Deep Dive
1. Shelby/NEAR Collaboration (Bullish Impact)
Overview: Aptos partnered with Shelby (decentralized storage) and NEAR Protocol on September 4 to enable bridge-free cross-chain swaps (e.g., BTC→APT) and integrate NEAR’s AI data stack. The news coincided with APT’s price rebounding from $4.36 to $4.51.
What this means: The collaboration addresses Aptos’ interoperability limitations while expanding its institutional appeal – Shelby’s clients include BlackRock and Franklin Templeton. Reduced friction for Bitcoin holders to access Aptos DeFi could boost network activity and APT demand as a gas token.
What to watch: NEAR’s Shelby integration timeline and cross-chain volume metrics.
2. Stablecoin Inflows Signal Confidence (Bullish Impact)
Overview: Aptos ranked #2 among all chains for stablecoin inflows ($51M) on September 4, per community reports. USDC and USDT supply on Aptos now exceeds $1.4B, supporting DeFi protocols like Aave ($2M deposits).
What this means: Stablecoin growth correlates with higher APT utility – more liquidity enables leveraged trading, yield farming, and institutional treasury management. APT’s 7-day price gain (+5.7%) aligns with this capital inflow.
3. Technical Rebound from Support (Mixed Impact)
Overview: APT reclaimed its 30-day SMA ($4.46) and holds above the 61.8% Fibonacci level ($4.51). The MACD histogram turned positive (+0.033) for the first time since August 30, signaling waning bearish momentum.
What this means: Traders are defending $4.34–$4.50 as a value zone, but RSI (53.72) shows neutral momentum. A close above $4.76 (38.2% Fib) could trigger short-term upside, while failure risks retesting $4.12.
Conclusion
Aptos’ price rise reflects guarded optimism about its cross-chain capabilities and DeFi traction, though macro headwinds (crypto market turnover ratio -28.89% MoM) limit upside. Key watch: Can APT hold $4.50 through September 13’s $5.6M token unlock?