Good morning, everyone. How you doing? It’s Monday, August 18, 2025, and I’m coming to you a little earlier than usual because I’m in the UK. That means my mates over here finally get some morning news fresh instead of having to wait until late in the day — or listening to a show that’s already a day old by the time they wake up. This week, it benefits everybody. Let’s get into it.
🏛️ Gemini Plans to Go Public on Nasdaq as Crypto IPO Boom Continues
🌏 Thailand to Launch Crypto Payment System for Tourists
🏦 Fed Ends Supervisory Program Over Banks’ Crypto Involvement
💥 Moon or Doom: Where XRP Price Heads Next
📈 Canary Capital CEO Predicts $150K Bitcoin This Year, Says Ethereum Surge Won’t Last
📉 Trader Cobb & Market Training via The Grow Me Co
Gemini Files for IPO Under Ticker GEMI
“I truly believe that companies that are going to be pivotal in the future of this expanding digital asset market are going to go public eventually.”
Gemini, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss — yes, the Winklevi — has officially filed an S-1 with the SEC to pursue a Nasdaq IPO under the ticker GEMI. Key details like share count, price range, and timing are still undisclosed. Heavyweights Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley, and Cantor Fitzgerald will lead the deal.
This move rides the wave of crypto firms entering public markets. Circle’s blockbuster debut in June and Bullish’s strong showing last week set the stage. OKX, Grayscale, and Kraken are all rumored to be exploring similar moves. Meanwhile, incumbents like Coinbase have already been hitting record highs.
My take: We’re watching the early days of “neo-finance.” Many of these companies started out in 2016–2017 when decentralization was the gospel. Fast forward, and those same founders are now positioning themselves in public markets. That’s not the crypto ethos — it’s traditional finance with a digital wrapper. But both realities can exist at once: decentralized projects fighting for privacy and sovereignty, and well-funded players folding into the KYC, AML, surveillance state. Like it or not, there’s a war going on between the two models.
Thailand Launches TouristDigiPay
“You’re not going there and spending your crypto.”
Thailand has officially rolled out TouristDigiPay, a regulatory sandbox that allows foreign visitors to convert crypto into Thai baht for payments through regulated e-money providers. The system requires full KYC, accounts with licensed firms, spending limits, and no direct cash withdrawals.
The aim? Reviving a struggling tourism industry hit hard by declines in visitors from China. Officials are betting crypto adoption could help lure travelers back, especially as the country competes with Japan and Vietnam. Thailand already piloted the program in Phuket and is now expanding it nationwide.
My take: I don’t think this gains real traction. KYC and conversion hoops make it more of a gimmick than a convenience. Tourists aren’t walking in with Bitcoin to buy a pad thai. They’re still registering, converting, and spending fiat — just with extra steps.
Federal Reserve Ends Novel Activities Supervision Program
“That program had required banks to notify the Fed and face heightened scrutiny for services like stablecoin issuance, tokenization, crypto custody, or concentrated exposure to crypto firms.”
The Fed has officially ended its Novel Activities Supervision Program, folding crypto-related oversight back into its routine supervisory process. Launched in 2023, the program required banks to flag any activity involving stablecoins, tokenization, or crypto custody for special review.
By shutting it down, the Fed is signaling more comfort with crypto risks — and continuing the friendlier U.S. regulatory tone we’ve seen since January. Two other supervisory letters were already withdrawn in April, showing a clear thaw.
My take: This is quietly one of the biggest stories. Crypto is being normalized inside the U.S. financial system. The fight isn’t over — there will still be wars over privacy, control, and sovereign money — but the regulatory battlefield is shifting from outright hostility to cautious integration.
XRP: Moon or Doom?
“XRP is sitting at around three bucks right now after a 6.4% drop.”
XRP has dropped to around $3 after a rough 24 hours, stirring debate among investors. Prediction markets lean bullish — about 64% betting on a rally. Technically, the RSI sits neutral at 48, but the 50-day moving average remains above the 200-day, a bullish signal if momentum continues. A break above $3.30 could carry XRP to $4, but falling under the $2.80 support risks a quick slide downward.
Analysts are split. Some see a moonshot toward $7–10, while others argue XRP may already be overheated.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Predictions
“Basically, you’re always shocked. Nobody really knows.”
Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg predicts Bitcoin could hit $150,000 this year, fueled by ETFs and institutional demand from pensions and sovereign wealth funds. But he’s calling for a bear market in 2026.
On Ethereum, analyst Greg Magadini compared ETH to the iPhone — maybe not the newest tech, but its developer ecosystem guarantees longevity. He sees ETH between $8K and $10K, while I think $7–8K is a more realistic cap for a $1 trillion market.
My take: Markets love to move opposite predictions. Every cycle proves experts wrong. If everyone’s calling $150K, don’t be surprised if Bitcoin goes sideways. If people write ETH off, that’s probably when it surges.
Crypto Prices (11 a.m. London time / 5 a.m. EST)
Fear & Greed Index: 56 (Neutral)
Bitcoin (BTC): $115,110 — down 2.8% (24h) | Market Cap: $2.29T
Ethereum (ETH): $4,293 — down 5.5% (24h) | Market Cap: $518.4B
XRP: $0.296 — down 5.2% (24h)
Tether (USDT): $1.00 — flat
Binance (BNB): $833 — down 3.3% (24h)
Solana (SOL): $181 — down 5.6% (24h)
USD Coin (USDC): $1.00 — flat
Dogecoin (DOGE): $0.222 — down 4.8% (24h)
Tron (TRX): $0.345 — down 1.5% (24h)
Cardano (ADA): $0.915 — down 6% (24h)
Total Market Cap: $3.89T — down 3.2%
Summary
August isn’t shaping up strong so far. We’ve got Gemini’s IPO filing, Thailand’s tourist payments experiment, the Fed stepping back from crypto micromanagement, and continued battles over whether XRP is mooning or dooming. Predictions fly, but as always, crypto tends to do the opposite of consensus.
That’s it for today’s news. Until tomorrow — Happy HODLing, Everyone.
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