According to Fixygen, the cryptocurrency market is closing out the last week of August near local highs: Bitcoin is holding steady at around $80,000 after rising above $81,000, investors are once again actively investing in spot ETFs, and the stablecoin sector continues to evolve from a primarily trading instrument into a full-fledged payment infrastructure.
On August 25, Bitcoin rose to $81,240, its highest level since mid-May. By the morning of Friday, August 28, the leading cryptocurrency had corrected to approximately $79,700; however, for the month of August, it remains up by about 26.7%, which could be its best monthly performance since the end of 2024.
Unlike many previous waves of growth, one of the key factors now is not so much speculative demand as it is investors’ concerns about U.S. government debt, the long-term value of the dollar, and the situation in the Treasury bond market.
Following the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to increase the repurchase of long-term Treasury bonds, market participants have once again begun discussing the so-called “debasement trade”—the purchase of gold, Bitcoin, and other scarce assets as a hedge against potential currency devaluation.
Standard Chartered noted that such a policy creates precisely the macroeconomic environment for which Bitcoin was originally created. Some analysts suggest that a sustained break above the current resistance zone could pave the way to $95,000–100,000.
That said, this week was significantly calmer than the previous one. By last Friday, Bitcoin had already surged to around $77,000–78,000, posting its best weekly performance in over two years. This week, the market focused more on consolidating this gain than on launching a new upward surge.
Ether also remained relatively stable and was trading near $2,500 by the end of the week. Thus, Ethereum did not replicate the scale of Bitcoin’s August rally but continued its recovery following a weaker first half of the year.
One of the most important signals for the market was the return of funds to U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. According to market participants’ estimates, inflows into these funds in August approached $2.4–2.5 billion, with investors directing approximately $2.5 billion into ETFs over the last seven trading sessions.
BlackRock, the largest operator of Bitcoin ETFs, believes that institutional investors are increasingly viewing Bitcoin not only as a high-risk technology asset but also as a potential diversification tool amid debt and currency risks. BlackRock’s IBIT, the largest U.S. fund, already manages over $76 billion in assets.
This is particularly important for the market following a prolonged period of capital outflows from ETFs earlier this year. The return of institutional demand significantly increases the likelihood that August’s growth will prove more sustainable than the short-lived speculative rallies of previous months.
Another significant trend of the week is the accelerating development of stablecoins.
The volume of payments made using cards pegged to stablecoins exceeded $1 billion for the first time in July. RedotPay forecasts that by 2028, the annual volume of such payments could increase approximately fourfold—to $50 billion.
Stablecoins are being used more and more actively not only within crypto exchanges but also for cross-border transfers, corporate settlements, holding dollar liquidity, and everyday payments. This market is growing particularly rapidly in Latin America and Africa, where access to dollar-denominated banking instruments is limited.
This week, another signal came from the United Kingdom: the government proposed expanding the Bank of England’s mandate to include supporting innovation in the payments sector, particularly innovations related to stablecoins and digital currencies.
Another telling development was Chelsea Football Club’s decision to make Circle—the issuer of USDC—the title sponsor of its jerseys. The logo of one of the largest dollar-pegged stablecoins will now appear on the jerseys of the English Premier League club—a level of mainstream integration that would have seemed nearly impossible for the crypto industry just a few years ago.
Consolidation is also continuing in the industry’s institutional segment.
Crypto custodian BitGo has agreed to acquire NYDIG’s institutional trading business. With this acquisition, BitGo will gain a presence in derivatives, structured products, financing, and other services for institutional clients. Approximately 30 NYDIG employees are moving to BitGo. The parties did not disclose the value of the deal.
BitGo previously went public in 2026 and raised approximately $213 million during its IPO. The acquisition of part of NYDIG signals the continued emergence in the crypto market of companies seeking to provide institutional investors with a full range of services—from asset custody to trading, settlement, and structured financing.
Regulation in the U.S., however, remains one of the main sources of uncertainty.
President Donald Trump continues to urge Congress to pass the Clarity Act, which is intended to more clearly delineate the powers of regulators and establish rules for the operation of the cryptocurrency market. The legislative process remains protracted, but the industry is already actively preparing for the midterm congressional elections.
Stand With Crypto, an organization supported by Coinbase, announced this week its endorsement of 32 candidates who have previously voted in favor of cryptocurrency legislation. According to Reuters estimates, the crypto industry as a whole has already allocated approximately $200 million to political activities as part of the 2026 election cycle.
Thus, the last week of August cemented several trends at once: Bitcoin once again reached a level of around $80,000, institutional capital returned to ETFs, stablecoins are increasingly being used for real-world payments, and the largest crypto companies continue to build infrastructure that increasingly resembles the traditional financial sector.
The main risk for the market in the coming weeks remains macroeconomic. Investors are awaiting signals from the Federal Reserve regarding interest rates. Persistently high inflation has already reignited market expectations of a potential rate hike in the U.S., which is traditionally a negative factor for cryptocurrencies.
In September, attention will focus on the Fed meeting on September 16, U.S. labor market data, and trends in U.S. Treasury yields. Provided the dollar remains weak and demand for alternative assets stays high, the $80,000–83,000 range for Bitcoin will become a key technical threshold. A sustained breakout above this level could reignite market talk of $100,000, while rising yields and a hawkish stance from the Fed could push Bitcoin back into the mid-$70,000 range
Fixygen will continue to monitor the dynamics and trends of the crypto market.
The EU economy today faces challenges such as rising energy prices, fragmentation of the single market, complex administrative rules, and competition that is not always fair, said European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen.
“For a long time, the European economic model was based on several self-evident truths: cheap imported energy, open global trade, ever-wider access to the Chinese market, strategic protection from the U.S., and the West’s technological edge. These truths have disappeared,” the EC President stated while delivering a speech on Thursday in Paris at the annual “2026 Meeting of French Entrepreneurs” conference.
Von der Leyen sees the solution to these pressing problems as restoring entrepreneurs’ freedom to invest in the short term and, in the long term, making innovation, productivity, and scaling up the sustainable drivers of European economic growth.
The European Commission President outlined her prescriptions for healing the European economy.
The first priority is to simplify regulations and restore a level playing field. The goal is to reduce the administrative burden by 25% for all businesses and by 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises by 2029.
“However,” von der Leyen continued, “the demand for simplicity must be combined with the demand for fairness regarding foreign competition. This is particularly relevant to our relations with China. China is our major economic partner, and our position is clear and unwavering: to reduce risks, but not to sever ties. However, being a partner does not mean putting up with constant imbalances.”
She identified the financing of EU member states’ economies as the second priority. In her view, far too many projects remain stalled because the initial investment step is too risky, demand is too uncertain, or capital is too expensive. Of course, the EC President noted, these efforts cannot be financed solely through national budgets.
“But Europe has savings. Unfortunately, these savings are ‘idle.’ 10 trillion euros in household savings continue to sit in bank deposits, and a significant portion of European savings is invested outside our continent. Europe must now channel these funds to support its own businesses,” von der Leyen said.
Among other measures to strengthen the EU economy, she highlighted the comprehensive development and consolidation of the EU single market, reducing energy costs, the adoption of artificial intelligence as a “powerful driver of productivity,” and expanding free trade with international partners.
According to Fixygen, Ukrainian Investment and Analytical Company LLC (UIAK, TM PlanetAvto), a member of the non-bank financial group “PLANETGROUP,” began the initial offering of its debut Series A corporate bond issue totaling 50 million UAH on August 25.
Under the terms of the issue, investors are being offered 50,000 bonds with a par value of 1,000 UAH each. The interest rate for the first four interest periods—that is, the first year of circulation—is set at 25% per annum in UAH, with the coupon paid quarterly.
The initial offering will run from August 25 to September 8, 2026. The total term of the bonds is five years, with an annual offer allowing holders to present the securities to the issuer for redemption at par value.
After the first four interest periods, the rate will be determined in accordance with the terms of the prospectus and may range from 5% to 35% per annum.
The investment firm “UNIVER Capital” is acting as the organizer and underwriter of the offering. Individuals and legal entities may submit applications to purchase bonds via the UNIVER app or the investor’s account. Settlements during the initial offering are conducted on a DvP (“delivery versus payment”) basis.
Following the completion of the initial offering, “UNIVER Capital” plans to maintain two-way quotes for the bonds on the secondary market.
UIAC states that it plans to allocate 100% of the funds raised toward expanding its automotive financial leasing portfolio. The company has been operating in the market since 2013 and holds a license to provide financial leasing services.
As reported by Open4Business, in 2025, UIAK’s revenue grew nearly 2.9-fold—to 40.68 million UAH, with net income totaling approximately 3.02 million UAH. According to the offering prospectus, the company forecasts revenue of 50 million UAH and net income of approximately 5 million UAH for 2026.
According to data provided by the group, UIAK’s assets as of the end of 2025 totaled approximately 27.2 million UAH, and its equity was approximately 21 million UAH.
The company’s main areas of activity are financial leasing and automobile sales. UIAK is integrated into the infrastructure of the PlanetAvto automotive marketplace.
Andriy Kovtun and Tetiana Yagupova are co-owners of the company on an equal basis. Kovtun is also the controlling shareholder of the non-bank financial group “PLANETGROUP.”
The group is simultaneously developing its fundraising efforts through the corporate bond market and other participants in the ecosystem. In August, Avtokredit Plus LLC (PlanetAvto) began placing Series C bonds totaling 100 million UAH with an interest rate of 24% per annum for the first four interest periods. The proceeds from this issuance are also being directed toward the development of auto financial leasing.
Thus, the total volume of the two current bond programs of PlanetAvto Group companies amounts to 150 million UAH.
Open4Business previously reported on August 17, 2026, that UIAK had registered its debut five-year bond issue worth 50 million UAH.
The “Autostrada” Group of Companies purchased 100 new Mercedes-Benz Arocs dump trucks with a total value of 1 billion UAH, according to the group’s founder, Maksym Shkil.
“Autostrada continues to systematically invest in expanding its fleet and its own production capabilities. The company has purchased 100 new Mercedes-Benz Arocs 5 4142 K (8×4) dump trucks. This is one of Autostrada’s largest investments in fleet modernization since the start of the full-scale war—it totals 1 billion hryvnia,” Shkil wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
According to him, the group has invested over 10 billion hryvnia in vehicles, specialized equipment, and production facilities since the start of the war.
Shkil emphasized that a key component of this particular deal was comprehensive protection for the vehicles against military risks: all vehicles have full insurance coverage, including comprehensive coverage (CASCO), civil liability, and additional insurance against military risks.
The new dump trucks have already been dispatched to Autostrada’s construction sites throughout Ukraine.
Mercedes-Benz Arocs trucks are designed for intensive use and heavy loads. The 421-ks OM 471 engines, 8×4 wheel configuration, and MEILLER Halfpipe bodies provide the necessary performance for operating in challenging road and working conditions.
“Even amid the war, we continue to develop our own technical infrastructure, implement modern technologies, and invest in our team. This approach allows us to control key production processes, reduce dependence on external resources, and ensure on-time delivery, quality, and results at every stage of project implementation,” Shkil emphasized.
The purchase was financed in partnership with OTP Leasing Ukraine, with which Autostrada has been collaborating for 10 years.
The Autostrada Group of Companies is a leader in infrastructure construction in Ukraine. Its areas of activity include road construction, bridge construction, industrial construction, underground construction, and design.
According to data from YouControl, in January–June of this year, Autostrada Group LLC reported 2.4 million UAH in net profit (compared to 91.1 million UAH for the same period in 2025) and 1.92 billion UAH in net revenue (5.13 billion UAH).
As previously reported, a missile strike on “Autostrada’s” production facility in Kyiv in early August destroyed and damaged more than 20 pieces of equipment, a concrete plant, a service center for equipment repairs, production facilities, and a laboratory complex.
Autostrada, dump truck, EQUIPMENT, INVESTMENT, MERCEDES-BENZ, ШКІЛЬ
The State Property Fund (SPF) of Ukraine has announced the privatization of the state-owned enterprise “Drohobych Salt Plant” for the second time, according to a Facebook post by the company’s director, Oleg Petrenko.
“The State Property Fund is announcing the privatization of our enterprise for the second time. As the head of the enterprise, I support privatization—it can bring new investments and growth to the enterprise. The main thing is that this process be conducted consistently and transparently, without backroom deals or haste that could be manipulated to serve someone’s interests,” he noted.
The company’s director noted that the Drohobych Salt Works is a profitable enterprise that has been operating for over 600 years, preserving the traditional method of salt boiling, and is one of the few such facilities in Europe.
“Drohobych salt has a future. And we believe that we can build that future without losing what we have already achieved,” Petrenko concluded.
The state-owned enterprise “Drohobych Saltworks” has been in operation since the 14th century and is one of the oldest continuously operating salt production facilities in Europe. The enterprise extracts natural brine and produces table salt using traditional technology. In 2024, the plant produced and sold 678.3 metric tons of salt.
According to Opendatabot, in 2025, the revenue of the Drohobych Salt Works State Enterprise grew by 40.3%—to 34.4 million UAH—and its net profit increased by 33.8%, to 849,200 UAH.
Drohobych, INVESTMENT, PRIVATIZATION, saltworks, STATE PROPERTY FUND
The Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine has decided to provide a total of 56 million hryvnias in state support to the “ART PACK INDUSTRIAL” industrial park in the Khmelnytskyi region and the “KRONOSPAN RIVNE” industrial park in the Rivne region, the ministry announced on August 21.
The “ART PACK INDUSTRIAL” industrial park will receive 9.699 million UAH to construct access roads to the park’s territory. An additional 46.305 million UAH will be allocated to “KRONOSPAN RIVNE” for the development of energy infrastructure.
“Government incentives are a practical tool that enables the creation of industrial infrastructure, attracts investment, and fosters the development of the manufacturing sector,” said Vitaliy Kindrativ, Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment of Ukraine. According to him, this support will allow the industrial parks in the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne regions to launch new production facilities more quickly.
Following the new decision, four industrial parks have already received state support since the beginning of 2026 to implement four projects totaling approximately 152 million hryvnias. In late May, “SMART TECH INDUSTRY” in the Poltava region and “Sparrow Park Lviv” became the first recipients this year, receiving over 96.5 million hryvnias. Of this amount, 5.5 million UAH was allocated for the construction of gas and water supply networks in the Poltava industrial park, and another 91 million UAH was allocated for the restoration of infrastructure in the Lviv industrial park that was damaged by a rocket strike.
Government funding for industrial parks is provided on a co-financing basis. Typically, the state covers up to 50% of the project cost, while for de-occupied and frontline territories, as well as for the restoration of infrastructure damaged by hostilities, the share of state support can reach 80%. The maximum amount of funding is up to 150 million hryvnias per industrial park.
Recipients of the funds are required to commission at least 5,000 square meters of industrial real estate within three years and attract at least two participants—industrial enterprises—to the park. The Ministry of Economy has extended the deadline for submitting applications for state incentives in 2026 until August 31.
The “ART PACK INDUSTRIAL” industrial park was included in the state register on December 17, 2025. It is located within the Khmelnytskyi city community, covers 10.22 hectares, and was established for a term of 50 years. The park’s primary focus is stated as the production of paper and paper products. In April 2026, “ART PAK SERVICE” LLC became the managing company.
“KRONOSPAN RIVNE” operates in the village of Horodok in the Rivne District and occupies approximately 85 hectares. The park was entered into the registry in July 2021. Its main areas of focus are the woodworking and furniture industries, as well as warehousing. The initial concept calls for the creation of approximately 1,100 jobs.
For “KRONOSPAN RIVNE,” the current funding is not the first instance of state support. In 2025, the park received an additional 55.3 million UAH for the construction of infrastructure for a cogeneration plant. According to the Rivne Regional State Administration, Kronospan has invested over 560 million euros in production in the region over the past few years, and the industrial park is viewed as a core platform for the development of a furniture cluster.
According to the Ministry of Economy, there are currently 123 registered industrial parks in Ukraine. As of the end of 2025, 37 industrial enterprises had been built or were under construction on their territories, and the total volume of attracted investments exceeded 45 billion UAH.
The 2026 state budget allocates 1 billion UAH for the development of industrial infrastructure in industrial parks as part of the “Made in Ukraine” policy to support Ukrainian manufacturers.
government support, INDUSTRIAL PARK, INDUSTRY, INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT
