Bitcoin price coils under $65K as US PMI data brings new 'stagflation' warning

The US Senate will hold a critical vote on the CLARITY (Digital Asset Market Clarity) Act this week before the August recess, confirmed by Senator Tim Scott, Chairman of the Banking Committee. The landmark legislation aimed at bringing regulatory clarity to the crypto market is set to advance in Congress, with Majority Leader John Thune holding the authority to schedule the final vote.

This vote represents a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency sector in the US, as the CLARITY Act seeks to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets. Passage of the legislation before the August recess would mark a significant advancement in cryptocurrency regulation in the United States, potentially influencing global policies and bringing greater legal certainty to investors and businesses in the sector.

US ETFs have shattered records with $1.2 trillion in inflows, as the daily average surged 40% throughout 2025. This massive capital flow into exchange-traded funds is reshaping the global financial landscape, concentrating capital in specific assets and increasing investor dependence on structured products across equity, bond, and emerging crypto markets. This phenomenon is particularly evident in high-growth sectors like cryptocurrencies, where ETFs are channeling capital at an unprecedented rate.

This unprecedented concentration of capital in ETFs is creating significant systemic risks, particularly in equity markets and emerging sectors like cryptocurrencies. Analysts warn that this trend could lead to increased market volatility and fragility, as investors move in unison into or out of specific products, potentially amplifying downturns or fueling bubbles in particular sectors.

sFOX analysis reveals that institutional dark pools have grown from negligible volume in April to a staggering 15% of monthly cryptocurrency volume by June. May's dark pool volume alone reached $147 million, while the firm's July 30 report indicates that 77.7% of institutional volume moving through its platform is routed to OTC desks, compared to just 18.4% landing on public exchanges.

This silent shift in the cryptocurrency ecosystem represents a fundamental market transformation, eliminating the edge that retail traders had when monitoring large "whale" movements. With most institutional volume now being executed off public exchanges, individual investors lose the ability to anticipate trends based on large transactions, potentially increasing the information asymmetry between institutions and retail traders.

MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor claims artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, was instrumental in designing a financial product that unlocked approximately $15 billion in capital. This breakthrough demonstrates how AI is transforming business as profoundly as Bitcoin revolutionized digital ownership, according to the tech executive. In an interview on "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, Saylor argues we're witnessing just the beginning of a technological revolution that will completely reshape financial markets. The integration of AI into corporate strategies represents a paradigm shift that could potentially surpass even blockchain's impact, opening new frontiers for innovation and global efficiency.

A new analysis reveals that Wall Street's enthusiasm for Bitcoin miners' artificial intelligence infrastructure partnerships is significantly waning. While AI contracts are becoming larger and more profitable, with annualized revenue per contracted megawatt on the rise, the market has reacted with less enthusiasm to recent announcements, with average announcement-day stock moves falling from 24% to approximately 10%.

This shift in attitude reflects a market maturation where investors now prioritize execution, financing, and long-term profitability over just headline contract values. The Blocksbridge Consulting report, analyzing 25 AI and HPC infrastructure deals between June 2024 and August 2026, shows the market is becoming more discerning as AI hosting strategies move into the mainstream.

China has warned the United States against imposing new tech curbs ahead of President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit, raising tensions between the two powers.

The escalating US‑China tech tensions could disrupt global supply chains, hinder AI development, and send ripples through crypto markets as investors react to geopolitical uncertainty.