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Blockstream to Launch Institutional Bitcoin Lending Funds Amid Market Recovery and Trump’s Pro-Crypto Policy

Okoya David
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Blockstream to Launch Institutional Bitcoin Lending Funds Amid Market Recovery and Trump’s Pro-Crypto Policy

Blockstream is set to launch institutional-grade Bitcoin lending funds.

Much has changed for the crypto space in the past year. From rising prices to White House support under the Trump administration, the industry appears to be gradually erasing the scars left by the Terra and FTX implosions.

Perhaps one of the biggest proofs of this is that centralized crypto lending is making a comeback. In the latest example, renowned Bitcoin technology company Blockstream looks set to offer Bitcoin lending services, following similar moves from Coinbase and reported plans by Tether.

Blockstream Bitcoin Lending Funds Set to Launch

Blockstream is set to offer crypto lending services to allow institutions to secure liquidity without having to dump their crypto holdings.

On Tuesday, March 4, the firm disclosed that it would be launching three new funds on April 1, with two focused on Bitcoin lending.

One fund will allow institutions to secure loans with Bitcoin collateral, while another will allow Bitcoin borrowing with USD collateral. The third fund, unrelated to borrowing, will offer institutional-grade Bitcoin exposure using hedge fund strategies.

Bloomberg was first to report the story, noting that Blockstream had secured billions of dollars in funding to launch the fund, citing anonymous sources.

Despite the valuable liquidity gap filled by crypto lending operations, centralized crypto lending platforms fell out of favor as the 2022 bear market, worsened by the Terra and FTX collapses, exposed poor risk management practices and even fraud in some instances at some leading firms.

It also did not help that, in the fallout, the Gary Gensler-led SEC started targeting crypto lenders with lawsuits alleging violations of securities laws.

But amid recovering prices, growing institutional demand, and the Trump administration’s SEC move to pause or dismiss several cryptocurrency lawsuits, the tide appears to be turning.

Blockstream’s move follows the announcement of its asset management division in January 2025.

At the time, Blockstream CEO Adam Back asserted that the expansion marked “Bitcoin’s evolution from a niche asset into a pillar of modern investment portfolios.”

Pundit Says No One Can Technically Justify BTC Over XRP as a Reserve Asset—It’s Just a Narrative

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Pundit Says No One Can Technically Justify BTC Over XRP as a Reserve Asset—It’s Just a Narrative

Influential XRP community figures have asserted that Bitcoin proponents lack the ability to prove that XRP and other assets are unsuitable for the U.S. crypto reserve.

President Trump’s inclusion of XRP in the proposed U.S. crypto reserve has angered many Bitcoin proponents, who argue that BTC alone is worthy of being a reserve asset for the United States. Meanwhile, XRP advocates believe XRP is just as qualified as BTC.

Given the resistance from Bitcoin proponents, XRP enthusiasts have questioned what criteria qualify BTC while disqualifying XRP as a strategic reserve asset.

Bitcoin Proponents Arguing for BTC-Only Reserve

For instance, in a tweet, Gemini exchange co-founder Tyler Winklevoss acknowledged that he has nothing against SOL, XRP, or ADA. However, he does not believe they are suitable for a strategic reserve. According to him, only Bitcoin right now meets the bar. 

However, he failed to outline the particular bar in question, and critics were quick to point it out. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson replied to Winklevoss’s tweet, saying, “Notice how they never tell you what the threshold is.”

He suggests that Bitcoin proponents are merely using psychological criteria for qualification instead of something concrete.

“Nothing Concrete, Just Narrative”

Similarly, in a separate conversation, prominent CNBC trader Ran Neuner remarked that he “wouldn’t take seriously” any U.S. crypto reserve that includes Cardano and XRP. However, Neuner also failed to provide any foundation or reasoning for disqualifying these assets as suitable reserve assets.

Amid this, XRP community figure Mickle called attention to the trend where critics fail to articulate a technical reason why BTC is a better reserve asset than XRP. According to him, “It’s nothing more than a narrative.”

 

Bitcoin Proponent Disagrees

Meanwhile, Dave Weisberger, a notable crypto pundit, countered Mickle’s perspective. He claimed that many have explained the “criteria,” but XRP proponents are deliberately not acknowledging them.

Specifically, Weisberger argues that Bitcoin’s value is independent of any corporation. According to him, this is unlike XRP, which “depends” on Ripple’s success.

Furthermore, he claimed Bitcoin’s decentralized ownership, with the largest holder owning only 5%, contrasts with XRP, where over 40% is owned by a single corporation.

Weisberger also argued that Bitcoin’s network is the most powerful globally, having withstood attacks like China’s attempt to take down 50% of the hash rate.

Additionally, he claimed Bitcoin’s ownership is highly diverse, with broad institutional acceptance and global distribution, achieving significant network effects that XRP has not yet reached despite its loyal fanbase.

Mickle counters by noting that if Ripple were to fail, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) would lose only one validator, not its entire structure.

He acknowledged that XRP’s supply is more concentrated. Yet, Mickle believes this concentration allows for quicker distribution and adoption by key institutions and governments.

He also agrees that Bitcoin is great but sees XRP reaching similar levels of adoption, with the Trump administration’s stance supporting this view.

Solana Comeback Raises Hopes for a Rally Toward $157

Albert Brown
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Solana Comeback Raises Hopes for a Rally Toward $157

Solana is holding slightly above the $125 support level, suggesting a potential bullish recovery toward $157, supported by multiple long-tail candles.

Altcoins are gradually gaining momentum, with Bitcoin trading at $87,000 after an overnight recovery. Solana, the sixth-biggest cryptocurrency, has registered a 5.52% recovery in the past 24 hours. 

Now, Solana is trading at a market price of $144. Will this short-term recovery result in a new bullish trend in Solana?. 

Solana Sustains Above $130, Is $157 on Horizon?

On the daily chart, the SOL price trend shows a lower price rejection on March 4, with a 24-hour low at $130. Buyers managed to push the SOL token price higher, resulting in a 1.18% recovery by the end of the day.

Solana Price Chart
Solana Price Chart

Currently, the SOL price action reveals a Doji candle formation, indicating uncertainty in the price trend. However, the lower price rejection near $130, indicated by multiple intraday candles, reveals strong support for Solana at lower levels.

The overall downtrend has resulted in a death cross between the 50- and 200-day EMA lines. However, significant price fluctuations have caused the MACD and Signal lines to converge, leaving the momentum indicator uncertain. Meanwhile, the dynamic average lines signal a potential selling opportunity.

Growing Supply to Pressure SOL Prices?

Although Solana shows a lower price rejection, growing supply pressure may warn of a potential bullish failure. According to a recent tweet by LookonChain, a crypto whale recently unstaked nearly 134,902 SOL tokens worth $19.3 million.

After unstaking, the whale placed multiple limit orders to sell 135,000 SOL tokens. These orders range between $171 and $294.8, reflecting the whale’s optimism about future prices.

Additionally, the unstaking of FTX/Alameda’s sole balance signals a potential supply surge. Of the 3.30 million SOL holdings, worth $31.3 million, FTX recently unstaked a batch of 58,964 SOL tokens valued at $8.52 million. Post-staking, these tokens were quickly moved to Binance to be offloaded onto the market.

Where’s SOL Price Headed?

According to Fibonacci levels, SOL price fluctuations are occurring between the $125 support level and the 38.20% ceiling at $177. The recent comeback in Solana will likely challenge the 23.60% Fibonacci level at $157.

On the other hand, a bearish continuation below the $125 support level would likely test the $100 psychological mark.

Chainlink Holds Strong at $14: Will Bulls Push LINK To $20?

Albert Brown
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Chainlink Holds Strong at $14: Will Bulls Push LINK To $20?

Chainlink (LINK) price shows strong bullish support at $14. Will this demand zone propel LINK’s price beyond $20?

With the crypto market witnessing a minor recovery overnight, Chainlink has returned to the $15 psychological mark. On March 4, Chainlink bounced off a 24-hour low of $13.07, closing the day with a near 3% rise at $14.862.

The lower price rejection-driven recovery in Chainlink resulted in an intraday rise of 2.36%. Currently, Chainlink is trading at $15.21 but remains under the shadow of a significant 17% pullback from Monday.

Will this lower price rejection in Chainlink initiate a reversal rally toward the $20 psychological mark? Let’s explore.

Chainlink at $14 Hints at a Recovery Run 

On the daily chart, Chainlink’s price action shows a massive bearish engulfing candle formed on March 3. With a pullback of 17.08%, bears undermined the weekend recovery of 18%, resulting in the lowest closing price since March 1.

Chainlink Price Chart
Chainlink Price Chart

Currently, the LINK price action near the $14 mark shows multiple low-price rejections with long tail candles. This indicates strong bullish dominance at lower levels in the Chainlink price trend.

Additionally, this has led to a short-term recovery in Chainlink. However, the prevailing downtrend has caused a bearish crossover between the 50- and 100-day EMA lines.

This also increases the possibility of a death cross event between the 50- and 200-day EMA lines. The daily RSI has bounced off the oversold region and is now near the halfway mark, suggesting a potential surge in buying pressure.

Will Chainlink Price Surpass $20?

According to Fibonacci levels, the lower price projections for Chainlink come from the 23.60% Fibonacci level. Currently, LINK’s price struggles to surpass the 38.20% Fibonacci level at $15.29.

Moreover, the 50% Fibonacci level, near $17.30, has been a high-volume area. Therefore, Chainlink must break above the 50% Fibonacci level for a bullish move beyond $17.31.

Thus, the crucial support for Chainlink lies at $13.12, with a key overhead resistance at $17.31. A bullish breakout could propel Chainlink toward the $20 psychological mark.

However, a bullish reversal from the 38.20% Fibonacci level at $15.29 could retest the $13.12 horizontal support level.

Analyst Warns Supply Surge Ahead

As Chainlink’s price action remains highly uncertain due to increased volatility, crypto analyst Ali Martinez projects a bearish outlook for LINK. Ali points out that 2.23 million LINK tokens have been moved to exchanges over the past two weeks.

The increased supply on exchanges has now reached 197.14 million LINK tokens, potentially leading to a steep correction in the market price.

 

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Here’s Why XRP is Not Going to $10, $100 and $1,000 Soon Despite Inclusion in US Strategic Reserve

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Here’s Why XRP is Not Going to $10, $100 and $1,000 Soon Despite Inclusion in US Strategic Reserve

XRP may not immediately rally to unprecedented highs as many expect despite recent inclusion in the U.S. strategic reserve.

The crypto market experienced a rollercoaster ride over the weekend due to President Donald Trump’s announcement hinting at a potential U.S. strategic crypto reserve featuring Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano.

Bitcoin soared past $95,000 on Sunday, climbing from below $90,000, while XRP skyrocketed 34.27% to breach the $3 mark. However, Monday, March 3, delivered a brutal reality check as XRP plummeted 18.83%, marking its steepest single-day drop since the Terra collapse in May 2022. 

Market Manipulation?

Bitcoin and other coins also witnessed massive declines, with the firstborn crypto collapsing below $85,000 to currently trade at $84,211. Interestingly, this has sparked speculation of market manipulation, with industry pundit MMCrypto sharing this sentiment.

For context, pundits argue that market makers rarely sustain upward momentum when retail investors pile in. Instead, they often orchestrate sharp pullbacks to shake off weak hands before allowing a coin to resume its climb. 

This tactic ensures they maximize profits while thinning the herd. Back in October 2024, during a previous Bitcoin downtrend, CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju observed a similar pattern, likening it to a Korean saying about buses departing only after passengers disembark. 

Ki Young Ju on X
Ki Young Ju on X

The recent XRP crash appears to mirror this strategy, suggesting that the weekend pump lured in optimistic traders, only for market makers to pull the rug on Monday, leaving many sidelined.

Industry leaders have long noted this phenomenon. Prevalent commentaries reveal a consensus among crypto experts that volatility serves as a tool to separate committed investors from speculators. Interestingly, Vandell Aljarrah, host of the Black Swan Capitalist, echoed this today.

Could XRP Reach $10, $100 or $1,000?

Notably, despite Trump’s reserve proposal fueling bullish sentiment, these market conditions indicate that XRP will still face massive roadblocks on its path to astronomical gains. As a result, those who expect a smooth sail to targets like $10 or even ambitious goals such as $100 and $1,000 would only end up disappointed.

Optimists, however, see brighter days ahead for XRP due to several catalysts. The proposed U.S. crypto reserve could legitimize XRP as a government-backed asset. While the uptrend might not be a one-way push, this inclusion could boost investor confidence, leading to sustained gains.

Additionally, the Ripple lawsuit, a long-standing drag on XRP’s reputation, may be near a resolution. The SEC recently ended enforcement actions against major crypto firms like Coinbase and Kraken, prompting anticipation of similar moves for Ripple.

Furthermore, the SEC’s acknowledgment of 19b-4 filings for multiple XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) shows growing institutional interest. The launch of these ETFs is capable of triggering new capital inflows, contributing to price surges.

Yet, while these developments could push XRP to $10, they might not independently propel a rise to audacious targets like $100 or $1,000 in the near term. Even with a reserve inclusion, regulatory clarity, and ETF approvals, the journey to three or four-digit prices might still demand a major overhaul in the current market condition.

XRP Active Addresses Skyrocket by 620% As Supply Drops on Exchanges

Mark Brennan
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XRP Active Addresses Skyrocket by 620% As Supply Drops on Exchanges

Large holders of XRP seem to be removing their holdings from exchanges, according to new data from crypto researchers, which points to a significant change in the market.

The number of active XRP addresses has also experienced an unusual surge, and the trend has raised concerns about a possible supply shock.

XRP Reserves Drop Amid Accumulation

Crypto influencer Steph claimed in a post that “weak hands” are selling XRP on exchanges while whales keep hoarding it. According to the accompanying chart, Binance’s XRP reserves have drastically decreased, indicating investors are moving their holdings into cold storage. 

Such actions have historically indicated a tightening supply, which might raise prices if demand is sustained.

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XRP Sees Exceptional Activity Growth

Supporting this story, crypto expert Ali Martinez provided data demonstrating a sharp 620% increase in active XRP addresses in a single week. The number of active addresses increased dramatically from 74,589 to 462,650, indicating more activity in the XRP ecosystem.

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The expansion of the XRP Ledger, which has seen a 24% rise in the number of accounts since early 2024, is also consistent with this spike in activity. The XRP network now has around 6.2 million accounts, up from 5 million, and a significant increase in trustlines.

This rise emphasizes how the XRP Ledger is becoming increasingly popular as its ecosystem grows, strengthening the positive sentiment surrounding XRP. 

Market Sentiment and Price Implications

XRP is currently trading at $2.45 with a 24-hour trading volume of $8.18 billion, reflecting a 5.16% increase in price. The combination of rising whale accumulation, declining exchange reserves, and a surge in active wallet activity is creating a bullish outlook for the asset’s near-term prospects.

If the trend of XRP leaving exchanges continues, a shortage of liquidity could potentially drive prices higher. Given that similar patterns have historically preceded significant price movements, traders are closely monitoring these on-chain signals.

Expert Says $2 Will Be a Dream Entry for “Powerful” XRP Just Like $0.30: Here’s Why

Elendu Benedict
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Expert Says $2 Will Be a Dream Entry for “Powerful” XRP Just Like $0.30: Here’s Why

A prominent market analyst has insisted that XRP looks primed for new price discovery as things continue to align for the prominent asset.

In an X commentary yesterday, Bobby A suggested that XRP has maintained bullish momentum despite the broader market downtrend. Citing several factors, the seasoned analyst predicted a dazzling price surge, stating that the current price trend around $2 will be a “dream entry” just like investors currently see $0.3.

XRP Still as Bull as Ever

Bobby A mentioned that XRP has consistently trended above its April 2021 bull cycle top for over 80 days. He stated that this has ensured the asset has gained acceptance around the price level.

Furthermore, the XRPL native token has held the Bull Market Support Band (BMSB) and golden pocket, trading above an area the analyst termed the “Base Camp 1” zone. This bullish price action and the rising monthly momentum oscillator confirm the asset’s impulse for an imminent surge past its all-time high to unprecedented prices.

Interestingly, Bobby A highlighted that these bullish metrics have endured despite the market’s recent fear, doubt, and uncertainty (FUD). XRP struggled alongside the broader crypto market, pumping to $3 on March 2 after Donald Trump announced its inclusion in the proposed US crypto reserve, before relinquishing most gains the next day.

XRP Set to Explode After Multi-Year Pattern Breakout

The analyst stated that it is all aligning for XRP at the moment amid technical and macroeconomic boosts. Technically, Bobby A shows that the token has broken out of a multi-year descending triangle on the monthly timeframe and looks set for a price explosion.

XRP Breakout/Bobby A

Furthermore, Trump’s recent ploy to add XRP to the proposed national crypto reserve is a potential bullish catalyst. This is in addition to the growing optimism that the years-long regulatory litigation is nearing its end. Bobby A’s commentary highlighted the convergence of technicals, news, narrative, and cyclical price actions to favor the XRPL native token.

As a result, he predicted a meteoric surge to new heights spurred by these bullish factors. He asserted that as market participants rued missing out on buying XRP during the previous cycle’s lows of around $0.3, those who would not buy now would face a similar plight.

While the commentary did not include a price target for the impending bullish outburst, earlier analytical insights have predicted ambitious targets for XRP. For instance, analyst “Random Crypto Guy” insisted that the asset would surge to $385 as nothing hinders the price attainment.

In the meantime, XRP trades at $2.5002, continuing its fine price rebound yesterday. The high-caliber asset is up 5% in the past 24 hours and is still 20% profitable to those who bought at the start of the year.

BlackRock Says Bitcoin Supply Not Enough for US Millionaires

Lele Jima
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BlackRock Says Bitcoin Supply Not Enough for US Millionaires

BlackRock issues a warning about Bitcoin supply shock, suggesting there is not enough BTC to cater to the demands of U.S. millionaires. 

The leading asset manager made this known in a report titled, ‘Why Bitcoin? A Model Portfolio Builder’s View.’

The report, written by BlackRock analysts Michael Gates and Brett Wager, provided insights into Bitcoin-related topics, including its volatility, compelling value proposition, and scarcity.  

BlackRock Highlights Bitcoin Scarcity Feature

According to BlackRock, Bitcoin has a ‘monetary policy’ that makes it inelastic to demand. Unlike gold, this initiative makes it impossible to increase Bitcoin’s supply to meet extra demand. 

Notably, it emphasized that Bitcoin has a max supply of 21 million coins, with 19.83 million BTC currently circulating. The remaining coins are programmed to be issued until 2140. 

Even though 21 million BTC represents Bitcoin’s theoretical limit, BlackRock suggested that the actual available supply is much lower. Specifically, it estimated that up to 4 million Bitcoins are permanently inaccessible due to lost or forgotten private keys.  

To illustrate Bitcoin’s extreme scarcity, the asset manager noted that if every U.S.-based millionaire requests a minimum of one BTC, there will not be enough BTC to meet these demands. 

“If every United States millionaire asked their financial advisors to acquire 1 BTC on their behalf, there would not be enough,” an excerpt from the report read.  

Bitcoin’s inelastic supply reinforces the asset’s scarcity and potential as a store of value amid growing economic uncertainties. 

BlackRock Sets $700K Target For Bitcoin 

Meanwhile, BlackRock has remained confident about Bitcoin’s potential. Its CEO, Larry Fink, predicted that sovereign wealth funds could drive the BTC price to $700,000, a surge of 697% from the current price of $87,811. 

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) offering has brought the asset manager closer to the premier cryptocurrency. The ETF, which launched in January 2024, saw a record outflow of $1.17 billion last week. 

Notably, the outflow continued this week, with $78 million pulled from the ETF on Monday. The fund did not record any inflows or outflows yesterday. 

Despite the massive withdrawal, the BlackRock IBIT fund remains the largest Bitcoin ETF globally. It boasts an AUM of $39.62 billion, with an IBIT share priced at $49.39 at press time. 

Bitcoin Holds Above 200-Day EMA: Will a $90K Rally Follow?

Albert Brown
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Bitcoin Holds Above 200-Day EMA: Will a $90K Rally Follow?

Bitcoin (BTC) price sustains above 200-day EMA and teases a comeback rally above $90k. Will this reversal in BTC price hit the 50-day EMA?

Bitcoin bounces back to the $87,000 mark with a 24-hour surge of 4.25% as the crypto market witnesses an overnight recovery. The recovery run in Bitcoin signals a potential boost.

However, the increased price fluctuations and uncertainty in the market and the changing global dynamics warn of a potential downfall. Amid such warnings, will the Bitcoin price maintain the recovery rally?

High Volatility Drives Bitcoin to Turbulent Waves

The increased fluctuations in the crypto market have been making massive waves over the past few days. In the past week, the Bitcoin price has fluctuated from a low of $78,197 with a 7-day high of $95,152. 

Bitcoin Price Chart

On March 4, Bitcoin bounced off from a 24-hour low at $81,463 to reach a closing price of $87,240. With the increased price fluctuations, Bitcoin fluctuates near the 200-day EMA line. 

Currently, Bitcoin is trading at a market price of $87,040 with a minor intraday pullback of 0.23%.

As Bitcoin struggles to maintain dominance above the 200-day EMA line, the prevailing downfall warns of a potential bearish crossover between the 50- and 100-day EMA lines. However, the daily RSI line maintains a sideways shift slightly below the halfway level.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty and volatility, the 7-day price range is proving crucial as both support and resistance levels. The 7-day low of $78,197 could act as an important support level if Bitcoin falls below the 200-day EMA.

On the bullish side, the 50-day EMA, around the $94,000 mark, could serve as a key overhead resistance level.

Analyst Signals Clear Skies Ahead For Bitcoin 

Bitcoin’s price action remains uncertain due to increased volatility. However, crypto analyst Ali Martinez suggests that a bullish rebound is possible. Martinez highlighted Bitcoin’s tendency to recover when the loss margin hits a negative 12%.

Currently, data from Santiment shows the trader realized price and profit-loss margin at a negative 15.4%, indicating a strong possibility of a bullish rebound, as the market is significantly oversold.

Furthermore, the analyst points to the Bitcoin Sharpe ratio as a tool for identifying potential buy-the-dip opportunities.

According to Martinez, the Sharpe ratio typically resets to a low-risk phase after reaching a high-risk zone. Currently, the Sharpe ratio is undergoing a similar pullback after a high-risk phase.

 

Institutional Outflows in BTC Spot ETFs Continue

Meanwhile, institutional outflow in U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs continues on March 4. The latest data shows that the daily total net outflow on March 4 stood at $143.43 million. 

Bitcoin ETFs
Bitcoin ETFs

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust was the only ETF on March 4 to record an inflow, amounting to $35.77 million. Fidelity led the outflows with $46.08 million, followed by ARK and 21Shares with $43.92 million in outflows.

Franklin, Bitwise, Invesco, and WisdomTree recorded outflows of $35.71 million, $23.96 million, $16.47 million, and $13.07 million, respectively. The remaining five Bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock, reported no net outflow.

Besides Bitcoin, ETH, XRP, ADA, SOL, Here are Projects Likely to Benefit from Trump’s Crypto Policy

Okoya David
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Besides Bitcoin, ETH, XRP, ADA, SOL, Here are Projects Likely to Benefit from Trump’s Crypto Policy

Trump has backed Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Cardano, and Solana for inclusion in a proposed strategic crypto reserve, but these may not be the only big winners of the U.S.’s emerging crypto policy.

President Donald Trump’s November 2024 election victory sparked a wave of excitement across the entire crypto space as his pro-crypto stance promised to provide an unprecedented supportive environment for the industry.

While the tide promises to lift all boats, Trump’s policy statements suggest it would likely lift some more than others. Trump himself appears to have his list of favorites, which he recently backed for inclusion in a proposed strategic crypto reserve. These include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Cardano (ADA), and Solana (SOL).

But these may not be the only big winners.

The Select Few?

On Tuesday, March 4, crypto research and analytics platform CryptoRank shared a Venn diagram highlighting some of the likely big winners of the U.S.’s emerging crypto policy, citing factors like whether they are “made in the U.S.,” have exchange-traded funds or pending applications, have been mentioned by Trump, or have affiliations with individuals who at one point have been invited to the White House.

Besides BTC, ETH, XRP, ADA, and SOL, the standout project appears to be Avalanche (AVAX). It was built by Cornell University researchers, has a pending ETF application, and had representatives participate in a February 2025 meeting with Bo Hines, the executive director of Trump’s digital asset advisory council, at the White House.

Likely winners of Trump crypto policy
Likely winners of Trump crypto policy. Source: CryptoRank

Beyond AVAX, Sui, Filecoin (FIL), Aptos (APT), NEAR, and Movement (MOVE) are among projects with U.S. roots that have also received White House recognition in the form of the meeting with Hines.

Aptos co-founder Avery Ching recently alluded to working with Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson on U.S. blockchain policy, perhaps referring to this White House roundtable.

At the same time, MOVE was recently linked to the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency. Specifically, reports suggested that Musk was considering leveraging the blockchain to bolster government transparency.

Other honorable mentions with U.S. roots include Polkadot (DOT), Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC), and Hedera (HBAR). These all have pending ETF applications.

Trump Pump Stonewalled?

Following Trump’s election victory, the total crypto market cap surged 68% from about $2.22 trillion to highs of $3.73 trillion in just over a month. Bitcoin rallied to record highs above the $100,000 price point, and popular altcoins inked triple-digit percentage gains.

TOTAL 2025 03 05 09 28 12
Total crypto market cap chart: TradingView

Many had expected this show of strength to continue well into Q1, but that has not been the case. 

Persisting inflation and trade war fears sparked by Trump’s tariff policies have ensured that risk markets, including crypto, have been subdued recently, with sentiment quickly leaning towards pessimism.

“Until we get some certainty on tariffs/Ukraine/tax cuts/Doge cuts it is difficult to call a bottom for risk,” Standard Chartered Head of Digital Assets Research Geoffrey Kendrick wrote in a note on Tuesday.

Amid the uncertainty, Kendrick has warned that Bitcoin faces significant downside risk with a drop to the $69,000 to $76,500 range in the cards.

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