April 9th, 2025
Key Takeaways:
🏦 Institutional Crypto Expansion: 1,200 U.S. banks cleared for crypto services; MicroStrategy and Metaplanet expand Bitcoin holdings.
📈 Regulatory Progress: Stablecoin and crypto market structure bills advancing; DOGE ETF accepted by SEC.
🌎 Geopolitical Tensions: Tariffs imposed on China, EU, and UK; China and EU prepare retaliation measures.
💰 Tight Liquidity: U.S. and Japan equity outflows intensified; gold hit a record $3,000.
⚡ Market Volatility: Bitcoin consolidated while altcoins faced selling pressure from major token unlocks.
Market Overview
March 2025 was defined by tightening liquidity and rising macroeconomic uncertainty. Bitcoin traded sideways, reflecting a period of accumulation, while altcoins faced selling pressure from high-profile token unlocks.
The Federal Reserve slowed Quantitative Tightening but maintained elevated interest rates. Stocks sold off post-election but avoided a crash. Meanwhile, gold broke through $3,000, attracting capital fleeing tighter financial conditions.
Altcoin liquidity remained thin, with DeFi protocols facing headwinds and capital rotating into more established assets like Bitcoin and real-world tokenization projects.
Regulatory Developments
Progress Toward Clarity:
The GENIUS Act (Stablecoins) and FIT21 (Crypto Market Structure) bills continued progressing through Congress, setting the stage for more institutional crypto adoption.
SEC Actions:
The SEC accepted a DOGE ETF application, while decisions on SOL, XRP, and LTC ETFs were delayed, highlighting a cautious but ongoing regulatory evolution.
Institutional Moves:
Major players including BlackRock, Fidelity, Coinbase, and CME expanded their digital asset offerings. MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings grew to 447,470 BTC, and Japan’s Metaplanet raised its treasury to $293M in Bitcoin exposure.
Political Influence on Markets
Tariffs and Retaliation Risks:
The Trump administration imposed reciprocal tariffs on 50 countries, targeting China (34%), the EU (20%), and the UK (10%). In response, China, Japan, and the EU warned of potential retaliatory measures, adding to global growth uncertainty.
Fiscal Tightening:
New U.S. fiscal policies aimed at reducing government spending were introduced, further pressuring risk assets and amplifying market volatility.
Macro and Global Liquidity
U.S. economic data signaled cooling momentum, with job gains slowing and unemployment ticking up to 4.1%. Inflation showed modest improvement (Core PCE at 2.8%), though tariff risks could reignite price pressures.
In China, exports slowed, and banking stress increased, prompting $69B in stimulus. Japan’s inflation eased, and Europe continued to show stable but weak growth.
Liquidity remains tight globally, and crypto markets, particularly Bitcoin, are showing patterns consistent with previous cycle accumulations ahead of a potential bull market peak expected between Q3 2024 and Q1 2026.
Monthly Metrics & On-Chain Insights
Bitcoin Dominance: Bitcoin maintained strength relative to altcoins amid reduced liquidity and risk appetite.
DeFi Trends: Flat TVL across DeFi protocols, while tokenization platforms and BTC-backed lending services showed growth.
AI and Crypto Convergence: Advancements like Google Gemini 2.5 and Ant Group’s AI cost reductions bolster the long-term case for decentralized data and compute solutions.
Looking Ahead
With increasing macro and geopolitical uncertainty, professional risk management and curated digital asset exposure are more important than ever.
At CKC.Fund, we continue to position thoughtfully across digital assets, leveraging our network and strategic partnerships to identify and access the most promising opportunities in crypto, DeFi, and tokenization.
In a volatile world, strategic positioning wins.
Stay in Touch
Navigating the ever-changing landscape of digital assets can be a challenge. That's why we’ve created this newsletter to help bring clarity to the complexity. In addition to a monthly summary of the most important crypto news, we layer in insightful commentary from insiders and experts who understand the cryptocurrency market.
If you’re interested in enhancing your understanding of this rapidly evolving space, we kindly suggest you follow us on LinkedIn. Stay one step ahead in the world of digital assets with us. You are also welcome to reach out to us at info@ckc.fund if you would like to know more.
– The CKC.Fund Team
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