Crypto News Today: Bitcoin Nears $86K as Trump Calls for Rate Cuts, XRP Surges Following SEC Resolution

Bitcoin (BTC) is approaching $86,000, while XRP surged 10% following Ripple Labs' resolution of its long-standing legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has called for interest rate cuts, adding further economic uncertainty.Key Market Developments:Bitcoin is nearing $86K, recovering from recent lows, with renewed investor optimism.XRP saw a 12% spike after Ripple Labs announced the conclusion of its SEC battle, although gains later pared.Bitnomial introduced the first-ever U.S. XRP futures, boosting sentiment around the token.Trump called for Federal Reserve rate cuts, aligning with his administration's tariff strategy.Ethereum (ETH) remained muted, while Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and BNB posted gains under 6%.Uniswap (UNI) surged 8% following a $165 million foundation funding proposal approval.XRP Gains Momentum Amid Legal ClarityRipple Labs confirmed that its legal battle with the SEC has officially ended, boosting XRP’s market confidence. The SEC case had long cast uncertainty over the token's regulatory future. Bitnomial’s launch of U.S.-regulated XRP futures further bolstered its appeal among institutional investors.Federal Reserve Holds Rates, Trump Pushes for CutsThe Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held interest rates steady, but lowered growth expectations through 2027. Despite this cautious outlook, Trump is pressuring the Fed to cut rates as new reciprocal tariffs take effect on April 1.Trump stated: “The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy.”His national economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, projects a 2.5% growth rate, while the Fed forecasts only 1.7%.Market Sentiment and Investor CautionDespite Bitcoin and XRP's rally, analysts remain cautious about sustained market momentum. Augustine Fan of SignalPlus noted that the recent rally might be a relief bounce following five weeks of stock market declines.Jeff Mei, COO of BTSE, echoed similar concerns, stating that:The absence of new tariff announcements has temporarily calmed markets.Investors should remain vigilant amid ongoing macroeconomic volatility.What’s Next for Bitcoin and Crypto Markets?With Trump's tariff policies set to take effect on April 1, and continued speculation on Fed rate cuts, Bitcoin’s price action remains highly sensitive to macroeconomic developments. While XRP has gained regulatory clarity, traders are closely watching Federal Reserve moves and equity market performance to assess whether the rally can sustain momentum, according to CoinDesk.