Bitcoin saw some gains yesterday after the FOMC meeting, which included no surprises. Still, Fed Chair Jerome Powell answered a question that sparked today’s special episode: Is President Donald Trump’s crypto-friendly administration going to transform the cyclical nature of crypto? Have we seen the last altseason? Will crypto winters never be quite as frosty? I will look through the analysis of leading figures in the space and you can decide whether 2025 will be the year when everything changed.Further reading:Bitcoin rallies to $104.7K after Fed FOMC ‘nothing burger’ lines up with market expectationsFed chair calls for Congress to move on crypto ’regulatory apparatus’Trump crypto order may disrupt Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle: BitwiseBitcoin 'leaving crypto in the dust' in 2025 despite altseason callsRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Bitcoin's volatility has tapered since an explosive start to the week as analysts point to a strengthening correlation between BTC and the financial markets. The FOMC in the US is today and the FedWatch tool has the outcome at a 99.5% probability, so any deviation could reverberate through crypto. Also on Bitcoin, Poland has overtaken El Salvador for Bitcoin ATMs and the Czech National Bank will be discussing a strategic Bitcoin reserve of about $7.3 billion. Outside of Bitcoin, Bitwise filed with the SEC for a spot Dogecoin ETF and Roger Ver launched a social media campaign for a presidential pardon for his tax and mail fraud charges.Further reading:Bitcoin drop under $75K before April has under 10% chance: AnalystBitcoin preps for FOMC comments as BTC price coils near $103KPoland overtakes El Salvador in global Bitcoin ATM countCzech National Bank governor to propose $7B Bitcoin reserve planBitwise files with SEC for spot Dogecoin ETFRoger Ver’s Trump pardon plea: ‘Lawfare’ victim or tax evader?Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

It was a bumpy start to the week for Bitcoin as the world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped 7% to briefly trade below $98,000 on Jan. 27 — its lowest level in 10 days. The sudden correction followed shockwaves from the viral Chinese AI platform DeepSeek, whose launch sent ripples through both crypto and tech markets. Despite the dip, analysts remain optimistic, citing a lack of panic selling as a sign of confidence among long-term holders. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy announced a bold new $2.5 million share offering to fund additional Bitcoin purchases, doubling down on its bullish strategy. Elsewhere, Arizona made headlines by advancing legislation to create a state-backed Bitcoin reserve, while the US CFTC scheduled public roundtables to discuss crypto regulation.Further reading:Absence of Bitcoin ‘panic selling’ suggests BTC drop below $98K is a short-term blip: AnalystVenice AI token that gives private access to DeepSeek hits $1.6B total valueMicroStrategy proposes 2.5M share offering to fund Bitcoin purchasesArizona Senate moves forward with Bitcoin reserve legislationCFTC acting chair announces roundtables on crypto market structureRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

It was a placid weekend for Bitcoin and most of crypto until yesterday afternoon, when there was a sudden spike in volatility caused by the viral Chinese AI app DeepSeek. This impacted stock futures and, in a growing correlation, BTC, which fell 5% in 24 hours to below $100,000. Nevertheless, most prominent traders aren’t concerned. Then, outside of Bitcoin, one debate stole the conversation this weekend: a report that Elon Musk is looking at utilizing blockchain technology to track and reduce government spending in the US. Could this move for transparency and accountability be a step forward? Alongside this discussion was a conversation around Coinbase’s token listing practices, with the exchange’s CEO pointing out that over 1 million new tokens are created every week. However, Tron’s Justin Sun believes the problems run deeper at Coinbase.Further reading:DeepSeek rout costs bulls $100K — 5 things to know in Bitcoin this weekWhy is the crypto market down today?Musk exploring blockchain use to curb US government spending: ReportBrian Armstrong says Coinbase needs to ‘rethink’ its token listing processRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Yesterday saw volatility in Bitcoin that can be traced to peaks and troughs of hope and disappointment. So, in today’s episode, we’ll go through the announcements and executive orders from US agencies and President Donald Trump and why these ultimately disappointed crypto folks, even if they were overwhelmingly positive. Then we’ll look at the harrowing kidnapping of the Ledger co-founder in France and how the deceased cybersecurity developer John McAfee has been resurrected as an AI agent with a Web3 project.Further reading:Trump signs executive order for crypto working group, prohibiting CBDCBitcoin drops after Trump signs crypto and ‘national digital asset stockpile’ executive orderSEC cancels controversial crypto accounting rule SAB 121Ledger co-founder released after days in captivity in France: ReportJohn McAfee AI token adds surprise chapter to his crypto storyRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

There is an air of uncertainty around the macroeconomic situation in the United States and it’s affecting crypto, but fortunately for the podcast, there are fascinating some stories unfolding. Firstly — and we all saw this coming — things are heating up around President Donald Trump’s memecoin launch, with House Democrats calling for an ethics probe and lawyers suggesting there are lawsuits in the pipeline. Then, at the World Economic Forum, the idea of a US strategic Bitcoin reserve is sparking debates as Cointelegraph’s managing editor probes the thoughts of the Coinbase CEO on stage. And finally, Solana hit an all-time high off the back of this weekend’s madness, but with a hefty correction since. What is needed for it to chase down that $300 target once again?Further reading:Why is the crypto market down today?House Democrats want ethics probe on Trump over crypto projectsTrump memecoins set to be sued — but to what end?Bitcoin can hit $700K amid currency debasement fears — BlackRock CEOUS Bitcoin reserve idea sparks Davos debate on crypto’s futureSolana price rallies to $272, but what will it take for SOL to hit new highs?Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

 Bitcoin had a fairly quiet 24 hours as the market waited for US President Donald Trump to make an announcement. Still, flying under the radar were the spot Bitcoin ETFs, which racked up the best part of $2 billion of inflows in two trading days! Then, the SEC launched a crypto task force led by “Crypto Mom” Hester Peirce, Elon Musk’s DOGE agency launched its website with the Dogecoin logo, ETH struggled amid continued drama behind the scenes and then Trump officially pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.Further reading:Watch these Bitcoin price levels next with 'door open' to $100K retestSEC launches crypto task force led by Hester PeirceMusk’s DOGE agency launches official website with Dogecoin logoEthereum Foundation infighting and drop in DApp volumes put cloud over ETH priceVitalik claims sole authority over Ethereum Foundation leadershipTrump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht Rise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Bitcoin took a hit yesterday and we needn’t look far for the cause. Yesterday was, of course, the US Inauguration Day, and despite high hopes for President Donald Trump’s first day back in office and the executive orders he might sign, there was no mention of crypto. This outraged much of Crypto Twitter as some of Trump’s “day one” promises fell short. But are critics overreacting? Does Trump need to prove his intentions with crypto or are they well-established? In today’s episode, I’ll take you through what happened yesterday and what may be coming next.Further reading:Bitcoin ‘fully gassed’ to leave $100K BTC price behind — AnalysisTrump’s ‘America First Priorities’ exclude any mention of crypto, BTCCoinbase Solana transactions delayed amid memecoin frenzyTrump’s first day in office ends with no mention of cryptoCrypto observers still hopeful on Trump despite silence on first dayRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

As the day of the US presidential inauguration dawned, Bitcoin hit an all-time high and pushed $110K, but this was eclipsed by the biggest story of the weekend: Donald Trump launched an official memecoin. That’s right, mere days before becoming US president once again, Trump launched a Solana-based memecoin, TRUMP, and it hit a market cap of $15 billion within 48 hours, breaching the top 15 cryptocurrencies. The move shocked people inside and outside of crypto, and we were left to wonder what it might mean for crypto taxes in the US, for regulations and even whether Trump might have violated the US Constitution. So, in today’s special episode, I break down the entire fiasco ahead of the inauguration.Further reading:What the release of Trump's memecoin signals for crypto regulationsTRUMP memecoin hits top 15 worldwide in 48 hours, sparking tax cut rumorsOfficial Trump memecoin captures crypto market trading volume as Bitcoin prepares for new highs‘Buy crypto’ and ‘Solana’ search volumes surge amid TRUMP meme frenzyDonald Trump’s memecoin drops 38% as wife Melania launches tokenTrumps accused of greed, grifting with back-to-back memecoin launchesRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.

Today’s episode concerns US politics, but I would like to point out two important details: Firstly, it’s far more interesting than it sounds, and secondly, we are in a crypto era that is dependent US politics whether we like it or not. So, to start, we’ll look at BTC cycle top predictions, before we move into a medley of stories about strategic Bitcoin reserves. Then we’ll look at Senator Cynthia Lummis, who claims that whistle-blowers have told her the FDIC has been destroying documents pertaining to Operation Chokepoint 2.0.Further reading:Measly $150K target for Bitcoin this cycle is ‘silly low,' says traderUS Bitcoin reserve has pundits in tailspin as Trump inauguration loomsTexas kicks off 89th legislative session with new strategic Bitcoin reserve billTrump reportedly ‘receptive’ to strategic reserve with US-based cryptosSenator Lummis claims FDIC destroyed Operation Chokepoint 2.0 docsRise’n’Crypto is brought to you by Cointelegraph and is hosted and produced by Robert Baggs. You can follow Robert on Twitter and LinkedIn. Cointelegraph’s Twitter: @CointelegraphCointelegraph’s website: cointelegraph.comThe views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast are its participants’ alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This podcast (and any related content) is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, nor should it be taken as such. Everyone must do their own research and make their own decisions. The podcast’s participants may or may not own any of the assets mentioned.