Breaking News: Trump Becomes 1st US President to Speak at Crypto Event

President Donald Trump addressed the Blockworks Digital Asset Summit, marking the first time a sitting US president has spoken at a crypto event. His remarks reaffirmed support for stablecoins and a pro-crypto regulatory shift.

Trump Becomes First US President to Address a Crypto Conference

President Donald Trump has made history by becoming the first sitting US president to speak at a crypto conference. In a pre-recorded message at the Blockworks Digital Asset Summit on March 20, he pledged support for the industry, stating his administration aims to make the US the “crypto capital of the world.”

Trump in crypto conference

Trump praised recent regulatory shifts and emphasized the role of digital assets in enhancing the banking system, privacy, security, and economic growth. He also highlighted the importance of stablecoins, stating they would help maintain the dominance of the US dollar globally.

His administration has taken multiple pro-crypto steps, including signing executive orders to establish a Bitcoin strategic reserve and commission the Working Group on Digital Assets.

Mixed Reactions to White House Crypto Summit

Earlier this month, Trump also hosted the first-ever White House Crypto Summit on March 7, where industry leaders discussed the future of crypto regulation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the need for stablecoin regulation, positioning them as key to preserving the dollar’s global reserve status.

At the Blockworks event, Bo Hines, executive director of the Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, revealed that a stablecoin bill could reach Trump’s desk within two months.

Despite the historic nature of these developments, reactions have been mixed. Institutional investors saw them as a positive step, while retail investors and Bitcoin advocates were less enthusiastic. Bitcoin maximalist Justin Bechler criticized the summit as a platform for “rent-seeking lobbyists pushing surveillance tokens.”

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Following these events, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 7.3%, reflecting uncertainty around government involvement in the industry.

North Korean Hackers at It Again Shifts $3.76M in BTC: Exposed

Lazarus (North Korean Hackers) Moves $3.76M in Bitcoin Across Five Wallets

Lazarus( North Korean Hackers) has transferred $3.76 million worth of Bitcoin to five unknown wallets, raising concerns over potential laundering efforts.

North Korean Hackers

On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence shows that the group’s Bitcoin holdings have now dropped to 13,441 BTC, valued at approximately $1.15 billion. On March 20, at around 9:18 AM UTC, a wallet associated with Lazarus sent 12.929 BTC ($1.12 million) to an unknown recipient. Over the next three hours, additional transactions included 14.849 BTC, 15.684 BTC, and two smaller transfers of 0.308 BTC each, totaling more than 44.07 BTC. Furthermore you can also check transaction details on here.

The movement of funds suggests an attempt to obscure the trail, a common tactic among hackers looking to evade tracking.

Bybit CEO Ben Zhou previously stated that 88.87% of the funds stolen in the recent Bybit hack are still traceable. According to him, Lazarus has converted around $1.23 billion into 12,836 BTC, spreading it across 9,117 wallets. Zhou also noted that the hackers are likely using Bitcoin mixers to further complicate tracking efforts.

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Despite the focus on Bitcoin, Lazarus (North Korean Hackers) still holds significant assets in other cryptocurrencies. Their Arkham-labeled wallet contains 13,658 ETH (valued at $27 million), $3.17 million in BNB, and smaller holdings in DAI, Baby Doge Coin, and various stablecoins.

Lazarus has been conducting cyberattacks since at least 2009, with its latest heist being the massive $1.4 billion Bybit hack—one of the largest crypto thefts ever recorded.

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ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood has predicted that most memecoins will eventually become “worthless,” cautioning investors to stay clear of viral tokens. In an interview with Bloomberg, Wood expressed her skepticism toward internet meme-based coins and AI-generated tokens, saying they “won’t be worth very much” in the future.

Ark Invest CEO talking about Memecoin

Instead of backing these speculative coins, Wood focuses on established cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, which she believes will grow stronger over time. She emphasized that the market is volatile, with many losing substantial value as shown in this post.

“There’s nothing like losing money for people to learn,” Wood said, warning traders that the SEC and regulators are not taking responsibility for meme coins. However, Wood did single out the TRUMP Official Token as one of the few that could “withstand the test of time.”

Why Memecoins Are Heading Toward Worthlessness

The meme coin market, once worth over $137 billion in December 2022, has lost more than 60% of its value, now standing at $51.6 billion. This downturn includes sharp crashes in tokens like the LIBRA meme coin and the TRUMP meme coin, which has fallen nearly 85% from its peak.

On-chain data from ARK Intelligence highlights significant losses in the meme coin sector, including a portfolio of viral meme coins held by analyst Murad Mahmudov, which saw an 80% drop in just two months.

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Despite some recent growth in global liquidity and the weakening U.S. dollar, the memecoin market has shown little signs of recovery, with platforms like Pump.fun experiencing significant revenue declines.

As the memecoin market flounders, Wood’s cautionary message stands as a stark reminder for investors.

Trump Administration’s 1st Bold Move to Acquire Bitcoin as a Strategic Asset

In a bold push toward government-backed Bitcoin accumulation, Bo Hines, Executive Director on Digital Assets for President Trump, has revealed that the administration aims to significantly increase U.S. Bitcoin reserves.

Bo Hines: Trump Admin

Trump’s Vision: Expanding U.S. Bitcoin Reserves for Future Financial Security

Speaking at the Digital Assets Summit in New York on March 18, Hines emphasized that the U.S. government should actively acquire Bitcoin, much like traditional reserves of gold.

“I believe it’s high time that our President starts acquiring assets for the American people, which is exactly what President Trump is doing – accumulating wealth rather than depleting it,” Hines declared.

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When asked about the scale of Bitcoin accumulation, Hines compared it to gold, stating, “When people ask me, ‘How much Bitcoin do you want to acquire?’ I tell them – it’s like asking a nation, ‘How much gold do you want to have?’ The answer is as much as possible.”

Hines also revealed that Trump’s first-ever White House Digital Assets Summit focused on strategies for acquiring Bitcoin in a budget-neutral manner.

The comments signal a major shift in how the U.S. government approaches cryptocurrency. Traditionally, Bitcoin has been viewed with skepticism by regulators, but under Trump’s administration, it could become a key strategic asset.

As more nations explore digital currency reserves, a U.S. push into Bitcoin could accelerate global adoption and reshape financial policies. If implemented, this approach would position the United States as a leader in the evolving digital economy.

With this aggressive stance, the Trump administration is signaling that Bitcoin is no longer just a speculative asset—it’s becoming a foundational piece of U.S. financial strategy.

XRP Jumps 14% as SEC Drops Ripple Lawsuit After 4 Years

XRP Making a Comeback?

After four years, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped its lawsuit against Ripple Labs, originally filed in December 2020 over allegations that XRP was an unregistered security.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed the news on X, calling it a “long-overdue surrender.” He stated, “This case was flawed from the start.” The lawsuit led to massive losses, wiping out $15 billion from XRP holders, but Ripple stood firm, insisting it was never a security.

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A judge ruled in 2023 that XRP sales on public exchanges did not violate securities laws. “We won on every critical legal point,” Garlinghouse noted.

The SEC, under Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda, has been easing its stance on crypto, recently dropping cases against Coinbase, Uniswap Labs, and Kraken. Reports suggest the agency even debated classifying XRP as a commodity.

Garlinghouse criticized the SEC’s actions, claiming they aimed to “intimidate and terrorize” rather than protect investors. He urged the crypto industry to push for clear regulations.

XRP

Following the announcement, it surged 14%, climbing from $2.30 to $2.56, with trading volume up 73% to $6.1 billion. Garlinghouse thanked Ripple’s team, lawyers, and supporters, saying, “We couldn’t have won without you.”

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TRX on Solana: 5 Key Benefits That Could Boost Crypto Liquidity

TRX on Solana: A New Era for Cross-Chain Crypto Transactions and DeFi

Justin Sun, the founder of Tron, has announced that TRX will soon be available on the Solana (SOL) network, sparking excitement in the crypto community.

TRX

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sun teased the integration but didn’t reveal specifics on how it will work. This move could simplify cross-chain transactions, leveraging Solana’s fast and low-cost network to enhance liquidity, boost trading, and foster collaboration with trending memecoins. It may also enter Solana’s growing DeFi ecosystem.

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While TRON has seen a rise in active addresses and a 5% price increase for TRX, questions remain about the launch process, including whether TRX will be wrapped or bridged. There are concerns about potential imposter tokens before the real launch. Solana has also been in the news recently for a controversial ad on gender issues, which was quickly pulled after criticism.

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Xapo Bank Launches $1M Bitcoin-Backed Loans to Boost Liquidity

Xapo Bank has launched a new Bitcoin-backed credit line, offering eligible customers up to $1 million in U.S. dollar loans using their BTC as collateral. Borrowers can access up to 40 percent of their Bitcoin’s value and have up to a year to repay, depending on the loan size.

How Xapo Bank’s Bitcoin-Backed Loans Could Change Crypto Lending

The Gibraltar-based bank aims to reduce Bitcoin sell pressure by giving holders an alternative to liquidating their assets during market uncertainty. Unlike past crypto lenders like BlockFi and Celsius, which collapsed due to financial mismanagement, Xapo Bank operates as a fully licensed institution with a traditional banking structure.

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Xapo has been expanding its crypto services, teaming up with Hilbert Group in 2024 to launch a $200 million Bitcoin fund and introducing support for Ethereum and Cardano purchases in 2023. The bank’s latest move reinforces its position as a major player in crypto wealth management.

Coinbase Stock Could Surge to $310 as Trump Backs Crypto

Coinbase’s stock could climb to $310, according to Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani. With the stock currently at $182, that would be a 68 percent jump. Chhugani believes this surge is possible due to increasing U.S. support for crypto, particularly under Donald Trump’s administration, which aims to make the country a leader in blockchain innovation.

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Chhugani has given it an outperform rating, signaling confidence that the stock will perform better than most. He describes Coinbase not just as a crypto exchange but as a universal bank for digital assets.

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The prediction comes after Trump hosted the first White House Crypto Summit on March 7 and signed an executive order to create a Bitcoin reserve using confiscated crypto. Many view this as a step toward integrating Bitcoin into the traditional financial system.

Coinbase

Joe Burnett, head of market research at Unchained, sees this as a turning point, saying the U.S. is acknowledging Bitcoin’s role in global finance.

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While Coinbase stands to benefit, regulatory changes take time. Anastasija Plotnikova, CEO of Fideum, noted that setting up a clear framework won’t happen overnight, though friendlier rules could help Coinbase solidify its position as a major player in crypto financial services.

Bank of Korea Dismisses Bitcoin for Foreign Reserves Over Volatility Concerns

Summary: The Bank of Korea has ruled out adding Bitcoin to its foreign exchange reserves, citing high volatility and liquidity risks. Despite growing global interest, South Korea remains committed to traditional financial assets.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) has officially rejected the idea of including Bitcoin in its foreign exchange reserves, emphasizing concerns over its extreme price swings and liquidity risks. Responding to an inquiry from Representative Cha Gyu-geun, the central bank confirmed that it has not reviewed or discussed Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

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BOK officials, as reported by The Korea Herald, stated that Bitcoin’s price volatility remains too high, with transaction costs potentially surging during market instability. Over the past month, Bitcoin has fluctuated between $98,000 and $76,000 before stabilizing around $83,000, reflecting a 15% drop since mid-February.

The decision comes amid growing global discussions on Bitcoin’s role in national reserves. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve.

At a seminar on March 6, crypto advocates and members of South Korea’s Democratic Party called for Bitcoin integration into reserves and the creation of a won-backed stablecoin. However, the BOK maintained that reserve assets must be highly liquid, immediately usable, and hold investment-grade credit ratings—criteria that Bitcoin does not meet.

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Experts suggest that potential IMF approval of stablecoins as foreign reserves could significantly reshape the financial landscape in the future.

Binance Wallet Introduces Zero Trading Fees for All Assets

Summary: Users of Binance Wallet can now swap all listed currencies for free, except for network gas fees. The zero-fee promotion lasts from March 17 to August 17 and covers swaps, bridging, and Quick Buy transactions within the wallet.

Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, has launched zero trading fees for all the assets supported by its Binance Wallet. Traders can bridge, exchange, or buy assets without trading fees, although network gas fees will be charged.

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The campaign starts on March 17 at 8:00 UTC and lasts for five months until August 17. Binance clarified that the zero fees only apply to transactions made through the combined swap and bridge feature or Quick Buy on Binance Alpha.Third-party dApps are not covered under the campaign.

It’s to be noted that it is not a waiver of Binance Exchange trading but is especially designed for Binance Wallet customers alone. With Binance setting the pace in the crypto world with billions traded on a daily basis, this move may lead to increased use of its wallet products.

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Binance currently boasts over 264 million users, managing $139.3 billion in user funds, with a 24-hour trading volume of $13.4 billion. The exchange also recently secured a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX, further solidifying its financial strength.

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