This week in crypto brought a tidal wave of political, regulatory, and market-shifting developments, with President Donald Trump taking center stage. From repealing IRS DeFi regulations to the SEC’s softened stance on crypto enforcement, the industry scored several crucial legal and institutional wins. Meme coins, Bitcoin, and DeFi projects appear to be the primary beneficiaries of this evolving policy landscape.
U..S Trump Repeals IRS DeFi Rule, Signals Policy Shift
In one of the biggest policy moves of the week, President Trump signed H.J. Res. 25, officially repealing a Biden-era IRS rule that required DeFi platforms to report user transaction data via Form 1099. Critics had argued that the regulation stifled innovation and was impractical for decentralized systems.
This legislative rollback is viewed as a pro-DeFi and pro-privacy milestone, with implications for how decentralized platforms operate under U.S. law.
📉 Tariff Chaos, Dollar Weakness, and Bitcoin’s Resilience
Trade war fears returned to the headlines as Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs triggered volatility in equities. However, Binance CEO Richard Teng called it a net positive for crypto, saying “trade protectionism will accelerate interest in crypto as a non-sovereign store of value.”
Bitcoin remained relatively stable amid the turmoil, trading around $84,300 at the end of the week.
⚖️ SEC and Binance Extend Case Pause
In a move signaling regulatory leniency, the SEC and Binance agreed to pause their legal dispute, coinciding with Binance’s improved relationship with U.S. Treasury officials.
This reflects a broader shift under Trump’s SEC, which has also softened its approach toward Coinbase, Gemini, Uniswap, and Nova Labs.
💸 Ripple Scores Big Win and Major Acquisition
Ripple (XRP) finally put its long-running battle with the SEC to rest, agreeing to a $50 million settlement. More notably, Ripple also announced the acquisition of brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, marking one of the largest M&A deals in crypto history.
🧑⚖️ DOJ Stays on Do Kwon Case, Shuts Down Crypto Unit
In contrast to the SEC’s lighter touch, the Department of Justice confirmed it will maintain charges against Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon. However, in a surprise internal shift, the DOJ dissolved its crypto crimes unit, signaling a reduction in aggressive federal crypto enforcement.
🔥 Trump-Backed DeFi Denies ETH Sale Rumors
World Liberty Financial, a DeFi project linked to Trump and his family, denied reports that it sold $8 million worth of Ethereum. Blockchain data from Arkham had suggested such a sale, but the group issued a firm denial.
Meanwhile, the Official Trump (TRUMP) token is expected to receive $320 million in token allocations next week, representing 20% of circulating supply a move that could shape market dynamics.
🐕 Dogecoin ETF Race Heats Up
21Shares filed an S-1 with the SEC for a spot Dogecoin ETF, joining Bitwise and Grayscale in the race. This comes amid increased institutional demand for meme coins and retail trading products.
📈 Hoskinson Predicts $250K Bitcoin Price
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson made headlines with a bold prediction: Bitcoin could hit $250,000 by the end of this year or next. He cited pending U.S. legislation and institutional adoption as key catalysts.
⚡ Pakistan Eyes Crypto Mining Using Surplus Power
In a developing market surprise, Pakistan is considering using excess electricity to power Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. Former Binance CEO CZ is now advising the country’s newly formed Crypto Council, signaling growing institutional interest.
🎨 OpenSea Pushes for Regulatory Clarity
Following the SEC’s decision to drop its investigation, OpenSea formally requested regulators to confirm that NFT platforms are not securities brokers or exchanges—a potentially precedent-setting move for the NFT sector.
🌍 Argentina Launches Crypto Scandal Probe
Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies approved the formation of a special commission to investigate the LIBRA scandal, which has entangled the administration of President Javier Milei. The scandal has shaken investor confidence in Argentina’s crypto scene.
🔐 WazirX Wins Creditor Approval for Recovery Plan
Indian exchange WazirX received over 93% creditor approval for its restructuring proposal, a key milestone following its $235 million hack. The breach was allegedly orchestrated by North Korean hackers, and the restructuring plan is central to restoring operations.
🧠 Final Thoughts
The crypto world is seeing a political and regulatory pivot with Trump-era policies marking a stark contrast to the previous administration’s approach. From DeFi wins and Ripple’s rebound to growing international adoption, the tone is shifting bullish across multiple fronts.
As the legal landscape eases and institutional moves heat up, crypto markets could see renewed confidence and capital inflows especially in sectors like DeFi, meme coins, and NFTs.
