Better on-ramps and embedded swaps are bringing more people on-chain. But DeFi lending and leverage still sit with a small group of large, sophisticated users. In this special edition we map Aave’s user base by deposit size, activity, collateral choices, and risk posture to understand who powers the protocol and what that implies for liquidity, stability, and growth.

Bitcoin pushed back toward its all-time high near $123k early Monday after rebounding from early August lows around $112k. The move tracked a broader risk rally as markets priced a September Fed cut. Stephen Miran’s nomination to the Fed Board last week reinforced that view after weak July jobs data. A softer dollar added a tailwind, lifting USD‑quoted flows and amplifying BTC’s gains.

The bulk of public earnings took place last week, with plenty of crypto-related news to digest. In today’s Data Debrief, we’re focusing on Coinbase’s quarterly results and market positioning, looking at volume share versus competitors, COIN share performance, and the top asset performers on the exchange, along with their quarterly trends and the company’s strategy in becoming the “Everything Exchange.”

It’s a big week ahead for macro news, with multiple central bank meetings, including the Fed, and a plethora of economic data to sift through. Moreover, crypto markets just absorbed a enormous $9bn BTC sale without much fuss. We explore all these topics and more in this week’s debrief.