Rise’n’Crypto

Yesterday saw volatility in Bitcoin that can be traced to peaks and troughs of hope and disappointment. So, in today’s episode, we’ll go through the announcements and executive orders from US agencies and President Donald Trump and why these ultimately disappointed crypto folks, even if they were overwhelmingly positive. Then we’ll look at the harrowing kidnapping of the Ledger co-founder in France and how the deceased cybersecurity developer John McAfee has been resurrected as an AI agent with a Web3 project.

Further reading:

• Trump signs executive order for crypto working group, prohibiting CBDC
• Bitcoin drops after Trump signs crypto and ‘national digital asset stockpile’ executive order
• SEC cancels controversial crypto accounting rule SAB 121
• Ledger co-founder released after days in captivity in France: Report
• John McAfee AI token adds surprise chapter to his crypto story

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

There is an air of uncertainty around the macroeconomic situation in the United States and it’s affecting crypto, but fortunately for the podcast, there are fascinating some stories unfolding. Firstly — and we all saw this coming — things are heating up around President Donald Trump’s memecoin launch, with House Democrats calling for an ethics probe and lawyers suggesting there are lawsuits in the pipeline. Then, at the World Economic Forum, the idea of a US strategic Bitcoin reserve is sparking debates as Cointelegraph’s managing editor probes the thoughts of the Coinbase CEO on stage. And finally, Solana hit an all-time high off the back of this weekend’s madness, but with a hefty correction since. What is needed for it to chase down that $300 target once again?

Further reading:

• Why is the crypto market down today?
• House Democrats want ethics probe on Trump over crypto projects
• Trump memecoins set to be sued — but to what end?
• Bitcoin can hit $700K amid currency debasement fears — BlackRock CEO
• US Bitcoin reserve idea sparks Davos debate on crypto’s future
• Solana price rallies to $272, but what will it take for SOL to hit new highs?

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

 Bitcoin had a fairly quiet 24 hours as the market waited for US President Donald Trump to make an announcement. Still, flying under the radar were the spot Bitcoin ETFs, which racked up the best part of $2 billion of inflows in two trading days! Then, the SEC launched a crypto task force led by “Crypto Mom” Hester Peirce, Elon Musk’s DOGE agency launched its website with the Dogecoin logo, ETH struggled amid continued drama behind the scenes and then Trump officially pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

Further reading:

• Watch these Bitcoin price levels next with 'door open' to $100K retest
• SEC launches crypto task force led by Hester Peirce
• Musk’s DOGE agency launches official website with Dogecoin logo
• Ethereum Foundation infighting and drop in DApp volumes put cloud over ETH price
• Vitalik claims sole authority over Ethereum Foundation leadership
• Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

Bitcoin took a hit yesterday and we needn’t look far for the cause. Yesterday was, of course, the US Inauguration Day, and despite high hopes for President Donald Trump’s first day back in office and the executive orders he might sign, there was no mention of crypto. This outraged much of Crypto Twitter as some of Trump’s “day one” promises fell short. But are critics overreacting? Does Trump need to prove his intentions with crypto or are they well-established? In today’s episode, I’ll take you through what happened yesterday and what may be coming next.Further reading:

• Bitcoin ‘fully gassed’ to leave $100K BTC price behind — Analysis
• Trump’s ‘America First Priorities’ exclude any mention of crypto, BTC
• Coinbase Solana transactions delayed amid memecoin frenzy
• Trump’s first day in office ends with no mention of crypto
• Crypto observers still hopeful on Trump despite silence on first day

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

As the day of the US presidential inauguration dawned, Bitcoin hit an all-time high and pushed $110K, but this was eclipsed by the biggest story of the weekend: Donald Trump launched an official memecoin. That’s right, mere days before becoming US president once again, Trump launched a Solana-based memecoin, TRUMP, and it hit a market cap of $15 billion within 48 hours, breaching the top 15 cryptocurrencies. The move shocked people inside and outside of crypto, and we were left to wonder what it might mean for crypto taxes in the US, for regulations and even whether Trump might have violated the US Constitution. So, in today’s special episode, I break down the entire fiasco ahead of the inauguration.

Further reading:

• What the release of Trump's memecoin signals for crypto regulations
• TRUMP memecoin hits top 15 worldwide in 48 hours, sparking tax cut rumors
• Official Trump memecoin captures crypto market trading volume as Bitcoin prepares for new highs
• ‘Buy crypto’ and ‘Solana’ search volumes surge amid TRUMP meme frenzy
• Donald Trump’s memecoin drops 38% as wife Melania launches token
• Trumps accused of greed, grifting with back-to-back memecoin launches

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

Today’s episode concerns US politics, but I would like to point out two important details: Firstly, it’s far more interesting than it sounds, and secondly, we are in a crypto era that is dependent US politics whether we like it or not. So, to start, we’ll look at BTC cycle top predictions, before we move into a medley of stories about strategic Bitcoin reserves. Then we’ll look at Senator Cynthia Lummis, who claims that whistle-blowers have told her the FDIC has been destroying documents pertaining to Operation Chokepoint 2.0.

Further reading:

• Measly $150K target for Bitcoin this cycle is ‘silly low,' says trader
• US Bitcoin reserve has pundits in tailspin as Trump inauguration looms
• Texas kicks off 89th legislative session with new strategic Bitcoin reserve bill
• Trump reportedly ‘receptive’ to strategic reserve with US-based cryptos
• Senator Lummis claims FDIC destroyed Operation Chokepoint 2.0 docs

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

Bitcoin had a positive 24 hours, venturing above $100,000 a few times though it hasn’t stuck yet. Analysts seem skeptical about reclaiming the six-figure price tag and expect sideways action for some weeks, but will Trump’s inauguration change that? Elsewhere, the newly appointed US Senate Banking Committee chair said that a crypto framework will be a priority, the US government has said the funds from a 2016 hack should go back to Bitfinex, outraging some users, and according to a survey, 60% of crypto investors are young, educated and invest under $10K.

Further reading:

• Bitcoin risks weeks of sideways moves amid $102K 'rejection' warning
• US Senate Banking Committee chair says crypto framework will be a priority
• US government says funds from 2016 hack should return to Bitfinex
• 60% of crypto investors are young, educated and invest under $10K — Survey

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

Bitcoin spent the past 24 hours with low volatility as it trades within a “narrowing triangle,” which may indicate that a breakout is close. The problem is, we don’t know which way that breakout will go and it may hinge on the FOMC meeting at the end of the month rather than on US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. Nevertheless, Trump’s re-entry into office could spark serious inflows into Bitcoin with an upper price target of $249,000 this year! This is also spurred on by the growing momentum of governments looking at Bitcoin reserves. Then, outside of Bitcoin, Meta commits to free speech before it starts blocking links to competitors, and the CryptoPunks floor price spikes 13% in just three hours after a rumor circulates.

Further reading:

• Bitcoin inflows under Trump spark new $249K BTC price target for 2025
• Bitcoin breakout ‘likely no later’ than Jan FOMC meeting: 10x Research
• Bitcoin reserves interest gains momentum across 5 continents
• A week after committing to free speech, Meta blocks decentralized competitor
• CryptoPunks NFT floor price spikes 13% on rumors of IP sale

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

Volatility rushed back into Bitcoin in the past 24 hours, albeit mostly in the right direction as analysts predict whether BTC is headed for $70,000 — or not. One point for the latter might be Bitcoin exchange reserves hitting their lowest levels since 2018, which may cause a supply shock. Elsewhere, reports circulate that President-elect Donald Trump will sign executive orders pertaining to crypto on day one back in the Oval Office, an appellate court criticizes the SEC in the Coinbase case and Tether is moving its headquarters and subsidiaries to El Salvador!

Further reading:

• Bitcoin could dip to $70K, but current price a ‘good entry point’ — Fundstrat
• MicroStrategy buys Bitcoin dip, holdings surpass 450K BTC
• Bitcoin exchange reserves near 7-year low as hedge funds buy the dip
• Donald Trump could issue crypto executive orders on first day: Report
• Appellate court grants partial win for Coinbase over SEC rules
• Tether will relocate HQ to El Salvador after securing license

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned. 

It was a fairly quiet weekend for Bitcoin (though it is getting louder as we move into Monday), but there is plenty to learn to prepare for this week, including Michael Saylor's MicroStrategy seemingly buying yet more Bitcoin. Outside of BTC, XRP may be looking at 60% gains ahead of Gensler's exit and Trump's entrance, Singapore blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling concerns and Wolf Capital co-founder pleads guilty to a $9.4 million Ponzi scheme that promised 547%
returns!

Further reading:

• Strongest US dollar since 2022 bear market: 5 Things to know in Bitcoin this week
• Michael Saylor posts Bitcoin tracker for the 10th consecutive week
• XRP price eyes 60% gain ahead of Gary Gensler’s SEC exit
• Singapore blocks access to Polymarket over unlicensed gambling concerns
• Wolf Capital co-founder pleads guilty to $9.4M Ponzi, promised 547% returns

Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.com

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.