The Blockchain Bulletin, Jan 27: Coinbase CEO Says Crypto Has Became A Sensation
Hey folks! Welcome back to the latest edition of ‘The Blockchain Bulletin.’ Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the weekend.
Ever since the inauguration of Trump, his project World Liberty Financial has gained increased traction. On January 20th, the day he ascended the office, the WLF gained $112.8 million in investment in various cryptocurrencies. Before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, WLF raised $1 billion through token sales, which was later used for the launch of $TRUMP and $MELANIA.
On January 25, 2025, WLF expanded its crypto portfolio, acquiring 3,001 Ether and 95 Wrapped Bitcoin via Cow Protocol for $20 million. It also staked 4,700 Ether through Lido Finance, raising its staked holdings to 19,403, worth $64.45 million. Meanwhile, its $WLFI token presale raised $380 million, with prices soaring 230%, solidifying WLF’s dominance in DeFi.
The leadership change in the US has already sent regulatory alarm, and the topic of crypto has become a sensation across the world. CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong who attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, has noted how crypto has emerged as the largest economic force in the world. Armstrong said, “President Trump is putting pressure on everyone,” He noted that most conversations with key market players are centered around Trump’s administration and its approaches to digital assets. He also views President Trump’s actions in the crypto world as part of the trend toward free markets, which are the foundation for prosperity.
While US politics has been impacting broader marketing through various developments, the XRP token was showing signs of bullishness. Analyst EGRAG Crypto highlights XRP’s potential breakout, noting its position above the Green Bent Fork on the monthly chart. If XRP surpasses the Blue Forks 1 and 2, it could target $30, $50, and $60. This outlook is supported by increasing holders and improving token metrics, indicating strong fundamentals for sustained growth in 2025.
On the other hand, Ripple is facing criticism from Bitcoin advocates over lobbying for an XRP Reserve. President Trump’s executive order on a National Digital Asset Stockpile has intensified the debate. Unlike earlier proposals for a Bitcoin-only reserve, the order suggests a diversified reserve. This approach includes U.S.-based assets such as XRP, Solana, and USD Coin. Some see Ripple’s advocacy for a multi-asset reserve as a move to elevate XRP’s status. However, Bitcoin’s supporters stated that it would weaken its reputation as the leading digital asset
Also, the race to U.S. crypto ETFs has intensified. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received filings from Coinshares for Litecoin and XRP ETFs. On the other hand, Grayscale has also filed for Litecoin ETF with the SEC. Meanwhile, Nasdaq submitted an amendment to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking in-kind creation and redemption changes for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). The suggested shift would remove the current cash redemption model, enabling authorized participants to use Bitcoin instead of cash to create and redeem shares.
Related: Nasdaq Proposes In-Kind Bitcoin Redemptions for BlackRock Spot ETF
As the crypto market starts its march to a period of new chapter where a wider group of audience is taking part, Circle has been proving its market stance. Since Circle started launching USDC on Solana, the network has become one of the leading blockchains for the stablecoin. Solana’s high throughput and low transaction costs make it an ideal environment for USDC’s growth. Arkham reveals that the company has created an extra 250 million USDC on Solana. This move also raises the total USDC minted on Solana in 2025 to a remarkable $5 billion.
By issuing $5 billion USDC in 2025 alone, Circle is increasing the liquidity within the Solana ecosystem, which opens up more DeFi apps and other blockchain uses across the network. This high volume of USDC on Solana also means the network draws more institutional investors searching for scalable and efficient stablecoin solutions.
