Bitcoin Moves With Macro Mood Swings

Bitcoin edged higher as U.S. stock futures and the dollar weakened amid escalating tensions between Donald Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. We were, yet again, reminded that, despite the “digital gold” narrative, Bitcoin remains sensitive to macro signals, especially rates, liquidity, and political noise. For long-term holders, this is less of an indication of price action but a signal of how tightly crypto remains plugged into the global financial system. (CoinDesk)

Altcoins Refuse to Wait for Bitcoin

While Bitcoin softened mid-week, altcoins did their own thing. XRP and Solana posted double-digit gains, reigniting conversations about rotation trades and whether capital is once again willing to take on more risk further down the curve. It felt like a quiet reminder that in crypto, momentum rarely moves in straight lines. (Decrypt)

U.S. Crypto Policy Heats Up

Senate Republicans pushed forward on a draft crypto bill, aiming to move fast, even as Democratic support remains uncertain. The speed alone is notable: crypto regulation in the U.S. is no longer a theoretical debate but an active legislative process. Arguably, markets may not be pricing it yet, but policy clarity (or confusion) will matter more as 2026 unfolds. (CoinDesk)

Morgan Stanley Joins the ETF Queue

Morgan Stanley filed for a Bitcoin ETF, another sign that traditional finance is still methodically moving in, despite market volatility. The ETF race has shifted from the “if” narrative to about who captures flows as crypto becomes a standard portfolio allocation. (Reuters)

Cathie Wood Floats a U.S. Bitcoin Reserve Idea

Cathie Wood suggested that the U.S. could one day consider holding Bitcoin as part of a national reserve, framing it as a strategic hedge alongside gold. While still firmly in “thought experiment” territory, the comment reflects how far the conversation has shifted, from Bitcoin as a fringe asset to something discussed in the context of sovereign balance sheets. Even if it never materialises, the mere fact this idea is being aired publicly signals how mainstream the Bitcoin narrative has become. (The Block)

Stablecoins Quietly Did $33 Trillion

Stablecoin transaction volumes surged 72% in 2025, hitting a staggering $33 trillion, with Circle’s USDC leading the charge. While meme coins and ETFs grab headlines, stablecoins continue to do the unglamorous but critical work of moving money globally, cheaply, and at scale. In many ways, this could be considered crypto’s strongest product-market fit to date, with less speculation and more infrastructure, and increasingly hard for policymakers and banks to ignore. (Cryptonews)

No Pardon for SBF

The president stated he would not consider pardoning Sam Bankman-Fried closing the door on one of crypto’s most speculated political “what ifs.” The president added that he had “not been a fan” of Bankman-Fried and pointed to FTX’s collapse and political donations as key factors shaping his view. The comment helps close off a period of speculation and hopefully suggests continuity in how major crypto-related enforcement cases are treated going forward. (Decrypt)