Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cosmos and more Week 16 2025

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TL;DR

  • US Buying 1M BTC Could Push Price to $1M

  • SPAR Switzerland Now Accepts Bitcoin

  • ETH Whale Resurfaces, Purchases Millions in ETH

  • Vitalik Buterin Compares Polymarket and Pump.Fun

  • Wunder Joins Secret Network for Private AI Tools

  • Sui Partners with Babylon Labs to Expand BTCfi Reach

  • Coinbase Distances Base from $15M Memecoin Fallout

  • Trump Plans Real Estate Crypto Game

    And much more!

Market, Airdrop & Memecoin Update

Before we dive in, make sure to check out our recent Market, Airdrop and Memecoin updates:

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Bitcoin Highlights of the Week

The U.S. is exploring budget-neutral strategies to grow its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, including redirecting tariff revenues and revaluing gold certificates still marked at $43/oz. The goal is to acquire BTC without raising taxes or selling gold, aligning with Trump’s Bitcoin-forward agenda.

Bo Hines confirmed all options are on the table, while Senator Lummis’ Bitcoin Act could free billions for BTC purchases. Officials say this move positions Bitcoin as a modern store of value and could make the U.S. a global crypto superpower, with some predicting a “seismic shock” if the U.S. announces major BTC acquisitions.

SPAR, one of Switzerland’s largest supermarket chains, has started accepting Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network, beginning with a pilot store in Zug. This move marks a major milestone in retail crypto adoption across Europe. The integration allows for fast, low-cost BTC transactions at the point of sale, bringing Bitcoin closer to everyday consumer use.

Industry watchers see it as a sign of growing confidence in Bitcoin as a medium of exchange. If expanded nationally, SPAR’s adoption could pave the way for other European retailers to integrate Lightning-based crypto payments into their operations.

Project Eleven has introduced the Q-Day Prize, offering 1 BTC for anyone who can break a Bitcoin private key using quantum computing. The contest, running until April 2026, aims to test the vulnerability of Bitcoin’s elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) to quantum threats.

As quantum computing advances, over 10 million Bitcoin addresses are at risk, highlighting the need for quantum-resistant security. The challenge underscores the importance of preparing Bitcoin's infrastructure for future quantum capabilities, with experts divided on the urgency of addressing this emerging risk to the network's security.

The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) suggests that if the US were to purchase 1 million BTC, the price could skyrocket to $1 million per Bitcoin. This discussion follows President Trump's executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

BPI's Matthew Pines emphasized that the US could use “budget-neutral” strategies, such as tariff earnings, to fund Bitcoin acquisitions without burdening taxpayers. This would position the US as a Bitcoin superpower, with other nations potentially mirroring this strategy. Additionally, the BITCOIN Act, reintroduced by Senator Lummis, aims to push US holdings beyond 1 million BTC.

Brazilian fintech firm Meliuz is planning to make Bitcoin its primary strategic treasury asset, pending shareholder approval on May 6. The company first bought 45 BTC in March using 10% of its cash reserves and aims to expand its Bitcoin holdings as part of its broader financial strategy.

This move has already sparked a significant 14% surge in Meliuz's stock price. The proposal seeks to generate more Bitcoin for shareholders through operational cash flow and other financial strategies, reflecting growing corporate interest in cryptocurrency as a treasury asset.

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Ethereum Highlights of the Week

Vitalik Buterin shared his thoughts on how social philosophy influences app development, contrasting Polymarket with Pump.Fun. While Polymarket is praised for fostering a "good social philosophy" as a decentralized prediction market.

Pump.Fun, a Solana-based memecoin platform, is criticized for its harmful content and chaotic livestreams, which have significantly impacted its reputation and transaction volume. Buterin emphasized that the future of Ethereum depends not just on its infrastructure, but on the intent behind the apps developers build, urging a focus on positive-sum purposes.

A previously dormant Ethereum whale has made a significant return, purchasing 3,659.83 ETH worth $5.88 million after nearly three years of inactivity. This was followed by a second purchase of 10,328 ETH for $16.37 million, sparking speculation about potential market movements.

The increase in whale activity aligns with ongoing developments in the crypto space, though no direct link to recent regulatory news has been confirmed. The sudden surge in ETH transactions suggests growing confidence among large investors, raising questions about future price trends.

EigenLayer has officially launched its long-awaited slashing feature, a significant step in bolstering Ethereum's restaking ecosystem. The slashing mechanism is designed to penalize malicious actions within the network, reinforcing accountability and security.

With over $7 billion in restaked assets, the update enhances Ethereum's shared security model and aims to minimize risks from pooled staking. This redesign ensures a safer, more reliable staking environment, making the protocol more robust and secure for its users while improving the overall stability of the Ethereum network.

DWF Labs has invested $25 million in WLFI tokens through a private transaction with World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance platform supported by Donald Trump and his family. WLFI, built on Ethereum, focuses on crypto borrowing and lending services.

As part of its strategic move, DWF Labs will also provide liquidity for WLFI’s newly launched stablecoin, USD1. This investment highlights the growing institutional interest in Ethereum-based DeFi projects, further cementing Trump’s role in the crypto space and his commitment to advancing decentralized financial solutions.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has approved the launch of a staking-enabled Ethereum ETF, marking a pivotal moment in the city's digital asset strategy. The ETF, a collaboration between China Asset Management (ChinaAMC) and OSL Digital Securities, will allow institutional investors to participate in Ethereum staking and earn proof-of-stake rewards.

This approval follows Hong Kong's recent move to regulate staking services, enhancing the city’s position as a global hub for crypto and virtual assets. The ETF is expected to launch by May 15, offering new opportunities for Ethereum investors.

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Cosmos Highlights of the Week

Sui Network is set to become a Bitcoin Secured Network (BSN) on the Babylon protocol, enhancing its BTCfi capabilities. This move enables Sui to leverage over $1.5 trillion in Bitcoin liquidity, incorporating assets like wBTC, LBTC, and stBTC. Currently, BTC assets make up 10% of Sui's total value locked (TVL).

The partnership strengthens Sui’s ties to Bitcoin, providing multiple pathways to bridge BTC onto the network. However, Sui clarified that its delegated proof-of-stake system will continue to use SUI for network security, with BTC staking supporting Babylon’s protocol and bridging.

Wunder has partnered with Secret Network to launch private AI tools and encrypted royalty features for creators. The collaboration utilizes Secret Network’s AI SDK and privacy-first blockchain technology to offer encrypted AI assistants, enabling creators to manage content and optimize engagement securely.

Wunder’s integration of Secret Contracts will automate content licensing and royalty enforcement while preserving user privacy. This partnership provides creators with full control over their data, content, and revenue, enhancing the Web3 experience with privacy-focused solutions.

Noble has launched its AppLayer, designed to support high-throughput stablecoin applications. Built on Celestia’s infrastructure, the AppLayer offers an EVM-compatible rollup that enhances programmability and enables stablecoin-centric DeFi innovation.

Noble’s goal is to become the go-to platform for stablecoin-native apps, offering features like rapid block times and liquidity integration via Hyperlane/IBC Eureka. The Noble AppLayer also leverages the Noble Dollar (USDN), which has gained traction with over $63 million in issuance, creating a dynamic ecosystem for permissionless stablecoin applications.

Celestia has unveiled mamo-1, a high-performance public testnet with 128MB blocks and 21.33MB/s permissionless data throughput. This new milestone allows developers to test real-world, high-throughput applications and stress-test networks under extreme data loads.

mamo-1's 128MB blocks, produced every 6 seconds, offer 16x the throughput of Celestia’s mainnet. The testnet is designed to simulate production environments and validator configurations across multiple cities. Additionally, mamo-1 integrates Celestia’s data availability network, using Vacuum! for faster, more reliable data propagation, setting the stage for future scalability advancements.

Helix has unveiled a new referral system, offering users 40% of trading fees generated by their referrals for life. By inviting friends to trade on Helix, users can earn a portion of the fees from each trade. For example, if a referral executes $100,000 in trades, the referrer would earn $20, assuming all taker orders.

This program is designed to incentivize users to grow the Helix platform and generate a steady stream of passive income through trading activity, further strengthening the platform’s user base and engagement.

Other Highlights of the Week

Donald Trump is reportedly launching a Monopoly-style crypto game focused on real estate, targeting a consumer release in April 2025. The move deepens Trump’s involvement in the crypto space, following his prior ventures into NFTs and memecoins.

However, the timing raises concerns, as Trump continues to influence U.S. crypto policy while maintaining direct financial interests in digital assets. The game adds to his growing portfolio of crypto-related initiatives, fueling further debate over potential conflicts of interest. As adoption spreads, Trump's crypto ambitions are becoming both a political flashpoint and a market storyline.

Coinbase has denied any involvement in the launch of the “Base is for everyone” token after it surged to $17.1M and crashed nearly 90% within minutes. The token was auto-generated via Zora after a Base post and not officially issued by the network. Despite disclaimers, critics slammed the optics and execution, calling it a misstep that harmed Base’s credibility.

Coinbase clarified it receives no profits from the token and that funds go toward developer grants. Base’s Jesse Pollack defended the concept of tokenized content, but the backlash underscores deep skepticism surrounding experimental “contentcoin” launches.

Apple has removed 14 unregistered crypto platforms, including KuCoin and MEXC, from its App Store in South Korea following a government request. The decision aligns with South Korea’s stringent Financial Transactions Regulations, which require platforms to register with authorities to operate legally.

This enforcement highlights an intensifying crackdown on unregulated digital asset services and signals broader pressure on global tech platforms to comply with regional crypto laws. The move could set a regulatory precedent for other countries seeking tighter oversight of digital asset activities through app marketplaces.

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