Crypto Morning Brief: Pump.fun Sells Over 250K SOL, Vitalik Denies Personal ETH Profit Motive

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The crypto landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with major developments across protocols, market sentiment, and infrastructure shaping the narrative in September 2025. From significant token sales to foundational updates and ecosystem expansions, this digest brings you the most impactful events—backed by data and key insights.

Market Momentum: Bitcoin’s Resilience and Long-Term Holder Activity

Historically, September has been a bearish month for Bitcoin. However, 2025 is showing signs of breaking that trend, thanks to strong on-chain signals from long-term holders.

According to Spot On Chain, Bitcoin’s long-term holders accumulated 262,000 BTC in August alone. This surge brings their total holdings to 14.82 million BTC, representing 75% of the total supply. Such accumulation suggests strong confidence in BTC’s future value, especially after major sell-side pressures—like those from the German government and Mt. Gox—were largely resolved in July and August. Together, these entities offloaded approximately 170,917 BTC, clearing a significant overhang from the market.

Additionally, analysis shows that seven out of the top 10 anonymous Bitcoin wallets have remained inactive for over two years. These dormant addresses hold 237,816 BTC, worth around $14 billion, further indicating a "hodl" culture among large stakeholders.

👉 Discover how market sentiment shifts can create new investment windows.

This combination of reduced selling pressure, strong accumulation, and growing institutional interest—particularly through spot Bitcoin ETFs—could set the stage for a bullish reversal in what was once considered a weak seasonal period.

Vitalik Buterin Clarifies ETH Sales: No Personal Profit Since 2018

In response to speculation about his token movements, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to the ecosystem’s growth over personal gain.

Addressing comments from trader Ansem, who suggested Vitalik had earned the right to profit from Ethereum’s success, Buterin clarified: “I haven’t sold ETH for personal profit since 2018.” He emphasized that any ETH he has transferred was used exclusively to fund projects he believes in—ranging from Ethereum-based innovations to charitable causes like biomedical research.

This statement reinforces Vitalik’s role not just as a technological visionary but as a steward of decentralized values. His continued support for public goods funding through mechanisms like quadratic funding further underscores his mission-driven approach.

Pump.fun’s $40M SOL Sale: Revenue Model Under Scrutiny

Pump.fun, the Solana-based meme coin launchpad, has drawn attention after data from Lookonchain revealed it has sold 254,074 SOL—worth approximately $40.26 million**—at an average price of **$158 per SOL.

With total revenue exceeding 68,000 SOL ($91 million), the platform’s monetization strategy is under increased scrutiny. While Pump.fun charges creators a small fee to launch tokens, a portion of these fees is paid in SOL and subsequently sold on the open market.

“Revenue generation through token sales isn't uncommon, but transparency around fund usage is critical for trust,” noted one blockchain analyst.

As meme coins continue to drive user engagement on Solana, questions arise about the long-term sustainability of platforms reliant on high-frequency, speculative launches.

👉 Learn how launchpad trends are reshaping early-stage crypto investing.

Sui Foundation Addresses Inflation Concerns

Sui co-founder and CEO Evan Cheng addressed widespread rumors claiming SUI’s annual inflation rate exceeds 250%. He clarified that monthly token unlocks represent only about 2.6% of circulating supply, a figure that continues to decline over time.

Cheng highlighted that Sui operates with a fixed total supply, distinguishing it from other PoS blockchains that maintain inflation rates between 5% and 8% annually to incentivize staking. The controlled release schedule ensures predictable economics and reduces dilution risk for holders.

He welcomed community feedback, stating that constructive criticism helps drive innovation and transparency within the network.

Polymarket Surpasses NFT Volume with $463M August Trade

Decentralized prediction market Polymarket recorded $463 million in trading volume during August 2025**, surpassing the combined NFT trading volume across all blockchains, which totaled **$377 million.

Driven largely by political events—especially the upcoming U.S. presidential election—the platform has seen consistent growth since May. Current markets show Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris with a 50% vs. 48% probability of winning, a single event that has attracted over $770 million in total wagers.

This surge highlights a shift in user behavior: from collectibles-based speculation (NFTs) toward information-driven markets where users bet on real-world outcomes.

DOGS Introduces New Token Claim Options

The DOGS team announced an update to improve user experience for those yet to claim their tokens. Starting September 2, two new claim methods will be available in the app:

This change aims to reduce network congestion and allow users to choose based on their urgency and cost tolerance.

Upbit Halts MATIC Deposits Ahead of POL Migration

In preparation for Polygon’s rebranding and migration from MATIC to POL, South Korean exchange Upbit will suspend deposits and withdrawals of MATIC starting September 2 at 17:00 KST.

Once the migration is complete and stability is confirmed, services will resume. Users are advised to complete transactions before the cutoff or wait for official resumption notices.

Coinbase Builds SDK for AI Agents and Bots

Coinbase is developing a powerful new Software Development Kit (SDK) designed to enable automation across crypto workflows. Announced by engineer yuga.eth, the SDK will allow AI agents and bots to perform complex operations seamlessly.

Key functionalities include:

This move positions Coinbase as a foundational infrastructure layer for the emerging era of autonomous agents—a critical step as AI integration accelerates in Web3.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Bitcoin’s long-term holder accumulation significant?
A: When long-term holders buy and hold BTC, it reduces circulating supply and signals confidence in future price appreciation. This behavior often precedes bullish market phases.

Q: Did Vitalik Buterin really stop profiting from ETH?
A: According to his own statement, Vitalik hasn’t sold ETH for personal profit since 2018. All known transfers have funded ecosystem projects or charitable initiatives.

Q: How does Pump.fun make money?
A: Pump.fun earns revenue by charging creators a fee (in SOL) to launch new meme coins. A portion of these fees is sold on-market, contributing to its reported $91 million in SOL revenue.

Q: Is SUI truly low-inflation despite unlock concerns?
A: Yes. Monthly unlocks amount to ~2.6% of circulating supply and are decreasing over time. Unlike many PoS chains with 5–8% annual inflation, Sui has a fixed supply model.

Q: Can prediction markets like Polymarket replace traditional financial derivatives?
A: While still niche, platforms like Polymarket offer real-time sentiment tracking and micro-betting on events—complementing rather than replacing traditional derivatives.

Q: What are AI agents in crypto, and why does Coinbase’s SDK matter?
A: AI agents are automated programs that execute trades, manage portfolios, or interact with dApps. Coinbase’s SDK lowers barriers for developers building such agents, accelerating innovation.


👉 Explore how AI-powered tools are transforming crypto interactions today.