This week, digital asset markets surged as Bitcoin reclaimed macro headlines, political narratives pushed memecoins, and ETF filings expanded.

1. Bitcoin Holds Above $94K Amid Macro Uncertainty and Strong ETF Inflows

Bitcoin rallied from ~$81,000 to over $94,000 as macro uncertainty, including trade and inflation fears, kept demand strong. Though rumors of Trump ousting Fed Chair Powell were later dismissed, investor sentiment remained bullish on BTC as a hedge. FinanceYahoo

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Impact: Bitcoin continues to be viewed as a macro hedge. Institutional appetite is reflected in strong ETF inflows and elevated funding rates.

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2. Michael Saylor Eyes $2B BTC Buy as Pantera Projects $745K Target

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) expanded its BTC reserves and Saylor is reportedly preparing an additional $2B purchase. Pantera Capital projected a long-term target of $745,000 per BTC. The Defiant

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Impact: This supports the thesis that Bitcoin is becoming a core corporate reserve asset. High-conviction treasury moves may catalyze further institutional adoption.

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3. $TRUMP Memecoin Soars Over 50% After Trump Dinner Announcement

The $TRUMP token spiked after organizers announced a private dinner with Donald Trump for the top 220 holders. BusinessInsider

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Impact: Memecoin speculation continues to follow celebrity-driven catalysts. Political affiliation is increasingly a price driver.

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4. Vitalik Buterin Proposes Replacing Ethereum's EVM with RISC-V Architecture

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin suggested exploring a migration from Ethereum's current EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) to RISC-V, an open instruction set architecture, to enhance scalability and performance. TheBlock

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Impact: A shift to RISC-V could drastically improve Ethereum’s throughput and developer experience. While still conceptual, this signals long-term technical ambitions to keep Ethereum competitive.

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5. Paul Atkins Sworn In as SEC Chair, Signals Pro-Crypto Regulatory Agenda

Former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins was officially sworn in as the new SEC Chair this week. He emphasized creating a clear and consistent regulatory framework for digital assets. PressRelease

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Impact: Atkins is viewed as pro-innovation and crypto-friendly. His leadership may accelerate regulatory clarity, which could spur institutional engagement.

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6. Binance CEO: Governments Eye Bitcoin Reserves

Binance CEO Richard Teng confirmed that multiple governments and sovereign wealth funds are consulting the exchange to build national crypto reserves. Fortune

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Impact: Nation-level adoption narratives strengthen Bitcoin’s case as a sovereign asset. A notable milestone for institutional legitimacy.

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7. Revolut Reports Record £1 Billion Profit Amid Crypto Trading Boom

Fintech company Revolut reported a record pre-tax profit of £1 billion in 2024, more than doubling its earnings from the previous year. The surge was driven by a significant increase in cryptocurrency trading and an expanding customer base, with revenues reaching £3.1 billion. ​Financial Times

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Impact: Revolut's strong performance underscores the growing mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies and may encourage other financial institutions to expand their crypto offerings.

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8. Trump Media & Technology Group Plans Launch of MAGA-Themed Crypto ETFs

Trump Media & Technology Group announced a binding agreement to roll out a series of retail investment products, including MAGA-themed cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The initiative aims to align with Trump's "America First" policies and is expected to launch later this year, pending regulatory approval. ​Reuters

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Impact: The planned ETFs could attract politically aligned investors, potentially increasing capital inflow into the crypto market and influencing asset valuations.

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9. ETF Filings Expand: AVAX & SUI Gain Exposure

The SEC acknowledged VanEck’s filing for a spot Avalanche ETF (April 23), and 21Shares registered a SUI ETF in Delaware (April 24).

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Impact: Altcoin ETFs are expanding beyond BTC and ETH. These moves could bring liquidity and price support to Avalanche and Sui if approved.

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Week 17: Bitcoin Dominates, Institutions Double Down, Altcoin Access Broadens

‍From sovereign reserves to celebrity tokens, this week showcased crypto’s mainstream momentum. Political volatility and macro fears continue to push digital assets into center stage.

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Outlook: As ETF filings expand and major players move capital into Solana, Bitcoin, and stablecoins, watch for regulatory signals and capital rotation across the crypto stack.

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