Crypto is holding on steady amid big stories on Nvidia monopoly business under fire in China, nerves around the FOMC Meeting, and the winding down of the SEC Gemini lawsuit. 
BTC ▲0.79% is sitting pretty near $116K. 
ETH ▲0.04%, although dropped from $4,759 last week, is holding above $4,500, as the market is waiting.
Over in China, regulators are challenging what many believe is an unfair grip—that is, the Nvidia monopoly business model, especially following its Mellanox takeover in 2020.
Because this Nvidia Monopoly Business setup affects GPU supply, many AI crypto projects and miners could feel the squeeze. Decentralized alternatives are now getting more attention. When Nvidia monopoly business is questioned, ripple effects reach deep into crypto’s AI layer.
The result? Nvidia shares dropped about 3%, and AI‑tokens like 
FET ▲1.72% took a hit.
(source – AI Crypto, CoinGecko)
Besides Nvidia Monopoly Business Dominance: FOMC Meeting and SEC Gemini Settlement are in Focus
All eyes are now on the FOMC Meeting. The market nearly expects the first rate cut in ages, about 25 basis points(bps). If it happens, it may loosen lending, free up liquidity, and push Bitcoin, and especially altcoins, upward. But if the FOMC Meeting surprises hawkishly, the opposite would likely happen.
Ethereum staking becomes more attractive in lower‑rate spaces, as Solana has already been reacting to this possible pivot. The FOMC Meeting could be the trigger that defines momentum for months.
For now, CME fedwatch is giving more than 96% probability on rate cuts for this week meeting, while 91% of crypto bros are betting on 25 bps cut on PolyMarket.
(source – CME FedWatch)
DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025
SEC Gemini Settlement: A Quiet End, But Future Questions Loom
In the US, the SEC Gemini settlement over the Earn program is nearing completion. While no admission of wrongdoing, it ends years of legal burden.
JUST IN: US SEC and Gemini Trust have reached a preliminary agreement to settle the lawsuit over its unregistered crypto lending program, according to court filings. pic.twitter.com/bjqN2hqACH
— Crypto Briefing (@Crypto_Briefing) September 15, 2025
It is also a signal that the SEC is still building walls between crypto and regulation. Yet the irony is, the future will be the past as crypto innovation catches up, despite these barriers.
This time, SEC Gemini resolution helps ease some uncertainty. Lending platforms, stablecoins, and Gemini’s IPO hopes are all getting a clearer path. At the same time, the SEC should stop resisting new crypto models and start thinking forward.
As the present now. Will later be past. The order is rapidly fadin’. – The Times They Are A-Changin, Bob Dylan
DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025
Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates
XRP USD Steady At $3 Ahead of FOMC: XRP Whale Dumps Huge Stockpile
As more capital pours into crypto ahead of the highly anticipated rate cut on September 17, XRP news continues to trend; and for the right reasons. XRP USD is relatively firm, weaving around $3, and managing to shake off the weakness seen in the second half of last week.
According to Coingecko, XRP crypto is still at third, flipping USDT, and cementing its position as the third most valuable coin. With every tick higher from the psychological round number at $3, there is a high probability of XRP USD flying above $3.7 to reach fresh all-time highs. Presently, the XRP price is up +430% year-to-date, outperforming some of the top Solana meme coins.
(Source: Coingecko)
Zooming to XRP USDT trading status across top perpetual exchanges, momentum is slowly building. According to Coinglass, the long/short ratio on Binance averages over 3, suggesting that most traders and XRP accounts expect the XRP price to edge higher.
(Source: Coinglass)
Even so, there is a concerning drop in trading volume on Binance, Bybit, and Bitget. On Binance, XRP-related trading volume stands at $2.1Bn, down nearly -13% in the past day.
DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in 2025
Check the original story here.
Jesse Pollack Base Pump Inbound: Best Base Meme Coins to Buy?
Coinbase’s Base network may soon introduce a native token. Jesse Pollak, the founder of Base, mentioned this at the recent BaseCamp event. He indicated that they are exploring the possibility, although nothing has been finalized yet. With so much chatter surrounding a potential BASE token, traders are seeking out the best Base meme coins to buy.
Currently, there is no official timeline or design, just open discussions on the matter. This marks a significant shift from prior statements made by Pollack and other higher-ups within Base, which suggested there were no plans for a token.
Base is beginning to explore a network token
We’re in the early phases of exploration, and don’t have any specifics to share around timing, design, or governance. We’re committed to bringing the community along with us, and building in the open. pic.twitter.com/KUKzrfjzXT
— Base (@base) September 15, 2025
Read the full story here.
Is Avalanche AVAX an S-Tier Crypto Chain? Can Bitwise Spot ETF Revive AVAX/USD?
On Twitter, one user recently claimed that Avax is an S-tier crypto, ranking it next to Solana while bizarrely placing Ethereum and Bitcoin in the D-tier. It’s a bold take, especially considering Bitwise just filed for a spot AVAX crypto ETF, sparking renewed interest in Avalanche. With the Bitwise filing aiming to put AVAX in traditional investment portfolios, the excitement around AVAX/USD is getting real.
Blockchain tier list:
S: Solana, Avalanche, Hyperliquid
A: Arbitrum, Base
B: Near, Ronin
C: BNB, Sui
D: Bitcoin, Ethereum
F: Cardano— voh
(@vohvohh) September 15, 2025
But let’s be clear, while Avalanche is a promising chain, placing it on par with Ethereum or Bitcoin is more meme than fact. Even with Bitwise making institutional noise, 
AVAX ▲7.55% is still far from elite.
DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025
Read the full story here.
AVAX Price Prediction Shoots High Amid AVAX ETF Application
The Avalanche crypto is making headlines after crypto asset manager Bitwise filed an S-1 application with the SEC to launch the first spot AVAX ETF, sparking renewed excitement around AVAX price prediction trends.
AVAX climbed to $30 following the news, as traders began speculating that the ETF could be the catalyst to ignite the next altcoin bull run. Historically, ETF filings for Bitcoin and Ethereum have triggered massive rallies of institutional demand, and many now believe Avalanche could be next in line as FOMO builds across the crypto market.
If approved, the Bitwise AVAX ETF would make it easier for traditional investors to gain exposure to Avalanche without directly holding crypto, potentially unlocking billions in new liquidity for the network and driving AVAX prices to fresh yearly highs.
Read the full article here.
The post Latest Crypto News Today, September 16: Nvidia Monopoly Business in China, Expecting FOMC Meeting Result as SEC Ends Gemini Lawsuit appeared first on 99Bitcoins.