DeepSeek AI Shakes Up the Market, Dogecoin’s ETF Hopes, and Vine Coin Frenzy – This Week’s Wildest Crypto Headlines!
📉 Market Overview
Bitcoin took a slight dip this week, down 1% and trading just under $105K. Ethereum stayed steady at $3.26K, while XRP and Solana saw minor declines. However, Dogecoin had a rougher week, dropping 5%. The overall crypto market faced turbulence due to external macro events, shaking up investor sentiment.
🌍 African Crypto News
🇳🇬 Accrue Hits 200K Users & Raises $1.58M
Nigerian fintech startup Accrue is making waves, surpassing 200,000 users and securing $1.58 million in funding. The company is doubling down on stablecoin-powered agent banking, aiming to provide seamless financial services across Africa. With stablecoins becoming essential for remittances and payments in volatile economies, Accrue’s growth underscores the rising demand for crypto-backed financial solutions in the region.
📊 Major Market Movers & Institutional Action
🤖 DeepSeek AI Triggers Market Dip
The launch of China’s DeepSeek AI model shook the crypto markets, leading to Bitcoin briefly dipping below $100K. The event triggered over $1 billion in liquidations across exchanges, highlighting how macro developments—especially in AI and tech—can send shockwaves through crypto.
💰 MicroStrategy Buys More Bitcoin
Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy remains relentless in stacking Bitcoin, adding another $1.1 billion to its holdings. With this purchase, the firm now owns over 10,000 BTC, further solidifying its position as the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. As institutional adoption deepens, MicroStrategy continues to bet big on BTC as digital gold.
🏛️ BlackRock Spot ETF Moves Forward
The NASDAQ has proposed in-kind creation and redemption for BlackRock’s Spot Bitcoin ETF, allowing institutions to use actual Bitcoin rather than cash. This could make the ETF more efficient and reduce price impact, potentially drawing even more capital into BTC. Institutional players are watching closely, as this model could set a precedent for future crypto ETFs.
⚖️ U.S. Regulation & Policy Shifts
🇺🇸 Trump’s Executive Order on Crypto
In a surprising move, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. The goal? To position the U.S. as a global leader in crypto innovation while ensuring clarity for businesses and investors. With the 2024 elections approaching, crypto policy is becoming a key political battleground.
💳 Truth Social Expands to Fintech
Trump Media & Technology Group announced “Truth F”, a new financial services platform set to bridge traditional finance and crypto. This move aligns with Trump’s increasing embrace of digital assets, sparking speculation about potential integrations with stablecoins and tokenized assets.
📜 SEC Revokes SAB 121, A Win for Crypto Banks
In a major policy shift, the U.S. SEC has revoked SAB 121, a rule that previously restricted banks from holding crypto assets. This decision clears the way for banks to offer crypto custody services, potentially leading to greater mainstream adoption.
🔍 Exchange Drama & Legal Battles
🇫🇷 Binance Under Investigation in France
French authorities have launched a money laundering investigation into Binance, accusing the exchange of violating AML and terrorist financing laws. This adds to Binance’s ongoing regulatory struggles worldwide, raising concerns about its long-term stability.
⚖️ KuCoin Pleads Guilty, Pays $300M Fine
Crypto exchange KuCoin admitted to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and agreed to pay a hefty $300 million fine. This marks yet another case of regulators tightening the screws on centralized exchanges failing to comply with legal requirements.
🔥 Meme Coins & Market Speculation
🐶 Bitwise Files for Dogecoin ETF
The meme coin craze continues as Bitwise officially filed for a Dogecoin Spot ETF with the SEC. If approved, this could make DOGE more accessible to institutional investors, though many are skeptical about its long-term viability as an investment vehicle.
📈 Vine Coin’s Wild Surge
A new meme coin tied to the defunct video app Vine made waves this week, surging to a $200M market cap shortly after launch. The hype-driven rally shows the continued appetite for nostalgic, community-driven tokens—though sustainability remains a question mark.
🪙 Venmo’s Jelly Coin Launch
The founders of Venmo introduced “Jelly”, a new crypto token designed to promote their latest venture. This launch highlights a growing trend where established fintech brands use crypto as a marketing tool to attract attention and engagement.
📉 Market Risks & Global Factors
⚠️ Chain Analysis Report on Market Manipulation
A new report from Chain Analysis highlights widespread wash trading and pump-and-dump schemes, raising concerns about market integrity. With manipulation inflating trading volumes, regulators may step in with stricter policies, especially for unregulated exchanges.
🏦 FOMC Holds Interest Rates at 4.5%
The U.S. Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.5%, a move that maintains current economic conditions but leaves uncertainty for risk assets like crypto. Traders remain cautious as macroeconomic trends continue to influence market sentiment.
🚨 Other Key Headlines
🔗 Crypto․com Delists USDT in Europe
Crypto․com is set to delist USDT and nine other tokens in Europe by January 31, aligning with the upcoming MiCA regulations. European users have until March 31 to convert their holdings, signaling a shift in how stablecoins are regulated in the region.
📝 SBF’s Parents Seek Trump Pardon
According to Bloomberg, Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents are considering requesting a pardon from President Trump. While it remains speculative, the idea of SBF securing a pardon would undoubtedly cause controversy in the crypto space.
That’s a wrap for this week’s TawkCrypto Weekly Roundup! 🚀 Stay tuned for more updates, and let us know your thoughts on Twitter @TawkCrypto. See you next week!
