Crypto Pullback: Bitcoin and Ethereum Retreat Amid Whale Dumps and Profit-Taking
The crypto market took a breather on August 25, with Bitcoin falling to $111K and Ethereum dropping below $4,600 after a volatile Asian session. A wave of whale selling, miner capitulation, and widespread liquidations sparked the correction—
The Great Unwind: Why Crypto Took a Step Back
The euphoria didn’t last.
After a strong weekend rally that briefly pushed Ethereum to $4,950 and Bitcoin above $115,000, the market exhaled sharply on August 25. A broad sell-off sent shockwaves across the top assets, with nearly all major cryptos posting losses and over $866 million in positions liquidated.
The culprit? A classic cocktail of profit-taking, whale exits, and miner selling—a reminder that no bull run climbs in a straight line.
Bitcoin (BTC): Whales Exit, Price Drops to $111K
Bitcoin, the market leader, led the retreat—down 3.17% to $111,092.31, with $81 billion in 24-hour volume.
Key drivers:
- Large whale wallets moving BTC to exchanges—a sign of profit-taking
- Miner capitulation spikes—indicating stress in the mining sector post-halving
- BTC dominance rising to 56%, showing capital fleeing alts
Despite the dip, the broader trend remains strong. The $110K–$112K zone is now a critical support band—if it holds, the path to $120K remains open.
Ethereum (ETH): From $4,950 High to $4,592 Correction
Ethereum’s correction was even more dramatic.
After touching $4,950.20 during Asian trading hours, ETH plunged to $4,729, then settled at $4,592.55—a 3.16% drop on $31.6B in volume, the second-highest in the market.
The selloff followed:
- Futures funding rate normalization after weeks of bullish leverage
- Profit-taking after the $5K push
- Short-term overbought RSI signals on the 4-hour chart
Still, institutional inflows into spot ETH ETFs remain steady, and DeFi TVL continues to climb, suggesting this is a healthy pullback, not a trend reversal.
Top 10 Movers: Altcoins Follow BTC’s Lead
| Asset | Price | 24h Change | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTC | $111,092 | -3.17% | $81.03B |
| ETH | $4,592.55 | -3.16% | $31.61B |
| XRP | $2.95 | -2.03% | $7.69B |
| BNB | $857.36 | -0.41% | $3.12B |
| SOL | $197.16 | -3.16% | $13.55B |
| TRON | $0.3529 | -3.27% | $1.70B |
| DOGE | $0.2198 | -4.26% | $4.02B |
| ADA | $0.8674 | -3.03% | $2.87B |
| LINK | $24.42 | -4.48% | $2.20B |
| HYPE | $45.62 | +4.75% | $15.23B |
Notably, Hyperliquid (HYPE) bucked the trend with a 4.75% gain, fueled by strong derivatives volume and platform growth—making it the top-performing large-cap token of the day.
Market Sentiment: Neutral Ground After the Greed Spike
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has cooled to 50 — neutral, down from “Greed” levels just days ago.
This shift reflects:
- Reduced FOMO after the rally
- Increased caution among retail traders
- Balanced buy/sell pressure
Meanwhile, the Altcoin Season Index sits at 47, confirming that Bitcoin still dominates market momentum. True altseason hasn’t kicked in—yet.
$866 Million in Liquidations: The Leverage Hangover
The correction wasn’t gentle.
Total liquidations topped $866.16 million, with 67,609 traders wiped out in 24 hours. The largest single liquidation?
- $12.49M BTC-USDT-SWAP position on OKX
Most of the carnage came from long positions, especially in ETH and mid-cap alts, where leverage was heaviest.
This kind of event often marks a short-term bottom—as weak hands exit, leaving room for fresh momentum.
What’s Next? Watch the Support Floors
| Asset | Key Support | Break Risk | Bull Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTC | $110K–$112K | Below → $108K | Hold → $120K |
| ETH | $4,500 | Below → $4,300 | Bounce → $5,000 |
| SOL | $190 | Below → $180 | Break → $220 |
If these levels hold, the market could rebuild confidence within days. A failure, however, could extend the correction into early September.
