A wave of liquidations dragged bitcoin to its lowest level since early June, before strong earnings from Micron and plans for a U.S. listing by SK Hynix helped stabilize the AI-driven trade that crypto had been tracking.
Apple raises prices across product lines
Apple has lifted prices across its Mac and iPad ranges, pointing to higher memory and storage chip costs, while keeping iPhone pricing unchanged for now, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday.
Mac prices have risen roughly 15% to 20%, while iPads are now 15% to 25% more expensive.
The increases follow a warning from CEO Tim Cook last week that surging component costs would likely force the company to raise prices on some devices. Apple said it had “reached a point” where price hikes were necessary, noting it had “never seen component costs rise so much, so quickly.”
iPhone prices remain steady for now, though the company indicated that further increases may come later.
Bitcoin steadies above $61K as inflation data meets expectations
The closely watched U.S. core PCE inflation report, the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge, came in as expected at 8:30 ET.
Core PCE rose 0.3% month over month and 3.4% year over year, in line with forecasts, while headline PCE came in slightly softer at 0.4% MoM and 4.1% YoY.
The figures highlight persistent inflation, keeping expectations intact for two additional Fed rate hikes. However, the lack of an upside surprise avoided triggering fresh hawkish pressure on markets.
At the same time, stronger-than-expected U.S. GDP and personal income data underscored the economy’s resilience.
Bitcoin held above $61,000, while gold remained below $4,000 per ounce.
Gnosis X account compromised in phishing attempt
Gnosis’ official X account was hacked early Thursday U.S. time and used to post a fake message urging users to vote on a rewards date via a malicious link.
A related official account, Gnosis Pay, warned users not to engage with the post. The team confirmed the breach, said X had been notified, and asked the community to report the fraudulent content as efforts continue to regain control.
The link directs users to an external site and should be avoided. Such scams often exploit hacked accounts to promote fake rewards, using urgency and incentives to trick users into connecting their wallets.
Markets eye PCE data as dollar holds firm
Investors remained focused on the U.S. core PCE release, with expectations set at 3.4% YoY and 0.3% MoM.
Inflation concerns have led markets to price in two 25-basis-point rate hikes over the coming months, weighing on risk assets like bitcoin, which hovered near $60,000. Gold and silver also declined, falling below $4,000 and $58, respectively.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index climbed above 101. A stronger-than-expected inflation print would likely boost the dollar further and pressure risk assets.
Spot bitcoin ETF outflows hit multi-month low levels
Bitcoin briefly dipped under $60,000 during U.S. trading hours, coinciding with $469 million in net outflows from spot bitcoin ETFs — the 30th largest daily redemption since their January 2024 debut.
Persistent outflows in recent months have pulled cumulative net inflows down to $52.8 billion, a level last seen in mid-July 2025, about $2.3 billion below the peak reached shortly after.
Two-year Treasury yield nears breakout
The U.S. two-year Treasury yield is approaching a key technical breakout level.
Highly sensitive to short-term rate expectations, the yield is testing a descending trendline that has capped it since its October 2023 peak of 5.26%.
A breakout above this level would signal further upside in yields, implying tighter financial conditions, a stronger dollar, and added pressure on risk assets like bitcoin and equities.
Oil erases gains tied to geopolitical tensions
Brent crude dropped below $72.48 per barrel, wiping out all gains made during the U.S.-Iran conflict, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumed and supply increased.
West Texas Intermediate traded near $69.
Lower oil prices could ease inflation pressures that have driven the Fed’s hawkish stance, potentially improving the outlook for risk assets over time. However, this effect is likely to play out over months rather than immediately.
Aave surges on bullish long-term outlook
Aave’s token jumped roughly 15% to around $80, marking its biggest daily gain in months, after Standard Chartered issued a $3,500 price target for 2030.
The bank’s thesis hinges on Aave regaining dominance in decentralized lending as the DeFi sector expands significantly. Projections suggest the token could climb to $180 by year-end and continue rising in stages over the coming years.
However, the outlook depends on unproven developments, including Aave Horizon’s push to onboard traditional finance borrowers. The protocol has also faced setbacks, including a liquidity crunch following a major exploit that reduced deposits and market share.
Bitcoin rebounds after sharp overnight drop
Bitcoin fell to $59,175 overnight — its lowest since early June — before recovering to around $61,500 by Thursday morning.
The drop triggered nearly $1 billion in liquidations across crypto markets, including $430 million in long bitcoin positions.
No single factor drove the decline. Instead, a mix of hawkish Fed expectations, continued ETF outflows, thin summer liquidity, and upcoming quarter-end options expiry has kept markets unstable.
The rebound was supported by strong earnings from Micron and renewed optimism around AI chip demand, which lifted broader tech sentiment and spilled over into crypto.
Still, risks remain, with a large cluster of leveraged long positions below $58,000 that could accelerate downside if breached. The latest PCE inflation data remains a key near-term catalyst for market direction.
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