VanEck maintains a $180,000 Bitcoin forecast, even as CME basis rates hit a 9% peak. Alluvial Raises Total Funding to $22.5M to Meet Institutional Demand. VanEck's latest research indicates institutional demand remains robust, exchange-traded products purchasing 54,000 BTC, digital Asset Treasuries adding 72,000 BTC in July alone. Bitcoin rebounded to $124,000 on August 13 after sliding to $112,000 in early August, setting a new all-time high above July's $123,838. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at close to $115K, 8% down from its ATH. Options markets also show strong bullish positioning with call/put ratios rising to 3.21x - the highest since June 2024. A 25% out-of-the-money one-year call now costs approximately 6% of the spot price, compared to 18% in late 2024. NoOnes CEO Ray Youssef noting the correction followed overextended leverage after reaching new highs above $124,000. A decisive break below $112,000 could trigger a deeper retracement toward $110,000 and potentially $105,000. Copper's head of research, Fadi Aboualfa, suggested Bitcoin appears primed for another significant leg upward and projected Bitcoin could breach $140,000 in September and reach $150,000 by early October.