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U.S. companies are increasingly reluctant to leave an empty CEO chair cold for too long, and have pivoted to a novel stop-gap solution — the interim CEO. Suggested Reading One-third of new CEOs in the first half of 2025 held interim posts, according to a new study from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Part of the reason is high CEO turnover, and part of it is a rise in interim CEOs who specialize in stabilizing a rocky company while boards search for a long-term CEO solution. Related Content The study noted the interim CEO market has skyrocketed — 18% of all new U.S. CEOs tapped for the role in 2025 are essentially placeholders. That’s significantly higher than the 7% number posted a year ago, the report stated. “The seeming reliance on interim leadership is a real change from previous years, including during the pandemic,” said Andrew Challenger, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas. “While interim roles may offer flexibility or help bridge periods of uncertainty, they can also make it difficult to build team cohesion and execute long-term strategy. It may indicate that companies are reacting to turnover rather than proactively planning for it.” The part-time leadership trend comes at a time when more CEOs are leaving their posts. The Challenger study said 860 CEOs have exited the C-Suite from January 1 to April 30, 2025. That’s up 15% from the 748 CEOs who left their posts during the same period last year. It’s also the highest January to April total on record, the study reported. Companies are turning to part-time CEOs for multiple reasons A convergence of factors is driving the growing demand for interim CEOs, C-Suite experts say. That list includes economic volatility, executive retirements, and the ever-evolving demands placed on corporate decision-makers right now. Chief among those reasons are executive departures. “CEO exits, whether planned or unplanned, contribute to interim appointments,” said Sunny Ackerman, global managing partner of on-demand talent at Heidrick & Struggles, a global advisory firm that specializes in interim leadership. “We’ve found that succession planning doesn’t yet get the board attention it deserves.” In such cases, interim CEOs can backfill these leadership gaps. “That ensures continuity as organizations lay the groundwork for their next phase, Ackerman noted. Additionally, the part-time CEO trend may be longer than the “interim” term suggests. “Interim CEOs aren’t simply a stopgap solution, and organizations are increasingly using them to gain a strategic edge,” Ackerman said. She noted that Heidrick & Struggles is increasingly seeing large and mid-market companies across the U.S. and European markets leveraging interim leaders as a core component of their leadership strategies. “That ‘keep the seat warm’ strategy catalyzing high-impact company transformation initiatives,” she said. “Their ability to come in and quickly execute with precision makes them uniquely valuable during critical inflection points.” The rise in short-term CEOs isn’t only about executives heading out the door. “The reasons are structural and strategic,” said Jim Rettew, a San Francisco-based interim CEO and executive director who has worked for more than 15 organizations. While every company has its unique reasons for bringing a short-term CEO on board, Rettew said, it’s most likely due to one of the following: Massive executive churn. Nearly 2,000 CEOs exited U.S. companies in 2024, which is a record number. “That trend fuels unexpected leadership gaps and prompts interim fills,” Rettew said. Rapid organizational shifts. Companies in mid-life crises, whether it’s a merger and acquisition, founder exit, financial distress, or digital transformation, need highly seasoned, results-oriented leadership without a slow hiring process. Investor urgency. Private equity-backed firms increasingly lean on interim CEOs to deliver turnaround value, oversee exits, integrations, and rapid scaling or restructuring. An on‑demand leadership economy. These days, senior executives are embracing portfolio careers. “Interim roles offer flexibility, mission variety, and impact without anchoring them to long‑term placements,” Rettew added. When a new interim CEO shows up on day one, they may find themselves in a sink or swim scenario. Rettew’s job, for example, is to step in and stabilize organizations, often after a period of volatility and strife. “When the executive director has been fired, when finances are in the tube, and morale is in the tank, I come in to turn the ship,” Rettew said. Typically, an interim CEO like Rettew gets busy right away, so a wide-open an expansive viewpoint comes in handy. “I usually inherit a situation that includes hidden debt, budget deficits, mass resignations, missing money, bad press, mistreated staff, political controversies, bad stakeholder blood, poor communication, and outdated processes,” he noted. The pros and cons of bringing in an interim CEO Rettew said interim CEOs are no longer seen as temporary caretakers.  “Instead, they’re increasingly treated as catalysts for transformation, trusted to stabilize, assess, and lead strategy when time is tight and stakes are high,” he said. That’s the idea going in,  but reality has a way of separating solid short-term CEOs from the rest of the pack. Here are some pros and cons companies should master before bringing an interim CEO into the corner office. The Pros Crisis management expertise. Good short-term CEOs are skilled at triaging emergencies. “That could mean discovering deep deficits or lawsuits, stabilizing operations, and restoring credibility,” Rettew noted. Unbiased insight. Interims are often issue‑agnostic. “What matters is process, systems, culture, not subject‑matter domain knowledge,” Rettew said. A steady bridge. A successful interim CEO holds the fort while boards conduct deliberate CEO searches and support the onboarding of the next permanent leader. The Cons Disruptive change. With a new CEO, staff and boards may resist reform. “Some staff will resign rather than face continued instability,” Rettew noted. Search fatigue. With an interim CEO strategy, company boards must now run two parallel searches, one for an interim and later the permanent hire. “That doubles the CEO onboarding process and drains energy,” he added. Dependency risk. Without a clear transition plan, organizations may delay permanent hiring or grow too comfortable with the interim. Ask these key questions when vetting

The way we work is changing rapidly. According to the freelance broker site Upwork, almost 30% of skilled knowledge workers operate as independent professionals in 2025, and more than half of Americans are working a side hustle at least periodically. Suggested Reading Numerous factors drive the rise of the gig economy and freelance work. Financial pressures have pushed some to seek secondary incomes, but business leaders also value freelancer contributions. In fact, almost 80% of CEOs say top freelancers contribute more value to organizations than traditional employees with degrees, and around half of CEOs plan to work with more freelancers in upcoming years. Related Content For businesses looking at freelance labor options, proper classification matters. Calling traditional workers freelancers — and paying them as such — can leave companies open to tax challenges and other issues. This guide helps businesses avoid costly missteps and better support workforces with proper classification. The difference between an independent contractor and an employee Classifying workers correctly requires considering how much control a business exerts over them and the nature of the relationship between employer and worker. Typically, a lot of control on the part of the business — or a lack of independence on the part of the worker — indicates the worker may be an employee. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides guidelines U.S. businesses should follow in classifying workers. Best practices for classifying workers correctly Start by considering the nature of the role — what you need and how the worker provides it. Consider questions like: How will assignments be sent? Does the worker have independence in taking on assignments? Where and when is work completed? Who’s responsible for supply and equipment costs? The IRS uses Form SS-8 to gather information when determining whether a worker is properly classified. Businesses can use this form to help them think about whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor.  It’s also important to: Draft clear contracts detailing freelancer and employee roles Conduct regular audits of worker roles to ensure a freelancer hasn’t slid into an employee function, and vice versa Train hiring managers and leaders to understand classification guidelines When in doubt, consult a labor attorney or HR specialist to ensure workers are properly classified.  The IRS 3-factor test: Behavioral, financial, and relationship control IRS guidelines rely on a three-factor test that examines the level of behavioral and financial control and the nature of the relationship between the business and the worker. Properly applying the IRS’s three-factor test ensures accurate worker classification, helping businesses avoid legal penalties and maintain compliance with tax laws and labor regulations. Behavioral control Behavioral control is how much say a company has over the daily activities of a worker. A business that dictates specific hours, provides in-depth instruction or requires certain methods of production typically hires employees. For example, Uber drivers generally choose when and where they work. They use their own vehicles and decide which rides to accept. While they must follow general Uber policies, they have a level of autonomy that supports their classification as independent contractors.  Financial control Financial control is how much independence a worker has over financial outcomes. Independent contractors usually invest in their own supplies and aren’t reimbursed for all expenses. They have the potential to lose money or earn more based on how they manage their business, work, and time. For example, a freelance graphic designer typically buys their own design software and invoices clients for work performed. They have the freedom to negotiate rates and increase their output to drive up revenue. In contrast, an in-house graphic designer is paid a set salary for the work performed. Type of relationship The nature of the relationship can impact worker classification. Written contracts, the provision of benefits, or taking on a role central to a company’s operation can all change the proper classification.  For example, if a company hires a long-term social media manager who receives health benefits and attends weekly leadership meetings, that person should likely be classified as an employee. On the other hand, a social media coordinator who provides marketing content and administration services according to their own schedule and doesn’t receive benefits may be a freelancer. Why proper classification matters Misclassifying workers is more than a paperwork error. It can lead to serious legal and financial consequences as well as confusion for workers. Incorrect classification can undermine your long-term business strategies and lead to distrust and morale issues among your workforce. Here’s what can be at stake: IRS penalties, including back taxes, interest, and fines for misclassified workers State-level consequences, including additional audits, fines, and benefit liabilities Wage claims and unemployment insurance liability, as misclassified workers may file claims for unpaid benefits Damage to brand reputation, as classification errors can erode trust with workers and the public Misaligned expectations with workers, as blurred roles lead to communication breakdowns and dissatisfaction Common misclassification mistakes and how to avoid them Even careful businesses can misclassify workers by overlooking small details. Here are some pitfalls to avoid: Having a contractor do employee-level work full-time under supervision: If a contractor reports to a manager daily and follows strict processes, they may legally be an employee.  Calling someone a contractor without a signed agreement: Verbal agreements aren’t enough. Always use written contracts outlining scope, payment terms, and classification. Assuming that remote workers are contractors: Location doesn’t determine status. Focus on control, independence, and how the role fits your business. Failing to update classifications as roles evolve: Freelancers who become essential team members may need reclassification. Failing to consult legal or HR professionals: Classification rules can be complex. When in doubt, get guidance to protect your business. When to hire a contractor vs. an employee Choosing between a contractor and an employee requires considering more than your bottom line. You need to think about how the role fits into your business’s structure, goals, and workflow. Contractor is ideal when: You need short-term or specialized help. Hiring a freelance developer to build a website or a

Last week brought a heavy crop of earnings news, with releases from Disney, McDonald’s, Palantir, and hundreds of others. Suggested Reading Markets slid late in the week as the Trump administration’s latest sweeping tariffs officially took effect, slapping import taxes on nearly 100 countries. The average U.S. tariff is now projected to hit 18% — the highest since 1933 — fueling uncertainty across the global economy. With companies like GM, Toyota, and Hasbro already flagging multibillion-dollar hits, investors are bracing for delayed impacts on margins, pricing, and hiring. Related Content Looking ahead, inflation data, consumer sentiment, and further signals from corporate America will help determine whether Wall Street’s enthusiasm can hold — especially as the real economy starts to digest the slow-burn effects of the new trade regime. Monday, August 11 The week starts quietly with no major economic reports or high-profile earnings. Tuesday, August 12 All eyes — and we mean all eyes — will be on July inflation data at 8:30 a.m. ET, with the consumer price index, core CPI, and their year-over-year counterparts all set for release at a moment when experts’ anxiety over the fate of key government data prints has likely never been higher. The NFIB small business optimism index arrives earlier at 6:00 a.m., while the U.S. federal budget statement for July lands at 2:00 p.m. The day is also one of the busiest for earnings this week, including results from Sea Limited and Cardinal Health. Wednesday, August 13 Wednesday’s macro docket is light, with no major U.S. data releases scheduled. The main event will be Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic’s remarks at 12:30 p.m. ET, which could offer insight into the Fed’s thinking after bombshell jobs data and an equally bombshell firing of the BLS head. On the earnings front, Cisco Systems reports after the close, giving tech investors another read on AI and enterprise spending. Thursday, August 14 Thursday brings a fresh read on the labor market and wholesale prices. At 8:30 a.m. ET, the Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims alongside July’s producer price index and core PPI, both on a monthly and year-over-year basis. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin speaks at 2:00 p.m. Earnings before the bell include Alibaba, Deere & Co., and NetEase. After the close, Applied Materials will report. Friday, August 15 The week ends with a barrage of economic data: July retail sales, excluding and including autos, hit at 8:30 a.m. ET, alongside the Empire State manufacturing survey and import price data. Industrial production follows closer to 9:00 a.m., while business inventories and the University of Michigan’s preliminary consumer sentiment reading for August close out the week at 10:00 a.m. No major earnings are scheduled, leaving the macro numbers to set the tone. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Read More

Michael Saylor’s Strategy Adds $18M of Bitcoin on Five-Year Anniversary of First Purchase Five years after going all-in on bitcoin, Strategy’s aggressive treasury strategy delivers outsized gains and reshapes corporate bitcoin adoption. Aug 11, 2025, 12:06 p.m. Disclaimer: The analyst who wrote this article owns shares in Strategy. Strategy (MSTR) adopted a bitcoin standard five years ago today, on Aug. 11, 2020, with its first purchase of 21,454 BTC for $250 million. The acquisition marked a historic shift in corporate treasury strategy. To that point, former AI and software development company had seen its share price stagnate for two decades after the early 2000 tech boom-and-bust, falling over 95% from its peak. However, since August 2020, MSTR has delivered 100% average annual returns, compounding to over 3,000% cumulative gains, while bitcoin itself has returned nearly 1,000% over the same period. To fund its BTC accumulation, the company has employed diverse strategies, raising $46 billion via equity and credit, which includes $8.2 billion in outstanding convertible debt and four perpetual preferred stock offerings, STRK, STRF, STRD, and STRC, designed to appeal to different segments of the yield curve. Fresh buys continue The company Monday morning disclosed the purchase of another 155 BTC for $18 million — a rather small weekly buy, but nevertheless bringing its total stoack to 628,946 coins valued at about $76 billion. That representis 3% of bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply. With an average cost of about $74,000 per BTC, the company sits on unrealized gains of roughly $30 billion, or 65%. MSTR is today one of the most actively traded stocks, posting $4.4 billion in daily trading volume just behind Google (GOOG) at $4.9 billion. Open interest in MSTR options totals $90 billion, also second to Google at $99 billion. Despite a $112 billion market cap compared to Google’s $2.4 trillion, the trading activity reflects the intense focus on MSTR. Its success has inspired a wave of bitcoin treasury strategies among other corporations. The top 100 public companies now collectively own 964,314 BTC, much of it financed through capital raises that follow the MSTR playbook. James Van Straten James Van Straten is a Senior Analyst at CoinDesk, specializing in Bitcoin and its interplay with the macroeconomic environment. Previously, James worked as a Research Analyst at Saidler & Co., a Swiss hedge fund, where he developed expertise in on-chain analytics. His work focuses on monitoring flows to analyze Bitcoin’s role within the broader financial system. In addition to his professional endeavors, James serves as an advisor to Coinsilium, a UK publicly traded company, where he provides guidance on their Bitcoin treasury strategy. He also holds investments in Bitcoin and Strategy (MSTR). X icon More For You Coinbase Is Becoming a Major Ethereum-Focused Player, Bernstein Says The broker has an outperform rating on Coinbase shares with a $510 price target. What to know: Ether’s price has jumped 80% since June 5, fueled by Circle’s listing and stablecoin minting on the Ethereum network. Coinbase earns ETH-based revenue from its Layer 2 chain, Base, and staking, benefiting from Ethereum’s growth, the report said. Bernstein said ether’s outperformance signals an altcoin rally with Coinbase positioned to gain from rising ETH and related tokens. Read full story Read More

Almost 97% of All Ether Holders Are Now in the Green. What Next? Majority of ether addresses are now “in-the-money.” Aug 11, 2025, 11:23 a.m. Ether’s (ETH) recent rally has pushed a vast majority of its addresses into profit, a development that could slow its ascent. According to analytics firm Sentora, 97% of ether addresses are now “in-the-money.” In other words, the average acquisition costs of these addresses is lower than ether’s going market rate of $4,225. This high profitability figure suggests that the current price rally could run into a significant increase in the sell-side pressure, a dynamic that could slow the price ascent. According to data by Glassnode, profit-taking is already happening. ETH profit realization, measured by a seven-day simple moving average, is ramping up again, with the tally climbing to $553 million per day. The profit taking peaked a $771 million per day in July. Further analysis reveals a shift in the source of this selling. While long-term holders, or those holding coins for over 155 days, are realizing profits at levels consistent with the peak in December 2024, it is now short-term investors who are driving the current wave of profit-taking. Read: Ether to $4.4K? This Hidden Signal Suggests a Possible Quick Fire Rally Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy. Omkar Godbole Omkar Godbole is a Co-Managing Editor and analyst on CoinDesk’s Markets team. He has been covering crypto options and futures, as well as macro and cross-asset activity, since 2019, leveraging his prior experience in directional and non-directional derivative strategies at brokerage firms. His extensive background also encompasses the FX markets, having served as a fundamental analyst at currency and commodities desks for Mumbai-based brokerages and FXStreet. Omkar holds small amounts of bitcoin, ether, BitTorrent, tron and dot. Omkar holds a Master’s degree in Finance and a Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designation. X icon AI Boost “AI Boost” indicates a generative text tool, typically an AI chatbot, contributed to the article. In each and every case, the article was edited, fact-checked and published by a human. Read more about CoinDesk’s AI Policy. More For You Coinbase Is Becoming a Major Ethereum-Focused Player, Bernstein Says The broker has an outperform rating on Coinbase shares with a $510 price target. What to know: Ether’s price has jumped 80% since June 5, fueled by Circle’s listing and stablecoin minting on the Ethereum network. Coinbase earns ETH-based revenue from its Layer 2 chain, Base, and staking, benefiting from Ethereum’s growth, the report said. Bernstein said ether’s outperformance signals an altcoin rally with Coinbase positioned to gain from rising ETH and related tokens. Read full story Read More

Your day-ahead look for Aug. 10, 2025 Updated Aug 11, 2025, 12:31 p.m. Published Aug 11, 2025, 11:15 a.m. Ether paced crypto market gains before handing the lead to bitcoin. (James Thomas/Unsplash) What to know: You are viewing Crypto Daybook Americas, your morning briefing on what happened in the crypto markets overnight and what’s expected during the coming day. Crypto Daybook Americas will arrive in your inbox at 7 a.m. ET to kickstart your morning with comprehensive insights. If you’re not already subscribed, click here. You won’t want to start your day without it. By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise) The current bull market is emulating a bicycle race’s paceline, where the front rider expends energy to drive forward, creating a slipstream for the riders behind before rotating to the back to rest while another rider picks up the effort. Ether (ETH) took the leader’s duties over the weekend. The second-largest cryptocurrency rose from $4,000 to over $4,300, dragging along bitcoin , which had been struggling to extend gains. Early this morning, BTC rotated to the front, rising from $119,000 to $122,300. “This is one of the few times when a rally in major altcoins has inspired BTC to break through. It’s usually the other way around,” Alex Kuptsikevich, a senior analyst at the FxPro, said in an email. “Altcoins are mostly staying out of this race for now, taking a break after last week’s rally.” BTC’s ascent continues to be driven by spot market demand, as evidenced by the narrowing ratio between trading volumes in futures and spot markets. The ratio has dropped to the lowest since 2022, according to Swissblock Technologies. Still, at least two factors call for caution on the part of the bulls. Firstly, according to Coinglass, bitcoin is still trading at a discount on Coinbase relative to Binance, a sign of weak demand from U.S.-based institutions. Secondly, cumulative spot and futures trading volumes are notably lower than in July (see Chart of the Day), when prices first topped $120,000, according to Swissblock Technologies. This negative volume divergence indicates weaker buying pressure. The bullish mood remains more pronounced in ether than bitcoin. On Deribit, the notional open interest in ether calls is nearly 2.3 times greater than in ether puts. The figure for bitcoin is well below 2. ETH’s rise is supported by on-chain activity, with daily transaction volume on the network hitting records and the number of new addresses nearing the high reached four years ago. Still, ether appears vulnerable to pullbacks because 97% of ETH-holding addresses are “in-the-money,” according to Sentora. In other words, the current price is above the acquisition cost of most addresses, which means there is a strong incentive for these holders to take profits. A similar trend exists for XRP, the payments-focused cryptocurrency, which lagged over the weekend but rose 3% early Monday. Speaking of the broader altcoin market, it could soon have its time because BTC’s dominance rate is close to breaching a key support. (Check the Technical Analysis section.) In traditional markets, the U.S. two-year Treasury yield, which is sensitive to short-term interest-rate expectations, held below its 200-day average for the first time since 2022. The decline is consistent with expectations for Fed interest-rate cuts. The case for a September reduction has strengthened, with some analysts suggesting that even a hotter-than-expected CPI release this week would not deter the Fed from easing. Stay alert! What to Watch Crypto Aug. 15: Record date for the next FTX distribution to holders of allowed Class 5 Customer Entitlement, Class 6 General Unsecured and Convenience Claims who meet pre-distribution requirements. Aug. 18: Coinbase Derivatives will launch nano SOL and nano XRP U.S. perpetual-style futures. Aug. 20: Qubic (QUBIC), the fastest blockchain ever recorded, at over 15 million transactions per second and powered by Useful Proof of Work (UPoW), will undergo its first yearly halving event as part of a controlled emission model. Although gross emissions remain fixed at 1 trillion QUBIC tokens per week, the adaptive burn rate approved by the network’s Computors, the key validators and decision makers, will increase substantially — burning some 28.75 trillion tokens and reducing net effective emissions to about 21.25 trillion tokens. Macro Aug. 12: The U.S.-China trade truce, which temporarily reduced reciprocal tariffs from triple-digit levels to about 30%, is set to expire. Many analysts say they expect President Donald Trump to extend the truce by another 90 days as both sides seek to avoid escalating the trade war. Aug. 12, 8 a.m.: The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) releases July consumer price inflation data. Inflation Rate MoM Prev. 0.24% Inflation Rate YoY Prev. 5.35% Aug. 12, 8:30 a.m.: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases July consumer price inflation data. Core Inflation Rate MoM Est. 0.3% vs. Prev. 0.2% Core Inflation Rate YoY Est. 3% vs. Prev. 2.9% Inflation Rate MoM Est. 0.2% vs. Prev. 0.3% Inflation Rate YoY Est. 2.8% vs. Prev. 2.7% Aug. 13, 3 p.m.: Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Census releases July inflation data. Inflation Rate MoM Prev. 1.6% Inflation Rate YoY Prev. 39.4% Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data) Aug. 11: Exodus Movement (EXOD), post-market, $0.12 Aug. 12: Bitfarms (BITF), pre-market, -$0.02 Aug. 12: Fold Holdings (FLD), post-market Aug. 14: KULR Technology Group (KULR), post-market Aug. 15: Sharplink Gaming (SBET), pre-market Aug. 15: BitFuFu (FUFU), pre-market, $0.07 Aug. 18: Bitdeer Technologies Group (BTDR), pre-market, -$0.12 Token Events Governance votes & calls Compound DAO is voting to appoint ChainSecurity and Certora as joint security provers with ZeroShadow handling incident response under a $2 million, 12-month COMP-streamed budget starting Aug. 18. Voting ends Aug. 13. Aug. 14, 10 a.m.: Lido to host a tokenholder update Call. Aug. 14, 10 a.m.: Stacks to host a townhall meeting. Unlocks Aug. 12: Aptos to unlock 2.2% of its circulating supply worth $53.38 million. Aug. 15: Avalanche to unlock 0.39% of its circulating supply worth $40.35 million. Aug. 15: Starknet (STRK) to unlock 3.53% of its circulating supply worth

NEAR Shows Volatile Recovery Amid Wave of Sell Pressure NEAR Protocol whipsawed through a $0.12 range before a late selloff drove prices to key support, as institutional crypto inflows signal resilience amid broader market caution. Updated Aug 11, 2025, 11:14 a.m. Published Aug 11, 2025, 11:14 a.m. NEAR Protocol fell 0.98% in the final hour Monday, sliding from $2.755 at 09:14 to $2.730 by 10:13 as selling pressure intensified. Attempts to reclaim $2.765 resistance failed, even after an 81,064-unit volume spike at 09:56, leaving sellers in control. Support at $2.729–$2.730 halted the drop, with consecutive zero-volume minutes into the close hinting at near-term consolidation. The late decline capped a volatile 23-hour stretch from August 10–11, with NEAR swinging between $2.696 and $2.817. Despite recovering from early lows, it closed at $2.729, down 1.25% overall. The whipsaw action reflects broader caution in crypto markets, where geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies have kept traders on edge. Even as short-term sentiment wavered, digital asset investment products drew $572 million in inflows—led by Ethereum ($268M) and Bitcoin ($260M)—signaling institutional confidence after recent payroll-driven outflows. Apex Invest Digital’s partnership with Coinbase Asset Management for a Swiss institutional program added to signs of accelerating mainstream adoption. NEAR’s ability to hold support suggests potential stabilization if selling eases, though traders may wait for fresh catalysts before re-engaging. Strong institutional inflows could help offset macroeconomic headwinds, but the token remains sensitive to global developments, making it a key gauge of broader crypto sentiment. NEAR/USD (TradingView) Key Technical Indicators NEAR exhibits significant volatility during 23-hour August 10-11 session, trading $0.12 range (4%) between $2.70 low and $2.82 peak. Cryptocurrency demonstrates recovery pattern, declining to $2.71 before staging rally to $2.82 at August 11 02:00, supported by elevated 3.99 million unit volume. Key resistance emerges at $2.82 level triggering reversal on high volume, while support materializes near $2.70-$2.71 with multiple successful bounces. NEAR continues volatile trajectory during final 60 minutes from August 11 09:14 to 10:13, experiencing pronounced $0.027 (-1%) decline from $2.76 to $2.73. Session characterized by persistent selling pressure with failed recovery attempts, notably around $2.77 at 09:32 despite elevated 81,064-unit volume at 09:56. Key support levels emerge around $2.73 zone stabilizing decline, while session concludes with consecutive zero-volume minutes suggesting market exhaustion and potential consolidation ahead. Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy. CD Analytics CoinDesk Analytics is CoinDesk’s AI-powered tool that, with the help of human reporters, generates market data analysis, price movement reports, and financial content focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain markets. All content produced by CoinDesk Analytics is undergoes human editing by CoinDesk’s editorial team before publication. The tool synthesizes market data and information from CoinDesk Data and other sources to create timely market reports, with all external sources clearly attributed within each article. CoinDesk Analytics operates under CoinDesk’s AI content guidelines, which prioritize accuracy, transparency, and editorial oversight. Learn more about CoinDesk’s approach to AI-generated content in our AI policy. Oliver Knight Oliver Knight is the co-leader of CoinDesk data tokens and data team. Before joining CoinDesk in 2022 Oliver spent three years as the chief reporter at Coin Rivet. He first started investing in bitcoin in 2013 and spent a period of his career working at a market making firm in the UK. He does not currently have any crypto holdings. X icon More For You Coinbase Is Becoming a Major Ethereum-Focused Player, Bernstein Says The broker has an outperform rating on Coinbase shares with a $510 price target. What to know: Ether’s price has jumped 80% since June 5, fueled by Circle’s listing and stablecoin minting on the Ethereum network. Coinbase earns ETH-based revenue from its Layer 2 chain, Base, and staking, benefiting from Ethereum’s growth, the report said. Bernstein said ether’s outperformance signals an altcoin rally with Coinbase positioned to gain from rising ETH and related tokens. Read full story Read More

Calm Before the Storm Expected as Bitcoin Volatility Wakes Up BTC’s implied volatility jumps from 33 to 37 after hitting multi-year lows, raising the odds of a bigger market move ahead. Aug 11, 2025, 10:04 a.m. Bitcoin’s (BTC) implied volatility (IV) has moved from 33 to 37 on Monday, a notable uptick from multi-year lows and a possible signal that the market’s long stretch of calm is nearing an end. The Deribit Volatility Index (DVOL), modeled after the VIX in traditional markets, tracks the 30-day implied volatility of bitcoin options and now sits at its highest level in weeks. Implied volatility represents the market’s forecast for price swings, calculated from option prices. In formal terms, IV measures the one-standard-deviation range of an asset’s expected movement over a year. Tracking at-the-money (ATM) IV offers a normalized view of sentiment, often rising and falling alongside realized volatility. Last week, BTC’s short-term IV fell to around 26%, one of the lowest readings since options data began being recorded, before rebounding sharply. The last time volatility sat this low was August 2023, when bitcoin hovered near $30,000 shortly before a sharp move higher. Over the weekend, bitcoin jumped from $116,000 to $122,000, hinting at what can happen when volatility starts to expand. August is traditionally a period of low volumes and muted market activity, but rising IV suggests traders may be positioning for larger moves ahead. Checkonchain data shows this latest rally was a spot-driven move, which is a healthier market structure than a purely leverage-fueled surge. Open interest has been declining through August, meaning a sudden influx of leverage could amplify price swings if sentiment shifts. Read more: Bitcoin Bulls Take Another Shot at the Fibonacci Golden Ratio Above $122K as Inflation Data Looms James Van Straten James Van Straten is a Senior Analyst at CoinDesk, specializing in Bitcoin and its interplay with the macroeconomic environment. Previously, James worked as a Research Analyst at Saidler & Co., a Swiss hedge fund, where he developed expertise in on-chain analytics. His work focuses on monitoring flows to analyze Bitcoin’s role within the broader financial system. In addition to his professional endeavors, James serves as an advisor to Coinsilium, a UK publicly traded company, where he provides guidance on their Bitcoin treasury strategy. He also holds investments in Bitcoin and Strategy (MSTR). X icon More For You Coinbase Is Becoming a Major Ethereum-Focused Player, Bernstein Says The broker has an outperform rating on Coinbase shares with a $510 price target. What to know: Ether’s price has jumped 80% since June 5, fueled by Circle’s listing and stablecoin minting on the Ethereum network. Coinbase earns ETH-based revenue from its Layer 2 chain, Base, and staking, benefiting from Ethereum’s growth, the report said. Bernstein said ether’s outperformance signals an altcoin rally with Coinbase positioned to gain from rising ETH and related tokens. Read full story Read More

“Quiet quitting.” “Coffee badging.” “Workcations.” We’ve all heard workplace buzzwords like these (and maybe recognized the behaviors they describe). These terms for burnout and disillusionment have spread like wildfire on TikTok and other social media platforms since the pandemic upended workplace norms. But HR leaders often don’t give these concepts much credence. A new survey found that nearly 40% of HR professionals said they felt uninterested in buzzwords, and 52% felt curious, but cautious. Should companies pay more attention to this language that satirizes the very structures they rely upon? The study, from research and advisory firm McLean & Company, says yes—with some caveats. Nobody wants their company to undergo a “Great Resignation” or their workforce to be plagued by “resenteeism.” So when new buzzwords surface, senior leaders often turn to HR for guidance, while employees might want to see their experiences validated and addressed, said Grace Ewles, a director at McLean’s HR Research and Advisory Services. The first step is to investigate, she said. “When we’re buying a car, we want to do our research,” Ewles said. “It’s the same thing when we’re hearing about buzzwords.” When a new one pops up, HR leaders should “take that opportunity to step back and really understand what’s driving that buzzword,” she said.  Ewles advises leaders to ask themselves: What does the buzzword mean in the context of our organization? Leaders should review internal data—such as employee engagement surveys or focus groups—to validate or disprove the phenomena described by the buzzwords. Often, the behaviors referenced can be a signal of larger problems. If the data shows some validity, such as high levels of burnout or a desire for stronger work-life balance, it’s a signal that there’s something to learn from the buzzwords, she said.  The big question is, what can be done about it? “I think it really comes back to having employee listening strategies,” Ewles said. “Making sure that we have a pulse, that we have that two-way communication with employees.” Once the research and listening is done, it’s time for concrete action. Kristin StollerEditorial Director, Fortune Live Mediakristin.stoller@fortune.com Around the Table A round-up of the most important HR headlines. Goodbye fat salaries and luxurious office perks: In the “hard tech” era, work life has changed drastically at Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies—and employees aren’t happy about it. New York Times Want a higher salary and access to more jobs? Avoid these 10 U.S. cities. CNBC Watch what you say on that Zoom meeting: AI notetakers are listening in (and causing headaches for some workers). Wall Street Journal Watercooler Everything you need to know from Fortune. Safety first. Gen Z is ditching college for “more secure” trade jobs, even though white collar office jobs—and these others—are less deadly. —Orianna Rosa Royle Strategic shift. Doomsayers predicted that AI would kill the consulting business. But Accenture CEO Julie Sweet has positioned the company to cash in. —Lila Maclellan Degree dodgers. Gen Zers without a college degree are leading the side gig economy—and may someday become your boss. —Orianna Rosa Royle This is the web version of Fortune CHRO, a newsletter focusing on helping HR executives navigate the needs of the workplace. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox. Read More

S&P 500 futures were flat this morning as global markets rested at or near their all-time highs. Investors are optimistic the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut rates in September, in part because of President Trump’s appointment of Stephen Miran to the Fed. If the inflation report tomorrow shows a 0.3% gain or less, a rate cut is expected; a higher reading could derail these hopes and cause market turmoil. S&P 500 futures were flat this morning after the index closed up 0.78% on Friday, a new all-time high. Japan’s Nikkei 225 reached a record peak too, up 1.85% today. Stocks in Europe broadly held their gains in early trading. Why all the optimism? Because investors think the U.S. Federal Reserve will almost definitely cut interest rates in September, and they are hoping that the consumer price inflation report—due tomorrow—won’t show a significant rise in inflation. The “Fed put” is in full effect, according to JPMorgan: “We expect moderate weakening in the macro data but enough to trigger a prompt Fed response” in September, according to Fabio Bassi and his colleagues. Analyst consensus is that inflation will tick up 0.3% to 3%, according to ING, a small enough rise that the Fed will be able to ignore it in favor of cutting rates. The weak jobs report on Aug. 1 was such a surprise that the central bank is now expected to ignore a small amount of inflation in favor of supporting the economy with a new dose of cheaper money. “Tomorrow’s U.S. CPI report…could prove to be one of the larger events of the summer for markets,” Jim Reid and his team at Deutsche Bank told clients this morning. If CPI goes up by 0.3% or less, “that is a number that can probably be seen as acceptable for the Federal Reserve to proceed with a September cut (90% priced in), given the backdrop of a significantly weaker jobs market,” ING’s Frantisek Taborsky and Francesco Pesole said in a note this morning. There’s one other reason investors are so confident that cut is coming next month: President Trump added Stephen Miran as a temporary Fed governor. They view him as having a single mission, to persuade the Federal Open Market Committee to lower rates and weaken the dollar.  “Stephen Miran drew headlines earlier this year for proposing a ‘Mar-a-Lago Accord’ to weaken the dollar and boost U.S. exports. While the administration hasn’t formally embraced the idea, his appointment signals clear discomfort with dollar strength,” Convera’s George Vessey said in an email this morning. “Miran’s stance firmly aligns with the dovish camp.”  Of course, the reverse is true, too. If that inflation report comes in higher than expectations, then the prospect of a September cut could disappear, which will likely cause some drama and selling tomorrow morning. Here’s a snapshot of the action prior to the opening bell in New York: S&P 500 futures were flat this morning, premarket, after the index closed up 0.78% on Friday.  STOXX Europe 600 was flat in early trading.  The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was up 0.25% in early trading. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 1.85%, hitting a new all-time high.  China’s CSI 300 was up 0.43%.  The South Korea KOSPI was down 0.1%.  India’s Nifty 50 was up 0.69%.  Bitcoin rose to $121.6K. Introducing the 2025 Fortune Global 500, the definitive ranking of the biggest companies in the world. Explore this year’s list. Read More