The post Coinpedia Digest: This Week’s Crypto Highlights | 26 April, 2025 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

If you blinked this week, you missed a lot. There’s been a wave of chaos! 

Crypto and Wall Street are colliding harder than ever. From Tether-backed Bitcoin giants making their public debut to Solana suddenly becoming a corporate obsession, billion-dollar moves are happening at full speed. 

Companies are changing strategies. New power players are stepping in. Old rules are getting rewritten.

We’re about to break down the biggest shifts you need to know – and trust me, some of them are game-changing! 

Let’s dive in.

#1 Bitcoin Treasuries Are Booming 

Move over, Michael Saylor – there’s a new player in town. Actually, make that several.

Twenty One Capital is set to shake up the Bitcoin treasury game, powered by a heavyweight squad: Tether, Bitfinex, Cantor Fitzgerald, and SoftBank.

The soon-to-be-public company will merge with Cantor Equity Partners (currently trading under CEP) and rebrand as XXI. It’s already penciled in to own at least 42,000 Bitcoin – worth roughly $3.9 billion – making it the third-largest Bitcoin holder behind MicroStrategy and MARA Holdings.

What makes XXI different? CEO Jack Mallers isn’t playing the traditional ETF game. Instead, he’s laser-focused on two metrics: Bitcoin per share (BPS) and Bitcoin return rate (BRR). In his words:

“We want our shareholders to get wealthier, get richer in Bitcoin terms.”

#2 Upexi Bets Big on Solana

In one of the week’s most surprising moonshots, Upexi (Nasdaq: UPXI) announced a plan to create a $100M Solana treasury, and the market responded fast.

Shares skyrocketed by a staggering 335% after the news broke.The company plans to pour roughly $90M into accumulating and staking Solana (SOL ($148.83)), adopting a “long-only” strategy.

It’s a bold pivot for Upexi, better known for selling paraxanthine-based energy supplements and mushroom products. But clearly, when it comes to Solana, bullish bets are back in style.

#3 US Federal Reserve Eases Crypto Regulations

Big news from the US Federal Reserve this week: they’ve officially rolled back two key supervisory guidelines that had been holding back banks from diving into crypto and stablecoins. Gone are the days when banks had to get approval before engaging in crypto-asset activities – now, they can move forward without prior notice. The Fed’s decision reflects its evolving approach to innovation and risks in the banking world.

This shift aligns with the Trump administration’s more crypto-friendly stance, with efforts to simplify regulations and support digital assets. From creating a national Bitcoin reserve to backing crypto-friendly SEC policies, the message is clear: the US is warming up to the future of crypto.

With these changes, we’re seeing the groundwork being laid for a more open, crypto-friendly banking system in the US. Could this be a turning point for digital assets? Time will tell!

#4 Semler Scientific Doubles Down on Bitcoin

If you thought the corporate Bitcoin fever was cooling, Semler Scientific just proved otherwise.
The firm bumped its Bitcoin holdings to $314 million, and Chairman Eric Semler made it clear at Bitwise’s Investor Day:

“You can sell or stop if you don’t like what we’ve done with Bitcoin.”

Investors, clearly, have no plans to stop. Semler’s stock was up 7% by the day’s close.

#5 Bitcoin ETFs Break Records as Trump Jumps In

It wasn’t just treasury companies racking up headlines this week. Bitcoin ETFs pulled in a jaw-dropping $936M in a single day – marking only the fourth time ever that inflows crossed $900 million.

Institutional money is flowing back in, driven by inflation fears, interest rate speculation, and a dash of global uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s Truth.Fi announced plans for a suite of crypto-focused ETFs in collaboration with Crypto.com, slapping a “Made in America” label on them.

#6 SEC Chairman Atkins Signals Crypto Regulatory Shift

In his first week as SEC Chairman, Paul Atkins made a bold statement on the future of crypto regulation. Speaking at the SEC’s Crypto Task Force roundtable, Atkins criticized the previous administration’s “enforcement-first” approach and promised to tackle the ongoing issues around digital assets and blockchain. 

He emphasized the need for clear, pro-innovation rules that will help crypto grow in the U.S. instead of being pushed abroad.

The roundtable also focused on one major challenge: securing digital assets. Industry leaders, including Xapo Bank CEO Seamus Rocca, stressed that the current custody rules don’t fit well with the crypto world’s decentralized nature. Panelists agreed that the rules need to be more flexible, with a principles-based approach to custody regulation. 

As technology evolves, so must the rules. What a breath of fresh air, amirite?

#5 Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Is Finally Here

Circle May 7, 2025 on your calendar.

That’s when Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade will go live at epoch 364032. The update promises serious improvements in validator efficiency, security, and transaction capabilities.

It’s a crucial move for Ethereum as it continues its slow march toward scaling solutions and greater decentralization. Stakers and developers alike are watching closely – and market reaction could be swift.

#6 Oregon vs Coinbase

Coinbase just got hit with a fresh legal headache – it just doesn’t stop, does it? 

The State of Oregon is suing Coinbase, ignoring the XRP ($2.20)-friendly ruling that many thought would set the tone for crypto regulation nationwide. Allegations? Securities violations.

Here’s what that means: more legal clouds over the biggest US-based crypto exchange, even as the market rallies.

#7 Global Payments, Stripe, and the Rise of Fintech Giants

While crypto continues to dominate headlines, traditional finance isn’t sitting on the sidelines.

• Global Payments is set to acquire Worldpay for $24.25 billion, while spinning off its Issuer Solutions business to FIS.
  
• Stripe is quietly working on a stablecoin product, built on top of tech from its $1.1 billion Bridge acquisition.

The world’s largest payments companies are gearing up for a crypto-infused future – and they’re willing to spend billions to get there.

#8 XRP Futures: CME Jumps Into the Pool

CME Group is gearing up to launch XRP futures contracts on May 19, 2025. The new product will offer both micro contracts (2,500 XRP) and larger, full-size contracts (50,000 XRP), allowing traders more flexibility in their exposure to XRP. 

While Coinbase and Kraken have already launched their own XRP futures products, CME’s entry into the market is likely to have a significant impact.

If history is any guide, CME’s foray into XRP futures could mirror its 2017 move with Bitcoin futures. When CME launched Bitcoin futures, it quickly captured the lion’s share of the market, outpacing the early competition from Cboe. 

Now, with more than $3.9 billion in XRP open interest on the table, CME’s established infrastructure, brand trust, and deep liquidity could give it the edge once again, despite the head start that other exchanges have had.

But that’s not all. The first-ever XRP spot ETF, listed under ticker XRPH11, began trading on Brazil’s B3 exchange on April 25. Managed by Hashdex and tracking the Nasdaq XRP Reference Price Index, this ETF aims to give investors easy access to XRP exposure. 

With both CME futures and a new ETF hitting the market, XRP is entering a new phase of institutional interest and broader investor accessibility.

#9 Bitcoin Outranks Google by Market Cap

Hold onto your seats.

In one of the week’s most mind-blowing milestones, Bitcoin officially surpassed Google (Alphabet Inc.) in market capitalization, cementing its place as the 5th most valuable asset in the world. This marks a significant moment for the cryptocurrency, which now stands behind only gold, Microsoft, Apple, and Saudi Aramco in terms of global market value.

As of this week, Bitcoin’s market cap hit a staggering $570 billion, edging out Google’s $560 billion. What a bold statement about how far the digital asset has come!  Despite the rollercoaster volatility and ongoing regulatory drama, Bitcoin is clearly commanding attention and respect in the financial world.

What’s driving this surge? Institutional investors are starting to see Bitcoin less as a speculative gamble and more as a serious, long-term store of value – much like gold. 

If Bitcoin keeps this pace, we could soon see it challenging the likes of Apple and Microsoft for a top spot. But that’s a debate for another day.

In the Spotlight 

Here’s a few quick hits you shouldn’t miss! 

WazirX’s relaunch in the works?

After months of regulatory uncertainty, Indian crypto exchange WazirX is preparing to restart its trading platform. The company is awaiting a final decision from Singapore’s High Court on its restructuring plan and customer payout process, which could pave the way for a full relaunch within the next 10 days. 

The exchange hopes to regain its footing in the competitive Indian crypto market, where it had previously been one of the largest players before facing legal challenges.

Tether buys more Juventus

Tether has increased its stake in Juventus FC, one of Italy’s biggest football clubs, to over 10%. 

While some have questioned the company’s increasing investments in sports, Tether sees it as a strategic way to diversify its holdings and build connections with global brands and markets.

Kuwait cracks down on Bitcoin mining

Kuwait has officially banned Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining, citing the significant strain on the country’s power grid. Officials also mentioned concerns over legal violations and the environmental impact of crypto mining operations.

The ban is part of a broader crackdown on energy-intensive practices in the country.

$Trump Meme Coin Soars After Gala Announcement

The price of $Trump, the meme coin linked to President Trump, skyrocketed 70% after he promised a private gala dinner for its top investors. The event, set for May 22 at Trump National Golf Club, offers a VIP experience for the biggest holders. 

While the coin’s value is still far from its January highs, it’s caught attention with its promise of exclusivity. Trump’s crypto ventures continue to gain momentum, despite some industry skepticism (and a fair bit of criticism).

What’s Next for Crypto?

Expect an intense few weeks ahead:

• Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade will test the market’s appetite for new staking flows, with potential for major shifts in Ethereum’s ecosystem.
• Bitcoin ETFs could see even bigger inflows if stablecoin legislation passes, which would push institutional participation even further.
• Corporate treasury moves (especially into Solana) might accelerate, as companies explore alternative assets to diversify away from Bitcoin.

And if Trump’s ETFs start getting traction? Get ready for another breakout retail wave, as more retail investors flock to the space amid growing mainstream attention.

Stay sharp. Stay skeptical. And don’t bet against Bitcoin – or Solana, apparently. I’ll be back next week for a new crypto round-up!