This Week in Crypto: Trump’s Trade War, Ripple’s New Licenses, Binance Under Investigation, Lagarde Rejects Bitcoin, and SBF’s Parents Hope for a Pardon

Amid revolutionary announcements, technological evolutions, and regulatory turbulence, the crypto ecosystem continues to prove that it is both a territory of limitless innovations and a battleground for regulatory and economic conflicts. Here is a summary of the most significant news from the past week regarding Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance, Solana, and Ripple.

As the crypto ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, it becomes increasingly important to stay up-to-date on the latest news and developments. Here's a summary of the most significant stories from the past week.

Trump’s Trade War: Cryptos in Free Fall!

Following Donald Trump's announcement of massive tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, Bitcoin and the entire crypto market experienced a brutal correction, losing a total of $450 billion in market capitalization. These new measures also caused American stock indices to plummet, notably the Nasdaq 100 (-2.7%) and the S&P 500 (-2%).

While this trade tension worries investors, some analysts believe that the weakness of the dollar could eventually benefit Bitcoin as a safe-haven asset. Increased volatility is expected in the coming days.

Ripple Obtains Two New Licenses in the United States!

Ripple continues its expansion by obtaining two new money transmission licenses (MTL) in the states of New York and Texas, bringing its total to over 50 licenses in the USA.

These new authorizations enhance its regulatory legitimacy and allow it to offer fast and cost-effective cross-border payment services. Ripple positions itself as a key player against traditional financial institutions, which are beginning to adopt blockchain for their international transactions.

With a BitLicense in New York and an authorization from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Ripple is making its mark in over 90 global markets.

Binance Under French Justice’s Radar!

French authorities have opened a judicial investigation against Binance, the world's largest crypto platform, for money laundering, tax fraud, and alleged links to drug trafficking.

The exchange is suspected of facilitating the transfer of colossal sums through opaque mechanisms, thus enabling illegal activities. Meanwhile, French regulators seek to impose more transparency on crypto platforms.

This case could redefine the rules of the game for the entire industry and strengthen regulatory requirements in Europe.

Lagarde Rejects Bitcoin in Central Bank Reserves!

Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, has categorically rejected the idea of integrating Bitcoin into central bank reserves, arguing that it does not meet any criteria for liquidity, security, and stability.

This statement contrasts with the position of the Czech National Bank, which is exploring the idea of integrating digital assets into its reserves.

While some financial institutions view BTC as an alternative to gold, Lagarde maintains a strict and conservative approach, hindering any institutional adoption in Europe.

SBF’s Parents Hope for a Presidential Pardon!

Convicted to 25 years in prison for massive fraud in the FTX case, could Sam Bankman-Fried be pardoned by Donald Trump?

His parents are reaching out to lawyers and political allies to explore this possibility. Trump has previously pardoned Ross Ulbricht (Silk Road), and some hope for a similar outcome for SBF.

However, with billions of dollars in losses for investors, such a decision would be highly controversial and could divide public opinion and the crypto community.

This is the key takeaway for this week. But if you want a more detailed recap and in-depth analyses directly in your inbox, feel free to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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