• strkBTC will enable private Bitcoin transactions on Starknet’s DeFi network.
• STRK is down nearly 70% in 90 days, closely tracking Bitcoin’s movements.
• The key STRK price levels to watch are the support at $0.04 and the resistance at $0.045.

Starknet is gearing up for a major move in the decentralised finance (DeFi) space with the upcoming launch of strkBTC, a Bitcoin-based asset designed to bring privacy and confidentiality to transactions on its Layer-2 network.

According to a press release by Starknet, the new asset will allow users to transact Bitcoin within DeFi without exposing balances or counterparties.

It is built with shielded transfers in mind, giving users the flexibility to maintain privacy while interacting with the DeFi ecosystem.

strkBTC will be issued deterministically from verifiable Bitcoin deposits, meaning that the minting process does not rely on discretionary control.

This ensures that the token’s supply mirrors actual Bitcoin deposits on the network, creating a transparent and verifiable foundation for its use.

Users can choose between public and shielded modes, enabling confidential transactions while still preserving regulatory compliance.

This is achieved through selective disclosure mechanisms, which allow necessary audits without exposing the broader network activity.

The launch of strkBTC is part of Starknet’s strategy to increase Bitcoin adoption in DeFi while addressing concerns that have historically held back institutional participation.

By combining privacy, composability, and auditability, Starknet aims to attract both retail and institutional users to its ecosystem.

Starknet (STRK) market reaction

Starknet’s native token, STRK, has been under significant pressure in recent months.

The token has dropped roughly 70% over the past 90 days, reflecting a broader trend in cryptocurrency markets.

Its current price sits near $0.042, with a 24-hour decline of over 8%.

However, market activity remains moderate, with a 24-hour trading volume of around $52 million and a total value locked (TVL) on the network of roughly $446 million.

The upcoming strkBTC launch may provide a catalyst for renewed interest.

The introduction of a privacy-focused Bitcoin asset could enhance the utility of the Starknet network and increase demand for STRK as a governance and utility token.

In addition, STRK’s performance is closely tied to Bitcoin’s price movements, and the stabilisation of BTC above $66,000 could help STRK consolidate in the range of $0.04 to $0.045.

On the other hand, a sustained move below $0.04 may see the STRK token test the $0.035 support zone.

Investors should also keep an eye on broader market sentiment indicators, such as the Fear & Greed Index.

Historically, movements out of extreme fear have preceded market rebounds, suggesting that even in a downtrend, relief rallies are possible.

STRK price forecast

Starknet (STRK) remains in a cautious position, with short-term consolidation possible, although long-term direction is dependent on broader crypto market recovery and the success of strkBTC’s adoption within Starknet’s DeFi ecosystem.

The launch of strkBTC adds an important layer of fundamental support for STRK, as the token’s utility within the network is set to increase.

For short-term traders, the key levels to watch include the immediate support at $0.04 and the resistance at $0.045.

A break above $0.045 could signal the start of a more sustained recovery, especially if Bitcoin shows strength simultaneously.

Conversely, a drop below $0.04 would likely signal further downside toward $0.035, continuing the current bearish trend.

A private investment firm has outlined why XRP constitutes the largest share of its portfolio. The firm explains that its investment rationale is anchored in XRP’s Proven operational performance and functional utility rather than aspirational projections, community momentum, or speculative price expectations. As a result, the position reflects a deliberate focus on infrastructure value, reinforcing XRP’s status as a core long-term holding rather than a tactical crypto trade.

Why XRP Aligns With A Function-First Investment Approach

The investment firm’s reasoning positions XRP as a natural fit for a portfolio strategy that prioritizes function over narrative. According to the firm, its heavy allocation is the byproduct of a disciplined evaluation of how well an asset performs its intended role. In this framework, concentration is justified only when an asset demonstrates clear operational strengths, and XRP is presented as having earned that status through its design and execution.

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Building on that premise, the firm points to XRP’s specialization as a settlement-oriented digital asset as the primary driver of its allocation decision. The network is structured to deliver rapid and definitive transaction completion, eliminating the uncertainty that can complicate value transfer on many blockchain systems. This reliability is reinforced by consistently low transaction costs that remain stable regardless of usage levels, enabling predictable large-scale transfers without exposure to fee volatility. As transaction volume increases, XRP’s ability to maintain high throughput without congestion further supports its suitability for continuous, real-world payment activity.

These technical attributes also connect directly to the firm’s broader investment thesis around institutional usability. By operating without a proof-of-work mechanism, the ledger avoids the inefficiencies and regulatory friction often associated with energy-intensive networks. 

In the firm’s assessment, this design choice enhances operational clarity and aligns more closely with the compliance and efficiency standards expected by financial institutions. Taken together, these factors explain why the firm views XRP less as a speculative vehicle and more as functional infrastructure, reinforcing its alignment with a function-first investment approach and justifying its central role within the portfolio.

Positioning For Institutional Adoption And Market Repricing

The firm frames its investment thesis around how markets evolve under regulatory pressure. As digital asset regulation advances, financial institutions are expected to prioritize reliability, compliance, and operational efficiency over popularity or community momentum. Adoption is therefore driven less by attention and more by seamless integration into existing financial frameworks.

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This perspective also informs how digital assets may be valued. The firm expects a gradual shift from narrative-based pricing toward metrics such as transaction throughput, liquidity efficiency, and real-world demand. Assets able to move value at scale will likely be repriced as usage rises and speculative excess fades. In the firm’s assessment, XRP is one of the few assets already meeting these standards, and by concentrating its portfolio in XRP, it positions itself ahead of this transition.

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

• Its treasury has surpassed $780M, comprising $713M in Toncoin and cash worth $67M.
• The milestone comes after a $558M private placement completed early this month.
• Verb aims to accumulate 5% of Toncoin’s circulating supply.

Institutional players dominate market trends with dib-buying activities after the current broad market decline.

NASDAQ-listed Verb Technology, which will soon rebrand to Ton Strategy Company, has revealed a key milestone that aligns its vision with the Telegram-based blockchain.

The livestreaming firm has disclosed that its treasury assets have surpassed $780 million, with the Open Network’s native token accounting for the most at $713 million.

JUST IN: Publicly traded Verb Technology buys $713,000,000 worth of $TON for its treasury. pic.twitter.com/6FzOWVAjDL

— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) August 21, 2025

It holds the remaining $67 million in cash.

The development has attracted attention as it follows Verb’s $558 million private placement early this month.

The fundraising drew crypto-oriented investors and over 110 institutions, confirming trust in Verb’s digital asset strategy and the Toncoin project.

Commenting on the milestone, Verb’s Executive Chairman Manuel Stotz stated:

Crossing $780 million in assets just days after our private placement reflects the conviction behind $TON. This is more than building a balance sheet; it’s about contributing to the security of TON blockchain – where participants can build, transact, and benefit directly from the underlying financial protocols.

Verb eyes 5% of Toncoin’s supply

Verb Technology plans to be the central player in the Open Network ecosystem.

It plans to acquire over 5% of Toncoin’s circulating supply (currently at 2.56 billion tokens).

That would make Verb a top participant in securing the TON blockchain.

Moreover, the company plans to add its Toncoin balance on a per-share basis over time, leveraging staking rewards, disciplined market activity, and cash flow reinvestment.

That would ensure Verb’s active participation in supporting the platform’s infrastructure while benefiting from maximized returns.

Stotz added:

By becoming the first and largest publicly traded treasury reserve of TON, VERN is not just holding TON on its balance sheet – we are helping to strengthen the economic foundation of the network itself.

TON and potential

Verb Technology isn’t zeroing in on a random digital asset.

Toncoin remains the first coin to receive support from a leading social site.

Dogecoin appears to have failed in its fight to become X’s (formerly Twitter) payment token.

Telegram, the leading messaging platform with around 1 billion active users per month, collaborated with the Ton Foundation to make Toncoin the sole asset powering its ecosystem.

The integration enriched the alt’s utility, now the backbone for payments, wallets, and emerging decentralized applications (dApps) within Telegram.

The use cases likely elevated TON’s institutional appeal.

Recently, Coinbase Ventures endorsed Toncoin as the ideal token for fueling cryptocurrency adoption.

Toncoin price action

The alt trades at $3.30, reflecting the prevailing broad market declines.

Meanwhile, the minor 0.71% price increase signals a possible momentum shift as the community digests Verb’s updates.

TON could see brief gains in the near term, but the broad market outlook suggests short-lived gains.

Nonetheless, institutional interest positions Toncoin for impressive growth and price performance in the coming months and years.