A pseudonymous trader scored a massive payday on Monday, turning a $15 million WLFI investment into $250 million as hackers targeted the token’s debut.
Exploiters are increasingly targeting WLFI holders as it gains in mindshare and popularity following its trading launch.
A Trump-linked DeFi project proposes using all liquidity fees to permanently reduce supply, as steep early losses highlight investor skepticism.
World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform supported by President Donald Trump, has officially launched its native token WLFI. Although the debut of WLFI marks a significant step for the Trump family, its initial performance has been lackluster compared to the anticipation it garnered in recent weeks. WLFI Token Faces 12% Decline According to CoinGecko data, the WLFI price had already seen losses of up to 12% by the time of writing. It is attempting to consolidate at the $0.24 mark, which could be the cryptocurrency’s first support line for the rest of the week. Upon launch, WLFI reached a high of $0.33 and a low of $0.23 earlier on Monday’s trading session. This represents a nearly 25% gap from the current trading levels and the recently established all-time high for the World Liberty Financial token. Related Reading: XLM Battles $0.45 Resistance Again: Is This the Breakout That Finally Sparks a Run to $1? Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump, took to social media platform X to defend the token’s legitimacy, stating, “This isn’t some memecoin; it’s the governance backbone of a real ecosystem changing how money moves. Freedom + finance + America FIRST.” World Liberty Financial was established last October, with Donald Trump serving as “co-founder emeritus” alongside his three sons. The company initially created 100 billion WLFI tokens, of which about a quarter were sold for a face value of $550 million. However, these tokens were not initially tradeable and could only be used for voting on corporate matters within the company. A vote last month permitted the tokens to be traded, allowing for a nominal total market value of around $6.4 billion based on the current price. In the initial trading phase, 24.7 billion WLFI tokens are set to be available, which includes 7.8 billion tokens earmarked for a newly announced “crypto treasury” company in collaboration with ALT5 Sigma, a Nasdaq-listed fintech company. Critics Raise Conflict Of Interest Concerns Financial disclosures reveal that Donald Trump held approximately 15.75 billion WLFI tokens at the end of last year, which, at the current trading price, would be valued approximately $3.6 billion. However, the Trump family’s involvement in the sector has drawn criticism among Democrats. Senator Elizabeth Warren raised concerns in an April letter, arguing that the Trump family’s financial interests in World Liberty Financial create a conflict of interest that could influence regulatory decisions in favor of cryptocurrency. Related Reading: XRP Price Action Turns Bearish, Analyst Says Crash Below $1 Is Coming Earlier this year, the company also launched a stablecoin named USD1, pegged to the dollar, with a total nominal value of $2.7 billion. The head of crypto market maker DWF Markets, Andrei Grachev, who is also an investor in WLFI, announced plans to shift $250 million of reserves into USD1. Featured image from NBC, chart from TradingView.com
President Donald Trump's son said he would love for his father and China's President Xi Jinping to talk about bitcoin at a coming meeting.
The Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with the digital asset platform Crypto.com and the special-purpose acquisition company Yorkville to create the first Cronos (CRO) treasury. New CRO Treasury Project The announcement details a definitive agreement between these entities to form Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, Inc., a dedicated digital asset treasury company aimed at acquiring Crypto.com’s native token. The funding structure for this project comprises $1 billion in CRO tokens—representing approximately 19% of the total market capitalization of CRO at the time of the announcement—alongside $200 million in cash and $220 million from cash-in mandatory exercise warrants. Related Reading: Pro-XRP Lawyer Blasts SEC Lead Counsel In Ripple Case Following Conclusion Additionally, the venture will benefit from a substantial $5 billion equity line of credit from an affiliate of Yorkville, positioning the Trump Media Group CRO Strategy as potentially the largest publicly traded CRO treasury company. Devin Nunes, Chairman and CEO of Trump Media, emphasized the growing importance of digital asset treasuries. He stated: Financial markets are becoming increasingly digital every day, and companies of all sizes and sectors are strategically planning for the future by establishing digital asset treasuries anchored by assets that have created a comprehensive value proposition. Trump Media’s Crypto Ambitions Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com, highlighted the project’s scale and structure, noting that it would encompass more than the current market capitalization of CRO. Interestingly, he added that the project’s unique characteristics, such as the share lock-ups and a validator strategy for the treasury, set it apart from other digital asset treasury initiatives. Related Reading: Is $105,000 The Bitcoin Bull Run Killer Or Just Noise? Top Analyst Explains This new endeavor, however, is not Trump Media’s first foray into cryptocurrencies. The company had previously announced its significant holdings, including $2 billion in Bitcoin and a planned $300 million allocation for an options-based strategy focused on the leading cryptocurrency. Furthermore, just two weeks ago, it was revealed that Crypto.com will serve as the Bitcoin custodian for President Donald Trump’s media company in its S-1 registration for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) if approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As of press time, CRO has capitalized on this momentum, surging 22% toward the $0.20 milestone following the announcement. This positions Crypto.com’s native token as one of the market’s top performers in both the monthly and year-to-date periods, with surges of 40% and 120%, respectively. Compared to its all-time high, CRO is still trading 79% below the $0.96 price. However, positive market momentum and the adoption of the same strategy by more companies could further fuel the rally, bringing it closer to these levels. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
If approved, the SEC's decision on TRUMP token 's ETF could set a precedent for future ETFs tied to politically-linked digital assets.
Traders piled into short positions against WLFI as the Trump-linked DeFi token debuted on Hyperliquid, sending its price tumbling more than 44% in hours.
Trump Media will buy $105 million in CRO while Crypto.com takes $50 million in DJT stock as part of a partnership that makes the Cronos token central to Truth Social’s rewards system.
Eric Trump says he’s a “bitcoin maxi” and sees BTC hitting $175K this year, as reports point to new ventures in Japan and Hong Kong.
Bitcoin’s next major leg higher may depend less on halving lore and more on personnel politics in Washington. In an August 18 market note on X, economist and crypto analyst Alex Krüger argued that the cycle’s duration will be set by the Federal Reserve’s leadership change—specifically, who President Trump nominates to replace Jerome Powell—rather than by any fixed four-year pattern. “I have a high degree of confidence this cycle is not over because I am expecting changes in the Fed to bring on considerably more dovish monetary policy, which is not priced in at the moment; this would start to get priced in once Trump announces his nominee to replace Powell,” Krüger wrote. Bitcoin Bull Run Depends On New Fed Chair Krüger dismissed worries that a pullback from record highs marks the top, calling it “remarkable how every time you get a correction from new highs so many people start to fret about the cycle top. Over and over again.” He reiterated his longstanding critique of the halving-cycle orthodoxy: “The concept of a 4 year cycle in 2025 is misplaced; [it] died two cycles ago, and 2021 was a coincidence, as it was macro driven.” In his view, the last cycle ended because the Fed turned “ultra-hawkish in January 2022,” not because of any endogenous Bitcoin dynamic. Related Reading: Crypto Braces For Impact As JPow’s Jackson Hole Speech Looms The nomination clock is visible. Powell’s current four-year term as chair ends on May 15, 2026, and reporting over the past two weeks indicates the White House has narrowed a shortlist to “three or four” names, with an announcement potentially coming sooner than expected. Candidates floated in mainstream coverage include former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and NEC Director Kevin Hassett among others, underscoring the market’s focus on how dovish—or not—the next chair might be. In the nearer term, the policy calendar still drives the tape. Powell’s final Jackson Hole appearance, scheduled during the Aug. 21–23 symposium, is widely framed as a tone-setting moment before the September FOMC. Consensus coverage flags the risk that Powell leans hawkish to preserve optionality, even as rates markets handicap a cut next month; Krüger leans “slightly bearish into it as a hawkish speech (to reduce the odds of a September cut) makes sense, for the Fed to retain optionality and not let the market push itself into a corner.” Technically, Bitcoin has cooled after printing fresh all-time highs in mid-July and again last week. Traders are watching the previous $112,000 high as initial downside cushion, with the psychologically critical $100,000 level, the overhead reference remains the $122,000–$124,000 zone of recent peaks. Krüger also highlights that “BTC is having a very hard time going up sans leverage without triggers,” a point echoed by derivatives signals showing compressed risk appetite. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bulls Must Survive Brutal September Before Q4 Hope, Analyst Predicts Derivatives and volatility gauges corroborate the “low-vol, slow ascent” regime he describes. Implied volatility on BTC options (DVOL/BVIV) has sat near two-year lows, and open interest on institutional venues remains off July highs, signaling a more measured stance from levered players into Jackson Hole. Krüger also observed that futures basis had eased alongside the pullback—a classic sign of froth leaking out—while options markets show a renewed bid for downside protection on dips. The macro through-line is straightforward: if the Fed chair nomination tilts dovish, markets will begin discounting a looser stance well before the first policy move, extending the cycle; if the candidate (and subsequent guidance) skews restrictive, the liquidity impulse that powered Bitcoin’s post-ETF advance will fade at the margin. For now, the immediate catalysts are stacked—Powell at Jackson Hole, followed by PCE, NFP, CPI and PPI into September’s FOMC—while price trades between well-defined levels with volatility suppressed. As Krüger put it, bull markets “don’t end because of valuations or over-extension; the end needs a major trigger.” In 2025, that trigger may well be a name. At press time, BTC traded at $115,683. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized President Donald Trump for allowing crypto insiders to shape federal policy, saying the approach puts investors at risk. In an Aug. 18 post on X, Pritzker contrasted Trump’s approach to his state’s commitment to structured, investor-focused regulations. According to him: “While Trump lets crypto bros write federal policy, Illinois is […]
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American Bitcoin, the recently established mining company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, is actively seeking opportunities to acquire companies in Asia to bolster its Bitcoin (BTC) reserves. According to a report by the Financial Times, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the company aims to purchase a publicly listed firm in Japan, with potential interests in Hong Kong as well. American Bitcoin Aims To Mirror Strategy’s Success American Bitcoin is already in the process of developing its own strategic Bitcoin reserve, mulling President Donald Trump’s very own vision of creating a stockpile of the market’s leading crypto for the country. The Financial Times asserts that the company established in collaboration with Hut 8 is currently engaging with investors in the Asian region regarding potential acquisitions. Related Reading: Ethereum Faces The Level That Decides Everything: Analyst The company’s ambition is said to mirror the successful approach of Michael Saylor, the founder of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which has the largest Bitcoin holdings of any public company, surpassing 600,000 BTC coins according to Bitcointreasuries.Net data. The firm’s goal coincides with that of other companies exploring the crypto treasury reserve approach. These companies focus on assets beyond Bitcoin, including Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), and TRON, among others. These firms sell shares or debt to fund their purchases of digital assets, allowing investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrency prices without directly owning the tokens. This method has appealed to many traders, particularly in a newly favorable regulatory environment for digital assets in the US. Trump Family Strengthens Crypto Presence The company is preparing to go public in September via a reverse merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, which is already listed on Nasdaq under the ticker name GRYP. Eric Trump serves as the co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, a rebranded entity that evolved from American Data Centers (ADC), previously a subsidiary of Dominari Holdings. American Bitcoin recently disclosed its goal of creating an efficient platform for Bitcoin accumulation, emphasizing active treasury management and long-term value creation for shareholders. The company noted that while it is exploring opportunities in specific regions, no binding commitments have yet been made. The Asian market, particularly Hong Kong, has been making significant efforts to become a hub for digital assets. Establishing treasury companies in these regions could generate new demand for cryptocurrencies, which aligns with American Bitcoin’s vision. Related Reading: BTC Slips Below $120K as Policy Shifts Rattle Markets: Is This a Setup for the Next Big Rally? In addition to American Bitcoin, the Trump family has diversified its crypto ventures. President Donald Trump recently reported earnings of $57 million from his involvement with World Liberty Financial, which announced plans to acquire $1.5 billion worth of its own WLFI tokens. Meanwhile, the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) intends to raise funds for a “Bitcoin treasury,” highlighting the family’s ongoing commitment to the cryptocurrency space. As of this writing, American Bitcoin holds 1,941 BTC, currently valued at approximately $227 million. Bitcoin is currently trading at $117,270, having retraced 5% from its record high of $124,100 earlier this week. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
According to reports, Canary Capital has taken a formal step toward an ETF tied to the TRUMP memecoin by registering an entity called the “Canary Trump Coin ETF” with the Delaware Division of Corporations on August 13. Related Reading: Chainlink Breaks 3-Month High Amid Record 2025 Enthusiasm That registration is an early, procedural move and does not mean the fund has been filed with or approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Markets reacted quickly; TRUMP rebounded from about $9.35 to $9.55 after the news, marking just over 10% gains for the week at press time. Regulatory Route And Competing Filings Based on reports, the registration adds to a growing list of institutional bids to package memecoins. Companies such as Grayscale, Bitwise, and 21Shares have already pursued funds linked to Dogecoin, while Osprey Funds and REX Shares filed for TRUMP-related products earlier in the year on January 21. Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas has suggested Canary may be positioning for a filing under the 33 Act, which would differ from other teams that have used the 40 Act. That choice could change the form of filings and the timeline for review. Looks Canary is prepping to poss file for first Trump Coin ETF via the ’33 Act. They registered the name an entity as statutory trust (33 act). Tuttle has Trump (and Melania) coin ETFs filed but via ’40 Act.. h/t source: @Cointelegraph pic.twitter.com/crz2ZApHkE — Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) August 13, 2025 What Registration Means And Why It Matters An entity registration in Delaware is a common legal step before formal SEC submissions like S-1s or 19b-4s. It signals intent and lets market participants spot plans early. It does not mean the SEC has weighed in, and approval would still hinge on custody, market surveillance, and other protections regulators demand. The filing has given TRUMP token holders reason for optimism because a regulated vehicle could bring new liquidity, but it would not change the token’s fundamentals. Momentum And Market Moves Reports have disclosed that the TRUMP token saw a price uptick after the registration announcement. That reaction is typical: headlines attract retail attention, and memecoins are highly sensitive to news flow. Related Reading: Dogecoin Draws New Attention As Open Interest Tops $3 Billion Still, TRUMP remains far below its January peak of $75 — about 60% below that high — and any fund launch would only channel speculation into a regulated wrapper, not create earnings or cash flows for the token itself. There are risks to watch. Memecoins are commonly treated as commodities by regulators, which helps the case for ETF structures, but concentration in a few wallets, unclear custody arrangements, and the potential for market manipulation are real concerns. Approval would likely require third-party custody, audits, and exchange surveillance plans that make the product less fragile than an unregulated token listing. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin fell sharply Thursday after the US Treasury made clear it will not add to a planned Bitcoin reserve through new purchases. Related Reading: Solana Strategy: Nasdaq Firm Taps Arthur Hayes For Advisory Role Prices had earlier rallied to an intraday high near $124,120, but traders saw gains reverse and the token backpedaled to around $118,550 later in the session. Markets were jittery, and parts of the crypto futures market saw forced liquidations during the sell-off. Treasury Rules Out New Buys According to reports, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business the government will not be buying additional Bitcoin for the reserve and that future additions will come from confiscated assets. “We’re not going to be buying that,” he said, and he added the Treasury would “stop selling” holdings it already controls. Bessent estimated the reserve’s current value at somewhere between $15 billion and $20 billion. The comments stand in relief to an earlier move by US President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order asking for budget-neutral plans to grow strategic Bitcoin holdings. JUST IN: ???????? Treasury Secretary Bessent says the US Government is “not going to be buying” Bitcoin. pic.twitter.com/vL79P531CP — Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) August 14, 2025 Market Reaction And Price Swings Based on reports, the sell-off erased a chunk of Thursday’s gains. One feed showed Bitcoin drop from about $121,050 to $117,201 within an hour, while other data points put the low near $118,460. Trading platforms recorded a wave of liquidations estimated at roughly $450 million around the same time. Traders said the sudden shift was driven by the clarity in policy — investors had been pricing a possible government buyback program into earlier optimism, and that expectation faded after Bessent’s remarks. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox, “We are not going to be buying,” referring to crypto reserves, and will instead use seized assets. He has also stated that the value of Bitcoin reserves is about $15 billion to $20 billion, and that the… — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 14, 2025 Macroeconomic Signals And Tariff Revenue Reports have also disclosed that Bessent linked some balance-sheet plans to rising tariff collections, saying July brought nearly $30 billion in tariff revenues. Bessent suggested annual tariff receipts could top a previous projection of $300 billion, a figure he said could help fund other asset strategies. The timing of his comments also came as US data showed the Producer Price Index rising 3.3% year-on-year and 0.9% month-on-month for July, numbers that add to the broader economic backdrop investors are watching. Related Reading: Dogecoin Draws New Attention As Open Interest Tops $3 Billion Confiscated Assets Versus Direct Purchases The Treasury secretary’s note that confiscated assets will be used to grow the reserve shifts the funding model away from direct Treasury buys. For now, that means any further increase in the reserve would be gradual and dependent on law enforcement recoveries rather than market purchases. Market participants said that stance removes a clear, predictable buyer from the market, which can make price swings larger over short windows — exactly what traders saw on Thursday. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
On Monday, ALT5 Sigma, a fintech company specializing in blockchain infrastructure, unveiled plans to establish a crypto treasury focusing on the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) project—a venture backed by the Trump family. The announcement, however, was met with a swift and negative reaction from investors, resulting in a significant drop in the company’s stock price. First Crypto Treasury Focusing On World Liberty Financial ALT5 Sigma, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker name “ATLS”, aims to raise $1.5 billion to become the first publicly traded company to hold WLFI, the governance token associated with World Liberty Financial. In a press release dated August 11, the company disclosed that it plans to raise these funds through a registered direct offering and a private placement, which will involve selling up to 100 million shares at a price of $7.50 each. Related Reading: Analyst Says What Happened With Bitcoin Is About To Happen With XRP Notably, the private placement will be conducted using WLFI tokens, which are currently non-transferable and will be treated as an over-the-counter (OTC) transaction. In its regulatory filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ALT5 Sigma stated that acquiring WLFI directly from World Liberty Financial is currently the only option, as the tokens remain locked and cannot be traded. The filing also warned that if the company fails to acquire the tokens on favorable terms or at all, it may impair its ability to execute its digital asset treasury strategy, potentially requiring a reallocation of assets within the treasury. ALT5 Sigma Shares Plunge 26% Prior to the announcement with World Liberty Financial, ALT5 Sigma’s shares had been performing well, nearing $20 in pre-market trading and more than doubling in value. However, the news of the treasury plans reversed this momentum dramatically. By the close of trading on Monday, shares had plummeted by 26.42%, settling at $6.60. As of the latest reports, ALT5’s stock continues to hover around $6, reflecting a decline of about 10% over the past week. With the treasury acquisition, Zach Witkoff, co-founder of World Liberty Financial, is set to become ALT5’s chairman. Eric Trump, another WLFI co-founder, will join the board as a director. Additionally, Zak Folkman, also a co-founder, will serve as a board observer, while Matt Morgan, CEO of Blockstreet, will take on the role of chief investment officer. Related Reading: Ethereum Retail Mood Still Bearish: Perfect Setup For ATH Break? It’s important to note that the WLFI token, designed as a non-tradeable governance token, was launched in October 2024, with a subsequent announcement of a USD1 stablecoin in March. In mid-July, World Liberty Financial holders voted to allow the token to become tradable, facilitating peer-to-peer transactions and secondary market activity. However, for now, the movement of tokens remains limited, with trade eligibility constrained to a select group of early supporters. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
The Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, recently announced a plan to raise $1.5 billion through a partnership with ALT5 Sigma Corporation, a publicly listed company in the US. According to a report by Fortune, the funds will be utilized for the acquisition of WLFI, the native token of World Liberty Financial. ALT5 Sigma revealed that it intends to sell a combination of 200 million new and existing shares, directing the proceeds toward this purchase. Trump Family Ventures Deeper Into Crypto This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Trump family to leverage the growing trend of utilizing publicly traded or blank-check companies to provide investors with greater access to cryptocurrencies. This approach gained traction thanks to figures like Michael Saylor, who transformed Strategy (previously MicroStrategy) into a cryptocurrency powerhouse by adding substantial amounts of Bitcoin (BTC) to its balance sheet. Related Reading: XRP Price Could Explode To $3.8 Amid Trend Continuation The landscape has since seen a surge of similar ventures. Beyond Bitcoin, various treasury companies have emerged for cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH), Sui (SUI), Binance Coin (BNB) and Ethena (ENA) each promoting their stocks as a means for traditional investors to engage with the crypto market. As part of this expansion, Zach Witkoff, the CEO of World Liberty and son of prominent businessman Steve Witkoff, will take on the role of chairman at ALT5 Sigma. Eric Trump, another son of President Donald Trump and co-founder of World Liberty, will join the board, alongside Zak Folkman, the company’s chief operating officer (COO), who will serve as a board observer. World Liberty Financial To Make Tokens Tradable This move marks the latest chapter in the Trump family’s growing involvement in cryptocurrency. In addition to World Liberty’s initiatives, Donald and Melania Trump launched their own memecoins, TRUMP and MELANIA, earlier this year. Meanwhile, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have backed World Liberty Financial and established a Bitcoin mining operation under American Bitcoin in partnership with Hut 8. Related Reading: AI Models Predict Ethereum Cycle Top At $15,000: Analyst Furthermore, Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), which oversees the social media platform Truth Social, has shifted its focus toward crypto investments, recently adding $2 billion worth of Bitcoin to its balance sheet. Additionally, the holders of the WLFI token have voted overwhelmingly in favor of making their tokens tradable, a decision that could significantly influence their market value and the financial interests of the Trump family. The proposal to initiate tradability garnered an impressive 99.94% approval from approximately 20,900 votes cast. WLFI Holders expressed their motivations for supporting this move, citing anticipated price increases and a desire to align their investments with their support for Trump. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
On Thursday, the decades-old wall separating US retirement accounts from direct crypto exposure came down — and the potential capital inflow is staggering. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will open 401(k) retirement plans to a broader range of alternative assets, including private equity, real estate, and — for the first time — crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Is A Trillion-Dollar Crypto Flood About To Hit? The news marks a sharp reversal from the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) aggressive stance just three years ago, when the agency issued an unprecedented warning urging retirement plan providers to “exercise extreme caution” before offering crypto in 401(k) plans. As Ryan Rasmussen, Head of Research at Bitwise Asset Management, noted, “It was the first — and only — time the DOL singled out an asset class like this. Not even junk bonds or ESG funds.” In 2022, the DOL went further, stating that adding crypto to a 401(k) could be interpreted as a failure to meet the required fiduciary standard of professional care. The message was unambiguous: providers who failed to meet that standard could be held personally liable for any losses. This effectively froze the market before it began. “401(k) providers had to decide if adding crypto to plans was worth the risk of DOL scrutiny. Most didn’t,” Rasmussen explained. The chilling effect was immediate — sponsors backed off, firms paused crypto-linked retirement products, and investors “missed out on life-changing returns.” Related Reading: USDC Emerges As Top Pick In Booming Crypto Payroll Trend—Survey By mid-2025, however, the tide had turned. Mounting legal pressure, pushback from 401(k) providers, and Congressional criticism of regulatory overreach led the DOL to rescind its “extreme caution” guidance in full. More strikingly, the agency admitted that its 2022 approach was a deviation from its historically neutral treatment of investment strategies. As Rasmussen put it, “Once again, the US government admitted it had singled out crypto.” Now, the executive order will not merely remove the roadblocks but actively open the gates. According to Bloomberg data cited by Rasmussen, the US 401(k) market is valued at approximately $12.5 trillion. Even a 1% allocation to crypto would translate to $125 billion in inflows; a 10% allocation could reach $1.25 trillion. Rasmussen believes the earliest beneficiaries will be assets with existing exchange-traded fund (ETF) structures, naming Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, while adding that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” More Implications For industry observers, the implications extend beyond a one-time capital injection. Tom Dunleavy, Head of Venture at Varys Capital, stressed that the mechanics of 401(k) investing create a powerful and persistent demand driver. “In the US, roughly 100 million Americans have a retirement investment vehicle known as a 401(k),” Dunleavy explained. Related Reading: Crypto Is Here To Stay—Even The SEC Can’t Do Anything About It, Analyst Says “Every 2 weeks, a portion of their paychecks are routed directly into purchasing a mixture of stocks and bonds… This is a HUGE driver of the equity market run and resilience over the past 20 years. A constant background bid for assets.” With around $50 billion entering these funds biweekly, even a modest portfolio allocation to crypto — 1%, 3%, or 5% — could create recurring inflows of $120 billion to $600 billion annually. “And these aren’t one-time flows. THEY KEEP BUYING ONCE ALLOCATIONS ARE SET,” Dunleavy emphasized. Jan Happel and Yann Allemann, the founders of Glassnode and Swissblock, are already calling the move a watershed for mainstream adoption. They remarked via X, “People don’t realize yet how big today’s news has been for crypto… this will be seen as the watershed moment for mainstream adoption, much more than the ETF.” Scott Melker, known as “The Wolf of All Streets,” highlighted the transformational nature of the change: “Until now, the average American couldn’t touch Bitcoin or Altcoins in a 401(k). Soon, they might be able to DCA and trade like a degen tax-free for decades. This isn’t just policy — it’s a paradigm shift.” As Dunleavy summed it up, with 401(k)s and direct asset trusts in place, the policy “put[s] a ridiculous floor under crypto going forward and move[s] the limit from the moon to Jupiter.” At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $3.82 trillion. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The US markets have seen a surge of digital coins. Millions of Americans now hold tokens in their wallets. Blocking all of it suddenly would be nearly impossible. At the same time, leaving this sector with no rules puts everyday investors in harm’s way. Related Reading: Bitcoin Insult Alert: Pro Trader Dubs HODLers ‘Idiots,’ Saylor Fires Back Why Ban Is Off The Table According to Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine, outright banning crypto is off the table. He points out that tens of millions of people own digital assets today. Pulling the plug now would ripple through trading platforms, payment apps, and even major Wall Street firms. Levine argues that such a move would simply drive innovation and jobs offshore. Hostile Past Still Looms Under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, most tokens were treated as stocks. That meant they needed to register under securities laws—a process that almost no project could clear. In practice, that stance rendered crypto “illegal” in the US. Many developers and investors felt shut out. Matt Levine: “We will ban crypto” is no longer feasible for the SEC, and “we will ignore crypto because it’s not a security so not our problem” is not very attractive for the SEC. The only choice left is “we will regulate crypto, but in a way that you like. pic.twitter.com/hBFXTmMnh5 — Sar Haribhakti (@sarthakgh) August 7, 2025 According to analysts, crypto serves two purposes: it powers networks and it offers investment chances. That split role creates regulatory headaches. Many tokens act much like shares in a company, yet they also run on open software and community rules. The SEC knows how to protect stock investors, but digital coins need different safeguards. Project Crypto Signals Change Current SEC Chair Paul Atkins launched “Project Crypto” this year. The goal is to carve out faster, clearer paths for token registration. Projects that truly function as securities could follow a new, streamlined process. At the same time, tokens used mainly for network services would face lighter requirements. Related Reading: Bitcoin Remains ‘Undefeatable’, Tether Chief Says Levine warns that drawing clear lines won’t be easy. How do you tell a governance token from a pure utility token? What level of disclosure makes sense when code can update itself overnight? Those questions will test regulators and industry alike. However, having defined categories would guide honest developers and protect small investors. The SEC now faces a clear choice: use its power, but adapt its toolkit. A full ban would leave retail holders stranded. Total hands-off would leave them exposed to fraud. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order aimed at curbing discrimination against the crypto industry by US banks, the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 4. According to sources familiar with the matter, the order would introduce fines for banks that block transactions involving crypto companies. This measure would address […]
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“The dip was driven by concerns over Trump’s tariff stance and the Fed’s signal that it’s not keen to cut rates soon,” one trader said.
A preview of a White House report on digital assets makes further recommendations to areas already in motion within the Clarity Act to oversee crypto markets and the GENIUS Act for stablecoins.
Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko is facing backlash from the crypto community over his comments about meme coins and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Yakovenko made these remarks against these tokens despite his network being home to most of the top meme coins by market capitalization. Crypto Community Reacts To Solana Founder’s Comments The crypto community criticized Anatoly Yakovenko following his X post, in which he described meme coins and NFTs as “digital slop” and ones that have no intrinsic value. The Solana founder added that, like a mobile game loot box, people spend $150 billion a year on mobile gaming, in reference to his ideology about meme coins and NFTs. Related Reading: These Two Bearish Scenarios Put Solana Price At $162 After Fakeout Crypto marketer Anastasiia Bobeshko described the Solana founder’s comments as being funny, considering the traction that memes have brought into the Solana ecosystem. She further noted that the network made $1.6 billion in the first half of 2025 thanks to these meme coins. Another member of the crypto community, Ethereum developer Hanniabu, had earlier echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting that the network would be nothing without meme coins. Null, a member of the BONK community, declared that the Solana network would have never been where it is today without meme coins. Yakavenko replied sarcastically, saying, “Absolutely. Without lootboxes, iOS would have negligible revenues for Apple.” Meanwhile, Crypto community member Art Chick asked the Solana founder if he had a problem with memecoin traders spending $150 billion a year on his chain, but they don’t see it as mobile gaming. Yakovenko responded and alluded to an earlier reply in which he explained that what is important is the need to monitor data, fix problems, use snipers, and work towards sandwich-resistant market implementations. Difference Between Solana and Base Meme Coins It is worth noting that the Solana founder’s comment about meme coins stemmed from when he criticized a comment from Base’s lead developer Jesse Pollak, who suggested that Zora meme coins (which are Base tokens) are more valuable than those from Solana’s Pump.fun. In response, Yakovenko asked Pollak if Zora coins have any claims on future cash flows from creators, something which Pump.fun has. Related Reading: Top Meme Coins Stealing The Spotlight As Bitcoin Price Hits $118,000 ATH Pollak then clarified that each coin’s value depends on their fundamentals, which is why he believes that not all meme coins are the same. However, the Solana founder doesn’t believe meme coins as a whole have any “intrinsic value.” Despite his comment, these meme coins, especially the top ones like Fartcoin, BONK, PENGU, and TRUMP, continue to contribute to a significant amount of the daily trading volume on the network. Notably, the Solana price surged to a new all-time high (ATH) of $294 in January, around the time the TRUMP meme coin first launched. SOL witnessed a significant surge in its demand at the time, with investors requiring the altcoin to purchase the meme coin. At the time of writing, the Solana price is trading at around $183, down over 5% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
US crypto watchers are on edge. A new policy report is set to land before the month ends – and it could reshape how digital assets fit into the US government’s plans. Related Reading: PEPE Sparks Google Frenzy With 300% Surge In Search Interest Working Group Sets Release Date According to an X post by Bo Hines, the President’s Digital Asset Working Group wrapped up its 180‑day study and will publish the findings on July 30. Based on reports, the group was originally expected to unveil the report around July 22, following an executive order in January by US President Donald Trump. That order asked the team to sketch out how a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve might work. The report should spell out how much Bitcoin the US holds today. Those coins come from law enforcement seizures over recent years. Policy wonks and investors alike want to know whether the federal stash is just a data point or the start of a bigger reserve plan. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Insights Inside sources say the document will cover the nuts and bolts of setting up a national digital‑asset fund. It’s likely to recommend using existing seized coins first. Then it could suggest budget‑neutral methods—like moving assets from other funds—to buy more Bitcoin. There’s talk of tapping nearly 200,000 BTC that authorities have captured so far. Security, storage and audit rules will also get attention, since a reserve needs tight guards and clear accounting. The executive order hinted that the reserve would use only lawfully obtained coins. It didn’t detail how long the government must hold them before selling, but some drafts mention a 20‑year holding period for stability’s sake. If that sticks, it would mirror long‑term strategies used for gold and other strategic resources. Related Reading: PENGU Heats Up: Nearly $600M In Open Interest Sparks Rally Talk Congressional Moves On Crypto On the Hill, Congress isn’t sitting still. Trump recently signed the GENIUS Act, which lays out rules for banks, credit unions and trusted non‑banks to issue stablecoins. At the same time, the Senate Banking Committee just rolled out a crypto market structure bill. That proposal aims to decide who’s in charge—whether it’s the SEC or the CFTC—and how to protect everyday users. Beyond those measures, Senator Cynthia Lummis has reintroduced the BITCOIN Act. It would direct the Treasury to buy 1 million BTC over five years. Investors see a clear upside if both executive and legislative moves line up. More government buying could add heavy demand to Bitcoin’s market. Yet some experts warn that holding such a volatile asset on a government balance sheet carries its own risks, from price swings to security costs. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Trump Media experienced a notable uptick in its stock price (DJT) on Monday, closing up 3% after an intraday rise exceeding 5% to reach $19,25 per share. This surge followed the company’s announcement that it had invested $2 billion in Bitcoin (BTC). Two-Thirds Of Assets To Bitcoin Treasury The media group, which encompasses President Donald Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, the streaming service Truth+, and the financial services brand Truth.Fi, revealed that the recent cryptocurrency purchases align with a strategy initially outlined in May to establish a Bitcoin treasury. According to Trump Media, these Bitcoin assets now represent two-thirds of its total $3 billion in assets, signaling a deepened financial commitment to the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Related Reading: $331M In Shorts At Risk As Ethereum Targets Key Supply Level Devin Nunes, CEO and president of Trump Media, emphasized the company’s unwavering focus on executing its publicly announced strategy. He stated that these assets are designed to secure the company’s “financial independence” and protect it from potential discrimination by financial institutions. Furthermore, Nunes mentioned plans to introduce a utility token within the Truth Social ecosystem, which could enhance user engagement and create new revenue streams. In addition to acquiring Bitcoin, Trump Media has allocated $300 million towards an “options acquisition strategy” focused on Bitcoin-related securities. Trump’s Regulatory Push Trump’s support for a more supportive regulatory environment in Washington, D.C., has resulted in significant price increases and surging adoption by public traded companies in the digital asset industry. Recently, President Trump signed legislation that establishes the first federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins, a significant endorsement expected to foster greater adoption of these digital assets under the GENIUS Act. This move coincides with the launch of World Liberty Financial, a new crypto startup supported by Trump and his sons, which recently introduced its own US dollar-pegged stablecoin, USD1, in collaboration with BitGo. Related Reading: Too Pricey? Expert Says XRP Beats Bitcoin And Ethereum Right Now Trump Media’s ambitious plans include raising $2.5 billion to further expand its Bitcoin treasury. This approach, which blends public equity and debt issuance, has drawn inspiration from Michal Saylor’s pioneering efforts at Strategy (previously MicroStrategy), where the company’s transformation into a Bitcoin powerhouse began in 2020. Despite the stock’s recent rally, the performance of Trump Media has been volatile. Since announcing its Bitcoin treasury strategy in late May, the stock has fallen 25%, and it is down 45% year-to-date. On the other hand, Bitcoin recently reached a new record price above $123,000. Since then, however, the cryptocurrency has struggled to consolidate within its latest range of $118,000 to $119,000 and has fallen back toward its current valuation of $116,960. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
A bill moving through Congress could reshape how big companies sell their shares. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts warned that the CLARITY Act might let firms dodge long‑standing rules. Related Reading: If You’re Wealthy, 1 Bitcoin Should Already Be In Your Wallet, Expert Says Based on reports, the measure would shift certain tokens onto a “mature” blockchain and hand oversight to the CFTC instead of the SEC. Warren Warns Of A Regulatory Loophole According to Warren, the bill’s text would let any company listed on the NYSE put its stock on a qualifying blockchain. At that point, companies could escape SEC registration. She said that could “blow up the value of the NYSE” by cutting out investor protections. Under the draft, token sales using a functional chain still count as fundraising, but tokenized shares may slip free of SEC checks. She wants to limit US companies (Amazon, Meta, GE) to protect the “US economy” / NYSE? Not against NYSE, but it’s just one company, fully owned by ICE, market cap: ~$100 billion. Amazon market cap: $2.40 trillion. NYSE ≠ economy. All companies = economy. https://t.co/6Xo6QVgL1p — CZ ???? BNB (@cz_binance) July 17, 2025 Companies could raise money without filing the same forms. They would not need to share audited reports or follow proxy rules. Retail investors might face hidden risks if their favorite blue‑chip stock suddenly shifts on‑chain. Crypto Week Sees Multiple Bills This week in Washington is packed. The House Agriculture Committee and the House Financial Services Committee both cleared the CLARITY Act. It now heads toward the Senate, where approval is not guaranteed. (Update – On Wednesday, the GOP-led US House navigated crucial procedural checkpoints for crypto reform, just a day after President Donald Trump stepped in to keep the effort alive—clearing the path for America’s inaugural federal digital-asset statute. Those approvals came on the heels of more than nine hours of behind‑closed‑doors negotiations, as party leaders courted skeptics uneasy about the bill’s design.) US President Donald Trump said he expects these bills to land on his desk after Senate votes. Representative Andy Harris noted that the House Freedom Caucus plans to meet soon to add CBDC language into the CLARITY draft. Large parts of the market are watching closely. Token classification under one agency or another could shift billions in trading volume overnight. Related Reading: Massive Whale Profits $15 Million—Now Betting Big On Ethereum To Crash Industry Voices Split On Regulation Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse pointed out that over 55 million US citizens now use crypto. He cited a $3.4 trillion market cap and urged a clear framework to secure the industry’s future. On the other side, Americans for Financial Reform warned that the bill would curb the SEC’s powers to guard retail investors. They said it is more deregulatory than FIT21 from 2024, raising risks of scams and theft. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has said token rules should not remove securities‑law coverage where it belongs. Representatives Maxine Waters and Angie Craig also voiced concerns that the legislation favors big crypto players over everyday investors. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
President Donald Trump is reportedly poised to open the $9 trillion retirement market to a range of alternative investments, including crypto, gold, and private equity. According to the Financial Times, this initiative is expected to be formalized through an executive order as early as this week. It seeks to diversify the investment options available within 401(k) plans, which have traditionally been limited to stocks and bonds. Crypto In Retirement Savings Trump’s forthcoming executive order will direct regulatory agencies to explore the necessary adjustments to facilitate the inclusion of these alternative asset classes in professionally managed retirement funds. According to insiders familiar with the plan, this shift aims to enable American workers to invest their retirement savings in a broader spectrum of opportunities, including digital assets, metals, and funds that focus on private loans and corporate takeovers. Related Reading: Bitcoin Sees Influx Of New Capital: First-Time Buyers Add 140,000 BTC This executive order marks a significant acceleration in Trump’s efforts to mainstream cryptocurrency investments. His administration has already taken steps to ease regulatory burdens, notably by reversing a Biden-era policy that discouraged the inclusion of crypto options in retirement accounts. The recent passage of three crypto-related bills by the House, which Trump has vocally supported, further underscores his commitment to bolster the digital asset industry. Higher Fees And Transparency Concerns The implications of opening the retirement market to private equity are vast. Major capital groups, including Blackstone, Apollo, and BlackRock, have expressed keen interest in gaining access to 401(k) funds, which they view as a potential source of hundreds of billions in new assets. However, the push to integrate less liquid private investments into retirement plans carries inherent risks. Higher fees and reduced transparency regarding asset valuations may pose challenges for plan administrators and investors alike. Related Reading: All 40K Remaining Bitcoin From The 80K Whale Just Moved: $4.75B In One Wallet Now Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Holders voted 99% in favor of enabling transfers and exchange listings for WLFI, which has been locked-up since last year's $590 million presale.
A recent report has found that US President Donald Trump’s official memecoin, TRUMP, had a faster listing process on crypto exchanges than the average memecoin and generated millions of dollars in gains for the platforms. Related Reading: Fibonacci Maps Dogecoin Path To $23—Is It Too Far-Fetched? Crypto Exchanges Profit From TRUMP Memecoin On Monday, news agency Reuters shared an analysis of market data and industry announcements related to the listing of the official TRUMP memecoin on some of the biggest crypto exchanges by market share. In January, President Trump surprised the crypto industry after launching his official token ahead of the start of his presidency. The cryptocurrency quickly skyrocketed to its all-time high (ATH) of $75, yielding significant profits for many early investors. However, the memecoin faced heavy backlash from the community, with several investors calling the President’s crypto venture a “big red flag.” Notably, 80% of the cryptocurrency’s supply was held by the Trump family and their partners, raising concerns over “such a high concentration of ownership”, which can allow the team behind it to “sell large amounts of it at once, collapsing the price for retail investors,” Reuters noted. The report claims that exchanges have been “major beneficiaries of Trump’s embrace of the industry,” as TRUMP has generated millions of dollars in revenue for the 10 largest exchanges reviewed by Reuters. Based on standard fee estimates compiled for the analysis, the crypto platforms allegedly made more than $172 million in trading fees since the token’s listing. Additionally, the token has “favored a small group of investors,” with 45 crypto wallets making around $1.2 billion in profits over the past six months. Nonetheless, as the token trades at 87.1% below its ATH, 712,777 wallets accumulate a collective loss of $4.3 billion, according to Bubblemaps data. Presidential Token Saw Express Listing Process According to the report, the largest exchanges, including Binance, Gate.io, Bitget, MEXC, OKX, Coinbase, Bybit, Upbit, Crypto.com, and HTX, listed Trump’s token “with unusual speed” compared to other recent prominent memecoins, despite the industry’s concerns. Reuters’ analysis showed that eight of the 10 largest crypto exchanges listed TRUMP within the first 48 hours since its launch. Coinbase listed the memecoin three days later, while Upbit added the token nearly a month later, on February 13. Meanwhile, the same 10 exchanges took significantly more to list Pepe (PEPE), Bonk (BONK), Fartcoin (FARTCOIN), and dogwifhat (WIF), the four other largest memecoins launched since 2022. Per the report, all 10 exchanges listed PEPE and BONK, while nine listed WIF, and only seven listed FARTCOIN. For comparison, all 10 exchanges took an average of 129 days to list these tokens, but only took an average of four days to list the presidential memecoin. Bitget, MEXC, and Coinbase reportedly said they listed the token quickly to “respond to overwhelming demand for the $TRUMP coin.” Gracy Chen, Bitget’s CEO, explained in a statement that “the crypto space was buzzing with the hype and, as any other token with a growing craze, it was imperative to add TRUMP.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Ignites Intraday Optimism With A Step Past $119,000 Threshold Chen told Reuters that Bitget also had concerns about the 80% supply figure but said the fact that the upcoming US president announced the coin on his social media accounts “should kind of solve the compliance issue.” “Ultimately, user trading volume, demand … overrode the so-called risky factor here,” Bidget CEO concluded. As of this writing, TRUMP trades at $9.43, a 2.6% decline in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin rose above the $122,000 mark on Monday. According to data from CoinGecko, prices briefly topped that level before pulling back slightly. The jump comes in the face of strong inflows into spot bitcoin ETFs and growing institutional interest. Traders watched as the largest cryptocurrency by market cap set yet another record. Related Reading: Kiyosaki Awaits The Next Bitcoin Sale: ‘My Fellow Pigs And I Are Feasting’ Bitcoin ETFs Explode Based on reports, Bitcoin ETFs saw $1.20 billion flow in on Thursday alone. That was the biggest single‑day haul of 2025. Last week, QCP Capital said institutional flows into spot BTC ETFs topped $2 billion. These numbers suggest big players are betting on more upside. Open interest on futures now exceeds $43 billion. Funding rates on perpetual contracts are climbing too, showing crowded long positions. US President Donald Trump has voiced his support for clearer crypto rules. And on Monday, the US House of Representatives began debating a package of crypto bills aimed at giving firms more certainty. Companies have been adding bitcoin to their treasuries, with some corporate holdings rising by double‑digit percentages this year. According to BTSE COO Jeff Mei, longer‑term institutional buyers are driving prices higher. He forecasted that bitcoin could hit $125K “in the next month or two.” Mei also warned that trade disputes with the EU, Mexico and other partners might cause dips, but said buyers are holding firm. Rising Demand From Big Players Trading desks and crypto exchanges say they have seen fresh corporate orders. Some firms are buying blocks of 100 BTC or more at a time. Others are using dollar‑cost averaging to ease in gradually. Even smaller funds are boosting allocations, pushing aggregate demand higher. With every new all‑time high, more headlines appear and more investors pay attention. That creates a feedback loop: rising prices attract inflows, which lift prices further. It the entire price history of Bitcoin was a fruit, what fruit would you say it was? pic.twitter.com/FPEU1bUvnf — Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) July 13, 2025 Technical Warning Signs Emerge Meanwhile, veteran trader Peter Brandt caught attention over the weekend with his “banana” chart. He sketched bitcoin’s entire price history as a curved arc. The top of that arc sits near current levels, hinting at a ceiling where past rallies ended in sharp drops. Parabolic moves have a habit of reversing quickly. In just seven days, Bitcoin climbed from about $108K to over $122K—roughly a 14% rise. High funding rates and record open interest signal froth, and that often precedes pullbacks. Related Reading: XRP To Hit $4 This Week? This Crypto Expert Thinks So Watch For Pullbacks And Breakouts Traders now face two scenarios. If institutional buyers keep adding, new highs may follow and $125K could fall within reach. But if ETF purchases slow or leveraged longs get squeezed, a 10–20% correction would not be surprising. Featured image from Vecteezy, chart from TradingView