This week, Trump’s memecoin launch had everyone talking—and scrambling for Phantom wallets. But was it a strategic masterstroke or just another speculative frenzy?

On this episode of Bits + Bips, the hosts unpack the wild moments of the Crypto Ball, where $TRUMP made its surprise debut. They discuss how Bitcoin maxis were forced to embrace Solana wallets, why Multicoin Capital emerged as the biggest winner, and whether the memecoin launch signals a local market top.

Plus, they debate whether Trump’s crypto-friendly stance could shape policy in 2025, why Litecoin might beat Solana to a spot ETF, and what Trump’s inauguration speech reveals about his crypto game plan.

Show highlights:

0:58 What Ram can tell us about his experience at the Crypto Ball
3:39 How Ram was so surprised when the $TRUMP coin dropped in the middle of the event
7:51 What will happen with the 80% of $TRUMP that Trump holds
8:51 Why Ram believes Multicoin Capital was the biggest winner of $TRUMP dropping
10:14 Whether the coin was “gift or grift”
17:07 How the $Melania coin was the Trumps shooting themselves in the foot
19:37 How the launch of the coin is a “major win” for Solana
22:49 Whether ETH can have a comeback as the “TradFi chain”
35:28 How the market would react to the lack of a strategic bitcoin reserve mention
43:28 What executive orders Trump could deliver for the crypto industry
48:47 Alex’s experience with the pump and dump of a fake Barron Trump memecoin
53:41 What was notable from Trump’s inauguration speech
56:28 Whether rate cuts in December were a mistake and whether more are coming
1:05:51 Why James believes that Litecoin has more chances than Solana for a spot ETF
1:08:41 Whether the launch of $TRUMP will mark a local top for the markets

Hosts:

James Seyffart, Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence
Alex Kruger, Founder of Asgard
Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida
Noelle Acheson, Author of the “Crypto Is Macro Now” Newsletter

Links

Saylor’s parody account’s tweet recounted by Alex
Meme recounted by Noelle
Vitalik on changing the EF leadership
Josh Stark’s tweet on how the EF “uses Ethereum”
Paper on DeFi that Alex talked about: Christopher J Waller: Centralized and decentralized finance - substitutes or complements?
Polymarket: Will Trump create Bitcoin reserve in first 100 days?
Unchained:
Trump Appoints Crypto-Friendly Mark Uyeda as Acting SEC Chair
Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Goes on Token Buying Spree
Trump Picks Pham as Acting CFTC Chair

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