Bitcoin and ether retreated from recent highs as investors braced for the release of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s July FOMC meeting minutes, with risk-off sentiment gaining traction ahead of the critical policy update. The cryptocurrency market saw over $500 million in forced liquidations of leveraged long positions, including $124 million in bitcoin and $184 million in ether, as macroeconomic concerns overshadowed recent institutional and corporate adoption momentum. Bitcoin briefly touched $124,496 last week before falling to as low as $114,706, while ether declined 2.5% to $4,354 after nearing its $4,800 record. The correction followed a 50-basis-point inflation print in July, stoking doubts about a September rate cut and triggering…