Bitcoin Dips, Ethereum Surges on Treasury Boost

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Bitcoin prices slipped slightly on Tuesday as broader uncertainty over U.S. economic indicators and impending trade tariffs kept investors away from high-risk assets. In contrast, Ethereum (ETH) climbed steadily, fueled by a major corporate investment aimed at building a sizable Ether reserve.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), fell 0.7% to $114,180 by 09:21 ET (13:21 GMT), continuing a pattern of rangebound trading seen since mid-July, when it last touched record highs. Market hesitation has largely stemmed from weak economic data, particularly last week’s disappointing nonfarm payrolls report, which included downward revisions for the prior two months.

Although the weaker job numbers have increased expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September, this hasn’t translated into bullish momentum for the crypto market. Instead, investors remain cautious, awaiting clearer direction amid fears of a slowing economy and shifting trade dynamics.

Adding to that uncertainty are the latest trade actions under President Donald Trump. On Monday, Trump threatened steep new tariffs against India over its continued importation of Russian oil. The move sent India’s currency, the rupee, to record lows and reignited concerns about escalating global trade tensions, concerns that typically weigh heavily on speculative markets like crypto.

Despite the broader lull, Ethereum managed to buck the trend. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization rose 1.5% to $3,620.76, driven by news from 180 Life Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: ATNF). The biotech firm announced it had completed a $425 million private placement, with plans to use the funds to build a dedicated Ether treasury. The strategy mirrors the Bitcoin-centric approach taken by firms such as Strategy.

In a bold shift, 180 Life Sciences also revealed plans to rebrand as ETHZilla Corp and may raise an additional $150 million. The move highlights a growing trend among corporations to invest directly in Ethereum, not just Bitcoin, as a long-term digital asset strategy.

Altcoins saw moderate gains as well. Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), and Solana (SOL) each rose between 0.5% and 2.5%, while Dogecoin (DOGE) added 1.3%. On the other hand, the politically themed memecoin $TRUMP dipped 0.4%.

In regulatory news, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced it will now permit the trading of listed spot crypto asset contracts on federally registered futures exchanges. Acting Chair Caroline Pham confirmed the move, which is being coordinated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the broader “Project Crypto” initiative. This marks another step toward federal oversight of digital assets.

Backed by new efforts like the Guiding Emerging Network Innovations Using Standards (GENIUS) Act and the Crypto Legal Accountability for Regulation and Transparency in Yield (CLARITY) Act, the U.S. crypto landscape is seeing renewed regulatory direction under Trump-era leadership, potentially setting the stage for more institutional adoption ahead.