It was a noteworthy week for crypto, as Bitcoin hit an all-time high of over $109,000 after a 10% rally on the eve of President Trump’s inauguration. However, Ethereum continues to struggle, with growing internal discord over leadership. This week also marks momentous changes in leadership of regulatory bodies like Gensler’s resignation and the formation of a new crypto task force. Find out more. Bitcoin El Salvador has continued strengthening its Bitcoin reserves by purchasing 12 additional Bitcoin over two days, even after finalizing a $1.4 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In early trading, the Bitcoin price rallied 10% to get above $109,000 on Monday in a short time span of around eight hours, just before the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Italian banking giant Intesa Sanpaolo has taken its first cautious steps in Bitcoin trading by purchasing $1 million worth of the crypto as a strategic test to meet client demand. Ethereum There is agitation fermenting in the Ethereum community over criticisms of the leadership of the Ethereum Foundation and its financial management, leading to calls for a " wartime CEO " and proposals for alternative organizational structures. DeFi Among innovators tackling interoperability while focusing on simplicity and usability, Agoric is leveraging its unique Orchestration framework to turn the vision of seamless cross-chain experiences into reality. Sei Network-based (SEI) community-led decentralized finance (DeFi) platform Jellyverse is launching its own synthetic assets protocol, jAssets, which will allow users to mint their own synthetic asset tokens and track the value of traditional assets. Altcoins Melania Trump’s introduction of a meme coin has sparked conversations about the broader cryptocurrency market, drawing attention to innovative projects such as Lightchain AI. Amid the alarming rate of pump-and-dump schemes in the crypto market, Murad Mahmudov asked degen investors to look out for “slow cooks” with organic communities i.e. meme coins that have demonstrated strong potential for gradual yet steady growth. In a pro-crypto environment ushered in by the Trump administration, Lightchain AI is strategically positioned to leverage its innovative integration of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. The Official Trump ( TRUMP ) meme token, launched by the 47th President of the United States just before his inauguration, has secured its position among the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, sparking intense debates among analysts and thought leaders about its implications. Business David Balland, co-founder of crypto wallet developer Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped in a ransom attack in Central France, with Balland sustaining injuries during the attack. Crypto index fund manager Bitwise has submitted a registration filing for a potential Dogecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), indicating growing interest in crypto ETFs. Web3 Kaia DLT Foundation has integrated Fireblocks into its blockchain ecosystem to enhance security and operational efficiency, providing institutional users with secure, scalable solutions for managing digital assets and accelerating blockchain adoption. KuCoin has announced the appointment of a new CEO , BC Wong, a move set to drive the exchange's growth, innovation, and strategic expansion in the cryptocurrency industry. AI-powered decentralized exchange Sonex built on ETH layer two Soneium just closed a $1 million seed funding round, which was co-led by Outliers Fund and an anonymous investor. There are many reasons to explore restaking, from supporting the decentralization of blockchain networks to scooping up those sweet staking rewards. However, in tax minimization , there may be an even more compelling reason to explore this fast-growing on-chain sector. Regulations US Senator Cynthia Lummis has been named the chair of the first Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets with Senator Ruben Gallego serving as the committee’s ranking member. Baden Bower , a global PR cryptocurrency agency, works with businesses to help them adjust to the changes implemented by the upcoming Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce will lead a newly formed crypto task force focused on creating clear, collaborative regulations, marking a shift from the agency's previous enforcement-driven approach. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to grant a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht , the creator of the dark web marketplace Silk Road. Mark Uyeda has been appointed Acting SEC Chair following Gary Gensler's resignation, signaling potential shifts in cryptocurrency regulation and capital market policies. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
