Crypto Market Update: Ethereum Rallies Past US$4,000, Trump Orders Crypto Review in 401(k)

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$116,381, trading flat over the last 24 hours. Its highest valuation on Friday was US$116,112, while its lowest valuation was US$117,596.

Bitcoin price performance, August 8, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Ethereum (ETH) was priced at US$3,956.05, up by 3.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$3,806.16, and its highest was US$3,997.11.

Altcoin price update

• Solana (SOL) was priced at US$175.34, up by 2.8 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$168.36, and its highest was US$178.02.

• XRP was trading for US$3.24, up by 6.1 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.03, and its highest valuation was US$3.37.

• Sui (SUI) is trading at US$3.75, up 0.5 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.67, and its highest was US$3.88.

• Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7825, up by 2.9 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$0.7521, and its highest was US$0.8044.

Today’s crypto news to know

Ethereum breaks US$4,000 as Ripple and Chainlink spark altcoin rally

Ethereum surged past US$4,000 early Friday, hitting near year-to-date highs amid a broader rally in altcoins led by Ripple and Chainlink.

XRP jumped up to 8 percent after Ripple announced a US$200 million acquisition of Rail, a stablecoin payments platform designed to expand its cross-border settlement network.

Chainlink’s LINK token rose as much as 11 percent following news of its new Chainlink Reserve, which will accumulate LINK using revenue from institutional and on-chain fees.

Other major coins, including Solana, also saw gains in early trading. Ripple’s deal aims to integrate stablecoin pay-ins and payouts for USD and other currencies without requiring businesses to hold crypto.

The rally also coincided with President Trump’s executive order promoting alternative assets like crypto in retirement accounts, adding to bullish sentiment in the market.

Trump order opens door for Crypto and private equity in 401(k)s

President Trump has signed an executive order directing the Labor Department to review its fiduciary rules for retirement plans, potentially clearing the way for assets like cryptocurrency, private equity, and real estate to be included in 401(k)s.

While no laws have changed, the move signals a shift from the Biden-era stance that warned against crypto in retirement accounts.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) still requires fiduciaries to choose “prudent” investments, meaning employers will need to justify the inclusion of volatile or opaque assets. Legal experts say the order could influence how federal agencies interpret the rules, but it won’t override decades of court precedents on fiduciary duty.

For now, employers remain cautious due to the risk of lawsuits over imprudent or overly expensive options. Crypto in 401(k)s remains rare, though large firms like BlackRock are already exploring target-date funds with alternative assets.

Binance artners with Spain’s BBVA to bolster asset security

Binance is teaming up with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), Spain’s second-largest bank, to give customers the option of storing their assets with a regulated custodian rather than directly on the exchange.

The arrangement is designed to reassure investors after Binance’s US$4.3 billion fine from US regulators in 2023 over anti–money laundering failures.

With BBVA acting as an independent custodian, customer funds would remain secure even if Binance faced hacking, insolvency, or further regulatory action. The partnership leverages BBVA’s strong reputation for compliance and innovation, aiming to encourage more cautious investors to engage with crypto.

The move also follows leadership changes at Binance, including founder Changpeng Zhao’s resignation and brief prison sentence, as the company works to repair its image.