Bitcoin hit a new all-time high of $124K on August 14 before sliding to around $117K as hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data sparked over $1 billion in market liquidations. Ethereum and XRP also fell, with XRP losing about 6–7%. Despite the pullback, institutional players like BlackRock continue heavy Bitcoin accumulation, while analysts anticipate a potential altcoin season in September as BTC dominance eases. The market is also buzzing with IPO news—Gemini and Bullish, CoinDesk’s parent company, are preparing to go public—signaling growing mainstream adoption. On the geopolitical front, Russia has processed over $51 billion through its ruble-backed token A7A5 to bypass Western sanctions, underscoring crypto’s expanding role in global finance. Overall sentiment remains cautiously bullish, with macroeconomic data and Federal Reserve policy guiding short-term moves