The crypto market wrapped up the week on a cautious upswing, with Bitcoin climbing from $107K to over $111K while altcoins traded mixed. Renewed optimism around ETF approvals, institutional inflows, and Fed rate-cut expectations kept traders alert, even as volatility persisted.
From policy shifts to new tech experiments, it’s clear momentum is quietly rebuilding across the market. Scroll down for this week’s top crypto market news and insights driving the next move.
Tom Lee Sees Four Catalysts Powering a 2025 Crypto Comeback
FundStrat’s Tom Lee expects a major crypto rally this year, citing four triggers: potential Fed rate cuts after easing inflation, resolution of the U.S. government shutdown enabling altcoin ETF approvals, an upcoming Trump–Xi trade meeting, and surging institutional demand as Bitcoin and Ethereum funds attract billions.
Sygnum and Debifi Unveil World’s First Bank-Backed Bitcoin Loan Platform
Swiss bank Sygnum and Bitcoin lender Debifi are launching MultiSYG, a regulated Bitcoin-backed loan platform set to debut in 2026. It uses a 3-of-5 multi-signature wallet system to ensure borrowers retain on-chain control of their collateral, blending self-custody with institutional transparency and security for high-net-worth and institutional clients.
Traders Raise Odds of SBF Pardon After Trump Frees CZ
Donald Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has sparked speculation that Sam Bankman-Fried could be next. Polymarket traders now price SBF’s chances of a Trump pardon at around 11–16%, fueled by Trump’s pro-crypto stance and recent white-collar pardons.
Bitcoin Cash Rebounds as T. Rowe Price Sparks Institutional Buzz
Bitcoin Cash climbed past $487 after T. Rowe Price, a $1.8T asset manager, filed for an Active Crypto ETF set to include BCH. The move renewed institutional optimism despite weekly losses. Analysts see $496 as key resistance, with potential upside toward $550 if momentum strengthens.
Arbitrum’s RWA Boom Defies Market Slump
Arbitrum is dominating the real-world asset (RWA) sector, with its total value locked soaring 130% in 30 days to $904M. Driven by partnerships with Securitize and Robinhood, the network also saw RWA volume hit $4.24B and 86M monthly transactions — despite ARB’s price slump.
Chainlink Whales Accumulate as $25 Breakout Could Send LINK to $100
Chainlink is flashing early signs of a turnaround after a 24% monthly drop, with whales scooping up over $116M in LINK. Analysts say a move above $25 could trigger a rally toward $100, as on-chain metrics and developer activity point to growing network strength.
AI Models Face Off in Alpha Arena’s $60K Trading Showdown
Alpha Arena’s “AI Trading Showdown” pits six leading AI models, GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, DeepSeek V3.1, Grok 4, and Qwen 3 Max, against each other in live $10K trading tests. After 72 hours, DeepSeek leads at $13,830, while Gemini lags with $6,864, offering a rare peek into AI performance under real market pressure.
XRP Eyes Rebound Amid ETF Buzz and Ripple Expansion
XRP may be gearing up for a comeback as Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD nears $1B, the firm plans a $1B XRP buyback, and ETF approval chatter grows. Rising RWA activity and potential Fed rate cuts could further lift sentiment, signaling renewed upside momentum for XRP.
