From President-elect to the United States (US) President, Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th US president, making him only the second leader in history to return to the White House.
On 20 January, his administration unveiled its “America First Priorities,” focusing on public safety, energy independence, government reform, and restoring “American values.”
However, cryptocurrency was notably absent from the list, despite Trump’s earlier campaign promises to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
The omission has raised questions within the crypto community, especially as the White House briefing touched on several key economic concerns but failed to address digital assets.
Despite this, industry experts remain optimistic that crypto will play a significant role in Trump’s second term.
Earlier in the day, speculation was high that Trump might issue an executive order to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve, but no such announcement materialised.
Still, betting markets reflect lingering expectations—Polymarket bettors estimate a one-in-three chance that the reserve will be established within Trump’s first 100 days, while Kalshi places the odds at 60% for its creation by year-end.
Trump’s silence on cryptocurrency has caught the crypto community off guard, especially given his pro-crypto campaign promises ahead of his November election victory.
Among those commitments was the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which many expected to be a priority upon taking office.
Additionally, there was widespread anticipation that Trump would swiftly address regulatory concerns surrounding Operation Chokepoint.
However, his inaugural address at the Capitol Rotunda made no mention of crypto, raising concerns among investors who were optimistic about the market’s prospects under his leadership.
Despite appointing several pro-industry financial regulators, doubts persist about whether Trump will fulfill his commitments to the sector.
His omission is particularly surprising considering his direct involvement in the space—having launched his own Solana-based meme coin and even hosting a high-profile “Crypto Ball” event that brought together key industry figures.
Nevertheless, a silver lining remains—Trump’s financial entity, World Liberty Financial, recently purchased $4.7 million worth of Bitcoin, signalling potential long-term support.
Some analysts view his decision to sidestep crypto in his speech as a strategic move to avoid market volatility driven by political rhetoric.
Influential economist Peter Schiff commended Trump’s restraint, arguing that staying silent on Bitcoin could help the market remain stable and unaffected by political influences.
The crypto market has seen intense volatility over the past 72 hours following Trump’s launch of his own meme coin on the Solana blockchain—an announcement that has drawn both acclaim and scepticism from the crypto community.
The Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin skyrocketed over 490% within its first 24 hours of trading on 18 January, swiftly entering the ranks of the top 30 cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation.
However, the token’s momentum was short-lived, plunging 25% within an hour after Trump’s inaugural speech, hitting a low of $38 before briefly recovering to $41.
As of now, TRUMP is trading at $33.39, marking a 30.29% decline in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high in the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration, briefly exceeding $109,000 before retracing to $102,194.79—a modest 1.28% gain in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.
Despite short-term fluctuations, Bitcoin has soared nearly 50% since Trump’s election victory on 5 November, driven by anticipation of a crypto-friendly administration that could introduce favourable policies and enhance the industry’s political standing.
Despite Trump’s pro-crypto stance, his recent silence on digital assets has raised concerns within the community.
His administration has delivered notable wins, including the appointment of crypto-friendly financial regulators, but the lack of immediate follow-through on key promises has left investors questioning his long-term commitment.
Optimism persists, but uncertainty looms—will the administration double down on its crypto-friendly agenda, or is the industry’s future under Trump still uncertain?
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Anais