Nikolas Sargeant
Donald Trump has caught the headlines again, though this time crypto seems to be in the background. Nonetheless, the cryptocurrency landscape has seen big moves this week, ranging from regulatory shakeups to corporate adoption strategies and legal consequences. From a pro-crypto shift at the SEC to GameStop's bold Bitcoin bet, here are your top five crypto stories from March 24–28, 2025.
1. President Trump Nominates Pro-Crypto SEC Chair
Paul Atkins Advocates for Cryptocurrency-Friendly Regulations
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Paul Atkins as SEC Chair marks a pivotal moment for U.S. crypto policy. In his Senate confirmation, Atkins strongly criticized the overregulation seen under the previous administration, signaling a more open stance on digital assets.
He pointed to:
- Past overreach: The previous SEC allegedly discouraged banks from working with crypto firms under "reputational risk" concerns.
- Market impact: Critics say this led to stifled innovation and drove some crypto activity offshore.
- Policy goals: Atkins plans to create “smart regulation” that fosters both investor safety and blockchain innovation.
His nomination echoes calls from the industry since the SEC's contentious clashes with Ripple, Coinbase, and others. The markets responded positively, with Bitcoin seeing a modest rise post-announcement.
2. New York Attorney General Settles with Galaxy Digital over LUNA Collapse
$200 Million Settlement Reached Amid 2022 Crypto Crisis Aftermath
The fallout from the 2022 LUNA collapse is far from over. This week, Galaxy Digital agreed to a $200 million settlement with the New York Attorney General for its involvement in the promotion of LUNA prior to its failure.
Key details:
- Background: Galaxy was one of the early U.S. proponents of LUNA and TerraUSD, pulling out just before the collapse that erased $40 billion in value.
- Allegations: While Galaxy did not admit guilt, the AG accused it of misleading promotion and profiting off retail investors’ losses.
- Payout structure: The $200M will be paid in installments over three years.
This mirrors similar regulatory settlements tied to the LUNA crash—including cases against Do Kwon and Terraform Labs—underscoring the long shadow this collapse still casts across the crypto space.
3. GameStop Announces $1.3 Billion Bitcoin Investment Plan
Stock Prices React to Bold Cryptocurrency Strategy
GameStop shocked the market by announcing plans to raise $1.3 billion to purchase Bitcoin, placing it in line with companies like Tesla and MicroStrategy, which have added BTC to their balance sheets.
Despite beating earnings expectations for Q4 2024, GameStop’s stock dropped 22% after the crypto announcement. Some analysts attribute the dip to investor caution around the volatile nature of digital assets. The funding will come from a private convertible note offering, and leadership says it's part of a “digital-first transformation.”
The move is bold but not entirely surprising—GameStop had previously dabbled in NFTs and blockchain gaming. The big question now is whether Bitcoin exposure will serve as a hedge or heighten volatility for the company.
4. Sam Bankman-Fried Transferred Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Former Crypto Mogul Relocated to Oklahoma Prison Facility
After months in a New York federal jail, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has been relocated to a prison transit facility in Oklahoma. The ex-FTX CEO is serving time for one of the most high-profile financial frauds in history, tied to billions in missing customer funds.
Breakdown:
- New location: FTC Oklahoma, a central transit hub for federal inmates.
- Appeal pending: SBF is still pursuing an appeal, claiming he was denied access to key evidence.
- Sentence: His current release date is November 17, 2044, with possible reduction for good behavior.
This move comes nearly two years after FTX's collapse triggered global scrutiny of centralized exchanges and helped spark the current wave of regulatory reforms. The crypto world continues to watch the case closely, as its ripple effects influence trust in the space.
5. Bitcoin Prices Fluctuate Amid Tariff Discussions and ETF Inflows
Market Responds to Economic Policies and Investment Trends
Bitcoin's price action was choppy this week as U.S. economic policy and ETF performance continued to influence sentiment. After a slump to $84,000, Bitcoin rebounded to $88,500 thanks in part to:
- President Trump's softer tone on tariffs, calming fears of economic disruption.
- $644 million in crypto ETF inflows, the first net inflow in five weeks.
- Strong institutional interest, with Bitcoin ETFs alone attracting $724 million.
Despite volatility, the recovery signals confidence in crypto as a hedge against macro uncertainty. Analysts point to a pattern established since 2023: every time institutional inflows slow, macro news or policy pivots cause a rally rebound.
