5. Two Major 9-Figure Acquisitions In One Day

Monday was a day of crypto M&A news with the announcements of two separate $100m-plus acquisitions. First, we have Chainalsysis acquiring fraud detection platform Alterya for $150 million. Next up, we have Moonpay acquiring Solana payments processor Helio for a reported $175 million. With both Chainalysis and Moonpay on our shortlist for 2025 IPO candidates, acquisitions such as these make a lot of sense.

4. XRP Hits $3

For the first time since 2018, Ripple’s XRP surged to the $3 mark, prompting the usual suspects on Crypto Twitter – and yes, all the Benzinga’s of the world – to call for a $4 target. Credit where it’s due: out of the top 100 coins by marketcap, only one has bested XRP’s impressive 30-day run (+30%). Even as broader crypto prices slipped, and the SEC’s refusing to postpone its appeal, the XRP Army has showed no signs of slowing.

3. Deribit Puts Up “For Sale” Sign

Deribit, the world’s largest platform for trading crypto options, has reportedly engaged a financial advisor for a potential sale. According to “people with knowledge of the matter,” that price may be $5 billion or more. With total trading volume on Deribit reaching $1.2 trillion last year, it’s no surprise that companies like Kraken were weighing an offer. And while Kraken – on their own path to IPO – has already passed, we don’t expect this to be the last we hear of Derebit’s sale process.

2. SEC Shakeup Inches Closer

With the Trump administration set to take power, the SECs approach to crypto is inching closer to a major overhaul. According to Reuters, this process could begin as early as next week. Sources say the plan is to immediately create rules that clarify when cryptocurrencies are securities, review ongoing court cases, and potentially “freeze some litigation” that does not involve allegations of fraud. Some of those cases, sources suggest, could soon eventually be withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Chair Gary Gensler is on his way out (only 4 days left in office), and Trump’s replacement pick, crypto-friendly Paul Atkins, is waiting in the wings. Let the rally continue!

1. Volatility Incoming…

It’s one thing to say “brace for volatility,” but living through it is another story. Case in point: On Monday, we all experienced BTC briefly dropping below $90,000 before recovering to the $99,000+ price mark today. In the process we heard endless chatter around jobs reports, bonds, CPI, Microstrategy acquiring more BTC, tax season profit taking – blaming everything and nothing. The truth is, it’s all just noise.

With the inauguration looming, we all should expect even bigger price swings (and headlines) in the coming days. Don’t mistake our short-term caution for pessimism though, we still believe BTC is due for higher highs in 2025. Just buckle up for a rocky ride getting there.

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