even innovative ideas may encounter implementation challenges or unexpected vulnerabilities.

The path to long-term growth

Nevertheless, current market trends can be assessed as showing a generally healthy growth pattern. Although speculative elements still exist, investment behavior based on practicality and long-term value is increasing. This is an important sign of the industry's maturation.

Over the next few years, cryptocurrencies are expected to further integrate with traditional financial systems. The proliferation of ETFs, increased participation by institutional investors, and growth in practical applications are likely to contribute to a more stable growth trajectory.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency market is showing interesting developments in many areas. The price stability of Bitcoin, record inflows of funds into Ethereum ETFs, significant increases in recommended allocation ratios by prominent investors, the emergence of innovative platforms, improvements in DeFi services, and the continued development of blockchain games all point to healthy growth in the industry.

These trends are not isolated phenomena, but are interrelated and driving progress across the industry as a whole. The entry of institutional investors is enhancing market stability, technological innovations are providing new opportunities for value creation, and improvements in usability are encouraging greater participation from a wider audience.

For individual investors considering investments, it is important to analyze these trends calmly and make decisions aligned with their risk tolerance and investment objectives. The cryptocurrency market remains highly volatile, and decisions should be made with a long-term perspective, avoiding being swayed by short-term price fluctuations.

For industry stakeholders, it is important to continue technological innovation while prioritizing security and regulatory compliance in service development. To gain user trust and achieve sustainable growth, it is necessary to focus on long-term value creation rather than short-term profits.

The cryptocurrency industry is undoubtedly entering a new phase. Continuing to closely monitor market trends and make appropriate decisions will be key to maximizing the benefits of this innovative technology.

Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments, so please check the latest information at your own risk.