updraftplus domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/aonyeani76/cryptocurrencypanther/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131hustle domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/aonyeani76/cryptocurrencypanther/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131wpforms-lite domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/aonyeani76/cryptocurrencypanther/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis says more than $75 billion in illicit crypto sits untouched across public blockchains.
According to the firm’s latest report, criminal-linked wallets currently hold nearly $15 billion in digital assets, with another $60 billion in wallets connected indirectly to scams, hacks, or darknet markets.
Criminal wallet balances | Source: Chainalysis
Chainalysis also found darknet administrators alone control over $46 billion in crypto, accounting for the bulk of the shadow economy.
While Bitcoin
BTC
$120 823
24h volatility:
2.5%
Market cap:
$2.41 T
Vol. 24h:
$70.07 B
remains the dominant asset held by illicit actors by value, Ethereum
ETH
$4 323
24h volatility:
4.7%
Market cap:
$521.51 B
Vol. 24h:
$43.19 B
and stablecoin balances have grown rapidly due to their rising adoption and relative price stability.
Chainalysis data shows inflows from illicit sources to centralized crypto exchanges (CEXs) have averaged $14 billion annually since 2020 but are trending downward. In the first half of 2025 alone, about $7 billion in illegal crypto funds hit exchanges, a sharp decline from 2022 levels.
Illicit Fund Flows on Centralized Exchanges | Source: Chainalysis
The report attributes this to criminals increasingly using crypto as a payment method and store of value, avoiding fiat conversion. Direct transfers to exchanges have plummeted from 40% in July 2022 to 15% in 2025, as illicit actors turn to crypto mixers and cross-chain bridges.
Stablecoins, which can be frozen by issuers, are the least concentrated, as criminals diversify holdings to avoid total losses from asset freezes.
Trump issued executive orders to establish the US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) and Digital Asset Stockpile (DAS), creating frameworks for the government to confiscate and manage seized crypto funds.
With sovereign nations like El Salvador and Bhutan officially adopting crypto reserves in recent years, Chainalysis argues that coordinated seizures of illicit crypto could strengthen the national treasury.
The firm has already helped global authorities including Spain and the US seize $12.6 billion in illegal funds through forensic investigations.
As Chainalysis investigations aid governments to clamp down on illicit actors, improved market sentiment has seen traders rotate toward early-stage projects like Maxi Doge (MAXI), a meme-driven ecosystem offering traders up to 1000% in leverage.
Maxi Doge Presale
The Maxi Doge presale has raised over $2.7 million of its $3 million target, underscoring strong retail demand ahead of its official launch. Currently priced at $0.00026, early investors can still secure MAXI tokens via the official presale website before the next price tier activates in 48 hours.
Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
Ibrahim Ajibade is a seasoned research analyst with a background in supporting various Web3 startups and financial organizations. He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and is currently studying for a Master’s in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies at the University of Malta.
Ethereum is under significant pressure as the broader crypto market enters a corrective phase. After reaching a new all-time high of around $4,950 on August 24, ETH has now shed more than 22% of its value, slipping below the psychological $4,000 level. The steep pullback has left many investors in difficult positions, with some of the largest players in the market also feeling the impact.
According to top analyst Maartunn, even BitMine, one of the largest institutional holders of Ethereum, has seen its ETH position dip below its on-chain cost basis. This marks a critical moment, as whales typically act as stabilizers during corrections, and their unrealized losses reflect the depth of current market stress.
Despite this downturn, some analysts argue that Ethereum’s retracement may represent a healthy reset after weeks of overheated momentum. Corrections of this scale are not unusual following parabolic rallies and often serve to shake out excess leverage before setting up for longer-term stability. Still, with sentiment fragile and selling pressure mounting, the coming days will be pivotal for ETH as it tests key support levels and investors closely monitor whale behavior for signs of renewed confidence.
According to top analyst Maartunn, Ethereum’s correction has placed one of the market’s largest institutional holders under heavy pressure. BitMine’s ETH portfolio, valued at roughly $7.5 billion, has just dipped below its on-chain cost basis around the $4,000 level. This development underscores the severity of the recent downturn and highlights that even large-scale players are not immune to the pain of corrections.
Maartunn emphasizes that this stage of the market is less about timing the perfect entry or exit and more about endurance. As he put it, “It’s about who can hold their breath the longest.” The remark reflects a broader sentiment among analysts who view the current environment as a psychological test for both retail and institutional investors. With volatility high and sentiment deteriorating, the ability to withstand drawdowns may determine who ultimately benefits from the next phase of Ethereum’s cycle.
The outlook remains divided. Optimists argue that this is a necessary pullback before Ethereum gears up for a massive leg higher, supported by growing institutional adoption and strong long-term fundamentals. On the other hand, cautious voices warn of a deeper correction, noting that breaking below critical support levels could trigger further downside.
The coming weeks will likely prove decisive. If ETH can stabilize above the $3,800–$4,000 range, confidence may return quickly. However, if selling pressure intensifies, the market could face an extended period of uncertainty before momentum rebuilds.
Ethereum (ETH) has broken below the critical $4,000 level, now trading around $3,891, as shown on the 12-hour chart. This decline marks a continuation of the bearish trend that started after the September peak near $4,950. The breakdown has been accompanied by rising trading volume, confirming strong selling pressure and suggesting that bears currently dominate the market.
The 50-day EMA has crossed below the $4,400 zone, reinforcing near-term weakness, while the 200-day EMA around $3,650 now acts as the next major support level. The price action shows a decisive rejection from the $4,600–$4,800 resistance range earlier this month, followed by a steep selloff that erased more than 20% of ETH’s value.
If ETH holds above the $3,850–$3,900 zone, it could attempt a rebound and retest the $4,200 resistance. However, failure to defend this range risks further downside toward $3,650–$3,700, where the 200-day EMA and previous accumulation levels converge.
Ethereum is in a corrective phase, but the volume spike suggests potential exhaustion of sellers. The coming sessions will determine whether bulls can reclaim $4,000 to stabilize momentum or if further capitulation is ahead.
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
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The latest recovery signals in the crypto-market may be seen as evidence of an upcoming bull run. Needless to say, sceptics continue to stay confused about where certain crypto-assets will be 2, 3, and even 5 years from now. Popular memecoin Shiba Inu or SHIB is one such asset that continues to engage the community over its future. In fact, SHIB has now reclaimed a market cap of $7.5 billion on the back of a dramatic price uptick on the charts.
If SHIB closes the day on a positive note tomorrow, it will be the fourth positive week in a row. The last time such a run happened was in late September 2021 when Shiba Inu would eventually hit its all-time high of $0.000088.
At press time, SHIB was trading at $0.00001549 after an uptick of 23% over the last 24 hours.
The bull activity on Shiba Inu has long been awaited by the SHIB army who continue to back the meme coin. Just recently, SHIB was over 85% off its ATH. However, the aforementioned surge lifted the mood around it. Much of the reason for the bull activity lies in the recent developments around Shiba Inu. There are high expectations in the community regarding the launches of Shibarium (Layer 2) and the Shiba Inu Financial Ecosystem (SHIBFE).
Similar to Ethereum, Shiba Inu also faces issues of network congestion and high gas fees. This further puts the launch of Shibarium in the spotlight as it aims to make transactions cheaper and faster. The Shibarium Public Beta TestNet is expected to be launched this quarter. Meanwhile, the metaverse and the Shiba Inu NFT ecosystem launches are set to launch in Q4 2022.
According to WhaleStats, the top 2000 Ethereum whales have been actively making huge changes among their holdings. As of 13 August, these whales were holding over $179.34 million worth of Shiba Inu. However, this doesn’t tell us the whole story.
There has a been massive change in these holdings since 3 August when holdings totalled $600 million. This represents lost confidence among the market-maker whales of the community.
The top 2000 #ETH whales are hodling
$183,386,016 $LOCUS
$179,344,952 $SHIB
$125,917,189 $BIT
$99,059,870 $MKR
$86,701,924 $LINK
$73,805,349 $UNI
$70,267,000 $BEST
$67,516,831 $MANAWhale leaderboard
https://t.co/R19lKnPlsK pic.twitter.com/TUe97NPMBb
— WhaleStats (free data on crypto whales) (@WhaleStats) August 13, 2022
Despite the whale factor, there has been a huge spike in profitability among SHIB investors. The MVRV ratio noted a dramatic jump today, with the same valued at 23.32% as per Santiment.
This can further be used to throw light on increasing interest among short-term traders in Shiba Inu, with increasing prices projecting quick returns.
Source: Santiment
The other sign of active accumulation among traders right now is shown in the following chart.
The RSI of Shiba Inu has risen significantly over the last 12 hours. At the time of writing, it was ranging above 90. This means the asset is in a heavily overbought zone. This can also mean a price rebound at some point in the near future. However, for now, Shiba Inu investors are set to enjoy the ride.
Source: Trading View