The cryptocurrency market witnessed a whirlwind of developments as former U.S. President Donald Trump reignited speculation about a potential national digital asset strategy. His recent endorsement of a "crypto strategic reserve" including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, and Cardano (ADA) has sent shockwaves across the industry—sparking rallies, regulatory debates, and strategic shifts among major players.
At the heart of this momentum is not just political rhetoric, but tangible market movements: ADA surged over 70% in 24 hours, Binance adjusted its stablecoin offerings in Europe to comply with MiCA regulations, and key figures like Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen were revealed to still hold massive XRP positions. Meanwhile, analysts remain cautious, urging investors to monitor the critical March 7 inflection point before making major moves.
This article unpacks the latest trends shaping the crypto landscape—regulatory updates, macro-level shifts, project developments, and expert insights—while highlighting core opportunities and risks in today’s rapidly evolving market.
Regulatory & Macro Developments: Compliance Meets Strategy
Binance Restricts Non-MiCA Stablecoins in EEA
In alignment with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, Binance has announced restrictions on non-compliant stablecoins within the European Economic Area (EEA). Starting March 27, 2025, leveraged trading pairs involving USDT, FDUSD, TUSD, USDP, DAI, AEUR, UST, USTC, and PAXG will be fully delisted. By April 1, 2025, spot trading for these assets will also cease.
Users are advised to convert holdings into MiCA-compliant alternatives such as USDC or EURI, or withdraw in fiat currencies like EUR. Notably, custody services remain unaffected—users can still deposit and withdraw non-compliant stablecoins.
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David Sacks Confirms Exit from Crypto Holdings
David Sacks, appointed as the White House AI and Crypto Coordinator ("Crypto Czar"), confirmed he sold all his crypto positions—including BTC, ETH, and SOL—prior to taking office. This move underscores ethical transparency amid growing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest in U.S. crypto policymaking.
Metaplanet Adds 156 BTC to Corporate Treasury
Japanese publicly traded firm Metaplanet has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing 156 BTC for ¥2.021 billion (~$13.44 million), bringing its total stash to 2,391 BTC. The acquisition reflects increasing institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value.
The Trump Effect: A National Crypto Reserve on the Horizon?
Trump Announces Vision for a Crypto Strategic Reserve
Donald Trump took to Truth Social to declare that BTC and ETH, along with other high-value cryptos like SOL, XRP, and ADA, should form the backbone of a future U.S. strategic reserve. He emphasized:
“Clearly, BTC and ETH—and other valuable cryptocurrencies—will be at the core of the reserve. I am a big fan of Bitcoin and Ethereum.”
This follows earlier reports that Trump directed a presidential task force to explore establishing a formal U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve—a move that could position America as a global leader in digital asset adoption.
Eric Trump: “Wall Street Must Adapt or Perish”
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, echoed the sentiment on social media:
“Traditional finance better catch up fast—or they’ll be obsolete. The world doesn’t run 9-to-5 anymore.”
His comments highlight the disruptive potential of decentralized finance and the urgency for legacy institutions to evolve.
Skepticism and Strategy: Is This Political Posturing?
Not everyone is convinced. Udi Wertheimer, founder of Taproot Wizards, suggested Trump’s inclusion of altcoins like XRP and ADA may be a negotiation tactic:
“He starts with an extreme position so he can later compromise on BTC-only reserves—a classic Trump playbook.”
Still, the mere discussion elevates awareness and legitimacy for digital assets at the highest levels of government.
👉 Explore how national crypto strategies could impact your portfolio.
Market Movements & Key Data Insights
ADA Jumps 70%, Reclaims Top 10 Spot
Cardano’s native token ADA skyrocketed over 70% in 24 hours, reaching $1.12 and pushing its market cap past **$40.2 billion—now ranking it as the 8th largest cryptocurrency**. The surge followed news that ADA was included in Trump’s proposed strategic reserve list.
ZachXBT: Ripple Co-Founder Holds $7.18B in XRP
Crypto investigator ZachXBT revealed that Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen still controls over 2.7 billion XRP, valued at approximately **$7.18 billion**. Some addresses linked to him moved over $109 million worth of XRP in January 2025. Despite past security breaches—including a $112 million hack—Larsen retains one of the most significant individual crypto fortunes.
SOL Whale Moves: 3 Million SOL Deposited to Binance
After two months of dormancy, 3 million SOL (~$510 million) were transferred from a staking address to Binance’s cold wallet. While unconfirmed, this likely indicates institutional activity rather than retail movement.
Amber Group Accumulates 11,000 ETH Amid Rally
Amber Group acquired 11,000 ETH (~$27.49 million) during recent price increases, suggesting strong conviction despite elevated levels. The purchase came shortly after Trump’s pro-crypto statements boosted ETH above $2,400.
CME Bitcoin Futures Record $10K Gap
Following Trump’s announcement, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) recorded a historic **$10,000 gap** in Bitcoin futures—the largest ever observed—surpassing the previous $4,000 record set in August 2024. Analysts note that while prior gaps have been filled quickly, new volatility patterns are emerging.
Project Updates: Innovation Amid Hype
Grayscale Launches Digital Large Cap Fund Aligned with U.S. Reserve Assets
Grayscale highlighted that its Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC) is the only publicly traded fund holding exactly the same assets mentioned in Trump’s proposed reserve: BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, and ADA. As of February 28, GDLC offers investors exposure aligned with potential future government policy.
Cronos Proposes Reissuing 70 Billion Destroyed CRO Tokens
In a controversial governance proposal, Cronos aims to reverse its 2021 token burn by reissuing 70 billion CRO tokens, restoring supply to 100 billion. The new "Cronos Strategic Reserve" would be locked for an additional five years (totaling 10), aiming to fund ecosystem growth and ETF ambitions.
Critics question whether this undermines decentralization principles and long-term trust.
Meme Coins & Risks: The STAR10 Controversy
Ronaldinho Launches STAR10 on BNB Chain
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho launched his official meme coin STAR10 on BNB Chain. Within hours, its market cap briefly exceeded $400 million, driven by celebrity hype.
However, red flags emerged quickly:
- A team-linked wallet bought 12.24% of total supply for just 80 BNB ($50k).
- GoPlus Security warned that the contract allows developers to arbitrarily destroy any holder’s tokens.
- CZ clarified that Binance has no commercial relationship with Ronaldinho or STAR10.
- A competing group claims Ronaldinho breached a prior $6M agreement to accept a $10M offer from another team—alleging investor fraud.
These issues underscore the dangers of celebrity-driven tokens without transparent governance or audit-backed security.
👉 Learn how to identify risky meme coins before investing.
Analyst Outlooks: Caution Amid Volatility
Eugene: Market Direction Uncertain Until March 7
Prominent analyst Eugene (confirmed alias of Tangent co-founder Darryl Wang) stated he has largely exited long positions after BTC hit $80K and SOL reached $130. He now sees the market as neutral:
“Right now, it's unclear if we're seeing a bullish recovery or bearish correction. I’ll wait until after March 7 to reassess.”
He remains skeptical about congressional approval for altcoin-related legislation but acknowledges Trump’s influence could shift dynamics.
Matrixport: ETF Selling Pressure May Be Over
Matrixport reports that recent outflows from Bitcoin ETFs—totaling $26.1B net outflow last week alone—appear to have stabilized. These were largely due to hedge funds unwinding basis trades (long ETFs, short futures), coinciding with reduced CME futures open interest post-FOMC.
With these forces cooling down, Matrixport believes ETF selling pressure has temporarily paused, potentially setting the stage for renewed inflows by late March.
Institutional Forecasts: Crypto ETFs Set to Surpass Precious Metals?
State Street Predicts Crypto ETFs Will Overtake Gold ETFs by Year-End
State Street Global Advisors forecasts that crypto ETFs will surpass North American precious metals ETFs (~$165B AUM) by end of 2025. Currently led by gold-backed GLD ($85B), precious metals face disruption as crypto adoption accelerates.
Frank Koudelka, Head of ETF Solutions at State Street:
“Crypto growth has exceeded expectations. We’re seeing pent-up demand—and advisors are actively adding digital assets to portfolios.”
The firm expects SEC approval for ETFs based on SOL, XRP, and other top-tier tokens soon—with projections that top-10 crypto ETFs could launch by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a crypto strategic reserve?
A: A national crypto strategic reserve would involve a government holding digital assets like BTC and ETH as part of its financial reserves—similar to gold or foreign currencies—to strengthen economic resilience and technological leadership.
Q: Why did ADA surge so sharply?
A: ADA’s 70%+ rally was primarily driven by speculation that it may be included in a future U.S. government-backed crypto reserve following statements from Donald Trump.
Q: Are meme coins like STAR10 safe investments?
A: Meme coins often carry high risk due to low liquidity, centralized control, and lack of fundamentals. STAR10 has specific risks—including developer ability to destroy user tokens—and should be approached with extreme caution.
Q: Is Binance leaving Europe?
A: No. Binance is complying with MiCA by delisting non-compliant stablecoins but continues to operate in the EEA using compliant assets like USDC and EURI.
Q: Will more crypto ETFs be approved?
A: Industry leaders like State Street expect the SEC to approve ETFs for assets like SOL and XRP in the coming years, expanding institutional access beyond BTC and ETH.
Q: How can I safely invest amid political volatility?
A: Focus on fundamentally strong projects with transparent teams and audited contracts. Diversify across asset classes and use secure platforms with robust compliance frameworks.
Keywords: Bitcoin strategic reserve, Ethereum ETF, Cardano price surge, XRP holdings Ripple co-founder, Solana whale movement, crypto regulation MiCA