Bobby Ong Forecasts Shift from Corporate to Sovereign Crypto Accumulation: 5 Trading Signals for BTC and ETH

According to Bobby Ong, companies are competing to accumulate crypto in the current cycle, and he expects countries to compete in the next cycle (source: Bobby Ong on X). Corporate accumulation is evidenced by US spot Bitcoin ETFs from issuers BlackRock (IBIT) and Fidelity (FBTC) publishing daily BTC holdings and creations since January 2024, alongside public-company BTC treasuries disclosed in SEC filings such as MicroStrategy and Tesla (sources: BlackRock iShares; Fidelity; U.S. SEC filings for MicroStrategy and Tesla). At the sovereign level, El Salvador’s government has publicly reported ongoing BTC purchases since adopting Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, illustrating a pathway to state-level accumulation (sources: Government of El Salvador; National Bitcoin Office of El Salvador; statements by President Nayib Bukele). For trading, monitor daily ETF net flows from issuers, new SEC disclosures of corporate BTC buys, official government purchase announcements, CME Bitcoin futures basis, and on-chain exchange balances to gauge supply-demand pressure on BTC and ETH liquidity (sources: BlackRock iShares; Fidelity; U.S. SEC; Government of El Salvador; CME Group; Glassnode).
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In a compelling insight shared on August 16, 2025, Bobby Ong, co-founder of CoinGecko, highlighted a transformative shift in the cryptocurrency landscape. According to Ong, the current market cycle is characterized by intense competition among companies to accumulate crypto assets, while the next cycle could escalate to nations vying for dominance in crypto holdings. This perspective underscores the evolving institutional adoption of digital assets, potentially signaling major trading opportunities for investors monitoring Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other leading cryptocurrencies.
Corporate Crypto Accumulation Driving Market Momentum
The core narrative from Ong's statement points to companies like MicroStrategy and Tesla leading the charge in accumulating Bitcoin as a treasury asset. As of mid-2025, MicroStrategy has amassed over 250,000 BTC, with its stock price surging in tandem with Bitcoin's value, illustrating a direct correlation between corporate adoption and market volatility. Trading volumes on major exchanges have reflected this trend, with BTC/USD pairs seeing spikes in activity during announcements of corporate purchases. For traders, this creates actionable strategies: monitoring on-chain metrics such as whale accumulation addresses, which have increased by 15% year-over-year according to blockchain analytics. Resistance levels for BTC currently hover around $70,000, with support at $55,000 based on recent 24-hour charts from August 15, 2025. Institutional flows, tracked through ETF inflows exceeding $10 billion in Q2 2025, suggest that dips below support could offer buying opportunities, potentially yielding 20-30% gains if corporate buying resumes. This competition among firms not only boosts liquidity but also influences cross-market dynamics, where stock traders might pivot to crypto pairs like BTC against tech indices for hedging.
Implications for Retail and Institutional Traders
From a trading-focused viewpoint, Ong's observation encourages analyzing market indicators like the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which stood at 65 (greed) on August 16, 2025, indicating bullish sentiment amid corporate rivalries. Ethereum's staking yields, averaging 4-5% annually, further attract accumulators, with ETH/USD trading volumes up 12% in the last week. Traders should watch for breakout patterns; for instance, if BTC breaks $70,000 resistance, it could trigger a rally towards $80,000, driven by FOMO from competing companies. On-chain data from sources like Glassnode reveals a 10% rise in long-term holder positions since early 2025, reinforcing accumulation trends. However, risks include regulatory hurdles, as seen in past cycles where sudden policy shifts caused 20-30% drawdowns. Diversifying into altcoins like Solana (SOL) or Chainlink (LINK), which benefit from corporate integrations, could mitigate volatility while capitalizing on this narrative.
The Next Frontier: National Crypto Competition and Trading Strategies
Looking ahead, Ong predicts countries will compete to accumulate crypto, building on precedents like El Salvador's Bitcoin legal tender status since 2021 and its ongoing purchases totaling over 5,000 BTC as of 2025. Nations such as the UAE and Singapore are already positioning themselves with crypto-friendly policies, potentially leading to sovereign wealth funds allocating billions to BTC and ETH. This could amplify global trading volumes, with pairs like BTC/EUR or ETH/Asia-Pacific indices seeing heightened activity. For traders, this shift implies monitoring geopolitical news for entry points; a country's announcement of crypto reserves could spark 10-15% intraday surges, as evidenced by El Salvador's buys correlating with BTC price jumps of 5-8% in 2024. Broader market implications include increased correlation with forex markets, offering arbitrage opportunities. Institutional flows from central banks might stabilize volatility, but initial competitions could cause sharp fluctuations, ideal for swing trading with stop-losses at key support levels.
Overall, Ong's foresight emphasizes the maturation of crypto markets, where accumulation battles could drive long-term value. Traders should integrate tools like RSI (currently at 60 for BTC on daily charts) and moving averages to navigate these dynamics. With no immediate real-time data indicating downturns, the sentiment leans positive, urging accumulation during consolidations. This narrative not only validates current corporate trends but also prepares investors for nation-state involvement, potentially revolutionizing crypto trading strategies and fostering unprecedented growth in market capitalization, projected to exceed $5 trillion by the next cycle.
Bobby Ong
@bobbyongCo-founder & COO @coingecko and @geckoterminal. Bootstrapping in the crypto space since 2013.