Your Weekend Crypto Roundup | March 2025 (Week 1)

Hey crypto fam!

March has started with a bang, and the crypto world shows no signs of slowing down! Trump's announcement of a crypto strategic reserve temporarily lifted Bitcoin and altcoins from their slump. However, scammers are creating fake government-backed coins, and Berachain is addressing a significant over-allocation of its tokens.

Here's a roundup of the week's top stories:

Biggest Story:

U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve Sparks Market Surge

Speculation has been confirmed: Donald Trump announced the establishment of a U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve, aiming to position the U.S. as a global leader in digital assets. The reserve will include Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano, marking a significant shift in regulatory stance. Trump signed an executive order creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, funded by Bitcoin seized through federal asset forfeitures. White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks estimates the government holds 200,000 BTC, though this hasn't been officially audited. The order prohibits selling Bitcoin from the reserve, comparing it to a "digital Fort Knox."

The announcement triggered a crypto rally, with Bitcoin surging 10% to $92,900 before Trump's White House Crypto Summit on March 7th. This summit will focus on regulatory policies and the reserve's composition. Industry leaders, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and the Winklevoss twins, are debating the reserve's asset allocation, with some advocating for Bitcoin as the sole asset.

Other News:

• Trump's World Liberty Financial invested $21.5M in ETH, Wrapped Bitcoin, and Movement tokens—raising questions from industry insiders about the altcoin focus. [More]
• A fake "National Hong Kong Coin" scam, falsely linked to the government, spread on X (formerly Twitter). Hong Kong lawmaker Johnny Ng warned traders. [More]
• Berachain's co-founder admitted to overselling tokens to VCs. The team is now working to buy back tokens and regain community trust. [More]
• Following a $9.6M exploit, zkLend activated its Recovery Portal for users to claim lost funds. [More]
• Rachael Gunn's brother (Olympic breakdancer) faces money laundering charges in Australia, accused of funneling $181K in scam-related funds through a crypto exchange. [More]
• Crypto hacks resulted in $1.53B in losses in February, with Bybit alone losing $1.46B. Attackers laundered ETH rapidly. [More]
• Football legend Ronaldinho launched the STAR10 token on Binance Smart Chain, despite past crypto controversies including a $61M pyramid scheme. [More]
• A former Bank of England economist criticized the digital pound as expensive and unnecessary, suggesting it prioritizes the Bank's survival over public need. [More]
• White House AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks confirmed he sold all his crypto holdings before taking office, but indirect ties through Craft Ventures are suggested. [More]

Around the World: Regulatory Updates and Initiatives

• Colombian lawmakers proposed a new bill to regulate crypto, aiming to protect users, promote investment, and combat financial crime. [More]
• NYSE Arca is seeking to list the Bitwise Dogecoin ETF, providing regulated access to Dogecoin without direct ownership. [More]
• The SEC launched a Crypto Task Force to develop clearer regulatory guidelines, with roundtables starting March 21st. [More]
• Japan's SBI VC Trade secured a stablecoin license and will launch USDC trading. [More]
• The SEC dropped its case against Cumberland DRW, with both parties filing for dismissal. [More]
• South Korea intensified its fight against crypto-related financial crimes with a new task force focused on AML enforcement, following sanctions on Upbit. [More]
• New Hampshire's House committee approved a bill to establish a Bitcoin reserve, potentially influencing national Bitcoin policy. [More]

Market Trends:

Top 5 Gainers: (Data from CoinGecko)

• AGENDA 47 +361.96%
• SafeMoon +398.62%
• Der Daku +6.66%
• Bluzelle +13.09%
• Finvesta +90.99%

Top 5 Losers: (Data from CoinGecko)

• Sally A1C -75.00%
• Wink -57.87%
• GoPlus Security -54.60%
• VON -21.82%
• MyShell -45.92%

Project Spotlight:

Solv Protocol Partners with Soneium

Solv Protocol partnered with Soneium (an Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain backed by Sony Group) to bring Bitcoin staking to Ethereum Layer 2. This integrates SolvBTC (a Bitcoin-backed token) into Soneium's DeFi ecosystem, enabling BTC staking, rewards, and cross-chain liquidity.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Always conduct thorough research.