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?
Metaplanet, a Japanese firm known for its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy, has announced plans to raise approximately $880 million through an overseas share issuance.
XingChiThe UAE has built a Bitcoin reserve of around 6,300 BTC, worth up to $740 million, mainly through state-backed mining. This makes it one of the largest national holders, ranking just ahead of El Salvador.
AnaisA Philippine lawmaker has proposed that the central bank buy 2,000 bitcoins each year for five years, creating a national reserve of 10,000 coins. The plan aims to strengthen the country’s finances and provide a long-term store of value alongside traditional reserves like gold and foreign currency.
WeatherlyJapan plans to tax crypto profits at a flat 20% instead of rates as high as 55%. The regulator also aims to allow crypto ETFs and approve the country’s first yen-backed stablecoin.
AnaisArthur Hayes, the BitMEX co-founder pardoned by Donald Trump, has invested in a stem cell firm with clinics in Mexico and Bangkok. He is also backing crypto treasury firms while warning that the market may already be overheating.
WeatherlyA Pennsylvania lawmaker has put forward a bill to stop politicians and their families from owning or trading crypto while in office. The plan follows claims that Donald Trump has used his role to profit from tokens like his own memecoin.
WeatherlyBitcoin has retraced below $117,000 after reaching an all-time high last week, signaling a pause in upward momentum and growing caution among investors.
XingChiDutch cryptocurrency company Amdax is preparing to launch one of Europe’s most ambitious Bitcoin strategies yet: creating a dedicated Bitcoin treasury firm, seeking a listing on Amsterdam’s Euronext, and ultimately aiming to acquire 1% of the total Bitcoin supply.
XingChiThe SEC has delayed decisions on several crypto ETFs, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, pushing most deadlines into October. Regulators are working on new listing standards that could allow faster approvals of altcoin ETFs once rules are finalised.
WeatherlyTaiwan’s WiseLink led a $10 million funding round for Nasdaq-listed Top Win International, helping the company buy Bitcoin and expand into digital assets. The deal makes WiseLink the first public Taiwanese firm to back a Bitcoin treasury strategy and aims to combine crypto holdings with cross-border business operations.
WeatherlySolana Labs' co-founder, Anatoly Yakovenko, addressed the less-than-impressive sales of the company's smartphone, Saga, in an interview with Unchained Crypto on Dec 5.
AaronSotheby’s digital art division revealed plans to auction pieces from the BitcoinShrooms collection, a project crafted by artist Shroomtoshi. The collection, minted on-chain in October, is hailed as the "first-ever Ordinals collection," according to both the BitcoinShroom website and its associated account.
JoyBinance's CZ, facing money laundering charges, confronts an unplanned stay in the U.S. until sentencing.
Hui XinThere have been no details regarding the other specifics of the airdrop, though scammers have already posted multiple phishing links in response to the Twitter post.
BrianTokens that have previously been delisted in the US are also available for trading in the EU.
AlexUsers are advised to exercise caution to avoid potential risks associated with fake accounts or phishing links during this transition.
BrianHe had previously been arrested at Podgorica airport for using a fake passport, after having been on the run for about a year.
AlexThis technology aims to mitigate risks associated with manual handling of assets while maintaining a secure separation from online environments.
AlexHis co-founder Julian Hosp, however, is none too keen to allow the liquidation to happen.
AlexBinance has denied any links between this move and CZ's guilty plea
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