The crypto market continues its upward momentum as Bitcoin pushes toward a new all-time high, testing the $108,000 mark. Institutional interest grows stronger, major protocols unveil upgrades, and memecoins show explosive gains. This edition of The Morning Minute breaks down the latest developments shaping the digital asset landscape — from macro movements to niche trends in AI, NFTs, and decentralized finance.
📈 Market Momentum: Bitcoin Taps $108K Amid Institutional Inflows
Bitcoin has surged to nearly $108,000**, reflecting a 1% gain on the day and signaling renewed bullish sentiment. Ethereum followed closely with a 2% rise to **$2,550, while XRP and Solana climbed 1% and 2% respectively, reaching $2.35** and **$169.
This rally is more than just speculative momentum — it's backed by institutional adoption. Bernstein analysts have revised their Bitcoin price forecast to $200,000 by the end of 2025, citing the dawn of a "new institutional era" driven by ETF approvals, corporate treasuries, and sovereign interest.
Notably, Blackstone quietly acquired a $1 million position in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (**IBIT**), marking a rare foray into crypto by the $1 trillion asset manager. Meanwhile, KULR Technology Group expanded its Bitcoin treasury by purchasing an additional 800 BTC for $9 million, reinforcing the growing trend of companies treating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset.
⚙️ Solana’s ‘Alpenglow’ Upgrade: A 100x Speed Boost in the Works
One of the most anticipated technical developments this week comes from the Solana ecosystem. Developers have proposed "Alpenglow", a major network upgrade aimed at reducing block finalization time from 13 seconds to just 0.1 seconds — a potential 100x improvement in speed.
This upgrade could solidify Solana’s position as a leader in high-throughput blockchain infrastructure, especially as demand grows for fast, low-cost transactions in DeFi, gaming, and AI applications.
The momentum around Solana is already visible in its ecosystem tokens. FARTCOIN jumped 6%, ai16z rose 2%, and Solana-based memecoins like moonpig (+42%) and NEET (+30%) saw massive gains. Even AI-focused tokens on Solana, such as COOKIE (+29%) and SHOGGOTH (+24%), are gaining traction.
🏛️ Regulatory and Political Developments: Texas, NYC, and Mt. Gox
Regulatory momentum is building across the U.S., with Texas passing its Bitcoin Strategic Reserve bill through the House. The legislation allows the state treasury to acquire digital assets with a market cap exceeding $500 billion, a clear nod to Bitcoin.
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to establish a crypto advisory council to drive job creation and attract investment to the city’s growing blockchain sector.
Meanwhile, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy’s firm Strive is making headlines with its plan to acquire up to 75,000 BTC worth of claims from the defunct Mt. Gox exchange — potentially valued at over $8 billion at current prices. The move could influence market dynamics when Mt. Gox creditor repayments begin.
💥 Memecoins on Fire: TRUMP, PEPE, and BONK Lead Gains
Memecoins are back in full force. TRUMP (+11%), PEPE (+8%), BONK (+6%), and FARTCOIN (+9%) led the charge, while established names like DOGE (+3%) and Shiba Inu (+3%) posted solid gains.
The hype extends beyond price action. Former President Donald Trump is set to host a private dinner for top memecoin holders, including Tron founder and billionaire Justin Sun, ahead of a major political-crypto event this week.
Newer ecosystems like Launchcoin are also gaining attention, with total ecosystem value holding steady at $430 million. Standout performers include GLMPS (+75%), PROMPT (+60%), and RIP VC (+170%).
👉 Want to track memecoin trends before they go viral? Stay ahead with live data and analytics.
🔍 Token & Protocol Updates: Kaito, Cookie DAO, and REKT
- Cookie DAO launched SNAPS, a new InfoFi (information finance) product designed to rival Kaito. Access is currently invite-only, adding exclusivity to its data aggregation platform.
- In response, Kaito’s token rose 20% to $2.19 after founder Yu Hu teased strong Q2 revenue and introduced a new time-weighted loyalty system.
- SUI dominated stablecoin inflows over 24 hours, attracting $83.4 million in new deposits — the highest among all blockchains.
- OSF unveiled plans for REKT as the first “Brand Coin,” fueling a 25% surge in its token value and pushing its fully diluted valuation past $100 million.
- True Markets raised $11 million to build a mobile-first, non-custodial DeFi trading app on Solana, targeting mainstream user adoption.
🤖 AI x Crypto: Mindshare and Market Cap Growth
The convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain continues to gain traction. The overall AI x crypto market cap rose 2% to $10.7 billion, with leaders like COOKIE, REKT, and SHOGGOTH posting gains between 23% and 29%.
In terms of mindshare, Virtual led with a 16% share of online discussions, followed by Cookie (14%), which benefited from its InfoFi launch.
Tokens like FAI (+6%), AIXBT (+2%), and ai16z (+2%) showed steady growth, reflecting sustained interest in AI-driven protocols despite broader market volatility.
🖼️ NFTs: Pudgy Penguins Expand Ecosystem with Books and Games
While blue-chip NFTs saw mixed performance:
- CryptoPunks held steady at 46.99 ETH
- Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) dipped 1% to 12.8 ETH
- On Bitcoin NFTs, Taproot Wizards (-6%) and OMB (-7%) declined
However, abstract NFT collections thrived — led by Final Bosue (+33%) and Dreamilio (+10%).
The biggest news came from Pudgy Penguins, which partnered with Random House Kids, the world’s largest children’s book publisher, to release “The Worst Birthday Present Ever.” This marks a significant step in mainstreaming NFT brands.
Additionally, Pudgy launched “Pengu Clash,” a Telegram-based game featuring 1v1 battles with optional NFT wagering — further expanding its Web3 entertainment ecosystem.
🔐 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Alpenglow upgrade for Solana?
Alpenglow is a proposed Solana network upgrade designed to reduce block finalization time from ~13 seconds to as low as 0.1 seconds, potentially increasing transaction speed by up to 100x.
Why is Bitcoin approaching $108K?
Bitcoin’s surge is driven by institutional adoption (e.g., Blackstone, KULR), ETF inflows, macroeconomic factors, and growing global recognition of BTC as a reserve asset.
What are InfoFi tokens like Kaito and SNAPS?
InfoFi (Information Finance) tokens combine data indexing with financial incentives. Projects like Kaito and Cookie DAO’s SNAPS reward users for curating high-quality crypto content.
Is memecoin investing risky?
Yes. Memecoins like DOGE, SHIB, and TRUMP are highly speculative and driven by social sentiment rather than fundamentals. While returns can be high, volatility is extreme.
How are AI and crypto converging?
AI x crypto projects integrate machine learning models with blockchain transparency. Use cases include decentralized AI training, data verification (e.g., Cookie DAO), and AI-powered DeFi analytics.
What does Texas’s Bitcoin reserve bill mean?
The bill allows Texas to hold digital assets over $500B in market cap — effectively authorizing state investment in Bitcoin — signaling growing government acceptance of crypto.
👉 Stay ahead of market shifts with real-time data — start exploring today’s top-performing assets.
Core Keywords: Bitcoin price forecast 2025, Solana Alpenglow upgrade, memecoins surge 2025, institutional crypto adoption, AI x crypto trends, InfoFi protocols, Pudgy Penguins NFT